What do you think?
Rate this book
Letters in Blood #1
Dear Captor
Never did I imagine I'd be the victim of a serial killer.
Waking up in a blood stained cell wasn't how my first date with the sexy Detective Roman Blackwood was meant to turn out.
My captor lives to inflict pain. He tells me the girls who came before me are no more, then makes me a promise. I'm next.
Waking up in a blood stained cell wasn't how my first date with the sexy Detective Roman Blackwood was meant to turn out.
My captor lives to inflict pain. He tells me the girls who came before me are no more, then makes me a promise. I'm next.
Unknown Binding
First published September 20, 2017
425 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
About the author
Liz Lovelock
33 books521 followersLiz is from bright sunny Queensland, Australia. She has always been a reader. When she was little she would be up late reading Garfield and Asterix comic books and also Footrot Flats. When she hit high school she read Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden and from there, her love of books continued to grow. She always has a book to read beside her bed along with a notebook for when inspiration hits at those crazy hours.
She is a stationary addict and a one-click addict. She loves everything books, authors and of course loves chocolate and lollies to keep her going.
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/1pQqTq6
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/LizLovelock
AMAZON PAGE: http://amzn.to/2tMX4dV
INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2FKhVbO
WEBSITE: http://lizlovelockauthor.com/
BOOKBUB: http://bit.ly/2Iz7HJa
NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/2HGQlbW
READERS GROUP: http://bit.ly/2qzmJVD
She is a stationary addict and a one-click addict. She loves everything books, authors and of course loves chocolate and lollies to keep her going.
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/1pQqTq6
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/LizLovelock
AMAZON PAGE: http://amzn.to/2tMX4dV
INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2FKhVbO
WEBSITE: http://lizlovelockauthor.com/
BOOKBUB: http://bit.ly/2Iz7HJa
NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/2HGQlbW
READERS GROUP: http://bit.ly/2qzmJVD
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
October 22, 2017
I love twisted, dark and disturbing stories and this novella proved to be right up my alley! The first in a series of serials, 'Dear Captor' takes us into the deranged world of a serial killer and introduces us to Elenore, a victim unlike any he's encountered before her. In just over 100 pages, this serial grabbed my attention and had me dying to get my hands on the next installment.
The story begins with the gruesome death of Elenore's friend and coworker, at the hands of the notorious serial killer. As Elenore grieves the loss of her friend, she somehow manages to land on the killer's radar. Before long, she will find herself in a fight for her life.
Sadly, this isn't Elenore's first brush with danger. Flashbacks to her past shed light on Elenore's horrid childhood. She has led a life full of pain and suffering, first at the hands of her parents and now under the control of a murderous lunatic. It was just so unfair and my heart broke for Elenore.
However, her past may prove to be her saving grace in the present. The abuse she survived day after day toughened her, conditioning her into the steely woman that she'll have to be to get out of her predicament alive. I found myself rooting for Elenore, despite the fact that she was a closed-off character.
The identity of the serial killer remains a mystery. There are many possibilities that linger in the back of my mind, but there will be no definitive answers given this early on. Is it the friend/neighbor who seemed to want more with Elenore's friend and later Elenore? Could it be the handsome detective who crossed professional boundaries to ask Elenore out on a date? Or, is it just some random unknown creeper? Everyone is suspect at this point.
My biggest complaint is that just as the story started to pick up, this installment was over. Of course, that is to be expected with a series of serials. However, it still gives me heartburn that I paid $2.99 for this short, unfinished story. I'm hooked now, so I'm sure that I'll end up spending $20 or more to get the complete story. Hopefully, the author won't keep us hanging too long before publishing the complete series.
That being said, I will be buying the next serial and continuing this series. This story has me intrigued and I need to know what is in store for poor Elenore. Just be forewarned.
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
The story begins with the gruesome death of Elenore's friend and coworker, at the hands of the notorious serial killer. As Elenore grieves the loss of her friend, she somehow manages to land on the killer's radar. Before long, she will find herself in a fight for her life.
Sadly, this isn't Elenore's first brush with danger. Flashbacks to her past shed light on Elenore's horrid childhood. She has led a life full of pain and suffering, first at the hands of her parents and now under the control of a murderous lunatic. It was just so unfair and my heart broke for Elenore.
However, her past may prove to be her saving grace in the present. The abuse she survived day after day toughened her, conditioning her into the steely woman that she'll have to be to get out of her predicament alive. I found myself rooting for Elenore, despite the fact that she was a closed-off character.
The identity of the serial killer remains a mystery. There are many possibilities that linger in the back of my mind, but there will be no definitive answers given this early on. Is it the friend/neighbor who seemed to want more with Elenore's friend and later Elenore? Could it be the handsome detective who crossed professional boundaries to ask Elenore out on a date? Or, is it just some random unknown creeper? Everyone is suspect at this point.
My biggest complaint is that just as the story started to pick up, this installment was over. Of course, that is to be expected with a series of serials. However, it still gives me heartburn that I paid $2.99 for this short, unfinished story. I'm hooked now, so I'm sure that I'll end up spending $20 or more to get the complete story. Hopefully, the author won't keep us hanging too long before publishing the complete series.
That being said, I will be buying the next serial and continuing this series. This story has me intrigued and I need to know what is in store for poor Elenore. Just be forewarned.
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
December 9, 2017
" I nervously giggle while the insides of my chest feel as though they might explode.”
What the actual fuck did I just read....
WhAT ThE FuCkiTy FuCkInG HeLL DiD i JuSt REad??!!?!
(Fig 1.2 above, represents an accurate depiction of Alex on this fine day)
______________
*read in David Attenborough's voice*
Over the vast regions, and all the worlds most beautiful biomes - Today, we will be venturing into one of the more comfortable habitats of the extremely rare, yet extremely exceptional species called 'bookish people'.
Alex. She has just finished reading "Dear Captor"... A book about (god knows what the fuck was happening.... Sorry, David) and she sits writing a slightly different review. She has many different curse words running through her head, this is a commonality for some of her species. You see, the 'bookish people' live off the words that reside in books and novels. Some are quite mad.
For example, Alex.
A list of everything wrong vs. A list of everything right
Viewer discretion: This list has been created employing personal views on the novel, this does not go to say that every and anyone should change their mind about reading it.
Everything Wrong:
●The writing was all over the place
●Insta-love
●This one broke the cringe scale y'all
●I was so so so very confused, the plot was so messy
●There were more flashbacks than current happenings
●The characters were very 2 dimensional
●There isn't an appropriate gif I could find that would reiterate the amount of 'huh?'
Everything Right:
●
What the actual fuck did I just read....
WhAT ThE FuCkiTy FuCkInG HeLL DiD i JuSt REad??!!?!
(Fig 1.2 above, represents an accurate depiction of Alex on this fine day)
______________
*read in David Attenborough's voice*
Over the vast regions, and all the worlds most beautiful biomes - Today, we will be venturing into one of the more comfortable habitats of the extremely rare, yet extremely exceptional species called 'bookish people'.
Alex. She has just finished reading "Dear Captor"... A book about (god knows what the fuck was happening.... Sorry, David) and she sits writing a slightly different review. She has many different curse words running through her head, this is a commonality for some of her species. You see, the 'bookish people' live off the words that reside in books and novels. Some are quite mad.
For example, Alex.
A list of everything wrong vs. A list of everything right
Viewer discretion: This list has been created employing personal views on the novel, this does not go to say that every and anyone should change their mind about reading it.
Everything Wrong:
●The writing was all over the place
●Insta-love
●This one broke the cringe scale y'all
●I was so so so very confused, the plot was so messy
●There were more flashbacks than current happenings
●The characters were very 2 dimensional
●There isn't an appropriate gif I could find that would reiterate the amount of 'huh?'
Everything Right:
●
September 23, 2017
2.5 Not Feeling It Stars
You know when you see a book that looks good so you go and check out the reviews, all the reviews are positive and high so you think you can't go wrong?
Well this was one of those for me, when I finished it I was left wondering if I'd read the same book as everyone else. I didn't feel the suspense or really get the 'scared' vibe I think I was meant to. I found Elenore annoying and her flashbacks were much more full on than the situation she was in in the present.
There is nothing wrong with the writing, it was simply a case of me not feeling the story. I think I'm just going to chalk this one up to....................
If you like a dark different read then give this a go and see what you think.
On a side note, this story contains forms of abuse including child abuse. Please keep this in mind before reading.
You know when you see a book that looks good so you go and check out the reviews, all the reviews are positive and high so you think you can't go wrong?
Well this was one of those for me, when I finished it I was left wondering if I'd read the same book as everyone else. I didn't feel the suspense or really get the 'scared' vibe I think I was meant to. I found Elenore annoying and her flashbacks were much more full on than the situation she was in in the present.
There is nothing wrong with the writing, it was simply a case of me not feeling the story. I think I'm just going to chalk this one up to....................
If you like a dark different read then give this a go and see what you think.
On a side note, this story contains forms of abuse including child abuse. Please keep this in mind before reading.
September 16, 2017
DEAR CAPTOR: is the first in the (letters in Blood) series, by Liz Lovelock. This flits from 'Past to Present' and is spoken in 3rd POV's (Captor, Ramon and Elenore).
In the Prologue: We’re introduced to Elenore who was tired of being repeatedly told by her parents how unwanted she was because that’s all they ever told her, she never even had a name until the lady next door named her Eleanore.
We’re catapulted from one scene to the next, a false sense of security as we’re privy to one girls death by a man who wears a ski mask and never shows his face. Her last goodbye letter to her parents tucked in his pocket. A game of cat and mouse with only one winner as he yells at her to ‘RUN!’ But how far can one girl truly get when the bottom of her feet have been slashed up and a gun at her back as she attempts to make a run for it.
It's a fun game trying to break them into a million pieces, shattering their world wide apart, leaving them in a crumpled mess and crushing their spirit while I do so.
BOOM! Another one DEAD!!
NOW the search is on for another girl!!
And so the game of cat and mouse commences all over again, he's found his next victim, watches in the background, biding his time he makes his move, one quick hit to the head she's carried away to awaken in a cell like dungeon surrounded by concrete walls covered in blood.
Who has taken her?
This took me a while to connect with the story until I reached the actual kidnapping I was hooked, invested wholeheartedly to finish it and see what her demise was going to be, all the goodness that us dark lovers enjoy came at me. It's dark, gritty, confrontational, nothing is glossed over it's right up in your face weither you're ready for it or not! Be prepared to be consumed.
We go into this book blind, all we have to go on is her letter to her captor and yet we come out with so many more questions that I'm hoping get answered in the next book. This did end on a cliffy and what a fucked up cliffy it was, there's no getting over that until the next book, it could be a huge game changer depending how the author plays it, it could go many ways. GAH, need, want, that next book!!
May 31, 2019
FULL ROAST REVIEW NOW POSTED!
*TW: graphic domestic abuse*
I am a smol, angry bean. Nothing about this story is safe from me. To all those who enjoyed it, I'm happy you did! As for me, I wasn't vibing with it.
I'm not sure how to summarize it but here goes:
When Elenore Burrows was young she had a rough childhood. As an adult (I think she's 23?), she's building a life for herself after having left the abusive home she grew up in. She's an assistant to the editor of a teen magazine and life is pretty routine until she sees her best friend on the news pronounced dead at the hands of a recent serial killer. This leads to a chain of events that result in her meeting with Detective Roman Blackwood, and eventually, being abducted by the serial killer.
Nothing I said above is a spoiler! It's basically in the blurb.
Anyways, I'm gonna break this down according to how I rated this book (1.5 stars). THEN I WILL ROAST IT.
0.5 star
Look. At. That. Cover. LOOK AT IT.
I'M A SUCKER FOR A DOPE COVER AND THIS ONE IS JUST:
Also, the blurb intrigued me enough to buy it from Amazon. That's pretty impressive considering I usually borrow books from the library. And it was only $0.99 so I was even more tempted.
0.5 star
Elenore had some noteworthy qualities that I appreciated because such qualities are hard to come across in similar books given the situation/past Elenore has to deal with. But more on that later!
0.5 star
That cliffhanger. Idk it's not really a cliffhanger but I'm interested in reading more about what happened after that.
