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Black Rose
Lillian Locke had the perfect life in Boulder, Colorado. She had the boyfriend of her dreams, a wonderful family, awesome friends, and a spot on the track team at a great college. There wasn’t anything life could throw at her that she couldn’t get through . . . until he found her.
Lillian never could have imagined being abducted and chained up in the dark. Worse yet, being just one of many girls kidnapped and held captive by a madman. All she can do now is hope that she survives the brutality of their captor long enough to find a way to free herself and her new captive friends.
When Richard Haines’ girlfriend goes missing, he makes it his personal mission to find the woman he loves and bring her home to the safety of their loved ones. Seeking the help of friends and family, Richard abandons everything except for his pursuit of Lillian. But when someone else close to Richard goes missing, and the bodies of the abducted girls start showing up in the hills outside Boulder, the only thing he can do is hope that he finds her before it is too late.
Lillian never could have imagined being abducted and chained up in the dark. Worse yet, being just one of many girls kidnapped and held captive by a madman. All she can do now is hope that she survives the brutality of their captor long enough to find a way to free herself and her new captive friends.
When Richard Haines’ girlfriend goes missing, he makes it his personal mission to find the woman he loves and bring her home to the safety of their loved ones. Seeking the help of friends and family, Richard abandons everything except for his pursuit of Lillian. But when someone else close to Richard goes missing, and the bodies of the abducted girls start showing up in the hills outside Boulder, the only thing he can do is hope that he finds her before it is too late.
174 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2014
About the author
Kris Thompson
2 books48 followersKris Thompson is a veteran of the US Navy and single mother of three. When she’s not knitting scarves, chasing her children around or baking, you’ll find her enjoying a good book or writing down notes for her own upcoming stories. Writing has been a passion for Kris for many years, and seeing those stories printed on paper is a dream come true.
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rose-Kris...
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black...
Blog - http://kristhompsonauthor.blogspot.co...
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rose-Kris...
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black...
Blog - http://kristhompsonauthor.blogspot.co...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 9, 2014
When I started this book I thought it was going to be one of those books where the girl gets kidnapped, abused and falls in love with the guy. I hate those.
This book is not that. It's frigging dark though and the people that have triggers might not need to read it. I liked it though..because of the main character Lee.
There has been women going missing in the community but no one ever thinks it could happen to them right? It does happen to Lee. She is taken and wakes up with six other women..chained in a locked room.
She gets pissed off.
The asshole that has taken them is using women as his personal harem. If they don't fit the part that he needs them to he kills them and dumps the bodies.
Lee fights back.
There were some things to the story that bothered me like her boyfriend Richard..He was just almost too perfect. I know there are good men and I'm married to one, but I think he just wouldn't have been completely perfect during the whole ordeal. He is human.
All in all though, once I started reading this I couldn't stop. Good debut for this author.
And Lee:
Do I recommend? Yes..for people that like the darker stories.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is not that. It's frigging dark though and the people that have triggers might not need to read it. I liked it though..because of the main character Lee.
There has been women going missing in the community but no one ever thinks it could happen to them right? It does happen to Lee. She is taken and wakes up with six other women..chained in a locked room.
She gets pissed off.
The asshole that has taken them is using women as his personal harem. If they don't fit the part that he needs them to he kills them and dumps the bodies.
Lee fights back.
There were some things to the story that bothered me like her boyfriend Richard..He was just almost too perfect. I know there are good men and I'm married to one, but I think he just wouldn't have been completely perfect during the whole ordeal. He is human.
All in all though, once I started reading this I couldn't stop. Good debut for this author.
And Lee:
Do I recommend? Yes..for people that like the darker stories.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2014
3.5
"Eenie, meenie, miney, moe. Who will be the first to go?"
Black Rose is a violent, suspenseful, psychological thriller. Lillian is living the good life, a young college student with a loving family and devoted boyfriend, until she becomes the latest victim of a madman.
She finds herself chained in a strange room, drugged and afraid, but she isn't alone. She discovers she is one of many women who have recently gone missing. Her fight to survive is just beginning. While Lee is struggling to survive, her boyfriend Richard and her family are doing everything they can to find her. This isn't a fall in love with my captor type read. It is brutal and terrifying. I really liked Lee and her strength, she was an easy character to pull for, she fights back.
Better to die on my feet than beg on my knees
My main issue is how well adjusted these women seem to be, at times their behavior just didn't feel authentic enough, considering the circumstances. And some things felt a bit OTT. But overall it was a quick, entertaining read.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
"Eenie, meenie, miney, moe. Who will be the first to go?"
Black Rose is a violent, suspenseful, psychological thriller. Lillian is living the good life, a young college student with a loving family and devoted boyfriend, until she becomes the latest victim of a madman.
She finds herself chained in a strange room, drugged and afraid, but she isn't alone. She discovers she is one of many women who have recently gone missing. Her fight to survive is just beginning. While Lee is struggling to survive, her boyfriend Richard and her family are doing everything they can to find her. This isn't a fall in love with my captor type read. It is brutal and terrifying. I really liked Lee and her strength, she was an easy character to pull for, she fights back.
Better to die on my feet than beg on my knees
My main issue is how well adjusted these women seem to be, at times their behavior just didn't feel authentic enough, considering the circumstances. And some things felt a bit OTT. But overall it was a quick, entertaining read.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
September 28, 2015
Black Rose is a bold novel that pulls no punches. It does not apologise for it's content, and does not need to. Not for the timid in nature, Black Rose contains some fairly distressing scenes and story telling. A book that held my attention from start to finish, certainly gripping.
Lillian is happy in her relationship with Richard, the book starts of with snippets of their relationship together and an introduction to a woman who has a lot going for her, and great things ahead of her.
All of that changes in a heartbeat..
Lillian is captured by a psychopathic kidnapper and taken into horrendous captivity, normal life one day, chained to a wall with no idea why you are there the next. Lillian discovers she is not alone in this dark place where she is captive like a wild animal, there are other women here too. Chained up, fed and watered when their captor feels like it.
It's interesting how the other women being present impacted me as the reader, I understood how they quickly built up a connection (even though kept in separate rooms) through talking and just the fact that they are all in this hell hole together, what else do they have to hold on to? Lillian quickly shines as a bit of a leader not only with the other women but with their captor too. She is not going to just lie down and take his beatings and abuse, she is a fighter is our Lillian.
I struggled a bit with some of the dialogue between the women, knowing that these women were raped repeatedly by their captor violently I found it a bit "off" that they were discussing their sex lives and how good it used to be "before" captivity. Would that happen? Women repeatedly raped having a laugh over memories of great sex? I wasn't sure, maybe it was written as a coping mechanism. It did bother me a bit though, being totally honest.
Whilst Lillian is held captive by this monster of a man, her lover Richard, is not happy with the police investigation so is doing all he can to find out where she is and who took her on his own steam. His zeal is astounding, you can tell how much he loves her. He ropes in family to help him. His commitment is admirable. Some of the dialogue between Richard and the other men I found somewhat unrealistic at times, almost juvenile considering their ages.
The book is quite graphic, so you have been warned, it's brutal and presents very clearly the sadistic nature of their captor, he uses these women for his own purposes, doesn't see them as human beings. Lillian takes a lot from him, she fights back hard, she tries to get into his psyche, she is a really smart character. Sheer determination to survive the hell she is in and a fierce protectiveness of these other women she has now bonded with.
The darkness of the villain in this book is written really well, he "pops" off the pages, painted well as a cruel, relentless and very damaged person. His character is tangibly awful and I felt my body tense up reading about every time he approached one of these captive women. I liked that we got some background on him during the book too.
The book moves between what is happening in the search for the kidnapper and Lillian and what goes on with the women in their enslaved situation. The book is fast paced and action packed, there is not a single down moment and I was page turning at a rapid rate, it's not pretty imagery for most of it, but I have read a lot worse being a crime lover. It seems to be a desperate situation and it's not long before things go from really bad to horrendous. `
What happens to them all? That would be spoiling it for you! Do they all make it through? Does Richard ever find Lillian? Does Lillian survive? What happens to the psychopathic sadistic kidnapper? All of these questions can only be answered by delving into this novel and reading from start to finish yourself.
