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Caged
Judd Asher was taken from his front garden when he was just four years old. After an extensive search he was never found.
Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
Kloe Grant is assigned as Judd’s personal therapist. It’s her job to rehabilitate him, to guide him back to normal life. But as Judd’s only emotion is rage, Kloe finds it both heart-breaking and challenging mending a soul that’s not only broken but caged inside him by the demons of his past.
However, when Kloe’s relationship with her patient raises some eyebrows, Kloe can’t fight against the powers that want to see her fail, and with an arm behind her back, she walks away, leaving behind a man who has come to live life again for her.
Four years later Judd, now known as Anderson Cain, the darkest and most formidable cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing, Judd finds there’s not a lot in life that can abate the rage that still twists and prowls beneath his skin.
Not until a chance encounter brings him to her door. To the woman with the bluest eyes and the most stunning smile, the woman who took his hand in the darkness and led him through the door into the sun.
But Kloe Grant left him when he needed her the most. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it. She starved his belief, and she fed his fury.
She owes him. And he’s going to make sure that this time, she pays. In blood. In lust. In pain. And with her soul.
Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
Kloe Grant is assigned as Judd’s personal therapist. It’s her job to rehabilitate him, to guide him back to normal life. But as Judd’s only emotion is rage, Kloe finds it both heart-breaking and challenging mending a soul that’s not only broken but caged inside him by the demons of his past.
However, when Kloe’s relationship with her patient raises some eyebrows, Kloe can’t fight against the powers that want to see her fail, and with an arm behind her back, she walks away, leaving behind a man who has come to live life again for her.
Four years later Judd, now known as Anderson Cain, the darkest and most formidable cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing, Judd finds there’s not a lot in life that can abate the rage that still twists and prowls beneath his skin.
Not until a chance encounter brings him to her door. To the woman with the bluest eyes and the most stunning smile, the woman who took his hand in the darkness and led him through the door into the sun.
But Kloe Grant left him when he needed her the most. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it. She starved his belief, and she fed his fury.
She owes him. And he’s going to make sure that this time, she pays. In blood. In lust. In pain. And with her soul.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2016
155 people are currently reading
2057 people want to read
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D.H. Sidebottom
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
June 23, 2016
Whew! It's been a few days since I finished this book and I still cannot get it out of my mind. This book was hands-down one of the best books I've read this year! I read it to pass some time between the new releases I was waiting for. Honestly, I didn't expect much. Man, was I ever wrong! This book blew me away!
I'm not going to provide a summary this time around, because I don't want to give anything away. The blurb provides a quick glimpse of the very basic components of the story. However, don't let the blurb fool you, this book is about so much more than a brutal MMA fighting ring. In fact, the MMA aspects of the story are not a major component at all.
This book is dark, twisted, and everything that I love in a story. Nothing is what it seems. I thought I had everything figured out, but I didn't know anything.
If you like a story that will take you on a suspenseful, disturbing journey, this one is a fantastic choice. This book elicited such raw emotion that my head was spinning. I cringed. I cried. I fell in love with the characters and I hated them.
This is one of those books that will hang with you. It does end with a huge twist, but the next book is due out in July, so the wait isn't supposed to be too long. Without a doubt, I will one-click that baby the minute it's available!
I don't want to give anything away. Just read this book!
I'm not going to provide a summary this time around, because I don't want to give anything away. The blurb provides a quick glimpse of the very basic components of the story. However, don't let the blurb fool you, this book is about so much more than a brutal MMA fighting ring. In fact, the MMA aspects of the story are not a major component at all.
This book is dark, twisted, and everything that I love in a story. Nothing is what it seems. I thought I had everything figured out, but I didn't know anything.
If you like a story that will take you on a suspenseful, disturbing journey, this one is a fantastic choice. This book elicited such raw emotion that my head was spinning. I cringed. I cried. I fell in love with the characters and I hated them.
This is one of those books that will hang with you. It does end with a huge twist, but the next book is due out in July, so the wait isn't supposed to be too long. Without a doubt, I will one-click that baby the minute it's available!
I don't want to give anything away. Just read this book!
February 9, 2017
4 Stars!!
'Caged' was not my first book by this author and for sure it won’t be my last. D.H. Sidebottom delivered a dark, gritty and even disturbing read for some readers, that will keep you at the edge of your seat and will blow your mind with some intriguing twists and turns. This book is not for the faint of heart. It’s disturbingly graphic, it’s erotic and it’s unputdownable! I was engrossed in this story from the very beginning and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
Judd Asher was abducted and held captive when he was just four years old. Twenty-one years later he is found alive living in a basement of an isolated farmhouse. Jude suffered serious abuse, both mentally and physically, now being very repressed. He doesn’t speak, he’s violent and he has no social skills. Taken to a mental support facility Judd meets Kloe Grant. Kloe is fascinated by Judd, the patient, but also Judd, the man.
She wants to help him, not only because he feels sorry for him, but also because she feels a strong connection with this damaged man. Judd died a long time ago, becoming someone else, Anderson Cain. The relationship between Kloe and Anderson changes with each and every day. Kloe is forced by certain circumstances to abandon Anderson even if doing that is breaking her heart.
Four years later Judd is a changed man. He’s a cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing. He still thinks about HER, she never stopped haunting him in these four years she last saw her. His feelings for her changed in the moment she decided to walk away, to break her promises. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it and for this he wants her to pay. A chance encounter brings Anderson to Kloe’s door and from that moment everything changes.
'Caged' was filled with suspense, action and steam and held me captive the entire time. The story is divided in two parts, both of them fast-paced. While the first part made me sympathize with these two characters, the second part kept me intrigued and made me question these characters’ mental health. No kidding here, people!
The plot was fascinating from the start, layered, intense and the multitude of twists and turns kept me hooked and if I’m being honest f@cked-up with my head a little.
Both Kloe and Anderson were well portrayed, complex characters. Anderson’s past really broke my heart. He was treated like an animal for so many years, he was so damaged and his struggles were painted in a very realistic way. Even if I didn’t totally like his character because his decisions made me mad and made me cringe at times I found his character to be really fascinating. He was more damaged than I thought he is, but in some crazy way he was “perfect” for our heroine. Kloe is not exactly who she pretends to be. Not really! She struggles with some things from her past as well, being as damaged and twisted as Anderson. Their unconventional relationship’s development was not exactly done in a typical way and like every aspect of the story was strange and crazy.
Like I mentioned above the story is pretty graphic and all the sex scenes in this book are erotic in a very disturbing, violent way.
If you are looking for a dark, twisted read that will keep you guessing right till the end, look no further!
'Caged' was not my first book by this author and for sure it won’t be my last. D.H. Sidebottom delivered a dark, gritty and even disturbing read for some readers, that will keep you at the edge of your seat and will blow your mind with some intriguing twists and turns. This book is not for the faint of heart. It’s disturbingly graphic, it’s erotic and it’s unputdownable! I was engrossed in this story from the very beginning and I honestly couldn’t put it down.
“I’m going to make you understand me. All of me. Every ounce of the darkness that no one, not even you, can fix.”
Judd Asher was abducted and held captive when he was just four years old. Twenty-one years later he is found alive living in a basement of an isolated farmhouse. Jude suffered serious abuse, both mentally and physically, now being very repressed. He doesn’t speak, he’s violent and he has no social skills. Taken to a mental support facility Judd meets Kloe Grant. Kloe is fascinated by Judd, the patient, but also Judd, the man.
“He was buried inside me. He’d climbed inside me with that stare and embedded himself into my soul.”
She wants to help him, not only because he feels sorry for him, but also because she feels a strong connection with this damaged man. Judd died a long time ago, becoming someone else, Anderson Cain. The relationship between Kloe and Anderson changes with each and every day. Kloe is forced by certain circumstances to abandon Anderson even if doing that is breaking her heart.
Four years later Judd is a changed man. He’s a cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing. He still thinks about HER, she never stopped haunting him in these four years she last saw her. His feelings for her changed in the moment she decided to walk away, to break her promises. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it and for this he wants her to pay. A chance encounter brings Anderson to Kloe’s door and from that moment everything changes.
'Caged' was filled with suspense, action and steam and held me captive the entire time. The story is divided in two parts, both of them fast-paced. While the first part made me sympathize with these two characters, the second part kept me intrigued and made me question these characters’ mental health. No kidding here, people!
The plot was fascinating from the start, layered, intense and the multitude of twists and turns kept me hooked and if I’m being honest f@cked-up with my head a little.
“How fucked up were we?
How sick and depraved could we go? Would we go?”
Both Kloe and Anderson were well portrayed, complex characters. Anderson’s past really broke my heart. He was treated like an animal for so many years, he was so damaged and his struggles were painted in a very realistic way. Even if I didn’t totally like his character because his decisions made me mad and made me cringe at times I found his character to be really fascinating. He was more damaged than I thought he is, but in some crazy way he was “perfect” for our heroine. Kloe is not exactly who she pretends to be. Not really! She struggles with some things from her past as well, being as damaged and twisted as Anderson. Their unconventional relationship’s development was not exactly done in a typical way and like every aspect of the story was strange and crazy.