📢 LET THE ROAST COMMENCE 📢 *possible spoilers ahead*
Ya'll. My nostrils are fuming, my palms are itching, I have a twitch in my eye, and my wisdom teeth are aching. GOD, I'M SO IRRITATED. I have so many notes highlighted (35, to be exact) from this 144 paged book.
35 notes. Both long and short. From 144 pages.
I'm gonna walk you through this as chronologically as possible but this will still be a mess because WTH THERE'S SO MUCH I NEED SAY!!!!
1. Stereotypes are gross. Everyone knows that. So someone explain to me why I'm seeing this in the second chapter about Elenore's boss:
2. Girl-on-girl hate. From Elenore's diary entry as a 15-year-old:
I think the author was trying to showcase Elenore's insecurities, and yes those are 100% valid insecurities!!! But do we have to drag other girls down? This could've been handled in a number of ways, and the quote above just sounds bad.
3. Lack of grieving. I found it hard to believe Elenore was grieving for her deceased friend. Elenore has two best friends: Rebecca, the deceased mentioned in the summary above, and Lewis, who lives across the hall from her. Lewis had been longing for Rebecca's affections for some time, while Rebecca did her own thing. Now, look at this:
And then she goes back to her dairy, lamenting how she couldn't move past her best friend's death. But with every book with a poorly meshed out storyline, the only thing that can suddenly ease her mind from grief by twofold is............
Can you guess??
WHY, A HOT MAN, OF COURSE!!!
4. This lil shit. BISH I'VE GOT THINGS TO //SAY// ABOUT DETECTIVE ROMAN BLACKWOOD AKA HOT MAN!!! Strap in folks, I'm about to rip this lil prune apart.
Someone answer these for me because I haven't studied law:
5. Insta. Love.
Ya'll, I hate insta love. I'm absolutely sick of it. It works in some stories but not in this. I felt gross, creeped out, and pissed. Nothing about Elenore and Roman's romance felt natural and appropriate. I could provide a thorough list of quotes but honestly, it's not even worth it. This gif basically summarizes what Elenore does when she's around Roman:
6. Elenore knew her worth. For all the things that didn't work for me in this novel, Elenore's sense of self and self-respect grabbed hold of me long enough to see how this part of her would play out. It was definitely a breath of fresh air amidst the insta-love, thinly veiled misogyny, and underwhelming intrigue. If I tried telling Elenore how to handle her situation, I feel like she'd say,
*sigh*
I'm going to end this review on a positive note:
*TW: graphic domestic abuse*
I am a smol, angry bean. Nothing about this story is safe from me. To all those who enjoyed it, I'm happy you did! As for me, I wasn't vibing with it.
I'm not sure how to summarize it but here goes:
When Elenore Burrows was young she had a rough childhood. As an adult (I think she's 23?), she's building a life for herself after having left the abusive home she grew up in. She's an assistant to the editor of a teen magazine and life is pretty routine until she sees her best friend on the news pronounced dead at the hands of a recent serial killer. This leads to a chain of events that result in her meeting with Detective Roman Blackwood, and eventually, being abducted by the serial killer.
Nothing I said above is a spoiler! It's basically in the blurb.
Anyways, I'm gonna break this down according to how I rated this book (1.5 stars). THEN I WILL ROAST IT.
0.5 star
Look. At. That. Cover. LOOK AT IT.
I'M A SUCKER FOR A DOPE COVER AND THIS ONE IS JUST:
Also, the blurb intrigued me enough to buy it from Amazon. That's pretty impressive considering I usually borrow books from the library. And it was only $0.99 so I was even more tempted.
0.5 star
Elenore had some noteworthy qualities that I appreciated because such qualities are hard to come across in similar books given the situation/past Elenore has to deal with. But more on that later!
0.5 star
That cliffhanger. Idk it's not really a cliffhanger but I'm interested in reading more about what happened after that.
📢 LET THE ROAST COMMENCE 📢 *possible spoilers ahead*
Ya'll. My nostrils are fuming, my palms are itching, I have a twitch in my eye, and my wisdom teeth are aching. GOD, I'M SO IRRITATED. I have so many notes highlighted (35, to be exact) from this 144 paged book.
35 notes. Both long and short. From 144 pages.
I'm gonna walk you through this as chronologically as possible but this will still be a mess because WTH THERE'S SO MUCH I NEED SAY!!!!
1. Stereotypes are gross. Everyone knows that. So someone explain to me why I'm seeing this in the second chapter about Elenore's boss:
Her [Violet] OCD tendency has made the office basically a color-coded nightmare… Violet has a way of making people feel belittled…There... is so much??? wrong with this characterization??? As if adding fuel to stereotypes was necessary?? Listen, as someone with an "OCD tendency," I find it ridiculous that the ONLY character whose mental health is bluntly mentioned HAS to be the relentless, commanding boss. #notcool
2. Girl-on-girl hate. From Elenore's diary entry as a 15-year-old:
The bitchy high-class girls and their perfect hair, perfectly pressed clothes… Gah! Makes me so angry. I hate them.Elenore didn't have much growing up. Owned three shirts, was hardly fed, denied basic human needs, and no one bothered to check on her at school despite the visible bruises. I sympathize with her. Domestic abuse is not a light subject and kids don't come out of it right because of years worth of trauma. However, that doesn't make it okay to hate on other girls simply because of the life they're living. And again, stereotypes. Like, OBVIOUSLY being a girl from an upper-class household TOTALLY means she's a bitch 😑
I think the author was trying to showcase Elenore's insecurities, and yes those are 100% valid insecurities!!! But do we have to drag other girls down? This could've been handled in a number of ways, and the quote above just sounds bad.
3. Lack of grieving. I found it hard to believe Elenore was grieving for her deceased friend. Elenore has two best friends: Rebecca, the deceased mentioned in the summary above, and Lewis, who lives across the hall from her. Lewis had been longing for Rebecca's affections for some time, while Rebecca did her own thing. Now, look at this:
[after describing Lewis' gorgeous looks and how comfortable she is around him] I honestly don’t know why Rebecca never went for him—he seems perfect to me.Maybe..... because............. pEOplE hAVe prEFeReNCEs?? Just a thought. ALSO WHY ARE YOU GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GRIEVING AND THOUGHTS ABOUT ROMANCE. This happens on so many occasions, oh my god.
