Saved By Her (Monster #1) by Michelle Horst *GIVEAWAY, ARC REVIEW, BLOG TOUR*

Title: SAVED BY HER, A Monster Novel

Author: Michelle Horst

Genre: Dark Romance

Release Date: November 2, 2015

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Blurb

Jack

I F**K.

That’s all I do, all I’m good for.

People pay thousands just to have a taste of me.

It’s the only life I’ve ever known.

…until her.

 

River

I work.

That’s all I do, it’s my safe zone.

I get paid well because I’m good at my job.

It’s the only place I feel in control.

…until him.

  Authors Note and WARNING: Monster is a work of fiction intended for adult readers above 18. It contains dark and sensitive subject matter that may make readers uncomfortable. Contains explicit language and descriptions of sexual situations.  

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Excerpt

Jack~ Every part of my body throbs with an aching pain. It hurts so much that I can’t sleep. I don’t dare put on any of the clothes Master and Mistress Ryland brought earlier in the evening, it will hurt my raw skin too much. Sophia managed to put on a light dress. She’s currently sitting on the side of the bed, staring at me. She tilts her head, thinking hard on something. Growing up with Sophia, I know everything about her. I know she’s lost much more of herself over the years than I have, and that’s saying a lot, seeing as there’s nothing left of me. I wait, knowing she’s about to speak her mind. She brings her feet up onto the mattress and folds her arms around her shins, resting her chin on her knees. She keeps her eyes on something outside the window, when she says, “It feels different here. Master and Mistress Ryland seem nice.” She looks at me and smiles. I don’t know how she manages to smile. I just want to die! “I think we’ll be happy here.” I turn my back to her and grumble, “In order to be happy I actually have to care about life.” I’m done caring. I cared about David and those feeling were used to control me. Caring for someone only makes you vulnerable. I’ll never place myself in such a position again. I hear someone come into the room and I don’t even bother to see who it is. Something is placed on the table between the two beds and then a soft voice says, “What’s this I hear of you wasting my soup, Son.” I glance over my shoulder, but the movement only causes me pain. I watch as an elderly lady pulls a chair closer to the bed I’m on. “My mama always said; waste not, want not,” she goes on talking. Her eyes are a vibrant blue and her hair grey with a purple tinge to it. “Now I’ve brought you another bowl of soup and you’ll eat every last drop. I’ve also brought you some pills for the pain.” The painkillers get my attention. I struggle into a sitting position, my eyes never leaving the woman. Trust no one and expect anything. “I’m Miss Ella and that’s what you’ll call me. Don’t even try to call me Miss E, I’m nobody’s missy. My mama gave me the name Ella and I expect you to use it.” She scoops a bit of soup up and then blows on the broth before she brings it to my lips. The action reminds me of Momma. She used to do that too, so I wouldn’t burn my mouth. I take a few bites before Miss Ella asks, “What’s your name, Son?” I don’t answer her. I don’t want to be here and I don’t want to get friendly with anyone. Sophia clears her throat, “His name is Jack.” Miss Ella smiles at Sophia. “Thank you, dear, and you are?” “I’m Sophia.” Miss Ella feeds me until the bowl is empty and my stomach full. I want to cry with relief when she places the painkillers in my mouth. I quickly swallow them down with some water. “My room is the one right by the stairs. If the pain gets to be too much come wake me.” She gathers the dishes and then gives me and Sophia each a pointed look. “You need to eat all your food so your bodies can heal. There’s a lot of work to be done. Everyone works here to earn their keep.” An icy ripple spreads down my spine. Miss Ella looks at Sophia. “As soon as you’re up to it you can help me in the kitchen.” And then she looks at me. “River says you’ve been born with a green thumb. That’s a good thing because no one around here likes to garden, and I’m too old to be playing with flowers. We can do with some color around here, so as soon as you’re better you can fix the gardens up nicely.” She looks pleased with herself. “Now get a good night’s rest and I’ll see you in the morning.” I can go on gardening here? Miss Ella said nothing about sex. Come to think of it neither did Mistress and Master Ryland. That doesn’t mean anything! As soon as we’re better they’ll put us 
to work. After all, Miss Ella said we have to earn our keep.

