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The Hunter…
Dare O’Shaughnessy had the world in the palm of his hand. A man known and feared for his ruthlessness, his word was law. The last word he ever expected to hear was no. Until he met her.
The Prey…
Aya Smith despised the ruling class who looked down on hardworking people like her. Sick of being treated unfairly by laws that protect the wealthy and punish the poor, she takes a stand but soon realizes, she might have crossed the wrong man.
The Game…
Created as a government program to assist in the repopulation of the country when an untested drug wipes out millions of women, The Run eventually evolves into something much more sinister. Now played for the amusement of the super rich, women down on their luck find themselves the prizes of sadistic masters.
Aya is forced to volunteer for The Run, and Dare, the most sadistic of all, places her in his crosshairs. She will belong to him, body and soul. But when he catches her will she succumb to his mastery, or will he find more trouble than he bargained for?
Dare O’Shaughnessy had the world in the palm of his hand. A man known and feared for his ruthlessness, his word was law. The last word he ever expected to hear was no. Until he met her.
The Prey…
Aya Smith despised the ruling class who looked down on hardworking people like her. Sick of being treated unfairly by laws that protect the wealthy and punish the poor, she takes a stand but soon realizes, she might have crossed the wrong man.
The Game…
Created as a government program to assist in the repopulation of the country when an untested drug wipes out millions of women, The Run eventually evolves into something much more sinister. Now played for the amusement of the super rich, women down on their luck find themselves the prizes of sadistic masters.
Aya is forced to volunteer for The Run, and Dare, the most sadistic of all, places her in his crosshairs. She will belong to him, body and soul. But when he catches her will she succumb to his mastery, or will he find more trouble than he bargained for?
241 pages, ebook
First published September 6, 2014
114 people are currently reading
1539 people want to read
About the author
Eve Vaughn
116 books842 followersNYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Eve Vaughn has enjoyed creating characters and making up stories from an early age. As a child she was always getting into mischief, so when she lost her television privileges (which was often), writing was her outlet. Her stories have gotten quite a bit spicier since then! Eve likes to read, bake, make crafts, travel, and spend time with her family. She lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and pet turtle. She loves to hear from her fans, so feel free to contact her at Eve@evevaughn.com or join her Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/eveva...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
October 29, 2014
3 Stars
This was very different from anything I've read in the past, but in a good way. Highly entertaining and very erotic, I pretty much finished this in one sitting. While I can't say that everything about this book worked for me, I certainly liked it enough that I'm looking forward to the next book, The Auction. I had a tough time rating this since there were a few quibbles I had that kept it from being a solid 4 star read, but ultimately I did enjoy it quite a bit. Let me break it down for you the best I can.
The set up
Run is set in a futuristic world where the only thing that rules is money. When a Derugulaition act was put into place years ago, it allowed any and all government to be obsolete and for the rich and powerful corporations to become a law onto themselves with free reign to run their business as they see fit. The fallout was incredible, as was the death poll. When a large pharmaceutical company released a vaccine for breast cancer that wasn't properly tested, the end result was a drug that ultimately wiped out half the female population and causing the women to become almost as valuable as currency. The poor, or the Dregs of the society are struggling to survive where the rich and powerful are corrupt and money is the only thing that holds power. The gap between the rich and the poor is extreme and there's no rules to govern anything. Thus also formed The Run; an event that started out as a government program for men to find wives, but really it's just a legalized hunt where the men that can afford to buy in will hunt for their potential "mates". Women participate in this due to having no other choice and trying to keep their families affloat. Men participate to basically add to their harem. These women are often brutalized, tortured, and at times don't survive their new masters. The owner of the run is the enigmatic Dare.
When Dare notices Aya (a Dreg for all intents and purposes) and she rebuffs his advances, his brutal and punishing nature insists that she pay. So he puts to work a chain of events that eventually leave Aya no other choice but to participate in the Run where Dare has every intention of catching her.
What worked
The set up. I liked the world building and the premise of the story, it was very unique and unlike anything I've read in the past.
Dare was a hero you will love to hate and Aya is a heroine that you will root for.
The sex. It was damn hot.
The secondary characters. I'm hoping that Macy and Foster will be making an appearance in The Auction. Their story is one I was very intrigued with, especially poor Macy and what she went through.
What didn't work for me
I felt a lot of the times that I was being told the story as opposed to shown. There were things that were almost redundantly described. I like to be led to my own conclusion about characters and situations most times, especially when there's a certain dark element to the book, and that just wasn't the case here. I felt like I was told what to think, what to see, and everything the characters feel.
The initial attraction
I didn't quite get it. Dare sees a glimpse of Aya being arrested, barely enough to catch her features, and he's compelled to track her down after that at the bar she works and proceeds to systematically tear her life apart because he NEEDS to have her.
Aya's strong will
While a lot of the time that was the one thing I really loved about her character, it also really worked against her in other parts. If you know that the rich always win, and Dare is as rich and powerful as they come, why would you proceed to not only turn him down but do it in a way that's guaranteed to piss him off. Would you really throw a drink in the face of someone that just threatened your business and livelihood and actually has the means to carry through with it?
Dare's personality change
It just wasn't believable to me. For someone that grew up like he did, and has pretty much been a cold and ruthless bastard for the better part of his life, it was almost like a switch was flipped and then he does a complete 180. It was just too sudden for my tastes, and I just couldn't really connect to it.
Overall thoughts
Minus those few things, I really did enjoy this one. If you like futuristic romances with a darker edge, definitely give this one a try. It's quick paced, erotic, and the set up is very unique. The set up for The Auction has certainly peeked my interest, and I can't wait to see what the author has in store with the next book.
**ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews visit
It didn't matter how attractive he was. Dare O'SHaughnessy was the devil and he was looking for his due. Her.
This was very different from anything I've read in the past, but in a good way. Highly entertaining and very erotic, I pretty much finished this in one sitting. While I can't say that everything about this book worked for me, I certainly liked it enough that I'm looking forward to the next book, The Auction. I had a tough time rating this since there were a few quibbles I had that kept it from being a solid 4 star read, but ultimately I did enjoy it quite a bit. Let me break it down for you the best I can.
The set up
Run is set in a futuristic world where the only thing that rules is money. When a Derugulaition act was put into place years ago, it allowed any and all government to be obsolete and for the rich and powerful corporations to become a law onto themselves with free reign to run their business as they see fit. The fallout was incredible, as was the death poll. When a large pharmaceutical company released a vaccine for breast cancer that wasn't properly tested, the end result was a drug that ultimately wiped out half the female population and causing the women to become almost as valuable as currency. The poor, or the Dregs of the society are struggling to survive where the rich and powerful are corrupt and money is the only thing that holds power. The gap between the rich and the poor is extreme and there's no rules to govern anything. Thus also formed The Run; an event that started out as a government program for men to find wives, but really it's just a legalized hunt where the men that can afford to buy in will hunt for their potential "mates". Women participate in this due to having no other choice and trying to keep their families affloat. Men participate to basically add to their harem. These women are often brutalized, tortured, and at times don't survive their new masters. The owner of the run is the enigmatic Dare.
When Dare notices Aya (a Dreg for all intents and purposes) and she rebuffs his advances, his brutal and punishing nature insists that she pay. So he puts to work a chain of events that eventually leave Aya no other choice but to participate in the Run where Dare has every intention of catching her.
What worked
The set up. I liked the world building and the premise of the story, it was very unique and unlike anything I've read in the past.
Dare was a hero you will love to hate and Aya is a heroine that you will root for.
The sex. It was damn hot.
The secondary characters. I'm hoping that Macy and Foster will be making an appearance in The Auction. Their story is one I was very intrigued with, especially poor Macy and what she went through.
What didn't work for me
I felt a lot of the times that I was being told the story as opposed to shown. There were things that were almost redundantly described. I like to be led to my own conclusion about characters and situations most times, especially when there's a certain dark element to the book, and that just wasn't the case here. I felt like I was told what to think, what to see, and everything the characters feel.
The initial attraction
I didn't quite get it. Dare sees a glimpse of Aya being arrested, barely enough to catch her features, and he's compelled to track her down after that at the bar she works and proceeds to systematically tear her life apart because he NEEDS to have her.
Aya's strong will
While a lot of the time that was the one thing I really loved about her character, it also really worked against her in other parts. If you know that the rich always win, and Dare is as rich and powerful as they come, why would you proceed to not only turn him down but do it in a way that's guaranteed to piss him off. Would you really throw a drink in the face of someone that just threatened your business and livelihood and actually has the means to carry through with it?
Dare's personality change
It just wasn't believable to me. For someone that grew up like he did, and has pretty much been a cold and ruthless bastard for the better part of his life, it was almost like a switch was flipped and then he does a complete 180. It was just too sudden for my tastes, and I just couldn't really connect to it.
Overall thoughts
Minus those few things, I really did enjoy this one. If you like futuristic romances with a darker edge, definitely give this one a try. It's quick paced, erotic, and the set up is very unique. The set up for The Auction has certainly peeked my interest, and I can't wait to see what the author has in store with the next book.
**ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews visit
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September 16, 2014DNF
I gave the last book I read 2 stars, and unfortunately this one is going down the same road.
1. A saucier version of The Hunger Games. No thank you.
2. An alpha male. Yes please.
As a reader our reading habits change or evolve or whatever you want to call it. I can normally tell you after reading the first chapter if I'll enjoy a book. I've always loved Alpha males, extreme alpha males and that is never going to change. Ever. This book may have worked for me, say... six months ago. But today it just didn't.
I guess I've moved past the stage where an alpha male can carry a weak plot.
I'm sorry but it felt as if the author was trying to hard when it came to the futuristic aspect of the book. I just found myself rolling my eyes a lot, and then I just started nitpicking every single thing about this book. Which is a huge no. So I gracefully DNF. Because I'd rather not post another angry rant/review
ARC kindly provided by author in return for an honest review
I gave the last book I read 2 stars, and unfortunately this one is going down the same road.