And then she goes back to her dairy, lamenting how she couldn't move past her best friend's death. But with every book with a poorly meshed out storyline, the only thing that can suddenly ease her mind from grief by twofold is............
Can you guess??
WHY, A HOT MAN, OF COURSE!!!
4. This lil shit. BISH I'VE GOT THINGS TO //SAY// ABOUT DETECTIVE ROMAN BLACKWOOD AKA HOT MAN!!! Strap in folks, I'm about to rip this lil prune apart.
Someone answer these for me because I haven't studied law:
● Can a police detective be romantically involved with a key person of an investigation?(Upon their SECOND meeting) After Roman and his partner ask her questions about Rebecca, Elenore almost has a breakdown and runs to the washroom. THE PRUNE FOLLOWS HER AND SAYS THIS:
● Isn't a police detective NOT supposed to get personally attached to an investigation?
● ISN'T A POLICE DETECTIVE SUPPOSED TO UPHOLD PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVITY AND INTEGRITY??
"I instantly took a liking to you. You have a very beautiful smile,” he compliments me. His hand reaches around and his finger grazes my cheek. I close my eyes, relishing in the small gesture. Roman’s hand moves up and cups my face. I feel his body pressed up against my back...In Deadpool's iconic words, WHAT. IN. THE. ASS.
Without a word, he spins me around to face him. He tilts my face up to meet his. His lips press to mine ever so gently. Every part of me heats up. Roman’s lips push against mine again, only this time harder, more wanting. I give in to him, opening my mouth slightly to allow him access, and he takes it like a bloodthirsty animal. Roman pulls back, and I’m left wanting more. I open my eyes, and he stares down at me. “Give me a call. I’d like to see where this goes.” He presses his lips to mine once more before stepping back, his heat gone. He turns and disappears out the door.
“I’ll be all over you, Elenore. I’ve tasted you, and those perfect lips of yours are waiting for me to claim them again.”That's just creepy af. You don't say stuff like this on THE THIRD FREAKING MEETING. YOU'RE A DETECTIVE, ROMAN. GET IT TOGETHER, YOU CREEPY VERMIN!!!
5. Insta. Love.
Ya'll, I hate insta love. I'm absolutely sick of it. It works in some stories but not in this. I felt gross, creeped out, and pissed. Nothing about Elenore and Roman's romance felt natural and appropriate. I could provide a thorough list of quotes but honestly, it's not even worth it. This gif basically summarizes what Elenore does when she's around Roman:
6. Elenore knew her worth. For all the things that didn't work for me in this novel, Elenore's sense of self and self-respect grabbed hold of me long enough to see how this part of her would play out. It was definitely a breath of fresh air amidst the insta-love, thinly veiled misogyny, and underwhelming intrigue. If I tried telling Elenore how to handle her situation, I feel like she'd say,
*sigh*
I'm going to end this review on a positive note:
I told myself every day for about a year I was worth something. That I was to become so much more than my father ever wanted of me.
----
I’m so much more than just some weak little girl you can lock in a basement.
----
I’ve told myself I am worth this life, worth the air that I breathe.
September 17, 2017
Fairly good cover on this one. It does a good job of representing the story found within. It makes great use of graphics. The composition (minus the title) is good as well. The title work isn't the best (IMO). I think the "DEAR" would have looked better overlapping the "CAPTIVE, " and the "CAPTIVE" moved a little bit more to the left.
What a surprisingly good little f@cked up book this turned out to be. It was dark. It was twisted. It was suspenseful. The writing was excellent. The pace was perfect. The plot was engaging. The characters were interesting. Elenore is by far the most developed so far but since this is a serial I am hoping we will get more background on a couple of others over the course of the other books. I'm going to leave my review pretty vague as I don't want to give anything away. Let us just say that my mind is cooking up all sorts of different theories about the "who's" and "why's." I can't wait to see if I am right. Bring on book two, please....
September 20, 2017
"Look out, precious princess. I’m coming for you. Your time is up."
Liz Lovelock is a new author to me and her storytelling totally captivated me.
Dear Captor is the first installment of the Letters in Blood series, a book that was really surprising.
Although the blurb set the tone, it took some time before the plot eventually took the turn I was expecting, the anticipation of what was to come building and building, letting us know who Eleanor was and, maybe most importantly, what her story was.
We discover a young woman with a Cinderella-like childhood (ok, worse than that), and a The-Devil-Wears-Prada-ish job, a tough, determined, caring young woman, whose resilience is heartwarming. ( I won't tell much, as I don't want to spoil anything.)
The Captor, as called in the book, is someone I truly despised. I think we are going to learn more about him in the next installments, and even if I'm curious to know how exactly he became the monster he is, I can't see how he would redeem himself in the future.
Angst, suspicion, paranoia gripped me and I kept dreading what I knew was coming. That feeling was very powerful and unsettling, which I loved.
Dear Captor is a short book, almost an introduction of the whole story I'm now so excited about. I read it in one setting and it kept me riveted to my kindle thanks to the alternate points of view and the short chapters, and the fast pace.
With Love, I can't wait to read you!
“Welcome to the house of pain. Begging and crying are welcome. I can’t promise it will spare your life. Expect pain and lots of it. Expect blood. Look around—those splatters are remnants of the lives of those before you. Good luck.”
Liz Lovelock is a new author to me and her storytelling totally captivated me.
Dear Captor is the first installment of the Letters in Blood series, a book that was really surprising.
Although the blurb set the tone, it took some time before the plot eventually took the turn I was expecting, the anticipation of what was to come building and building, letting us know who Eleanor was and, maybe most importantly, what her story was.
We discover a young woman with a Cinderella-like childhood (ok, worse than that), and a The-Devil-Wears-Prada-ish job, a tough, determined, caring young woman, whose resilience is heartwarming. ( I won't tell much, as I don't want to spoil anything.)
The Captor, as called in the book, is someone I truly despised. I think we are going to learn more about him in the next installments, and even if I'm curious to know how exactly he became the monster he is, I can't see how he would redeem himself in the future.
Angst, suspicion, paranoia gripped me and I kept dreading what I knew was coming. That feeling was very powerful and unsettling, which I loved.
Dear Captor is a short book, almost an introduction of the whole story I'm now so excited about. I read it in one setting and it kept me riveted to my kindle thanks to the alternate points of view and the short chapters, and the fast pace.
With Love, I can't wait to read you!
“Welcome to the house of pain. Begging and crying are welcome. I can’t promise it will spare your life. Expect pain and lots of it. Expect blood. Look around—those splatters are remnants of the lives of those before you. Good luck.”
October 25, 2017
3.5 stars
this book builds up to the good shit only to suddenly end!!!! which is why 3.5 stars
this book builds up to the good shit only to suddenly end!!!! which is why 3.5 stars
September 20, 2017
A dark, suspenseful and mysterious read!
This genre is totally up my alley, so of course when I read the synopsis, I wanted this book! Dear Captor was the first book I have read by this author and I must say I was impressed.
Elenore has had a rough life, but man is she a fighter. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say, this book will cause you to think and leave you wondering and guessing. I love books like that.
I really enjoyed it and am dying for the next book!
*an arc was provided in exchange for an honest review* ~Alison
This genre is totally up my alley, so of course when I read the synopsis, I wanted this book! Dear Captor was the first book I have read by this author and I must say I was impressed.
Elenore has had a rough life, but man is she a fighter. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say, this book will cause you to think and leave you wondering and guessing. I love books like that.
I really enjoyed it and am dying for the next book!
*an arc was provided in exchange for an honest review* ~Alison
September 20, 2017
Dear Captor (Letters in Blood series, #1)
This book is a short Dark, tormenting and suspensful instalment. It keeps you on your toes trying guess how, who and why ....
It is not for the faint hearted so you have been warned...
We get to know Elenore in this book and we get an insight into her past and present.
In all honesty im going to keep my review short as i refuse to give anything away. You need to read this book to feel the emotions i felt reading without any spoilers.
This book was well written. Liz Lovelock nailed it. I can't wait for the next installment with Love.🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
This book is a short Dark, tormenting and suspensful instalment. It keeps you on your toes trying guess how, who and why ....
It is not for the faint hearted so you have been warned...
We get to know Elenore in this book and we get an insight into her past and present.
In all honesty im going to keep my review short as i refuse to give anything away. You need to read this book to feel the emotions i felt reading without any spoilers.
This book was well written. Liz Lovelock nailed it. I can't wait for the next installment with Love.🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Want to read
January 24, 2020💝FREE on iBooks today (8/11/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Dear Captor,
You’ve stolen me.
You’ve spilled my blood.
You’ve brought me pain.
But what you’re yet to realize is . . . I’m a fighter.
I’ve been broken before.
I’ve at one point even lost the will to live.
So now you know . . . this information I gift to you.
I’m ready for you, so do your worst.
Sincerely,
Elenore
Blurb:
Dear Captor,
You’ve stolen me.
You’ve spilled my blood.
You’ve brought me pain.
But what you’re yet to realize is . . . I’m a fighter.
I’ve been broken before.
I’ve at one point even lost the will to live.
So now you know . . . this information I gift to you.
I’m ready for you, so do your worst.
Sincerely,
Elenore
November 23, 2017
★ 2,5 stars! ★
September 18, 2017
Where to begin with Dear Captor by Liz Lovelock. One word AMAZING. Every now and again, I will read a book that stands out from the high amount I read a month, and OMFG this was it for me. Dear Captor is a book that EVERYONE has to read, the only downside for me was when I got to the last page it ended on a major cliffhanger, and now I have to wait for Book #2 to be released. The main character Eleanore has been through so much in her life with an abusive upbringing, only now to be kidnapped just as her career in the journalism world is about to take off at the magazine she has been working at. There is a serial killer on the loose, and he is killing girls after they write their final goodbye letters. Eleanore has been captured and asked to write her letter, but unlike the previous girls who addressed it to their loved ones. Eleanore has addressed hers to her Captor. Will this letter to the Captor be the one sliver she needs to stay alive a little bit longer or will it not make a difference? A fast-paced dark suspense that will have readers captured from the very first page. A must-read for 2017, this is one series I will be recommending to all to purchase.
September 9, 2017
** Provided on behalf of the author for an honest review **
** Review by Gayle from Bloggers From Down Under **
The anticipation has been a real struggle for me waiting for this novel, so when it landed in my Kindle I was ecstatic.
Now sitting here with Dear Captor all complete I am simply lost for words.
And writing this review?
It terrifies me.
But I will say this........
I refuse to give anything away about this novel because it needs to be read free from any spoilers. And why?
Because I would like to think that this novel will impact you just like it did me.
It literally tore my heart out.
Highly emotional, this novel isn't for the fainthearted. It's graphic, highly confronting, raw and gritty. It swallows you whole emotionally and psychologically.
The subject matter is something that you don't see often in a novel, but yet Liz Lovelock explored it and gave it the respect it deserves. Written with so much depth and detail you can't help but feel the emotion bleeding from every page.
And believe me when I tell you......It hurts!!
But while it hurts, it also gives you hope.
It gives you hope that no matter how broken you feel, how damaged you are, not only psychically but emotionally, there is always hope that one day things will be better. Hope that the scars will heal. Hope that life will be different, better even.
Because after-all, how can you break when you are already broken?
Liz Lovelock. Thank you so much for your words. Dear Captor for me was simply....Perfection, and I look forward to the next instalment.
Elenore......My heart is with you!!
5 stars.
** Review by Gayle from Bloggers From Down Under **
The anticipation has been a real struggle for me waiting for this novel, so when it landed in my Kindle I was ecstatic.
Now sitting here with Dear Captor all complete I am simply lost for words.
And writing this review?
It terrifies me.
But I will say this........
I refuse to give anything away about this novel because it needs to be read free from any spoilers. And why?
Because I would like to think that this novel will impact you just like it did me.
It literally tore my heart out.
Highly emotional, this novel isn't for the fainthearted. It's graphic, highly confronting, raw and gritty. It swallows you whole emotionally and psychologically.
The subject matter is something that you don't see often in a novel, but yet Liz Lovelock explored it and gave it the respect it deserves. Written with so much depth and detail you can't help but feel the emotion bleeding from every page.
And believe me when I tell you......It hurts!!
But while it hurts, it also gives you hope.
It gives you hope that no matter how broken you feel, how damaged you are, not only psychically but emotionally, there is always hope that one day things will be better. Hope that the scars will heal. Hope that life will be different, better even.
Because after-all, how can you break when you are already broken?
Liz Lovelock. Thank you so much for your words. Dear Captor for me was simply....Perfection, and I look forward to the next instalment.
Elenore......My heart is with you!!
5 stars.
April 11, 2024
When I signed up for an arc of this book I knew I was getting a story broken up into a serial and that each book was of novella/short story length. (This took way less than two hours to read). So I was all prepared to give the author kudos for this honesty but sadly there is no mention of the brevity of the book nor that it ends on a cliffhanger.
I am still rating the book on how much I enjoyed it, as it is a really good start to the story, otherwise I would have knocked a star off. The book is written very much like a mini-series and I'm intrigued to see how it plays out. I do hope it doesn't end up feeling like one book chopped into 3 parts as the author is talented and shouldn't need to rely on that ploy to sell books.
The writing drew me in and held my attention throughout, it flows smoothly and was easy to read. There is so much mystery, suspense and threat in the book that at times I almost didn't want to get to the next page. I did, however, feel a little sad that the scenes between Elenore and The Captor were quite brief and lacking detail, however I have a feeling this will change in Book 2!
The heroine, Elenore, is a woman whose parents inflicted horrendous mental and physical abuse on her as a child. She came across as rather aloof and as someone who struggled with relating to other people - not surprising given her past. However she also felt very real and had an inner strength about her. We also meet the incredibly hot detective Roman Blackwood and his work partner Tom. Tom came across as a little creepy and at one point I had some doubts about Roman too, but then I became convinced these were all red herrings.
There is definitely some chemistry between Roman and Elenore, but before they had chance to explore those possibilities any further The Captor made his move. This left me unsure, as I am sure it is meant to, whom exactly the hero (or anti-hero) is. I didn't really make any connection to The Captor character and again this felt like a deliberate ploy by the author that will be remedied in Book 2.
I did thoroughly enjoy this book and most definitely want, and intend, to continue the series to its conclusion.
I am still rating the book on how much I enjoyed it, as it is a really good start to the story, otherwise I would have knocked a star off. The book is written very much like a mini-series and I'm intrigued to see how it plays out. I do hope it doesn't end up feeling like one book chopped into 3 parts as the author is talented and shouldn't need to rely on that ploy to sell books.
The writing drew me in and held my attention throughout, it flows smoothly and was easy to read. There is so much mystery, suspense and threat in the book that at times I almost didn't want to get to the next page. I did, however, feel a little sad that the scenes between Elenore and The Captor were quite brief and lacking detail, however I have a feeling this will change in Book 2!
The heroine, Elenore, is a woman whose parents inflicted horrendous mental and physical abuse on her as a child. She came across as rather aloof and as someone who struggled with relating to other people - not surprising given her past. However she also felt very real and had an inner strength about her. We also meet the incredibly hot detective Roman Blackwood and his work partner Tom. Tom came across as a little creepy and at one point I had some doubts about Roman too, but then I became convinced these were all red herrings.
There is definitely some chemistry between Roman and Elenore, but before they had chance to explore those possibilities any further The Captor made his move. This left me unsure, as I am sure it is meant to, whom exactly the hero (or anti-hero) is. I didn't really make any connection to The Captor character and again this felt like a deliberate ploy by the author that will be remedied in Book 2.
I did thoroughly enjoy this book and most definitely want, and intend, to continue the series to its conclusion.
October 11, 2017
Gahhhhhh!!! I hate "cliffys"
June 3, 2021
“Welcome to the house of pain. Begging and crying are welcome. I can’t promise it will spare your life. Expect pain and lots of it. Expect blood. Look around—those splatters are remnants of the lives of those before you. Good luck.”
DEAR CAPTOR is just the beginning of what will hopefully end up being a really great, dark, story. In this first installment, Liz Lovelock just gets things started with the primary focus on developing the female main character, Elenore. Sure, we do get to see some of what Elenore experiences during her first 7 days held captive, but the primary purpose of this first book, in my opinion, was for readers to understand and build a relationship with Elenore (which certainly happened for me).
I’ve always enjoyed stories about characters who have been abused, but I especially like it when an author tells the tale by weaving the character’s memories in with the character’s current life. Lovelock does an absolutely wonderful job of this, providing snippets of our female main character’s background without inundating us with it, giving us just the right amount of glimpses into her past. Every time Lovelock allowed us to see what Elenore endured as a child, I felt an even deeper relationship with Elenore. By the time I read the last page of this book, I was very invested in Elenore, eager to find out what will happen to her and the few people who care about her. Well-written, intriguing and very addicting, I’m hoping that this series will end up being something very special!
DEAR CAPTOR is just the beginning of what will hopefully end up being a really great, dark, story. In this first installment, Liz Lovelock just gets things started with the primary focus on developing the female main character, Elenore. Sure, we do get to see some of what Elenore experiences during her first 7 days held captive, but the primary purpose of this first book, in my opinion, was for readers to understand and build a relationship with Elenore (which certainly happened for me).
I’ve always enjoyed stories about characters who have been abused, but I especially like it when an author tells the tale by weaving the character’s memories in with the character’s current life. Lovelock does an absolutely wonderful job of this, providing snippets of our female main character’s background without inundating us with it, giving us just the right amount of glimpses into her past. Every time Lovelock allowed us to see what Elenore endured as a child, I felt an even deeper relationship with Elenore. By the time I read the last page of this book, I was very invested in Elenore, eager to find out what will happen to her and the few people who care about her. Well-written, intriguing and very addicting, I’m hoping that this series will end up being something very special!
November 7, 2017
Great start to this trilogy. Dear Captor is one beautifully dark taste in the Letters in Blood trilogy that will leave you wanting more. Liz did a great job with Eleanor's story and the strength this character shows. I love how it makes you question everything not knowing where the story is going to go.
Eleanor is a big believer in the saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." But there are things much worse than death. She didn't break before, and she will fight not to break again.