   

About Michelle Hort

Michelle Horst is thirty seven years old and is from South Africa. She's been in love with reading from an early age. She has a passion for all things books, but she has an ultimate soft spot for nature and animals. She first tried her hand at writing in early 2009 and as the first words started to form into a book, she knew she was hooked. Dreams spilled onto pages, and that was the beginning of a wonderful journey. One filled with joy. One filled with passion and heart stopping moments. But most of all, it's filled with such pride and peace as a story comes to life, and characters fill your life, living in the very walls of your mind, living in the minds of your readers. There is nothing as satisfying as that. Thank you for each and every story you share with me.  

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Giveaway

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3 Stars

When I first read his blurb, I thought up so many different stories. To my delight, slavery was my first thought, and I hit the nail on it's head. So to say my excitement was bubbling over, would be an understatement.

We're given a more than epic and brutal start to this work of fiction (which we all know is so real in many places). Jack at eight years old, understands what it is to love, lose and hurt. His mother, a slave herself, was sold and then murdered by her master. Seeing his step-father - the ring leader and proprietor of this business - so nonchalantly dispose of his mother's body, became the start of his future pain and suffering. Remembering her final and pleading words.

Promise ... me, Jack, she whispers

Anything, Momma," I say quickly

Promise...you'll...look...after...David 

I promise, Momma, I'll look after David. 

These were the words that transcended his slavery, until he was a young man of twenty-seven. Seeing and preforming more than any one person had seen in their lives. Jack is the prized possession of his step-father's business. Working as a sex slave for a depraved society, lined with heavy pockets, and carnal and sadistic ways. Men and women alike, come hither to a secret 'club', where all their baser needs are re-enacted for a price. 

Jack has chosen to obey, never escaping, only ever thinking about his baby brother, David. Ensuring David's safety became Jack's mission. Once David was safe, once he didn't become a slave, Jack would die protecting him. This was the heavy noose that his step-father held over his head. Disobey and David would feel the wrath, that Jack has been subjected to for more than a decade.

As the story progresses we see and read some extremely sadistic scenes, that takes our minds on a roller-coaster ride of emotional turmoil. Your stomachs will roil with anger, displeasure, and pure euphoria.

The very person that Jack was protecting became the one person that soon became his undoing. Realizing and seeing for himself exactly what and who David has become. Shakes Jack to the core. Anger, hatred, disgust, and heartache like no other. He failed his brother, his mother, and himself.

David is a MONSTER. 

I failed David, my heart mourns because David is just like them. 

 I tried to protect him from becoming a slave and instead he became a MONSTER. 

Jack's saving grace, River, his angel, came in the form of a rich heiress. A young woman looking for redemption, from the sins of her father. Surviving at the hands of her own father's brutality, living in fear of being sold as a child. River has grown up with a tantamount of guilt. Suffering the unknown, after her own mother was sold. Searching for peace, River starts a Sanctuary. A safe haven for the sexually abused. Slaves alike. A place they can call home - to heal and live free.

Working under a cover, River infiltrates the sex ring.  Setting her sights on Jack, River can only imagine the brutality and savagery that Jack has been compelled to over the years. Seeing first hand, what he has to endure with a certain sadistic couple. River steels herself towards saving Jack.

As a GR friend of mine (Amanda) rightly said, Jack's character was endearing in his naivety. I thought the author portrayed Jack aptly.  I had issues with his transition into 'manhood' so to speak. It was like a switch was flipped.  River's character though. I'm not to sure about it. I can't really say I liked her at all. The connection was non existent for me.  Overall, I felt a high and then, it decreased rapidly. I actually expected a darker and grittier read. This story became anti-climatic for me after Jack escaped his slavery.

*ARC provided by LBTSP on behalf of the author for an honest review* Thanks!!