The last third of the book I thought was really well done, the ending and events leading up to it had me riveted to the page, getting pulled into the psychology of it all as well as watching the events unfold. Really gripping and tense moments. It was not an ending I could have fully predicted.
One minor criticism? Whilst I am no prude and swearing in books does not bother me, be warned the use of the F word is extensive in this novel, whilst I get it stresses intense moments and feelings, for me, perhaps a tad repetitive. But that's a tiny criticism. It may indeed, not bother you at all.
A graphic and tension filled novel with a tight plot and plenty of page turning action for the reader. I enjoyed reading this book and would certainly be keen to read more books penned by Kris Thompson. It left me reeling in it's wake, needing time to recover from the hellish journey I went on with these women, if you like your fiction with a dark edge to it, are not afraid to go there, this tense thriller should satisfy you nicely.
My thanks to the author, Kris Thompson and the publisher, The Writers Coffee Shop for my copy of this book to review. I was that keen to read it I contacted the author to say please. Many thanks for the opportunity.
Lillian is happy in her relationship with Richard, the book starts of with snippets of their relationship together and an introduction to a woman who has a lot going for her, and great things ahead of her.
All of that changes in a heartbeat..
Lillian is captured by a psychopathic kidnapper and taken into horrendous captivity, normal life one day, chained to a wall with no idea why you are there the next. Lillian discovers she is not alone in this dark place where she is captive like a wild animal, there are other women here too. Chained up, fed and watered when their captor feels like it.
It's interesting how the other women being present impacted me as the reader, I understood how they quickly built up a connection (even though kept in separate rooms) through talking and just the fact that they are all in this hell hole together, what else do they have to hold on to? Lillian quickly shines as a bit of a leader not only with the other women but with their captor too. She is not going to just lie down and take his beatings and abuse, she is a fighter is our Lillian.
I struggled a bit with some of the dialogue between the women, knowing that these women were raped repeatedly by their captor violently I found it a bit "off" that they were discussing their sex lives and how good it used to be "before" captivity. Would that happen? Women repeatedly raped having a laugh over memories of great sex? I wasn't sure, maybe it was written as a coping mechanism. It did bother me a bit though, being totally honest.
Whilst Lillian is held captive by this monster of a man, her lover Richard, is not happy with the police investigation so is doing all he can to find out where she is and who took her on his own steam. His zeal is astounding, you can tell how much he loves her. He ropes in family to help him. His commitment is admirable. Some of the dialogue between Richard and the other men I found somewhat unrealistic at times, almost juvenile considering their ages.
The book is quite graphic, so you have been warned, it's brutal and presents very clearly the sadistic nature of their captor, he uses these women for his own purposes, doesn't see them as human beings. Lillian takes a lot from him, she fights back hard, she tries to get into his psyche, she is a really smart character. Sheer determination to survive the hell she is in and a fierce protectiveness of these other women she has now bonded with.
The darkness of the villain in this book is written really well, he "pops" off the pages, painted well as a cruel, relentless and very damaged person. His character is tangibly awful and I felt my body tense up reading about every time he approached one of these captive women. I liked that we got some background on him during the book too.
The book moves between what is happening in the search for the kidnapper and Lillian and what goes on with the women in their enslaved situation. The book is fast paced and action packed, there is not a single down moment and I was page turning at a rapid rate, it's not pretty imagery for most of it, but I have read a lot worse being a crime lover. It seems to be a desperate situation and it's not long before things go from really bad to horrendous. `
What happens to them all? That would be spoiling it for you! Do they all make it through? Does Richard ever find Lillian? Does Lillian survive? What happens to the psychopathic sadistic kidnapper? All of these questions can only be answered by delving into this novel and reading from start to finish yourself.
The last third of the book I thought was really well done, the ending and events leading up to it had me riveted to the page, getting pulled into the psychology of it all as well as watching the events unfold. Really gripping and tense moments. It was not an ending I could have fully predicted.
One minor criticism? Whilst I am no prude and swearing in books does not bother me, be warned the use of the F word is extensive in this novel, whilst I get it stresses intense moments and feelings, for me, perhaps a tad repetitive. But that's a tiny criticism. It may indeed, not bother you at all.
A graphic and tension filled novel with a tight plot and plenty of page turning action for the reader. I enjoyed reading this book and would certainly be keen to read more books penned by Kris Thompson. It left me reeling in it's wake, needing time to recover from the hellish journey I went on with these women, if you like your fiction with a dark edge to it, are not afraid to go there, this tense thriller should satisfy you nicely.
My thanks to the author, Kris Thompson and the publisher, The Writers Coffee Shop for my copy of this book to review. I was that keen to read it I contacted the author to say please. Many thanks for the opportunity.
October 12, 2014
Many thanks to the author, Kris Thompson and the publisher, The Writers Coffee Shop, for my e-book copy of this book to review.
"Black Rose" is a dark, graphic and violent suspense thriller, that sets the tone for a action packed plot. The story brings back flashbacks of the movie "Kiss the Girls" with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd...a movie that I loved! It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel for this author, as the words and language are crisp and bounce off the page. I couldn't put this book down!
The novel deals with some tough subject matter,women who are abducted, imprisoned, and abused by a pervert who uses them for his own sexual needs. He feels he owns these women that he has abducted. He was not just a kidnapper...he was also a killer-a Psycho! They had all been chosen. But Why Them?
Lillian Locke had everything she wanted in Boulder, Colorado...a loving boyfriend, a great family, super friends, and a spot on the track team at a great college. But she never thought she could be abducted and chained up in the dark, and at the mercy of a madman. Six girls are still missing from the town, and Lee is one of them. Lee's boyfriend, Richard and her family and cops are desperately searching for her and the missing women. And soon the count goes down...and Lee must scramble and figure out a way to escape for her and her friends or die in this hole.
A race to the finish, with a unexpected ending. I will definitely be following this talented author in the future. Thank you so much for allowing me to read your novel.
"Black Rose" is a dark, graphic and violent suspense thriller, that sets the tone for a action packed plot. The story brings back flashbacks of the movie "Kiss the Girls" with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd...a movie that I loved! It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel for this author, as the words and language are crisp and bounce off the page. I couldn't put this book down!
The novel deals with some tough subject matter,women who are abducted, imprisoned, and abused by a pervert who uses them for his own sexual needs. He feels he owns these women that he has abducted. He was not just a kidnapper...he was also a killer-a Psycho! They had all been chosen. But Why Them?
Lillian Locke had everything she wanted in Boulder, Colorado...a loving boyfriend, a great family, super friends, and a spot on the track team at a great college. But she never thought she could be abducted and chained up in the dark, and at the mercy of a madman. Six girls are still missing from the town, and Lee is one of them. Lee's boyfriend, Richard and her family and cops are desperately searching for her and the missing women. And soon the count goes down...and Lee must scramble and figure out a way to escape for her and her friends or die in this hole.
A race to the finish, with a unexpected ending. I will definitely be following this talented author in the future. Thank you so much for allowing me to read your novel.
September 3, 2014
I gobbled that book up in one sitting!!! Remember that movie Kiss the Girls with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd? Well Black Rose is that on STEROIDS and SO MUCH BETTER! Two of my favorite words to use when describing a book...TWISTED and BRUTAL! It seriously played out like a fantastic suspense thriller movie. Be forewarned, it is VERY graphic and violent....YAY! If you love dark books like me, you'll understand where I'm coming from. The shocking prologue certainly sets the tone of what you're in for. This dude is one SICK MOTHER F'ER. Exciting, action packed plot that gives no hope of a HEA. If you're a nail biter, better wrap them fingers up or you may risk the chance at gnawing them down to the knuckle. This was a standalone which I know is another HUGE YES for most people. I truly loved every tender and sick moment. Finally a captive book that puts up a fight (don't get me wrong, I do love a great stockholm book as well.) Kris Thompson, thank you for an incredible book!
**Just to be clear, I did not have a paperback format. Not sure how to change that or if it even matters. :D**
**Just to be clear, I did not have a paperback format. Not sure how to change that or if it even matters. :D**
January 11, 2015
I am going to be the minority here, I stopped reading at 49%. I really didn't see how this book was going to improve. This book lacked depth,character development and the storyline is a little too reminiscent of James Patterson's "Kiss the Girls". I found the approach and writing was incongruous with the subject matter. It was not what I expected.