"Every single day I wished to be taken away from what I endured."
"My entire childhood was a survival story, and now I have another."
Eleanor's captor wants to break her and see her suffering like the others before her. The thing is, Eleanor has faced monsters just like him before. She has the will, and hopefully will find a way, but one things for sure... she won't go down easy and without all the fight she's got left.
Dear Captor is the fist instalment in the Letters in Blood trilogy and must be read first before reading book 2. The cliffhanger and book hangover, totally worth it with that epic ending. A must read trilogy!
Eleanor is a big believer in the saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." But there are things much worse than death. She didn't break before, and she will fight not to break again.
"Every single day I wished to be taken away from what I endured."
"My entire childhood was a survival story, and now I have another."
Eleanor's captor wants to break her and see her suffering like the others before her. The thing is, Eleanor has faced monsters just like him before. She has the will, and hopefully will find a way, but one things for sure... she won't go down easy and without all the fight she's got left.
Dear Captor is the fist instalment in the Letters in Blood trilogy and must be read first before reading book 2. The cliffhanger and book hangover, totally worth it with that epic ending. A must read trilogy!
October 16, 2017
I have to admit I was pulled in right from the moment I read that blurb. I just had a good feeling about this series, and the start has not disappointed.
Poor Elenore suffered a lot in her life. She has literally been to hell and back, but she is a fighter. She doesn’t give up and as long as she is able she will continue to fight. Then one night everything changes. Elenore is no longer living a free life. She escaped one hell to be thrown into another. She is now being held captive by a man without a soul, but Elenore isn’t giving up. It will take a lot more than a man in a mask to keep her down.
I really enjoyed the first installment to this series. I have to say I was pretty sucked in from the beginning. Elenore is such a strong and powerful character. She is a fighter, and I love her for it. I can’t wait to see how things on going to play out in the next book.
October 13, 2017
☆☆☆1/2
~Lynzi
I've been waiting to read this one. The blurb had me intrigued. I couldn't wait to see how this played out, and to see if the heroine was as fierce as I thought she would be.
Eleanor was dealt a crap hand of a childhood. Every day she was in her own personal form of h-e-double-hockey-sticks. But she got stronger a little more each day. Her will to survive was strong, so she never gave up. So now as a grown up, she is a force to be recon with. She finally feels like her life is looking up, until she is taken. Now once again, she won't go down with out a fight.
There is so much more to this story. Which of course there is, there is more books to come out, but oh man. I have so many questions, I can't wait to get the answers to. I know what I think will happen, but I'm pretty sure it probably won't, but I will still hope. With Love can't come fast enough.
~Lynzi
I've been waiting to read this one. The blurb had me intrigued. I couldn't wait to see how this played out, and to see if the heroine was as fierce as I thought she would be.
Eleanor was dealt a crap hand of a childhood. Every day she was in her own personal form of h-e-double-hockey-sticks. But she got stronger a little more each day. Her will to survive was strong, so she never gave up. So now as a grown up, she is a force to be recon with. She finally feels like her life is looking up, until she is taken. Now once again, she won't go down with out a fight.
There is so much more to this story. Which of course there is, there is more books to come out, but oh man. I have so many questions, I can't wait to get the answers to. I know what I think will happen, but I'm pretty sure it probably won't, but I will still hope. With Love can't come fast enough.
October 10, 2017
B o r i n g.
October 12, 2017
My first read from Liz but let me tell you it was a doozy and it certainly won't be my last! This dark story had me captivated from the start... Elenore, a girl with a deeply troubled up bringing was fighting against her past to create a much brighter future. With a new promotion and the attention of a young male detective, life was looking up for Elenore... until it wasn't and she was captured! Well written, very clever as the storyline keeps you guessing right until the very end..!! I can't wait to see what this series brings next.
September 21, 2017
Dear Captor is a psychological suspense, a story that will send chills down you spine and into your bones. The descriptions are put forth so vividly you can see and feel everything that is penned. ! Its heart breaking, scary and makes you wander the minds of a deranged killer and also the hatred that Elanore had to live with as a child.
This novel is dark in theme not quiet as grafic as some, but downright bad enough to give you those chills. Liz Love lock has delivered us a Crime horror, dark suspense, dark mystery, a killer who is hell bent on satisfying an urge, who plays with his victims, both in mind and body .. ** that alone gives me the shivers **
Letters in Blood series is a one of those books, where you wished you had the rest to follow, its intriguing is its darkness, we see into the mind of a serial killer, a sicko and also into the mind of one strong minded and determined lady.
Liz has penned her story well, giving us a roller coaster ride of emotions to deal within each page.
Even in the darkness of the story we do have some light, a caring mother, a hot as hell detective and much intrigue into how the author will pace this story.
This for me was just a teaser of what is more to come ! I feel like Hansel and Gretel, skipping along each page , finding the crumbs but keep on going to find out whats at the end. !
A fast paced dark mystery, with a little romance thrown in - we see a past worth forgetting. But a future worth fighting for.
This author has set up this story, giving us crumbs along the way , to show us the past darkness of Elanore and the darkness that consumed her as a child. I think that this will give her the strength to survive the unforgettable. ??
An intriguing short novel, that will have you wandering way past the last words, and contemplating how and which direction the author will take us !!
Absorbing, Eerie, and thought provoking !
This novel is dark in theme not quiet as grafic as some, but downright bad enough to give you those chills. Liz Love lock has delivered us a Crime horror, dark suspense, dark mystery, a killer who is hell bent on satisfying an urge, who plays with his victims, both in mind and body .. ** that alone gives me the shivers **
Letters in Blood series is a one of those books, where you wished you had the rest to follow, its intriguing is its darkness, we see into the mind of a serial killer, a sicko and also into the mind of one strong minded and determined lady.
Liz has penned her story well, giving us a roller coaster ride of emotions to deal within each page.
Even in the darkness of the story we do have some light, a caring mother, a hot as hell detective and much intrigue into how the author will pace this story.
This for me was just a teaser of what is more to come ! I feel like Hansel and Gretel, skipping along each page , finding the crumbs but keep on going to find out whats at the end. !
A fast paced dark mystery, with a little romance thrown in - we see a past worth forgetting. But a future worth fighting for.
This author has set up this story, giving us crumbs along the way , to show us the past darkness of Elanore and the darkness that consumed her as a child. I think that this will give her the strength to survive the unforgettable. ??
An intriguing short novel, that will have you wandering way past the last words, and contemplating how and which direction the author will take us !!
Absorbing, Eerie, and thought provoking !
September 20, 2017
A 4.5 star disturbing read.....
Well what a tortuous, dark and at times truly disturbing book this is …I can not honestly say I enjoyed this story but I was riveted by it...there is sheer desolation in the life of Elenore….her bleak painful childhood which she survives, a challenging work environment in which she thrives…only to find herself in the hands of an anonymous deadly psychopath…this is a truly disquieting read..
There are three perspectives providing the narrative: Elenore relates her side of events and right from the start it is apparent she is in some serious trouble…the Captor provides a chilling view of his compulsive mindset; he is one very sick guy who appears to have no humanity or empathy and finally there is Roman and his alternative world view…
This is a book that demands to be read without spoilers or long explanatory notes so I shall conclude by saying I was completely blown away with this first in the series which is proving to be an addictive suspenseful thriller…. inevitably it ends in a shocking cliffhanger with no hint of what the future holds…there are so many avenues that this story can and probably will venture down….the wait will seem long until the next installment but I am confident it will be worth it…I received an ARC of this book from the author
Well what a tortuous, dark and at times truly disturbing book this is …I can not honestly say I enjoyed this story but I was riveted by it...there is sheer desolation in the life of Elenore….her bleak painful childhood which she survives, a challenging work environment in which she thrives…only to find herself in the hands of an anonymous deadly psychopath…this is a truly disquieting read..
There are three perspectives providing the narrative: Elenore relates her side of events and right from the start it is apparent she is in some serious trouble…the Captor provides a chilling view of his compulsive mindset; he is one very sick guy who appears to have no humanity or empathy and finally there is Roman and his alternative world view…
This is a book that demands to be read without spoilers or long explanatory notes so I shall conclude by saying I was completely blown away with this first in the series which is proving to be an addictive suspenseful thriller…. inevitably it ends in a shocking cliffhanger with no hint of what the future holds…there are so many avenues that this story can and probably will venture down….the wait will seem long until the next installment but I am confident it will be worth it…I received an ARC of this book from the author
September 22, 2017
It has been said that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Elenore Burrows survived her abusive childhood but she is going to find out just how strong she really is. Liz Lovelock is a new author to me and I am really impressed with her writing. She has the ability to draw you in to the story. Dear Captor is a short dark page turner. This story has so much in it, it alternates between the past and present in Elenore's life. Ms. Lovelock does a great job giving you Elenore's backstory as well as telling the story in present day and she does not disappoint. The book does end with a cliffhanger. Can't wait for Book 2!!
September 21, 2017
Oh, my! What a dark and disturbing read this was!
I LOVED IT!!!
I absolutely love dark and twisted tales. This series is going to be the death of me because I cannot wait for the next installment. Elenor is the ultimate brave courageous women we all want to be. The situation that she is thrust into would put any of us down, but she could care less. This kidnapping is a walk in the park for her.
I need to know what happens with Roman, does he find Elenor? Is he involved with her kidnapping? Ugh! So many questions and we have to wait to see what happens next. Not cool Ms. Locklove, Not cool!
Needless to say, this is a must read if you're into the dark romance genre. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
I LOVED IT!!!
I absolutely love dark and twisted tales. This series is going to be the death of me because I cannot wait for the next installment. Elenor is the ultimate brave courageous women we all want to be. The situation that she is thrust into would put any of us down, but she could care less. This kidnapping is a walk in the park for her.
I need to know what happens with Roman, does he find Elenor? Is he involved with her kidnapping? Ugh! So many questions and we have to wait to see what happens next. Not cool Ms. Locklove, Not cool!
Needless to say, this is a must read if you're into the dark romance genre. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
September 17, 2017
I have to say I was impressed with this new to me author's book. I've been stepping outside of my comfort zone as of late and wanted to read a book I normally shy away from. This story held my interest and I do have a few theories as the author laid out ground work nicely. I'm curious to see how this series develops and hopefully we can get more backstory on "Captor" as I feel he plays a part in Elenore's past. With never reading anything by this author I do like her style of writing and the way the story flowed. I didn't care for one of the interactions with the detective, Roman, but I'm curious to see where their budding relationship heads. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in this series and hopefully we can get more answers.
*ARC REVIEW*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
*ARC REVIEW*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
September 10, 2017
This book hooked me from the very first page and I cannot wait for book 2 and 3, I have my theories and I cannot wait to see if I'm on the right track
I love each and every character, they are so well written that I don't care which one of them is the Captor...but I'll be devo if it's ???? (I'll leave my guess out so as to jot spoil the story for you
I highly recommend Dear Captor
I love each and every character, they are so well written that I don't care which one of them is the Captor...but I'll be devo if it's ???? (I'll leave my guess out so as to jot spoil the story for you
I highly recommend Dear Captor
October 15, 2017
This is the first instalment of the Letters in Blood series and what a great start it is. It gives us a great introduction to the story and the characters.
Eleanor has had such a tough start to life and things get tougher when she’s captured. I’m really glad she’s a tough cookie and look forward to reading more about her.
Yikes I need book two now. What an ending. I’ve got a love hate relationship with these kinda endings. I love the wtf feeling but hate waiting to read more. Fortunately the author isn’t gonna have us waiting too long as I’m so looking forward to reading more of this story.
Eleanor has had such a tough start to life and things get tougher when she’s captured. I’m really glad she’s a tough cookie and look forward to reading more about her.
Yikes I need book two now. What an ending. I’ve got a love hate relationship with these kinda endings. I love the wtf feeling but hate waiting to read more. Fortunately the author isn’t gonna have us waiting too long as I’m so looking forward to reading more of this story.
September 8, 2017
Book 1...... great insight into Elenore's background, while keeping enough of it secret from the readers, as to keep us intrigued. And intrigued I certainly am. I feel like I definately need more. Liz Lovelock has done an absolutely fantastic job
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews