The Next Contestant--Dani Evans

On a scale of 1 to unhealthy relationship, this book is the all mighty ruler of unhealthy relationships. The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking "seriously?!" A sex game for points in a fraternity, I can see that. An overprotective brother, I can see that. Lying about who you are so you can date someone; have a hard time believing that. I mean it literally sets the whole relationship up on a lie. Then there is the frustration when Kimber get mad at Jax for doing things to keep their relationship a secret once the truth is discovered. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN A LIE, DON'T LIE! It seems so simple, but it also seems like no-one in this book learned this lesson as a child. I think the main characters of this book thought "hmm, this is something horrendously stupid--I must do it!"

The author’s logic was okay, I mean feasibly some of these things could have happened, but not to one person all around the same time.  Also, there is the over protective brother--understandable so due to Kimber’s past-- but it was just so over the top that it was just plain stupid.  Then there is the frat that is VIDEOTAPING the sex-capades. Sure all the girls are literally asking for it, at least they covered the rape lawsuits that would come from that, but none of the girl knew they were being filmed that does not seem like it would work for their benefit if some of the footage got leaked.  None of what they were doing was okay, verbal permission or not and a book that basically glorifies it in the male point of view is not okay.

I keep trying to find good points about this story but I can’t find many. When Jax and Kimber are together they are actually kind of cute, if you overlook the lying and secret relationship that is. I just could not enjoy this book, the level of stupidity of the characters rivals very few books. Would not recommend, would not read again.  It was just that…not good, not good at all.

Fair Game--Monica Murphy

This book started off really cute and I envisioned it staying that way but wow, talk about an abrupt ending.

Jade is not a fan of Shep he is arrogant has a reputation of being a manwhore. So what does Jade do, talk about him while he’s in the room. Not a smart idea. Also, not a smart idea is to tell your boyfriend to fold in a game of poker when you see someone else’s cards. That’s cheating. Shep is very quick to call her out on this and throw her in to the pot. Literally.  He bet her boyfriend fifty grand if he loses, but if he wins he gets Jade.

What do you know? Shep wins. Shocker, really. Or not.  Jade doesn’t think that if fair, she is refusing to be won in a game of cards and lets her opinion be known. Shep can’t get the sexy redhead off his mind after she leaves and is determined to claim his winnings.

This part of the book while fairly stereotypical, is cute you get that she is fighting her attraction and he is scared of his. However nothing really happens. I was sitting there thinking “okay, soon, something will happen soon”.  Just when I thought the plot was picking up and there was going to be a real conflict the book ended. It wasn’t a ‘let’s wrap this up’ ending, it was a ‘let’s just be done, immediately’ ending.  Shep basically declared that they loved each other after like a month or so of dating and at times hating each other. Very realistic and not stupid at all.

In all honesty it was cute book, I thought more was going to happen but it didn’t. I don’t like it when books leave me wanting. I feel like that is a writing error. (When I say leave me wanting, I’m not talking about cliff hangers--even though I’m sometimes not a fan of those either--I’m talking about when I want something more from the story.) I probably won't read another book by this author, I definitely won't be reading anymore books in the Rule Series. Just not for me.

Fear Me--B.B. Reid

I have absolutely no idea how the average rating of this book is so high. This book is basically glorified rape. I know that the disclaimer says dubious consent but I understood that as maybe drunken or drugged sex not the rape that occurred. The main male lead is described as an antihero, and alpha male, when in reality he is in high school, a grade-A asshole, abusive and a rapist--no dubious consent about it. He is a rapist.

The story stars of with Lake’s first encounter of Kieran. They are young, I think around 8.  Someone is stuck up on the monkey bars, no one moves to helps so Lake being the new kid goes to help him.  One quick shove and she is hurt on the ground.  This is when Kieran first starts threatening her and hurting her.  He threatened to kill Lake just like he did her.  For ten years, he is verbally and physically abusive to her for reason she has no idea about except that she reminds him of her.  Her friend informs her that he is back from incarceration. The psychological trauma is so extreme that she hyperventilates to the point that she PASSES OUT!  

Well, now he is back and he threatens to kill her aunt and tells her that she can longer be friends with her best friend of ten years. He controls almost all aspects of her life, including making her quit her job. All of this is done with ulterior motives and sexual ones at that.  As previously stated, he threatens to kill her aunt if she doesn’t become HIS--his to take however, whenever he wants. She fights especially the first few times, Lake even calls Kieran a rapist. Sure she is attracted to him and always has been, but it doesn’t counteract all the crap he pulled.

There is more to the story that is a great big spoiler, but that whole storyline is so not plausible. It’s basically we have two stories one with a bullying rapist and one where someone’s past comes to destroy everything.  Of course the past is also kind of rape-y. This whole book was a cluster of rape and abuse.

This is not okay. This book was not okay. Not only all this but the storyline just is hokey. No! There was just so much wrong with this story. Maybe if it wasn't set in high school? Maybe if there wasn't rape? Maybe if the characters were likable and not annoying? Or maybe not. I'm not sure if this book could have been salvageable to me.