Captive by Brighton WalshMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review
Captive by Brighton Walsh is the first book that I have read from this author and I am officially hooked with her writing and storytelling. Ms. Walsh has written a sexy, sensual, captivating romance that was so engrossing and compelling that I could not put this book down. She was able to blend and weave a beautiful romance of two strangers who came from two different worlds. One of privileged and one born on the wrong side of the tracks. But one thing that they have in common is their broken home life. In this beautiful twisted suspenseful romance, will their love set them free of their broken past?
"I saw it and yet I was helpless to stop it, trapped in a life I never wanted because I loved someone who didn't love me back."
From an outsider's perspective, Madison Frost's life was perfect. She was young, beautiful, rich and affluent. But behind the closed door, lies a broken woman who yearns to be loved by her parents. To be noticed and recognized that she exists. So when Madison gets suddenly abducted and held captive by Ghost, Madison life will forever be changed.
"He knew the hope and the dread and the overwhelming guilt at wanting something else, at yearning for something more. And even though we'd come from two different paths, at the core, we still dealt with the same pain. And that bit of information tied us together in a way I'd never expected."
Ghost aka Gage is not the monster you typically associate with a captor. He is sweet and doesn't want to harm Madison. The reasoning for kidnapping her lies solely because he needs the money. Being born on the wrong side of tracks and a high school drop out, Ghost did what was needed in order to survive and take care of his younger brother. But what Gage did not expect was to fall in love with Madison. Slowly and unexpectedly, they found themselves connecting and falling for each other. So will Gage be able reveal the truth to Madison as to why she was taken? And will Gage be able to come to terms that he is indeed worthy of her love?
"It was everything I'd ever imagined and yet nothing I'd ever experienced. He was consuming me, every single one of my senses honing in on him."
Captive was an engaging story that was beautifully well-written. The writing was fresh and gratifying. The alternating POVs of Ghost and Madison captured my full attention. Readers were able to understand the many range of emotions that was transpiring between captor and captive. Having the dual POV allowed the story to be gritty, realistic and raw. It permitted the story to flow at a natural organic pace. It made readers like myself to be able to connect with Ghost and Madison.
"Somehow, at some point I'd gone from looking at him as my captor to looking at him as something so much more."
The story-telling was raw, poignant, sensual, and filled with so many emotions. I found myself feeling every fear, hope, anger, sadness, loss, vulnerabilty of Madison and Ghost's character. Every range of emotions was bleeding on every page. Heartstrings were being pulled since Ms. Walsh stripped Ghost and Madison bare allowing readers to see every flaw, scar, and broken past. You didn't see a captor who was a monster but a captor who was battling with his conscience and heart. And you were allowed to see a captive who was battling and coming in term that she was better off closing one chapter in her life and needing to start anew.
Captive was a bold, sensual book that was riveting. It was raw, gritty, and spellbinding. This book truly showcases that being captive does not necessarily mean being a prisoner bound by shackles but we can also be a captive bound by our past, scars, and heartache. Ms. Walsh was able to capture our hearts and unlock so many emotions that has us rooting for the HEA that Gage and Madison deserves. What can I say but this book was a 5 star read for me and I look forward to reading more works from Brighton Walsh. Prepare to get spellbinded and bewitched in this riveting tale of love and new beginnings.
"I wanted her as lost with me as I always seemed to be with her."
Brighton Walsh
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