Cheryl Strayed's "Wild" meets Fight Club in this intense story that follows two women who have been kidnapped and placed in a human trafficking ring. Greyson and Olivia don't know who to trust or even if they can trust each other. If they can make it out of their prison alive, where will that leave them in regards to a relationship? Is it even worth dreaming about?

Donna K. Ford created an immensely dark and disturbing story here. I was just talking to my wife yesterday about what makes women an easy target for predators and how dreadfully close I fit that mold. Maybe that makes this story way to f***ing real for me. But then if you take a close look at Greyson, a butch lesbian, who doesn't seem to fit that same mold, and realize she was preyed upon too...that's even scarier. Either way, this book had me racing to the end. I needed it to end...

I can't remember ever having read a thriller with lesbian main characters, so of course I had to get my hands on this. I will advocate for these books as often as I can, but I also feel like I'm a little bit harder on them. I need these stories to feel authentic; you can't just throw two women together and call it LGBT friendly. So that said, Captive did it's job. It gave me the lesbian characters I crave with an authenticity that is desperately needed in this genre, as well as a thrilling experience while flipping pages as quickly as I could.

Donna K. Ford did something here that should not be over looked. I really hope to read more from her in the future. Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Captive

By. Donna K. Ford
Bold Strokes Books
17 Chapters, Kindle Edition
Anticipated Publishing Date: August 14, 2018

Greyson Cooper is exactly where she wants to be in life when she sets out on a section hike of the Appalachian Trail. When she's abducted and placed into slavery in a fight club, she isn't about to be part of their barbaric plan and does everything she can to upset the ranks, even if it costs her her life.
Olivia Danner has worked hard for everything she has. All that's left is her dream job and someone to share her life with. But her plans are cut short when a man who wants her as his personal prize kidnaps her.
Together in captivity, Olivia and Greyson become players in a game of deceit and violence. To survive and escape, they will have to figure out whom they can trust. If they can get out alive, the next challenge will be forging a path to lasting love.

This book brings to light the world of human trafficking in a way that many people are only aware of through the news. It's a scary novel in a way that one sees women held against their will, kept under the pretense that harm to themselves, their families, and others in captivity will occur is they don't comply. The way they are taken is scary. So scary in fact, the reader may start looking over their shoulder when thy are done reading the book.
Greyson is a strong figure throughout the book. The writer made her a moral and intelligent character fleshing her out in just such a way that the reader would care about what would happen to her her. She tries very hard to keep her in the same tune throughout the book and that's what made the book good.
Olivia is more a soft spoken woman. She is also moral, but less intelligent. She is prone to bouts of fear and anxiety and doesn't think things through when push comes to shove. She is more like what most people are. Impulsive. However, She finds that being among more intelligent strong women makes her think more about others and use more common sense.
The supporting characters are also designed well and made in the roles exactly as they need to be. It is especially sad to see which ones have been in captivity the longest and who have developed Stockholm syndrome and those who have developed rage.
It takes a special person to write a book like this because this a very serious subject in the world. Money crosses the globe hour by hour for human trafficking and the authorities always seem to be behind.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read anything that has to do with human trafficking because this seems most realistic. However, I give it four stars because the element of romance could have altogether been eliminated and it would have been a fantastic read.

First time I’ve read this author and I really enjoyed her writing style. The story was perhaps a bit unlikely but putting that to the side I thought it was unique and kept my attention until the end. I would of perhaps wanted a stronger feeling of attraction between the woman but that’s nit picky:-) would read this author again.

I'd been eagerly awaiting the release of this book ever since I read the blurb a few months ago. Thankfully it didn't disappoint. The romance in this book is slow burn which is to be expected considering the circumstances! But once they do get together it was amazing. I felt the chemistry between Greyson and Olivia but unfortunately the end let down which led me to only give it a 4/5. 

I received and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s rare that I stumble over so many emotions and opinions after reading a book. Captive is a truly astonishing book that will take you on a gut-wrenching and terrifying journey as we witness Greyson and Olivia kidnapped and forced into a female fight club. As unbelievable as that sounds, there’s nothing to scoff at here as truth is always stranger than fiction and human trafficking is a real problem that all cultures are prey to and comes in many different forms. The author deftly weaves their terrifying ordeal, and fortuanately, there are no rape scenes or sexual assault other than a few nasty leers from a guard or two. I don’t think I would’ve been able to survive either Greyson or Olivia tarnished in that way. They are strong and resilient women that I grew to care about deeply and worry over desperately. And desperate is their situation. The suspense is built masterfully and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story, thankfully, does not end abruptly with their rescue. The author chose to spend significant time during their recovery from the ordeal and it was a relief to be able to heal along with the characters. This is a very unique suspense-thriller I won’t soon forget.

Human trafficking is a major problem, not only within the United States, but the world. Sadly, it has been increasing over the years. I applaud the author for bringing this topic to the forefront of her story. It was not an easy task, but it was effectively accomplished.

 I liked Greyson’s gutsiness and determination of never giving up or giving in…just play the game to survive until an escape opportunity presents itself. Some of the characters- who have been held captive for a longer duration- seemed to accept the reality of their life. This was quite understanding since they were literally beat down, physically and mentally. 

However, aside from the human trafficking plot, and not to give anything away, I felt there were a few unanswered questions and unresolved issues that needed to be dealt with before the completion of the story. Those missing parts, unfortunately, took away from getting a higher rating.  Yet, I do feel this is an important topic that needs to be explored, discussed, and debated... so for that alone I do recommend this book.

This book is labeled as Intrigue & Thriller / Romance, but it has more of Survivalist or Psychological or even Pastiche, because there is little intrigue and almost nothing about romance and many parts of the plot are unfinished or do not make sense at all.

About the two protagonists, Greyson has a more relevant role and is more detailed and her behavior throughout history is consistent.Olivia, on the other hand, has been a bit irritating and unpleasant to me.

As I said, the story raises a series of facts that may suggest a certain subsequent development, but suddenly they are forgotten and the plot goes another way, without taking into account these previous indications, it is a bit disconcerting at times.

And the outcome does not have much detail or explanation, nor does the situation of these enslaved women, to be honest.And I haven't like the end the way it is, either.

I think the author has had a good idea but she has lacked space to complete it, it seems that some pages have been deleted, maybe?

It is not an entirely interesting book, in my view, it has some parts better than others. I'm not really sure what to say about it.

Fantastic! Bloody hell-omg-this is the bestest!! Coherent review to follow when I come down. 

Right now I'm laugh-crying and at a loss for words of what to say to do this story justice

Holy wow, did I just say that?

Two days after finishing this story, my mind is still reeling. If you want a book that gives you the feels, pick this up, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed. 

This is the first book to make it to my favourites shelf in months...and, that is all. 

Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley