“Addictive” – Candid Book Reviews Fear. That’s what comes to mind when Sophie thinks of her childhood. Fear. And pain.She ran away from home to protect her unborn child. Now, twenty years later, she’s a woman who learned to put the past and its dark secrets behind her. To stand on her own and to build a good life for herself and her son.But the past is not yet done with her and those dark … not yet done with her and those dark secrets rise from the grave. Her courage, and the strength of her love will be put to the test. What’s on the line is everyone she loves.
It’s flight or fight and this time she won’t run.
****Warning for readers: This book contains triggers of physical and sexual abuse, of torture and murder. It is not for the faint of heart.
* Note to readers. This book contains triggers, listed in the keywords below
Serial Killer
Child abuse
Child Trafficking
Sexual Abuse
more
Please heed the warning. This book is not for the faint of heart. I, admittedly, am faint of heart. After the first few pages, I could only think, “Can I really read this?” There were a number of moments of tough going in this book. To the point that I often had to put it down, read something more lighthearted and come back to it.
Ciana Stone continually shows her range of talent. I felt the fear, the unease, the evil. This book was well written, and it may take you to a place you don’t want to go. I don’t know if I could, or would want to read something like this again. Even Luke and Sophie’s HEA is tinged with a bit of despair and a slightly gruesome situation. I was exhausted by the time I finished this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Although well written, if this is a series, I may have to take a pass and stick to the author’s other books.
***Update…I just read that this was a standalone story. Not the beginning of a series.***
Such a heartbreaking story that show so much strength that is beyond my imagination. The narration is phenomenal with all the different voices. Definitely a great book to listen to.
So addictive. Once I started it I just didn’t want to put it down until I have devoured every page. Another fab hit from this author.
The very beginning of this book may be hard for some to read, but the author weaves a story that will capture your attention. At first, I was confused as to how the beginning would relate to the rest of the story, but Ms. Stone guides the reader through as she connects the story and characters. Sophie left her abusive home to give birth and raise her son Cole who is now eighteen. Cole has decided to enlist in the military, but is unsure about leaving his mother alone. Master Chief Petty Officer Luke Hayes has lived through the abuse of his past to enjoy a successful career in the military, but his thoughts continue to turn back to his first love. When danger stalks Sophie again, will she have the strength to overcome one more battle? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)
The beginning of the story is horrifying but keep reading the plot, characters and drama will keep you turning can the pages until the very end. As always Ciana Stone delivers a story that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Would have liked one more chapter for a peek at the characters future, but we are given our HEA. Don’t miss this one!
The Boy In The Barn was a little out of the ordinary as a romance and a bit of a change of pace for Ciana Stone, but the story truly captured my imagination. I really enjoyed reading this change of pace. The love story between Sophie and Luke runs throughout this book and is sweet. The evil that was Sophie’s dad is also a prominent theme throughout the book and escalates. It is that evil that made me need to see what was going to happen next! I loved this story!
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
This was a great book !
As soon as possible, Sophie ran away from home.
This was a darker read.
The beginning is gruesome, but keep reading.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Loved the characters + the storytelling !
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Fair warning, the beginning is gruesome and may deter some from reading but DON’T STOP! What starts as seemingly 3 separate stories, slowly merges into the same story, and, boy, what a story! As you move from one scene to the next, you’ll find yourself fascinated, knowing something bad is coming. But you have to know how it’s all connected, and when the connections are made, how it’s going to end. Even as you watch the evil weave its way through, you experience the wonder of how true love will find its way.
This is an emotional read that deals with true evil and topics which may contain triggers. There are heartbreaking moments and joyous ones, and while at times it may be difficult to read, it is always enthralling. You will be taken through some really dark places, but you will be brought through to the light and know that what you’ve read is truly amazing.
Wow!!! The Boy in the Barn was so heartrenchingly beautiful. I was captivated and consumed with this story. I have no words on how good this book is. Ciana Stone has written a phenomenal book.
“The one thing he’d learned was a given in life was that nothing ever worked out the way you hoped.”
Things certainly hadn’t worked out for Sophie or the boy she loved. After finding a boy badly beaten, Sophie takes him home with her, where he lives in her parents’ barn. She truly loves him and thinks he loves her. But, after he leaves to join the Navy, she never hears from him again.
Fast forward almost twenty years. Sophie has raised her son, Cole, by herself and has worked hard to gain the life she has. Then, everything starts to fall apart. Her past, both the good and the bad, start to catch up with her. Several things happen, including mysterious and threatening phone calls and the burning of her home. “I’m coming for you. I will have my revenge.”
I had seen a lot about this book, so when I got the chance for a review copy from Candid Book Reviews, I eagerly grabbed it. But, I have to say that I was disappointed in the book and don’t feel like it lived up to the hype surrounding it.
There is a warning that the book contains graphic scenes of torture and abuse and these warnings should be heeded by readers. My complaint about that is that I don’t think that the graphic depictions really added anything to the book. It seemed like they were added more for the shock value than as a part of the storyline.
The main characters should have been people that you cared about due to the horrors of their pasts, but I just couldn’t find myself really caring about them. In my opinion, the author did not make them real enough to make them special. They were actually rather two dimension.
A lot of the story was just too convenient, with coincidence after coincidence. After almost twenty years of no communication, the main characters find each other at just the right time. There was a cult (I think) led by a madman, but there was enough written about this group for it to really make sense.
Then, we have the introduction of another tortured soul over halfway through the book with no real explanation of where he fit into the whole thing. This character becomes an integral part of the ending, but I didn’t really understand where he fit in. And the ending? Instead of feeling gratified by it, I felt let down by the quickness of the conclusion.
All in all, I found this to be a very difficult book to review fairly. It felt like a jumble of several different stories that the author decided to throw together in one book. It was a fast read, so at least I didn’t feel like I had wasted time on reading it.
First, I want to thank Ciana Stone for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Dang!! Boy in the Barn was the darkest books that Ciana Stone has ever written. I have been a huge fan of hers and knows that she writes in multiple genres (one reason she is one of my favorite authors). However, this one is unlike any of the other ones she has written before. I a very extremely open-minded reader but there were times when she shocked the heck out of me! I had to make sure this was a Ciana book. Yup, no hot cowboys in this one lol!
This book contains triggers so please keep this in mind when deciding to read Ciana’s book. The Boy in the Barn contains physical and sexual abuse, of torture and murder. It also deals with child abuse and sex trafficking. This book is not for the faint of heart.
From the first few pages I was totally shocked out of my mind. Then I thought oh how I wish this could have happened to one of my exes! But wow that must have hurt!!
There was one scene that was very prudish even for Ciana that I had to laugh like crazy! I can’t give it away! Let’s just say it involved anal sex.
I will admit I was not a fan of the cult or what happened in the cult. Some of the scenes were extremely graphic and my heart went out to those who were affected by it. I would definitely read from Ciana if she continues this path-but some scenes were little too much.
What I did love was the amazing love story in this book. Yes, she found away to get a love story in here.
If you have read her books in the past you know that she loves the Navy Seals. There is a storyline about this as well.
The Boy in the Barn quite literally wore me out at times. It’s incredibly dark and twisted, and I would advise taking the warning in the blurb seriously because it does not exaggerate. The story is disturbing to the point that I had to walk away more than once just for a bit of a palate cleanser before diving back in. And there was never a doubt that I would dive back in because I had to see how it would all play out for Sophie.
There are several things that are predictable, and more often than not, that would bother me, but that’s really not what this one is all about. So, yes, I saw some things coming, but guessing those things ahead of time didn’t spoil anything for me. Instead, it was more like watching a horror movie and just knowing the monster is going to jump out, but you sit on the edge of your seat, glued to the screen, and jump like you’ve been shot when it actually happens.
You simply can not read this book and not be shocked, appalled, even sickened at times because there are no monsters hiding under the bed to rival the evils that men do, and Ciana Stone gives us one that is truly nightmare-inducing. Thankfully, Ms Stone does give us something to hope for, a possible light at the end of a pitch-black tunnel with a bit of romance. And I have to say, that I had my doubts about any light as this story progressed.
To avoid spoilers, I won’t go into the characters other than Sophie, who is an absolutely terrific character. She’s a brilliant combination of loving, strong, determined, considerate, and completely loyal to those dear to her. Sophie’s sweetness is one of the things that make this story so hard to take at times. For such a good person to come from so much horror is a testament to what people are capable of when they know real love. I’ll also add that the author tells this one from three perspectives, including Sophie’s, and it’s up to you to figure out the other two as you read.
To sum it up, this is one of the darkest stories I’ve read in a long time, and as I mentioned, I did have to walk away a few times. It’s also wonderfully written, and regardless of how many times I walked away, the story was never far from my mind. There’s something thoroughly compelling about this one, and it’s one I won’t soon forget.
Ciana Stone has outdone herself in giving readers a riveting story of the horrors of a cult led by a sociopath. A dark subject dealing with many demented acts, and an evil that is beyond what many of us can ever comprehend. With the horror and the demented acts by the cult leader, it is sometimes hard to image that someone can mete out that kind of evil. Sophie and Luke were childhood sweethearts and their story in “The Boy In The Barn” takes us on their journey through many years of their lives. A story that is heart wrenching as they reconnect and find many missing pieces to their younger years. With the years separating them, Luke became a Seal and Sophie had a son he didn’t know about, their journey leads them to find that outside forces kept them from each other. As they find each other again, their romance will shine as they discover that their love is still as strong as it ever was. A story not to be missed, I would like to thank the author for gifting me “The Boy in the Barn”, and leave my review voluntarily. 5 Stars!
This was one tough read, it is not for the faint heart! Please ensure you read the trigger warning message before diving into this story.
There were moments I wanted to jump into the story and knock people out. The characters are well developed, the story original and very twisted, haunting and entertaining.
I think this is my 5th book by Ciana Stone and I will say her ideas and stories are very interesting. When reading her stories, you will find yourself feeling all sorts of emotions – she paints such vivid pictures with her words.
Boy I have many books from this author but where was she hiding this kind of writing? This also fit right into what my addiction is in between those I was reading for review to what I read for my pleasure and that has been thrillers, suspense and murder. It is fine too if romance in there but I am needing the thrills that this types or genre give as you read and the 5 w’s kick into place. Right away you will have the switch turned on with the intrigue. You know there are some puzzle pieces missing when it comes to Sophie other than her son’s father who went and did not come back. The bad comes to crawl its way to the light with us ohing and ahing along the way. The thoughts that start running that want answers with also the bizarre that spring forth that needs to be snuffed out. This will show a test to love and what it takes to win. When I am finished I crave more like this one from her oh this was a real winner with fingers that are sore from the fast pace of turning the pages.
The Boy in the Barn by the very talented Ciana Stone will definitely keep your stomach in nots. Like everyone has said you need to be prepared for this frightening journey. Very well written you can just feel the fear and the strength of the characters. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. I have to be honest I had to at times put this book down and walk away, but with that in mind I absolutely went back and finished this story. We find out just how evil some people can be, how they enjoy hurting others but also seeing the incredible journey to healing and love. In my opinion this is a great story and I highly recommend it.
OH MY, this is not a typical Ciana Stone book by any means!! It is dark, graphic, a punch-to-the-gut dose of realism with a look into the true evil that can exist in the world!! And yet, Ms. Stone also shows us how love can still be found even under the most horrific existence! Thank you, Ciana for bringing us Sophie and Luke’s love story. Good does seem to always find a way to triumph over evil!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I would say this book left me speechless but i think it is not strong enough to describe what goes through your mind when you read this story! There is so much in this book to be said. Powerful emotions will be triggered by the actions of the characters. This is a story of survival, second chances and an HEA. I would have loved to have a little more to see what the future brings to Sophie and Luke and a few other characters in this story. If you haven’t read anything from this author, you should start with this story! I honestly volunteered to review this arc.
The boy in the barn
This story is darker than what I’m used to by Ciana but it was very compelling in the sense that it shows the consequences of decisions made and their ramifications (this will make a bit more sense once you’ve finished reading).
This story feels as though it has sooooo many loose ends in the beginning but once you get started and it starts unraveling it makes more sense and shows the lives that are interconnected. I really enjoyed Sophie’s story and wouldn’t be opposed to reading more of this genre by Ciana in the future
Thank you to Ciana for my advanced copy for which I leave my honest review
Well Cianna has done it again. A fabulous read that keeps you on the edge of your seat as well as being a page turner. This romantic suspense thriller is out there Samuel Johnson is evil from head to toe. Millie was his wife she was forced to marry him when she was young and he was already old, from the time Millie’s father paid him and even before he treated her like dirt and then when the Sophie was born she was treated just as badly and so was her older brother from a previous marriage. One day Sophie and her dog were out walking they were not suppose to go near the old abandoned barn but she did and found a boy there who was beaten so badly that she thought he would die he didn’t, from that time on she and Luke were the best of friends and then he fell in love. Leo left when he was old enough he swore he would come back for Sophie she never heard from him. She realized that she couldn’t stay either and begged her mom to come with her but she wouldn’t. Her mom gave her tip which she wisely listened to and started a future for herself. Great story line. Lots of action. Characters were excellent. I was given an ARC by arthor without obligation. I am providing an honest review.