November 17, 2014
This book was recommended by several book buddies. I gave in and pushed it up my never ending pile of TBR list. I am so glad I did. I was hooked. ALL night I stayed up to finish this book. I began reading it around 9pm, I couldn't leave it alone, so I stayed with it right until the end.
Some people will say.....can't read this about rape, abduction, torture
Some will start it and not want to finish it
Can I urge you to read it, get past that and see the strength of the girls involved, see how this experience has affected them, but together they became a unit of sisters.
What was so amazing and stands out to me is the court case at the end. I was WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IN THE HELL [you will need to read the book to find out what I mean] its amazing how much is in this book.
Many things stood out for me, I passed over the rape, the abduction, the torture to why........the motive. Why.....these girls.
Its a book that is so well written. The feelings the emotions of they guys looking for them, the family and friends involved, its all there.
The warped mind of someone who could do this.......its all in there.
Strength of character. That's what stood out to me. How we can get strength from inside ourselves when we least expect it. How we can overcome anything with help.
Brilliant book.
I have to emphasis its not nice to read about abduction, rape, torture, but see beyond this, see the girls, see how they manage, see how they cope. Its not easy on the stomach in parts, but its a good psychological thriller.
I would like to thank The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House via Net Galley for my copy
Some people will say.....can't read this about rape, abduction, torture
Some will start it and not want to finish it
Can I urge you to read it, get past that and see the strength of the girls involved, see how this experience has affected them, but together they became a unit of sisters.
What was so amazing and stands out to me is the court case at the end. I was WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IN THE HELL [you will need to read the book to find out what I mean] its amazing how much is in this book.
Many things stood out for me, I passed over the rape, the abduction, the torture to why........the motive. Why.....these girls.
Its a book that is so well written. The feelings the emotions of they guys looking for them, the family and friends involved, its all there.
The warped mind of someone who could do this.......its all in there.
Strength of character. That's what stood out to me. How we can get strength from inside ourselves when we least expect it. How we can overcome anything with help.
Brilliant book.
I have to emphasis its not nice to read about abduction, rape, torture, but see beyond this, see the girls, see how they manage, see how they cope. Its not easy on the stomach in parts, but its a good psychological thriller.
I would like to thank The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House via Net Galley for my copy
November 26, 2014
3.5 Stars!
I get why some of those that have read this compared it to the movie “Kiss the Girl” with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd…. It’s about women gone missing, abducted, raped and after so much weeks, their mutilated bodies are dump in the woods. He collects these women to make his own personal harem. But the comparison to the book and the movie stops there (for me anyways).
The story is told through one of the abducted woman’s ordeal and her boyfriend who desperately search for her.
You see posters of missing women and hear about them in the news… you try not to let that scare you from doing your everyday thing and no matter how watchful you get… you never really expect you’d end up one of them. This is just about how the story started.
It is shocking, dark, gripping and heartbreaking.
But, I question a lot of events that followed in the story. And it feels like the police didn’t do anything at all… if the boyfriend were able to come up with a most likely suspect, shouldn’t the police be ahead of that? I guess I’d say, this is one of those where the lead characters are on their own.
I feel a slight disconnect with the characters and story, sorry. But, all in all, it did peek my interest… :)
I get why some of those that have read this compared it to the movie “Kiss the Girl” with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd…. It’s about women gone missing, abducted, raped and after so much weeks, their mutilated bodies are dump in the woods. He collects these women to make his own personal harem. But the comparison to the book and the movie stops there (for me anyways).
The story is told through one of the abducted woman’s ordeal and her boyfriend who desperately search for her.
You see posters of missing women and hear about them in the news… you try not to let that scare you from doing your everyday thing and no matter how watchful you get… you never really expect you’d end up one of them. This is just about how the story started.
It is shocking, dark, gripping and heartbreaking.
But, I question a lot of events that followed in the story. And it feels like the police didn’t do anything at all… if the boyfriend were able to come up with a most likely suspect, shouldn’t the police be ahead of that? I guess I’d say, this is one of those where the lead characters are on their own.
I feel a slight disconnect with the characters and story, sorry. But, all in all, it did peek my interest… :)
October 24, 2020
"Eenie, meenie, miney, moe. Who will be the first to go?"
Black Rose is intense there's no denying that; Lillian is a strong character, she has pretty much the perfect life, an amazing boyfriend, an amazing family, awesome friends and overall, she couldn't ask for more. Then, the unthinkable happens and she gets kidnapped. Now, in a situation like this every person reacts differently and Lillian's reaction was real, every moment inside her head while she went through this felt real, she was strong but like a normal person she had her breaking moments and that made her all the more real.
The switch between Lillian's nightmare and how she basically became - I'm not gonna call her a hero but more like a rock for the other girls that came before her and her boyfriend's race to find the person responsible was amazing.
September 8, 2014
When I received a complimentary copy of this book, the author warned me that it was dark. And it is, very much so. But that's not all that Black Rose is, and I found myself enjoying the triumphs herein, as well as shaking my head at the main characters on occasion.
For this, I won't apologize. I'm a cop's kid, at bottom.
You can read the blurb - It's accurate. This is a tale of women who are abducted, imprisoned, and abused by a man who uses them for his own needs. This part of Black Rose is terrifying, sure, but it's also edged in hope due to the heroine: Lillian (Lee) Locke.
I liked her. Lee is bright, beautiful, athletic, and spirited. When she is imprisoned, she is determined to fight. Not only for herself, but for the others locked up with her. Even though she was sometimes foolish in her taunts to their sadistic captor, she meant well and I respected that.
She also had to pay the price for it, in more ways than one. (Not gonna spoil it for you, honest!)
I also liked the hero, Richard. He's a solid young man, determined and passionate. Reading about what was happening on the outside—the search for the missing women, the agonies their friends and families were enduring—was a huge part of this story. This helped to give us readers—also trapped down in that place with Lee and the girls—hope as much as Lee herself did.
So while this is a dark story, it is also a story of strength under terrifying adversity. It's the desperate need for there to be a light in the dark, and for making that light burn enough to share it.
Sometimes, the protagonists behave foolishly. One understands that, while reading, but I cannot help but wince and tell them they were stupid.
What I felt cheated of, here, was the "after" part. There is a six month jump in time. An enormous amount of life happens in six months. How Lee had to claw her way back to herself, how Richard had to try to figure her out. (He should have been seeing a therapist, or someone, and I never got the sense that he did.) I didn't need a day-by-day, but checking in with these two would, for me, have been good.
To me, the creepiest parts of the whole novel were
The end was not entirely satisfying to me, but it works as closure for this story.
Warning: There is extremely graphic violence against women, clearly, in this book. You can't really get around it, as it comprises a hefty chunk of the storyline. Know this going in and it'll be easier to read, in my personal experience.
And if you do, bring a light with you. It's dark down there.
Rating this at 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
For this, I won't apologize. I'm a cop's kid, at bottom.
You can read the blurb - It's accurate. This is a tale of women who are abducted, imprisoned, and abused by a man who uses them for his own needs. This part of Black Rose is terrifying, sure, but it's also edged in hope due to the heroine: Lillian (Lee) Locke.
I liked her. Lee is bright, beautiful, athletic, and spirited. When she is imprisoned, she is determined to fight. Not only for herself, but for the others locked up with her. Even though she was sometimes foolish in her taunts to their sadistic captor, she meant well and I respected that.
She also had to pay the price for it, in more ways than one. (Not gonna spoil it for you, honest!)
I also liked the hero, Richard. He's a solid young man, determined and passionate. Reading about what was happening on the outside—the search for the missing women, the agonies their friends and families were enduring—was a huge part of this story. This helped to give us readers—also trapped down in that place with Lee and the girls—hope as much as Lee herself did.
So while this is a dark story, it is also a story of strength under terrifying adversity. It's the desperate need for there to be a light in the dark, and for making that light burn enough to share it.
Sometimes, the protagonists behave foolishly. One understands that, while reading, but I cannot help but wince and tell them they were stupid.
