Who do you hire to save innocent women from monstrous men? You find a man the monsters fear.A Dark Captive Romance that Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat!My job is straightforward. Buy a girl. Make her mine. Infiltrate a human-trafficking ring and take it down. It doesn’t matter which unfortunate girl I choose. Sacrifice one to save the many, or some such nonsense like that. Does that … unfortunate girl I choose. Sacrifice one to save the many, or some such nonsense like that. Does that justify what I must do? Does that make me a hero?
No. It makes me a monstrous man.
But it needs to be done, and I’m not being given a choice.
I don’t want to know her name. I’m not her savior. I’m not her knight in shining armor galloping in on a white horse to save the day. I’m her nightmare, a man who will break her so others may live.
There’s only one rule. Don’t fall for the girl.
But when have I ever followed rules?
Get ready for a wild ride. Grab your copy now. Find out what it takes to bring down monstrous men and redeem a villain.
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Where do I start with this review…. Man I have to say that Ellie knows how to write a story that both breaks you and tears you up and then puts you back together again. I both loved this story but was sad at times because of what Clara went through.
Clara shocked me because she was strong through it all. She knew that Josh was different and when he showed her some kindness she knew she was right. Josh is just doing a job and he is to bring down a human trafficking ring down and all he has to do is buy a girl and get intel to take the ring down. Only his heart didn’t get the memo and that is where the story got real for both Josh and Clara.
This is a must read series. You can read it as a standalone but book one is effing amazing so get your one click on and read book one and jump into to Josh and Clara’s story!
Josh Davenport has made a lot of mistakes in his life and due to the influence of his father he has become a murderer and a rapist. Now he has been released from prison but has no where to go after losing his brother and best friend because of his actions.
Now one of the women he has wronged, Kate Summers, has a proposition for him to atone for his sins and try to make up for his past mistakes. But in order to do that, he must become more of a monster and in turn bring an innocent girl, Clara, into his world.
Can Josh due what is necessary to right his wrongs and bring down someone even more of a monster than he is? Can he forgive himself for his past mistakes and in turn learn that he deserves to be loved and forgiven?
This was a great book that is definitely dark and deals with a lot of dark subject matters that won’t be for everyone.
Josh labeled himself as a really bad guy but that being said he never set out to purposely hurt someone on his own. He was guilty for sure but some of his actions were because of his father yet that did not make his guilt any less. Josh hated what he did and didn’t believe that his actions were forgivable but he was ready to make amends to a certain degree.
I understood why Kate brought Josh into the job but I never understood the whole big picture until I got more and more into the book and realized it was so much bigger than I could have expected and so many things kept popping up and I felt like Josh was almost used as a puppet but he had his own plans as well. There were so many different facets at work through the book and things were not ideal for so many of the characters.
Clara was an innocent victim in the book and initially I was confused on why she wasn’t sent back but I figured it out as it would wreck everything but she also never really talked about where she came from and I found that a little strange. We knew her from how she was in the book but at the same time we had no real background on her and I can’t figure out if that is a good or bad thing. I almost wanted more of her story but at the same time I think the author didn’t want a link to her past.
I loved how Josh really battled through the book with what he wanted and what he thought he deserved and how he struggled with the two sides. I loved how Clara was able to see through his façade at times and see him more deeply yet then in turn she struggled with that when he treated her badly.
One thing I admired about Josh was how he knew he couldn’t make up for his mistakes but he was willing to pay for them any way possible and that definitely worried me but I understood and my heart cracked a little for sure!
I gave everyone in the book credit for how far they were willing to go to make sure things turned out the way they needed to in order to protect as many innocent people as possible!
The stuff in Bangladesh was definitely scary and I was worried abut how things were going to turn out but I was happy that they were able to get everything done that they set out to do!
The very end was awesome and I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next!
By Rebecca
This is one of those books that once you start you don’t want to put down. Although a warning, it is a very dark romance with mention of raping women.
Josh is released from prison after 5 years for crimes his father made him carry out, and who should be there to meet him, but one of his last victims and the woman who his brother is in love with! Everyone hates Josh, and he knows there will be no forgiveness, so he plans to serve out his time as a parolee and leave the state, well that’s his plan, but Kate has other plans for him!
Clara is a sweet innocent young lady, she never asked to be kidnapped and sold at an auction to the highest bidder. A man she calls Monster, and that monster is Josh!
What follows is a love story of finding true love, forgiving someone for their past mistakes and fighting for them like no one else ever has, as well as not giving up on them – whatever happens and whatever they are told!
It was nice to see Xavier and Raven in the book and catch up on how they are doing!
