Pushed (The Dark Flower Series) Paperback – September 11, 2017

What a fantastic start to a new series by Leah Holt. Pushed is a dark romance, but it is also so much more. It grabbed me from page one and I held my breath until I turned the last page. There was so much suspense, mystery, action, hatred, and even with all that going on a love story was blooming. Pushed (The Dark Flower, book 1) is Machi and Imperial’s (AKA Perri) story. I cannot say too much because I do not want to spoil it for others, but I will say that I had a love/hate relationship with Machi. In the end you have no choice, but to love him. Poor Imperial, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and her life took a drastic horrible turn. I love the character development and the story line was fantastic. Dark romances can sometimes leave me questioning myself on why I kept on reading, but not with Pushed. Leah Holt did a fantastic job with the subject matter and the story line. I highly recommend Pushed, and on that note I have the house all to myself now, so I am going to dive right in and read Love in the Dark (the Dark Flower, book 2).

This is the third book I have read like this one,different authors same story line. This book is a bit slow in the beginning but, when it picks up it is a good story. Machi is a monster who kidnapped Imperial when he caught her looking through a window she shouldn't have been looking through, seeing things she shouldn't have seen. As the story unfolds we find out why imperial was taken, why she saw what she did. Taken to a crappy hotel and held captive she sees and learns about the dark world where men see women as objects, where they beat, rape, abuse, sell and murder women. Some of the women come on their own free will, most have their lives stolen off the street. From the beginning you can feel Machi is different than the other creeps there; he isn't as harsh as the others, he isn't abusive, he doesn't rape but, he won't release her either. He keeps her there for her own safety but, while protecting her the two of them explore one another, learn about each other. There could be more sex scenes after all she is supposed to be a toy. All the promises come true. I don't really care too much for the ending but, I do recommend the book.

I liked this book, but didn't love it. I'm not sure if it's because I've read so many dark romances lately, but i just wasn't able to enjoy it as much as i wanted to. I really liked the character development, but felt the plot as a whole moved too slowly. Also, although it's characterized as a dark romance and there were some scenes involving forced consent, there wasn't nearly the angst I expected. It would be a good book for someone who is just being introduced to dark romances.

I am at a complete loss for words. I am just in awe.I am so in love with the mystery behind this book. It was such a wonderful read. It was dark. The sensitive subject was left to your imagination. There were no details. Though I was a bit mad at what Machi did- the reasoning behind it made the story. This book really kept me guessing. I had to keep reading. I had to find out what happened. It was not your typical love story. It didn't have hearts and flowers. It was raw. Exciting. Sensual. Erotic. The demons are now gone. This journey takes you down a bumpy road. I feel a sense of completion. I feel so satisfied. That epilogue made the story. It was not what I thought it was. It was so much more. I'd highly recommend.

I have read 10 chapters of the book so far and I've been told the same thing by both characters. The story is written in first person point of view with each character having their own chapters. Imperial, who must see what's going on in the alley gets into trouble and then cannot figure out why she's being punished. When Machi explains, over and over and over again that he's not going to kill her we see her complaining that it's his end game for three or four chapters. Machi's POV comes in his chapters and he has to explain the same thing we just read in the previous three chapters from Imperial's POV. Too much of the story takes place in the room where Imperial was locked in the first night. She's been out once in ten chapters. Wow. She has silly fights in her head about escaping, believing she can punch and kick her way out when from the beginning she had no fight in her.When Machi takes her out of the room the first time, she meets Ethan. His eyes are described as evil and dead. As were Machi's friends the night she was taken. Yet, for all the evil surrounding her, strangely, she's not smart enough to believe what she sees. And yet again, her reckless actions get her into trouble and she cannot understand why she's being treated so badly, that it's Machi and his cohort's fault.The story opened with a prologue. Which so far is the best part of the story. But as the writing progresses, Machi and Imperial begin to sound alike. Their narration really becomes just one person's thoughts.Sadly, this story does not live up to the 4.5 stars readers have given it.

Imperial let’s her curiosity get the better of her and she sees something she shouldn’t have, Machi kidnaps her and she has no clue what he plans to do with her. Can she trust what he says and they he will keep her safe? Fast-paced dark read with loads of drama, suspense and steam. Great characters and an entertaining story. I liked it.

I liked the way Imperial was able to be herself even when she was in danger! She was stronger than most of the girls who was being kidnapped and sold! She fought back! I liked the way Machi looked out for her! Even when it put his own life at risk! He had to play the part of a job he clearly despised to find out who killed his sister! But he never expected to fall in love with Imperial, all the while hoping and praying that she would see him for himself and not the monster she at first thought he was! The ending was just as I'd hoped it would be....that they would be together and he could put the past he despised behind him wit a new and better life ahead for him!!!!