What I felt cheated of, here, was the "after" part. There is a six month jump in time. An enormous amount of life happens in six months. How Lee had to claw her way back to herself, how Richard had to try to figure her out. (He should have been seeing a therapist, or someone, and I never got the sense that he did.) I didn't need a day-by-day, but checking in with these two would, for me, have been good.
To me, the creepiest parts of the whole novel were
The end was not entirely satisfying to me, but it works as closure for this story.
Warning: There is extremely graphic violence against women, clearly, in this book. You can't really get around it, as it comprises a hefty chunk of the storyline. Know this going in and it'll be easier to read, in my personal experience.
And if you do, bring a light with you. It's dark down there.
Rating this at 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
November 17, 2015
Perfectly Sick and Twisted. I don't know how this book can be reviewed without giving anything away. All the kidnapped women were strong in their own way, but Lee was exceptional! If you're looking for a book to get your rocks off, I can tell you that you will not find it here so please look elsewhere.
This story was very well written. The plot was tight even though everything didn't go my way. I'm sorry but the last kidnapping was kind of funny. Don't ask me why because you'll think i'm crazy. Okay, well I couldn't help but laugh when the last girl was kidnapped. She was kidnapped like a child. How are you asleep so hard in your room that you don't hear two men messing with your window and pulling away the screen to open said window. The cold wind blows through the window but you're so comatose that you never make a peep. I was tickled on that part however it didn't take away from the story.
I dropped the story a star at first because Anyway, I didn't think it was right to leave the story at only four stars because I didn't get my vengeance, therefore I did the right thing and changed it to five stars.
This story was very well written. The plot was tight even though everything didn't go my way. I'm sorry but the last kidnapping was kind of funny. Don't ask me why because you'll think i'm crazy. Okay, well I couldn't help but laugh when the last girl was kidnapped. She was kidnapped like a child. How are you asleep so hard in your room that you don't hear two men messing with your window and pulling away the screen to open said window. The cold wind blows through the window but you're so comatose that you never make a peep. I was tickled on that part however it didn't take away from the story.
I dropped the story a star at first because Anyway, I didn't think it was right to leave the story at only four stars because I didn't get my vengeance, therefore I did the right thing and changed it to five stars.
November 29, 2014
I am so impressed with this new author. She came out of the gates with a powerful novel for the readers who enjoy a dark and twisted read. She tackled the dual POV of storytelling and kept it consistent and smooth. The characters in this story were very well developed and told powerful yet distressing details of how they felt going through the nightmare that greeted Lee and Richard.
The synopsis gives you a glimpse at what you are about encounter with this plot. Lee and Richard are in love yet they haven’t said those three little words yet. Lee runs track, using the sport of running to keep her mind clear and stress level down as she goes to college. One day she finds herself getting into the car only to wake up in a cell like room. Chained to the wall she tries to figure out what happen and how can she get back to Richard.
In this cell she meets the missing women of the college that the community has been searching for. Eventually she comes face to face with the people involved who are holding them. The author did a wonderful job with giving us the scenes of abuse and torture but not with the amount of details that you would normally expect in today’s writing. She proved that an author can evoke an extreme amount of emotions from the readers with great scene development and not drown the story in the details of actions. I could feel the anger and panic of Lee as I read and was grateful more times than I can count that I didn’t have to “see” what she went through.
Another aspect to this book that is different from most is we weren’t left having the loose ends tied up in an epilogue. She took us past the horrific event and let us see how the characters recovered and dealt with the “wheels of justice”. The emotions from the traumatic situation carried over to the last 1/3rd of the book where we reached our closure.
I was so impressed by her talent, especially being new to the author career, but I can’t put into words the courage she had to tackle such a deep and dark story as her first novel. This genre is my favorite to read and I have pretty high standards as to what I expect when I open a book of this kind. She met all of my expectations that I would have for a new author of this type of story. Of course no book is perfect and I feel I need to let the readers know that there is some predictability in this story but after I finished it and thought about it, I am not sure she could have done anything differently in the way she laid out her plot. The other issue is the last half felt a bit rushed for me. I wanted to spend more time with the characters and get a stronger feel for how they were dealing with what happen.
Even with those two minor issues, this book blew me away and I would strongly recommend it to any reader who needs more than a fluffy romance to entertain them. I will certainly be watching to see what comes from this author in the future.
The synopsis gives you a glimpse at what you are about encounter with this plot. Lee and Richard are in love yet they haven’t said those three little words yet. Lee runs track, using the sport of running to keep her mind clear and stress level down as she goes to college. One day she finds herself getting into the car only to wake up in a cell like room. Chained to the wall she tries to figure out what happen and how can she get back to Richard.
In this cell she meets the missing women of the college that the community has been searching for. Eventually she comes face to face with the people involved who are holding them. The author did a wonderful job with giving us the scenes of abuse and torture but not with the amount of details that you would normally expect in today’s writing. She proved that an author can evoke an extreme amount of emotions from the readers with great scene development and not drown the story in the details of actions. I could feel the anger and panic of Lee as I read and was grateful more times than I can count that I didn’t have to “see” what she went through.
Another aspect to this book that is different from most is we weren’t left having the loose ends tied up in an epilogue. She took us past the horrific event and let us see how the characters recovered and dealt with the “wheels of justice”. The emotions from the traumatic situation carried over to the last 1/3rd of the book where we reached our closure.
I was so impressed by her talent, especially being new to the author career, but I can’t put into words the courage she had to tackle such a deep and dark story as her first novel. This genre is my favorite to read and I have pretty high standards as to what I expect when I open a book of this kind. She met all of my expectations that I would have for a new author of this type of story. Of course no book is perfect and I feel I need to let the readers know that there is some predictability in this story but after I finished it and thought about it, I am not sure she could have done anything differently in the way she laid out her plot. The other issue is the last half felt a bit rushed for me. I wanted to spend more time with the characters and get a stronger feel for how they were dealing with what happen.
Even with those two minor issues, this book blew me away and I would strongly recommend it to any reader who needs more than a fluffy romance to entertain them. I will certainly be watching to see what comes from this author in the future.
October 26, 2014
**Actual Rating 3.5 stars**
Please note: This review will appear on my blog as part of the "Black Rose" blog tour on the 19th November with further information and links.
I read this in pretty much one sitting, so well did it flow and for the most part I thought it was a terrific psychological suspense novel, with a realistic twist generally speaking and it definitely packs one heck of an emotional punch.
The most resonant part of the novel for me came with the relationship between Richard and Lillian - the author has done a terrific job of telling us a love story, creating a couple I believed in and then hitting them with the worst case scenario and making me avidly turn pages as Richard desperately searches for Lillian whilst she desperately struggles to survive.
It was cleverly written jumping between Richard and Lillian and telling what they were going through and here was where it was the most authentic.
There were some downsides which were purely subjective - I couldnt quite get my head around how the girls behaved occasionally whilst in captivity.Sometimes that did not ring quite true for how traumatised I would imagine they would be under the circumstances although of course no-one who has not been through such a thing could have any actual idea. Discussing the relative benefits of one good looking star over another for example, not long after you have been brutalised, just took me out of the moment.
Overall however this was a great read, not for the faint hearted, but a very addictive and often emotive story - another plus was the story came to a proper and satisfying conclusion showing aftermath as well as event which added to the overall ambience of the tale being told.
Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
Please note: This review will appear on my blog as part of the "Black Rose" blog tour on the 19th November with further information and links.
I read this in pretty much one sitting, so well did it flow and for the most part I thought it was a terrific psychological suspense novel, with a realistic twist generally speaking and it definitely packs one heck of an emotional punch.
The most resonant part of the novel for me came with the relationship between Richard and Lillian - the author has done a terrific job of telling us a love story, creating a couple I believed in and then hitting them with the worst case scenario and making me avidly turn pages as Richard desperately searches for Lillian whilst she desperately struggles to survive.
It was cleverly written jumping between Richard and Lillian and telling what they were going through and here was where it was the most authentic.
There were some downsides which were purely subjective - I couldnt quite get my head around how the girls behaved occasionally whilst in captivity.Sometimes that did not ring quite true for how traumatised I would imagine they would be under the circumstances although of course no-one who has not been through such a thing could have any actual idea. Discussing the relative benefits of one good looking star over another for example, not long after you have been brutalised, just took me out of the moment.
