Taken by Cynthia Eden: Review


Posted December 9, 2016 in review Tags: , ,

Taken by Cynthia Eden: ReviewTaken by Cynthia Eden
Pages: 400
two-half-flames

Series: LOST #5
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Also in this series: Wrecked, Shattered, Torn, Broken
Also by this author: After the Dark, Wrecked, Shattered, Before the Dawn, Torn, Into the Night, Broken, Frozen in Ice , Touched By Ice , How to Heal a Heartbreak , Trapped In Ice
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In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s latest novel, the Last Option Search Team (LOST) returns— and for one agent, the hunt for a serial killer just got very personal . . .
HE SWORE TO PROTECT HER . . .
Bailey Jones somehow survived her harrowing abduction by the infamous Death Angel. But while her physical scars have healed, she can’t stop wondering about a woman she helped to escape, who simply disappeared. When LOST agent Asher Young is assigned to her case, Bailey instantly feels an attraction to the intense ex-SEAL who seems to be carrying dark secrets of his own.
BUT KEEPING HIS PROMISE . . .
Asher can’t afford to let his growing feelings for Bailey distract him from his job. Only she can soothe his horrific nightmares, but the last thing he wants is for the demons from his past to ever hurt her. Bailey has gotten past his guard, and the emotions he feels for her—they’re as dark and dangerous as the past he doesn’t want to face.
COULD COST BOTH THEIR LIVES
When corpses begin surfacing—all marked with the same tattoo depicting the Death Angel’s calling card—Asher must race to stop a twisted killer who wants nothing more than to claim his next prize: Bailey . . .

Captivating from the first page, Taken is a perfect example of 3rd person POV done exquisitely. You are in every characters head: the good, the bad, and the downright creepy AF! While I am not normally a fan of 3rd person, I am a huge fan of this POV when it comes to romantic suspense like this. Getting insight into everyone allows me to get the thoughts of the killer yet still not know his/her identity.

Eden’s writing is brilliant. I was immediately captivated by Bailey and adored Asher. The main story takes place 6 months after Bailey is rescued from her abductor so her wounds, both physical and emotional, are still very fresh. As you are introduced to the characters, you realize that Asher has had a tragic past as well, but it wasn’t anything that made him as infamous as Bailey, so you learn it in small pieces, creating more suspense and tension.

There is a bit of the ‘insta-love’ factor. Asher sees Bailey and is drawn to her right away. He wants to take away her pain and make her not afraid any more, but its more than that. I liked that Bailey wanted to be the person she was before the kidnapping. Everyone around her expected her to break at any point, and I think they were actually hindering her recovery by trying to be too delicate with her. I enjoyed seeing her confidence build!

You really have no idea who the killer is. There are just so many options! I went back and forth between thinking it was person 1, then person 2, then back to 1, then person 3, etc. I really had no idea! This is a book that will keep you guessing for sure. Because of the 3rd person narration, you are always character hoping and getting pieces of information about the important people in Bailey’s story. This character hop keeps the book moving at a fast pace that really adds to the tension of the plot.

Overall, I think this might be one of my favorite reads of 2016! What a great story! I haven’t read the rest of the series, but I am planning to read all of it soon!

 

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Taken

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“Bailey Jones . . .” Asher said her name softly, as if tasting it on his tongue. “There are a few things you should know about me before we begin.”

            There are things you should know about me, too. But I’m not going to tell you . . . or you won’t help me.

“First, you don’t have to fear me. Part of my job at LOST—well, let’s just say Gabe hired me on because he wanted a bit more muscle. Protection is my role. I’ll keep you safe and track down any clues about that missing woman. On my watch, nothing will happen to you.”

She nodded even though—

            I don’t believe you. There is no safety. I learned that.

“And second . . . you don’t have to bullshit me.”

Now she blinked in surprise.

He laughed, a deep, rough rumble of sound that Bailey found she liked to hear.

“You think I can’t tell when you’re wearing a mask? You’ve got yourself locked down tight, under careful control, don’t you? But you don’t have to do that with me. I’m not one of the North Carolina deputies. I’m not going to judge you. And I’m not some lame-ass reporter who wants to splash your story all over the world.”

            I wear a mask all the time now because something is wrong inside of me. It has been, ever since that fire. That hole. That hell.

“So let’s put a no-bullshit rule in effect,” he murmured.

Her hands curled around the steering wheel. “Liking rules, is that more of a military thing again?”

“Wanting to break rules . . . that’s why I left the SEALs.”

He’d been a SEAL? She turned to look up at him. “Is there a rule number three?”

“We’ll get to that rule later . . .”

She started the vehicle. “I’ll follow you to your place.”

“Do you have any rules for me?”

            Don’t hurt me. Don’t judge me. Don’t pity me. Bailey cleared her throat. “I’m sure we can get to those rules later, too.”

He slammed her door shut. Through the window, Bailey watched as he strode away—not to another car, but to a shiny, big monster of a motorcycle. He climbed on, revved the engine moments later, and that rumbling growl filled the parking garage.

Asher slid the helmet over his head—a black helmet with a dark visor that completely obscured his face. Her heart beat faster as she stared at him.

Dangerous.

That had been her first thought when she’d seen him in the conference room.

But he was on her side. Not a threat to her. He’d help her.

At least, that was what she hoped. Because if something didn’t change soon, Bailey was afraid that the deputies would be right about her. Her shrink would be right.

            I may go crazy.

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About Cynthia Eden

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA® award . Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over eighty novels and novellas.

Cynthia is a “hybrid” author. She has published extensively with New York (her New York publishers include Avon, Kensington, Grand Central, and Harlequin), and she has also enjoyed success in her indie writing career.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

You can find Cynthia chatting daily on Twitter or on her Facebook page.

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3 responses to “Taken by Cynthia Eden: Review

  1. Me and Cynthia Eden’s books have a love/hate relationship, but I’ve really been looking at this series a little harder because of how the series is turning out.

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