*REVIEW* – Captive Beauty, by Natasha Knight

#fairytaleretelling #romanticsuspense #eroticromance

Blurb

Cilla

The Beast had Belle.
Killian Black has me.

How I got here doesn’t matter, even though he says it does. Says it was my choice. He doesn’t get it, though. It wasn’t ever a choice for me.

And now, he’s changing the rules.

The agreement was one month. For thirty days, I’d be his. He’s no longer satisfied with my body alone, though. He wants my soul, too. Wants every part of me. And even though I can pretend I’m safe when I lie beneath him, this man does something to me. Something wicked.

A thing that will break me.

Killian

Cilla made the choice. She offered the deal. I just took her up on it. So what if I changed the rules half-way in? I’m not apologizing for it.

See, Cilla and me, we’re the same. She’s dark. As dark as me. Something happened to her. Something bad. It damaged her.

But it’s not a hero she seeks. It’s an avenging angel. A dark knight. That, I can do. I’ll slay her dragons, but it’ll cost her, because in return, I want everything. And I’ll take it.

She’s mine.

Author’s note: Captive Beauty is a standalone romance. Think Beauty and the Beast, but twisted and dark in the best, dirtiest ways.

My Review

Freaking Fabulous – 5 Stars ***** TOP READ

I just loved this latest release Captive Beauty, by Natasha Knight, one of my go to author’s when I want to read about exceedingly dark alphas and complex and damaged characters. It was not only a delicious panty melting read, but it was based on one of my favourite romance tropes – Beauty and the Beast. I one-clicked and devoured it with gusto at the first opportunity.

To save her brother from a serious kicking (and possibly worse) for daring to cross mob boss Killian Black, Cilla feels compelled to offer herself instead as recompese. She soon finds that she has signed herself over to the devil for 30 days to do exactly what he wants to her… For this woman who likes to keep men at an emotional distance she soon finds herself challenged by the darkness and intensity that Killian personifies. Killian is one hell of a dominant and likes very much to keep Cilla in her place. They are so well matched. as Cilla is feisty and certainly no pushover however, and I hugely enjoyed their battle of wills and the sex scenes truly sizzle!

The hero, or rather the anti-hero Killian Black is such a worthy beast: a remorseless mob boss with no scruples, a deliciously dark alpha. Yet Killian has his own inner demons to slay, feeling tormented that he could not protect an innocent from his past. The connection he forges with Cilla is profound and I loved that Killian is drawn to the darkness that he senses in her. He is determined to peel away her layers and discover what she is hiding. Yet Cilla is determined to keep her secrets at all cost, even when she enlists him to avenge a past wrong. As for Cilla, I loved that even as she struggles to submit to him she begins to enjoy his wicked attentions and very wicked they are too – cue serious hotness Natasha Knight style! My heart bled for what both these characters had endured.

I adore how this author delved deeply into their respective characters and slowly revealed their respective pasts. The attraction between Killian and Cilla was palpable from the off and increases in intensity as the read progresses. I was glued to the pages as I waited to find out whether their darkness would tear them apart or whether together they could slay their respective demons and together find resolution. It was unclear whether Killian’s actions would help Cilla find closure or somehow destroy them both.

The book contains a number of triggers, as you would expect with a dark romance, but they are integral to the plot and the character development. The writing, narrated in dual POV, flows beautifully. The book is an intense, emotional rollercoaster for Killian and Cilla and I enjoyed accompanying them on the ride.

This thoroughly addictive and sizzling dark romance, is without a doubt a superb read for lovers of the genre.

Goodreads