Overall however this was a great read, not for the faint hearted, but a very addictive and often emotive story - another plus was the story came to a proper and satisfying conclusion showing aftermath as well as event which added to the overall ambience of the tale being told.
Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
November 21, 2014
The tag line for this novel really sums up the determination of Lillian Locke throughout the story.
"It's better to die on your feet than beg on your knees."
This story is the gritty depiction of the life of a kidnap victim and the people who fight to find her.
Lilly is the typical co-ed with a busy life, great friends, and a doting boyfriend. Unfortunately, she was exactly the challenge a madman thought he needed. One moment she's in her car, the next she's locked up in a darkened room with only the voices of five other victims to comfort her.
Richard is the love of Lilly's life and is determined to get her back at all costs. With the help of his friends, family, and Lilly's police officer brother, Noah, Richard begins to decipher all the elements of Lilly's disappearance. After a body is found, they have more clues, but more questions as well.
Reading about the hell these women went through as they fought against the whims of a deviant was difficult to say the least. Bone quaking chills, colossal twists, and unexpected turns left me breathless at times. The way Thompson entwined each element in this psychological thriller shows the talents of an epic storyteller. This is Thompson's debut novel and if her further work is as captivating as this, I can't wait to read it.
Thanks so much to Kris Thompson and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for granting me a Copy of Black Rose in exchange for an honest review.
"It's better to die on your feet than beg on your knees."
This story is the gritty depiction of the life of a kidnap victim and the people who fight to find her.
Lilly is the typical co-ed with a busy life, great friends, and a doting boyfriend. Unfortunately, she was exactly the challenge a madman thought he needed. One moment she's in her car, the next she's locked up in a darkened room with only the voices of five other victims to comfort her.
Richard is the love of Lilly's life and is determined to get her back at all costs. With the help of his friends, family, and Lilly's police officer brother, Noah, Richard begins to decipher all the elements of Lilly's disappearance. After a body is found, they have more clues, but more questions as well.
Reading about the hell these women went through as they fought against the whims of a deviant was difficult to say the least. Bone quaking chills, colossal twists, and unexpected turns left me breathless at times. The way Thompson entwined each element in this psychological thriller shows the talents of an epic storyteller. This is Thompson's debut novel and if her further work is as captivating as this, I can't wait to read it.
Thanks so much to Kris Thompson and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for granting me a Copy of Black Rose in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2014
This was a tough book to stick with at the beginning. Any book dealing with this subject matter should be tough. I admit to almost giving up on it after about a quarter of the way in. I was worried about the graphic details that I felt would be coming as the story progressed. Luckily, I hung in. Kris Thompson approaches this subject with as much detail as needed to keep you feeling very much at ease but without overwhelming you with brutality. There is a fine line to be walked, and this book does it well while still staying true to the nature of the story. Another aspect I found myself liking was that this story didn't end with the typical ending you would expect. I'm trying to not give away anything but suffice it to say that this story is more about victims and the way an ordeal is ongoing for the rest of their lives. The only reason for 4 stars on this is one is I felt the male boyfriend/brother characters were a bit under formed and their speech was a bit nonchalant for the situations.
I should have Kris Thompson stopping by my blog at http://www.bloggabook.wordpress.com on November 17th. If you have any questions you want me to pose, let me know.
I should have Kris Thompson stopping by my blog at http://www.bloggabook.wordpress.com on November 17th. If you have any questions you want me to pose, let me know.
November 11, 2014
This is an extremely well written gripping story.
Lillian's life falls apart when she is kidnapped and held captive by a sick stranger. While being held captive she realises that the girls gone missing in her hometown are being held captive too. The kidnapper believes these girls are his and he can do what he likes. She is brutally beaten and raped. However the kidnapper hadn't taken into consideration how strong Lillian is. We also get Lillian's boyfriend, Richards, points of view. He tells us of his pain and how he can't just sit back and do nothing. We read about the anguish and pain her family and friends are going through while she is missing.
Although dark this is a fantastic story. I felt I was going through so many emotions while reading this. My heart was in my mouth while reading parts and heart thumping reading other parts. I read this in one day. While not reading it this book was in my thoughts. This book is not for the faint hearted. If you like a gripping, dark book that will have your stomach in bits then I highly recommend this story.
Lillian's life falls apart when she is kidnapped and held captive by a sick stranger. While being held captive she realises that the girls gone missing in her hometown are being held captive too. The kidnapper believes these girls are his and he can do what he likes. She is brutally beaten and raped. However the kidnapper hadn't taken into consideration how strong Lillian is. We also get Lillian's boyfriend, Richards, points of view. He tells us of his pain and how he can't just sit back and do nothing. We read about the anguish and pain her family and friends are going through while she is missing.
Although dark this is a fantastic story. I felt I was going through so many emotions while reading this. My heart was in my mouth while reading parts and heart thumping reading other parts. I read this in one day. While not reading it this book was in my thoughts. This book is not for the faint hearted. If you like a gripping, dark book that will have your stomach in bits then I highly recommend this story.
December 5, 2014
Wow, I'm almost speechless. Kris Thompson wrote a raw, emotional, and (at times) extremely difficult to read tale about a psychopathic kidnapper and rapist. I swear I my eyes teared up starting in the prologue and then I cried for the second half of the book.
Lee, she was a kick ass heroine. Strong beyond belief and amazingly written. Her boyfriend, Richard, was loyal and strong. I'm blown away at how well all of the characters were written and even the smallest character had a lot of meaning.
The journey was tough to read, but extremely important to the story. The survival and strength of victims of kidnapping and rape is different for everyone, and here we got to see a few different point of views. It was real and raw, but so well written. I don't usually willingly read this genre, I almost have to be forced into it. And when the writing is as well done as this, I always find myself so glad I allowed myself out of my comfort zone.
Black Rose is no exception. It was an incredibly written messed up (in a good way) journey with a heroine you'll cheer for, cry for, and comfort by hugging her so tight. You'll want to thank her whole family for loving her so much, and cherish her boyfriend for being strong, patient, and determined.
So many times I wanted to jump through my screen and kick the kidnapper's butt. The story was just so real and the characters felt real, which made the experience so real.
This is one book you won't want to pass up.
Italian Brat's Obsessions
Lee, she was a kick ass heroine. Strong beyond belief and amazingly written. Her boyfriend, Richard, was loyal and strong. I'm blown away at how well all of the characters were written and even the smallest character had a lot of meaning.
The journey was tough to read, but extremely important to the story. The survival and strength of victims of kidnapping and rape is different for everyone, and here we got to see a few different point of views. It was real and raw, but so well written. I don't usually willingly read this genre, I almost have to be forced into it. And when the writing is as well done as this, I always find myself so glad I allowed myself out of my comfort zone.
Black Rose is no exception. It was an incredibly written messed up (in a good way) journey with a heroine you'll cheer for, cry for, and comfort by hugging her so tight. You'll want to thank her whole family for loving her so much, and cherish her boyfriend for being strong, patient, and determined.
So many times I wanted to jump through my screen and kick the kidnapper's butt. The story was just so real and the characters felt real, which made the experience so real.
This is one book you won't want to pass up.
Italian Brat's Obsessions
November 29, 2014
Holy wow.
What a book.
This one is going down as a favorite book of 2014 (or going up … in the sidebar of my blog).
When the book starts, Lillian and Richard are aware of the kidnapper’s activities. Richard is a bit more alert and cautious than Lillian is. You can tell right from the start that he is on alert, she kind of brushes his concerns aside and heads off only to get kidnapped.
These girls are so strong in Black Rose. I don’t care if any of them “seem” weaker than another here and there throughout the book, they all had the will to live, the courage to continue on, and when one wants to give up, the others don’t let her.
My emotions were so strong while reading, I was right there in the book, as if I could hear or see it happening to someone right beside me. I could feel the anxiety, anger, hurt that rolled off of Lillian’s family and friends as they tried to find her. I would like to think that I would continue to fight to live and not give up if God forbid I was ever in this situation, but part of me wonders if I would be that strong.
It’s an absolutely amazing book and if you like a darker type of storyline pick this one up. This is one I could reread. It took my breath away and left my mouth dropped open in a gasp at times. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of Black Rose.
