Kelsey's Corner Time: PRETTY WHEN YOU CRY by SKYE WARREN

Title: PRETTY WHEN YOU CRY

Series: Stripped #3

Author: Skye Warren

Release Date: October 16, 2015

Genre: Dark Erotic Romance

A new dark romance novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderlust and Prisoner…

I came from a place of dirt floors and holy scriptures. They told me the world outside was full of sin, and the first night I escape, I find out it’s true. Ivan saves me, but he does more than that. He takes me. He makes me his own girl.

My conditioning runs too deep. Ivan sees what I am.

That’s the thing about showing a mouse to a cat. He wants to play. And it’s terrifying, even for me. Because the only thing darker than my past is his.

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Author's Note: Pretty When You Cry is a STANDALONE dark romance novel. It's set in the sexy Stripped series world but can be read alone. Not intended for those uncomfortable with the subject matter or under eighteen.

I've read every one of Skye Warren's books and always go back for more. I love how she blends the dark and erotic in a kind of love story. Pretty When You Cry is definitely all of these. It is the third book in the Stripped series, but I think it could definitely be read as a standalone. I've read all the other books and I definitely recommend reading them too.

Candace was raised in a very strict, somewhat crazy, religious commune. There was definite abuse going on there. When Candace was 16, the head of the commune started showing more interest in her than he should so her mother sent her away. Her mother gave her what money she had, but it wasn't much.

Candace ends up in the city of Tanglewood. She is immediately taken in by Ivan. He takes her in, takes care of Candace and doesn't let anyone touch her. He lets her strip in his club, but he makes sure she is protected. Of course, part of the reason he won't let anyone touch her is that he considers her his own. He protects Candace but he owns her too. When she is of age he takes what he wants.

Neither Candace nor Ivan are traditional "good" people. Ivan is a criminal and Candace is a stripper. But I liked them both. Candace is young, but not all that innocent. She works in a strip club and sees all. She's also done drugs, alcohol. The only thing that remains innocent about her is her virginity. Ivan is all about control. He is extremely dominant. He takes what he wants and doesn't ask for forgiveness. His dominance is very sexy.

The one thing I didn't like about the book was the "Daddy" aspect. Ivan demands that Candace refer to him as "Daddy." I'm not all the into age play and I didn't think it was necessary. The punishments were sexy, but the "Daddy" word was not. If you can get past that though, this book is all Skye Warren. It's a great story in a great series.

I give Pretty When You Cry FOUR STARS!