Hold by Claire Kent Publisher: Self-Published on February 24, 2015
Genres: Erotica, Romance, Sci-Fi
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Find the strongest man there. Give yourself to him in return for protection. It’s the only way you’ll ever survive.
Convicted of a minor crime, Riana is sentenced to a prison planet—a dark primitive hold filled with convicts vying for power. Her only chance of survival is with Cain, a mysterious loner who has won his territory in the prison through intelligence and brute strength. Sex is all she has to offer, so she uses it. She’s under no delusions here. No one is ever released, and no one ever escapes. Survival is all she can hope for—until Cain.
An earlier version of this book was published under the same title and a different penname by Ellora’s Cave. It has since been substantially revised and expanded.
Book Excerpt
“Are you a whore?” Thorn asked blandly.
“No.” She was so surprised by the question that she managed to speak over the rancid texture in her mouth.
“Good. I don’t do whores, although they’re usually all we get down here. You have a good body, which is the only other thing I require in a woman. Two options.” His eyes—a very dark blue—narrowed as he explained, “Be my woman. Do what I tell you. I’ll keep you safe. Or, if you refuse, I’ll turn you over to the rest of them.”
He gestured back to “the rest of them.” Riana’s mind was in too great a blur to see distinct faces, but the rest of the prisoners seemed to be lurking just in the background, like a hungry pack of wolves.
“They’ll take turns using you until they’re bored. You won’t last the night.”
Riana knew his final words weren’t an exaggeration. It was possible some lesser alpha male might try to take her as his, but he probably wouldn’t be strong enough to keep her safe from the others for long.
“What’s your decision?” Thorn demanded, looking slightly annoyed at her hesitation.
This was the moment. The one that would decide her fate.
Common sense, social pressure, and nearly all the evidence told her to take Thorn up on his offer.
Let him fuck her. Let him keep her alive.
Riana glanced around the prison one more time, and her eyes landed on the barred cell of the loner whose name Davis hadn’t known. In the back of her mind, she’d noticed he’d stepped over to watch when she’d laid out the sleaze a minute ago.
Now he was standing silently, one hand resting loosely on a bar.
Her eyes met his for a few seconds, and she saw something there she hadn’t seen in anyone else’s here.
It wasn’t kindness or pity or mercy or anything soft.
She couldn’t really name what she’d seen, but it reminded her of independence.
She turned back to Thorn.
He was waiting, a smirk of pleased entitlement on his handsome face, as if he never doubted what her answer would be.
That did it. She ignored her reason and followed her instinct.
She turned on her heel and kicked out again, this time landing the blow right on Thorn’s hard, flat stomach.
He grunted and took a step backward, more in surprise than real pain.
It was a good kick, but there was no way she could outmaneuver him physically.
“I don’t want you or them,” Riana said loudly, turning her head to look back at the loner in his cell, giving him a significant gaze she could only hope he’d respond to.
A wash of rage transformed Thorn’s face, intensifying when other prisoners started to snicker a little.
Thorn advanced on her like a stalking animal. “We’ll go with the third alternative,” he gritted out. “I’ll take you first and then throw what’s left back to the rest of them.”
It wasn’t an idle threat. Riana knew he would act on it. She would be beaten and raped and then given to others who would do it to her again and again.
She looked back at the loner and felt a wave of absolute despair when she saw he’d turned his back. On her. On the rest of the prison.
He wasn’t going to respond after all.
Which meant there was absolutely no hope for her.
Giveaway
Win the ebook Hold. Open internationally. Ends March 10th.
Lekeisha
This looks like It’s good. That excerpt has me curious.
Jennifer Bielman
I am very excited about this book.
Jaclyn Canada
Definitely not my cup of tea, but I hope you win and enjoy the read 😀
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, this won’t be for everyone.
Caro @ The Book Rogue
Is it cheating if we enter each other’s giveaways?? Coz I so can’t wait for this either! ^^
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, I don’t think so. I am going to enter other giveaway!
kindlemom1
Thanks so much for sharing this, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Jennifer Bielman
Have a great weekend!
Melliane
Thanks for the nice excerpt, this book in new to me!
Jennifer Bielman
Happy you enjoyed the excerpt.
Benish
Wow, I really the premise of this one – I haven’t read a super dark read in months now, added this to my TBR – thanks for sharing 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
I love dark reads!!! So excited.
April
Excerpt has me intrigued! I want to read this book!!
Jennifer Bielman
Awesome!!! Thanks for stopping by.
kimbacaffeinate
Oh wow..now I want to know what the heck happened.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, right!!?? So nerve-wracking!
Stacey Brutger
This book looks great. Loved the excerpt.
I caved and bought it. 🙂
Thanks for pointing it out!
Jennifer Bielman
Happy you pointed it out.
Emily-Ann
This looks interesting, I don’t normally read Erotica, but this sounds most then that. >.< I'm going to recommend this to my best friend, she devourers these books like candy, lol.
Jennifer Bielman
I am so hoping to get a copy of this one myself!