In His Arms Book Review *Tina Donahue*

Over ten years ago, when Summer Parrish was only fifteen years old, she was kidnapped off the street, practically in front of her house, and sold into sexual slavery. She now works for a thug named Anthony, who will punish her painfully if she doesn't do what he wants. She has no choice but to whore herself out to high profile men who only care for their own pleasure. Summer is truly all alone. She can never go back to being Lori Clayton, the young girl whose biggest concern was the bad crush she once had on her nineteen-year-old neighbor across the street. Her only purpose in life is to be a sex doll and hope that when she grows too old, Anthony won't put a bullet in her head because he thinks she's no longer useful to him.

Summer is waiting anxiously in a penthouse suite for the next man she must spend the night with. She is watched like a hawk by one of Anthony's men, who doesn't even leave the room when she servicing a client. This client was responsible for saving Anthony's life recently. He's RJ, an ex-convict, and Anthony's newest recruit. As a thank you, Anthony has given Summer to RJ to use as he sees fit. Summer has no choice but to now obey RJ, much like she has done with Anthony. But RJ treats her with respect and wants her to trust him and enjoy the sex they have. As soon as RJ pulls Summer into his arms, she's lost by the intense pleasure he gives her without asking for anything in return. But the few hours where she can forget the horrors that surround her is not enough. She still belongs to Anthony and must pretend that she loves only him and treat RJ with polite reserve. RJ doesn't want Summer's willingness to share his bed because she's being forced to. He wants her to rely on him, to put her full trust in him and only him. RJ has big plans concerning Summer, that may get him killed and also kill Summer in the process.

In His Arms is an emotional and masterful story dealing with a wide array of disturbing topics. We have sex trafficking, prostitution, Stockholm Syndrome, child abuse, and the dangerous underworld of crime run by a true psychopath, who with one blink will kill someone just because he doesn’t like them. This was a tough story to read, but Tina Donahue handles the subject matter in such a way that you can't help but be amazed. I've read most of Tina's backlist, and I can say without a doubt, this is her best work yet.

The depth and emotional intensity within these pages regarding Summer and RJ is fierce and moving. Everyone has an agenda. Summer's is to keep alive and safe. RJ's is simpler, but what he plans to do with Summer is the big reveal of the story, as well as something major that Summer is hiding from RJ. He wants to be her knight in shining armor, but Summer refuses. She's been programmed to believe that she has no reason for being other than to be Anthony's property. This is a woman who is near the breaking point, and until RJ enters the picture, she was falling into a life of constant degradation and hopelessness.

RJ and Summer's love scenes are very erotic and emotional. RJ tries to reach the depths of Summer's very soul with hot and overpowering sex. No sexual position is off limits between these two and they are smoldering. Even with the sense of danger and impending doom surrounding them, they still tap into their desire for one another, knowing each time they are together it could possibly be their last.

At one point I had to stop reading and take a few deeps breaths because something happens more than half way through that shook me deeply, much like it did with Summer.

In His Arms is at times dark and raw. Tina has delivered a story that not many authors, especially those who write romance, would think of writing. I applaud her for writing a story like In His Arms that's haunting and heartbreaking. This is one e-book I recommend everyone download. (Available from Ellora's Cave)

Final Grade: B+

A few other In His Arms reviews:
Book Junkie
Novel Thoughts