1. A saucier version of The Hunger Games. No thank you.
2. An alpha male. Yes please.
As a reader our reading habits change or evolve or whatever you want to call it. I can normally tell you after reading the first chapter if I'll enjoy a book. I've always loved Alpha males, extreme alpha males and that is never going to change. Ever. This book may have worked for me, say... six months ago. But today it just didn't.
I guess I've moved past the stage where an alpha male can carry a weak plot.
I'm sorry but it felt as if the author was trying to hard when it came to the futuristic aspect of the book. I just found myself rolling my eyes a lot, and then I just started nitpicking every single thing about this book. Which is a huge no. So I gracefully DNF. Because I'd rather not post another angry rant/review
ARC kindly provided by author in return for an honest review
September 10, 2014
DNF @ 30%
I tried, and failed. As I went along, I just got more and more pissed. This is SOOOOO not my kind of book.
'The Run' – owned and run by the hero - is like a 'tag the naked slave' version of 'The Hunger Games'.
Clichéd erotic lead characters; The asshole domineering hero, who has no respect for women. The feisty virgin heroine, who is totally oblivious to male attention.
So there's this dystopian future where women are scum because there's so few of them. Huh? I know.
A breast cancer treatment backfired, now there's a 3 to 1 ratio of men to women. The rich/poor divide is massive now. So that means women are in high commodity, yet they are treated badly. Families sell their daughters, men buy women to use as slaves/wives/sex toys, or women go to whore houses to give money to their families.
Now I know it's fiction, but it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Women being treated badly and men not giving a shit about them isn't something I want to hear about.
There were certain points in the story where it broke me down.
First, introducing the male character with a scene where he's using a woman as a slut and sending her on her not-so-merry way (I’ve read 3 books with the same cliché this fortnight).
Second there was the beginning of 'The Run', where the 'hunters' were allowed to inspect the 'prey' by feeling them up/talking to them however they wanted while men held them still.
BLEUGH.
Third was this conversation between the hero; Dare, and his associate West;
West; “There've been whispers that a lot of the girls he tags don't always make it out of his house in one piece or alive. I don't know how true that is but one of my acquaintances attended a party at his house and he has a harem. I was told his women weren't in good shape. A lot of them are sporting bruises and others more severe injuries.”
Dare; “All second hand stories. Besides, he's not the first person to have a collection. What goes on in his home is none of my business and it should be yours either. These women that you're suddenly championing know what they're getting into. They're compensated handsomely for doing this. What happens once the game is over is none of my concern.”
OH BLEUGH!
Forth and final...
Despite how much i liked her and how strong and intelligent the heroine was, how much she LOATHES the hero for speaking to her like shit, imprisoning her uncle, being a bastard to her.... This happens:
'One second she was fighting him off the next she'd practically melted in his arms. Her knees went weak, her pulse raced and her nipples grew painful- ' BLEUGH BLEUGH
AND THEN, I put it down forever.
I tried, and failed. As I went along, I just got more and more pissed. This is SOOOOO not my kind of book.
'The Run' – owned and run by the hero - is like a 'tag the naked slave' version of 'The Hunger Games'.
Clichéd erotic lead characters; The asshole domineering hero, who has no respect for women. The feisty virgin heroine, who is totally oblivious to male attention.
So there's this dystopian future where women are scum because there's so few of them. Huh? I know.
A breast cancer treatment backfired, now there's a 3 to 1 ratio of men to women. The rich/poor divide is massive now. So that means women are in high commodity, yet they are treated badly. Families sell their daughters, men buy women to use as slaves/wives/sex toys, or women go to whore houses to give money to their families.
Now I know it's fiction, but it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Women being treated badly and men not giving a shit about them isn't something I want to hear about.
There were certain points in the story where it broke me down.
First, introducing the male character with a scene where he's using a woman as a slut and sending her on her not-so-merry way (I’ve read 3 books with the same cliché this fortnight).
Second there was the beginning of 'The Run', where the 'hunters' were allowed to inspect the 'prey' by feeling them up/talking to them however they wanted while men held them still.
BLEUGH.
Third was this conversation between the hero; Dare, and his associate West;
West; “There've been whispers that a lot of the girls he tags don't always make it out of his house in one piece or alive. I don't know how true that is but one of my acquaintances attended a party at his house and he has a harem. I was told his women weren't in good shape. A lot of them are sporting bruises and others more severe injuries.”
Dare; “All second hand stories. Besides, he's not the first person to have a collection. What goes on in his home is none of my business and it should be yours either. These women that you're suddenly championing know what they're getting into. They're compensated handsomely for doing this. What happens once the game is over is none of my concern.”
OH BLEUGH!
Forth and final...
Despite how much i liked her and how strong and intelligent the heroine was, how much she LOATHES the hero for speaking to her like shit, imprisoning her uncle, being a bastard to her.... This happens:
'One second she was fighting him off the next she'd practically melted in his arms. Her knees went weak, her pulse raced and her nipples grew painful- ' BLEUGH BLEUGH
AND THEN, I put it down forever.
gave-the-fuck-up
September 19, 2014 GTFU at 69%
I continued reading this hoping at some point I would like the Hero but no I still don't. Honestly I don't really even like the heroine either. I originally thought it may be like a futuristic Golden Dynasty but nope...
Dare O'Shaughnessy is an arrogant rich asshole who owns "The Run" He forces Aya to participate after jailing her uncle and giving her no other choice basically. All this because he wants her. He doesn't usually participate in the run but this time he does..just for her...
During the run he cheats and steals her from someone who already caught her and has her as his sex slave
She doesn't want to like the sex but she does.
He starts developing feelings but continues to treat her like shit and is an asshole to her...I'm sure at some point he will change his asshole ways and she will kiss his ass and they will live happily ever after..
I just don't see him as redeemable so I quit.
ARC from Heaven Sent PR in exchange for an honest review.
I continued reading this hoping at some point I would like the Hero but no I still don't. Honestly I don't really even like the heroine either. I originally thought it may be like a futuristic Golden Dynasty but nope...
Dare O'Shaughnessy is an arrogant rich asshole who owns "The Run" He forces Aya to participate after jailing her uncle and giving her no other choice basically. All this because he wants her. He doesn't usually participate in the run but this time he does..just for her...
During the run he cheats and steals her from someone who already caught her and has her as his sex slave
She doesn't want to like the sex but she does.
He starts developing feelings but continues to treat her like shit and is an asshole to her...I'm sure at some point he will change his asshole ways and she will kiss his ass and they will live happily ever after..
I just don't see him as redeemable so I quit.
ARC from Heaven Sent PR in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2014
☆ I received an ARC from Heaven Sent PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
#Ooooh!! I liked this one!! It was so brutal and unforgiving!!
For those of you who love erotic dystopian reads then The Run is DEFINITELY for you!!
So, first thing's first, what exactly is "The Run" and why is the story called Run in the first place?:
"The Run," where the story gets its title from, Run, is future society's way rebuilding the female race after a medical experiment goes wrong and nearly wipes out their entire population.
Only....what was started off with good intentions, later deviates and develops into a degrading practice of shows of power, degradation, retribution, and ultimately corruption.
This is "The Run."
The plot in a nutshell:
What lengths would you go to save the people that you love?
For Aya Smith, these lengths find her reluctantly entering herself into the annual “Run” where her biggest nightmares become reality.
Thrown into a dog eat dog world where weakness is not tolerated nor appreciated, Aya quickly learns that in order to survive here is to succumb herself to the monastic rule of a sinister force that has taken a fancy to her.
Who is he you may ask? Why is he is Dare O’Shaughnessy, the most dangerous and powerful man in this ominous world and owner of "The Run."
A man who, has his eyes on taming this defiant spitfire and bending her to his will...COMPLETELY and IRREVOCABLY...
Welcome to the world of The Run ladies and gentlemen, where the Elite rule and all those below them are disposable pawns at their bidding!!
My thoughts + some re-briefing and elaborating on the plot and characters:
Eve Vaughn’s Run touched a lot upon the power dividend between the different social castes. For women of the low and poor classes, "The Run" is their last resort for money, hopes of a better life, and in Aya's case: to save her uncle and his business from a certain tyrant mogul trying to put her (and her uncle) in their place..
“You seem to have forgotten the rules of The Run, doll. You are mine until I say you’re not and if I want to keep you indefinitely, then that is my right. Don’t forget it.”
Now caught up in the crosshairs of this deadly yet seductive man, what is Aya to do when feelings begin to grow between her and her captor, and the two find themselves in a tumultuous love affair that neither had bargained for?
Few things are for certain: worlds will collide, rules will be broken, and hearts will be on the line.
What will become of Aya and Dare? Will what started as a testament of survival for Aya and a game for Dare end up in true love? Or will it conclude in heartbreak? Read and you will find out readers!!
Wrap up:
A great start to this compelling series from author Eve Vaughn!! I will be staying on for bk 2, The Auction!! Sounds like even more trouble is brewing and it's up to our cast of lovelies to take down the big baddies!!
I hope Aya’s friend Macy will get some love action!! Preferably from Foster!!♥♥ I do like Mac and do sympathize for him since he always gets friend-zoned but I like Foster for Macy more. I think they suit each other better. Please have a Foster and Macy love match Ms. Vaughn! And then find Mac some lady lovin’ as well!♥♥
#Fans of Skyla Madi’s The Unfortunates and Lolita Lopez’s Grab series will love this gem of a book! I think it's these books hybrid baby minus any sort of alien- sci-fi themes and four malicious, dictating family houses. #
#Ooooh!! I liked this one!! It was so brutal and unforgiving!!
For those of you who love erotic dystopian reads then The Run is DEFINITELY for you!!
So, first thing's first, what exactly is "The Run" and why is the story called Run in the first place?:
"The Run," where the story gets its title from, Run, is future society's way rebuilding the female race after a medical experiment goes wrong and nearly wipes out their entire population.
