Taken Series by Kelli Maine (Taken, No Takebacks, Taken by Storm)

FIRST TIME IN PRINT! Includes NEW prologue!

ABDUCTION

He steals her away to a deserted island, to the one place she's dreamed of being-the one place she can't go. He's used to buying whatever he wants, but he can't buy her.

SEDUCTION

How can she resist the magnetism of his body, the longing ache deep inside her? She wants him to take her-on her terms.

DESPERATION

Every attempt he makes to love her only hurts her. How can they go on like this? This is the story of how she was . . .

TAKEN

REVIEW For Taken by Kelli Maine, Book 1 of series

Review by: Wendy

3 stars

Rachael DeSalvo is out a club with her best friend. Her friend leaves with a guy leaving Rachael at the club. Rachael notices a hot guy checking her out, and lets him buy her a drink. The next thing Rachael knows is she is bound to a bed, she has been drugged and kidnapped.
Merrick Rocha is a billionaire CEO. In a desperate move decides the only way to get Rachael to accept a job as a Restoration Project Manager for Turtle Tear Hotel/island is to kidnap her and take her to the island, so she can see it for herself. He believes she is the only person for it and him. Poor choice on his part.
Rachael can't leave her mother, who is emotionally dependent after the death of her father, her roommate/BFF, and her internship. She feels she is needed more at home, and heartbreakingly declines the job she wants at Turtle Tree hotel.
So, Merrick takes matters into his hands and believes if her can get her to the island she will fall in love and choose it over her obligations. He soon realizes his mistake in handling things in this way, and tells Rachael he will not touch her, she will have to make the first move, if she so wishes.
First let me say, this book was a little difficult to get started on. It is written in the second person, which is told from Rachael's perspective as if she were speaking to Merrick. So instead of words like "him" or "he" she says "you" or "your." I personally do not think I have ever read a fiction book from this perspective. This made the first part of the book difficult to get into. I did not notice it as much in the later half of the book as I got more into the story.
The storyline was interesting and was an interesting take on a version of Stockholm Syndrome. There was some definite sexual tension and weird blurred lines that were, in my opinion, crossed. I didn't understand some of Merrick's decisions, but I guess his decision making skills were out the window in the prologue.
Over all I liked the book, but I do wish it had been written in a different POV, I think the second person POV really distracted from the story.

HIS PAST MAY DESTROY THEIR FUTUREThe man Rachael DeSalvo loves more than anything is suffering in silence. The grand opening of Turtle Tear Resort should be a time of celebration for Merrick Rocha. But he's suddenly intent on selling off the business he built from the ground up-and Rachael's hell-bent on finding out why. Only one man can give her the answers she seeks, but meeting with him would be the ultimate betrayal to Merrick. Merrick once asked Rachael to trust him against all odds . . . can he do the same?

 

REVIEW For No TakeBacks by Kelli Maine, Book 2 of series

Review by: Wendy

4.stars

This is a short novella that continues the story of Rachael DeSalvo & Merrick Rocha. In this novella, Rachael & Merrick have finally finished the restoration of Turtle Tear Hotel/Island resort. They have invited both their families and friends. There is some family tension and some new relationships. There are a lot of hot little scenes in this novella and a cliffhanger that will lead into the next book. This story is again told in second person, like the first book, but I think this one was a little easier to read.

 

DECEPTIONMaddie Simcoe knows the devastation that comes from keeping secrets. Now, she's desperate to move on from the heartbreak that almost destroyed her -- trading wild passion that once made her knees weak for a life of comfortable stability. But before Maddie can start over, she must return home to put the past behind her once and for all...

PASSION

When Maddie blows back into MJ Rocha's life, nothing will stop him from proving to her that walking away from him was the biggest mistake of her life -- not even the engagement ring she wears. Her every look, every touch tells MJ that the fire that once raged between them still burns hot, and MJ won't give up until Maddie gives in to the inferno.

REDEMPTION

Trapped by a hurricane roaring through Turtle Tear Island, MJ and Maddie find shelter in each others' arms. While the lightning flashes, MJ and Maddie are helpless to fight bonds of desire that tie them together. But just as they're about to surrender to the torturous longing that consumes them both, the storm unleashes violent secrets from MJ's past...secrets that could wash away all MJ and Maddie's hopes of forever...

TAKEN BY STORM

REVIEW For Taken By Storm by Kelli Maine, Book 3 of series

Review by: Wendy

4.5 stars

Taken by Storm is the third installment in the Taken Series. While the story is a continuation of No Take Backs, I think it could be a stand alone book.

MJ (Merrick Jr) was hidden his entire life in boarding schools by Merrick's father "The Old man". Merrick doesn't know MJ exists. Merrick Jr. Thinks his father has found out about him and doesn't want anything to do with him. He has dreamed of the day his Dad found out about him and is crushed.

Maddie was MJ's best friend growing up, and after high-school they become more than friends. After the best 3 months of MJ's life, Maddie disappears from MJ's life with no explanation.

Two years later Maddie shows up with an engagement ring from her current boyfriend, and a decision to make.

I really enjoyed this installment of the series. It flowed well and I really wanted to know what family secret Maddie had that made her run from the love of her life. There was drama, lies, secrets, twists and turns. MJ is very much a younger version of his dad with his impulsive actions and obsession of the only girl for him.

This story is told from MJ's and Maddie's perspective, from the past and present, and we find where the other characters from the previous books are . In my opinion this has been the best book in the series and I look forward to the next installment.

My Only Issue with the book was whether Merrick knew the mother was dead. In book one he had told Rachael that he didn’t even know her last name and didn’t know what ever happened to her. In this book it is presented that he did know the mother had died in child birth along with the baby. Maybe I missed something, but this part of the story confused me.

AUTHOR BIO:

USA Today Bestselling author, Kelli Maine, spends humid summers and frigid winters in Ohio glued to her laptop keyboard. Taken, a USA Today Bestseller, Nook Bestseller and Indie Reader Top Ten Bestseller, is the first in the Give and Take series and Kelli's debut erotic romance. No Take Backs: A Taken Novella is Taken's follow up. Taken By Storm is next in the series, followed by Take Me Back and Given. Additional books and novellas are planned for the series.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taken-by-storm-kelli-maine/1113184487?ean=9781455599004
http://www.amazon.com/Taken-Storm-Give-Take-ebook/dp/B00BAXG2IK/ref=la_B008XK2BC4_1_1_title_0_main?ie=UTF8&qid=1368316131&sr=1-1