“She was like a wild bird, created to soar in the wind and the sun, and the rain if she chose to. And I kept her in a cage, on a little perch, locked away from what she craved…”
Like I mentioned above the story is pretty graphic and all the sex scenes in this book are erotic in a very disturbing, violent way.
If you are looking for a dark, twisted read that will keep you guessing right till the end, look no further!
May 23, 2016
You've gotta love an author who can get down to the meat and bones of a dark gritty read, shatter your perceptions and leave you begging for more. That's exactly what D.H. Sidebottom did with Caged. Disturbingly dark, insane plot developments, intense steamy scenes, fast paced so there's never a dull moment.
By the time you figure out what's happening, it's then you realize you've been mind fucked! Caged is not for the feint of heart, there's no hearts and flowers. This novel contains graphic scenes M/M and MMF, abuse and dubious consent that may not be suitable for those with certain triggers. Recommended to those who craves dark erotica suspense.
May 18, 2016
Genre: Dark Thriller
Type: Book 1 of 2
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Judd Asher was taken from his home at 4 years old. 21 years later he was found with severe physical and psychological trauma. 4 years after his returned, he reinvented himself as cage fighter Anderson Cain with a thirst for revenge.
Khloe Grant was a therapist assigned to his case. Due to personal connection, she was forced to step off. When chance encounter brought them back together again, she wanted what little they had before. But darkness within both of them might be the biggest hurdle to overcome.
I am naturally attracted to dark books and this one with the hero as cage fighter was an added bonus.
I am fascinated by Anderson. His pain and struggles made me want to envelop him with affection and protect him from the world. At the same time watching the way he coped triggered completely different emotions.
And Chloe wasn't less fascinating by any means. She came with her own struggles and she evolved to adapt to situations as needed.
The story was separated into two parts. Both parts had completely different feel and each one had its own merits. While part one was more somber, past two was more darkly sinister.
There were some scenes that might be difficult for some so please be informed. Lucky for me those were among my favorite scenes lol!
Caged is a dark and twisted story of how revenge could fuel the unrepentant path to destruction.
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Book 1 of 2
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Judd Asher was taken from his home at 4 years old. 21 years later he was found with severe physical and psychological trauma. 4 years after his returned, he reinvented himself as cage fighter Anderson Cain with a thirst for revenge.
Khloe Grant was a therapist assigned to his case. Due to personal connection, she was forced to step off. When chance encounter brought them back together again, she wanted what little they had before. But darkness within both of them might be the biggest hurdle to overcome.
I am naturally attracted to dark books and this one with the hero as cage fighter was an added bonus.
Anderson Cain not only spoke with his eyes but with his smile. Whenever he graced me with it he was giving me a piece of him that not many were privileged with.
I am fascinated by Anderson. His pain and struggles made me want to envelop him with affection and protect him from the world. At the same time watching the way he coped triggered completely different emotions.
And Chloe wasn't less fascinating by any means. She came with her own struggles and she evolved to adapt to situations as needed.
“I’m going to make you understand me. All of me. Every ounce of the darkness that no one, not even you, can fix.”
The story was separated into two parts. Both parts had completely different feel and each one had its own merits. While part one was more somber, past two was more darkly sinister.
"That’s one thousand, four hundred and sixty days of you that belongs to me. And believe me, you’re going to pay for every single one of those days. And I’m going to make you beg for every – single - minute of that payment.”
There were some scenes that might be difficult for some so please be informed. Lucky for me those were among my favorite scenes lol!
Caged is a dark and twisted story of how revenge could fuel the unrepentant path to destruction.
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
pass-genre
September 4, 2016LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
This looks sooo good I cannot wait to get started! Burning a hole on my Kindle
Book 1 of 2.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Books in the Caged duet should be read in order:
Book 1: Caged
Book 2: Untitled - July 2016
Blurb:
Judd Asher was taken from his front garden when he was just four years old. After an extensive search he was never found.
Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
Kloe Grant is assigned as Judd’s personal therapist. It’s her job to rehabilitate him, to guide him back to normal life. But as Judd’s only emotion is rage, Kloe finds it both heart-breaking and challenging mending a soul that’s not only broken but caged inside him by the demons of his past.
However, when Kloe’s relationship with her patient raises some eyebrows, Kloe can’t fight against the powers that want to see her fail, and with an arm behind her back, she walks away, leaving behind a man who has come to live life again for her.
Four years later Judd, now known as Anderson Cain, the darkest and most formidable cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing, Judd finds there’s not a lot in life that can abate the rage that still twists and prowls beneath his skin.
Not until a chance encounter brings him to her door. To the woman with the bluest eyes and the most stunning smile, the woman who took his hand in the darkness and led him through the door into the sun.
But Kloe Grant left him when he needed her the most. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it. She starved his belief, and she fed his fury.
She owes him. And he’s going to make sure that this time, she pays. In blood. In lust. In pain. And with her soul.
This looks sooo good I cannot wait to get started! Burning a hole on my Kindle
Book 1 of 2.
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Books in the Caged duet should be read in order:
Book 1: Caged
Book 2: Untitled - July 2016
Blurb:
Judd Asher was taken from his front garden when he was just four years old. After an extensive search he was never found.
Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
Kloe Grant is assigned as Judd’s personal therapist. It’s her job to rehabilitate him, to guide him back to normal life. But as Judd’s only emotion is rage, Kloe finds it both heart-breaking and challenging mending a soul that’s not only broken but caged inside him by the demons of his past.
However, when Kloe’s relationship with her patient raises some eyebrows, Kloe can’t fight against the powers that want to see her fail, and with an arm behind her back, she walks away, leaving behind a man who has come to live life again for her.
Four years later Judd, now known as Anderson Cain, the darkest and most formidable cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing, Judd finds there’s not a lot in life that can abate the rage that still twists and prowls beneath his skin.
Not until a chance encounter brings him to her door. To the woman with the bluest eyes and the most stunning smile, the woman who took his hand in the darkness and led him through the door into the sun.
But Kloe Grant left him when he needed her the most. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it. She starved his belief, and she fed his fury.
She owes him. And he’s going to make sure that this time, she pays. In blood. In lust. In pain. And with her soul.
May 13, 2016
༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Kindly provided by the author
"D.H. Sidebottom" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: Caged
AUTHOR: D.H. Sidebottom
GENRE: Dark Thriller | Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: May 20th 2016
MY RATING
Now and then I need to step away from the light and walk towards the darkness and this author usually delivers everything I crave..
This is one of those books that you just want to turn off life for, the phone, social media, the tv all those distractions because as soon as you start reading this you are pulled so far into the story it doesn't let you go, the feels like cupids arrow gives you that hard jolt right from the get go.
Judd Asher was taken from his front garden when he was just four years old. After an extensive search he was never found.
Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
The largest search in history was called off after three years. After a routine inspection was carried out concerning animal mistreatment Judd was found alive in the basement, belonging to a reclusive couple, he'd been severely mistreated, both physically and mentally.
He was found chained up by his wrist and ankles, severely malnourished, x-rays showed a total of fourteen broken bones.
Something told me there was more to Anderson than he allowed me to see. I had worked with many broken and troubled people, and in nearly every case there was always a confused and frightened person trying to claw there way out of the despair that kept them hostage within themselves.
Kloe whom works as a therapist (post-stress rehabilitation) is handed Judd's aka Anderson Cain's high profile case. She's dealt with loads of cases that have pushed her limits but none will test her as much as Anderson Cain's does.
One day I'm going to hold your hand and you're going to step foot outside. The fresh air that will fill your lungs will make you giddy. The breeze will blow through your hair, across your face, and every bird in the sky will sing a song for you, Anderson Cain.
Lines are crossed, a forbidden attraction, consequences
A proposition she can't turn down
FOUR YEARS LATER
Anderson is now an undefeated MMA fighter it's what he hungers for, it what the darkness within craves, it's a fight till the death.
For four years she had chained these dark and sinister cravings inside me, kept me locked in the horrors of my own pain, a pain she had created.
The last four years Kloe has still been practicing in London, living with her own demons of the past that haunt her daily, only now someone is trying to kill her.
Anderson gained enjoyment from the very thing that had tortured him for so many years.
Can she kill them before they kill her??
As soon as you hit the second part of this novel it turns a wee bit wacky, you'll be sitting there questioning everything you thought you knew, your sanity will also come under scrutiny because if you end up loving this as much as I did I think 0800 therapy is the cure..
For me it wasn't so much what I'd term dark BUT don't run away just yet it is borderline sick!!
This had my mind reeling, my stomach curdling, like a train on a collision course of destruction this book had me within it's grip until that very last page, then with the way we're left hanging until July had me screaming loudly at the author "How could you do that!" GAH Roll on July already!!
"D.H. Sidebottom" in exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: Caged
AUTHOR: D.H. Sidebottom
GENRE: Dark Thriller | Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: May 20th 2016
MY RATING
Now and then I need to step away from the light and walk towards the darkness and this author usually delivers everything I crave..
This is one of those books that you just want to turn off life for, the phone, social media, the tv all those distractions because as soon as you start reading this you are pulled so far into the story it doesn't let you go, the feels like cupids arrow gives you that hard jolt right from the get go.
Judd Asher was taken from his front garden when he was just four years old. After an extensive search he was never found.Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
The largest search in history was called off after three years. After a routine inspection was carried out concerning animal mistreatment Judd was found alive in the basement, belonging to a reclusive couple, he'd been severely mistreated, both physically and mentally.
He was found chained up by his wrist and ankles, severely malnourished, x-rays showed a total of fourteen broken bones.
Something told me there was more to Anderson than he allowed me to see. I had worked with many broken and troubled people, and in nearly every case there was always a confused and frightened person trying to claw there way out of the despair that kept them hostage within themselves.
Kloe whom works as a therapist (post-stress rehabilitation) is handed Judd's aka Anderson Cain's high profile case. She's dealt with loads of cases that have pushed her limits but none will test her as much as Anderson Cain's does.
One day I'm going to hold your hand and you're going to step foot outside. The fresh air that will fill your lungs will make you giddy. The breeze will blow through your hair, across your face, and every bird in the sky will sing a song for you, Anderson Cain.
Lines are crossed, a forbidden attraction, consequences
A proposition she can't turn down
FOUR YEARS LATER
Anderson is now an undefeated MMA fighter it's what he hungers for, it what the darkness within craves, it's a fight till the death.
For four years she had chained these dark and sinister cravings inside me, kept me locked in the horrors of my own pain, a pain she had created.
The last four years Kloe has still been practicing in London, living with her own demons of the past that haunt her daily, only now someone is trying to kill her.
Anderson gained enjoyment from the very thing that had tortured him for so many years.
Can she kill them before they kill her??
As soon as you hit the second part of this novel it turns a wee bit wacky, you'll be sitting there questioning everything you thought you knew, your sanity will also come under scrutiny because if you end up loving this as much as I did I think 0800 therapy is the cure..
For me it wasn't so much what I'd term dark BUT don't run away just yet it is borderline sick!!
This had my mind reeling, my stomach curdling, like a train on a collision course of destruction this book had me within it's grip until that very last page, then with the way we're left hanging until July had me screaming loudly at the author "How could you do that!" GAH Roll on July already!!
November 2, 2016
4.5 Stars
Judd Asher was only four years old when he was abducted and held captive for twenty-one years. Upon being found, he was taken to a mental health facility for evaluation and rehabilitation. At the facility, he is assigned a therapist named Kloe Grant. Immediately, they have an unspoken and deep connection with each other. Judd Asher no longer exists, but the twenty-five year old strong male with a fiery and feral intensity called Anderson Cain is ever present. He relies on the dark bond he and Kloe share until she violates what he holds sacred.
Kloe Grant is dedicated to her job and patients. Upon meeting Anderson, Kloe recognizes a weakness she holds for this man, and for the first time, she is able to receive comfort from someone even though her own horror are buried deep down in her psyche. When Kloe is forced into a losing proposition, she acquiesces and hopes Anderson benefits from her decision. Even though Kloe tries to keep it all under control, she soon realizes it was all an illusion as her world slowly starts to fall apart.
Four years after Kloe and Anderson parted at the facility, a random sequence of events reunites them. From this point, the tension between Anderson and Kloe mounts. Their bond is undeniable and the sexual chemistry is palpable; however, there’s a multitude of emotions brewing that leads to vengeance, loathing, pain, blood and darkness. Despite seeing what Anderson craves, Kloe cannot stay away from him.
From this point, the plot unfolds in intricate layers and the pacing is swift and effective. Caged has so many elements that are intriguing, disturbing and enthralling. Certain truths become obscured and it becomes clear that the plot is twisting and unraveling in a devious way. Even with their deep connection, the paths Anderson and Kloe take are questionable and disconcerting. The promise was simple but circumstances irrevocably changed and now the consequences are grave.
If you are looking for a keenly dark and compelling read look no further! I highly recommend!
Note: This is a two book series. The second book, Chained, to be released July 2016.
Judd Asher was only four years old when he was abducted and held captive for twenty-one years. Upon being found, he was taken to a mental health facility for evaluation and rehabilitation. At the facility, he is assigned a therapist named Kloe Grant. Immediately, they have an unspoken and deep connection with each other. Judd Asher no longer exists, but the twenty-five year old strong male with a fiery and feral intensity called Anderson Cain is ever present. He relies on the dark bond he and Kloe share until she violates what he holds sacred.
“This man spoke with his eyes, his emotions presented themselves through the shimmering heat of his stare, and all the pain, all the suffering, all the fear and the dread glared at me with both a hunger for help and a caution to say away.”
Kloe Grant is dedicated to her job and patients. Upon meeting Anderson, Kloe recognizes a weakness she holds for this man, and for the first time, she is able to receive comfort from someone even though her own horror are buried deep down in her psyche. When Kloe is forced into a losing proposition, she acquiesces and hopes Anderson benefits from her decision. Even though Kloe tries to keep it all under control, she soon realizes it was all an illusion as her world slowly starts to fall apart.
“There was nowhere to hide. He had an uncanny ability to see the real me beneath the façade I painted on my face every morning.”
Four years after Kloe and Anderson parted at the facility, a random sequence of events reunites them. From this point, the tension between Anderson and Kloe mounts. Their bond is undeniable and the sexual chemistry is palpable; however, there’s a multitude of emotions brewing that leads to vengeance, loathing, pain, blood and darkness. Despite seeing what Anderson craves, Kloe cannot stay away from him.
“I can almost taste the sin that devours you with every one of your breaths. I can smell the longing pouring from you, the desire.”
From this point, the plot unfolds in intricate layers and the pacing is swift and effective. Caged has so many elements that are intriguing, disturbing and enthralling. Certain truths become obscured and it becomes clear that the plot is twisting and unraveling in a devious way. Even with their deep connection, the paths Anderson and Kloe take are questionable and disconcerting. The promise was simple but circumstances irrevocably changed and now the consequences are grave.
If you are looking for a keenly dark and compelling read look no further! I highly recommend!
Note: This is a two book series. The second book, Chained, to be released July 2016.
March 31, 2017
3* hmm... STARS!! ** maybe spoiler alert? **
Review @ Midnight Romance
DH Sidebottom is no stranger for me. I've read her other collaboration series and enjoyed it. Dark romance always my favorite. I saw some reviewers liked this and intrigued to read this. The cover and blurb are sounds promising and get my hopes up. Unfortunately, there are some things that didn't work out for me. What is it? Let me explain...
My first reaction:
Judd Asher already long gone when he was abducted and transform into another person, Anderson Cain. He was so broken when the police found him and send him an institute for his recovery. Kloe Grant assign to be be therapist and the progress surprisingly fast. << this was a bit unbelievable for me. Judd and Kloe are instantly connected due this circumstances.
Kloe Grant's life has many flaws. Her marriage is on the verge of destruction. She couldn't open to her husband and they're dysfunctional couple. Somehow her husband show his support. Kloe found another life with Judd because she feels like he understand her. When their love's start to bloom, they have to separate because one way or another because their forbidden relationship as therapist-patient. She couldn't keep her promise to Judd << A bit boring but I still need more information. Kloe's story was so frustrating.
My next reaction:
A few years later, they met again and he's Anderson Cain; not Judd Asher. He hold grudge against Kloe because her promises and need revenge to 'kidnap' her. Kloe just got back from London with terrifying problem with stalker and killer on the loose. << I already got the feeling with what'll happened next. Anderson couldn't help his hate towards Kloe and fucked her brain out. Yup! That's what I've been waiting for. Finally! Also when they're trying to open each other. So heart-wrenching.
My last reaction until the end:
After they're engaging with some disturbing yet hotter-than-hell sex, some shit happened. Especially this part that almost puked my gut. Maybe this is my fault? I didn't read the genre tag about M/M sexual activity. *cough* Obviously, this is not your average romance. He he he...
I couldn't connect with the main characters. Even their background was really awful but they're still haunted by the past. However, they're fighting and it was very predictable. BUT... the shit that happened just blew my mind. A big question with HOW COULD BE? ... end up with motherfreakin' cliffhanger. GAH!!! Can't wait for July.
✦ Please visit @Midnight Romance for more reviews! ✦
Review @ Midnight Romance
“There is always sun after the rain, light after the dark. The morning will always be accompanied by a bird’s happy song, the spring will always burst after the cold winter, and the night will always be caressed by the light of the moon. There’s always pleasure, Anderson, always that touch of better. You just have to look for it. And find it.”
DH Sidebottom is no stranger for me. I've read her other collaboration series and enjoyed it. Dark romance always my favorite. I saw some reviewers liked this and intrigued to read this. The cover and blurb are sounds promising and get my hopes up. Unfortunately, there are some things that didn't work out for me. What is it? Let me explain...
My first reaction:
Judd Asher already long gone when he was abducted and transform into another person, Anderson Cain. He was so broken when the police found him and send him an institute for his recovery. Kloe Grant assign to be be therapist and the progress surprisingly fast. << this was a bit unbelievable for me. Judd and Kloe are instantly connected due this circumstances.
Kloe Grant's life has many flaws. Her marriage is on the verge of destruction. She couldn't open to her husband and they're dysfunctional couple. Somehow her husband show his support. Kloe found another life with Judd because she feels like he understand her. When their love's start to bloom, they have to separate because one way or another because their forbidden relationship as therapist-patient. She couldn't keep her promise to Judd << A bit boring but I still need more information. Kloe's story was so frustrating.
My next reaction:
“Until every drop of blood that keeps you alive is spilled into my hands. Every burning touch on your skin that belongs to me will torture your soul with intolerable lust. And every single little breath you owe me will make you suffer in agonising pain. In blood - in lust - and in pain.”
A few years later, they met again and he's Anderson Cain; not Judd Asher. He hold grudge against Kloe because her promises and need revenge to 'kidnap' her. Kloe just got back from London with terrifying problem with stalker and killer on the loose. << I already got the feeling with what'll happened next. Anderson couldn't help his hate towards Kloe and fucked her brain out. Yup! That's what I've been waiting for. Finally! Also when they're trying to open each other. So heart-wrenching.
“Tell me, Kloe,” he breathed as he ran his hand up my throat. I gulped beneath his hold when he enclosed my neck in his fingers and squeezed lightly. “Do you dream of us fucking, of my cock slick with your cum? Do you wonder what it will feel like when I fuck your tight little arse? Or how my cum will taste in your mouth?”
My last reaction until the end:
After they're engaging with some disturbing yet hotter-than-hell sex, some shit happened. Especially this part that almost puked my gut. Maybe this is my fault? I didn't read the genre tag about M/M sexual activity. *cough* Obviously, this is not your average romance. He he he...
“You keep trying to push me away but I would pay with my soul to have you. I would give God my final breath for a single piece of your heart.”
I couldn't connect with the main characters. Even their background was really awful but they're still haunted by the past. However, they're fighting and it was very predictable. BUT... the shit that happened just blew my mind. A big question with HOW COULD BE? ... end up with motherfreakin' cliffhanger. GAH!!! Can't wait for July.
✦ Please visit @Midnight Romance for more reviews! ✦
May 24, 2018
what the fuck?
let's start with the basics. this book starts off innocently enough, with our main girl Kloe rehabilitating our dude Anderson. you get the warm fuzzies at his shy advances towards her and think "oh yes find comfort in each other, recover from shared traumas." BUT NO FUCKING SIR! that would be too simple. instead our main characters get ripped apart and reunited 4 years later. but of course our sweet vulnerable dude is basically a sociopath upon reunion. heart warming, no? and that's not to mention the unnecessary twists.
what really pissed me off here i think was the over use of trauma. i am ALL for trauma in dark romances cause i mean that's the whole point. but not EVERYONE in this world is bad. not everyone wants to rape and kill you. so why would you make all of your characters fucked in the head?
and i was also just really upset at the characterization of Anderson. he started off SO promising. i love a good broken/damaged male lead. but you can't have your guy sexually assault your leading lady and hit her across the face and threaten her??? there were some pseudo BDSM elements to the book but most of the episodes with Kloe were not under that guise and really left a bad taste in my mouth.
but like most upsettingly, the consensual sex was pretty hot. so why did you have to ruin it with all the other bullshit... sigh.
whatever, my twisted soul will probably read the sequel.
May 17, 2016
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Caged
Author: D.H. Sidebottom
Series or Standalone: Part of a series
Category: Dark Thriller
POV: Heroine's POV
Characters:: 4.5
Plot: 5
HEA: Ehh...not telling
Seems like most of my favorite books of the year have been erotic thrillers! Loved this book.
Judd Asher. Kidnapped and held for twenty one years in a basement by a couple.
Isolated, abused and with severe mental problems. His new name? Anderson Cain.
Kloe Grant is a therapist with demons of her own. Her mission? To rehabilitate Judd.
"One day soon I'm going to hold your hand and you're going to step foot outside."
~Kloe
Betrayed by the only man that managed to get inside her heart, Kloe battles her fears on her own while at the same time tries to help Judd. Will she succeed?
When a sudden twist forces her away from her new patient, Kloe must leave.
Abandoned, Anderson Cain promises to take revenge on the doctor who left him helpless.
Four years later, he is an infamous illegal fighter. He fights till death. Still, he hasn't forgotten.
Armed with an apetite for violence and blood, he is shocked when fate brings Kloe back into his path.
The circumstances are perfect. Anderson realizes that it is time to take back what she took when she left him.
She had left me fearing the shadows of my own dreams, taken the last shred of faith I'd had in myself and flushed it away.
Prisoner in Anderson's cruel hands, Kloe must get through to him and fight her own demons in order to survive.
"I'm going to make you understand me. All of me. Every ounce of the darness that no one, not even you, can fix."
Kloe made a big mistake; she tried to fix Anderson. But he doesn't want to be fixed.
Anderson was a monster. Of that I had no doubt. So, what did that make me?
Because I was falling for a monster.
The author did something amazing with her male hero. She took his abusive childhood and instead of turning him into a weak man, she made him take pleasure from the torture he endured as a child.
He took the weapon used against him and turned it into something that defines him. He craves the violence and he doesn't want to be fixed. He uses Kloe to get what he wants but poor Kloe didn't have any idea of what he really tried to achieve by using her.
There are great twists and turns. I gasped out-loud to most of them.
There is darkness, pain, abuse but the author has created a fantastic storyline. The characters are complex and you never know what to expect from them.
One thing is for certain, Kloe will surely take her revenge on anyone who hurt her.
They all took. They all wounded. They all made me suffer. And now it was my turn.
The book handles sensitive themes so if you are of the faint of heart, better stay away from this one.
Fantastic writing and great storyline. Original concept that captivated me from page one. I cannot wait for the second book!!! Is it July yet?
4.5 Stars!
May 20, 2016
**4.5 stars**
Holy hell this book should come with a "dark" warning...LOL Even though it was super dark, and had a lot of subjects that some readers would not like....I loved this story!!! I was enthralled through the whole book. I couldn't put it down and there wasn't a page where I was bored. I will say this; I don't really think of this as romance. More like an erotic thriller maybe??? Definitely not love and flowers, so if that is what you are after; then you'd best put it down.
If you are like me and you don't mind a read that has violence, mystery, male on male sex, threesome action, and dysfunction galore...then you must read this!!! It was hard to love our anti-hero; Anderson....but it was also hard to fully hate him..and Kloe is a heroine who is intriguing as well, and as the story goes on...her character evolves into something way different than when it began!!
The basic beginning of the story line is this; Judd Asher was taken when he was four years old and held captive in a basement for 21 years, where he was both physically and emotionally abused and raped repeatedly. He was found after all those years being kept like an animal. Kloe was brought in as his therapist to try an "fix" him as best as she can. The line between therapist and patience becomes blurred for so many different reasons. As you read the story, you will find that nothing is as it seems....and you will be shocked more than once. Oh, and there is a cliffhanger. It is a doozy and I am now very eager for July to come around. I have got to read the next book.
Normally I stay away from cliffies but quite frankly, I am super glad that I read this one right away. It is one that I won't forget the details, and the anticipation is going to make the next book all that much sweeter by the time I get to read it!!!
For dark lovers, this is a must read book! You won't be disappointed!!! I picked this up expecting something totally different than what I got...but I am not sorry in the least! I loved how it captured my attention...It is hard to find books like that now, but this one did its job! I will be checking out more of DH Sidebottom's work. This author is a genius...LOL
Holy hell this book should come with a "dark" warning...LOL Even though it was super dark, and had a lot of subjects that some readers would not like....I loved this story!!! I was enthralled through the whole book. I couldn't put it down and there wasn't a page where I was bored. I will say this; I don't really think of this as romance. More like an erotic thriller maybe??? Definitely not love and flowers, so if that is what you are after; then you'd best put it down.
If you are like me and you don't mind a read that has violence, mystery, male on male sex, threesome action, and dysfunction galore...then you must read this!!! It was hard to love our anti-hero; Anderson....but it was also hard to fully hate him..and Kloe is a heroine who is intriguing as well, and as the story goes on...her character evolves into something way different than when it began!!
The basic beginning of the story line is this; Judd Asher was taken when he was four years old and held captive in a basement for 21 years, where he was both physically and emotionally abused and raped repeatedly. He was found after all those years being kept like an animal. Kloe was brought in as his therapist to try an "fix" him as best as she can. The line between therapist and patience becomes blurred for so many different reasons. As you read the story, you will find that nothing is as it seems....and you will be shocked more than once. Oh, and there is a cliffhanger. It is a doozy and I am now very eager for July to come around. I have got to read the next book.
Normally I stay away from cliffies but quite frankly, I am super glad that I read this one right away. It is one that I won't forget the details, and the anticipation is going to make the next book all that much sweeter by the time I get to read it!!!
For dark lovers, this is a must read book! You won't be disappointed!!! I picked this up expecting something totally different than what I got...but I am not sorry in the least! I loved how it captured my attention...It is hard to find books like that now, but this one did its job! I will be checking out more of DH Sidebottom's work. This author is a genius...LOL
May 23, 2016
Holy crap, that was good!!!
Must get my hands on the next one NOW!
Must get my hands on the next one NOW!
June 21, 2016
That was so disturbing but I have no regrets. Cause I freaking enjoyed it!!! :-D
August 28, 2016
Spoiler Ahead This was a really good dark suspense erotic thriller. To me I know the book was good when I can't stop thinking about it after I complete it. Judd Asher was kidnapped and held for twenty-one years when he was found he was chained up and beaten in a rundown farmhouse he was also sexually abused. Kloe Grant is the therapist assigned to help him she is also struggling in her personal life she just found out that he husband is cheating with his secretary Sarah and how she found out I would have hurt my husband had it been me. Kloe feels drawn to Judd who now goes by Anderson he is withdrawn and afraid and he doesn't understand. When Kloe's boss James makes a pass at her and squeezes her neck at a housewarming at her house her ex Ben knocks him out. We also get to see what Kloe suffers from she has a food addiction I should say she panics when she thinks that she will run out of food. When James digs up her pass we find that Kloe who grew up as Samantha was abused as a kid also and when one of her co workers records her actions with Anderson like him kissing her with his hand in her shirt she is forced to leave hurting him. The book skips ahead four years Anderson is now an underground fighter and he can't stop thinking about her and how she left him after promising to be there for him. Kloe's life has seen it's share of hard times again she is being stalked her bestfriend was killed and when Anderson finds a dead dog out while jogging with his dog Red there lives cross again. This book really took a very interesting turn and I loved reading about it all. Anderson wants to make her pay for leaving him and bring darkness to her life. After Kloe witnesses Anderson killing her former boss she passes out only to wake to find out that he has kidnapped her. The sex scenes in this book was violent and hot. Anderson shows her the real him like when he had his best friend and lover whip and have sex with him. This was my first time reading this author's work this book was well written with no errors in spelling and grammar. This book left off on a big cliffhanger and a lot of secrets between these two and they have something in common. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
June 14, 2016
Fuuuuuck. #TwistedApproved May contain triggers for some. M/F M/M and M/M/F Brutal sex that blew my panties to smithereens.
Another fast paced, dark and twisted, drama filled hit from Sidebottom. I can't enough of her words, they reach in twisting my heart, breaking my soul, leaving me reeling and feeling. I loved loved loved this book.
The story his made up in two parts. Part One is damaging, heart breaking, and will give you all the "feels." Anderson Cain is found after years of abuse, locked in a basement, or should I say dungeon. He's emotionally and intellectual stunted. His demeanor is that of a child, he's confused and conditioned from all the years of abuse. Kloe is his therapist. She battles her own demons, putting on the facade of 'all put together.' What happens when two broken souls meet, an instant attraction to the dark that resides within.
"I couldn’t stop looking at those striking green eyes. They stared right at me, inside me, begging me for help and promising me violence."
Part one hit me in the chest, it's emotional, it's heartbreaking, memorizing. I loved the attraction, the dark innocence in Anderson. I wanted wrap him in my arms and protect him from the evil world.
“Numbness is so much worse than pain. Numbness is nothing. You can’t feel nothing. You can’t grab hold of nothing. But you can become nothing."
Part Two, OMG!!!!! There's events that lead up to this part, I'd rather not say, it will ruin the book for you. Anyway, part two comes the darker, the sinister, the meat of the story. You will be clutching your kindle, wondering what the fuck is gonna happen. I should be used to this from Sidebottom, but she always pulls something completely different out of the box. She slaps me in the face, every time. There's a huge shift in the characters, years have gone by, vengeance is coming, motives arising. What happens when you break a dark heart? What happens when your dark past comes to haunt you? A interconnected crash course of devastation and heart- break. Is there light in all the dark, or are they doomed for annihilation.
“Even if the rain moves aside for the sun, the storm always comes back. And then it drowns you.”
This book shredded me. Be prepared to take a punch to the face.
FYI: This one leaves you hanging off the cliff, so if you don't like that, I'd wait until the second is released.
Merged review:
Fuuuuuck. #TwistedApproved May contain triggers for some. M/F M/M and M/M/F Brutal sex that blew my panties to smithereens.
Another fast paced, dark and twisted, drama filled hit from Sidebottom. I can't get enough of her words, they reach in twisting my heart, breaking my soul, leaving me reeling and feeling. I loved loved loved this book.
The story his made up in two parts. Part One is damaging, heart breaking, and will give you all the "feels." Anderson Cain is found after years of abuse, locked in a basement, or should I say dungeon. He's emotionally and intellectual stunted. His demeanor is that of a child, he's confused and conditioned from all the years of abuse. Kloe is his therapist. She battles her own demons, putting on the facade of 'all put together.' What happens when two broken souls meet, an instant attraction to the dark that resides within.
"I couldn’t stop looking at those striking green eyes. They stared right at me, inside me, begging me for help and promising me violence."
Part one hit me in the chest, it's emotional, it's heartbreaking, memorizing. I loved the attraction, the dark innocence in Anderson. I wanted wrap him in my arms and protect him from the evil world.
“Numbness is so much worse than pain. Numbness is nothing. You can’t feel nothing. You can’t grab hold of nothing. But you can become nothing."
Part Two, OMG!!!!! There's events that lead up to this part, I'd rather not say, it will ruin the book for you. Anyway, part two comes the darker, the sinister, the meat of the story. You will be clutching your kindle, wondering what the fuck is gonna happen. I should be used to this from Sidebottom, but she always pulls something completely different out of the box. She slaps me in the face, every time. There's a huge shift in the characters, years have gone by, vengeance is coming, motives arising. What happens when you break a dark heart? What happens when your dark past comes to haunt you? A interconnected crash course of devastation and heart- break. Is there light in all the dark, or are they doomed for annihilation.
“Even if the rain moves aside for the sun, the storm always comes back. And then it drowns you.”
This book shredded me. Be prepared to take a punch to the face.
FYI: This one leaves you hanging off the cliff, so if you don't like that, I'd wait until the second is released.
Another fast paced, dark and twisted, drama filled hit from Sidebottom. I can't enough of her words, they reach in twisting my heart, breaking my soul, leaving me reeling and feeling. I loved loved loved this book.
The story his made up in two parts. Part One is damaging, heart breaking, and will give you all the "feels." Anderson Cain is found after years of abuse, locked in a basement, or should I say dungeon. He's emotionally and intellectual stunted. His demeanor is that of a child, he's confused and conditioned from all the years of abuse. Kloe is his therapist. She battles her own demons, putting on the facade of 'all put together.' What happens when two broken souls meet, an instant attraction to the dark that resides within.
"I couldn’t stop looking at those striking green eyes. They stared right at me, inside me, begging me for help and promising me violence."
Part one hit me in the chest, it's emotional, it's heartbreaking, memorizing. I loved the attraction, the dark innocence in Anderson. I wanted wrap him in my arms and protect him from the evil world.
“Numbness is so much worse than pain. Numbness is nothing. You can’t feel nothing. You can’t grab hold of nothing. But you can become nothing."
Part Two, OMG!!!!! There's events that lead up to this part, I'd rather not say, it will ruin the book for you. Anyway, part two comes the darker, the sinister, the meat of the story. You will be clutching your kindle, wondering what the fuck is gonna happen. I should be used to this from Sidebottom, but she always pulls something completely different out of the box. She slaps me in the face, every time. There's a huge shift in the characters, years have gone by, vengeance is coming, motives arising. What happens when you break a dark heart? What happens when your dark past comes to haunt you? A interconnected crash course of devastation and heart- break. Is there light in all the dark, or are they doomed for annihilation.
“Even if the rain moves aside for the sun, the storm always comes back. And then it drowns you.”
This book shredded me. Be prepared to take a punch to the face.
FYI: This one leaves you hanging off the cliff, so if you don't like that, I'd wait until the second is released.
Merged review:
Fuuuuuck. #TwistedApproved May contain triggers for some. M/F M/M and M/M/F Brutal sex that blew my panties to smithereens.
Another fast paced, dark and twisted, drama filled hit from Sidebottom. I can't get enough of her words, they reach in twisting my heart, breaking my soul, leaving me reeling and feeling. I loved loved loved this book.
The story his made up in two parts. Part One is damaging, heart breaking, and will give you all the "feels." Anderson Cain is found after years of abuse, locked in a basement, or should I say dungeon. He's emotionally and intellectual stunted. His demeanor is that of a child, he's confused and conditioned from all the years of abuse. Kloe is his therapist. She battles her own demons, putting on the facade of 'all put together.' What happens when two broken souls meet, an instant attraction to the dark that resides within.
"I couldn’t stop looking at those striking green eyes. They stared right at me, inside me, begging me for help and promising me violence."
Part one hit me in the chest, it's emotional, it's heartbreaking, memorizing. I loved the attraction, the dark innocence in Anderson. I wanted wrap him in my arms and protect him from the evil world.
“Numbness is so much worse than pain. Numbness is nothing. You can’t feel nothing. You can’t grab hold of nothing. But you can become nothing."
Part Two, OMG!!!!! There's events that lead up to this part, I'd rather not say, it will ruin the book for you. Anyway, part two comes the darker, the sinister, the meat of the story. You will be clutching your kindle, wondering what the fuck is gonna happen. I should be used to this from Sidebottom, but she always pulls something completely different out of the box. She slaps me in the face, every time. There's a huge shift in the characters, years have gone by, vengeance is coming, motives arising. What happens when you break a dark heart? What happens when your dark past comes to haunt you? A interconnected crash course of devastation and heart- break. Is there light in all the dark, or are they doomed for annihilation.
“Even if the rain moves aside for the sun, the storm always comes back. And then it drowns you.”
This book shredded me. Be prepared to take a punch to the face.
FYI: This one leaves you hanging off the cliff, so if you don't like that, I'd wait until the second is released.
March 21, 2017
“Numbness is so much worse than pain. Numbness is nothing. You can’t feel nothing. You can’t grab hold of nothing. But you can become nothing. It grows inside you until you’re a big hole of nothing along with it. You just become a tiny insignificance”
Okay, I've just finished this.. what in the ever loving fuck have I just read? This was horribly dark and I do hope that I will never come across people who do this, not only to other people but to children! Disgusting.
Judd Asher/Anderson Cain, we thought, was taken at four and found twenty-one years later.. Reading I often had to swallow back a horrified gasp, became emotional and felt like I was there with Judd. I wanted to hold him and put them thru the same horror they made him suffer. Judd is placed into therapist Kloe's care but due to circumstances she is forced to break her promise to him, and leaves him.
Four years later, Anderson is an perfect killing machine and earns his money as an underground fighter and a very interesting relationship with his friend Robbie.
Things are still very dark in Anderson and wants revenge. He blames Kloe for breaking her promise and can't believe his luck when, due to a horrendous act, they meet again.
Kloe had a few major blows from live and was forced to leave her life and Anderson behind.
“I don’t love you. I don’t even want to love you. You’re here because I want to ruin you. I want to witness your heart shatter into a million fucking pieces. I want you to feel the pain that I felt when you left!”
Bit by bit we learn about the dark side that lives in Kloe. And when she finally decides to grow a spine and stand up for herself the book ends. But leaves me with a huge grin and I can not wait to get to book 2 Chained
Part of the Chained series that has to be read in order:
BuddyRead with nd & Thea for the The Erogenous Zone
August 10, 2016
OMFG this book rock my world!!! A dark twisted story, surprising and mind-fuck as hell!!!
5+++ stars :D
“It’s so hard, Kloe, to have this much hatred and aggression inside, with no promise of it ever going away. (...)
It’s so fucking hard. It will never go away. The suffering will never stop. I can’t move on until it stops. For twenty-five years all I have breathed for is vengeance, to watch their faces when I come back, and for the one day when I can get an answer for the question that haunts my dreams.”
- Anderson
* * *
“You keep trying to push me away but I would pay with my soul to have you. I would give God my final breath for a single piece of your heart. (...)
Let me love you, Anderson. Please. Open your heart and let me in.”
- Kloe
5+++ stars :D
“It’s so hard, Kloe, to have this much hatred and aggression inside, with no promise of it ever going away. (...)
It’s so fucking hard. It will never go away. The suffering will never stop. I can’t move on until it stops. For twenty-five years all I have breathed for is vengeance, to watch their faces when I come back, and for the one day when I can get an answer for the question that haunts my dreams.”
- Anderson
* * *
“You keep trying to push me away but I would pay with my soul to have you. I would give God my final breath for a single piece of your heart. (...)
Let me love you, Anderson. Please. Open your heart and let me in.”
- Kloe
Read
October 4, 2016DNF at 40%! I tried to get into this one but I just can't stand Kloe! She doesn't act like a therapist at all. I mean who tells their patient she's probably going to have an orgasm watching him whenever he eats some Ben and Jerry's ice cream??? Rolling my eyes!!! I also hate it when the description of the H doesn't match the cover. He has long blond hair in the book but not on the cover. lol
Glad others enjoyed but I had to skim just to get to 40% and I can't even make myself skim some more.
Glad others enjoyed but I had to skim just to get to 40% and I can't even make myself skim some more.
May 23, 2016
DNF @25%
I'm sorry. Yes, I know I'm in the minority. This isn't dark. It's depressing. Plus no one over comes 21 years of being chained in a basement that quickly. I don't care what kind of connection he has to her.
I'm sorry. Yes, I know I'm in the minority. This isn't dark. It's depressing. Plus no one over comes 21 years of being chained in a basement that quickly. I don't care what kind of connection he has to her.
February 4, 2021
I don't know how to explain this book.
It's about a therapist and an abused guy. (See, I've ruined it already.) There's a time jump. There's torture. There's murder. There's a huge trigger for child abuse and rape. There's a dead dog (no, two dead dogs). There's a threesomes. There's a cliffhanger.
To be honest, it wasn't that bad. I love the shock factor. The bad thing was the far-fetched plot. Too many coincidences for my taste.
It's about a therapist and an abused guy. (See, I've ruined it already.) There's a time jump. There's torture. There's murder. There's a huge trigger for child abuse and rape. There's a dead dog (no, two dead dogs). There's a threesomes. There's a cliffhanger.
To be honest, it wasn't that bad. I love the shock factor. The bad thing was the far-fetched plot. Too many coincidences for my taste.
May 23, 2016
Wow!! Just simply Wow!!
The book starts as poignant and then chops you up.
Behavioural therapist - Kloe Grant meets Judd Asher aka Anderson Cain , who's been kidnapped and imprisoned in a basement for 21 years , living literally like an animal, chained and abused , beaten and raped, starved and fed scraps. He's rescued and sent for therapy. The horrible experiences have mutated him into a masochistic freak. He's a walking volcano , breathes pain in and breathes anger out .
His personality is destructive to himself and whoever he has the misfortune of associating with.
Here starts a corkscrew turn in the story. It's as if it upends itself , victim becomes killer and killer becomes victim. NOTHING is what it seems . There is a master player behind the scenes who's toying with each character , stalking them, killing them, terrorising them and turning them against each other!!!
They are just pawns as a Cat O' Nine Lives moves them across his board.
Dawn is an Astute writer , her perceptions and interpretations of each character are praiseworthy. How she deigns a setup in the book, how she brings a scene to climax and then leaves a thread loose to carry it onto the next chapter is stunning. Every time I thought I had figured out a character or a scene , she stuns me with a completely new revelation !!!!
You feel sorry for each character in one breath, rooting for them and next chapter you want to pity them, next you want to kill them!
Omg , i'm in a matrix here , not knowing how they will develop later!
Great book , dark and full of hairpin curves .
Now to wait for next book ........
The book starts as poignant and then chops you up.
Behavioural therapist - Kloe Grant meets Judd Asher aka Anderson Cain , who's been kidnapped and imprisoned in a basement for 21 years , living literally like an animal, chained and abused , beaten and raped, starved and fed scraps. He's rescued and sent for therapy. The horrible experiences have mutated him into a masochistic freak. He's a walking volcano , breathes pain in and breathes anger out .
His personality is destructive to himself and whoever he has the misfortune of associating with.
Here starts a corkscrew turn in the story. It's as if it upends itself , victim becomes killer and killer becomes victim. NOTHING is what it seems . There is a master player behind the scenes who's toying with each character , stalking them, killing them, terrorising them and turning them against each other!!!
They are just pawns as a Cat O' Nine Lives moves them across his board.
Dawn is an Astute writer , her perceptions and interpretations of each character are praiseworthy. How she deigns a setup in the book, how she brings a scene to climax and then leaves a thread loose to carry it onto the next chapter is stunning. Every time I thought I had figured out a character or a scene , she stuns me with a completely new revelation !!!!
You feel sorry for each character in one breath, rooting for them and next chapter you want to pity them, next you want to kill them!
Omg , i'm in a matrix here , not knowing how they will develop later!
Great book , dark and full of hairpin curves .
Now to wait for next book ........
July 30, 2016
Anderson became the patient of Kloe, who is a behavioral therapist. She learned that Anderson was kidnapped at a young age and kept to be tortured, rape and other kind of abuse for 21 years. This has damaged Anderson, both physically and emotionally. He’s a broken man.
From this point on, I already like Kloe and her mission to help others to get over their gruesome past. The way she treats her patient not only with common sense, but with a heart.
So, when Kloe saw Anderson for the first time, she felt something, a connection. Slowly Anderson opened up to Kloe about the things he experienced in the hands of his captors. They bonded and became at ease with each other, and promised to stay together. But promises are meant to be broken, when Kloe and Anderson caught in a moment of intimacy and Kloe was blackmailed to leave Anderson immediately, if not Anderson will be transferred to another hospital and Kloe doesn’t want that, so she left.
After 4 years they meet again… and the story became more dark, suspenseful and thrilling. That I just can’t put it down. Some scenes are really disturbing, but it’s needed to understand the complexity of each character. A cliffhanger!
D.H. Sidebottom is a new author to me and now I know when it comes to this kind of book, I won’t be disappointed if I pick a book of hers.
April 15, 2017
Kloe and Anderson. They are both damaged from their pasts. Kloe changed her name to leave her past behind, but it didn't help her as much as she thought. Anderson was saved but "damned" and ruined again from the same person and his seeking for his revenge.
