Sunday, November 20, 2016

Early Review of Taken (LOST #5) by Cynthia Eden

Title: Taken: LOST Series 5
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: LOST Series (Book 5)
Format: Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Avon (November 29, 2016)
ISBN-10: 006243747X
ISBN-13: 978-0062437471
Author's Website: http://www.cynthiaeden.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.
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"Everyone thinks it's over. I get that--six months have passed. Six long months. It should be over."
His brows lowered as he studied her.
"It's not."
Asher just waited. He sure wished she'd look at him again and--
Her head turned toward him, her strawberry blond hair sliding over her shoulders. Her long lashes swept up as Bailey's gaze zeroed in on him. "There's another victim."

Bailey Jones is a survivor. Six months ago she managed to escape the hands of a serial killer. She is the only known survivor. But before she was rescued, she recalls seeing another victim. A woman who was never found, and most likely ran off into the woods and has yet to be found or worse, identified among the dead.

The police say she imagined the women as a coping mechanism. Bailey knows differently. With no help from the police forthcoming, she decides to hire the Last Option Search Team, aka LOST, to find the woman she knows exists because her conscious will not allow her to do otherwise.

What Bailey doesn't realize is that all hell is about to break loose for a second time as another victim, not the one Bailey remembers, is found. Did the true serial killer not actually die in the cabin fire as the police said or is a copycat killer attempting to pick up where the last one left off? Only time will tell--something Bailey has precious little of as it soon becomes clear that the murderer's next target is her...
This was a very suspenseful read that had so many twists and turns to it I felt like I had whiplash after reading it. There were so many things I didn't see coming. So many pieces to the puzzle we didn't have access to at the beginning. So many holes that I didn't even know would need to be filled. If you haven't already guessed, I utterly enjoyed the ride. 

Bailey is a beautiful woman who made headlines when she disappeared. Her stunning good looks and rescue plastered her face all over the news making it virtually impossible for her to go anywhere without someone recognizing her. She has a long way to go in her journey to recovery, and hopes finding the woman who was trapped in the same nightmare as she was will grant her some closure to it all. She knows she'll never be the same, but until the woman is found she doesn't think she can move on.

Asher Young is an ex navy SEAL who LOST assigns to Bailey's case. He has some ghosts in his own closet which is what ultimately led to his working for LOST. Right from the start he feels a strong attraction to Bailey, and his protective nature goes on high alert. He will work closely with her to try to find the missing woman, and protect Bailey from harm while doing so.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. If you're looking for a book with a heaping dose of danger, mystery, suspense, drama, romance and action, in equal parts, then this is the book for you. The relationship between Bailey and Asher is both sweet and complicated. In some ways, their relationship dynamics reminded me a little of the 1992 film 'The Bodyguard'. Their past experiences, however, bond them while Asher's ability to see her not as a victim, but as a strong individual is what seals the deal. I will warn you that this one does contain violence toward women, although it doesn't go into any overly graphic detail, so if that type of story doesn't appeal to you, you may wish to pick up another book. This one is not for the faint of heart. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the Lost series:

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