Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton

69 reviews

jessanicolesingh's review against another edition

dark mysterious

4.5

Shipwreck, sharks, secrets, survival, and SPICE 🥵 This was such an addicting enemies-to-lovers thriller, definitely a good beginner book to dark romance (heed the trigger warnings as always). I loved the survival storyline build-up and twist at the end, and though my TBR list is a mile long I have a feeling I will want to come back and reread this again soon!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death

kelleymiller13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Read this book for my book club read of the month. This type of book - and the relationships developed in it - aren’t my thing. I saw the relationship between Sawyer and Enzo as very unhealthy all throughout the book and had a hard time seeing many of their actions being labeled as “loving” actions. It was more about obsession, fixation, and dominance - nothing about partnerships, love, and mutual respect. 
The story line was also pretty weak. If it was going to be part "thriller", it failed. It was completely predictable, with no surprises, twists or turns. It honestly felt like the "plot" on the island was worked in as a way to just try to bring the two main characters closer together - albeit in a weird and unhealthy way - and have a LOT of sex...most of which was where he was mean to her either during it or immediately afterwards.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Kidnapping

Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, and Incest

imskylow's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

I would like to go on record and say that the only reason I finished listening to this audiobook was because  of Troy Duran’s voice acting and narrating skills. Shmexy-ass voice if you ask me. As for the content of the book… well, I vibed with it initially but it’s highkey garbage. It’s a very dark romance. And by romance I mean erotica. And by erotica I mean this is the dictionary entry for sadomasochism. I’m not kink shaming though! I like reading rough romance as much as the next smut addict. At one point, though, it’s taken a too far and becomes very dubious/non-consenual and the FMC, Sawyer, legitimately fears for her life. Enzo was getting revenge for identity theft so I sort of let it slide. (Yikes, I know). Eventually he apologizes and govels and tries to work for her forgiveness. However, at one point he wants to help her get over the trauma of said dubious consent experience and instead of building trust, he forces her into a similarly traumatizing situation and has her life at his mercy while he’s railing her. Not to mention, this second sexual encounter is right after both of them were threatened at the end of a shotgun. I kinda don’t think anyone would be in the mood for sex after their lives are threatened. The conclusion of the story just doesn’t make much sense. There’s too many plot holes for it to have worked out so perfectly. It’s garbage. I probably should have DNFed at 30% but I needed Troy Duran to continue talking to me in Italian.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Child death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Torture, Sexual harassment, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Rape, Medical trauma, and Sexual violence

Minor: Suicide, Incest, Murder, and Police brutality

mznerdy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Torture, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Violence, Confinement, Grief, Incest, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Murder, and Rape

Moderate: Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood

samanthajore's review against another edition

0.5

What the fuvk did I just read? I actually read this because someone told me it was the worst book they read in 2023. I agree with their review of the book. 

Chapter 7 contains so many graphic things that uhhh maybe we shouldn't romanticize. We shouldn't make books about people falling in love with men who literally rape them??? I am very scared of this book. 

So glad it's the first read of the year so that I can only go up from here!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Torture, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual content

brhoades1029's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Physical abuse, Incest, Blood, Death, Murder, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

doahdancer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Stalking, Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Gore

Moderate: Murder, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts

katreads6's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

so good. i couldn’t put this book down. i have yet to read an HD Carlton book that i’m not in love with and wish was never ending. i went through all the emotions in this book! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cursing, Blood, Abandonment, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

poupimali's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

H.D. Carlton knows how to write a powerful and brave FMC with horrific history. Her MMC are also fascinating…
This book, the story of Sawyer and Enzo’s story is definitely one of my favorites of this year.
It is spicy (really really really), dark and also very tense.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Rape and Child abuse

lindseygcarden's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child death, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship