What is a psychologist supposed to do when a bruised and battered woman literally falls at his feet, unconscious, right outside the lifestyle club where he is the manager? Micah Flynn is torn. He feels drawn to Melody and wants to protect her from the horror she has escaped from. The trouble is he’s well aware that he has a bit of a saviour complex, and he’s not convinced about Melody’s … motivation, either.
Melody has been held in captivity for years. When she finally manages to escape, she offers herself to Micah because being owned is the only thing she knows.
Haunted by his past, the last thing in the world Micah wants is a M/s relationship, but he reluctantly takes on the role of Master – in name only – until Melody is able to think for herself and stand on her own two feet.
Melody’s feelings for Micah grow as he shows her the first true glimpses of human kindness and respect. The trouble is he insists that her feelings for him are simply born of gratitude, and refuses her advances in the moral belief he would be taking advantage of her.
Is it possible for the two of them to make the transition from ownership… to love? And what will happen if Melody’s captor discovers where she is?
Publisher’s Note: This steamy contemporary romance contains elements of power exchange.
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Have you been following this series? Are you as invested as I am in finding out all the juicy tidbits of the characters Poppy Flynn has introduced us to in her “Club Risqué” series? If you are, then like me you’ll dive right into ‘Captive Heart’ to witness Micah’s story. We’ve already witnessed his caring heat while trying to help Fluff, aka Laurel. There have been numerous hints at a sadness he carries but never talks about. And then there’s the mutually agreed ‘scratching an itch agreement’ that was between him and Trinity. Now Ms. Flynn has brought the details forward of not only his past but the woman fate has literally dropped at his feet while he’s been staying at the club. Melody had just been on the run from a previous M/s relationship when hypothermia, injuries, and exhaustion had her hiding outside “Club Risqué”. Read the blurb carefully. Know there could be triggers within this story, her past is that intense but Ms. Flynn delivers a compassionate, chemistry-filled, awe-inspiring story that is remarkable.
Captive Heart is the 6th of the Club Risque series and I’ve been following them since the beginning—but this is the one I’ve really been waiting for. Ever since Micah first appeared, he caught my attention and I kept hoping the next book would be his—it didn’t disappoint.
In this book we meet Melody, a terribly abused woman who escaped a sadistic master only to fall into Micah’s care. The last thing he wants is to encourage her submission when it’s previously been forced but Melody doesn’t function well without a dominant, so he reluctantly takes on the mantle as her caregiver, fighting his own feelings for her that grow over time.
Between his own emotional baggage and hers Micah balks at moving forward into any kind of relationship with Melody—but when she attempts to get her needs filled by someone else down in the club she ends up running into one of her abusers which puts her whole future in danger and changes everything.
I don’t want to give too many spoilers but Micah’s book was worth waiting for. I absolutely need to give trigger warnings though. This character has been raped repeatedly, and physically abused to the point of miscarriage. Her relationship with Micah is sane and safe but it’s the first one of that kind she’s enjoyed. The only man who treated her kindly before him was someone who groomed her as a minor so even that relationship is problematic.
Watching her slowly healing and recovering under Micah’s care makes it easier to bear though.
If you are familiar with the Club Risque books, then you have probably wondered what kind of woman would indeed capture Micah’s heart. The reader is immediately made to feel great sympathy for Melody and knows how blessed she is to have Micah discover her hiding from her cruel master. But it is a beautifully told story of how Micah battles his own past so that he can actually see a future with Melody. A lovely story.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
This was the 6th Book in the “Club Risque” series and the storyline was well written and the characters were so well detailed that I had a hard time putting this book down to go to bed!
Can he help her to heal
Captive Heart is heartbreaking in the beginning as it deals with the subject matter of forced slavery, abuse and victimization. If you can’t handle this subject then just don’t go there with this book. I had to put it down several times before coming back after reading something lighter and more fun.
The h is very traumatized and not sure how to exist outside of a M/s relationship, even one without the sexual side of things. She escapes a forced M/s where her Master was very sadistic and tortured her. The H is willing to help her after saving her and is doing this by taking on the role of Master, but with a lower case “m” and trying to show her that not everyone is bad.
I thought the story was interesting but very heavy, even though it had a HEA.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.