TrappedRating: 3.25 stars
Buy Link:
Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel


For Sam, time is running out. Almost from the moment he joined Dante’s whorehouse, he’s been the target of Dante’s perverse lieutenant, Mosley. And Mosley’s attentions have become decidedly more violent in recent months. If he doesn’t get out soon, Sam knows he won’t be leaving alive. When he becomes the regular of a wealthy young man, Sam finally sees a way to escape his situation.

After the death of his father and his sudden ascension to the earldom, Tristan has been adrift. He knows he has a duty to the title, but he’s lonely and lost. When he finds Sam, he discovers a measure of happiness. Despite the matter of money between them, Tristan comes to believe an honest attachment exists. And when he has the chance to save Sam, he doesn’t hesitate. But as the reality of their situation comes to a head and secrets begin to surface, Tristan and Sam will have to decide if what they have is love or just business.

Trapped was a quick read with lots of tender moments, but a somewhat uneven storyline. Tristan and Sam are both given some definition, though neither feels fully developed. There is enough between them to establish a convincing romance, albeit one that is occasionally prone to moments of melodrama. Tristan’s cousin Alfie, also serves as a nice intermediary and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get a book of his own. There is a serious and significant undertone to the book surrounding the rescue of child prostitutes. I felt like this wasn’t explored enough and, while given page time, there wasn’t enough depth for the importance of the topic. But I appreciate that it was broached at all.

The plot for Trapped tends to be a bit clumsy and often uneven. It’s quite predictable, but that can be said for many books so I don’t hold that against it. But the pacing is just as variable as the plot. The action is up and down and interspersed with conversation that adds to the story but fails to make it pop. There is an overall lagginess that tends to slow everything down. And every time Trapped seems poised to find its footing, it either fails to capitalize on it or ignores it altogether. When combined with characters that aren’t fully developed, it leaves Trapped feeling somewhat lackluster.

Overall Trapped is a sweet romance with a tolerable, if lumpy plot. The book could have done with a considerable amount of strengthening, but it was still quite enjoyable on a basic level. If you’re looking for something with a bit of angst and a bit of sweetness and don’t mind a somewhat shallow plot, then you might consider Trapped.

sue sig