Oh, I really loved Marcus’ and Eve’s story. I was hooked from the beginning to end. He is obsessed with her and devises a way to meet her. Their mutual attraction is fiery hot! There are so many twists and turns in their path but, their love never wavers. This is an intense, dark, steamy, exciting adventure. I loved it. *this honest, voluntary review is based on a complimentary copy via NetGalley*

This was a quick read. Fans of possessive heroes might like this book. Marcus is pretty much a stalker at the beginning but ends up saving Eve's life when she's attacked. I liked the action in that scene and how protective Marcus was of her. Other than that I didn't find him at all likeable until the epilogue where he had calmed down considerably. I was surprised that Eve was such a doormat. She's financially independent and successful at her job, she survived a rough childhood and put herself through college. Eve's personality is really flat. She didn't have any spark to her and she meekly went along with everything that Marcus said or demanded. She grew on me by the end though as she had to show a lot of courage in some of the final scenes.
The ending of the book is action-packed and exciting. Eve and Marcus made a nice couple by the epilogue and there were a few characters I'd like to see more of. Jorge being one and Major being the other. I hope there's going to be a series involving Major's security firm.

I fully went into this book expecting this to be the start of another trilogy and being left hanging off the precipice, but for a change this is a complete book. So loose ends are tied.
This is a story of betrayal, power, money, revenge, sex and finding where you belong and who connects you. Two people from different worlds collide. Protection and passion forge strong bond. And their love of reading is so endearing as it can truly save you from reality that is hard to handle. I hope you enjoy the fast paced story of Marcus Rey and Eve Banner.

Any book by Lisa Marie Rice is a reading pleasure and it’s been a long while since I get to read her again. Although I keep visiting her Midnight series multiple times - chicken soup for the soul!

Eve Banner just doesn’t know it, but she is definitely “Taken”by Marcus Rey. It’s just a small matter of Marcus letting Eve become aware of this fact, who happens to own his heart and soul. And of course considering that Marcus came from nothing and now is a billionaire running all things legitimate, he’s sure to have made some enemies and Eve gets into the crosshairs of this very evil instigated by her father.

I really liked the characters Eve and Marcus, but what I missed was the development of their relationship. There is charisma, but lacked the fire that I always find between the pages of Lisa Marie’s books. I missed the chemistry of building a relationship between Eve and Marcus. The ending was a welcome twist, but that begged the question as to why the story not happen in the shadows incognito. I would have loved to see their relationship growing, getting to know each other, fall in love, get in each other’s lives, and the whole nine yards.

It’s worth a read, but I’m not “Taken” as I am with the Midnight series.

Received an ARC from the author via NetGalley for an honest review.

––Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC of this title. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.––

2.5/5 stars

I think this book had the opportunity to be great but skipped over all of the important moments that would've made it memorable.

"Taken" follows Eve, a successful woman in love with books and featured on a famous podcast. She is also the daughter of a lazy man with a lot of debts. Enter Marcus, a wealthy businessman who has spent long years taking his rags-to-riches story into the legal side of the business. Eve's podcast has brought him out of a dark place, and he has paid to own her father's debt in order to have the woman he wants. However, Marcus is a patient and respectful man who is willing to wait for Eve to come to him.

After meeting Eve at her father's home, Marcus attends her event in a dangerous neighborhood later that night. As she walks to her car in the rain several blocks away, Eve is apprehended by a group of belligerent men who intend to rape her. Just as things are about to become even worse, Marcus jumps in and saves her from the four men. He takes Eve back to her apartment and nurses her to health, earning her trust and beginning their relationship.

This romance sounds taboo, dangerous, and sexy, but fell short of its potential. I struggled to connect with Marcus and Eve, especially the relationship between the two of them. I understood their attraction, but we never really had a chance to see love bloom between them. I didn't like that Marcus urged her to be with him so quickly after the traumatic event, which made him far too reliant on him.

We all skipped over much of their hideaway together, which is where we could've seen them fall in love. Instead, we jumped weeks in advance and were supposed to assume they fell in love even though we couldn't see it. A similar thing happened at the end when a traumatic event happened and the fallout was jumped over, immediately going to the resolution years later. I almost felt like this book could've been divided into a duology where we (1) get to see them fall in love and (2) get to see them become safe from the dangers that threaten their lives.

In the end, this book just didn't wow me. The spice was good, but not amazing. It was another average romance that I'll soon forget.

LMR does it again! This book is absolutely smoking hot! I fell in love with her writing in "Midnight Man" and have been a fan ever since. If you love alpha males and the women who love them, this is your author! Taken left some questions and I feel sure it will segue into a new series and I will be there for it!

A storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat and glued to your Kindle, it is brilliantly written with just enough steam to keep you turning the pages.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There is a fine line between obsession and love. Who can say where one ends, and the other be begins? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Never kick a proud man when he is down, he just might turn into a junkyard dog. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink or you can lay the world at the feet of a woman, but you can't make her have sex with you. These are just a few of the cliches at play in "Taken". This tale of a self-made man and the woman who has caught his attention is just delicious as only Lisa Marie Rice can write it.

Eve Banner has had a rough life. Born into the lap of luxury, she is dumped into the gutter at the age of 10 and has been fending for herself ever since and taking care of her depressed mother also. Books have been her lifeline and she is the host of a very successful pod cast with millions of listeners and viewers. She is the essence of innate refined elegance, it just oozes from her pores, something money just can't buy.

Eve has attracted the attention of a very mysterious, wealthy man with dangerous enemies. Marcus Rey started his climb to respectability from the streets. Now he has wealth, power but he wants Eve. He caught her pod cast at a low point and was intrigued and fascinated by her. His plan to meet her set in motion a life threatening situation for Eve.

Eve is intrigued by Marcus and immediately attracted to his dark, powerful strength. When he saves her from an attack she is enthralled by the man and the mystery, even if being with him puts her life in danger.

4 Stars! If you’re looking for a book that is entertaining with plenty of ‘sexy times’ and nearly love at first sight, this is your book! It may be a bit unrealistic but it was a very entertaining read nonetheless. If only a gorgeous, ripped, multimillionaire, tough gangster, with an awesome underground liar, and who is great in bed would become semi-obsessed & fall in love with me! Ah, alas… my life has never been that lucky. The ending was perfect and gave me goosebumps. Only question I still have is - whatever happened to Eve’s a-hole of a Dad? Hopefully he suffered.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

hi! thank you so much for giving me the chance to read an early copy of this book. although i didn’t enjoy it as much as i had hoped i am very thankful. my full review is on goodreads in the link

If you want a sizzling romance suspense book, Lisa Marie Rice is a reliable "to go" author. The stories and the characters have actually much depth, are believable and very likable. The sex scenes are hot but not trashy.

Marcus and Eve's journey is therefore a great one. Once again LMR delivers in this genre! :)

❤️❤️❤️1/2 r-up
💋💋

Never read this author before and I was very much looking forward to it, the description seemed to fit what I was after.

The characters were good, I very much enjoyed the dynamics between the two main characters and her disreputable father.
Some great chemistry going on there too.

My one downer was it felt very wordy in parts and a little rushed in others, it’s possible this was just from not being use to the authors style, but it took away from my overall experience and enjoyment.
I hope to read more from them in the future.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

TAKEN is a little on the short side, really novella length. It’s classic Lisa Marie Rice, though, and I’ll take what I can get. Marcus is the patent broody, possessive hero, and Eve is a heroine who finds her strength. May not be everyones taste but is recommended to all LMR fans.

This is a hot little read! Marcus is a an anti-hero. He sees the heroine in an interview and falls instantly for her, that puts him on the path devising a way to meet her. He's lived a very private life, due to his dangerous past, so he knows he can't keep Eve. That won't stop him from getting what time he could have with her and he will do anything to get it.

I just love the heroes who are a bit darker, a bit dangerous, and are willing to do anything for the women they fall for. He's holding back trying not to scare her, but he's not really holding back. Luckily Eve likes that side of him.

Eve is that heroine who has been wronged by her own father, dealt with trauma with her mother, and comes out of the situation with compassion and kindness. She's exactly what Marcus needs in his life.

I spent most of this booking trying to guess how Marcus was going to end up keeping Eve when the odds were against them. I enjoyed these two and now I'm curious if the Major (side character) happens to have his own book from this author. If not, he needs one!

I liked the intense interactions between Marcus and Eve. This book had everything a reader looks for of this genre; romance, passion, suspense, danger. It was beautifully written and a page turner from the start.
If you like Lisa Marie Rice then this book will offer you some familiar ground and yet adds an interesting twist.

The story starts off with a moment of sadness and interest. The hope for this story to move quickly into the reason why seem to fall flat as the story drags alone and everything is about sex and controlling her to keep her safe. The characters are ok and at times fall flat. The story does pick up off and on though the story but not enough to keep reader interest long enough to finish the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advance Copy of Lisa Marie Rice Taken
3 stars

Gosh I really enjoy this authors books, they are always thrilling. She had me from the start when Marcus demanded Eve from horrible father. The two of them from the start are combustible and their story is starts off with a bang and continues until the vary end.

I was sucked in at the very beginning - he wants her as payment. Then her dad shows his true colors.
What a you know what!
That same day she’s almost raped and killed…
This is as far as my interest carried me. I lost interested and never could get back into this one. Sadly.

Whew! This was one hot and fiery read!!! Totally nuclear!!!

Marcus is the type of hero that I crave. He’s obsessed with Eve and has totally gone a bit stalkerish on her. However, he restrains his desires until life takes a drastic turn and Eve is in need of protection. Of course, that’s my jam because Marcus is all about protecting her. I was swooning from the depth of emotion he felt as their relationship develops and then moves on into something more concrete. With his broken background and an uncertain future, I was a complete goner for him.

Eve was sweet, gentle, a bit innocent…in the beginning. Despite needing to be rescued, and not due to her own misjudgement, she grows stronger through each stage of their story. Watching her reach the final pinnacle of it all was amazing! I loved how far she had come and what she was capable of.

This couple’s chemistry is like an inferno! They absolutely set the pages of my kindle on fire and I found myself dry mouthed during the steamy scenes. While their relationship develops, things are fraught with danger and high drama causing my nerves to frazzle as the storyline plays out. I was totally engaged with what was happening and how this couple were going to find their happily ever after.

I loved everything about this, but the epilogue pushed me into pure joy.

Like in many of this author’s books, Taken, was an intense and action-packed romantic suspense story with characters who have such scorching chemistry that it almost singes the pages. Marcus Rey has had his eye on Eve Banner for a while now and has been biding his time to finally make her his. What may have started as a devious plan on Marcus’ part, quickly becomes a life and death situation for both of them. As they hide away until the enemy is eliminated, they are finally able to succumb to that combustible chemistry. But more danger awaited them. Their story definitely kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end.

I definitely went through a wide range of emotions reading their story. There were horrifying moments, nail-biting moments, steamy and spicy moments, and really heart-pounding moments that really showcased the connection these two had forged. I really loved how both of them were able to show the strength of their love for each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Oliver Heber books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.