5 stars!
What a book.
This one is going down as a favorite book of 2014 (or going up … in the sidebar of my blog).
When the book starts, Lillian and Richard are aware of the kidnapper’s activities. Richard is a bit more alert and cautious than Lillian is. You can tell right from the start that he is on alert, she kind of brushes his concerns aside and heads off only to get kidnapped.
These girls are so strong in Black Rose. I don’t care if any of them “seem” weaker than another here and there throughout the book, they all had the will to live, the courage to continue on, and when one wants to give up, the others don’t let her.
My emotions were so strong while reading, I was right there in the book, as if I could hear or see it happening to someone right beside me. I could feel the anxiety, anger, hurt that rolled off of Lillian’s family and friends as they tried to find her. I would like to think that I would continue to fight to live and not give up if God forbid I was ever in this situation, but part of me wonders if I would be that strong.
It’s an absolutely amazing book and if you like a darker type of storyline pick this one up. This is one I could reread. It took my breath away and left my mouth dropped open in a gasp at times. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of Black Rose.
5 stars!
November 18, 2014
***review to follow as part of blog tour***
**UPDATE 18 November 2014**
I finished this book a couple of days ago, yet waited to formulate my review. I read this book a long time ago in it's fanfiction form, and couldn't wait to see what changes the author made to it.
As soon as I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Whilst the story was familiar, I wasn't at all prevented from wanting/needing to carry on, so I could find out what happened. I read a lot of mystery/thriller books, and Black Rose could certainly hold it's own in the genre.
Although there are a lot of characters for the reader to get to know, they are all well rounded and individual, preventing them to get confused in the reader's minds. None of them feel surpluss or just added for the sake of it; each and every one adds something to the story.
When we are with the girls, my heart was in my mouth much of the time, which is a testament to Thompson's ability to keep us guessing. Parts of the story are not an easy read, but these are done for mere shock value or gratuitously. These events which will have you shocked and stunned, yet are essential to the movemnt of the plot.
Highly recommended for lovers of suspense thrillers. Whilst there is a romance element, it's not central to the plot. Fast paced and well worth the read!
**UPDATE 18 November 2014**
I finished this book a couple of days ago, yet waited to formulate my review. I read this book a long time ago in it's fanfiction form, and couldn't wait to see what changes the author made to it.
As soon as I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Whilst the story was familiar, I wasn't at all prevented from wanting/needing to carry on, so I could find out what happened. I read a lot of mystery/thriller books, and Black Rose could certainly hold it's own in the genre.
Although there are a lot of characters for the reader to get to know, they are all well rounded and individual, preventing them to get confused in the reader's minds. None of them feel surpluss or just added for the sake of it; each and every one adds something to the story.
When we are with the girls, my heart was in my mouth much of the time, which is a testament to Thompson's ability to keep us guessing. Parts of the story are not an easy read, but these are done for mere shock value or gratuitously. These events which will have you shocked and stunned, yet are essential to the movemnt of the plot.
Highly recommended for lovers of suspense thrillers. Whilst there is a romance element, it's not central to the plot. Fast paced and well worth the read!
September 26, 2014
4.5 Gripping Stars!
"Better to die on my feet than beg on my knees"
A CHILLING RIDE!!
A real to life abduction story. THIS was more realistic to an actual kidnapping that I've ever read. DON'T go thinking this a dark romance, it's not. A gritty account of what could really happen.
A great book for lovers of dark, the details were AMAZINGLY good, but not over the top. This guy was sick to the core crazy. I really wanted inside of his head. I mean, I really wanted inside this head. The author takes you through the entire journey from start to finish. I feel like she stayed true to the characters from start to finish.
With all the dark romance and/or dark books circling, this one made me ponder what I would really do in this type of situation. Would you fight to the very end or buckle from wrath of a psychopath?
I can't believe this is a debut NOVEL! I can't wait to see what else this author has coming!
-Free copy provided for an honest review-
"Better to die on my feet than beg on my knees"
A CHILLING RIDE!!
A real to life abduction story. THIS was more realistic to an actual kidnapping that I've ever read. DON'T go thinking this a dark romance, it's not. A gritty account of what could really happen.
A great book for lovers of dark, the details were AMAZINGLY good, but not over the top. This guy was sick to the core crazy. I really wanted inside of his head. I mean, I really wanted inside this head. The author takes you through the entire journey from start to finish. I feel like she stayed true to the characters from start to finish.
With all the dark romance and/or dark books circling, this one made me ponder what I would really do in this type of situation. Would you fight to the very end or buckle from wrath of a psychopath?
I can't believe this is a debut NOVEL! I can't wait to see what else this author has coming!
-Free copy provided for an honest review-
November 8, 2014
I'm Floored just WOW. SO much has changed Im going crazy not that far in but sooooo hooked.
From the get go Black Rose has you hooked with its intriging Prologue and Summary.
It was Mystery, Thriller and love story all rolled up into one.
It got you with the Amazing Cover Art to the layout of the story.
When reading you never see a story from the victims point of view and its amazing to see that kris pulled this off.
She has a very strong Heroine here with Lillian Locke down to the amazing other characters.
I just kind of disappointed with the ending. Kris you can't leave us haging there I need sequel.
This is a 5 star book with a 5 star author.
From the get go Black Rose has you hooked with its intriging Prologue and Summary.
It was Mystery, Thriller and love story all rolled up into one.
It got you with the Amazing Cover Art to the layout of the story.
When reading you never see a story from the victims point of view and its amazing to see that kris pulled this off.
She has a very strong Heroine here with Lillian Locke down to the amazing other characters.
I just kind of disappointed with the ending. Kris you can't leave us haging there I need sequel.
This is a 5 star book with a 5 star author.
November 14, 2015
Suspenseful, gripping
Man, this book had me turning pages quickly. David is one disturbed individual, collecting girls for his harem for the sole purpose of rape and torture. There's no romance here... not even the Stockholm Syndrome kind so be warned, some of the scenes are a bit graphic. Well written in its entirety, this book was a thrilling ride. It slowed a bit at the end and I do kind of feel like everything was tied up in too pretty of a bow for the circumstances but, all in all, riveting. Well done.
Man, this book had me turning pages quickly. David is one disturbed individual, collecting girls for his harem for the sole purpose of rape and torture. There's no romance here... not even the Stockholm Syndrome kind so be warned, some of the scenes are a bit graphic. Well written in its entirety, this book was a thrilling ride. It slowed a bit at the end and I do kind of feel like everything was tied up in too pretty of a bow for the circumstances but, all in all, riveting. Well done.
December 26, 2014
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance read on this book.
There are just not enough words to describe how great I thought this book was! I completed it in one sitting, refused sleep till I was finished.
A psychotic killer is abducting women, holding them hostage for days and days while raping and torturing and killing in a most horrendous way. Except you know this by reading the back of the book. What you dont know is the story inside...there is so much more.
There are just not enough words to describe how great I thought this book was! I completed it in one sitting, refused sleep till I was finished.
A psychotic killer is abducting women, holding them hostage for days and days while raping and torturing and killing in a most horrendous way. Except you know this by reading the back of the book. What you dont know is the story inside...there is so much more.
November 12, 2014
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of Black Rose, and from the moment I opened it, I was hooked. Kris Thompson weaved an amazing tale, full of raw emotion and gritty details. One of the things I loved the most was how Ms. Thompson didn't sugarcoat it. She was real. She painted a real picture of what Lillian went through. I won't give out any details, but I cannot recommend this book enough! It's amazing, and I look forward to reading more of Kris Thompson's work.
June 18, 2016
I am going to be in the minority here i did not get into this book firstly some of the copntent with raping girls while unconscious really is distasteful the story did not go anywhere & found it hard to read.
How an author can write such a horrible plot involving women in this way is incomprehensible especially from a woman i wont put myself through this again was a hard read for me
How an author can write such a horrible plot involving women in this way is incomprehensible especially from a woman i wont put myself through this again was a hard read for me
November 8, 2014
4.5 stars
A story about an abduction, a crazy rapist who enjoys torturing young girls and one couples fight to be with each other again, Black Rose is so much more than what is advertised on the summary. Incorporating all aspects of human emotion, Thompson pulls you into her story from the beginning and leaves you holding your breath for the happy ever after you so desperately want, but fear will never arrive.
