Review - Epilogue: The Dark Duet (#2.5) by CJ Roberts - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Review – Epilogue: The Dark Duet (#2.5) by CJ Roberts

My Thoughts

Passionate, steamy and surprisingly introspective.

5stars

Synopsis

epilogue 1I’m writing this because you begged. You know how I love the begging. In fact, you probably know too many things and know them far too well.

Who am I?

Well, that’s what I’m trying to figure out. I was a whore in my youth, a killer since my adolescence, and a monster as a man. I am the man who kidnapped Livvie. I am the man who held her in a dark room for weeks. But, most importantly, I am the man she loves.

She loves me. It’s quite sick, isn’t it?

Of course, there’s more to our story than can be surmised in a few short sentences, but I’m at a loss for justifying my behavior back then. I assume if you’re reading this, I don’t need to make those justifications. You’ve already made your own.

You’re reading this because you want to know about the rest of the story. You want to know what happened that warm summer night in September of 2010, the night I met Livvie at The Paseo. It was the night my life changed all over again.

It didn’t happen exactly as Livvie said. She’s been very kind to me in the retelling of our story. The truth is far more…complicated.

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Do not read on if you have not read Captive In The Dark and Seduced In The Dark.
This is a spoiler-free review.

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My Review

Did you think… How in the world is CJ going to do this? After the intensity of the first two books, how will she possibly keep us captive in this story? Can she do it?

I gotta tell you, I wondered too. But I assure you, the answer is a resounding HELL YES!!!

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Gulp. Double gulp.

This book is brimming, oozing, overflowing emotion. All feeling, thought and reflection. It’s told entirely through Caleb’s point-of-view… which as you can imagine, is unfiltered, raw and riveting. Our Caleb loves Livvie, there’s no denying that, she’s everything to him. She’s been the one that has woken him up, broken the cycle and given him a second chance at life… a place to belong.

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After not seeing Livvie for a year though, Livvie is pissed. She can’t believe he left her. The past year has taken an emotional toll and as happy as she is to see him, she’s conflicted. Caleb, on the other hand, has other things on his mind.

“I wanted to push her up against the door, rip off her panties, and ram myself into her, but I suspected she wouldn’t appreciate it as much as I would.”

Questions need to be answered, and certainly a long talk is overdue between them. But the more time they spend together, the more questions come up for Caleb himself. Who is he now? He has a second chance at life, but what does that really mean?

“What does a former kidnapper/murderer do in retirement?”

Caleb spends a large part of the story searching to answer this question. He can’t simply discard the part of himself that craves control, submission… the side that enjoys blurring the line between pleasure and pain. For better or for worse, his past experiences have made him determinately who he is and despite his desire to evolve into someone better, that darker side cannot vanish. It’s what makes Caleb, irrevocably Caleb.

“I’m in the process of becoming something else, Livvie. I hope it’s something good, something far removed from the monster you knew.”

Both of them have demons to fight, past hurt and experiences to reconcile. While reading I actually found myself wondering if they could actually do it. Their relationship is so incredibly complicated and gray. It’s as if so many elements need to align for it to be right, for their destiny as a couple to be possible. I felt so very much for Caleb in this story. Maybe it’s understanding his thoughts that made me empathize with everything that he was going through. Between his insecurities and his haunting nightmares and memories, his heart and and mind were abashed by attempts to reconcile who he was and who he wants to be.

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But thankfully, I was so glad to see that CJ didn’t abate who Caleb was as a character – full of piss and vinegar, raw, gritty and relentlessly craving control.

“I wanted a fight. I needed a fight. I was sick and tired of playing nice. I AM NOT NICE!”

I’ve mainly discussed Caleb in this review, but I have to say Livvie goes through a big evolution too. She’s spent the last year trying to figure out who she is as well, and with Caleb at her side again, what makes her happy. Her kidnapping had an undeniable and permanent impact on her life, her sexual tendencies and the ways she feels about Caleb. But I love Livvie. I love that she is strong, unflinching and now noticeably confident.

One other element you won’t find lacking in this book is the steaminess! Holy hotness!!! In typical, Caleb and Livvie fashion, their sexual chemistry sets the pages ablaze! And yes, Caleb tries to solve everything with sex, but as a reader, I didn’t mind one bit. 🙂

“I needed to be inside of her. I needed my tongue in her mouth and my cock in her body like I needed my next breath.”

Overall, I have to say Epilogue was a perfect ending to what was for me, a very crazy ride. I recall thinking of how I felt after reading the first book, Captive In The DarkI was so confused… I couldn’t believe I liked it… wait, no, I LOVED it!!! Am I okay if I love it? And now, I can’t believe my time with these flawed, intense and complex characters that I grew to love has come to an end. This is a phenomenal, unforgettable series! I assure you, you will love reading Epilogue, and what I discussed in this review is just scratching the surface of what you’ll read and feel as you experience the last chapter in the seductive and enthralling story of Caleb and Livvie.

GOODREADS2Epilogue: The Dark Duet (#2.5)Kindle
Seduced In The Dark (#2) – Buy for Kindle / Nook / My review
Captive In The Dark (#1) – Buy for Kindle / Nook / My review

Reading Order

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About CJ

cjCJ Roberts is an independent writer. She favors dark and erotic stories with taboo twists and her work has been called both sexy and disturbing in the same sentence.
She was born and raised in Southern California. Following high school, she joined the U.S. Air Force in 1998, served ten years and traveled the world. Her favorite part of traveling is seeking out the seedy underbelly of the city.

She is married to an amazing and talented man who never stops impressing her; they have one beautiful daughter.

Her novels in The Dark Duet series include Captive in the Dark (#1), Seduced in the Dark (#2) and Epilogue: The Dark Duet (#2.5).

She writes short stories under the name Jennifer Roberts.

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7 Comments:


  1. glam009 said:

    Thanks for this amazing giveaway!!!

    Reply

  2. helpmerhonda72 said:

    Great review!! I’m not entering, (teehee) just stopped by to show my support! You rock chica!!

    Reply

  3. Ana said:

    I can’t wait!!!!

    Reply

  4. Caitlin said:

    Vilma!! This is an amazing review!!! I just love it and I cant wait to read this one!!! These books are so full of passion and emotion and I am looking forward in getting lost in Caleb and Livvies story 🙂

    Reply

  5. Lela said:

    Thank’s for the Giveaway, would love to win and have my own paperback signed by CJ, i love this series an love Caleb & Livvie!

    Reply

  6. Maria Malaveci said:

    Thanks so much for the giveaway. These are my absolute favorite books ever, and I have anxiously been awaiting Epilogue. I can’t wait! I would be so excited to win!

    Reply

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