Embracing Fate by Ellie Masters is book Two in the Captive Hearts series. This is the story of Clara and Josh. I have read the previous book which I do feel helped me to enjoy this book. Josh is a dark character who is trying to be better but the line seems thin. But Josh is the one that has been chosen to try to bring down the slavery ring. Clara is taken into the dark world but tries to fight back then Josh comes but is he hero or enemy? This is a dark twisted romance that kept me turning the pages.
I usually love Ellie’s dark reads, but I couldn’t get into this one at all! It wasn’t holding my interest and I kept putting it down. Even after finishing it, I didn’t care if Josh lived or died or rotted in a hole.
I’ll give the read another go in a few weeks and see.what happens. I’ll change up my review it changes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Embracing Fate is the second book in the Captive Hearts Series by Ellie Masters that is raw, dark, full of mystery and emotional leaving you with bated breath. You will be on edge from the beginning of Josh’s struggle to redeem himself and start his life over when he is released from prison for all of the deadly things he did for his father through lies. But with all of the things he has done, Josh still views himself as a Monster and those feelings run deep inside of him as his dominant side is stronger than ever but can he be saved or will he be doomed forever. Now his past comes back to pull him into a plan by being used by the people he hurt the most his brother, friend and their women to get the revenge they seek, they want to use his past against him. Josh is told he has to insinuate himself to take down the human trafficking ring that is kidnapping humans for sexual exploitation by purchasing a young woman named Clara who has been taken or go back to prison. Josh knows if he lets his dark side loose he may not be able to stop and becomes angry that he is being forced into this situation knowing they want him to break and hurt this woman. Josh is not one to take orders so he decides to do things his own way as he buys Clara from the auction and leaves the country with the help from past characters from She’s Mine to set his own plan in motion. Josh now has to let his Monster side out and break her, but he starts to have feelings for Clara and is in danger of losing his heart. Will the Master be able to give Clara up, a true submissive to complete this task? Clara finds her submissive side through Josh’s training and beings to enjoy the pain he gives her while knowing that her Monster has a good side to him and develops feellings for him. Now the latest test to get his life back, he will need to prove to Clara that he is a murderer and rapist with the show all of the key players will be putting on to take down Zane Carlson. Only thing is, Clara through hints from Josh begins to see the plan is not real and that he wants her as much as she does and they give into their passion. Now these two become connected and Josh finds he will never let harm come to her. Once the plan has been completed and the truth comes out, Clara stands by Josh and informs all the players that he is blameless and that he has infact become a better man and that they are the ones that hurt her. Josh has one last task to perform in order for him to gain redemption but Clara is determined to be by his side as his slave to help him. Now both of their lives are in danger when they have to rescue Wu’s twin children from Zane Carlson in a kill or be killed situation. Now Josh has to place his life in Wu’s hands for the life he took from him and accept his fate as he knows that he will need to leave Clara behind which will leave both hearts broken. This dark romance is about the love that develops between Josh and Clara as well as forgiveness, redemption and the pain and abuse that takes place within human trafficking and the world of Master and Slaves. You will be blown away with the ending of this story as only Ellie Masters can weave. This is a must read if you love dark captive romance stories! Now we are left waiting for Forrester’s story to come out. I voluntairly reviewed an advanced copy of this book .
I really enjoyed reading this rather intense, deviously dark romance. The plot is quite complex but extremely well-thought-out & written. The characters are well-developed & strong-willed with perfectly flawed personalities & emotions, although one of them is not very likable in the beginning but is redeemed later on in the story-line. There are some character crossovers from the previous book but this book can be read as a standalone.
There is: a dark & dangerous man (Josh) with a plan to infiltrate a human trafficking ring abducts a young woman (Clara) with a devious plan in store for her, twists & turns, intrigue, drama, suspense, abduction, drugs, human trafficking, auctions, slavery, masters, deceit, betrayal, revenge, danger, threats, attempted sexual assault, violence, conflict, death, terror, regrets, devious plans, fear, defiance, fantasies, desire, chemistry, punishment, discipline, confrontation, forgiveness, hope, devious manipulations & strangely enough there is redemption, love, steamy scenes & contentment. I would recommend this dark romance.
Josh was a monster riddled with a horrible past filled with rape, murder, torture and death.
His early release from prison had him falling back into his previous life but now forced to atone for his past crimes by his brother Jake and girlfriend Kate.
Brutal scenes with numerous grey areas between right and wrong ensue as he was coerced into training Clara for a supposedly greater good.
The author cleverly used all of Josh’s faults and weaknesses to bring Clara closer to him. I loved the way Clara chose Josh again and again in spite of his darkness and defended him to make Kate and Jake.realize they had also played a part in his fall.
Dark storylines with triggers and graphically tragic events involving child trafficking, slavery, and other horrors.
In the midst of this, a twisted love grew between the main couple making this a dark romance indeed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
WOW! Clara and Josh’s story drew me in from the first chapter! The way he wanted a simple life and how he ended up with Clara… I just couldn’t stop reading till the end! This book is dark, but worth it!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Engrossing, Delectable and a Visceral Impact!!
Just out of prison – Josh is just the man they need to break up a sex slavery ring. A rapist, murderer and family black sheep. To gain entry he must purchase a young woman and subject her to complete domination. The good of the one against the good of the many?
Clara is battered, bruised and has a broken pinky finger. When her “buyer” kills the men trying to accost her she expects the same treatment from him. He has strict rules, and doles out punishment, but does not cross a line, and keeps her in luxury.
She calls him a monster. But as time passes it becomes an endearment. Dare she fall for the man who exerts control over her? Insanity!
When it comes time to “perform” for the “bad guys” will she still feel the same? An incredible journey. You get inside the head of these characters and experience their fears and feelings.
They communicate through book references, and someone grants the gift of forgiveness. But not all are willing to forgive, and a life debt is owed.
*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***
This book, WOW!!! This is another fantastic book by Ellie Masters, her writing just pulls me into every single story and I love it! This book grabbed me from the second I downloaded it, from the fabulous cover, then the wonderful beginning that sucked me right in. Josh and Clara’s story is full of intrigue and mystery and it will keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The characters are smart and layered, defined and complex, the story is dark and intense, unpredictable and gripping. This is a one-click book for 2019, so what are you waiting for? This is a definite must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fate, those events we are powerless against. Are they good or evil? Should you Embrace it or not? As you read this book, and I highly recommend you do, understanding how Fate may actually have a little of both, just to keep the balance.
Josh, the male lead character, seems to find his way into circumstances that question his good or evil. Clara, the female lead character, was at the hands of Fate, which included Josh. Will she Embrace? Would the good or evil prevail?
As the story begins, the above is far from the readers’ minds. However, not far into chapter 1, as the story unfolds, and the players become known the good or evil begins to intrigue the reader. Ellie’s way of grabbing the characters and placing the reader at the edge of their seat amazes me. I’ve read several of her books, and this was one that did not disappoint with providing all levels of emotion, intrigue, and thrills. How the characters intermingle, even with all the tension of the past, the unknown of the future, and just trying to get through the present, shows how the writer brought each character to life in just the right way at just the right time.
Embracing Fate is a must-read. You will not be disappointed with this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OMG this book totally blew me away. The subject matter is tough, screams wrong so wrong at you, yet packed full of emotion. Human trafficking, kidnapping and slavery are central to Josh and Clara’s story. Josh, a man who wants or should i say needs to dominate his women, has a very dark past and it’s one from which he has no escape, no redemption and no wish to remain in. Clara has been kidnapped and is about to be sold into slavery and a life of serving her purchasers every wish, punished for any tiny indiscretion, used and abused as her purchasers see’s fit.
This book will take you on one hell of a roller coaster ride. Josh, unwilling though he is finds himself “buying” Clara. But, can he break her as he knows he must? Clara fears “her monster”, fears what the future holds. Can she survive what lies ahead?
Josh and Clara’s journey is a very tough ride, with a few highs but even more lows. The author tells their story in such a way that you actually feel the emotions of both Clara and Josh, it feels like your right there with them, part of this “horror” they are about to enter. You find yourself crying with Clara, hating yet loving Josh, willing events to turn around, yet knowing they can’t.
Without you really realising it at first, Forrest and his sister Skye from the Hearts Insanity series come into this book, and the whole story line takes on a deeper meaning, leaving you wanting more. I can’t wait for Forrest story to come out. I would recommend readers ready the Hearts Insanity series first as you get valuable insight to Forrest and why he is here which you would lose reading this book first.
If ever a book was about redemption, this is it. The story of Josh is truly one of the best from a bad guy to a good guy I’ve ever read. When we read books, and the bad guy does horrible things, we generally don’t know what paths or choices that got him to that place. In Embracing Fate, we see the machinations of some awful people with no conscience. Victimhood is not always where the victim is a weak, defeated person. Josh, trying to be a good son, is the victim of his father’s lies has done some pretty horrific things. He wants redemption but believes he does not deserve it, and it makes this book so utterly poignant. We walk with Josh through literally his redemption tale, and it is a journey that is not always pleasant but reaches a joy-filled conclusion. Embracing Fate is a tale of someone rising from the ashes of a life that has indisputably razed and burned to the ground. But what a freaking awesomely satisfying tale it is. Josh is a new hero, and along with Xavier and Forest, I want to know more about how they will stop the hell that is Snowden. Clara is a perfect foil to the new Josh, and I am sure they will use their skills along with Raven and Xavier in the final book of the trilogy. I have been reading and learning about this plot thread as I have read most of Ellie’s books. It permeates like a bad smell you can’t quite capture. Much like we know, the stink of human trafficking is there, but we can’t quite find it to make it stop. These protagonists in Ellie’s books are working to end the suffering they have witnessed. Embracing Fate can be standalone; however, I would highly recommend reading the other series before so you can truly see the beauty of this novel. The author has said how much she enjoyed writing this book. I can see why. As I sit here writing this review, the story of Josh and Clara is one of the best happily ever afters, and I am celebrating with the characters. I do hope to catch glimpses of them again.
Insta Grabbing INTENSE!
Shaken torn head turning eyes wide open adrenaline surges held me gasping in shock fear excitement and needing to fill my hunger of every ink stained would as fast as my emotions would allow. This read demanded my attention and most certainly got it as it invaded my mind and captured every emotion taking me to visions I didn’t want to see but had no way of escaping only to push forward and reach the end that has me catching my breath with relief from the assaulting ride that this intense read put me through.
WOWZER!!
Embracing Fate delivers a deliciously dark and tantalising plot full of mystery and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I was completely seduced from the first chapter.
This isn’t a story for the faint of heart, there are no hearts and flowers here. It’s a brutal and terrifying journey about surviving against the odds, despair, revenge, forgiveness and acceptance.
It’s a beautifully written dark love story.
Josh isn’t a good man he’s done terrible things that he’s not proud of. He’s trying to turn his life around but to save the girl he has to be the Monster everyone fears, he will break her even if he has to lose a bit more of himself in the process.
Josh is the kind of character I love, he’s dark, dangerous and every bit the Monster he portrays himself to be. But there’s more to him than that if you choose to look hard enough.
Clara is a girl who’s thrust into a world that nightmares are made of. She’s sold to a Monster who wants to break her but Clara won’t go down without a fight. I bloody adored Clara I think she’s amazing.
I loved every minute of Josh and Claras story. It’s raw, passionate and all consuming. It’s definitely one of my favourites. I loved how the dynamics of their relationship shifted as the story went on, Clara sees Josh even at his worst.
Ellie Masters has done a fantastic job of tying her books together. She’s woven an intricate web of suspense that spans across the Changing Roles series into these books, crossing over the characters lives and stories giving us little clues to the bigger picture. She really is a Master story teller.
I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am for Forests Fall the last book in the series, Forest has been my favourite character of Ellies since the very beginning. His book can’t come soon enough for me.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster. Wow! It is hard to put into words, Ellie’s writing is so good and this book left me so emotional. What Clara went through, and Josh for that matter, I had a hard time putting the book down, It is a book that will keep you guessing as what will happen next. You will not be disappointed, this book has everything you want. Love, suspense and a lot of action that will have you craving for more. Can’t wait for the last book in the series.
What an intense story! This was a fantastic telling of Josh and Clara’s story. The story is very intricate and very much detail, it was riveting. I did not want to put it down, it’s a definite page turner to figure out what is going to happen next. There are so many twists and turns, but it’s easy to follow. I loved the interaction of familiar characters in this story. Josh has Clara, and they start to thrive, each in their own way, but they are not interacting in the most intimate way that they can due to Josh’s belief that he is evil. The depth of emotions from each of them is shown through the wonderful writing of Ms. Masters. You are right there in the scene’s with them. Your emotions go high and low, depending on where you are in the story. It was a spectacular journey and I look forward to the next book in this series.
I received this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is not light reading; this is a book that seizes you and just won’t let go. Unusually, I couldn’t finish this in a single sitting; the book is too powerful and too dark for that. This is a standalone, but having read its predecessors adds some context. There are welcome glimpses of Forrest and Skye, but this book is really Josh’s story, with Clara. You’re left asking questions about redemption and revenge, about avenging wrongs, and about trust and love – and it’s those questions that keep you turning the page. This is an Ellie Masters masterpiece; it is a book she will find hard to top. It is a privilege to enter this world.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
The next book in the Captive Hearts series is here, and it is a must read. Embracing Fate is a dark, hard to read at times story about Josh and Clara, and theirs is a story about forgiveness, redemption, revenge, hope, and love. I loved every second of this roller coaster read and can’t wait for the next story in the series!