It's
been so long and so many books since I read the original generation of this
author that I honestly read this as a standalone. I really wouldn't have even
known that this was a second generation except I was absolutely besotted with
the first generation and getting sprinkles of them through this was like a
cherry on top.
But
Gigi and Ryder were their own special flavour of awesome. Although I'll admit
this did start out a little shaky for me, I think that was because I was
listening to the audio version, and it took me a minute to get my head around
all the different characters. And with the general storyline I kept getting
confused as to who was friends with whom and if they were in on the different
things going on.
I
liked the fact these guys were young and in college and actually acted like twenty-year-olds
finding themselves. They made mistakes and they learnt from them. And once they
got over the misunderstandings they talked like adults and got on with it. A
few times Gigi made decisions I didn't like but I could see where she was
coming from. Plus, she owned her actions and didn't try to make excuses.
The
pacing felt a little rushed and there were a lot of details I could have done
without. I'm guessing that is in part to set the stage for the next books in
the series and I'm definitely going to be adding them to the TBR as soon as
they are announced.
Release date: February 1st, 2022
She does everything right. So what could go wrong?
Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a people pleaser. Her demanding parents. Her prep school friends. Her long-time boyfriend. It’s exhausting, really, always following the rules. Unlike most twenty-year-olds, all she really wants to do is focus on growing her internet business, but first she must get a college degree at her parents’ insistence. That means moving to the beachside town of Avalon Bay, a community made up of locals and the wealthy students of Garnet College.
Mac’s had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper Hartley, that ability is suddenly tested. Cooper is rough around the edges. Raw. Candid. A threat to her ordered existence. Their friendship soon becomes the realest thing in her life.
Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realizes Mac isn’t just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he’s been keeping from her threatens the only place she’s ever felt at home.
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
THE DARE
Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy!
Blurb
College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.
The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.
Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.
Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.
But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.
And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.
My Review
Purchase Links
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Excerpt
“Thank you,” she breathes the moment we’re alone.
“No problem. Mind if I make myself comfortable?”
“Um, yeah. I mean, no. I don’t mind. Sit if you want. Or—wow, okay, you’re lying down.”
I grin at her visible nervousness. It’s cute. While I stretch out my six-foot-two frame amid the stuffed animals and decorative pillows on the bed, she remains the startled rabbit plastered against the door and breathing heavily.
“Gotta be honest,” I tell her, entwining my hands behind my head, “I’ve never seen a girl so unhappy to be locked in a bedroom with me.”
This has the desired effect of loosening her shoulders and even eliciting a shy smile. “I have no doubt.”
“I’m Conor, by the way.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know.”
“What’s the eyeroll for?” I ask, playing wounded.
“No, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Just, I know who you are. You’re, like, campus famous.”
The more I watch her, hands braced at her sides against the door, one knee bent, dirty-blonde hair a little messy and draped over one shoulder, I can’t help picturing myself holding her arms above her head while I explore her body with my mouth. She’s got very kissable skin.
“Taylor Marsh,” she blurts out, and I realize I don’t know how long we were silent until then.
I scoot to the far side of the bed and put a pillow beside me as a divider. “Come on. If we’re going to be in here awhile, let’s at least make friends.”
Taylor laughs out a breath and with it she releases a bit more tension. She’s got a nice smile. Bright, warm. It takes a bit more coaxing, however, to get her on the bed.
“This isn’t like a move,” she tells me, lining up stuffed animal guards to patrol the pillow wall between us. “I’m not some sort of weirdo who tricks men into getting in bed with her and then mauls them.”
“Sure.” I nod with mock seriousness. “But a little mauling would be okay.”
Other Links
Briar U series: https://geni.us/BriarU
Elle’s Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKNL
Blogger Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKBlog
I adore Elle Kennedy's writing and her Briar U series has been on point. I have loved them all and I had all these good intentions of doing a re-read of the previous books before I started this one. But sadly time got away from me and As soon as this landed on my kindle my self control joined my time management and went surfing.
The meeting between these two was great, I couldn't help but giggle at Taylor's introduction. She was such a perfect new adult character. I loved everything about her. But the fact that she had such an awesome growth that felt so organic made the story for me. She was such a mess of insecurity and just genuine human flaws I couldn't help but relate and sympathize.
But omg Conor. Seriously, he hit all the marks for me. A reformed bad boy player with a heart of gold who falls hard for the normal, sweet, girl next door. And gives great boyfriend and works so hard to be everything she deserves. Yup I'm in lust. Throw in the blonde surfer god with the hockey body and I'm gone.
I loved this book. It felt real. There were dramas and mistakes but they were dealt with maturely and added to my character love. Now I'm off to stalk the author to see if we are getting more of this series.
THE DARE
Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy!
College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.
The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.
Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.
Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.
But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.
And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.
The Dare purchase links:
Amazon: https://geni.us/TDrAmz
Apple: https://geni.us/TDrAp
Kobo: https://geni.us/TDrKobo
Nook: https://geni.us/TDrNook
Other Links:
Briar U series: https://geni.us/BriarU
Elle’s Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKNL
Blogger Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKBlog
LobsterShorts, 21
Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.
LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.
SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.
LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?
SinnerThree: All the time. I'm an equal opportunity player. You?
LobsterShorts: [crickets!]
SinnerThree, 21
Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.
SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?
LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.
SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries...
LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?
SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.
LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing...
Q&A about Top Secret:
Q: Have we met these characters before in another book?
A: No! These guys are brand new, and we can’t wait for you to meet them.
Q: Is this story MM? Or is it a MMF / MFM / menage?
A: This book is MM.
Q: Is this a love triangle story?
A: Not really. You’ll see.
