Stolen Lust by Charmaine Pauls

Stolen Lust is the first book in the Beauty in the Stolen trilogy by Charmaine Pauls and it was unexpected and brilliant. I went in without any expectations and it blew my mind and heart. I fell for the infamous criminal, thief, and kidnapper: Ian Hart. This complex, charismatic, and dangerous character captivated me from start to finish. I can't talk about Ian without mentioning Cassandra Joubert, also known as Cas. Like most of Pauls' past heroines, Cas is vulnerable, headstrong, independent, and passionate. She is Ian's perfect match but their relationship was always doomed from the start. How can love blossom in a relationship that is built on fear and danger? As always, the author excels at this trope and will have you rooting for Cas and Ian—despite the circumstances.

"She was was everything I've ever considered beautiful, too good to be true. I wanted her, all of her, to touch and smell and taste every inch of her skin."

The story begins with Cas on a date gone horribly wrong and made much worse when she is kidnapped and held hostage by a mysterious stranger. The one night she spends with Ian Hart will change her life irrevocably. Cas and Ian's relationship is incredibly complicated but full of passion and lust. Ian is obsessed with Cas and she can't help but return her attraction. Both characters had amazing chemistry with each other and the love scenes were sensual and erotic. The dual perspective by Ian and Cas was excellent at drawing out the tension, angst, longing, and inner turmoil between the two.

"The blackness of my life isn't a color. It's just a canvas for the color she makes as she gives me her tongue and kisses me back."

In the end, I absolutely can't wait to read Stolen Life because the book ends with an intense and dramatic cliffhanger that will change the course of the story as well as the paths of its characters. Zoe and Damian were referenced in this book and I hope there will be a reunion of the siblings by the end of this trilogy. We're also introduced to Leon Hart who I'm sure will get his own spinoff later on. Fans of Charmaine Paul will absolutely LOVE this book because the story has a similar formula to her past series including Dubious Consent and Diamonds are Forever. If you love dark romance with a complex, charming, and charismatic anti-hero who loves passionately and will never let the heroine leave him, then this is the book for you!

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★★