Title: She Didn’t Have A Choice: A Romantic Thriller
Author: Harshul Srivastava
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5434-8293-5
Pages: 146
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Reviewed by: Tara Mcnabb
Pacific Book Review
Delving into a dark underworld of biker gangs and human trafficking, Harshul Srivastava’s “She Didn’t Have A Choice” is not for the faint of heart. But it rewards those who can handle the tough subject matter with a satisfying romance between two unlikely heroes.
Audrey Muller is a beautiful young mentor devoted to her mentees at the Ironwood residential treatment center for troubled teens. Passionate and successful in her field, she works tirelessly to improve the lives of teens who are struggling to get their lives in order. This often results in close relationships with her mentees, to the point where they almost become family. So when one of her most troubled teens suddenly goes missing, Audrey is immediately suspicious. Is this just another one of Lindsay’s desperate attempts for attention? Most people seem to think so. But Audrey knows Lindsay better than that.
Frustrated with the local police who don’t seem to care, Audrey decides to do her own investigating and find Lindsay alone. When all the clues begin to point towards the involvement of a sinister and feared biker gang, things quickly go from bad to worse. Known as the War Horses, this biker gang is rumored to deal in human trafficking as part of their money-making empire. Just as she’s beginning to lose all hope of ever finding Lindsay, Audrey meets Marcus, the leader of a rival biker gang who is strangely intriguing and handsome despite his gruff appearance. Marcus is himself drawn to the fiery Audrey, and he agrees to help her find Lindsay and take down the War Horses as a way to exact revenge for a past injustice. Bolstered by her new-found friends, Audrey is confident they will rescue Lindsay now that she has the experienced Marcus by her side.
But things aren’t easier by any means; the pair will have to pose as buyers looking to purchase a victim of human trafficking if they are to have any chance of finding Lindsay before it’s too late. This means going into the very heart of the criminal underworld, where things can quickly spiral out of control. Will Audrey be able to keep her emotions in check and not blow their cover if they see Lindsay, drugged, beaten, and tied up like a slave? And will the growing romance between her and Marcus ever have the chance to blossom into something more?
The author has admirably chosen a sensitive topic and turned it into a provocative romantic thriller that manages to entertain while also standing alone as social and political commentary. Human trafficking is an issue that deserves more discussion and awareness among a much wider audience, and Srivastava’s gripping thriller is a noteworthy step in that direction.
With sharp dialogue, gritty scenarios and a sexy romance, “She Didn’t Have A Choice” is the perfect summer read while still remaining politically relevant.
