Tag: Book Review

A Captive in the Dark

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Turn off the lights and light a candle… okay maybe not because this wasn’t exactly a romantic story, I’m talking dark erotica for virgins here, but you’ll have to read it to see. A Captive in the Dark, the sun sort of hurts my eyes, up late

“Not getting what you wanted was always the first lesson”
― Captive in the Dark

In truth I don’t know what I wanted when it came to this story, being a fan of the genre is one thing, being a first-time reader of C.J. Roberts is quite another. With that being said does this story give you what you want or what you need… it gets the job well done.

I never really get to talk about originally when it comes to these tales, I mean the story of course is but it’s always the same formula which is standard when it comes to porn for women. That’s maybe the first thing though, this isn’t really porn, at least hardcore, I was on again and off again with this story, not that it’s bad by any means, just time constraints. So while living life, in this story how long does it take to make someone fall in love, I’ve always been one for love at first sight and so it was with pretty Olivia “Livvie”.

How about from Caleb’s standpoint, I must admit I relate to him, not I’m not a criminal as it has been suggested but I wonder what it was that drove him to Livvie a.k.a Kitten other than her being the most beautiful thing he has ever seen; as a friend of mine would comment “men”. The reader is kept in the dark as much as the would-be victim which I find impressive, you learn the back stories but I feel like Winston Smith still wanting to know why these two. Loyalty loneliness, love, this story has it all, and even when I was reaching the end I figured my Kindle must be broken because I was thinking no way would she end the story like she did here; awesome cliffhanger.

I usually save this for the end of reviews but I have to say I’ll certainly buy the next one of these books, just because I have to know what comes next. I’m not afraid of the dark only to be fair this isn’t darker than some of the stories we hear on the news just fiction and less sex than I’m used to honestly.

“She was a woman, how difficult could it be to pacify her”
― C.J. Roberts

“He felt powerful, and nothing was more important than power”
― Captive in the Dark

Every woman likes a bad boy but being a guy again I can to a degree understand where Caleb is coming from, I guess it’s good most men don’t adopt the same overall strategy, it’s how some people talk about “Christian Grey” of Fifty Shades, he was hurt and in turn hurts others. Livvie on the other hand “Act like a whore and get treated like one…” except she wasn’t that, another telltale sign of the genre, good girl that just has to be naughty and then it goes on.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one, good girl gets captured by the bad guy and has one possible outcome but then we have a twist, in the usual plot. While it’s not unusual for the bad guy to be pushed into his role the fact remains Caleb actually wants to be there is new, at least for a little while, loyalty vs love, honor amongst thieves or doing the “right” thing. It also can’t be ignored that every woman seems to have a dark side, I take plenty of flak for being a guy and for liking books like this but *cough* Fight Shades *cough* millions of copies *cough* so somebody is misjudging women but not C.J. Roberts really.

As for other characters, again anyone could relate to Rafiq though most might not go to such lengths I’m guessing but I root for him despite those lengths he’s going using Caleb and Livvie. There are also two clichés the first being parental problems, shows how men think all women have daddy issues which Livvie does, but her mom was more her problem. There is also the idea that all men are criminals of that sort, I mean given Livvie’s situation I don’t doubt it but from Caleb right into the arms of somebody with the same idea, come on.

I like Caleb and Livvie without a doubt, and while I was reading an excerpt I just couldn’t wait to see how they apparently found such a deep connection with each other. If anything they are both damaged and despite Caleb’s protests I think Livvie is going to be the one that saves him, but that’s how the genre goes.

“Only women were capable of being so fucking sexy you wanted to lick them clean when they considered themselves dirty”
― Captive in the Dark

“she lived in a man’s world, and she reacted accordingly” – Captive in the Dark

Been awhile since I have given anything four stars and truly meant it, am I really that hard to please, if anything I only have one real beef with this story. As for who would enjoy this story, well that’s an easy answer as well, there is so much to like, so here are spoilers.

Again I like how you can’t hate Rafiq and Caleb, Livvie is a means to an end, does it suck that they are using her, from her standpoint of course but they use the means afford them to have revenge. I thoroughly enjoy the BDSM aspects of the story, if Livvie is to be a survivor she has to be a submissive and Caleb, taking away his criminal aspirations doesn’t hide the fact that he enjoys such things. My absolute favorite part is the realization of Olivia, the fact that she holds sway with Caleb and if a virgin is what he needs then that is the last thing she ought to be if she wants to avoid her fate.

With all of this, my biggest problem with the book is the lack of sex, she and Caleb have sex once in the entire book, preserving her virginity of course so a great scene but other than that if you’re expecting a sexual romp, you probably won’t like it. Which is perfect for a guy trying to swear off any stimulation not that the whole book isn’t lust driven, there is more than enough, will they won’t they for the ladies. Isn’t this the whole point of the book, to be as open with the characters but still as Livvie was kept in that dark room, the reader is kept in the dark as well.

Bravo C.J. Roberts but I would have liked it if Caleb and Livvie just got it over with but always leave them wanting more; it is a book like this that makes me rethink my own writing. So four stars and another fan, can you ask for more, sure but for now I’ll be in the dark reading something else.

I am Sleepless Because Of This Story

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“War, war never changes” Fallout Series

While our enemies do, our reasons, our methods, and everything else may, the concept of war I believe is universal, tale as old as time. “I am Sleepless: Sim 299” carries on in that tradition, though to be fair this book was more of a learning experience both in who the real enemy is and the all-around ideology of why we fight and how.

As what seems to be the norm, humanity is its own worst enemy, but we also have the Splicers and a wild array of creatures, which was interesting for the author to put together but also perhaps a bit lazy. The reason of course needs no real explanation… our continued existence and the stakes don’t get much higher than that, also the idea of the splicers and those in power gives rise to the idea of who the real monsters are. This of course leads us to the Primes and the Prime Initiative, if anyone remembers the television series Dark Angel or X-Men’s Genosha or anything with child soldiers or slaves, this is a somewhat new twist on the genre.

Remember I said this is a learning experience because there is so much to keep track of, what soldiers have what powers, strengths and weaknesses, and what animal got such attributes but there is a glossary in the back for the Primes. The plot keeps you going quite steadily but isn’t as complicated as the Primes themselves when you’re trying to keep up with the course of any one battle and it would have been helpful to know what the Splicers could do which several of the characters bring up as well. The world is flushed out well and I rather enjoyed some of the character motivations which I suppose will become even more complex with the next story but again this one was awesome.

While I won’t exactly call the concept original the story itself is actually quite creative in a lackadaisical sort of way, again the animals and the powers I’d like to know how long the author spent coming to what made the final cut. Speaking of final cut if I had one real problem and maybe this was just a computer glitch with my Kindle, none of the pictures ever showed up besides the cover but let me focus more on the ideas that did show.

“I have come to believe that there is no escape from war. The only solution is to control it.”
― Johan Twiss, I AM SLEEPLESS: Sim 299

As I said all too familiar which the author acknowledges along with several others, 1992’s TOYS, Ender’s Game, Divergent, The Hunger Games, another let the children lead us or children save the world type of deal. Besides not seeing the pictures there isn’t much I can say on the negative, that’s not to say there aren’t any faults.

Aiden and his coterie, his makeshift family and friends are all brought to life quite well and the bits of romance that the author did allow are thoughtful. The idea that the Meks (how long did that name take) subconsciously sabotage all their tech so only they can use it, like Hephaestus and his maze by comparison. The sim, and the pit remind me of Ender’s Game and if you’re up for a good riddle and a hell of a fight this will get you going, some head scratching there.

Now the names are laughable, maybe those were the pictures, I don’t know but I’m reading through and it’s like seriously Batmonkeys, Hippophants, Wolfstags, did some kid dream these up or is it an episode of Power Rangers. Another common idea in these stories is that having to prove you’re the chosen one, if there were two people before Aiden, did they not have some sort of test to prove themselves and why not or if so what makes Aiden different, yes I get the whole three thing (get used to seeing three a lot). There is also Director Tuskin, ever heard the expression, dumbest smart guy, his character just seemed, unhinged and I mean not the character’s insanity but from the book itself as if it couldn’t be agreed upon what he was truly doing with himself, okay mysterious but really counting on the sequel there to learn more.

Most people will appreciate the familiar spin and the twist, and the book has a habit of repeating itself because of the learning curve. If you don’t like the teen trend though and you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, yeah this book is more a sugar treat than a steak, for the record.

“I guess I have a face that only a blind woman could love,”
― Johan Twiss, I AM SLEEPLESS: Sim 299

I can’t say it was love but enough to put the sequel on my list; I liked this book plenty. If I was going to recommend this book to anyone; plenty of people would enjoy it but if we’re looking for a special breed…

I probably shouldn’t say this but I’ll say the tiniest bit of peer pressure to bump it up to four stars, I would honestly give it three for plot, character development, and actually caring when I went a day without reading it. There were too many problems in my case to say four directly and I can’t say I know the author’s other works but this book has loads of potential and much like Aiden’s friends I look to Johan Twiss and ask, what’s next. Can’t say I would have immediately sought this book out on my own but I’m glad I gave it a shot and the fact that I want more is praise enough or so I thought.

If you think Ender’s Game is one of the greatest things ever then this book will definitely be worth your time. If you’re a kid at heart with a touch of mad scientist in you, plus it helps if you’re into super soldiers that have plenty of flaws, then this is pretty good indeed. It could be that you just enjoy reading about futuristic wars and such, a bit of a space oddity (yes you read that right) then get ready for a bit of an adventure without a doubt.

As I said, personally a three out of five but I have a heart and shouldn’t we all for anyone that gives so much thought and energy into such an endeavor. For the record if I had to choose a class for myself I’d go either Mek or Lug, I like building things but on the other hand Lugs, well I’ll just keep my hands full so I don’t have to speak to anyone really.

Sim 299