This is a dark, rough book with violent scenes and I would recommend it only to funs of this gentre.
3,5 Open your heart and let me in stars
This is a dark, rough book with violent scenes and I would recommend it only to funs of this gentre.
3,5 Open your heart and let me in stars
January 31, 2018
La prima parte mi ha intrigato molto perchè parla di come questo ragazzo, Judd, ora diventato Anderson, viene ritrovato dopo ben vent'anni di prigionia. Kloe è la terapista che deve aiutarlo a tornare nel mondo, perchè lui aveva solo quattro anni quando è stato rapito, e quindi a malapena riesce a parlare perchè non è stato istruito nè altro. Semplicemente è stato picchiato, violentato per così tanti anni e ora è un uomo adulto ma completamente a pezzi.
Mi è piaciuto come Kloe diventa sua amica, lo aiuta, gli legge libri, lo porta fuori a vedere il sole e guarda la tv insieme a lui per la prima volta. Ma succede una cosa che impedisce a Kloe di continuare a rimanere lì ad occuparsi di lui come lei gli aveva promesso, e così se ne va.
Passiamo a quattro anni dopo dove Anderson è diventato un altra persona, a mio parere peggiore. Non mi piace quando le persone come lui non cambiano anche dopo tutto ció che gli è successo, anzi, hanno piacere nel fare le stesse cose subìte ad altre persone. Kloe non si aspettava di rivederlo, e Anderson pensa solo a vendicarsi contro di lei per essersene andata anche se lei gli aveva promesso che non l'avrebbe mai fatto.
Sono un po' stanca di leggere libri come l'argomento principale è la vendetta. Storie del tipo "mi hai abbandonato quando eravamo bambini, ti rapisco e ti stupro" e cose di questo tipo. Sono argomenti stupidi a mio parere. Vendette del genere per me non hanno nè capo nè coda perchè come sempre il protagonista che cerca vendetta non si documenta mai se l'altra persona aveva una buona ragione per andarsene. Forse non merita ció che gli vuole fare, no? Anche in questo caso Kloe non meritava ció che Anderson le fa dopo. Lei d'altronde ha problemi per conto suo, sin da bambina ha subìto un trauma grave, grazie al suo patrigno, e si è portata dietro un peso enorme che la schiaccia ancora adesso.
Forse è giunto il momento per me di prendermi una pausa dal dark, perchè da quello che ho letto ultimamente si vede che le autrici non sanno mai dove andare a parare, storie sempre uguali e senza un punto preciso su cui focalizzarsi. Magari una boccata d'aria fresca farebbe bene anche a me. Do tre stelline semplicemente perchè la prima parte mi è piaciuta, purtroppo è caduta nel ridicolo e nell'esagerato nella seconda, facendomi solo rabbrividire per i personaggi e le loro azioni.
Mi è piaciuto come Kloe diventa sua amica, lo aiuta, gli legge libri, lo porta fuori a vedere il sole e guarda la tv insieme a lui per la prima volta. Ma succede una cosa che impedisce a Kloe di continuare a rimanere lì ad occuparsi di lui come lei gli aveva promesso, e così se ne va.
Passiamo a quattro anni dopo dove Anderson è diventato un altra persona, a mio parere peggiore. Non mi piace quando le persone come lui non cambiano anche dopo tutto ció che gli è successo, anzi, hanno piacere nel fare le stesse cose subìte ad altre persone. Kloe non si aspettava di rivederlo, e Anderson pensa solo a vendicarsi contro di lei per essersene andata anche se lei gli aveva promesso che non l'avrebbe mai fatto.
Sono un po' stanca di leggere libri come l'argomento principale è la vendetta. Storie del tipo "mi hai abbandonato quando eravamo bambini, ti rapisco e ti stupro" e cose di questo tipo. Sono argomenti stupidi a mio parere. Vendette del genere per me non hanno nè capo nè coda perchè come sempre il protagonista che cerca vendetta non si documenta mai se l'altra persona aveva una buona ragione per andarsene. Forse non merita ció che gli vuole fare, no? Anche in questo caso Kloe non meritava ció che Anderson le fa dopo. Lei d'altronde ha problemi per conto suo, sin da bambina ha subìto un trauma grave, grazie al suo patrigno, e si è portata dietro un peso enorme che la schiaccia ancora adesso.
Forse è giunto il momento per me di prendermi una pausa dal dark, perchè da quello che ho letto ultimamente si vede che le autrici non sanno mai dove andare a parare, storie sempre uguali e senza un punto preciso su cui focalizzarsi. Magari una boccata d'aria fresca farebbe bene anche a me. Do tre stelline semplicemente perchè la prima parte mi è piaciuta, purtroppo è caduta nel ridicolo e nell'esagerato nella seconda, facendomi solo rabbrividire per i personaggi e le loro azioni.
May 26, 2016
When I review a book, I base it on the feelings I had toward the book. With that being said...
Well... I. Am. Pissed!!!!
I Feel So Betrayed!!!!
Who knows... maybe I will get over it tomorrow morning. Who knows... and maybe I will change the rating of the book to a better one but...
I was really enjoying the book up to 90%. I know it is dark and twisty.
I do dark and twisty. Hell, I am dark and twisty!!!
I get pissed at my girl friends that can't handle dark and twisty... BUT this book, I feel it did me wrong.
The Heroine was starting to figure out this mystery at the end of the book. She was putting 2 and 2 together and everything comes to her.
Well... it didn't for me. I must be on dumb ass mode tonight because I was utterly confused when the shit started hitting the fan. I went back and found names to connect to other names and this person is involved and then this person! I don't know what the fuck is going on.
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
I feel like I just got fucked right up the ass when I was expecting vaginal sex.
I am confused. I think I super hate the Hero... he's a dick, I think...
Argh...
Wish I had know it was a cliff hanger.
Just... Super Fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balls, Balls, and fucking bigger Balls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 15, 2016
English and Hebrew versions for this review
I am an avid reader, I read about one book every week. Some of them I forget the minute I finish reading them, others I remember vaguely. But once every few months I read a book that keeps me on edge from the very first page and I just know I won’t ever forget it. In fact, the book is so good that I read it very very slowly, so I can stay a little bit longer trapped in the story.
This is exactly how I felt about Caged by DH Sidebottom.
A few words about the book
Judd is a 25 years old guy who was taken from his home when he was only 4 and for 21 years he was kept in a basement tortured and abused.
Kloe was assigned to be Judd’s personal therapy. But as she got too close to him she was forced to leave him. Four years later, Judd finds her again, but this time he is going to make her pay for leaving him.
Is it a dark romance?
Hell, YES it is. Finally an author that is not afraid to walk in the dark and take us with her, and the road has so many twists and turns. DH Sidebottom, is a brilliant writer, when you think you know how the story will go she manages to surprise you over and over again. This is one of the things that I love about her writing (and if you haven’t read The Decimation of Mae, go download it NOW).
The sex scenes in this book are very hot and probably won’t suit everyone, but please keep your mind open. Sidebottom has done her research, she has looked inside her characters souls and she understands them very well, this is one of the reasons this book is so good. That is why I call it dark, not because of what her characters have gone through (well, that too) but mainly because what they have become because of this, what they need, what the CRAVE.
Oh, and this is book one of two BUT if you download it now it will cost you $0.99
5 Shining dark stars.
http://amzn.to/1Tb3hFS
אני קוראת המון, בערך ספר בשבוע. חלק מהספרים אני שוכחת ברגע שאני מסיימת אותם, חלק מהספרים אני זוכרת במעומעם כמה חודשים לאחר מכן. אבל, מדי כמה חודשים מגיע ספר שאני יודעת שלא אשכח לעולם. ספר שאני קוראת לאט לאט כדי שלא ייגמר לי.
Caged by DH Sidebottom
הוא בדיוק ספר כזה.
על מה הספר?
ג׳וד אשר, בן 25 נמצא אחרי שהיה כלוא במרתף במשך 21 שנה. די ברור ברגע שמוצאים אותו שהוא עבר התעללות קשה. קלואי גרנט מקבלת את הטיפול בו כתרפיסטית. אבל לאחר שהיא מתקרבת אליו יותר מדי, היא נאלצת לעזוב אותו ואת התפקיד שלה.
ארבע שנים לאחר מכן, ג׳וד מוצא אותה במקרה, הוא לא סולח לה על זה שהיא עזבה אותו, הואו מחליט לגרום לה לשלם. בגדול.
האם הספר אפל?
בהחלט ! הסופרת הזו לא פוחדת ללכת הכי רחוק שאפשר עם הדמויות שלה. וגם אם נדמה לנו באמצע הדרך שאנחנו יודעים בדיוק לאן היא לוקחת אותנו, אז, אממ…. תחשבו שוב, כי היא ״מחשבת מסלול מחדש״ כמעט כל כמה עמודים. כל כך הרבה טוויסטים בסיפור שזה אחד הדברים שהופך את הספר הזה לכל כך טוב.
