The story fascinated me and I had to find out what happened to Maddie, she was kidnapped while on Spring Break with her friends. The abuse that she undergoes is horrific. She lives through mental, physical, and sexual abuse. The language used was hard for me to read. The book is full of profanity and degradation.

This is a book that is not to be read lightly. It is well written. The writing borders on brilliant, the subject matter stinks. ( )

Mistakes

Maddison regrets not listening to her parents, not being a 'good girl' and not staying at home like she was supposed to instead of sneaking off with her friends for a Spring Break getaway. How she wishes she could turn back time; then maybe she wouldn't be in the nightmare she is in now. Kidnapped and taken to a different country unaware of where she is or what these men want with her.

Maddy's parents can't help her, in fact they aren't even aware she is in Mexico. Who can save her? Or can she save herself?

summary from Goodreads

My Take

This novel was really heavy stuff. So much so that I had to put it down just to take a breath from the story. The irony of the novel and I suppose the irony of life is that Maddison is a good girl. The does not listen to her parents this one time and there is disaster. What happens to Maddison is perhaps everyones worst nightmare for themselves and every parent's worse nightmare for their children.

The author definitely pulls no punches and discribes everything is its most horrific details down to Maddison having to shower with the two men watching her and the inhuman conditions and violence she is forced to endure and watch. Even through all of this Maddison is lucky in that she finds someone she can reach and relate to. She completely shuts down when she believes that this is being taken from her.

This is not a story for the faint hearted or those who want a happy ending. This is real life grisly and ugly but not without some redemption.

Rating 4 Stars

Mistakes

Maddison regrets not listening to her parents, not being a 'good girl' and not staying at home like she was supposed to instead of sneaking off with her friends for a Spring Break getaway. How she wishes she could turn back time; then maybe she wouldn't be in the nightmare she is in now. Kidnapped and taken to a different country unaware of where she is or what these men want with her.

Maddy's parents can't help her, in fact they aren't even aware she is in Mexico. Who can save her? Or can she save herself?

summary from Goodreads

My Take

This novel was really heavy stuff. So much so that I had to put it down just to take a breath from the story. The irony of the novel and I suppose the irony of life is that Maddison is a good girl. The does not listen to her parents this one time and there is disaster. What happens to Maddison is perhaps everyone's worst nightmare for themselves and every parent's worse nightmare for their children.

The author definitely pulls no punches and describes everything is its most horrific details down to Maddison having to shower with the two men watching her and the inhuman conditions and violence she is forced to endure and watch. Even through all of this Maddison is lucky in that she finds someone she can reach and relate to. She completely shuts down when she believes that this is being taken from her.

This is not a story for the faint hearted or those who want a happy ending. This is real life grisly and ugly but not without some redemption.

Rating 4 Stars

I received this book free through Early Reviewers.
When I started this book I was frustrated by the main character, an 18-year old virgin goodie-goodie who is unbelievably naive and immature. I did not have high hopes in the beginning. But I never drop a book I have agreed to review. That being said, I plunged through the slow start and found a fantastic, frightening journey. Maddy, the main character, goes on vacay with a much more experienced friend, gets wasted and ends up in the clutches of a sex/slave trade ring. The author provided just enough details for Maddys horror to become very real and tangible. I recommend this book to young adults and adults alike, and I am looking forward to the next book. ( )

As a mother of a teenage daughter and a former teenager myself (seriously, regardless of what my daughter believes, I was once a teen), I try to teach my daughter about making wise decisions. It is clearly a "do as I say, not as I've done" type of teaching as I made huge, huge, horrible mistakes growing up.

This book is about mistakes and the consequences of those split second decisions. It started very slow and I was discouraged. However, about 1/4 of the way through, I really liked the story. It had all the right elements for a good book and I was genuinely surprised that I was disappointed that it ended. ( )