Monday, March 15, 2021

Book Review: Make You Beg

I promise on Wednesday I am going to have a crazy full post of what has been going on in my tiny piece of the world. I've been insanely busy and I'm trying to not let small things get to me and send me over the edge. I'm really struggling with that but you know what? It's spring break for the kids, they are going to grandma and grandpa's for a few days and I just really need the break. 

Make You Beg - Shantel Tessier

To the world, she’s known as Henley Greene.
To me, she’s a little doll— a toy to be played with and tossed to the side once no longer wanted.
She will pay for her betrayal however I deem necessary.


Imagine living in a constant nightmare where you have no control. Running from someone or something, you can hear him getting closer and feel his breath on your neck. You know that no matter what you do, he’s going to get you.

He will win.

But I don’t have just one. I have four.

Ryan Scout, Van Rellik, Dax Monroe, and Grayson Law are the Reapers of Westbrook High, my ex-best friends, and now my biggest enemies. They run the school and own this town. They want nothing more than to make me pay for what I saw that night at Death Valley. A sick and twisted game that leaves me dirty and bruised with torn clothing.

So how did I fall in love with one?

I was raised to fear the dark side, but he showed me it was in the dark where the truth came to light. He played with me until my body craved his touch. I was going to prove I could be his most trusted servant in every form of the word. Whether kneeling before him or lying on my back, my sole purpose in life was to be his.

But when you’re a toy everyone likes to play with, you’re bound to end up broken.
Whoa, nelly. I have to tell you that if there were disclaimers on this one when I signed up, I clearly did NOT read them because boy... was I in for a surprise. I can't let you go into this without some basic knowledge: it features a MF and a MFM romance/sexy scenes. It is not a reverse harem, so we've got that going for it. (I'm not a fan of the harem or reverse harem books, it just isn't my thing.) I mean, this IS a dark bully romance so you can assume there will be violence and some sexual situations, both of which may be a trigger for some. I mean, they are not for me but even I was feeling a bit uncomfortable a couple of times. 

I'm going to first say... I kind of wish this wasn't told in multiple POVs. I understand why the author did it and a lot of people would really like the full circle of the story, but it left me wanting more of the romance kind of bubbling throughout. I really didn't want to get too into other characters, I wanted more of our real main couple. That said, if you're looking for a book with a high steam level and you don't mind some language, I've found you your next read. 

The story comes down to Henley, a girl who was drunk and on drugs one evening when she saw one of her friends rape a girl. Despite being friends, she turns on him and testify in court. The group of four boys, all of whom were her friends, are all wealthy (obviously) and Henley isn't (of course), so you can see where that storyline is going already. If ever there was a book that you want to throw some clothes on a character and drive her to regular therapy, this would be the one. The "relationship" between her and her "four best friends" (yes, these are the same guys who are making her life a living hell and there's sex happening everywhere and it is the absolute definition of dysfunctional) is so strange and I really had a hard time keeping it straight. 

While it seems I'm kind of down on this book, I will say what sold it for me is the story at the core: did her friend rape the girl? I mean, she is CERTAIN she knows what she saw but throughout the book you find yourself doubting her, then not, and it's just this suspenseful ride where I was more invested in that story than I was any of the romance. 

Overall, I'd give this one 3 stars. It isn't one that I'd read again, but I also didn't dislike it. It was OK, and I think I would read Shantel Tessier again because she really did weave an interesting story, and it was a fast read for me. 

Thank you to Social Butterfly PR for sending me an ARC for review! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Happy reading, lambs!
 
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