הרבה פעמים שואלים אותי, מה הופך ספר לספר אפל. האם תיאורים של התעללות נפשית גופנית וכו׳ זה מספיק? לעתים קשה לי להסביר, אבל הספר הזה הבהיר לי חד משמעית מה בעיניי הוא ספר אפל וזה האופן שבו מחבר הספר מבין את הנפש של הגיבור שלו. הוא לא רק מתאר את ההתעללות שהגיבורים עברו אלא בעיקר את מה שהם הפכו להיות בגלל אותה התעללות. עד כמה החיים שלהם והמעשים שלהם אינם יכולים לעולם להיות ״נורמליים״. בספר יש סצנות סקס לא פשוטות, אני לא בטוחה שזה יתאים לכולם, אבל מי שמעז לצלול פנימה, בבקשה, נסו לא להישאר מקובעים, כי הסצנות האלה הן הסיפור כולו, עד כמה המוח האנושי צריך מעשים מסוימים כדי לשרוד וכדי להישאר שפוי.
אני נותנת לספר הזה חמישה כוכבים זוהרים ונוצצים.
דרך אגב, אם אתם קונים את הספר עכשיו, הוא עולה בסה״כ 99 סנט.
I am an avid reader, I read about one book every week. Some of them I forget the minute I finish reading them, others I remember vaguely. But once every few months I read a book that keeps me on edge from the very first page and I just know I won’t ever forget it. In fact, the book is so good that I read it very very slowly, so I can stay a little bit longer trapped in the story.
This is exactly how I felt about Caged by DH Sidebottom.
A few words about the book
Judd is a 25 years old guy who was taken from his home when he was only 4 and for 21 years he was kept in a basement tortured and abused.
Kloe was assigned to be Judd’s personal therapy. But as she got too close to him she was forced to leave him. Four years later, Judd finds her again, but this time he is going to make her pay for leaving him.
Is it a dark romance?
Hell, YES it is. Finally an author that is not afraid to walk in the dark and take us with her, and the road has so many twists and turns. DH Sidebottom, is a brilliant writer, when you think you know how the story will go she manages to surprise you over and over again. This is one of the things that I love about her writing (and if you haven’t read The Decimation of Mae, go download it NOW).
The sex scenes in this book are very hot and probably won’t suit everyone, but please keep your mind open. Sidebottom has done her research, she has looked inside her characters souls and she understands them very well, this is one of the reasons this book is so good. That is why I call it dark, not because of what her characters have gone through (well, that too) but mainly because what they have become because of this, what they need, what the CRAVE.
Oh, and this is book one of two BUT if you download it now it will cost you $0.99
5 Shining dark stars.
http://amzn.to/1Tb3hFS
אני קוראת המון, בערך ספר בשבוע. חלק מהספרים אני שוכחת ברגע שאני מסיימת אותם, חלק מהספרים אני זוכרת במעומעם כמה חודשים לאחר מכן. אבל, מדי כמה חודשים מגיע ספר שאני יודעת שלא אשכח לעולם. ספר שאני קוראת לאט לאט כדי שלא ייגמר לי.
Caged by DH Sidebottom
הוא בדיוק ספר כזה.
על מה הספר?
ג׳וד אשר, בן 25 נמצא אחרי שהיה כלוא במרתף במשך 21 שנה. די ברור ברגע שמוצאים אותו שהוא עבר התעללות קשה. קלואי גרנט מקבלת את הטיפול בו כתרפיסטית. אבל לאחר שהיא מתקרבת אליו יותר מדי, היא נאלצת לעזוב אותו ואת התפקיד שלה.
ארבע שנים לאחר מכן, ג׳וד מוצא אותה במקרה, הוא לא סולח לה על זה שהיא עזבה אותו, הואו מחליט לגרום לה לשלם. בגדול.
האם הספר אפל?
בהחלט ! הסופרת הזו לא פוחדת ללכת הכי רחוק שאפשר עם הדמויות שלה. וגם אם נדמה לנו באמצע הדרך שאנחנו יודעים בדיוק לאן היא לוקחת אותנו, אז, אממ…. תחשבו שוב, כי היא ״מחשבת מסלול מחדש״ כמעט כל כמה עמודים. כל כך הרבה טוויסטים בסיפור שזה אחד הדברים שהופך את הספר הזה לכל כך טוב.
הרבה פעמים שואלים אותי, מה הופך ספר לספר אפל. האם תיאורים של התעללות נפשית גופנית וכו׳ זה מספיק? לעתים קשה לי להסביר, אבל הספר הזה הבהיר לי חד משמעית מה בעיניי הוא ספר אפל וזה האופן שבו מחבר הספר מבין את הנפש של הגיבור שלו. הוא לא רק מתאר את ההתעללות שהגיבורים עברו אלא בעיקר את מה שהם הפכו להיות בגלל אותה התעללות. עד כמה החיים שלהם והמעשים שלהם אינם יכולים לעולם להיות ״נורמליים״. בספר יש סצנות סקס לא פשוטות, אני לא בטוחה שזה יתאים לכולם, אבל מי שמעז לצלול פנימה, בבקשה, נסו לא להישאר מקובעים, כי הסצנות האלה הן הסיפור כולו, עד כמה המוח האנושי צריך מעשים מסוימים כדי לשרוד וכדי להישאר שפוי.
אני נותנת לספר הזה חמישה כוכבים זוהרים ונוצצים.
דרך אגב, אם אתם קונים את הספר עכשיו, הוא עולה בסה״כ 99 סנט.
May 18, 2016
Holy mother of.... I honestly do not know how this author continues to get better and better. Just when I think I've read D H Sidebottom's best work yet, she hits me straight in the heart. Wounding me, leaving me breathless, yet again.
As always with authors I love, I knew nothing at all about this book, except for what the cover looked like. I've avoided all teasers and I haven't read the synopsis either.
Right from the prologue, I knew I was going to be hooked. The tragic start to this story is the thing nightmares are made of.
Kloe sets out to help a damaged man but what she finds instead is that in his presence, she is stripped bare. He sees her soul. He unravels her.
I won't tell you anything about Anderson, other than that he is damaged...but is he beyond repair? Beyond saving?
The sub-characters are great too - some of which you'll want to loath just as much as I did. They're well developed and carry the story along as much as the main characters do.
I don't want to give any more of the story away because it is truly a journey worth taking on your own.
This book is beautifully written. Evocative and intense but dark and tragic, it somehow still offers a glimmer of hope, until it is once again crushed. There are twists, turns, secrets and confessions, all of which keep you enthralled.
D H Sidebottom is a truly talented wordsmith. I'm in awe of the way she is able to take a story and consume me (the reader) so deeply that you begin to question the way you think and feel.
I was both devastated and thrilled as I reached the end of Caged, only to find out that I'm going to have to wait for more. Wait to see how things will turn out. Can either Kloe or Anderson ever find peace? Will my heart survive? Chained, due in July 2016, cannot come soon enough!
As always with authors I love, I knew nothing at all about this book, except for what the cover looked like. I've avoided all teasers and I haven't read the synopsis either.
Right from the prologue, I knew I was going to be hooked. The tragic start to this story is the thing nightmares are made of.
Kloe sets out to help a damaged man but what she finds instead is that in his presence, she is stripped bare. He sees her soul. He unravels her.
I won't tell you anything about Anderson, other than that he is damaged...but is he beyond repair? Beyond saving?
The sub-characters are great too - some of which you'll want to loath just as much as I did. They're well developed and carry the story along as much as the main characters do.
I don't want to give any more of the story away because it is truly a journey worth taking on your own.
This book is beautifully written. Evocative and intense but dark and tragic, it somehow still offers a glimmer of hope, until it is once again crushed. There are twists, turns, secrets and confessions, all of which keep you enthralled.
D H Sidebottom is a truly talented wordsmith. I'm in awe of the way she is able to take a story and consume me (the reader) so deeply that you begin to question the way you think and feel.
I was both devastated and thrilled as I reached the end of Caged, only to find out that I'm going to have to wait for more. Wait to see how things will turn out. Can either Kloe or Anderson ever find peace? Will my heart survive? Chained, due in July 2016, cannot come soon enough!
May 16, 2016
5 freaking awesome stars!!!!!!
I don't even know where to start, that was an amazing read!!
I don't know how D H Sidebottom does it but she wrote such a gripping novel, I always know she will have me page turning unable to put the book down & Caged was no different.
Caged pulled me in from the very first page.
I'm a huge fan for a strong leading lady & Kloe did not disappoint!
The plot twists are just incredible, I really couldn't guess where this story was going until it actually happened & my jaw was hiting the floor!
Absolutely brilliant, another huge well done on what is sure to be a hugely popular novel!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't even know where to start, that was an amazing read!!
I don't know how D H Sidebottom does it but she wrote such a gripping novel, I always know she will have me page turning unable to put the book down & Caged was no different.
Caged pulled me in from the very first page.
I'm a huge fan for a strong leading lady & Kloe did not disappoint!
The plot twists are just incredible, I really couldn't guess where this story was going until it actually happened & my jaw was hiting the floor!
Absolutely brilliant, another huge well done on what is sure to be a hugely popular novel!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 21, 2016
3,5 Stars!
April 24, 2017
Will give my review after reading 'Chained', but will say that I read 'Caged' in one afternoon.
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