Book: The Auction by Sadie Kincaid
Reviewed by Booksbystarlightandshadows
Rating: 3/5
This started and ended strong but the pacing in the middle just didn't engage me the way Sadie Kincaid's writing usually does which kept it at a three star for me. I liked Imogen as a character finding her way after being conditioned before the Auction, however it isn't until much later on we really see her making her own decisions. I adored her relationship with Pierre though and they seemed to have a genuine connection.
With Lincoln, his mysterious backstory had me intrigued and I liked the vigilante aspect. It is not a balanced relationship by any means; aside from the obvious power dynamic and how sheltered Imogen has been, Lincoln knows a lot more about Imogen than she is aware of and is keeping some pretty monumental secrets. The characters also spend a fair amount of the book apart and by the mid point I was more interested in what they were doing outwith the romance aspect than when they were together.
It didn't feel repetitive but as Imogen was stuck in the house interacting with only two characters and I was ready for gear change when it came. I thought this was a standalone in a series and the rug well and truly was pulled out from me in those last chapters. Its not miscommunication as such but despite feelings getting involved, there is no real trust between these two and lines have definitely been drawn. The ending was a gamechanger of a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to getting some answers in book two!