REVIEW: Kidnapped by the Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden

Kidnapped by the Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden: Intent on revenge for the past seven years, Elijah has made himself col. No other focus except destroying the men that tortured and murdered his wife. Now, his plan has led to him kidnapping Violet, the daughter of the man he hated.

Except Violet isn’t at all what he expected. Unfeeling for years, he begins desiring her. Wanting her, wanting to protect her. And Violet, she stands up to him, and as they fight and she gets under his skin, she begins falling for him, too.
An unexpected attraction, but one neither can fight off for long.

A certainty he couldn’t remember feeling before settled down through him, and ignoring it seemed wrong.
No. He couldn’t let anything happen to her. He wouldn’t. He would find a way to make sure she stayed safe, and fuck whether that mattered or not. Because the fact was that it did.
She mattered. To him.
The thought sat in his head, and by rights he should have shoved it away since feeling anything at all for anyone wasn’t allowed. But he didn’t. He let it sit there, the dark hunger inside him rousing in response. Wanting. Wanting her.

I oddly enjoyed reading Kidnapped by the Billionaire, but it’s not a story that makes sense. I find it impossible to believe that Violet would fall for Elijah. Elijah being attracted, sure, since Violet was strong and surprising – if at times rash and stupid. But Elijah gave her nothing, plus he kidnapped her. I can’t really get past that because it’s a scary kidnapping. One with an end game that would only leave her harmed.

Yet, she falls in love. At least it happened quickly, two days and the kidnapping was essentially over and they were on more equal terms. What kept me drawn was seeing Elijah break down, eventually, and somewhat let Violet in. Also, it isn’t your usual “billionaire” read. I know I have expectations when I see that in the title, but his wealth had nothing to do with the story.

If you like the cold man the heroine has to thaw, I definitely recommend Ashenden’s newest. And you don’t need to read the previous novels in the series to understand.

Book Info:

Publication: March 1, 2016 | St. Martin’s Paperbacks | Nine circles #4

He kissed her the way he’d run her down, conquering her, taking her…

A priceless plan. An illicit attraction.
Seven years ago, billionaire-turned-bodyguard Elijah Hunt lost everything he had-his family, his future-and now he wants revenge. But when he decides to kidnap the daughter of the man who ruined his life, Elijah gets a lot more than he bargained for. Violet Fitzgerald is nothing like her corrupt wealthy father. In fact, she’s so disarmingly independent-and irresistible-that she just might be dangerous…

And a love that’s too good to be true.
Violet never thought she’d feel a connection to her captor. But there’s something beneath Elijah’s steel-bodied exterior that makes her want to know him more deeply…and surrender to his every demand. But once Elijah’s erotic fantasies become a reality-and he and Violet develop a real romantic connection-he finds himself in a quandary: Is he still the one in control? Or has Violet imprisoned him-body and soul?