Reading Write Now: Miss Taken by Cleo Scornavacca

Synopsis

Love........................The Ultimate Loss of Control

Rain and Raven Medici are identical twins. Although they come from a loving close-knit family their childhoods couldn’t have been more diﬀerent. Raven went to school and was exposed freely to the outside world. Rain on the other hand was born with a blood disorder and denied many normal childhood experiences.

Once grown, Raven becomes a lawyer at their dad’s ﬁrm Kane & Medici in NYC. Rain along with her only childhood friend Tommy Cont, builds a very successful business as professional photographers. Traveling between Europe and Manhattan, and enjoying a world that was kept from her, Rain vows never to be controlled again.

Dominick Kane is a product of his upbringing. He’s powerful, self-assured and knows he can achieve anything he desires. Nothing gets in his way. There is only one thing he has ever failed at. A relationship with his father Vincent Kane. Upon his father’s death, Dominick vows revenge. The events he sets in motion put him on a collision course he himself will be unable to control.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Dominick kidnaps Raven as part of his plan for revenge. Only to discover afterward, he has taken Rain by mistake. Rain knows she can never survive being conﬁned again. So she strikes a bargain with the devil and agrees to help Dominick get back what he feels rightly belongs to him. His father’s share of Kane & Medici.

Dominick decides to use the strong attraction growing between Rain and himself to control her in every way imaginable. Too bad no one ever taught Dominick you can’t control the heart. Nothing could have prepared him for the eﬀect Rain would have on his.

Will this plan of revenge turn into unconditional love?

Or will Dominick and Rain’s need for control ultimately destroy them and any possibly chance for a real future together.......

Kota's Review

Miss Taken is Rain Medici’s story, well part of it anyway. Rain is a photographer, in business with her best friend Tommy. Rain’s father is a partner in an extremely powerful and profitable law firm. Rain is also a twin, her sister Raven works for her dad, and has quite the reputation in the court room.

Meet Dominick Kane, a ruthless lawyer who wants what ‘rightfully’ belongs to him, with a plan for how to make it happen.

Rain has led a very sheltered and protected life due to a childhood illness. She has been controlled for so very long, that as an adult she chooses not to allow people to control her. Until she falls prey to Dominick’s revenge plot. Can Rain and Dominick find a mutual understanding to both get what they want? Where does Raven fit into this story? What about the best friend Tommy? What secrets are hidden behind the walls of law firm Kane & Medici?

Miss Taken is Ms Scornavacca’s debut story. It is an easy read, and while the plot dynamics are quite complex, there appears to be a simplicity about them. I found the story engaging – a little unbelievable at times, but still engaging. The characters have potential. I struggled with the relationship between Rain and Tommy, and the readiness for each of them to abuse (for lack of a better word) it. The dynamics between all the players kept me thinking that there is so much more lying just beyond this story. Miss Taken ends with a cliff hanger. It is one that became a little predictable, but still has you wondering what it all means.

Will Rain stand on her own, and take advantage of all that is before her? Will she forgive Dominick and find her HEA with him? Will Dominick ever ‘get it’ and will he forgive Rain when he learns her secrets? Will Tommy ever man up? So many questions at the end of the story, Will book 2 be the one to answer them all?

This is not an unenjoyable story at all. While there were elements that seemed unrealistic for the most part it flowed. I did find it a bit chaotic at times. I felt the back and forth between Rain and Dominick and the choices Rain makes a little challenging as a reader.

I think Ms Scornavacca has the potential to grow as a writer, and book 2 has the potential to truly explore some of these more complex character traits and relationships that are simmering underneath. I look forward to seeing where she takes the story, and hope it diverts from the predictable and delves into devious.

I am rating Miss Taken a solid 3 ½ hearts.