Only....what was started off with good intentions, later deviates and develops into a degrading practice of shows of power, degradation, retribution, and ultimately corruption.
This is "The Run."
The plot in a nutshell:
What lengths would you go to save the people that you love?
For Aya Smith, these lengths find her reluctantly entering herself into the annual “Run” where her biggest nightmares become reality.
Thrown into a dog eat dog world where weakness is not tolerated nor appreciated, Aya quickly learns that in order to survive here is to succumb herself to the monastic rule of a sinister force that has taken a fancy to her.
Who is he you may ask? Why is he is Dare O’Shaughnessy, the most dangerous and powerful man in this ominous world and owner of "The Run."
A man who, has his eyes on taming this defiant spitfire and bending her to his will...COMPLETELY and IRREVOCABLY...
Welcome to the world of The Run ladies and gentlemen, where the Elite rule and all those below them are disposable pawns at their bidding!!
My thoughts + some re-briefing and elaborating on the plot and characters:
Eve Vaughn’s Run touched a lot upon the power dividend between the different social castes. For women of the low and poor classes, "The Run" is their last resort for money, hopes of a better life, and in Aya's case: to save her uncle and his business from a certain tyrant mogul trying to put her (and her uncle) in their place..
“You seem to have forgotten the rules of The Run, doll. You are mine until I say you’re not and if I want to keep you indefinitely, then that is my right. Don’t forget it.”
Now caught up in the crosshairs of this deadly yet seductive man, what is Aya to do when feelings begin to grow between her and her captor, and the two find themselves in a tumultuous love affair that neither had bargained for?
Few things are for certain: worlds will collide, rules will be broken, and hearts will be on the line.
What will become of Aya and Dare? Will what started as a testament of survival for Aya and a game for Dare end up in true love? Or will it conclude in heartbreak? Read and you will find out readers!!
Wrap up:
A great start to this compelling series from author Eve Vaughn!! I will be staying on for bk 2, The Auction!! Sounds like even more trouble is brewing and it's up to our cast of lovelies to take down the big baddies!!
I hope Aya’s friend Macy will get some love action!! Preferably from Foster!!♥♥ I do like Mac and do sympathize for him since he always gets friend-zoned but I like Foster for Macy more. I think they suit each other better. Please have a Foster and Macy love match Ms. Vaughn! And then find Mac some lady lovin’ as well!♥♥
#Fans of Skyla Madi’s The Unfortunates and Lolita Lopez’s Grab series will love this gem of a book! I think it's these books hybrid baby minus any sort of alien- sci-fi themes and four malicious, dictating family houses. #
April 25, 2017
update: 4/22/17 signup up for the authors newsletter and get this book free: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/uRBaz
Imagine you live in a world where the middle class no longer existed, only the rich "elites" mattered, and the rest of us where labeled "dregs" for daring to exist. The cherry on this crap sundae is being female marks you as either future victim, or property. Aya is an impulsive dreg girl, whose mouth constantly writes checks, no one in her class can afford to cash. Dare is the wrong elite whose attention, and ire she unwittingly commanded. To teach her a lesson, he manipulates circumstances to force her into this crazy Hunger Games like race that only the most desperate women are forced to participate in. If caught, you surrender everything to the winner, even your life, if that's his kick.
Dare puts the hole in alpha-hole. He is cold, and pretty unlikable. Aya isn't exactly stupid, but she has an extremely low EQ, meaning her emotions chronically overrun her intellect at every turn. In the beginning this aggravated me because of my expectations someone in her place to be craftier. She acted like a sheltered princess without any concept of how the world worked. This picked up for me at the 20% mark, and I was able to get lost in the story. Normally not a big dystopian fan, but this was a nice change of IR pace.
Imagine you live in a world where the middle class no longer existed, only the rich "elites" mattered, and the rest of us where labeled "dregs" for daring to exist. The cherry on this crap sundae is being female marks you as either future victim, or property. Aya is an impulsive dreg girl, whose mouth constantly writes checks, no one in her class can afford to cash. Dare is the wrong elite whose attention, and ire she unwittingly commanded. To teach her a lesson, he manipulates circumstances to force her into this crazy Hunger Games like race that only the most desperate women are forced to participate in. If caught, you surrender everything to the winner, even your life, if that's his kick.
Dare puts the hole in alpha-hole. He is cold, and pretty unlikable. Aya isn't exactly stupid, but she has an extremely low EQ, meaning her emotions chronically overrun her intellect at every turn. In the beginning this aggravated me because of my expectations someone in her place to be craftier. She acted like a sheltered princess without any concept of how the world worked. This picked up for me at the 20% mark, and I was able to get lost in the story. Normally not a big dystopian fan, but this was a nice change of IR pace.
September 14, 2014
Eve is one of my favourite authors. Whatever He Wants was my favourite story by her because the hero James Rothschild was such a flawed man. However Dare in Run has moved to the number 1 spot for me!!!
This is Dare O’Shaughnessy and Aya Smith story. (BW/WM) Dare is a very flawed man with lots of issues and he has his sights set on Aya. Dare stops at nothing to get Aya in his life. He is totally ruthless in getting and dominating Aya. Aya has a temper and a lot to say for herself which ignites Dare passions! Dare mission is to break Aya. The story takes us on this journey of finding out what happens when Dare succeeds in his mission. When he finally reaches his goal the results are devastating to him and then love brings about his redemption!
I absolutely love, love this story! Every single page of it kept me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen between this couple. I found the story engrossing and a real page turner. Definitely a 5 star read. I would highly recommend this read! I cannot wait for the next book Auction to come out!
This is Dare O’Shaughnessy and Aya Smith story. (BW/WM) Dare is a very flawed man with lots of issues and he has his sights set on Aya. Dare stops at nothing to get Aya in his life. He is totally ruthless in getting and dominating Aya. Aya has a temper and a lot to say for herself which ignites Dare passions! Dare mission is to break Aya. The story takes us on this journey of finding out what happens when Dare succeeds in his mission. When he finally reaches his goal the results are devastating to him and then love brings about his redemption!
I absolutely love, love this story! Every single page of it kept me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen between this couple. I found the story engrossing and a real page turner. Definitely a 5 star read. I would highly recommend this read! I cannot wait for the next book Auction to come out!
September 15, 2014
When I first saw Run being advertised a little while ago I knew that I had to read this one and Eve Vaughn delivered even more than I expected. Alasdair (Dare) O'Shauhnessay is an outrageously wealthy Elite who wants nothing less than the total domination of everyone and everything around him. With the amount of money and power he has acquired Dare definitely has the means to achieve almost anything that he wants. In a world where women are commodities and the divide between the wealthy Elite and the poor and struggling Dregs is near impossible to cross Dare and Aya are on very different ends of the socio-economc spectrum. Dare is able to literally dare anything he wants. Dare is able to have anything or anyone he wants and what he wants is Aya; by any means necessary.
Aya is a young woman who helps to run a modest bar with her uncle in the center of her Dreg community. Aya's intelligence, compassion, and passion has made her a proud member of her community, but her quick temper and minimal self control proves to be her downfall. Through a series of unfortunate encounters Aya is now on Dare's radar, A hasty and rash decision made in a moment of anger has now cost her everything that she holds dear. To save her uncle she is now forced to participate in the Run. The Run is the monthly hunt put on by a group of Elites where they are able to "hunt" women who have volunteered to be prey to the Elite who will then hold them as sex slaves for as long as they desire. Being tagged by a hunter means that you no longer have any say in how you are treated for an indefinite period of time. Each woman comes to the Run solely to be able to earn enough credits to take of themselves and their families. In the world created by Vaughn women no longer have a true means of supporting themselves financially and have to depend on men for their safety and well being.
I will admit that I couldn't see how Vaughn was going to bring me around to Dare's side, every move he made was cruel and selfish. I couldn't see any redeeming qualities in him at all. However, Vaughn managed to transform a cruel, arrogant, despicable man into someone that I wanted to get his happily ever after.Vaughn was able to reveal Dare's reasons for being who he is in a way that felt completely plausible. Taking Dare's character right to the edge of being unredeemable and then drawing the reader into his past was engrossing and I loved it! Making Aya strong but also flawed in her own right was another thing that made me enjoy this book so much. Some of Aya's decisions weren't the smartest at times, but she fought to maintain her compassion, dignity and self worth in even the most dire of circumstances.
Run has plenty of very descriptive sex as well. I think it is worth mentioning that there is a sex scene with breath play. Breath play is a bit outside of my comfort zone and I wasn't sure where the story was going from there, but it wasn't necessarily gratuitous and did make sense to the scene that it played out in. However if you are squeamish about that type of sexual encounter at least you have been properly warned. The relationship between Aya and Dare is not a courtship. Their relationship is based on coerced consent so don't expect romance or even seduction between Dare and Aya, In Run Vaughn created an engrossing world populated with interesting and complex characters. There is definitely some social commentary being stated in this one, but since I pretty much agree with what's being pointed out, I was more than okay with that. I won't go into what it is, it's pretty obvious and it can't be missed. I am very much looking forward to reading book 2, The Auction, that will be coming out in 2015.
Aya is a young woman who helps to run a modest bar with her uncle in the center of her Dreg community. Aya's intelligence, compassion, and passion has made her a proud member of her community, but her quick temper and minimal self control proves to be her downfall. Through a series of unfortunate encounters Aya is now on Dare's radar, A hasty and rash decision made in a moment of anger has now cost her everything that she holds dear. To save her uncle she is now forced to participate in the Run. The Run is the monthly hunt put on by a group of Elites where they are able to "hunt" women who have volunteered to be prey to the Elite who will then hold them as sex slaves for as long as they desire. Being tagged by a hunter means that you no longer have any say in how you are treated for an indefinite period of time. Each woman comes to the Run solely to be able to earn enough credits to take of themselves and their families. In the world created by Vaughn women no longer have a true means of supporting themselves financially and have to depend on men for their safety and well being.
I will admit that I couldn't see how Vaughn was going to bring me around to Dare's side, every move he made was cruel and selfish. I couldn't see any redeeming qualities in him at all. However, Vaughn managed to transform a cruel, arrogant, despicable man into someone that I wanted to get his happily ever after.Vaughn was able to reveal Dare's reasons for being who he is in a way that felt completely plausible. Taking Dare's character right to the edge of being unredeemable and then drawing the reader into his past was engrossing and I loved it! Making Aya strong but also flawed in her own right was another thing that made me enjoy this book so much. Some of Aya's decisions weren't the smartest at times, but she fought to maintain her compassion, dignity and self worth in even the most dire of circumstances.
Run has plenty of very descriptive sex as well. I think it is worth mentioning that there is a sex scene with breath play. Breath play is a bit outside of my comfort zone and I wasn't sure where the story was going from there, but it wasn't necessarily gratuitous and did make sense to the scene that it played out in. However if you are squeamish about that type of sexual encounter at least you have been properly warned. The relationship between Aya and Dare is not a courtship. Their relationship is based on coerced consent so don't expect romance or even seduction between Dare and Aya, In Run Vaughn created an engrossing world populated with interesting and complex characters. There is definitely some social commentary being stated in this one, but since I pretty much agree with what's being pointed out, I was more than okay with that. I won't go into what it is, it's pretty obvious and it can't be missed. I am very much looking forward to reading book 2, The Auction, that will be coming out in 2015.
September 8, 2014
OH MY GOD!!!!!
Mind = blown
I have read a series of terrible dark romances lately and I was really close to giving up. One thing that seems to be a running theme, the authors don't think they need to make the world believable saying, "It's fiction I don't have too."
It is because it is fiction that you have to make it real for the readers.
With this book Eve did NOT disappoint me. The author had a very simplistic way she brought the world to life for me. Set in a dystopian world, this dark romance pushed my limits, made me rage, and brought out the ugly cry. I swear I was about to insert myself in Aya's place and I felt every single emotion that she bleed of the page. She was such a well executed female lead. She never got weak, she evolved, and the evolution made me love her all the more.
Jared was a right evil A-hole and his growth and well developed story arc had me feeling for him and believing his redemption by the end.
Every inch of this story was well throught out and paced. It had just the right amount of sex to kick in that arousal, and the story dominated it all. I would love a Foster story. Him and his girl need a book and I am hoping the Auction is about him.
I highly recommend this book to all fans of dark. This author really raised the bar for me.
Mind = blown
I have read a series of terrible dark romances lately and I was really close to giving up. One thing that seems to be a running theme, the authors don't think they need to make the world believable saying, "It's fiction I don't have too."
It is because it is fiction that you have to make it real for the readers.
With this book Eve did NOT disappoint me. The author had a very simplistic way she brought the world to life for me. Set in a dystopian world, this dark romance pushed my limits, made me rage, and brought out the ugly cry. I swear I was about to insert myself in Aya's place and I felt every single emotion that she bleed of the page. She was such a well executed female lead. She never got weak, she evolved, and the evolution made me love her all the more.
Jared was a right evil A-hole and his growth and well developed story arc had me feeling for him and believing his redemption by the end.
Every inch of this story was well throught out and paced. It had just the right amount of sex to kick in that arousal, and the story dominated it all. I would love a Foster story. Him and his girl need a book and I am hoping the Auction is about him.
I highly recommend this book to all fans of dark. This author really raised the bar for me.
September 8, 2014
Now for a little creative mathematics...
Sexy alpha male who has a domination and possessive streak but a backstory and history to go along with it?
+
Strong female lead who is determined to survive in a society that constantly wants to hold and beat her down?
+
SMOKING hot sex scenes
X
A GREAT plot with a story strong enough to hold your attention throughout the entire ride as well as throw in a few unexpected twists and turns that make you shake your head because you didn't see that one coming?
=
The Run by Eve Vaughn.
Imagine a future where a change in regulation policies results in a pharmaceutical company releasing a breast cancer vaccine for women that actually kills most of the female population. Now the numbers result in three men to every woman. Unfortunately, women are not highly sought after to be cherished they are highly sought after as possessions and status symbols. In addition to this twist there is also a definite class structure with a small percentage wealthy and the vast majority of the population as extremely poor.
In an effort to survive themselves as well as, for many of them, to support their families women are able to participate in The Run. This is a contest where the women are dropped off and hunted by the men. The man that captures the woman contractually owns her until he no longer wants her and HE voluntarily releases her.
Enter Aya and Dare. Aya is a female of the lower class, Dregs, who finds herself the recipient of a series of incidents that force her to participate in The Run. The problem is that Aya stands out. In a sea of submissive and downtrodden women Aya has managed to retain her fire. Her spirit. Her fight.
Dare is not only of the wealthy class called the Elite he IS the wealthy class. One of the wealthiest men in the world he is surrounded by people who continuously bow down to his every whim for fear that he will destroy not only them but everyone and everything that surrounds him. The problem is that Dare is bored. When you have everything you tend to appreciate nothing.
Dare wants to dominate. Aya doesn't want to submit. To Dare to be told no is unacceptable. To Aya to say no and mean it is the only thing that IS acceptable. The problem... oil and water don't mix but they DO create an explosion.
So what happens when the person that you seem to hate is really the person it seems you were meant to love?
Ms Vaughn is the QUEEN of the arrogant, broody sexy alpha male that you love to hate and then hate to love. I SWEAR she must have been whispering in Gabrielle-Suzanne's ear giving her hints on how to write the perfect Beauty and the Beast story. She is EXCELLENT at creating the ultimate jerk. The one that you hope gets taken out in some cruel, macabre fashion sometime early in the book so that you can be convinced justice can prevail. After you have bought ALL IN that you absolutely can NOT stand this man and you are plotting some way to jump into the story yourself to save this heroine who just can NOT seem to get away from him Ms Vaughn does it. What's it? She begins to subtly throw in hints. Tidbits of information that allow you to begin to see him as not this beast but the man who was once the beast and who - given the right situation, circumstance and woman - can be that man again. All of that and just like any fairy tale worth its' salt you get a moral too. Just in case you were slow to pick it up in the story Ms Vaughn actually spells it out to you clearly so it's hard to walk away from this one and not "get it".
The writing style allows you to connect with each character. Even minor characters have personalities that you can easily identify with and connect to. In addition, the style is such that it allows you to clearly visualize the story. It's like watching a movie in your head but better because you get a clear understanding on nuances such as what the character feels or thinks and doesn't say.
I walked away from this one reminded of compassion. It's easy to look at the person that someone is today and forget that everything that happened to them yesterday is what framed who and what they are. It's also easy to judge someone else for something when the possibility remains that, to some degree, we may be guilty of the same thing. We forget that the things that bother us the most are sometimes things that effect us the most. Sometimes it's because they are our own struggles or shortcomings.
This is the start of a series. You get an ENTIRE story so there is no specific cliff hanger you leave with but you do walk away with some questions that I'm sure that the author will clear up in the upcoming books. The story itself is strong enough that you feel that you have a complete story that could stand alone but strong enough to be the foundation of more great books.
Recommend? HECK YEAH!!! Now... hurry up 2015!!! I need another book!!
Sexy alpha male who has a domination and possessive streak but a backstory and history to go along with it?
+
Strong female lead who is determined to survive in a society that constantly wants to hold and beat her down?
+
SMOKING hot sex scenes
X
A GREAT plot with a story strong enough to hold your attention throughout the entire ride as well as throw in a few unexpected twists and turns that make you shake your head because you didn't see that one coming?
=
The Run by Eve Vaughn.
Imagine a future where a change in regulation policies results in a pharmaceutical company releasing a breast cancer vaccine for women that actually kills most of the female population. Now the numbers result in three men to every woman. Unfortunately, women are not highly sought after to be cherished they are highly sought after as possessions and status symbols. In addition to this twist there is also a definite class structure with a small percentage wealthy and the vast majority of the population as extremely poor.
In an effort to survive themselves as well as, for many of them, to support their families women are able to participate in The Run. This is a contest where the women are dropped off and hunted by the men. The man that captures the woman contractually owns her until he no longer wants her and HE voluntarily releases her.
Enter Aya and Dare. Aya is a female of the lower class, Dregs, who finds herself the recipient of a series of incidents that force her to participate in The Run. The problem is that Aya stands out. In a sea of submissive and downtrodden women Aya has managed to retain her fire. Her spirit. Her fight.
Dare is not only of the wealthy class called the Elite he IS the wealthy class. One of the wealthiest men in the world he is surrounded by people who continuously bow down to his every whim for fear that he will destroy not only them but everyone and everything that surrounds him. The problem is that Dare is bored. When you have everything you tend to appreciate nothing.
Dare wants to dominate. Aya doesn't want to submit. To Dare to be told no is unacceptable. To Aya to say no and mean it is the only thing that IS acceptable. The problem... oil and water don't mix but they DO create an explosion.
So what happens when the person that you seem to hate is really the person it seems you were meant to love?
Ms Vaughn is the QUEEN of the arrogant, broody sexy alpha male that you love to hate and then hate to love. I SWEAR she must have been whispering in Gabrielle-Suzanne's ear giving her hints on how to write the perfect Beauty and the Beast story. She is EXCELLENT at creating the ultimate jerk. The one that you hope gets taken out in some cruel, macabre fashion sometime early in the book so that you can be convinced justice can prevail. After you have bought ALL IN that you absolutely can NOT stand this man and you are plotting some way to jump into the story yourself to save this heroine who just can NOT seem to get away from him Ms Vaughn does it. What's it? She begins to subtly throw in hints. Tidbits of information that allow you to begin to see him as not this beast but the man who was once the beast and who - given the right situation, circumstance and woman - can be that man again. All of that and just like any fairy tale worth its' salt you get a moral too. Just in case you were slow to pick it up in the story Ms Vaughn actually spells it out to you clearly so it's hard to walk away from this one and not "get it".
The writing style allows you to connect with each character. Even minor characters have personalities that you can easily identify with and connect to. In addition, the style is such that it allows you to clearly visualize the story. It's like watching a movie in your head but better because you get a clear understanding on nuances such as what the character feels or thinks and doesn't say.
I walked away from this one reminded of compassion. It's easy to look at the person that someone is today and forget that everything that happened to them yesterday is what framed who and what they are. It's also easy to judge someone else for something when the possibility remains that, to some degree, we may be guilty of the same thing. We forget that the things that bother us the most are sometimes things that effect us the most. Sometimes it's because they are our own struggles or shortcomings.
This is the start of a series. You get an ENTIRE story so there is no specific cliff hanger you leave with but you do walk away with some questions that I'm sure that the author will clear up in the upcoming books. The story itself is strong enough that you feel that you have a complete story that could stand alone but strong enough to be the foundation of more great books.
Recommend? HECK YEAH!!! Now... hurry up 2015!!! I need another book!!
September 20, 2014
Okay this was intense and oh so very good. I had a couple of problems with it, but overall the story and characters were amazing. Review to come...
*Complete Review Below*
Run isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. It is intense, there is dubious consent and abuse against women, it also makes some pretty strong political statements about society and class. That said, it is a story that is so well told that I was captivated from start to finish. I've seen the story described as a sort of sexualized and intense Hunger Games. I would disagree with this description however as any similarities are minimal at best. But I'm jumping ahead of myself. What is it about?
In a dystopian future society is divided into two clear classes: the upper class known as the "Elite," and the "Dregs" or lower class. In this world there is also a disparity between the number of men and women. Our heroine in the story is a woman named Aya. Aya is a young Dreg who is intelligent and strong willed. Her strong will sometimes asserts itself when is shouldn't and is a source of problems for her. As a result of her temper and willfullness she gains the attention of an elite man named Alasdair O'Shauhnessay, who goes by the name of Dare. Dare is automatically attracted to Aya and wants her. Aya who works in her uncle's bar, refuses to be his plaything. Dare isn't a man who is used to being told no and he sets out to make Aya regret her refusal and eventually get what he wants. After taking extreme action against Aya and her uncle, Dare manipulates Aya into the Run. The Run is a hunt in which women who are poor, desperate, and have nothing to lose are paid to enter. Often the women use the credits earned to help their families survive. They are stripped and hunted by Elite men. Once caught by an elite man, the woman is his until he tires of her and decides to let her go. The women are kept as sex slaves for the most part, although some of the men are abusive and sadistic and have been known to kill their female captures.
The actual hunt that is the Run is fairly short and ends as expected. After which we are once again subjected to the vileness that is Dare, his disregard and jealousy over Aya, and how she copes with the situation that she finds herself in. Ultimately, we learn more about Dare and why he is the way that he is, and the question of whether or not there can ever be anything between these two.
As I said, Dare is a vile human being for much of the story. It is however, a testament to Eve Vaughns writing ability that Dare is actually made human later in the book. I went from hating him to rooting for him. How is that?? Aya is a strong woman and I really liked her character. I was also pleased that she didn't look like every other romance heroine. Her hair is cut very short, almost bald, as an effort to make her less attractive (obviously didn't work). As much as I liked Aya, I felt she was a little too hard headed and impulsive when common sense said she should not have been. A strong heroine is great, but one that doesn't know when to proceed cautiously is just silly. Aya was silly at certain parts, but not so bad that it turned me off of the book. Another negative for me was Aya's strong sexual reaction to Dare. Those first scenes involving sexual contact between Dare and Aya seemed forced and fake. Aya responded too strongly to a man that she loathed. With the mess he had made of her and her uncle's life, there is no way that she would have responded to him at that point. That didn't work for me so much.
My final vote on Run is that it was an intense book that was very well written and grabs you from page one. Like I said previously, it isn't for everyone due to the dubious consent and violence in the book. If you can get past that you'll enjoy it. I did and I definitely recommend.
I give Run a score of 4 out of 5.
*Complete Review Below*
Run isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. It is intense, there is dubious consent and abuse against women, it also makes some pretty strong political statements about society and class. That said, it is a story that is so well told that I was captivated from start to finish. I've seen the story described as a sort of sexualized and intense Hunger Games. I would disagree with this description however as any similarities are minimal at best. But I'm jumping ahead of myself. What is it about?
In a dystopian future society is divided into two clear classes: the upper class known as the "Elite," and the "Dregs" or lower class. In this world there is also a disparity between the number of men and women. Our heroine in the story is a woman named Aya. Aya is a young Dreg who is intelligent and strong willed. Her strong will sometimes asserts itself when is shouldn't and is a source of problems for her. As a result of her temper and willfullness she gains the attention of an elite man named Alasdair O'Shauhnessay, who goes by the name of Dare. Dare is automatically attracted to Aya and wants her. Aya who works in her uncle's bar, refuses to be his plaything. Dare isn't a man who is used to being told no and he sets out to make Aya regret her refusal and eventually get what he wants. After taking extreme action against Aya and her uncle, Dare manipulates Aya into the Run. The Run is a hunt in which women who are poor, desperate, and have nothing to lose are paid to enter. Often the women use the credits earned to help their families survive. They are stripped and hunted by Elite men. Once caught by an elite man, the woman is his until he tires of her and decides to let her go. The women are kept as sex slaves for the most part, although some of the men are abusive and sadistic and have been known to kill their female captures.
The actual hunt that is the Run is fairly short and ends as expected. After which we are once again subjected to the vileness that is Dare, his disregard and jealousy over Aya, and how she copes with the situation that she finds herself in. Ultimately, we learn more about Dare and why he is the way that he is, and the question of whether or not there can ever be anything between these two.
As I said, Dare is a vile human being for much of the story. It is however, a testament to Eve Vaughns writing ability that Dare is actually made human later in the book. I went from hating him to rooting for him. How is that?? Aya is a strong woman and I really liked her character. I was also pleased that she didn't look like every other romance heroine. Her hair is cut very short, almost bald, as an effort to make her less attractive (obviously didn't work). As much as I liked Aya, I felt she was a little too hard headed and impulsive when common sense said she should not have been. A strong heroine is great, but one that doesn't know when to proceed cautiously is just silly. Aya was silly at certain parts, but not so bad that it turned me off of the book. Another negative for me was Aya's strong sexual reaction to Dare. Those first scenes involving sexual contact between Dare and Aya seemed forced and fake. Aya responded too strongly to a man that she loathed. With the mess he had made of her and her uncle's life, there is no way that she would have responded to him at that point. That didn't work for me so much.
My final vote on Run is that it was an intense book that was very well written and grabs you from page one. Like I said previously, it isn't for everyone due to the dubious consent and violence in the book. If you can get past that you'll enjoy it. I did and I definitely recommend.
I give Run a score of 4 out of 5.
November 10, 2016
left it half way through because it wasn't worth it.....
:(
:(
September 12, 2014
The world has become a dog eat dog world where the ruling class Elite live a life of luxury while the working class Dregs survive however they can in poverty. One hard fast rule is that whatever or whoever an Elite wants, they get.
Dare O’Shaughnessy is at the top of the food chain in Elite society and knows it. No one say's 'no' to him. Ever. When he happens to see an attractive Dreg female he wants, he tells her in no uncertain terms that she's to be his for however long he wants. Problem is that the ungrateful girl refuses his proposition. Publicly. No one says no to Dare...
* * *
In this dystopian read, the rich call the shots without regard to anyone's pleasure but their own. On the other hand, life for the Dregs is hard. They have little to call their own but their pride. Such is the situation when Dare and Aya meet. He wants her. It's her place to accept and thank him for that. Sets in motion how far a grade A unfeeling uncaring evil evil man will go to get what they want.
To say I have little to no positive feelings for Dare would be an understatement (which is actually a compliment to the author). There was not one single solitary redeeming quality to Dare. Further, the dark BDSM scenes between Dare and Aya left me emotional and at times agitated. I so so so NEEDED to have a white knight character materialize to save her, but, as this was a dystopian themed read, I pretty much ruled that out. So, all I could hope for was that Dare would come to his senses or that Aya would kill off the b*stard. Non-spoiler code of conduct restricts me from sharing what direction the author went in so you'd have to read this book to find out.
The cast of secondary characters did add value to the overall story. The author didn't isolation the two central characters with only token interaction with others. These secondary characters had an affect and were affected as the story progressed. I'm semi happy that there will be follow up story for two of these characters. By that I mean I'm happy there will be more but I realize that will come with an emotional cost for me as the pain and bleakness of the world building isn't pleasant.
The actual adult content scenes are aggressive and at times rough BDSM play between the two, and, don't expect any safeword possibilities as in this world men don't need a safeword when they own the female. For those who are sensitive to extreme or SM elements I do want to include that there aren't any. Just raunchy gritty dirty D/s scenes that had me downing an entire pitcher of ice cold ... tea. :D
Overaall this is a book that any fan of dark themed reads should check out. Life is always more interesting on the dark side anyway. And. This one is definitely worth the ride.
ps. The ending of this one does end in an interesting teaser though I don't see when that book will be published. For me, it can't be soon enough
Dare O’Shaughnessy is at the top of the food chain in Elite society and knows it. No one say's 'no' to him. Ever. When he happens to see an attractive Dreg female he wants, he tells her in no uncertain terms that she's to be his for however long he wants. Problem is that the ungrateful girl refuses his proposition. Publicly. No one says no to Dare...
* * *
In this dystopian read, the rich call the shots without regard to anyone's pleasure but their own. On the other hand, life for the Dregs is hard. They have little to call their own but their pride. Such is the situation when Dare and Aya meet. He wants her. It's her place to accept and thank him for that. Sets in motion how far a grade A unfeeling uncaring evil evil man will go to get what they want.
To say I have little to no positive feelings for Dare would be an understatement (which is actually a compliment to the author). There was not one single solitary redeeming quality to Dare. Further, the dark BDSM scenes between Dare and Aya left me emotional and at times agitated. I so so so NEEDED to have a white knight character materialize to save her, but, as this was a dystopian themed read, I pretty much ruled that out. So, all I could hope for was that Dare would come to his senses or that Aya would kill off the b*stard. Non-spoiler code of conduct restricts me from sharing what direction the author went in so you'd have to read this book to find out.
The cast of secondary characters did add value to the overall story. The author didn't isolation the two central characters with only token interaction with others. These secondary characters had an affect and were affected as the story progressed. I'm semi happy that there will be follow up story for two of these characters. By that I mean I'm happy there will be more but I realize that will come with an emotional cost for me as the pain and bleakness of the world building isn't pleasant.
The actual adult content scenes are aggressive and at times rough BDSM play between the two, and, don't expect any safeword possibilities as in this world men don't need a safeword when they own the female. For those who are sensitive to extreme or SM elements I do want to include that there aren't any. Just raunchy gritty dirty D/s scenes that had me downing an entire pitcher of ice cold ... tea. :D
Overaall this is a book that any fan of dark themed reads should check out. Life is always more interesting on the dark side anyway. And. This one is definitely worth the ride.
ps. The ending of this one does end in an interesting teaser though I don't see when that book will be published. For me, it can't be soon enough
May 16, 2015
3 I Didn't Feel The Love Stars!!
I really was heading toward a 4 or 5 star rating. Aya was strong and feisty! She said what was on her mind no matter what! I loved her! The day she gets arrested is the day that Dare sees her across the street. At first he thinks she's a boy. Then he sees that she is beautiful. He lets it go. But still thinking about her in the back of his mind. One day he goes into a bar that he's never been in. It's beneath him. It's run down and he is ready to have it shut down. Until he sees Aya. He makes her an offer he knows she will not turn down. Surprise...she says no and throws a drink in his face. That is how it begins.
The author did an excellent job at making me believe that Dare was a dickhead. He treated Aya like shit! He took everything from her just because he wanted her and she said no! I hated him! Then we started getting a bit of his childhood in the book and I understood why he acted the way he did. So I started liking him.
Then around 78% the story just went flat for me.
The problem I had was after he started realizing how he felt for Aya. The author didn't make me believe them. I say this same thing over and over! I DIDNT FEEL THE LOVE!!! Lmao! The sex was VERY good! Whew!!! If you are not like me and could care less if you feel the love or not then this is a book for you:-) Will I be reading book 2 The Auction coming in 2015. I'm not sure...that's far away:-) lol
I really was heading toward a 4 or 5 star rating. Aya was strong and feisty! She said what was on her mind no matter what! I loved her! The day she gets arrested is the day that Dare sees her across the street. At first he thinks she's a boy. Then he sees that she is beautiful. He lets it go. But still thinking about her in the back of his mind. One day he goes into a bar that he's never been in. It's beneath him. It's run down and he is ready to have it shut down. Until he sees Aya. He makes her an offer he knows she will not turn down. Surprise...she says no and throws a drink in his face. That is how it begins.
The author did an excellent job at making me believe that Dare was a dickhead. He treated Aya like shit! He took everything from her just because he wanted her and she said no! I hated him! Then we started getting a bit of his childhood in the book and I understood why he acted the way he did. So I started liking him.
Then around 78% the story just went flat for me.
The problem I had was after he started realizing how he felt for Aya. The author didn't make me believe them. I say this same thing over and over! I DIDNT FEEL THE LOVE!!! Lmao! The sex was VERY good! Whew!!! If you are not like me and could care less if you feel the love or not then this is a book for you:-) Will I be reading book 2 The Auction coming in 2015. I'm not sure...that's far away:-) lol
September 17, 2014
Before I begin, I would like to personally thank the "Fans of Interracial Romance" group member, who generously gifted a copy of this book to me, via Kindle. Being one who is a firm believer in paying it forward and engaging in random acts of kindness, imagine my surprise when I saw a gift notification from Amazon.com in my inbox... It was simply amazing.. So thank you again ;}
Ok, so let's talk about this awesome book...
Simply put, I loved it!!!
This was a captivating read that I managed to read in 3 hours flat... And for that to happen, I have to be seriously focused on that book, because at anytime, I can switch over to something that's more exciting.
Although it wasn't totally pitch perfect, this dystopian tale of 2 cities has managed to display Ms. Vaughn's growth as a top shelf author.
Not only were the characters well developed, but the dialogue was snappy as well.
If it hadn't been for some issues (i.e. minor lag, disconnect with the dialogue, believability regarding the 180° change in the antiheroes attitude, etc), this would have been a 5 star read.
Overall this was a worthwhile read with a few minor nuisances.
Giving this one: 3.75 stars
Ok, so let's talk about this awesome book...
Simply put, I loved it!!!
This was a captivating read that I managed to read in 3 hours flat... And for that to happen, I have to be seriously focused on that book, because at anytime, I can switch over to something that's more exciting.
Although it wasn't totally pitch perfect, this dystopian tale of 2 cities has managed to display Ms. Vaughn's growth as a top shelf author.
Not only were the characters well developed, but the dialogue was snappy as well.
If it hadn't been for some issues (i.e. minor lag, disconnect with the dialogue, believability regarding the 180° change in the antiheroes attitude, etc), this would have been a 5 star read.
Overall this was a worthwhile read with a few minor nuisances.
Giving this one: 3.75 stars
July 22, 2015
READ AND REVIEWED ON BEHALF OF FICTIONAL MENS PAGE FOR BOOK HOS
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August 26, 2016
in the not so distant future,the world has changed dramatically.the government creates a vaccine to stop breast cancer,but the vaccine effectively wipes out most of the female population.Men become desperate for the few remaining woman ,so the Run is created,a game where men hunt women and who you catch you get to keep. There is no more middle class only the poor or Dregs and the rich or Elites who have all the money,power,fame,make all the rules and control the government. Aya is a Dregs who lives among the poorest in town. Her Uncle owns a barely profitable local bar,but they have been fortunate enough to get by and help their struggling neighbors. When Aya catches the eye of the richest man in town her fate is sealed.Dare has lead a life of privilege and he always gets whatever he wants no matter what and he wants Aya. She turns down Dares proposal but no one tells him no,so he sets out on a course to make Aya his no matter whose lives are ruined in the process. So he finds a way to have Aya "volunteer" for the Run,and when it's all said and done, no one's life will be the same.
I get what the author was doing,it's kinda like hunger games erotica but it just kind fell flat for me.The premise was good and it had tons of potential,I like that the story gave you a view of a future that most can relate to.I loved Aya,uncle Arthur,Foster and Macy but,it was hard to feel anything for Dare.He was simply a horrible person.I get he was messed by his father but to be so heartless and hateful and then all of a sudden you're giving and super nice.I just didn't buy it.all in all an ok book.probably not a re-read for me.
I get what the author was doing,it's kinda like hunger games erotica but it just kind fell flat for me.The premise was good and it had tons of potential,I like that the story gave you a view of a future that most can relate to.I loved Aya,uncle Arthur,Foster and Macy but,it was hard to feel anything for Dare.He was simply a horrible person.I get he was messed by his father but to be so heartless and hateful and then all of a sudden you're giving and super nice.I just didn't buy it.all in all an ok book.probably not a re-read for me.
July 22, 2015
Reviewed on behalf of a Fictional Mens Room...
READ AND REVIEWED ON BEHALF OF FICTIONAL MENS PAGE FOR BOOK HOS
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fictio...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
READ AND REVIEWED ON BEHALF OF FICTIONAL MENS PAGE FOR BOOK HOS
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fictio...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
December 31, 2016
For me, another unlikable and nonredeemable alpha, a--hole/hero! We caught glimpses of a reformed Dare (not nearly enough for me) and he may fully redeem himself yet since there will be Dare & Aya follow-up story that is set to be released in 2017. Stay tuned.
September 10, 2014
This was a dark read set in the future where the poor people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives. Huge chunks of the female population were killed years ago by an untested breast cancer vaccination. This made the ratio of men to women 3/1. Instead of trying to make up for this loss in good ways The Run was created where rich men could “capture” a woman to do whatever they wished with. Her family was given “credits” to compensate but this game was dehumanizing and often the men who “won” the women were sick twisted abusive men.
The male and female leads in this book were reminiscent of a beauty and beast type love story. Even though it’s a long time before there is any healthy love introduced. The male Dare O’Shaughnessy was one of the richest men in this world gone wrong. He is mean and ruthless and will not take the word no from anyone. He destroys lives with a flick of his hand. He also owns “The Run” now inherited from his sick and twisted deceased father. One day he sees this woman that he has to have and in his mind there is no question she will be his for as long as he wants her and then will discard her. When this woman wants nothing to do with him he does everything within his power to bring her to her knees.
Aya Smith and her uncle run a bar in the slum part of the current “poor” world. They barely make enough to survive and Aya does her best to downplay that she is a woman by having a shaved head and wearing baggy ill fitting clothes. Despite her circumstances she is a very strong willed, opinionated woman who refuses to let the rich treat her like she is nothing. When she comes under the radar of Dare and he gives her his proposition of being basically his sex slave for as long as he wants her she literally throws is back in his face setting Dare off to do horrible things to her uncle and their bar to make her desperate enough to have to join The Game to get the money needed to get her uncle out of jail.
For more than 60% of this book Dare was a horrible person that you just couldn’t see any redemption in. Eventually we get flashbacks to his childhood and see why he is the man he is today. Its not excusable but he knew no other way to be. His main goal was to break the spirit of Aya and then discard her. Problem was once he broke her something inside of him broke open also and all these emotions that were beat out of him as a kid were suddenly there for him to deal with and he didn’t know how to handle that.
Dare does his best to redeem himself not only for Aya but also with how he conducts business. But he had to do the one thing he didn’t want to ever do and that was let Aya go.
There is a happy ending for Aya and Dare but even though Dare shut down the The Game we find out that there is a more sinister thing called The Auction that women and children are being kidnapped for. That is the next book in the series and throughout this one you find out who the main characters are going to be in that one and this reader is hook into this sick and twisted dystopia world and look forward to the next book.
The male and female leads in this book were reminiscent of a beauty and beast type love story. Even though it’s a long time before there is any healthy love introduced. The male Dare O’Shaughnessy was one of the richest men in this world gone wrong. He is mean and ruthless and will not take the word no from anyone. He destroys lives with a flick of his hand. He also owns “The Run” now inherited from his sick and twisted deceased father. One day he sees this woman that he has to have and in his mind there is no question she will be his for as long as he wants her and then will discard her. When this woman wants nothing to do with him he does everything within his power to bring her to her knees.
Aya Smith and her uncle run a bar in the slum part of the current “poor” world. They barely make enough to survive and Aya does her best to downplay that she is a woman by having a shaved head and wearing baggy ill fitting clothes. Despite her circumstances she is a very strong willed, opinionated woman who refuses to let the rich treat her like she is nothing. When she comes under the radar of Dare and he gives her his proposition of being basically his sex slave for as long as he wants her she literally throws is back in his face setting Dare off to do horrible things to her uncle and their bar to make her desperate enough to have to join The Game to get the money needed to get her uncle out of jail.
For more than 60% of this book Dare was a horrible person that you just couldn’t see any redemption in. Eventually we get flashbacks to his childhood and see why he is the man he is today. Its not excusable but he knew no other way to be. His main goal was to break the spirit of Aya and then discard her. Problem was once he broke her something inside of him broke open also and all these emotions that were beat out of him as a kid were suddenly there for him to deal with and he didn’t know how to handle that.
Dare does his best to redeem himself not only for Aya but also with how he conducts business. But he had to do the one thing he didn’t want to ever do and that was let Aya go.
There is a happy ending for Aya and Dare but even though Dare shut down the The Game we find out that there is a more sinister thing called The Auction that women and children are being kidnapped for. That is the next book in the series and throughout this one you find out who the main characters are going to be in that one and this reader is hook into this sick and twisted dystopia world and look forward to the next book.
September 19, 2014
This book is not for the faint hearted, it contains themes that some will find quite confronting. I knew this was not going to be a happy go lucky love story after I read the synopsis, this novel is set in a dystopian world where 3/4 of the female population has been wiped out by an ineffective breast cancer prevention injection. Women have become a rare commodity, and unless they are born into the 'elite' most of the woman left are forced to sell themselves for sex in order to make money, or participate in 'The Run'. The Run is an event where women can nominate themselves to participate in a barbaric event where men hunt them and one they are caught they are owned by the man who catches them for as long as he desires. The females or their families (if they do not survive) are compensated handsomely.
Dare is a self assured, egotistical, bastard who manipulates Aya's life when she rejects him and leaves her with no other option than to register for 'The Run'. As the owner of the event he has no trouble claiming Aya and he begins his manipulation and the process of breaking her down. I have to admit that I did not like Dare....at all......not even at the end, he did not redeem himself from my perspective. Dare wanted Aya the moment he sets eyes on her when he saw her getting arrested by the enforcers. A man who has never had anyone say no to him, when he approached Aya and she rejects him he is instantly spurred on by her rejection and forces her to become his companion. What he never imagined was the feeling he would have for her, that make him doube think his whole lifestlye and the world he lives in.
As a 'dreg' Aya has had to work hard all her life, after her mothers death she is adopted by her uncle and they work night and day to keep a bar open in their local town. When her uncle business is shut down and he is put in prison, she has no other option but to participate in the degradation of being in 'The Run'. Through this all, and he subsequent capture by Dare she maintains her strength and spirit, and begins to teach Dare some home truths about his lifestyle. She is an incredibly strong woman who has to survive in a time that is not so nice to women.
I cant say that I enjoyed this book, becasue it is not really a book that you enjoy, It is definitely a book that makes you think about how lucky we are!!!!! Sure the book is sexy and hot and I really enjoyed the concept that the author has developed, I just did not like Dare. I did not like his character at all, I did not find him appealing, I felt that the reason he was a bad guy was a cop out, and I did not like how easily he got off in the end of the book. However if you enjoy a dark romance then you will probably lap up this alpha male and his possessive antics!!!
This book hints at another book in the series, so it will be interesting to see where they head with that story!
Dare is a self assured, egotistical, bastard who manipulates Aya's life when she rejects him and leaves her with no other option than to register for 'The Run'. As the owner of the event he has no trouble claiming Aya and he begins his manipulation and the process of breaking her down. I have to admit that I did not like Dare....at all......not even at the end, he did not redeem himself from my perspective. Dare wanted Aya the moment he sets eyes on her when he saw her getting arrested by the enforcers. A man who has never had anyone say no to him, when he approached Aya and she rejects him he is instantly spurred on by her rejection and forces her to become his companion. What he never imagined was the feeling he would have for her, that make him doube think his whole lifestlye and the world he lives in.
As a 'dreg' Aya has had to work hard all her life, after her mothers death she is adopted by her uncle and they work night and day to keep a bar open in their local town. When her uncle business is shut down and he is put in prison, she has no other option but to participate in the degradation of being in 'The Run'. Through this all, and he subsequent capture by Dare she maintains her strength and spirit, and begins to teach Dare some home truths about his lifestyle. She is an incredibly strong woman who has to survive in a time that is not so nice to women.
I cant say that I enjoyed this book, becasue it is not really a book that you enjoy, It is definitely a book that makes you think about how lucky we are!!!!! Sure the book is sexy and hot and I really enjoyed the concept that the author has developed, I just did not like Dare. I did not like his character at all, I did not find him appealing, I felt that the reason he was a bad guy was a cop out, and I did not like how easily he got off in the end of the book. However if you enjoy a dark romance then you will probably lap up this alpha male and his possessive antics!!!
This book hints at another book in the series, so it will be interesting to see where they head with that story!
September 25, 2014
Now this is an interesting book. Imagine, if you can, a cross between Hunger Games and Fifty Shades of Grey, and you might come close to something like Run in your mind.
I loved it! It takes place in a dystopian future where 2/3 of the women in the world had been killed by an untested breast cancer vaccination. Since then the world has been split, even more than it is now, by those who have and those who have not. Those who have, like Dare O'Shaughnessy, look down on those who don't, such as Aya Smith. They see them as "dregs", beneath their notice.
The "dregs" have to do what they can to survive, and sometimes that includes having their women "volunteering" for a competition called The Run, where the women are paid to be hunted down like animals, and captured by those who have. They are then used however they want by their captors, until they tire of them and are discarded, possibly to "volunteer" for another chance in The Run.
Now if this sounds rather dark, that's because it is. However, in the midst of this terrible world scenario, could a relationship bloom between Dare and Aya, something Dare can hardly contemplate as a possibility. How could he possibly care for a "dreg" like Aya? Especially after he destroys everything she holds dear?
But how long can Aya deny the way this evil man makes her passions soar, even as she hates him for everything he's done to her and those she cares about?
This is not your normal erotic romance, but if you want something a bit different, and if you're not afraid of a little dark in your stories, then this might be right up your alley. This is definitely an over 18 book, as the sex scenes are very graphic, and very adult themes are covered, such as sexual slavery and rape.
Run feels like a complete novel, not much of a cliffhanger here, but there is a sequel coming out in 2015 called The Auction which sounds really good. The background for it was setup in Run. I don't really know what The Auction is all about, but I bet rat-face is involved somehow. I can't wait to find out.
Get this book!
I loved it! It takes place in a dystopian future where 2/3 of the women in the world had been killed by an untested breast cancer vaccination. Since then the world has been split, even more than it is now, by those who have and those who have not. Those who have, like Dare O'Shaughnessy, look down on those who don't, such as Aya Smith. They see them as "dregs", beneath their notice.
The "dregs" have to do what they can to survive, and sometimes that includes having their women "volunteering" for a competition called The Run, where the women are paid to be hunted down like animals, and captured by those who have. They are then used however they want by their captors, until they tire of them and are discarded, possibly to "volunteer" for another chance in The Run.
Now if this sounds rather dark, that's because it is. However, in the midst of this terrible world scenario, could a relationship bloom between Dare and Aya, something Dare can hardly contemplate as a possibility. How could he possibly care for a "dreg" like Aya? Especially after he destroys everything she holds dear?
But how long can Aya deny the way this evil man makes her passions soar, even as she hates him for everything he's done to her and those she cares about?
This is not your normal erotic romance, but if you want something a bit different, and if you're not afraid of a little dark in your stories, then this might be right up your alley. This is definitely an over 18 book, as the sex scenes are very graphic, and very adult themes are covered, such as sexual slavery and rape.
Run feels like a complete novel, not much of a cliffhanger here, but there is a sequel coming out in 2015 called The Auction which sounds really good. The background for it was setup in Run. I don't really know what The Auction is all about, but I bet rat-face is involved somehow. I can't wait to find out.
Get this book!
September 17, 2014
The rough and ruthless hero who wants the innocent girl who is out to protect her family no matter the price…. Run started as a race that was to be held for men to find potential wives, but after time it has become a race for men to find “mates.” There was a drug released that had wiped out half of the female population. Women who take part of the race do it to help their families survive as well as keep themselves afloat. A means of survival. However, there is nothing sweet or romantic about this race. Usually the women who are “captured” are abused, raped, and/or tortured. The owner of this event is Dare who inherited it from his father. When Dare sees Aya, he wants her, but she rejects him. Dare at that point does everything in his power to get her which leaves Aya no other choice but to become part of the RUN and from there the story begins.
I never read anything like this before. This was erotic and the anticipation of Dare and Aya was done very well. Aya was a little too hard for me to believe that she was soft. There are scenes where the author tried to tell you that she has a feminine side, like her soft face and her interest in dresses. However, I felt like I was told a lot of what to think about the character than allowing me to feel. I like to come up with my own conclusions.
The other problem I had was that I did not understand or feel the initial connection between Dare and Aya. He sees her from a distance and finds her attraction and then sees her again and has to have her just by her appearance. At the bar she works at he contemplates how he is going to have her after she rejects him. It felt forced. Yes, Dare is a little twisted, but not sure if I was able to connect just with what was provided in his POV.
Overall the story was interesting.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
I never read anything like this before. This was erotic and the anticipation of Dare and Aya was done very well. Aya was a little too hard for me to believe that she was soft. There are scenes where the author tried to tell you that she has a feminine side, like her soft face and her interest in dresses. However, I felt like I was told a lot of what to think about the character than allowing me to feel. I like to come up with my own conclusions.
The other problem I had was that I did not understand or feel the initial connection between Dare and Aya. He sees her from a distance and finds her attraction and then sees her again and has to have her just by her appearance. At the bar she works at he contemplates how he is going to have her after she rejects him. It felt forced. Yes, Dare is a little twisted, but not sure if I was able to connect just with what was provided in his POV.
Overall the story was interesting.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 25, 2016
Dare O’Shaughnessy had the world in the palm of his hand. A man known and feared for his ruthlessness, his word was law. The last word he ever expected to hear was no. Until he met her.
The Hunter
Aya Smith despised the ruling class who looked down on hardworking people like her. Sick of being treated unfairly by laws that protect the wealthy and punish the poor, she takes a stand but soon realizes, she might have crossed the wrong man.
The Prey
I did not complete this book, and maybe that is my fault. The cover flaps sounded like my kind of story, but twenty pages in I realized that this was not my kind of read
First, I understand that Dare grew up in the life, but his continued disrespect of women was just too much for me to take. Not a shred of remorse. No sign of humanity. At the start of this book, the main charactor is an amoral psychopath who enyos destroying lifes for his own pleasure with no regrets.
Second, there was no chemistry whatsoever between these two characters. Their dialogue was stilted and I felt no connection between them. The characters really needed some backstory and depth.
Although the author has plenty of interesting ideas there is never enough detail to back them up. This story had so much potential, but after reading it felt like a waste of time. Maybe my standards are high, but frankly there should be a little more attention to detail and character development.
September 20, 2014
WOW! This book was surprising and mind blowing.....I love dark romances and this is one of the most interesting ones I have read. Aya is a woman who is trying to survive in a futuristic world where women have lost most of their rights and have become a commodity to be sold. Aya is unfortunate to have caught the attention of Dare, a rich and powerful man who is feared by most of his social circle, Dare wants Aya and stops at nothing to get her. I loved Aya sense of right and wrong, how she will fight for what she believes in and will do anything for the people she loves. Dare was a rude, inconsiderate man who does not care about anything or anyone. The chemistry between these two totally opposite characters was off-the-charts amazing! I found myself drawn into Aya's journey from page one and traveled with her on her roller coaster journey of saving herself and her family. I loved how the author slowly revealed the story of why Dare is the cold man that he is. I am now really looking forward to the next book in this futuristic world. A warning: there are some very intense scenes in this romance that could disturb some readers but this is a very good book that I am sure most will love!
September 19, 2014
I read quite a few different genres but this is a completely different read for me. Before reading this the word dystopian would have put me off as it's not a genre I'd choose to read. However I jumped into this blind and shocked the pants off myself.
I was going to give a quick synopsis but I'm not going to. The description of the book is enough to whet your appetite. If you like dark, gritty and erotic then this is the read for you.
I really loved this story. It was hard to put down and as soon as I got up this morning I was reading the last few chapters.
I'm now gonna go process what I've read and then coax my book buddy to one click this book. Should be interesting as her taste in books is like mine:) then I'm off to look at other dark dystopian reads.... Did I really write that? Never thought I'd see the day lol
Thank you Eve for corrupting me and broadening my reading:)
I was going to give a quick synopsis but I'm not going to. The description of the book is enough to whet your appetite. If you like dark, gritty and erotic then this is the read for you.
I really loved this story. It was hard to put down and as soon as I got up this morning I was reading the last few chapters.
I'm now gonna go process what I've read and then coax my book buddy to one click this book. Should be interesting as her taste in books is like mine:) then I'm off to look at other dark dystopian reads.... Did I really write that? Never thought I'd see the day lol
Thank you Eve for corrupting me and broadening my reading:)
April 27, 2015
This was an odd story, the circumstances made it a very unlikely setting to fall in love. The problem for me is that the characters were underdeveloped. The MCs had very little interaction beyond the bedroom so it is not clear why they fall in love--especially on the female's end. The man destroyed her life, hurt her only family and isolated and tortured her. Plus he was cold, absent, hard to everyone in his life and carried some heavy mentally/emotionally damage. It seemed the MC forgot and forgave all that because he 'put it on her'. That is weak to me. I was not impressed or intrigued by him and he downed Aya's flame. This story just not...not..appetizing.
March 26, 2017
Set in a dystopian near future, Run tells the story of a hurt soul finding his love. Glad to read a story in which the woman was not the one who was scarred.
April 25, 2017
I looked at this freebie awhile back and passed based on the sample. A GR friend recently gave it 4-stars and indicated it picked up around the 25% mark. For me, it didn't. The male MC, Dare, is a callous socio-path who destroys the heroine's life to force her into his bed. Aya triggered my TSTL meter in the first chapters and it never really dropped away. The plot twists/reveals meant to redeem Dare and explain Aya's growing affection didn't work for me. Mostly, I found the narrative flow choppy and often predictable leading me skim large sections. I haven't classed this a romance, because it didn't feel that way to me - but it does have the requisite HEA.
September 29, 2014
For not being a fan of dystopian reads, this book sure captured my attention and interest quickly. I found myself following along with the plot, cheering for Aya and all her stubborn attitudes and wanting to kick Dare in the nuts for his egotistical attitude of being holier than thou. Such a contrast between the two characters confirmed to me I was in for one heck of a ride with this story and the author did not disappoint me at all.
Living in a world where the rich control the population and over half of the women were killed by an untested cancer drug, Aya and her Uncle were forced to do with what they had and make the money they earned from their bar last as long as possible. With the shortage of women, it isn’t safe for Aya to look like a female so she wears baggy clothing and has her hair cut very short. That doesn’t distract Dare when he sees her being taken away by the enforcers after her pride and mouth gets the best of her. When he stumbles across her again at her uncles bar, he is determined that she will be his new play toy and no one was going to stop him.
After many tricks, Dare had Aya isolated and in search for credits (money) to survive and save her uncle. The only option she had left was the Run, which was controlled and managed by Dare himself. The Run was set up for women to be chased on a piece of property by men and if the men tagged the woman she would become his for whatever purpose he saw fit. Some women escaped and found they had to return once again for the next run to get the credit they so needed, some were used and then set free. Most women were never seen again. This was Aya’s future but she wasn’t going to go down without a fight and this is where the story really took off for me.
I loved how the author made Aya a fighter; she never backed down even when common sense was screaming at her to let it go. Dare had no clue as to the spit fire he was determined to tame and the back and forth battle left me on the edge of my seat at times. I wouldn’t say this was the darkest read I have ever encountered but it certainly isn’t a soft book for enjoyment purposes. There are a lot of twisted events that had me cringing and wanting to turn my head but I couldn’t put it down. It was clear that the world and communities in this book were far removed from what we know today but the human elements and emotions were consistent and I found I could not only connect to the characters but also invest my heart and emotions, especially with Aya. She is my freaking hero because she never let go of who she really was, even when she found out the truth about her mother and was forced to apply for jobs that would kill a normal woman’s soul. She was able to rationalize every event and come out with the attitude of survival. This was a concept that Dare respected but rarely ever seen. Women and men would bow down to this authority and he knew he could control and railroad anything in his way.
I would recommend this book to fans that are not faint of heart and can stand some dark and twisted plots.
*Copy provided for review*
Reviewed by Tbird for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
Living in a world where the rich control the population and over half of the women were killed by an untested cancer drug, Aya and her Uncle were forced to do with what they had and make the money they earned from their bar last as long as possible. With the shortage of women, it isn’t safe for Aya to look like a female so she wears baggy clothing and has her hair cut very short. That doesn’t distract Dare when he sees her being taken away by the enforcers after her pride and mouth gets the best of her. When he stumbles across her again at her uncles bar, he is determined that she will be his new play toy and no one was going to stop him.
After many tricks, Dare had Aya isolated and in search for credits (money) to survive and save her uncle. The only option she had left was the Run, which was controlled and managed by Dare himself. The Run was set up for women to be chased on a piece of property by men and if the men tagged the woman she would become his for whatever purpose he saw fit. Some women escaped and found they had to return once again for the next run to get the credit they so needed, some were used and then set free. Most women were never seen again. This was Aya’s future but she wasn’t going to go down without a fight and this is where the story really took off for me.
I loved how the author made Aya a fighter; she never backed down even when common sense was screaming at her to let it go. Dare had no clue as to the spit fire he was determined to tame and the back and forth battle left me on the edge of my seat at times. I wouldn’t say this was the darkest read I have ever encountered but it certainly isn’t a soft book for enjoyment purposes. There are a lot of twisted events that had me cringing and wanting to turn my head but I couldn’t put it down. It was clear that the world and communities in this book were far removed from what we know today but the human elements and emotions were consistent and I found I could not only connect to the characters but also invest my heart and emotions, especially with Aya. She is my freaking hero because she never let go of who she really was, even when she found out the truth about her mother and was forced to apply for jobs that would kill a normal woman’s soul. She was able to rationalize every event and come out with the attitude of survival. This was a concept that Dare respected but rarely ever seen. Women and men would bow down to this authority and he knew he could control and railroad anything in his way.
I would recommend this book to fans that are not faint of heart and can stand some dark and twisted plots.
*Copy provided for review*
Reviewed by Tbird for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
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