I was hooked from the very beginning of this story. I am the first to admit I’ve not read a thriller like this in a long while, but I fell easily back into the genre and loved Thompson’s way of telling the story. The dual perspectives of both Richard and Lee were incredibly well written and enabled you to see the story from all sides, meaning your mind was free to ponder what ‘He’ was going to do next. This also makes for really compelling reading because the moment you finish hearing about Lee, you’re on tenterhooks as to what is happening to her whilst you’re following Richard and vice versa. So many times whilst reading this I ended up with a kindle falling on my face because I just simply couldn’t put it down.
There’s a great deal of sisterhood between the girls that are trapped, and this could have easily come across as cheesy or overdone, but Thompson had an excellent range of characters, all adding to the dynamic of what must have been a terrible experience for them. The fact they developed the bond in such hardship is remarkable, but to see the sisterhood continue through the many trials and tribulations they experience is fantastic. I can’t say it’s a pleasure to read, because their circumstances are grim to say the least, but there was comfort in knowing they had found friendship and a way to survive.
I touched on it, but the characters are phenomenally well written and developed. Lee as the lead character is a true inspiration and her very soul is laid bare so many times that the reader really does empathise with her and want to know every little detail I possibly can. Anna, Kandace, Ruth and the other girls are equally as well written, but Lee really does steal the show. Richard is enjoyable to read, if not a little over dependent on Lee at times, but his devotion to her is a different angle to read and his determination to find her is well written.
Without providing too many spoilers, it was a pleasure to read a story and actually have it conclude in a way you get to see the characters ‘whole’ again is definitely very much to my liking! I feel like we got to see a natural conclusion to the story, and that made me feel much calmer and fulfilled at the end of reading. My own niggle was that I would have perhaps liked it to last a bit longer and feel it could have potentially been two books with a lovely little cliff hanger in the middle.
With all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed Black Rose, found it captivating, dark, thrilling and very well written. Congratulations to Thompson on a good story well told.
*This book was first reviewed on Lily Loves Indie as part of a blog tour, for which an ARC was received in return for an honest review*
A story about an abduction, a crazy rapist who enjoys torturing young girls and one couples fight to be with each other again, Black Rose is so much more than what is advertised on the summary. Incorporating all aspects of human emotion, Thompson pulls you into her story from the beginning and leaves you holding your breath for the happy ever after you so desperately want, but fear will never arrive.
I was hooked from the very beginning of this story. I am the first to admit I’ve not read a thriller like this in a long while, but I fell easily back into the genre and loved Thompson’s way of telling the story. The dual perspectives of both Richard and Lee were incredibly well written and enabled you to see the story from all sides, meaning your mind was free to ponder what ‘He’ was going to do next. This also makes for really compelling reading because the moment you finish hearing about Lee, you’re on tenterhooks as to what is happening to her whilst you’re following Richard and vice versa. So many times whilst reading this I ended up with a kindle falling on my face because I just simply couldn’t put it down.
There’s a great deal of sisterhood between the girls that are trapped, and this could have easily come across as cheesy or overdone, but Thompson had an excellent range of characters, all adding to the dynamic of what must have been a terrible experience for them. The fact they developed the bond in such hardship is remarkable, but to see the sisterhood continue through the many trials and tribulations they experience is fantastic. I can’t say it’s a pleasure to read, because their circumstances are grim to say the least, but there was comfort in knowing they had found friendship and a way to survive.
I touched on it, but the characters are phenomenally well written and developed. Lee as the lead character is a true inspiration and her very soul is laid bare so many times that the reader really does empathise with her and want to know every little detail I possibly can. Anna, Kandace, Ruth and the other girls are equally as well written, but Lee really does steal the show. Richard is enjoyable to read, if not a little over dependent on Lee at times, but his devotion to her is a different angle to read and his determination to find her is well written.
Without providing too many spoilers, it was a pleasure to read a story and actually have it conclude in a way you get to see the characters ‘whole’ again is definitely very much to my liking! I feel like we got to see a natural conclusion to the story, and that made me feel much calmer and fulfilled at the end of reading. My own niggle was that I would have perhaps liked it to last a bit longer and feel it could have potentially been two books with a lovely little cliff hanger in the middle.
With all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed Black Rose, found it captivating, dark, thrilling and very well written. Congratulations to Thompson on a good story well told.
*This book was first reviewed on Lily Loves Indie as part of a blog tour, for which an ARC was received in return for an honest review*
December 9, 2014
This book... wow. I finished it a few days ago and I'm still trying to come to terms with what to write. I'm sure I'll have to edit this later once I've had time to properly take it all in. I might read it again first, which is something I rarely do.
I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews, so I don't want to say much about the plot other than the basics. Psycho guy likes to kidnap girls, he takes our main character, Lee, and her adoring (pretty awesome) boyfriend, Richard, does everything he can to find her.
Okay, this story is dark... like... REALLY dark. Kidnapping, rape, being chained up, emotional mind fuck! Yeah, Black Rose has it all. This story is very much a thriller, but it's also a story of hope and the enduring human spirit. Just how much can one person go through before they buck up and take their life back? Lee, bless her heart, is about as badass as they come. Yeah, she's being grasped by the hair and drug through hell, and while she's having to come to terms with what's being done to her and how to escape, she's also stepping up and doing her best to be a pillar of strength to the other girls who have been kidnapped.
I admired Lee for all her strength and refusal to give up/in to the mad man who did all he could to break her. She was different from the other girls in how she was treated, and how she refused to play the game.
This was a short read, sitting at 159 pages, but it got the job done. It was fast paced and heart-stopping until the end. Kris does a great job of setting her characters up and emotionally investing you in them. You care what happens to the characters, and anyone who knows me knows that is the one thing I look for in a good read. I want to feel the book, not just read it, and Kris makes you feel.
There is so much I want to say about this book, including my thoughts on Richard and a few other characters, but I'm still absorbing, even days later. This book stays with you.
I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, just because I know there are lots of people who wouldn't be able to handle the subject matter, but I would recommend this book to everyone who I knew could handle it. I was highly invested and very well entertained throughout.
Overall, I'd give it a 4.8 stars. I really, really loved this book.
***As a side note*** I am very well aware of the fact this is P2P. I find it unfair to review a book based on that fact alone, and would like to ask people to think about that when reviewing a book. Ratings should be done solely based on the fact of content, not where it came from.
I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews, so I don't want to say much about the plot other than the basics. Psycho guy likes to kidnap girls, he takes our main character, Lee, and her adoring (pretty awesome) boyfriend, Richard, does everything he can to find her.
Okay, this story is dark... like... REALLY dark. Kidnapping, rape, being chained up, emotional mind fuck! Yeah, Black Rose has it all. This story is very much a thriller, but it's also a story of hope and the enduring human spirit. Just how much can one person go through before they buck up and take their life back? Lee, bless her heart, is about as badass as they come. Yeah, she's being grasped by the hair and drug through hell, and while she's having to come to terms with what's being done to her and how to escape, she's also stepping up and doing her best to be a pillar of strength to the other girls who have been kidnapped.
I admired Lee for all her strength and refusal to give up/in to the mad man who did all he could to break her. She was different from the other girls in how she was treated, and how she refused to play the game.
This was a short read, sitting at 159 pages, but it got the job done. It was fast paced and heart-stopping until the end. Kris does a great job of setting her characters up and emotionally investing you in them. You care what happens to the characters, and anyone who knows me knows that is the one thing I look for in a good read. I want to feel the book, not just read it, and Kris makes you feel.
There is so much I want to say about this book, including my thoughts on Richard and a few other characters, but I'm still absorbing, even days later. This book stays with you.
I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, just because I know there are lots of people who wouldn't be able to handle the subject matter, but I would recommend this book to everyone who I knew could handle it. I was highly invested and very well entertained throughout.
Overall, I'd give it a 4.8 stars. I really, really loved this book.
***As a side note*** I am very well aware of the fact this is P2P. I find it unfair to review a book based on that fact alone, and would like to ask people to think about that when reviewing a book. Ratings should be done solely based on the fact of content, not where it came from.
December 10, 2014
I've loved this thriller since Kris first put it out there.
Due to the subject matter (which is traumatic) it’s a tough read and people with P.T.S.D might want to avoid it. The pace is fast and the facts of the crime are served up as they might be to a jury. There’s no unnecessary embellishment, but bad things happen in this book. Often, they happen because people make mistakes.
Mistakes empower the creepiest villain I’ve read in a while. He’s a veritable psycho who’s smarmy with his victims even though he’s quick enough to turn on them. A life can be over like snap. I shuddered my way through his scenes.
Lillian is one of the strongest female leads I’ve come across, despite the fact that she’s victimized. Her tenacity empowers the other victims. She reminds them about who they were before they were captured. She helps them to remember the good men –husbands, fathers, brothers and boyfriends- who loved them, still love them and haven’t forgotten them, and will be there to love them again. Effectively, while the psycho’s every action is intended to demoralize and dehumanize these girls, Lillian keeps them sane by encouraging them to recount personal stories and share their interests.
One of the best things about this book is seeing the families of the girls actively search for them, never giving up. Pain, determination and sheer stubbornness are their allies. Lillian’s family is uniquely situated to make inroads into the case; they are able to do things that most victims’ families would not, but the premise is highly plausible.
Watching the male lead, Richard, learn how to sensitively cope with the aftermath was gratifying. He has to endure his own brand of suffering but always puts Lillian first. He’s careful with her, but doesn’t treat her like she’s going to fall to pieces at any minute. Faithful and steadfast, he’s the kind of man I hope my daughters find someday. I’d have liked to spend more time with Richard and Lillian post-trauma, just to watch them navigate those waters.
Not everyone might understand this book, but it might just help a few people who need to know that horrific experiences don't have to erase a victim. Four stars.
Due to the subject matter (which is traumatic) it’s a tough read and people with P.T.S.D might want to avoid it. The pace is fast and the facts of the crime are served up as they might be to a jury. There’s no unnecessary embellishment, but bad things happen in this book. Often, they happen because people make mistakes.
Mistakes empower the creepiest villain I’ve read in a while. He’s a veritable psycho who’s smarmy with his victims even though he’s quick enough to turn on them. A life can be over like snap. I shuddered my way through his scenes.
Lillian is one of the strongest female leads I’ve come across, despite the fact that she’s victimized. Her tenacity empowers the other victims. She reminds them about who they were before they were captured. She helps them to remember the good men –husbands, fathers, brothers and boyfriends- who loved them, still love them and haven’t forgotten them, and will be there to love them again. Effectively, while the psycho’s every action is intended to demoralize and dehumanize these girls, Lillian keeps them sane by encouraging them to recount personal stories and share their interests.
One of the best things about this book is seeing the families of the girls actively search for them, never giving up. Pain, determination and sheer stubbornness are their allies. Lillian’s family is uniquely situated to make inroads into the case; they are able to do things that most victims’ families would not, but the premise is highly plausible.
Watching the male lead, Richard, learn how to sensitively cope with the aftermath was gratifying. He has to endure his own brand of suffering but always puts Lillian first. He’s careful with her, but doesn’t treat her like she’s going to fall to pieces at any minute. Faithful and steadfast, he’s the kind of man I hope my daughters find someday. I’d have liked to spend more time with Richard and Lillian post-trauma, just to watch them navigate those waters.
Not everyone might understand this book, but it might just help a few people who need to know that horrific experiences don't have to erase a victim. Four stars.
December 11, 2014
Black Rose is a dark psychological thriller that details the story of a college student named Lillian Locke and her abduction by a psychotic sexual predator who has been kidnapping young women in and around Boulder, Colorado. Now she’s one of a few women chained up in a basement at the mercy of a man who sees her and the others as objects in his personal harem. Lillian isn’t one to sit back and let someone control her destiny. She gives hope to the other young women and fights back against her captor. Will her desire to take him down be the solace and key to their freedom?
Lillian’s strength of character really makes this story stand out. Her emotional investment in protecting the other women and her push to make sure their abductor and torturer gets exactly what he deserves created an emotional connection that had me completely invested in the outcome of the story. I cringed at the painful and dark moments but I also cheered every time Lillian pushed her captor’s buttons. While Lillian fights back her boyfriend Richard is on the outside doing everything in his power to find her. His determination and love for Lillian was heart warming as well as heart wrenching. I felt his helplessness and pain as he searched relentlessly for the love of his life.
Any good psychological thriller worth reading has a villain that keeps you on the edge of your seat and this storyline had just that. The villain in this storyline takes psychotic to another level. Every time he was in a scene I couldn’t help but shiver uncomfortably. I was biting my nails, holding my breath and clenching my jaw. This book was a page-turner with action and a fast paced storyline.
The content is intense and gripping and may not be for everyone. However, while some readers may find some of the scenes too intense the intensity paints a visual glance into the mindset of the characters and Thompson carefully maintains the integrity of the storyline without exploiting the graphic nature of the material. Every word felt necessary in order to build up the story to a satisfying and truthful ending.
Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers
Lillian’s strength of character really makes this story stand out. Her emotional investment in protecting the other women and her push to make sure their abductor and torturer gets exactly what he deserves created an emotional connection that had me completely invested in the outcome of the story. I cringed at the painful and dark moments but I also cheered every time Lillian pushed her captor’s buttons. While Lillian fights back her boyfriend Richard is on the outside doing everything in his power to find her. His determination and love for Lillian was heart warming as well as heart wrenching. I felt his helplessness and pain as he searched relentlessly for the love of his life.
Any good psychological thriller worth reading has a villain that keeps you on the edge of your seat and this storyline had just that. The villain in this storyline takes psychotic to another level. Every time he was in a scene I couldn’t help but shiver uncomfortably. I was biting my nails, holding my breath and clenching my jaw. This book was a page-turner with action and a fast paced storyline.
The content is intense and gripping and may not be for everyone. However, while some readers may find some of the scenes too intense the intensity paints a visual glance into the mindset of the characters and Thompson carefully maintains the integrity of the storyline without exploiting the graphic nature of the material. Every word felt necessary in order to build up the story to a satisfying and truthful ending.
Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers
November 17, 2014
*I was given an ARC by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review*
This story blew my mind! I loved, loved, loved this book!!
I had previously read a different version of this story, and was happy to learn Kris Thompson was publishing this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect, since it’s Thompson’s first book, but let me tell you; it was superb!
This crime-thriller had me on an emotional roller coaster. I felt sadness, worrisome, fearfulness, and relief.
For Thompson to evoke all these emotions from me, through Lillian and Richard’s journey, had me not wanting to put my book down at all. It was incredible.
Lillian, a.k.a. Lee, was abducted and was so strong through it all. Not just physically, but mentally, as well. She was so selfless; she was a much more better person than I.
This isn’t only Lee’s story, either. What the other women who were taken go through, was a huge part of the story as well.
And let’s not forget Richard, Lee’s boyfriend. He and both their family members go through hell, trying to find Lee too.
Also, when one of the family members lands up missing as well, they need to find the abductor NOW, more than ever.
Kris Thompson knocked it out of the park with Black Rose and I give it 5 stars!
This story blew my mind! I loved, loved, loved this book!!
I had previously read a different version of this story, and was happy to learn Kris Thompson was publishing this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect, since it’s Thompson’s first book, but let me tell you; it was superb!
This crime-thriller had me on an emotional roller coaster. I felt sadness, worrisome, fearfulness, and relief.
For Thompson to evoke all these emotions from me, through Lillian and Richard’s journey, had me not wanting to put my book down at all. It was incredible.
Lillian, a.k.a. Lee, was abducted and was so strong through it all. Not just physically, but mentally, as well. She was so selfless; she was a much more better person than I.
This isn’t only Lee’s story, either. What the other women who were taken go through, was a huge part of the story as well.
And let’s not forget Richard, Lee’s boyfriend. He and both their family members go through hell, trying to find Lee too.
Also, when one of the family members lands up missing as well, they need to find the abductor NOW, more than ever.
Kris Thompson knocked it out of the park with Black Rose and I give it 5 stars!
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