Escape to You by Jennifer Ryan is a suspenseful story of kidnapping, torture, and salvation. Ashley was a famous actress who disappeared from the public (and private) eye with seemingly no trace! One evening, almost a year after her abduction, Ashley manages to escape and brings along a child who was held captive as well. Lost in the Montana wildness, she stumbles upon Beck Cooke's home. He takes her and the child in and promises to protect and help them. Ashley has been tortured and is battered and terrified.
Ashley and Andrew escape pretty early in the story so the focus isn't quite on the torture, which is good to know. Ashley is very scared by the time she reaches Beck's. Her struggle is not only what had happened to her, but how the public will perceive her. She fears they won't believe her and will vilify her and that her kidnapper (who is also famous), will spin a story that makes her look like a crazy person. I struggled with Ashley because of her over concern of people's perception. I get it-she was famous and people will talk. But, after what she went through, that should be the LAST thing on her mind.
Beck "Trigger" Cooke is still struggling with his recent injury and feeling like a failure. He feels that he needs to get Ashley and Andrew out of his life quickly before he ruins them as well. However, he has strong feelings for Ashley and struggles with the desire to keep her safe and with him.
My favorite part of the story was Andrew. Seeing his adorable interactions with Beck made me melt!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: kidnapping
- Triggers: Obviously Ashley is tortured and some of it is described; Ryan does a good job of not being overly descriptive
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger: spoiler
- HEA: spoiler
Pretend You're Safe by Alexandra Ivy, Monster in the Closet by Karen Rose, Under Fire by Scarlett Cole...then you will probably like Escape to You!
See full review on The Book Disciple