Violent Beginnings by J.L. Beck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars.
The deal was sealed the moment she stepped onto that stage.
It was like seeing a ghost. Sunshine blonde hair, pale skin, and azure eyes that held a thousand secrets.
I didn’t know what caused her to end up on that auction block.
And I didn’t care either.
All I knew was that I had to have her…no matter the cost.
One-million dollars later and she became just that.
Mine to break.
Mine to use.
Mine to keep.
We all have secrets, and when I discover hers, no one will be able to save her from me.
*This is a complete standalone, 100k+ word novel. It contains dark themes, including violence and sexual situations. As always there is no cheating, and a happily ever after.*
Violent Beginnings
Auctioned to a murderer!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💘💘💘💘💘
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 👏👏👏👏👏
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 🤓🥸😎😤😳
The setting: Auction, a cabin in the woods, a penthouse in the city, France
The Hero: Markus – a dangerous killer working for the Mafia. Markus has never thought about helping or buying any of the girls he sees at the auctions until one is on the stage that looks like the woman he used to love.
The heroine: Fallon – a college student who was abducted off the street and trafficked to be sold in a sex slave auction. Fallon is smart and resourceful, but she can’t get herself out of the situation she is in.
The Love Story: Markus is initially attracted to Fallon because she looks so much like a girl he used to date. He was responsible for her murder and still feels guilt about his part in that. However Markus immediately starts seeing Fallon for herself, and he wants to own every part of her. He likes the idea that he owns her and can do whatever he wants with her.
This book has triggers so beware if you are upset by things like that. The first time they are together seemed basically non-con. Though Fallon is attracted to Markus against her will, she definitely wants to get away from him. She is also very afraid of him after seeing him kill someone. He uses her body against her. Markus has some sort of obsession with Fallon and has no compunction against keeping her captive.
I really liked the way Markus was broody and quiet for the first half of the book and doesn’t speak much unless he is giving Fallon orders and Fallon seems like she would be a talkative person in her real life, she is smart and doesn’t want to anger Markus, so she is quiet and mostly does what he tells her without complaint. However, she seems to be truly being smart and realizing that she will be punished or killed if she fights him or if she tries to something.
That is one thing I often dislike in captive romances, though the women are often brave and fight their captor and/or try to run at the slightest opening, when you think about it that is sort of stupid. Guys who buy women are not going to make it easy for them to escape, especially if they spent a lot of money, also they plan to keep the women for the long haul. So instead of incurring the wrath of the beast, it is best to be submissive and gain his trust. Wait for a more certain opportunity for escape since there probably is only one real chance.
Anyway, that is just my thoughts on this type of romance. I am not saying whether or not Fallon did this. As of writing this part of my review, I have only read 30% of the book. I just like the fact that Fallon is playing this close to the vest and she seems pretty intelligent, though she is very afraid of Markus.
Though Fallon has her own secrets and in this book they are dangerous secrets so the story is a good one. The romance between them is super steamy and sizzling hot. It’s funny that at the beginning Markus was the type of guy that has no problem buying and keeping a sex slave but by the end he seems like quite a good guy. I guess that is just dark romance for you and is also why I love it. The guys can do so many things that would make me truly hate them in real life, but in books can end up the Hero.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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