Precious and Fragile Things

Hart segues from the erotica she's known for to a dark hostage story that, due to its unrelenting grimness, risks turning readers off. Harried mom Gilly Soloman is carjacked, kidnapped, and held hostage on an isolated, snow-bound mountain by Todd Blauch. Their relationship evolves over the months they're trapped together, transforming from one of captor and captive to something approaching creepy confidantes as Gilly freezes when an opportunity to flee arises, and, as they remain in close quarters, the two share intimate details about their lives. That Todd never planned to kidnap Gilly—he just wanted her truck—but now cannot let her go because he fears going back to prison, generates a palpable tension as readers try to determine how or if Gilly will get away and return to her family. Hart's generally assured writing stumbles when she delves into Gilly's faith, but her sympathetic depiction of Todd redeems that and much of the unnecessarily traumatic backstory she shoves in as the book winds down. This may do the trick for readers whose diversionary tastes lie on the dark side. (Jan.)