3 1/2 STARS


I can't deny that In His Hands, much like the previous two books in this series, tackles some very deep issues.. Reading about someone who was in a cult is not for everyone of course but I think Anders handled it pretty well, at least for me.

The sex was hot. The slow building romance was nice. I can't really pinpoint why exactly this wasn't an "amazing!" read for me. But I do feel like the pacing was a bit off in that the book was long yet covers a relatively short span of time and yet also left me feeling like "huh, maybe she needs more time to work through this trauma and abuse and cult brainwashing she's lived with for years...." I just feel like more of the book should have been spent on her building her life, and them building their HEA, AFTER the cult was no longer the conflict/danger taking up so much page space.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

Author Adriana Anders is a force to be reckoned with. I don’t think there’s a romance novel out there that has moved me as much as those in her Blank Canvas series. Every novel rips a hole in my chest that is so deep and painful I wonder if I’ll ever feel whole again, but thankfully Ms. Anders knows how to write an ending so full of love and warmth that you forget the pain and are more than willing to subject yourself to it over and over again.

Adriana Anders writes some of the darkest, most passionate romance novels you’ll ever have the intense pleasure of reading. Her stories are unique, captivating and utterly romantic in a way which no other romance novel can compare. In His Hands gives you moments of torment and desperation intermingled with heart-wrenching scenes of open and honest love between two exceptional characters, Luc and Abby.

Luc and Abby, much like the characters of her previous novels, are special. How can they not be? Ms. Anders has a wicked talent for creating characters who are so wacky and beautiful and vulnerable that you simply cannot help but fall in love with them. They're so different from one another and their pasts are so complicated. They shouldn’t work together, as a pair, but Adriana Anders makes us believe that the romance between them is more than possible, it's inevitable.

Reading In His Hands, the third book in the Blank Canvas series, you can almost imagine you’ve fallen into a modern fairy tale with elaborate scenery and lively characters, some of whom you’ve seen in previous novels (if you’re already a fan of her works). Her writing is poetic; so rhythmic and beautifully worded that you often forget to breathe.

This series is perfect for those who like their romance novels with a little more… everything. More drama, more chaos, more danger, more sex. You won’t be disappointed by what you find between these pages. In His Hands doesn’t come out until August 1, 2017, but that gives you more than enough time to read up on the first two in the series Under Her Skin and By Her Touch.

I am very particular about my romance books. I like contemporary small-town,. historical or suspense. I thought this one leaned more towards suspense and unfortunately, it wasn't what I expected so I found it difficult to stay in engaged. Thank you so much for allowing me to read this series.

I was never a fan of cult books, but this one seemed intriguing enough. And I had not been disappointed. Luc is a troubled hero with some emotional baggage, as well as our heroine. Abby had been with the cult since a little child, but she wants out after all she had to endure and witness. The problem: from these cults only death can bring you free. Abby stumbles upon Luc, who wants to save her. The plot was so complex, weaving issues and action like a masterful piece of web, the characters also. A powerful match. I absolutely can suggest this book to everyone. Read, read, read.

I've really enjoyed the other books in the Blank Canvas series, but I could not get into In His Hands. I'm not sure what it was about this book but the characters did not interest me. I kept hoping I would suddenly click with this story and enjoy it as much as I have Adriana's other books, but that never happened. Hopefully, I will enjoy her next book better.

I voluntarily received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Three books into the Blank Canvas series and I'm still loving it. Anders writes heartbreaking and sometimes dark plots for the couples to overcome. In His Hands, has me spitting mad most of the time. I'm so glad that Abby got out from under that whack job cult church and found a HEA with Luc. I also love that the evil leaders of the cult were taken down without any innocents being hurt in the process.

The third installment in the Blank Canvas series is perhaps its most disturbing. There's always a degree of apprehension when I read about something to do with a cult and this was no exception.

