Twist Me
Twist Me by Anna Zaires is my latest read, and wowza did it captivate me. Funny backstory: I finally caved in and started using Kindle because the last series I read was only available on there, and then I got a Goodreads notification that Twist Me - which was on my To Read list - was on sale. Never one to turn down a good discount, I added it and started reading it after I finished the third book in the other series, which was starting to lose my interest. As a testament to how awesome this book is, the previous series was all but forgotten as I voraciously read through it, and I'm now finishing up the third work in the series. I'm also finally willing to admit that Kindle is kind of awesome, mainly because it feeds my reading obsession in a more expeditious manner than having to wait for Amazon Prime to deliver. Two days is a long wait when you're hooked on a series...;)
This book is labelled as a dark romance, and it's definitely worthy of that classification. It's the first work of its type that I've read, and I wasn't sure if the whole kidnapper and captive angle would work for me. I think there's a fine line between dark and just downright creepy, and it's all in how well the author can write. I have to give major kudos to Anna Zaires, because not only is she a fantastic writer, but she managed to create this fantastic story and captivating characters. I have to say that I've been reading a lot of indie/self-published type works lately that were either full of grammatical errors or just pretty unbelievable because of the poor writing, and I would finish the book feeling disappointed. This is no such book, and it's a definite testament to the power of being a good writer. So, Mrs. Zaires, if you ever happen to read this - you rock, girl!
The story is told from Nora's perspective, and her characterization really made the story for me. She's a young woman just out of high school and still figuring out life, and obviously being kidnapped and held captive on a remote island by some mysterious, handsome stranger threw her for a loop. I like that Nora doesn't just instantly fall for her captor because of his looks and wealth, which would have resulted in this reading like some cheesy romance novel. She's not some typical dumb heroine in that she struggles with her situation, trying to find a way out while also going along with her captor's wishes in an effort to survive. Basically, she does what a normal person would do, and as such she was a really relatable character. She does eventually fall for Julian, but definitely struggles with that fact and what falling in love with such a man says about her as a person. I thought the pacing of her falling for him was perfect - not too rushed or too slow. Nora's situation really makes her grow up and question her view of the world, and her progression was pretty compelling.
Julian is just such a force, such a fascinating character. I think the author really had fun with his character, and I definitely enjoyed reading about him. He's so complex, so scary and dangerous, but there's this depth and human side to him that kept my interest. To borrow the old phrase, he's a tough nut to crack. I kept trying to figure him out, trying to understand why such a good looking and successful man would want to kidnap a woman and hold her captive. I wasn't sure whether to love him or hate him, and definitely did a bit of both throughout the story. His obsession with Nora often bordered on scary, and of course I couldn't stop reading to find out what he'd do next.
What I loved most about this story is how something real blossoms between Nora and Julian. Neither of them planned for it, and in fact they each do their best to fight their feelings, but there's this force that seems to draw them together. Theirs is obviously the exact opposite of a conventional relationship, which makes things even more difficult. Nora isn't sure whether she's just messed up, making the best of her situation, or suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, and Julian just isn't used to feeling anything real for anyone, ever. Again, I thought the pacing of their relationship was perfect.
This book just really blew me away. I honestly didn't expect it to be so good, especially given the subject matter, which I know makes me sound judgmental. Like I mentioned, though, I've recently read a lot of self-published or just poorly edited works that left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm beyond glad to say that this book rid me of that taste, and I'm now on the third book in the series, which means more rave reviews to follow! Yay! I'm also stoked that two characters in this series (Lucas and Peter) have their own series, too, so you can bet I'll be putting my Kindle to good use.
I highly recommend this series, but I will caution that the subject matter might not be for everyone. It's a dark romance with an emphasis on dark, and also deals with kidnapping and murder. If you don't mind those themes, then don't hesitate to check this series out!
This book is labelled as a dark romance, and it's definitely worthy of that classification. It's the first work of its type that I've read, and I wasn't sure if the whole kidnapper and captive angle would work for me. I think there's a fine line between dark and just downright creepy, and it's all in how well the author can write. I have to give major kudos to Anna Zaires, because not only is she a fantastic writer, but she managed to create this fantastic story and captivating characters. I have to say that I've been reading a lot of indie/self-published type works lately that were either full of grammatical errors or just pretty unbelievable because of the poor writing, and I would finish the book feeling disappointed. This is no such book, and it's a definite testament to the power of being a good writer. So, Mrs. Zaires, if you ever happen to read this - you rock, girl!
The story is told from Nora's perspective, and her characterization really made the story for me. She's a young woman just out of high school and still figuring out life, and obviously being kidnapped and held captive on a remote island by some mysterious, handsome stranger threw her for a loop. I like that Nora doesn't just instantly fall for her captor because of his looks and wealth, which would have resulted in this reading like some cheesy romance novel. She's not some typical dumb heroine in that she struggles with her situation, trying to find a way out while also going along with her captor's wishes in an effort to survive. Basically, she does what a normal person would do, and as such she was a really relatable character. She does eventually fall for Julian, but definitely struggles with that fact and what falling in love with such a man says about her as a person. I thought the pacing of her falling for him was perfect - not too rushed or too slow. Nora's situation really makes her grow up and question her view of the world, and her progression was pretty compelling.
Julian is just such a force, such a fascinating character. I think the author really had fun with his character, and I definitely enjoyed reading about him. He's so complex, so scary and dangerous, but there's this depth and human side to him that kept my interest. To borrow the old phrase, he's a tough nut to crack. I kept trying to figure him out, trying to understand why such a good looking and successful man would want to kidnap a woman and hold her captive. I wasn't sure whether to love him or hate him, and definitely did a bit of both throughout the story. His obsession with Nora often bordered on scary, and of course I couldn't stop reading to find out what he'd do next.
What I loved most about this story is how something real blossoms between Nora and Julian. Neither of them planned for it, and in fact they each do their best to fight their feelings, but there's this force that seems to draw them together. Theirs is obviously the exact opposite of a conventional relationship, which makes things even more difficult. Nora isn't sure whether she's just messed up, making the best of her situation, or suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, and Julian just isn't used to feeling anything real for anyone, ever. Again, I thought the pacing of their relationship was perfect.
This book just really blew me away. I honestly didn't expect it to be so good, especially given the subject matter, which I know makes me sound judgmental. Like I mentioned, though, I've recently read a lot of self-published or just poorly edited works that left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm beyond glad to say that this book rid me of that taste, and I'm now on the third book in the series, which means more rave reviews to follow! Yay! I'm also stoked that two characters in this series (Lucas and Peter) have their own series, too, so you can bet I'll be putting my Kindle to good use.
I highly recommend this series, but I will caution that the subject matter might not be for everyone. It's a dark romance with an emphasis on dark, and also deals with kidnapping and murder. If you don't mind those themes, then don't hesitate to check this series out!
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