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First of all trigger warnings for: attempted sexual assault (not by hero) and actual sexual assault (not by hero). Those are two things I wish I knew going into this book.
Anyways, this was very corny with semi-poor writing. This almost felt like a wattpad book. This book could have benefited so much from editing and page extension. There are so many telling not showing scenes, especially when we’re supposed to believe these two characters hate each other at the beginning. We feel it from both of them, but they both reference how horrible they were to each other earlier in high school and it just wasn’t believable. We are told that the 3 guys that “rule the school” are scary and threatening and everyone loves them out of fear and everyone wants them or wants to be with them. We see absolutely none of that shown in the book. We are told Maddie the FMC does sex work. We barely see that. We are told Maddie loves her siblings very much, and don’t see her her siblings till probably 55% into the book?? Like they’re referenced but they don’t come up until then. And it sucks because I really thought the first 35% of this book had a lot going for it. I just think on the way there, the story lost its voice.
And like, I didn’t hate Beg For Mercy. Despite it being corny, over the top, and at time, poorly written, I still had times where I didn’t dislike it. I thought the characters were fun, especially Maddie who was such a total badass and the best part of the story (despite some of her weird “I’m not like other girls” comments…) Aric—who’s name is actually spelled like that, unfortunately—suffered from characterization issues imo. I think his character development happened wayyyy to early in the story to believable. Maddie and Aric were really cute together, I’ll give them that, and I really enjoyed how much Aric wanted to care for and provide for Maddie by the end. Their banter was also really great.
I just stand by what I said at the beginning of my review. This book suffers so badly from first draft syndrome. I just felt like this could have been a really decently written book had we gotten more page count and more editing. Still a fun bully romance, and definitely not as toxic as I thought it’s be. The bullying is very light, and it’s more about a man learning to not be an asshole which I know is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea (usually not mine either). Still fun enough, but definitely not the best high school/bully romance I’ve read and I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with the series.
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As of 2/10/2024, this book is currently FREE on Amazon US!
Anyways, this was very corny with semi-poor writing. This almost felt like a wattpad book. This book could have benefited so much from editing and page extension. There are so many telling not showing scenes, especially when we’re supposed to believe these two characters hate each other at the beginning. We feel it from both of them, but they both reference how horrible they were to each other earlier in high school and it just wasn’t believable. We are told that the 3 guys that “rule the school” are scary and threatening and everyone loves them out of fear and everyone wants them or wants to be with them. We see absolutely none of that shown in the book. We are told Maddie the FMC does sex work. We barely see that. We are told Maddie loves her siblings very much, and don’t see her her siblings till probably 55% into the book?? Like they’re referenced but they don’t come up until then. And it sucks because I really thought the first 35% of this book had a lot going for it. I just think on the way there, the story lost its voice.
And like, I didn’t hate Beg For Mercy. Despite it being corny, over the top, and at time, poorly written, I still had times where I didn’t dislike it. I thought the characters were fun, especially Maddie who was such a total badass and the best part of the story (despite some of her weird “I’m not like other girls” comments…) Aric—who’s name is actually spelled like that, unfortunately—suffered from characterization issues imo. I think his character development happened wayyyy to early in the story to believable. Maddie and Aric were really cute together, I’ll give them that, and I really enjoyed how much Aric wanted to care for and provide for Maddie by the end. Their banter was also really great.
I just stand by what I said at the beginning of my review. This book suffers so badly from first draft syndrome. I just felt like this could have been a really decently written book had we gotten more page count and more editing. Still a fun bully romance, and definitely not as toxic as I thought it’s be. The bullying is very light, and it’s more about a man learning to not be an asshole which I know is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea (usually not mine either). Still fun enough, but definitely not the best high school/bully romance I’ve read and I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with the series.
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As of 2/10/2024, this book is currently FREE on Amazon US!
Be so frl…these two would not last outside of this book and that HEA was before their divorce. I’m calling it…
I fucking HATED the MMC in this book. I couldn’t stand him. Everytime we went to his POV I wanted to kms. He was a mediocre at best dad, always yelling and snapping at his kids, and awful to the heroine. He also had virtually no personality. The FMC also annoyed the shit out of me, she was so delulu I could not. She’d been in loved with this guy forever even though he continuously treated her like shit. I just wanted to shake her and yell, “GIRL WAKE TF UP!!!!” These two were actually awful for each other and I can’t remember the last time I was genuinely pissed a couple got together. He treated her like shit everytime they slept together and she forgave him WAYYYYY too easily. He even made her cry and didn’t go comfort her, even when his daughters asked if they could. UGH I HATED HATED HATED THIS MAN!!
Also the immaturity of both of the characters just continued to baffle me. A lot of heroines struggles were her parents babying her despite being 27, but I was like, ”Girl no wonder they baby you, you act like 15.” The hero was no better, this man was literally throwing temper tantrums…And the smut was just so cringe, I was listening to this book and getting the ick. Who gets the ick listening to smut??? It’s never happened to me before, but after the MMC opened his mouth I just got the absolute worst visceral reaction.
The only good thing about this book was the kids, and if that sentence doesn’t tell you something, idk what does (as I’m a massive no kids fans). I’ve always heard amazing things about Melanie Harlow so the fact I rated my first book by her 1 star is so disappointing…I’m going to give her another chance to redeem herself but this was really terrible, and the audiobook narrators didn’t help.
I fucking HATED the MMC in this book. I couldn’t stand him. Everytime we went to his POV I wanted to kms. He was a mediocre at best dad, always yelling and snapping at his kids, and awful to the heroine. He also had virtually no personality. The FMC also annoyed the shit out of me, she was so delulu I could not. She’d been in loved with this guy forever even though he continuously treated her like shit. I just wanted to shake her and yell, “GIRL WAKE TF UP!!!!” These two were actually awful for each other and I can’t remember the last time I was genuinely pissed a couple got together. He treated her like shit everytime they slept together and she forgave him WAYYYYY too easily. He even made her cry and didn’t go comfort her, even when his daughters asked if they could. UGH I HATED HATED HATED THIS MAN!!
Also the immaturity of both of the characters just continued to baffle me. A lot of heroines struggles were her parents babying her despite being 27, but I was like, ”Girl no wonder they baby you, you act like 15.” The hero was no better, this man was literally throwing temper tantrums…And the smut was just so cringe, I was listening to this book and getting the ick. Who gets the ick listening to smut??? It’s never happened to me before, but after the MMC opened his mouth I just got the absolute worst visceral reaction.
The only good thing about this book was the kids, and if that sentence doesn’t tell you something, idk what does (as I’m a massive no kids fans). I’ve always heard amazing things about Melanie Harlow so the fact I rated my first book by her 1 star is so disappointing…I’m going to give her another chance to redeem herself but this was really terrible, and the audiobook narrators didn’t help.
Am I heartless for giving this lower than a 4? Probably. This story deals very heavily with the a main character in a domestic abuse situation. I thought this book was really well written, and wrote the sensitive topics in a delicate manner. However, I thought the story itself was kind of basic (I’m sorry, I sound so heartless rn
➸ 4 stars
”She’s been what’s sustained me here. She’s the marrow. She’s my marrow.”
↬ Spice:
”She’s been what’s sustained me here. She’s the marrow. She’s my marrow.”
↬ Spice:
➸ 3.5 stars
”Someday when we’re old and gray, I’m going to look at you lying in bed beside me, just like this, and I’m going to look into your eyes and know that it’s only ever been you. And that is going to be the great joy of my life, Bree Prescott.”
↬ Spice:
”Someday when we’re old and gray, I’m going to look at you lying in bed beside me, just like this, and I’m going to look into your eyes and know that it’s only ever been you. And that is going to be the great joy of my life, Bree Prescott.”
↬ Spice:
➸ 3 stars
”You’re crazy,” I breathe. His hands dart out, gripping my ankles, and he yanks me down the bed. Again. Nero bends over me, putting our faces an inch apart. “For you, I’m fucking certifiable.”
↬ Spice:
”You’re crazy,” I breathe. His hands dart out, gripping my ankles, and he yanks me down the bed. Again. Nero bends over me, putting our faces an inch apart. “For you, I’m fucking certifiable.”
↬ Spice:
➸ 2 stars
”Emmett’s chest thudded against mine. “I can feel your heartbeat.” My voice was barely above a whisper. His gaze locked on mine. “That’s for you, Adams.”
↬ Spice:
”Emmett’s chest thudded against mine. “I can feel your heartbeat.” My voice was barely above a whisper. His gaze locked on mine. “That’s for you, Adams.”
↬ Spice:
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➸ 4 stars
”I cannot decide if you are a toxin or a tonic,” he says, lifting a hand to my cheek. “Only that you plague my thoughts and fill my veins.”
↬ Spice:
”I cannot decide if you are a toxin or a tonic,” he says, lifting a hand to my cheek. “Only that you plague my thoughts and fill my veins.”
↬ Spice:
I’m actually really surprised I liked this so much. This book kind of felt like Khal Drogo fanfiction (and just to be clear, I really hated Khal Drogo). The MMC is a barbarian alien warlord and he steals the FMC away from her village to make her his wife. This book would have all the tropes you would expect; a feisty heroine who tended to make incredibly dumb decisions. a growly alphahole hero, some dubcon scenes, and a whole lot of hot sex. But I actually really liked this? I enjoyed the way Luna, the heroine, came to grow into the alien culture and learn how to be queen. I also did end up really enjoying her and the hero’s connection. And you seriously can’t forget about the hot sex, because there was a lot of it—not that I’m complaining. Was this amazing? No, but I had a fun time, and I’m definitely going to continue this series.
