When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes, A community is shaken. Parents turn desperate. Friends hold vigils. And the boy who loves her searches. When a year goes by, The community is recovering. Parents feel hopeless. Friends feel helpless. And the boy who loves her continues his search. When ten years go by, The community has forgotten. Parents cling to the past. Friends move toward the future. And the boy who loves her . . . Brings her home. Jade Childs spent ten years in captivity, but now that she’s back, the real battle for survival begins. The media shadows her. Flashbacks haunt her. Her old life evades her. Her so-called new life rejects her. She spent too many years in the dark to recognize the light. She spent too long repressing her feelings to remember how to express them. She spent a decade abandoning hope and cannot dare letting it back into her life. Jade’s not just defined by what happened to her—she’s collared to it. When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found, A community wants to know the story, Parents want to forget the story, Friends want to be a part of the story, And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.
MELISSA'S REVIEW: 5 STARS
Collared is the first Nicole Williams book I have ever read. While this disappoints me a little bit I'm kind of encouraged by it, because I thought Collared was fantastic. I'm happy to say that her first of mine, is also now a favorite of mine. When I first read the blurb and saw that cover, I knew right away that I wanted to read this book. I'm not a squeamish reader and I quite enjoy books that contain sensitive topics, but let me say this, Collared is completely unexpected. It is not a story about a girl being held captive, not the way your thinking. It's about her survival, the way she puts herself completely at the mercy of her past, and how she is held captive by her freedom. Fortunately though, she is strong and brave and hopeful, even when (maybe even especially when) she is most broken and vulnerable. This story seemed to just come out of nowhere and grab me right away. It opens powerfully and quickly, never lagging or wasting time on mindless details. Yet, it also burns rather slowly. Jade's recovery and healing takes time. It's painful and distressing but comes at a pace that feels wholly realistic. Not once did it ever feel as though liberties were taken just because it's fiction. Maybe that's because this story, it blurs the lines of fiction and reality and Nicole's depiction and approach to it is delicate and thoughtful, bringing a believability so raw and identifiable. I thought it was brilliant and beautiful. I experienced every emotion, high, low and inbetween. I thought that characters, from main to supporting, were well developed and all complimented the story as it unfolded. Jade was a highly reliable narrator and Torrin one of the most convincing heroes I've had the pleasure of reading. He was always present, always supportive and forever hopeful. I admire his tenacity and devotion and fell in love with the champion he was for Jade and their love. I simply loved Collared and I eagerly recommend this to any reader, especially those who enjoy themes of healing, self discovery and hope.
ABOUT NICOLE WILLIAMS
I'm a wife, a mom, a writer. I started writing because I loved it and I'm still writing because I love it. I write romance because I still believe in true love, kindred spirits, and happy endings. Nicole loves hearing from her readers. You can connect with her on: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER