Captive Hearts: Deviant Hearts Book 1, A.E. Ryecart

Sometimes tragedy is just tragedy, other times, precious rare times, tragedy turns into salvation.  With no hope of being saved himself, Billy is willing to surrender his body and mind to evil incarnate for the ability to care for the woman who loved him, raised him.  And then Dashiell appeared.  Coming face to face with someone he wants but seeing no way to have him he realizes just how well and truly trapped he is.  It'll take everything Dashiell has in him to believe they'll both escape together.

Billy is in an incredibly difficult situation.  The beatings his body, self-esteem, mind, and heart have taken over the last couple years were his price to pay to give his grandmother the life she deserves whether she knows she's getting it or not.  He's found a way to be numb through it all.  But when Dashiell saves him from a violent encounter his eyes are suddenly open again.  Pain becomes fresh, awareness makes him sensitive in a whole new way.

Dashiell is in a tenuous situation.  Teetering between protecting Billy and feigning deference to Frankie, he's realizing very quickly that his hatred for the tyrant holding Billy's life and their fates in his hand is going to doom them if he can't find a way to get them both out.  The stunning man has suddenly become the center of his world.  They give in to the passion and tender feelings connecting them and when worse comes to worst it's Dashiell's surprising and unlikely ally that helps to freedom.

This was an intense ride with more than a little darkness.  The tenderness was there, though, and you can see their true selves shine through everything they do.  It's natural that they gravitate to one another and even more natural that they become one another's salvation.  Their honesty is truly touching.  I love that Dashiell didn't excuse all of Billy's snottiness, that he called him on it and made fun of it sometimes.  He was badass and yet so very kind.  His recklessness, however, made me roll my eyes at times because I just knew that it would get them in trouble.  The constant reaffirmation of his dislike for following rules got a bit tedious.  It did help move the plot along, but it doesn't mean I had to like it.

Billy was truly a brat sometimes and though he knew it he couldn't help it.  His life wasn't the kind that allowed for softness but Dashiell's heart shining on his face gave him the courage needed to apologize, make amends, and find moments of peace in the chaos that was his life.  He was incredibly emotional and I don't blame him for it, not in the least, but I was hoping for a moment where he found his spine, found his inner strength and became something more than he was in the beginning.  To become decisive and defiant if only in his mind until they could escape.  To use his resources and privileges to find solutions not involving Frankie with the support, love, and encouragement Dashiell freely gave.

Their ending was sweet and full of hope and also gave a great opening for Lee's story.  I'm definitely looking forward to more from this series.  Despite having tragedy, despair, abuse, and hopelessness the story was touching and all that darkness made their love and hope for the future so much brighter.

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