Waves of Sunday #59

Welcome to our weekly edition of Waves of Sunday where each Sunday we spotlight a book that has been making waves in the book scene or has simply caught our attention causing a riptide on our TBR.

Today we are spotlighting:

RAW by Belle Aurora
Publication Date: January 2nd 2014
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

***Author Note: This is not a love story. This is a story of love gone wrong.***
Growing up the way I did, you’d think I’d be more screwed up than what I actually am.
Soon as I turned sixteen, I left that bump in the road I called home and took my chances on the street.
Best decision I ever made.
Now, at the age of twenty six, I’m educated, employed and damn good at my job.
My friends have become my family. Like me, they know what it’s like to grow up unloved.
But the saying is true.
The world makes way for those who know where they are going.
That’s me.
I know where I’m going and I’ll get there eventually. On my own terms and at my own pace.
But then there’s him.
I feel his eyes on me. I see him hiding in plain sight. He watches me.
He makes me feel.
It’s unconventional.
But it’s real.
I’m sure you’re wondering how a person falls in love with their stalker.
So am I.
This isn’t a story.
This is my life.

Rachel's Thoughts:
I've seen this around on Goodreads and I'm totally curious! I loved Willing Captive by this author, but that story had me cracking up, so it doesn't seem anything like RAW. I'm not normally one to pick up a book when the blurb clearly warns you that there is no HEA (In this one, anyhow. I hear there's a book 2!), but the plot seems to be calling my name. I know it's bad to be excited about a stalker, but I can't help it! I was completely sucked into The Dark Duet series by C.J.Roberts, although, I barely survived it, and this reminds me of that series a little. I've been told it's not near as dark. So, I say: "Bring on the pain!" I just bought it and loaded it on my Kindle, so I foresee some ugly crying in the near future.

Arlene's Thoughts
I have to say I'm in the same boat as Rachel. I'm really curious about RAW and if I'm still in one piece after The Dark Duet series, I think I can handle this book. Now, the whole stalker thing should put me off, but considering most plot lines are starting to blend and become forgettable, I'm thinking this one will leave an impression. I'm really curious about this book, and I'm eager to give it a try. 

Review: Willing Captive by Belle Aurora

Willing Captive by Belle Aurora

Publication Date: September 26th 2013

Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

(Author note: This is NOT a dark romance.)

Delilah “Lily” Flynn is used to her drab existence. Lily’s been living it for twenty two years.
Her boring life is suddenly turned on its head when she’s rudely kidnapped from her bedroom.
Or so she thinks.

Nox Taylor is far too high up in his field to be assigned a babysitting job.
There’s nothing more he wants than to complete his mission so he can be rid of the smartass tomboy, Lily.

Day after day, Nox watches Lily and her strange ways. She’s unlike any woman he’s ever met.
Getting close to the girl is purely for her own protection…right?

Lily never imagined she’d make her first real friends in captivity.
What lengths would she go through to keep them?

**This is a stand alone novel and is unrelated to Friend-Zoned**

My Thoughts:

Willing Captive was sweet, sassy, and oh so much fun!

Lily has led a sheltered life rarely out of the eye of her overly protective father. Her father’s mansion feels more like a prison with the only consolation being her books. Her books make life bearable by taking her to faraway places without having to leave the confines of her bedroom. Little does Lily know there’s a good reason her father is overly protective, but she’s about to find out.

One night she’s taken under protection by three commando types and put under complete lock-down.  Away from her parents and sister, she panics at first. She discovers there are real threats looming about her life, but also that her father has been keeping secrets from her. However, being taken captive is probably the best thing to happen to Lily. Her eyes are opened to the sheltered life she was living, and the things she lacked: friends and self-confidence.  She gets both of those when her rescuers/commandos take her under their wing, and befriend her.

Nox is the leader of the commandos and he knows he’s got his work cut out for him when he takes on the job of protecting Lily. She’s got a smart mouth that never seems to close and she doesn’t know when to follow an order. She’s maddening and he fears she’ll be the death of him if he doesn’t strangle her first. Here’s a silent prayer Nox utters:

Dear god, please give me strength to make sure that I don’t become the threat against the girl I’m trying to protect. This little woman is grating my nerves something fierce. With her smartass comments and talking back I’m gonna go nuts locked up her with her.  

Lol!

This was more of a romance than suspense plot. In fact the threat is put on the back burner for most of the book with little attention or development of the mystery behind it. That’s fine with me as I’m a romance girl at heart, and this one was quite sweet and oh-so-sexy! Antagonistic romances are a favorite of mine and this was a lot of fun to see unfold.  There were a lot of funny parts because Lily has a sassy, smart mouth and Nox liked to push her buttons and rile her up.  But underneath all that he’s a sweet and chivalrous guy, and she’s a girl with a big heart. These two have chemistry and spark that will light your Kindle on fire!

His eyes darken as he strides over to me, trapping me between the door and his chest. He mutters, “Maybe you want that. Maybe you like the idea of being a captive. Being helpless.” Leaning forward, the tip of his nose brushes my earlobe and his whispers, “Does that turn you on, princess?”

Yes, yes it does!

It’s not long before hate tips over into love, and Lily and Nox form an intense connection.  But, as a reader you wonder how a long term relationship can work out once the threat is contained?  Nox is an undercover operative, and Lily will have to go back to her life at some point. These two are so perfect for each other you long for things to work out.

For such a lighthearted story there were some surprisingly emotional and heartbreaking moments there at the end, but I loved how things wrapped up!  The ending warmed my heart and was utterly perfect!

Favorite Quote:

“There are girls out there you want to f*ck, and there are girls out there you want to love.” He looks me in the eye. “Not ashamed of you, Lily.” He stops speaking for a moment, allowing that to sink in. Leaning his chin on top of my head, he utters, “You’re not for the background.” Burying his nose into my hair, he mutters, “You deserve center stage.”

4.5 Suns

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