Abby has led a sheltered life with her mother at the church compound where she has been raised. She was married off at a young age but her husband has since passed away, and with his passing her place in her community is less secure. What she does know is that she doesn't want this life anymore where her fate is decided by the male church elders. Neither does she want to be married off again and expected to submit to another husband. She has hatched a plan involving the neighbour bordering the church's property. She's been watching him discreetly, noticing that he works alone picking the grapes from their vines. Perhaps she'll offer to help him and he'll pay her and she can save the money to run away. Luc is startled when she comes upon him out of nowhere. He prefers his solitude and doesn't need her help so he turns her away. Abby refuses to give up and returns again, this time he agrees to hire her only to make sure that he's done harvesting the grapes before the bad weather rolls in. Neither of them is expecting to grow fond of each other's company and actually look forward to it. Luc hesitantly asks her about her life at the compound and she feeds him bits and pieces which he puts together. He knows enough that she hasn't had an easy life, that she's afraid and needs to get out. All these years that his property has bordered the compound, he's never questioned or interfered with their comings and goings. Everything has changed now that Abby has infiltrated his life and become important to him. He doesn't realize that helping her puts him and his land firmly in the crosshairs of the church's strict leaders.

Anders knows how to write wounded souls and bring their emotions to the forefront. Out of all the characters in this series, I think Abby and Luc being loners are the most vulnerable. Abby has lived a wretched life so far, having been cut off from the outside that she's naive about so much yet there's this resilience in her that can't be underestimated. Luc left his heritage and family behind in France. Feeling dejected and unworthy, he came to Blackwood hoping to find peace and his own purpose in the grand scheme of things. He didn't imagine that this strange, beautiful girl would come into his life making him want more out of it. I liked that Anders broadened the series by introducing two new people that hadn't been mentioned previously. It added an new element to the town of Blackwood and its community. If you've read By Her Touch, you'll be happy to know that both George and Clay do make appearances though.

I have fallen in love with the entire Black Canvas series. Even though the stories have centered on people who have been dealt cruel blows, they're all fighters working hard to reclaim themselves. They're survivors and they're inspirational. I had already decided after her first book that Anders is a must-read author for me and In His Hands' theme of compassion and forgiveness makes this another heart-achingly beautiful story from her that shouldn't be missed.

~ Bel

The Blank Canvas series is my favorite new series of the year. Maybe for several years. In this story about a young woman struggling to escape from a cult with help from the a new neighbor on the adjacent farm and others in the community of Blackwood, Va., Anders delivers another winning novel. It has all the necessary components for romantic suspense combined with excellent character development and a compelling plot. In His Hands may not be quite as steamy as the first two books but it still won't disappoint readers who want heat along with excellent writing and a can't-put-it-down plot. Here's hoping Ms. Anders has lots more stories to tell!

More "It was ok" Than "I liked it"
Starts off boring
Then becomes very boring right before it finds a rhythm, but never fully recovers.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series and has a few links, but it is not essential to have read the previous books. That said, these three books are amazing reads and whilst not easy, are beautifully written and definitely life-affirming.

Ms. Anders is a very talented author, and once again has written a beautiful story born out of a terrible situation. There is so much more to this book than a simple romance – Luc is afforded the opportunity to save Abby, and in that mission, she saves him right back. The whole book has one in tense expectation of some terrible outcome of action after action, I was drawn to keep reading, and yet was nervous of turning nearly every page.

Some of the most beautifully written paragraphs are those where these two people discover the true meaning of sensuality. From completely different starting places, the descriptions of how they deal with the intensity of their feelings, and their desire for each other.

Thank you for an amazing book which, in addition to being a stunning love story, also gives some frightening insights into life within a sect and fascinating ones about the winemaking business.

This book was a first read for me by this author. It was slow, especially for the 1st 30-40% and very long. A lot could have been condensed, for instance, there was way too much detail on how to grow grapes and trim the vines. That part really was starting to bore me.

Reading cult books are ones I don't read often. I guess I have to make sure I'm in the right mindset since they are so different from what I'm used to reading. Luc was mysterious and I understand why Abbie was naïve in almost everything because she was secluded for so long. I can't even really point out why I'm giving a 2 star. I started to skim the last half of the book unfortunately and I guess I just wasn't seeing the connection between the two main characters. Even though I own books 1 & 2 of this series, I will go back and check those out since these are all standalones and are different from each other.

In His Hands, the third in Adriana Anders’s Blank Canvas series, takes elements of her first two books, mixes in wine and a terrifying religious cult, and gives us something undefinable. It’s like a psychological coming-of-age dark romantic suspense. It’s hard to categorize, so this First Look is going to focus on a couple of elements that sets it apart from other books I’ve read.

First things first—all of the trigger warnings: sexual abuse, coercion, physical abuse and assault, children in peril, twisted religious cult.

This isn’t the sort of book I usually pick up, but I really loved Anders’s first two, so I decided to set aside my reservations and give it a shot. It’s the story of Abby, a young woman who is looking for a way to free herself and her friend Sammy, who has Down Syndrome, from a religious cult. The only contact she has with the outside world is occasional glimpses of Luc, a French immigrant who owns a vineyard next door. With the recent death of her church-selected husband (three times her age) and the worsening of Sammy’s seizures, she finds the courage to sneak through the massive fence and over to Luc’s house to ask him for a job. He’s a misanthrope with a squishy center, so things progress as you might expect there.

The entire time they were working together, I had this itchy feeling at the back of my neck. When would they get caught? What was going to happen? Bad things, as you might have predicted. Anders kept me guessing until about 40 pages from the end of the book. With every obstacle to Abby’s freedom (and to Sammy’s freedom), I was more worried that there was no possible good outcome. (Don’t worry, you’ll get an HEA.) Anyway, on to what defines this book.

Physical Pain as a Surrogate for Emotional Pain

Every book in this series so far has been defined in part by some sort of physical trauma. In the first two, characters were tattooed against their will and came to town for tattoo removal. In this one? It’s BRANDING. Have you ever been burned? It’s awful. It’s so so so much more painful than a tattoo. The pain lingers, the scars are permanent, it’s just awful. Abby has been through a lot. Luc lost a finger a few years ago, so he has his own permanent reminder of why he left France, but it’s nothing compared to what Abby’s survived.

Luc talks a lot about Abby’s strength in the book. He’s amazed that she manages to be so kind and honest, after all that she’s endured. While I do think that Abby is a strong character, I also think there’s a strong parallel to some behaviors exhibited by people who cut, pluck, or otherwise inflict physical pain on themselves to achieve distance or relief from their emotional pain. Abby has a constant physical reminder of her suffering, and the way she’s been conditioned to accept it feels like a way for both the cult leaders and for herself to manage her emotional and intellectual needs.

As with the others in this series, Abby’s character arc has to do with reclaiming her body:

“She answered in kind, her body making the decisions. This wasn’t really her.

But my body is me, she recognized. She took the idea and owned it, letting it light her up from the tips of her fingers to the depths of her soul.”

Female Agency that Isn’t Uncoupled from Religion

Abby’s strength doesn’t come from a full-scale throwing off of everything she’s ever known. Her story is unique within the cult because she and her mother didn’t join until she was seven. At that time, she and her mother were starving, living in the back of a car. The religious center was a place of food, community, and stability. It’s understandable why she continues to exhibit loyalty and gratitude.

But, having been accused of “defiling” a young man, forced to give her body to an old man, and then watching him slowly die… Abby has reasonable doubts. Why can’t they use medicine to help Sammy with his seizures? Why is it forbidden for her to speak to outsiders at the market?

Abby’s self-determination is not that of a woman who is denying everything she’s believed, but rather a woman who can see the truth of a thing, the good and the bad, and is choosing what parts to keep.

I won’t lie, this book was hard to read. Cults are real, abuse is real, the incredibly limited options for women who have to start over are real. I did, however, stay up until 2am reading. This book isn’t unlike Abby’s brands, the burn is hot and painful, and stays with you for days afterward.

The third book in the Blank Canvas series, In His Hands, tells the tale about a young woman who bravely confronts those against her for her physical and mental survival. Abby is part of a cult, one she grew up in and one she longs to get away from. She plans ahead and for the success of it, she needs the help of one man. Luc Stanek lives as far away from his past as he could, but the call of the vines and his lifeblood is too strong to completely leave behind. So when Abby comes knocking asking for work, it comes as a surprise to him that he could not turn her away. Little did he know how important she would become to him and that danger is so near the both of them, it would be difficult to escape. But when Luc finds a bloodied and bruised Abby on his doorstep, he must find away to save the woman he loves and to preserve the life he has come to build in this almost deserted land.

In His Hands is, simply put, captivating. Like previous books in the Blank Canvas series, the author just completely took social situations that are devastating and manages to come out with a story about hope, resilience, salvation, and love. The characters of Luc and Abby are so multidimensional that their emotions, their problems leap off the pages and just engulfs the readers in their own experiences. There is also a little bit of suspense here as Abby's situation is precarious and Luc will definitely be caught in the crossfire. Also, the raw almost unfiltered passion between these two is just so honest. Ms. Anders constantly amazes me on how far she takes her characters in terms of emotional and physical challenges and therefore when they happen to rise above it, it is simply remarkable. Abby is definitely the epitome of a survivor, whose spirit can never be extinguished while Luc, on the other hand, shows how compassionate he could be despite his own past. In His Hands is definitely another keeper.

Abby cut the chain fence and and it was good she didn’t cut herself or Isaiah- who was the church leader and thought himself the Messiah and knew what was best for his flock- would wonder what she had gotten into and sent someone to her. Abby was hoping Grapeman would hire her to work on his vines or anything else. Abby would do just about any kind of work. She had to help Sammy. The Grape Man's name was Luc. He told Abby he did the vines himself and had no work for her and she should go back to her church. Luc knew Abby was from the Church Of Apocalyptic Faith. Abby wondered how she could help Sammy now that she had failed at getting a job from Luc. Hamish had been Abby’s husband he couldn’t get her pregnant and Abby knew they would find someone else to push her with to see if the job could be done. Abby felt a ridiculous job would be created for her since she couldn’t be trusted with anyone else- too restless to work in the kitchen, to friendly to work with the outsiders. Abby felt they could come back to the church once Sammy was cured. There had been so much good when Abby and her mom had arrived at the church. Abby had been a starving seven year old. Abby had gone with a struggling mom to a whole family where everyone pitched in for the greater good. All servants of God preparing for the Day. But then they had taken Abby away from her mom’s side. All her life no matter what or how much they struggled in the back of the old station wagon they were at least together. Then Abby’s mother said in all earnestness” did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom”? Abby grew she would ask question of the elders that they didn’t want to answer so Abby became know as trouble and and difficult. They felt Abby had too much spirit and needed to be broken. Hamish had been the most devout man Abby had ever met but he had turned to his eyes from the Savior that he had built his entire life on and Hamish had begged Abby to end it for him. Luc didn’t do well with people or people with him. Hamish had been old enough to be Abby’s grandfather and had been the first father of their religion. Sammy had developed mental problems and he got treated badly sometimes.and was physically hurt. Lately Sammy had been having “spells” where he loses time and falls. Sammy is all Abby really has now. Abby wants to leave with Sammy and be free. But she has to have enough money to support her and Sammy. Luc finds he can’t forget Abby and he reaches out to help her. Both Abby and Luc were lonely and had painful pasts. . Isaiah didn’t believe in outside influences: no doctors, no medicine and what ever happened will be the will of God.
I couldn’t get into this story. I couldn’t seem to connect with Luc or Abby. I felt the story dragged especially in the beginning. By the time it started to pick up I had lost all interest and couldn’t get into the story. This was just too hard for me to read. I didn’t like how the author presented the abuse Abby had went through I just couldn’t an

Two very different characters collide in this evocative and passionate romance. We have Luc, lonely and closed off desperate to bring his precious vines to life and fruition. He has walked away from his home and family and now feels he needs no one. Into his well-ordered existence comes Abby, a prisoner of the religious cult that owns the land next to Luc's home and burgeoning vineyard. It's simple in Abby's eyes she will help work with Luc and in return, he will pay her meaning she and a boy whose health she's desperately worried about can afford to escape to a new life. Except the church leader wants Abby for himself and cruelly tortures Abby leaving her with no choice but to run to the one place she feels safe, in Luc's arms!
This author seems to have cornered the market when it comes to vile and sadistic villains. Yet she does not allow them to dominate her story lines no that's reserved for her couples. Abby is so innocent when it comes to the modern society we live in and she's written in such a way that it's impossible not to empathize with her and indeed cheer her on as she boldly moves forward. Pairing her with the brooding Luc allowed them both to relish life no matter how scared they are both inside and out whilst exploring a mutual passion. Yes, they have personal struggles but there's a depth to this story and a wealth of emotion. It's not just a sensual journey though as there are bigoted stalkers next door at the church who are determined to get Abby back no matter the cost. Luc still has to come to terms with his own past as the story plays out and when all looks lost there's a bright new dawn!

In His Hands starts out very S-L-O-W, a lot slower than the first book, Under Her Skin. And because of the lack of speed, it didn’t grab my attention right away. It covers a very difficult subject matter and Anders paints the story with vivid strokes, feeding the reader only a piece of information at a time. But she does it brilliantly. She is a gifted writer—a storyteller. There are multiple layers and a complexity that needed to be portrayed in the slow manner it was presented.

Abby Merkley resides in a small, religious commune. Her mother brought her to this way of life at a young age. She was raised to not question the elders of the community and the beauty she once saw on this mountain has turned ugly. She longs for freedom and independence. She wants to help a small child. She needs a job. All of this leads her outside the fence surrounding her commune and to Luc Stanek’s front door.

Luc Stanek is a store owner, growing grapes and making wine. He keeps to himself. He’s not very good with people. He likes the isolation he’s created for himself.

But Abby’s presence stirs something inside him. And he finds himself reaching out to help her. Two strangers, both lonely for different reasons. Two painful pasts. Two hearts beating the odds to find love in the strangest of places.

In His Hands is an emotional journey and is solely character driven (which does make for a slower read). It can be hard to read at times with the heavy subject matter but Anders tackles it beautifully. Warning: there are emotional triggers surrounding their story and I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone.

This is my first Adriana Anders book and I can tell you that certainly is not my last. This book was dark, intense and extremely sexy and I really appreciated the slow burn of Abby and Luc's relationship. Their circumstances completely merited time being taken with the different levels of their relationship.
I'm definitely going to circle back and read books one and two in this series.

It's an idyllic world readers are first introduced to where there's a love of the land and a peace in its quietness. At least it's that way for some of the inhabitants whose lives readers quickly become immersed in. From the first page to the last readers discover a world that hides pain and depravity behind a religious veneer but find wonderment and unwavering acceptance between two bruised souls making their own heaven on earth. Hard-hitting issues balance with sweetness and sensuality to make this an unforgettable romance that continues to make Ms. Anders's Blank Canvas series a must-read.

Abby Merkley's young life was harsh, but at least she had the love and comfort of her mother to count on. When things got too tough though her mother chose to find her own comfort in the teachings of the Church of the Apocalyptic Faith which at first seemed awe-inspiring. Through being separated from her mother, having her exuberant outlook on life condemned, and through bitter teachings that left her scarred both inside and out, Abby soon found herself longing for a different kind of life. The presence of the commanding yet quiet man on the mountain above their enclave gives her strength to make a life of her own, as does her fear for a young man with Down's Syndrome who's seen as a curse by the other Followers. Wanting to make a life of her own means finding a job which leads her to that mysterious man who not only opens her mind but also her heart and soul. He soon has her questioning everything as he becomes the embodiment of all her forbidden longings. With Luc she discovers all she's been missing out on...life, love, and a home that's truly hers. When Isaiah comes looking for his missing Follower though time starts running out for them and the life she's struggling to claim in a heart-pounding conclusion to a story that showed the worst in people as well as the best. Abby's an endearing character, full of life and wanting to experience all life has to offer. She's condemned for her inquisitiveness in the most heinous ways courtesy of a depraved man whose perversions are just hinted at throughout the story. Despite all she'd been through though she was never broken, she still grabbed on to every experience Luc offered her and her wonderment over every new decadent delight was infectious. She had a kind heart and her interactions with Sammy, and her desire to get him the medical help he needed, showed her to be wise beyond her years despite her child-like delight in the simplest things. She was condemned as wanton by Isaiah, but with Luc those desires were sensually depicted and life-altering for both of them. She showed unending strength through every scar burned into her soul and skin and still stood up for herself and others in need which had me cheering her on every step of the way.

Luc Stanek grew up on a vineyard in France, learning to love the land and what it takes to grow the perfect grape. He also learned his secondary place in that world with the woman who proclaimed to love him choosing his brother while having every decision he made countermanded. Wanting to find his own place in the world led him to setting down roots on the mountainside above a community that's always left him leery. His bruised heart left him closed off from the world and devoted to only his grapes. He prefers solitude and a life without complications, but all that ends the day the bubbly yet shy Abby shows up looking for a job. Early on her questions are irritating and her body a distraction, but soon she becomes an obsession. He soon comes to need her as he needs air, her presence a temptation that he no longer wants to deny. As they grow closer together he becomes her savior, the man keeping her safe from the increasingly dangerous Isaiah. With danger coming ever closer he'll have to choose between the life he's made for himself and the life Abby's longing to make. Luc's happy with his life of solitude at first, bitterness and resentment over the past his constant companion. He's a bit standoffish and gruff but moments of care and compassion show readers the heart he hides behind the bruises on his heart. Abby's visits are like a breath of fresh air and though he tries to keep her at arm's length early on her sweetness and sensual longings call to him. Though he feels unworthy of her he'll do all that he can to keep her safe and help her find the kind of life she wants. Ultimately Luc's a delicious hero teeming with sensuality and though he doesn't want to be anyone's hero he's there when Abby needs him most and I found myself drooling over him from the first page to the last.

This was an emotionally intense romance featuring two bruised souls who found their own bit of heaven in each other's arms. They found unwavering acceptance with each other as both would've sacrificed all for the other. Abby's the kind of heroine you root for who stood strong in the face of heinous adversity. Though she was beaten and burned she never lost faith in herself which led to a rousing conclusion that had me cheering her on. Luc's a great match for her as he became her partner in experiencing all the decadent delights she longed for, a hero when she needed him most too. Their romance was sweet yet sexy and I loved how freeing it was for Abby as she embraced all the sensual acts she was once taught to condemn. The unsettling acts within the Church were subtly revealed and became gut-wrenching as the story concluded. Life there was seen as heaven on earth but behind the facade was a man drunk on power willing to take children's innocence away from them. The world depicted there was reminiscent of Waco and its existence kept me on edge waiting for an implosion. Balancing the insidiousness of the Church are the heartwarming moments between Luc and Abby, along with glimpses of characters from the previous books in this series. The heroines from those stories represent the kind of life Abby wants for herself and empowered her even further. On a whole this is a powerful story with an endearing main couple and a storyline that juggled serious issues with sweetness and sensuality. It's a series that I'm not ready to say goodbye to yet and with the complicated connection between Rory and Jessie I witnessed, I hope there's more to come.

I really hate cults. A lot. I am super uncomfortable with cults and cult themes. I don't even like Amish books because any group of people who pretend you're dead if you leave their church are pretty whacka-doodle to me. I didn't realize that this book would have a cult theme before I started reading it. I had read the other books in the Blank Canvas series so I wanted to read book number 3 in the series.

Anyway, enough about my cult hang ups, In His Hands is actually a good book. I really enjoyed watching Abby and Luc (our heroine and hero) fall in love.

I did find the tension a bit too much at times, but the book was still entertaining and I don't see how the book could have come to a conclusion without all the angst. By the end of the book I was convinced that Abby and Luc belonged together, and that they would have a happy and healthy forever after.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with a bit of tension.