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Crooked Sinners #3
Riot Act
USA Today Bestselling Author, Callie Hart, delivers a twisted and edgy new interconnected standalone dark romance, featuring a girl with nothing left to lose and a broken boy with a heart as black as his soul.
Want something? Pax will take it from you.
Love something? Pax will destroy it.
Love him? Heaven help you. You’d have to be the stupidest person to walk the face of the earth.
PAX
I don’t do complicated. I sure as hell don’t do love. With graduation in sight, I’ve made it almost four years at Wolf Hall without getting tangled up in BS with girls.
I especially want nothing to do with her:
Presley. Maria. Witton. Chase.
The timid little mouse with the red hair, who can’t even look my way without hyperventilating. She’s nothing to me. Beautiful, sure, but I’ve had plenty of beautiful women.
I’m perfectly content ignoring her…
…until her life is suddenly in my hands.
PRES
I’ve loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him.
The cruel, inked anarchist of Riot House.
He’s wicked, and he’s cold, and there’s nothing good left in him.
I fear him almost as much as I crave him.
With only a few weeks left until graduation, all I have to do is keep my head down, and then I’ll be free; I can leave Mountain Lakes and my obsession with Pax Davis in my rearview mirror.
But the demons I’ve been hiding for years now are growing restless…
…and Pax is thing that will keep them at bay.
This is not an act of kindness.
Not an act of love.
Not an act of forgiveness.
You'll find no redemption here.
This is the final riot.
ACT ACCORDINGLY.
RIOT ACT is a 137,000-word standalone book in the Crooked Sinners Series and does not end on a cliffhanger. This book contains dark content that may be considered a trigger for some readers, and as such is recommended for readers 17+
Want something? Pax will take it from you.
Love something? Pax will destroy it.
Love him? Heaven help you. You’d have to be the stupidest person to walk the face of the earth.
PAX
I don’t do complicated. I sure as hell don’t do love. With graduation in sight, I’ve made it almost four years at Wolf Hall without getting tangled up in BS with girls.
I especially want nothing to do with her:
Presley. Maria. Witton. Chase.
The timid little mouse with the red hair, who can’t even look my way without hyperventilating. She’s nothing to me. Beautiful, sure, but I’ve had plenty of beautiful women.
I’m perfectly content ignoring her…
…until her life is suddenly in my hands.
PRES
I’ve loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him.
The cruel, inked anarchist of Riot House.
He’s wicked, and he’s cold, and there’s nothing good left in him.
I fear him almost as much as I crave him.
With only a few weeks left until graduation, all I have to do is keep my head down, and then I’ll be free; I can leave Mountain Lakes and my obsession with Pax Davis in my rearview mirror.
But the demons I’ve been hiding for years now are growing restless…
…and Pax is thing that will keep them at bay.
This is not an act of kindness.
Not an act of love.
Not an act of forgiveness.
You'll find no redemption here.
This is the final riot.
ACT ACCORDINGLY.
RIOT ACT is a 137,000-word standalone book in the Crooked Sinners Series and does not end on a cliffhanger. This book contains dark content that may be considered a trigger for some readers, and as such is recommended for readers 17+
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2021
681 people are currently reading
10267 people want to read
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October 12, 2021
Dnf
There are absolutely NO trigger warnings in the book so I'll do you a favor
For fuck's sake it's not that hard to put some warnings in a book.
There are absolutely NO trigger warnings in the book so I'll do you a favor
For fuck's sake it's not that hard to put some warnings in a book.
October 12, 2021
“The path of least resistance doesn’t always mean taking the easiest option. Sometimes it means your soul finding its way home, toward something it loves, after you’ve held it back for too fucking long.”
PAXPRESLEY SUPREMACY <3 Just like the other couples in the series, these two have my whole heart, and their story was everything I could have hoped for and more.
Pax Davis is the Riot House boy who stole my attention from the moment I started the Crooked Sinners series, and he quickly became my favorite. So to say the least, I was EAGER to read his book, and even more so after finishing Riot Rules and reading all those moments between Pax and Presley. Riot Act was a rollercoaster of emotions that kept me hooked from beginning to end, and I simply couldn't stop reading Pax and Presley's intense story. I was so intrigued to learn more about these characters, to go through their thoughts, and discover their true personalities. So many things I didn't expect were unraveled in this book and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It made me love the characters even more than I could have imagined! I also enjoyed this book because it gave more insight into the friendship between the Riot House boys and more scenes of ElodieWren and CarrieDash. Once again, Callie Hart mastered the whole dark academia, boarding school, and mysterious vibes that come with Wolf Hall.
“When he kisses me, it's like being touched by the sun.”
Pax Davis is a very complex character and fascinated me from the moment we met him in Riot House. He is a cruel and closed character who does what he wants and only cares about Wren and Dash in his own way. As the story progresses, you find out more about his backstory, his family, his passion for photography, and you can help but fall more in love with him. You get to understand why he is the way he is, and it's such a moving and heartbreaking part of the story. What I liked most was watching him slowly not being able to stop thinking about Presley, being hit with all these emotions, and not knowing how to act. Witnessing him come undone was magnificent!
I was also eager to learn more about Presley Maria Witton Chase, as Pax likes to call her. Her story honestly shocked me because I never would have imagined such a thing. She is a very strong and brave woman, and her development throughout the book is utterly beautiful. When she realizes that scarier monsters are lurking around her, she is no longer afraid of Pax and doesn't hesitate to stand up to him and act bolder in his presence. We know Presley has been in love with Pax for a long time, but it was interesting to see how she truly feels about him. As much as Presley tries to hide it, her pain is still very palpable and heart-wrenching throughout the pages, and all I wanted to do was give her big hugs!
The relationship and special bond that Pax and Presley share began in an unexpected way that left me speechless. From then on, they started spending more time together, and the tension and chemistry between them were OFF THE CHARTS. Pax and Presley had so many hot moments that I can't help but think about, but also softer, more emotional, and vulnerable moments that show how much they cared about each other. I also liked that they shared a mutual passion for writing, and it was interesting to see them create their own story. Compared to ElodieWren and CarrieDash, Pax and Presley's story was more raw and complicated, and I didn't expect it to play out like that at all, but it was incredible! There was also so much angst between them, and seeing them truly care about each other, understand each other, and fall in love with each other was my favorite thing ever. The way Pax was unable to contain his emotions, always wanted to protect Presley, and didn't know how to express his feelings for her almost ended me! I love them SO MUCH, and they have become my favorite couple from the Crooked Sinners series and in general. The angry/bad boy X sweet/shy girl trope is my weakness, and PaxPresley has fed me so well!!
“Can you deal with that, Chase? Do you think you can handle being loved by me? 'Cause I don't think I can handle being without you anymore.”
The close friendship between the Riot House boys was also one of the highlights of the story, and I really enjoyed all their moments together. It was also interesting to see the dynamic between Pax and the girls, especially with Elodie, who was able to see past his bullshit. Also, ElodieWren and CarrieDash's crumbs made me want to reread the whole series so bad, and I'm sure I'll give in soon because it's fantastic!
Overall, Riot Act was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I couldn't have imagined anything better for Pax and Presley. I fell in love with them and their relationship, and it was great to finally learn more about them and read their thoughts. The world that Callie Hart created captivated me from beginning to end! Every book in the Crooked Sinners series has been specular, and Pax and Presley's story was the perfect way to end it.
Is it too early to ask for an epilogue novella? Because I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. Elodie, Wren, Carrie, Dash, Presley, and Pax own my heart, and I miss them so much already!
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest opinion
October 17, 2021
The final riot. The final act. The last original Riot House boy gets his story- and in true Pax fashion, it’s messy and complicated and nothing that I expected. The Riot House series is an all time favorite- heartwrenching, complicated, suspenseful, and captivating- it is a series both poignant and entertaining. A series that explores trauma and survival, strength and vulnerability. A series about having the courage to open your heart- despite unthinkable risk.
Pax- the long awaited Pax. We knew he would be the hardest Riot House boy to crack - the darkest, the most detached, the coldest. Over the course of the series, Pax has remained a mystery. He has a penchant for violence and ange- at times, the boys themselves question if he even likes them, because Pax isn’t moved by anything or anyone. He certainly seemed the most volatile, a powder keg of some unnamed triggers we just didn’t know much about. And now we get to see the heart of Pax. There’s an intensity to him that is magnetic- he radiates charisma and danger. HE’s the kind of hero that you just know will burn you- but you can’t help but reach for him anyways. But there was an unexpected tenderness, a woundedness to him that I hadn’t anticipated. Sure, he’s terrible at expressing it, but Pax’s wounds come from a place of love, so it’s not wonder he’s so allergic to it.
This book is really about character struggle- Pax and Presley’s as individuals, and their struggle to open up to each other and trust. Their pasts unfold at different speeds and in different approaches. With Presley we’re more immersed in her present complications, with glimmers of her past slowly seeping to the surface to give color to just what happened that led her to this place. And with Pax, we’re confronted quite immediately with his baggage, or so it seems. Both are battling their own demons- real and internal, both are broken, but most importantly both are radically alone. Presley has always felt for Pax, but the trauma that unfolds in front of his eyes shapes her anew. She’s stronger, less timid, and a bit numb. She’s always been both intrigued and scared by him- but now she sees the world with a new lens. A version of Presley that intrigues the mercurial Pax- a hesitant bond forms, physical at first, but it evolves as they two find something new to them both- safety and connection.
This story does feel markedly different than the others- in part because while both books had two concurrent mysterious through lines (the individual stories/histories of the characters and then the gritty suspense of the murder mystery), this book takes place after the events that drove the first two stories. Which means the story focuses solely on Pax and Presley- we have very little Riot House action, no crazy parties or mysteries to solve, and very little external danger. From a storytelling perspective, this makes sense- Callie is closing down a series and can’t exactly open a whole new can of plot worms. And, it does make for a much more intimate and focused narrative, one that felt more meta without so much of the external action. Our primary mystery is more so about Presley and Pax’s individual pasts- just what happened to Presley that led to the opening events of this story, and just what made Pax the way he is. It’s more character driven, more introspective, and it makes for some really fascinating chemistry and story points. So from that lens, I enjoyed the approach and I felt I got to spend lots of time with these characters as they are working through their baggage. But, on the other, the pace felt much slower, and the story took much longer to evolve and build than the prior two. Our characters don’t spend much time together until well into the story, and while I felt more in the dark about the mystery in the past, I figured out Presley’s pretty quickly- and grew increasingly impatient for it to just be “out there” in what is a pretty long book. Fortunately, the impact of this is so interesting on the characters that once we got to that space, I was all in- just took a minute for me to get there. But once I did, I couldn't turn away.
Since the book is more insulated to their coupling, my expectations for chemistry felt a bit higher. And again, this took a minute to develop for me, too. In part because their bond was so physical at first- and because they are both SO closed off. To us, and to each other. I do wish we’d gotten to some “answers” sooner than when we did- so we could really feel their connection deepen in a more honest space. Though, their connection was super intriguing and magnetic- but their emotional vulnerability took time. As individual characters though, that’s where this story truly shines. They are broken, complicated, nuanced, and compelling. Radically imperfect, emotionally captivating, and slightly mysterious. Each has a journey that I found compelling and interesting- and Presley in particular was a character you can root for, that you admire, and whose story is more than worth the journey.
I have LOVED this series, and I’m not ready for it to go. The Riot House boys, and their ladies, are all so special to me. The heartache, the explosive chemistry, the emotional intensity, the flawed characters, and that dark, dark mystery- I live for the boys of Wolf Hall.
4.5 stars
Pax- the long awaited Pax. We knew he would be the hardest Riot House boy to crack - the darkest, the most detached, the coldest. Over the course of the series, Pax has remained a mystery. He has a penchant for violence and ange- at times, the boys themselves question if he even likes them, because Pax isn’t moved by anything or anyone. He certainly seemed the most volatile, a powder keg of some unnamed triggers we just didn’t know much about. And now we get to see the heart of Pax. There’s an intensity to him that is magnetic- he radiates charisma and danger. HE’s the kind of hero that you just know will burn you- but you can’t help but reach for him anyways. But there was an unexpected tenderness, a woundedness to him that I hadn’t anticipated. Sure, he’s terrible at expressing it, but Pax’s wounds come from a place of love, so it’s not wonder he’s so allergic to it.
This book is really about character struggle- Pax and Presley’s as individuals, and their struggle to open up to each other and trust. Their pasts unfold at different speeds and in different approaches. With Presley we’re more immersed in her present complications, with glimmers of her past slowly seeping to the surface to give color to just what happened that led her to this place. And with Pax, we’re confronted quite immediately with his baggage, or so it seems. Both are battling their own demons- real and internal, both are broken, but most importantly both are radically alone. Presley has always felt for Pax, but the trauma that unfolds in front of his eyes shapes her anew. She’s stronger, less timid, and a bit numb. She’s always been both intrigued and scared by him- but now she sees the world with a new lens. A version of Presley that intrigues the mercurial Pax- a hesitant bond forms, physical at first, but it evolves as they two find something new to them both- safety and connection.
This story does feel markedly different than the others- in part because while both books had two concurrent mysterious through lines (the individual stories/histories of the characters and then the gritty suspense of the murder mystery), this book takes place after the events that drove the first two stories. Which means the story focuses solely on Pax and Presley- we have very little Riot House action, no crazy parties or mysteries to solve, and very little external danger. From a storytelling perspective, this makes sense- Callie is closing down a series and can’t exactly open a whole new can of plot worms. And, it does make for a much more intimate and focused narrative, one that felt more meta without so much of the external action. Our primary mystery is more so about Presley and Pax’s individual pasts- just what happened to Presley that led to the opening events of this story, and just what made Pax the way he is. It’s more character driven, more introspective, and it makes for some really fascinating chemistry and story points. So from that lens, I enjoyed the approach and I felt I got to spend lots of time with these characters as they are working through their baggage. But, on the other, the pace felt much slower, and the story took much longer to evolve and build than the prior two. Our characters don’t spend much time together until well into the story, and while I felt more in the dark about the mystery in the past, I figured out Presley’s pretty quickly- and grew increasingly impatient for it to just be “out there” in what is a pretty long book. Fortunately, the impact of this is so interesting on the characters that once we got to that space, I was all in- just took a minute for me to get there. But once I did, I couldn't turn away.
Since the book is more insulated to their coupling, my expectations for chemistry felt a bit higher. And again, this took a minute to develop for me, too. In part because their bond was so physical at first- and because they are both SO closed off. To us, and to each other. I do wish we’d gotten to some “answers” sooner than when we did- so we could really feel their connection deepen in a more honest space. Though, their connection was super intriguing and magnetic- but their emotional vulnerability took time. As individual characters though, that’s where this story truly shines. They are broken, complicated, nuanced, and compelling. Radically imperfect, emotionally captivating, and slightly mysterious. Each has a journey that I found compelling and interesting- and Presley in particular was a character you can root for, that you admire, and whose story is more than worth the journey.
I have LOVED this series, and I’m not ready for it to go. The Riot House boys, and their ladies, are all so special to me. The heartache, the explosive chemistry, the emotional intensity, the flawed characters, and that dark, dark mystery- I live for the boys of Wolf Hall.
4.5 stars
March 28, 2022
Obsessed-- as usual
I knew Pax was going to be my favorite and I wasn't wrong. I love him to pieces, this story to pieces, and as always, Callie hart's exceptional writing.
I knew Pax was going to be my favorite and I wasn't wrong. I love him to pieces, this story to pieces, and as always, Callie hart's exceptional writing.
October 15, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.15/5
What a ROLLERCOASTER this book was!!
One minute I was laughing my ass off and the next I wanted curl and cry my eyes out. This was an interesting book, though.
I was waiting to read Pax since I read RIOT House and it did not disappoint. Pax was a complex and a likeable anti-hero. And I wrote anti-hero but he could very well be hero, too. Because he classifies as both, he's hateful as fuck, but then at the then he cares A LOT.
This book DOES CONTAIN triggers although there's been some troubles because the author, Callie Hart forgot to put the triggers warnings at the beginning there are some very disturbing scenes in this book, that may be very difficult to read for some, I'll list some of the events:
● Rape by her half-brother
● Beaten Up by her half-brother
● Slit her wrist by her half-brother
● Half-brother almost beaten up to death by Pax
These are mainly the most triggering events of the book, if you're a sensible person then you may prefer not reading this book.
Now, let's go to my favourite part of reviewing, the part that I liked and disliked/hated of a book = THE LISTING!! (I'm fucking smiling right now! 🤪)
I'm happy to announce that I enjoyed this book a lot and liked a lot of things, so the list will be longer in the positive side this time, yuhuuu!! Things that I liked and enjoyed:
○ PAX (H), he's an incredible character, he's funny, sassy, an asshole, doesn't let society believes drive him... he's just spectacular, some special guy here!
○ Mother-son relationship, so this may seem weird but i have to confess the crazy banter between them was funny and relatable, I liked their interactions in the present (not his past memories, those were horrible), how they would piss each off, push each other bottoms, how Pax played that stunt with the ashes...
○ The boys relationship was GOLD, I really liked it, they would seem angry at each other but then they would have each other backs, they would take care of each other... And Pax thoughts on his friends where hilarious 😂, the BEST!
○ WRENLODIE I liked having a peek to their life together again, seeing how cute they still are and how strong they are still going.
○ In overall I had a lot of fun reading this book, which made reading this book enjoyable and a light reading, I always like when books aren't dragging and LOOONG.
Let's start with the things I disliked or hated, there are a few, but there’s still some:
■ I really have mixed feelings about Presley, something horrible happened to her and she should be healing, asking for help or trying to recompone herself but making as if nothing happened or if the "shadows" aren't there, I really couldn't relate to her, rape and abuse are such important matters. Mental health is of supreme importance in these cases.
■ I personally didn't like that at the end Presley was saved by the hero, Pax, in this case. I truly hoped she would save herself, she would talk to her doctor, her father or the police... I mean women don't need a knight in shining armour to save them. And I hoped Presley would do that, save herself.
■ Again the same as always... what's with the tooo much SEX!! There's 20% plot and 80% SEX WHY?? Why do authors keep doing this?? No romance feelings at all, the sex between them, great, very fluid, very aggressive I must add too but the romance 0.
In overall I DID enjoy/like this book, there's even a high possibility of rereading in the future.
I highly recommend this book to those who can read it and aren't sensible to the triggers. Hope you enjoy and happy reading!!! 💜💜💗💗
I will leave here some of my favourites quotes from the book.
QUOTES:
"There's something respectable about getting hit in the face a bunch of times. Being Tased is like getting struck by lightning and it's a fifty/fifty whether you piss yourself or not. Fuck it, though, right? You only live once."
She genuinely sounds annoyed that I’m reacting badly to this. But what theactualfuck? “The urn containing my father’s ashes has been banging around in my backpack all day? My dead father? You’ve lost your fucking mind!”
"There's something just plain wrong about Lord Dashiell Lovett IV being so domesticated."
Somewhere upstairs, Wren is painting his next masterpiece. I figured, since he fell in love with Elodie and got all fucking happy on us (or as happy as Wren Jacobi ever gets), his work would change to reflect the shift in his life. His art is still as turbulent and dark as ever, though. The moody blues, black, white and greys still slash and swirl together to create what I’ve always thought to be depictions of the end of the fucking world.
What a ROLLERCOASTER this book was!!
One minute I was laughing my ass off and the next I wanted curl and cry my eyes out. This was an interesting book, though.
I was waiting to read Pax since I read RIOT House and it did not disappoint. Pax was a complex and a likeable anti-hero. And I wrote anti-hero but he could very well be hero, too. Because he classifies as both, he's hateful as fuck, but then at the then he cares A LOT.
This book DOES CONTAIN triggers although there's been some troubles because the author, Callie Hart forgot to put the triggers warnings at the beginning there are some very disturbing scenes in this book, that may be very difficult to read for some, I'll list some of the events:
● Rape by her half-brother
● Beaten Up by her half-brother
● Slit her wrist by her half-brother
● Half-brother almost beaten up to death by Pax
These are mainly the most triggering events of the book, if you're a sensible person then you may prefer not reading this book.
Now, let's go to my favourite part of reviewing, the part that I liked and disliked/hated of a book = THE LISTING!! (I'm fucking smiling right now! 🤪)
I'm happy to announce that I enjoyed this book a lot and liked a lot of things, so the list will be longer in the positive side this time, yuhuuu!! Things that I liked and enjoyed:
○ PAX (H), he's an incredible character, he's funny, sassy, an asshole, doesn't let society believes drive him... he's just spectacular, some special guy here!
○ Mother-son relationship, so this may seem weird but i have to confess the crazy banter between them was funny and relatable, I liked their interactions in the present (not his past memories, those were horrible), how they would piss each off, push each other bottoms, how Pax played that stunt with the ashes...
○ The boys relationship was GOLD, I really liked it, they would seem angry at each other but then they would have each other backs, they would take care of each other... And Pax thoughts on his friends where hilarious 😂, the BEST!
○ WRENLODIE I liked having a peek to their life together again, seeing how cute they still are and how strong they are still going.
○ In overall I had a lot of fun reading this book, which made reading this book enjoyable and a light reading, I always like when books aren't dragging and LOOONG.
Let's start with the things I disliked or hated, there are a few, but there’s still some:
■ I really have mixed feelings about Presley, something horrible happened to her and she should be healing, asking for help or trying to recompone herself but making as if nothing happened or if the "shadows" aren't there, I really couldn't relate to her, rape and abuse are such important matters. Mental health is of supreme importance in these cases.
■ I personally didn't like that at the end Presley was saved by the hero, Pax, in this case. I truly hoped she would save herself, she would talk to her doctor, her father or the police... I mean women don't need a knight in shining armour to save them. And I hoped Presley would do that, save herself.
■ Again the same as always... what's with the tooo much SEX!! There's 20% plot and 80% SEX WHY?? Why do authors keep doing this?? No romance feelings at all, the sex between them, great, very fluid, very aggressive I must add too but the romance 0.
In overall I DID enjoy/like this book, there's even a high possibility of rereading in the future.
I highly recommend this book to those who can read it and aren't sensible to the triggers. Hope you enjoy and happy reading!!! 💜💜💗💗
I will leave here some of my favourites quotes from the book.
QUOTES:
"There's something respectable about getting hit in the face a bunch of times. Being Tased is like getting struck by lightning and it's a fifty/fifty whether you piss yourself or not. Fuck it, though, right? You only live once."
She genuinely sounds annoyed that I’m reacting badly to this. But what theactualfuck? “The urn containing my father’s ashes has been banging around in my backpack all day? My dead father? You’ve lost your fucking mind!”
"There's something just plain wrong about Lord Dashiell Lovett IV being so domesticated."
Somewhere upstairs, Wren is painting his next masterpiece. I figured, since he fell in love with Elodie and got all fucking happy on us (or as happy as Wren Jacobi ever gets), his work would change to reflect the shift in his life. His art is still as turbulent and dark as ever, though. The moody blues, black, white and greys still slash and swirl together to create what I’ve always thought to be depictions of the end of the fucking world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2023
⭐️5 riotous stars ⭐️
~𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨~
Wren timidly introduced me into Riot House then in came Dash who wrecked me and finally Pax totally annihilated me.
This is by far my most favourite story out of all the series.
Pax has always struck me as the most complicated of the three, his idiosyncrasies calling the dark recess of my mind, wanting to know more, delve deeper, pull his mind apart. Callie doesn’t disappoint in delivering this perfect story.
~𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙋𝙖𝙭 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙋𝙖𝙭 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙞𝙩. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢? 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝~
There’s no denying shy, timorous Presley has been a mystery all along, even if I knew there was more than meet the eye when it came to her. I had a hard time figuring how she would fit compared to a character such as Pax. Again I was struck dumb with how well Callie pulled this off, I’m in awe of how her persona was beautifully brought to life. I felt as if she was shaped to be the perfect fit for Pax.
A craftily woven plot, a fast paced narrative that pulled me in and didn’t let go, I was obsessed with Pax and Pres, their words, their minds, their off the charts chemistry, their scorching hot moments. I felt such raw emotions watching their story unravel, I was privileged to get a front row seats to witness their evolution from chaos to ecstasy.
~"𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙩"
"𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪"~
Although this isn’t a dark story, it definitely deals with sensitive subjects, so I would caution you to tread carefully.
Thank you Callie for this last instalment in this insanely perfect series. I’m thoroughly satisfied Pax was the last to have his story told, but I’m also gutted this journey has reached its final destination. Albeit this is a very long satisfying book I can’t help feeling I needed a longer epilogue… so Callie if Pax decides to play havoc with your mind please let him in, so that we can have more of him in an extended epilogue 🙃 pretty please 🥺
I know I’ll miss Riot House terribly.
~𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨~
Wren timidly introduced me into Riot House then in came Dash who wrecked me and finally Pax totally annihilated me.
This is by far my most favourite story out of all the series.
Pax has always struck me as the most complicated of the three, his idiosyncrasies calling the dark recess of my mind, wanting to know more, delve deeper, pull his mind apart. Callie doesn’t disappoint in delivering this perfect story.
~𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙋𝙖𝙭 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙋𝙖𝙭 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙞𝙩. 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢? 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝~
There’s no denying shy, timorous Presley has been a mystery all along, even if I knew there was more than meet the eye when it came to her. I had a hard time figuring how she would fit compared to a character such as Pax. Again I was struck dumb with how well Callie pulled this off, I’m in awe of how her persona was beautifully brought to life. I felt as if she was shaped to be the perfect fit for Pax.
A craftily woven plot, a fast paced narrative that pulled me in and didn’t let go, I was obsessed with Pax and Pres, their words, their minds, their off the charts chemistry, their scorching hot moments. I felt such raw emotions watching their story unravel, I was privileged to get a front row seats to witness their evolution from chaos to ecstasy.
~"𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙩"
"𝙆𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪"~
Although this isn’t a dark story, it definitely deals with sensitive subjects, so I would caution you to tread carefully.
Thank you Callie for this last instalment in this insanely perfect series. I’m thoroughly satisfied Pax was the last to have his story told, but I’m also gutted this journey has reached its final destination. Albeit this is a very long satisfying book I can’t help feeling I needed a longer epilogue… so Callie if Pax decides to play havoc with your mind please let him in, so that we can have more of him in an extended epilogue 🙃 pretty please 🥺
I know I’ll miss Riot House terribly.
October 11, 2021
I'm honestly, slightly at a loss for words with this one. I never wanted this book or series to end. The way Callie writes just really impacts me and hits differently. Pax's arc throughout the series and his character development in this book was incredible.
This book wasn't at all what I thought Callie was going to do with it, which is refreshing in itself. The beginning of the book is more slow paced and filled with Pax's background, and how he is with his mother and the tough relationship they have. Whew his mother is a... we're just going to call her a bitch and call it a day. I don't blame Pax's hardened exterior, his rough edges and his lack of certain emotions.
Presley is so different from how she was perceived in the first two books because of what happens to her in this book. It makes her more strong and fearless in a way. She doesn't take Pax's attitude and gives it right back to him, which I loved.
Another thing I really loved is that all the boys are artistic in a different way. Wren is a painter, Dash a musician and Pax a writer and photographer. That really made me love the guys even more. Pax's photoshoot scene with Presley... Just wow.
I feel like I also quickly have to give honorable mention to Pax's filthy mouth in this... That is all.
I am incredibly sad to see these characters go, while Wren is still my favorite, Pax and Dash definitely made me feel all the things. I'll forever love these Riot Boys!
This book wasn't at all what I thought Callie was going to do with it, which is refreshing in itself. The beginning of the book is more slow paced and filled with Pax's background, and how he is with his mother and the tough relationship they have. Whew his mother is a... we're just going to call her a bitch and call it a day. I don't blame Pax's hardened exterior, his rough edges and his lack of certain emotions.
Presley is so different from how she was perceived in the first two books because of what happens to her in this book. It makes her more strong and fearless in a way. She doesn't take Pax's attitude and gives it right back to him, which I loved.
Another thing I really loved is that all the boys are artistic in a different way. Wren is a painter, Dash a musician and Pax a writer and photographer. That really made me love the guys even more. Pax's photoshoot scene with Presley... Just wow.
I feel like I also quickly have to give honorable mention to Pax's filthy mouth in this... That is all.
I am incredibly sad to see these characters go, while Wren is still my favorite, Pax and Dash definitely made me feel all the things. I'll forever love these Riot Boys!
October 20, 2021
Life is too tiring to write a full review at this point, so...
1. Is it to label something as "dark romance" "with topics that can trigger someone" a trigger warning enough? Maybe what you can find here is expected, but still I think detailed triggers are necessary and don't spoil the plot at all. This contains: sexual assault and rape, graphic violence, child neglect, suicide attempt (all in big detail).
2. Carina and Dashiell set the bar too high for me, so maybe that's why I feel just fine about this book.
3. Pax was every bit of the bad boy Callie promised so I really enjoyed this part.
4. I loved Presley since her first appearance and this book only made me love her a thousand times more. She was so strong and I loved the turn she took after the "incident" leaving her infatuation with Pax behind (or at least she tried!!)
5. I didn't like the plot. It felt like a repeat of the previous books, and it was almost as boring as Riot House.
6. The romance was lacking. Again, Carina and Dash set the bar too high with the moments they shared and their significance. No one can compete with them because they are in another league PERIOD.
1. Is it to label something as "dark romance" "with topics that can trigger someone" a trigger warning enough? Maybe what you can find here is expected, but still I think detailed triggers are necessary and don't spoil the plot at all. This contains: sexual assault and rape, graphic violence, child neglect, suicide attempt (all in big detail).
2. Carina and Dashiell set the bar too high for me, so maybe that's why I feel just fine about this book.
3. Pax was every bit of the bad boy Callie promised so I really enjoyed this part.
4. I loved Presley since her first appearance and this book only made me love her a thousand times more. She was so strong and I loved the turn she took after the "incident" leaving her infatuation with Pax behind (or at least she tried!!)
5. I didn't like the plot. It felt like a repeat of the previous books, and it was almost as boring as Riot House.
6. The romance was lacking. Again, Carina and Dash set the bar too high with the moments they shared and their significance. No one can compete with them because they are in another league PERIOD.
August 20, 2022
5/5 ✰ 💌 riot act review
check tw’s !
everyone & their mother was telling me that this was their fav book in the series. & guess what…it’s MY fav too.
i absolutely loved everything about this book. the development? incredible. the dynamic? remarkable. pax? the love of my life, i love him so so so much. presley? my GIRL. i just want to give her a big hug.
overall, i really enjoyed callie hart’s writing. she has a way of creating such a beautiful story, with romance and amazing characterizations. the plot was AMAZING. fwb? serve. slowburn? serve. grump who’s obsessed with her? NEVER MISSES!!!
check tw’s !
everyone & their mother was telling me that this was their fav book in the series. & guess what…it’s MY fav too.
i absolutely loved everything about this book. the development? incredible. the dynamic? remarkable. pax? the love of my life, i love him so so so much. presley? my GIRL. i just want to give her a big hug.
overall, i really enjoyed callie hart’s writing. she has a way of creating such a beautiful story, with romance and amazing characterizations. the plot was AMAZING. fwb? serve. slowburn? serve. grump who’s obsessed with her? NEVER MISSES!!!
October 22, 2021
***5 "Savage Love!!!" stars***
OUT NOW!!!
“The path of least resistance doesn’t always mean taking the easiest option. Sometimes it means your soul finding its way home, toward something it loves, after you’ve held it back for too fucking long.”
The final riot.
The final act of the crooked sinners was everything that I wasn't expecting and everything that I was craving for...
Paxton and Presley threw the curtain of the final chapter on this crazy and messy series...
I have loved the previous couples very much, but Pax and Chase was the absolute!!!
I freakin' loved this story cause honestly, I thought that Presley didn't have much to give me... that she will make this story kind of dull, but... I couldn't be more wrong!!!
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
Presley wasn't on Paxton's radar except as an annoying, heartsick, little girl who had been friends with his best friends's girlfriends... She wasn't important enough to catch Pax's attention....
Until a fateful night which changed both of their lives forever and they started to have a connection whoich Pax was refusing to acknowledge...
What he wasn't expecting was for this dull and unimportant girl to grow a backbone and become a different girl who was getting under his skin with every opportunity...
"This girl is an intruder. She doesn't belong here. She's invading my personal space. She's stealing my fucking peace. And she looks so unlike herself."
Presley was a shy and good girl and she had an unhealthy love interest for Pax Davis, even though he was cruel and kind of an asshole... Her tongue was getting tied every time that she was around him... But that silly little girl was a bright beautiful woman with so many demons chasing after her...
And then one evening her nightmare became too much to bare and Pax breathe her back to life...
Now, she is starting to change and even though her pain is too much, she won't let it pull her under...
"What changed?"
"I was falling... Always. I was falling, and the fear of it happening, while it was happening, crushed me."
"And then?"
"I hit rock bottom. There was nowhere to fall."
These two couldn't be more different... Both of them had their own demons to fight, but what they didn't expect was that another person could make them stronger to deal with their burdens...
Pax and Presley were imperfectly perfect for each other... Their moments together were hot and intense... even when they were fighting it!!!
I loved Pax's unapologetical cruelty and I loved Presley's renewed fighting spirit.
I simply loved this final book in the series and I believe that Callie Hart led the story exactly where it should have gone...
"Such a strange, conflicting feeling -when you're so drawn to something at the same time as desperately trying to pull away."
Honestly, I'm kind of sad that I will leave Wolf Hall and its Riot Boys behind...
I will miss this madness that these boys had created...
I will miss their beautiful girls...
I had such an amazing time witnessing their reality...
Thank you Callie Hart for a beautiful and wild ride...
If you haven't met yet Wren Jacobi, Lord Dashell IV and Pax Davis, you don't know what you're missing!!!
"If I put down my weapons here, do you think you can put down yours?"
**I was generously provided an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
OUT NOW!!!
“The path of least resistance doesn’t always mean taking the easiest option. Sometimes it means your soul finding its way home, toward something it loves, after you’ve held it back for too fucking long.”
The final riot.
The final act of the crooked sinners was everything that I wasn't expecting and everything that I was craving for...
Paxton and Presley threw the curtain of the final chapter on this crazy and messy series...
I have loved the previous couples very much, but Pax and Chase was the absolute!!!
I freakin' loved this story cause honestly, I thought that Presley didn't have much to give me... that she will make this story kind of dull, but... I couldn't be more wrong!!!
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
Presley wasn't on Paxton's radar except as an annoying, heartsick, little girl who had been friends with his best friends's girlfriends... She wasn't important enough to catch Pax's attention....
Until a fateful night which changed both of their lives forever and they started to have a connection whoich Pax was refusing to acknowledge...
What he wasn't expecting was for this dull and unimportant girl to grow a backbone and become a different girl who was getting under his skin with every opportunity...
"This girl is an intruder. She doesn't belong here. She's invading my personal space. She's stealing my fucking peace. And she looks so unlike herself."
Presley was a shy and good girl and she had an unhealthy love interest for Pax Davis, even though he was cruel and kind of an asshole... Her tongue was getting tied every time that she was around him... But that silly little girl was a bright beautiful woman with so many demons chasing after her...
And then one evening her nightmare became too much to bare and Pax breathe her back to life...
Now, she is starting to change and even though her pain is too much, she won't let it pull her under...
"What changed?"
"I was falling... Always. I was falling, and the fear of it happening, while it was happening, crushed me."
"And then?"
"I hit rock bottom. There was nowhere to fall."
These two couldn't be more different... Both of them had their own demons to fight, but what they didn't expect was that another person could make them stronger to deal with their burdens...
Pax and Presley were imperfectly perfect for each other... Their moments together were hot and intense... even when they were fighting it!!!
I loved Pax's unapologetical cruelty and I loved Presley's renewed fighting spirit.
I simply loved this final book in the series and I believe that Callie Hart led the story exactly where it should have gone...
"Such a strange, conflicting feeling -when you're so drawn to something at the same time as desperately trying to pull away."
Honestly, I'm kind of sad that I will leave Wolf Hall and its Riot Boys behind...
I will miss this madness that these boys had created...
I will miss their beautiful girls...
I had such an amazing time witnessing their reality...
Thank you Callie Hart for a beautiful and wild ride...
If you haven't met yet Wren Jacobi, Lord Dashell IV and Pax Davis, you don't know what you're missing!!!
"If I put down my weapons here, do you think you can put down yours?"
**I was generously provided an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**
November 15, 2021
3 ⭐️ Because the hero and heroine interact after like 35% in and before that its pretty boring and dragged made it hard for me to get into it. It also didn’t have an epilogue 😒
March 9, 2023
THAT'S A WRAP ON THIS SERIES 🥳🥳😉😉🔥🔥🔥
Take a shot every time I use moody in this review
But really though, considering how I start series' and don't finish them, I'd say it's an accomplishment in and of itself *pats herself on the back* 😅
This book hits different: we spent two previous books trapped in the walls of this moody academy, surrounded by dark forest and even darker secrets and feeling the fog cut off the heroes from the rest of the world. And SUDDENLY this book transports us to sunny Corsica, with the moody hero traipsing the sees on a super yacht. Then said hero goes to New York City, to some luxury loft in a skyscraper; followed by him spending some time in the hospital with his mother. ALL THIS MOODYNESS AND GLOOMY FEEL OF A DARK ACADEMIA IS DESTROYED. THE WALLS ARE NOT CLOSING IN ON US, WE ARE NOT TRAPPED IN THIS SCHOOL ON A MOUNTAIN TOP! 😬🤔
We know both the hero, Pax, and the heroine, Presley, from previous books. We had a pretty good understanding of what their characters were about. BUT! The hero, previously being the most unhinged and unpredictable, moody, explosive fucker out of the three guys, described as an Anarchist by his classmates, for crying out loud, spent the first 30% of the book being REACTIVE to stuff happening around him, instead of PROACTIVE:
- the boat he borrowed went down in flames - but the hero had nothing to do with it, although it would be perfect opportunity to show off his "craziness" 🔥😂
- his mother, who he has a strained relationship with, reveals some information and the hero spends the better half of 12 chapters reacting to THAT situation;
- even the heroine, previously shy and timid (more on that later🤬), went on and pursued HIM, so he was left with nothing else to do, only to react 😬😬😬
Now onto the HEROINE, Presley. In the first two books she was a quiet, reserved girl, very shy, not good with confrontation and painfully embarrassed in front of our hero, Pax. But she also was in love with him from afar, yet brave enough to confess her feelings for him to her friends. She also fantasized about him sexually and wrote a whole ass fanfic about him and her and sent in to her friend. SHE WAS INTERESTING AF AND DIFFERENT FROM HEROINES FROM BOOK 1 AND 2 I was actually excited to read about the relationship between hot-tempered, rude, tattooed rulebreaker guy and an introverted, reserved heroine, who had so much hidden inside of her. BUT THE HEROINE GETS A COMPLETE PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT IN THIS BOOK 🤡🤡🤡 She lost all her fear, and is NOT timid AT ALL, she pursues the hero relentlessly (like Carina from book 2) and gets the better of the hero in the battle of sarcasm (like Elodie from book 1), but she LOST everything that made her her. Yes, it's somehow explained that the tragic event changed her personality, and she wasn't so shy before and bla-bla-bla. I'm sad that female strength of character is judged only by one standard, and the author couldn't leave at least one heroine from this series more introverted and socially awkward.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 BOOKS AND TRIGGER WARNING 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
.
.
.
.
I hate the amount of rape there was in these books! There are more ways to show how strong a female character is, than to just make her suffer through rape. Especially the way it was handled:
1. Elodie from book 1: saw her mother raped and killed by her father, was raped by him herself and locked in a box for 5 days! 🤯🤯🤯🤬🤬🤬 Her trauma is not properly discussed, but her boyfriend "saves the day" and puts the father in a coma and makes him paralyzed.
2. Carina from book 2: for a long time witnessed her mother being beaten and raped by her boyfriend, was beaten herself and knew she'll be raped herself when she gets older. At age 11 (!) was forced to strip naked and touched inappropriately by a drug dealer who wanted to rape her, but managed to escape....
3. Presley from book 3: At age 13 was drugged by her half-brother, raped and forced into silence under the threat of the brother killing her and her mother later. She was raped by him repeatedly under her parents roof, until one day he slit her wrists and almost killed her...Later on, the boyfriend saves the day... 😶
I know the world is cruel. I know A LOT of women get raped. But ALL 3 HEROINES? WHO ARE ALL FRIENDS? WHO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL? Were there no other way to show their trauma? And what was the point of that trauma, if it wasn't properly dealt with? To show the readers how protective the guys were of their girlfriends? Was there NO OTHER WAY OF DOING THAT??
Take a shot every time I use moody in this review
But really though, considering how I start series' and don't finish them, I'd say it's an accomplishment in and of itself *pats herself on the back* 😅
This book hits different: we spent two previous books trapped in the walls of this moody academy, surrounded by dark forest and even darker secrets and feeling the fog cut off the heroes from the rest of the world. And SUDDENLY this book transports us to sunny Corsica, with the moody hero traipsing the sees on a super yacht. Then said hero goes to New York City, to some luxury loft in a skyscraper; followed by him spending some time in the hospital with his mother. ALL THIS MOODYNESS AND GLOOMY FEEL OF A DARK ACADEMIA IS DESTROYED. THE WALLS ARE NOT CLOSING IN ON US, WE ARE NOT TRAPPED IN THIS SCHOOL ON A MOUNTAIN TOP! 😬🤔
We know both the hero, Pax, and the heroine, Presley, from previous books. We had a pretty good understanding of what their characters were about. BUT! The hero, previously being the most unhinged and unpredictable, moody, explosive fucker out of the three guys, described as an Anarchist by his classmates, for crying out loud, spent the first 30% of the book being REACTIVE to stuff happening around him, instead of PROACTIVE:
- the boat he borrowed went down in flames - but the hero had nothing to do with it, although it would be perfect opportunity to show off his "craziness" 🔥😂
- his mother, who he has a strained relationship with, reveals some information and the hero spends the better half of 12 chapters reacting to THAT situation;
- even the heroine, previously shy and timid (more on that later🤬), went on and pursued HIM, so he was left with nothing else to do, only to react 😬😬😬
Now onto the HEROINE, Presley. In the first two books she was a quiet, reserved girl, very shy, not good with confrontation and painfully embarrassed in front of our hero, Pax. But she also was in love with him from afar, yet brave enough to confess her feelings for him to her friends. She also fantasized about him sexually and wrote a whole ass fanfic about him and her and sent in to her friend. SHE WAS INTERESTING AF AND DIFFERENT FROM HEROINES FROM BOOK 1 AND 2 I was actually excited to read about the relationship between hot-tempered, rude, tattooed rulebreaker guy and an introverted, reserved heroine, who had so much hidden inside of her. BUT THE HEROINE GETS A COMPLETE PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT IN THIS BOOK 🤡🤡🤡 She lost all her fear, and is NOT timid AT ALL, she pursues the hero relentlessly (like Carina from book 2) and gets the better of the hero in the battle of sarcasm (like Elodie from book 1), but she LOST everything that made her her. Yes, it's somehow explained that the tragic event changed her personality, and she wasn't so shy before and bla-bla-bla. I'm sad that female strength of character is judged only by one standard, and the author couldn't leave at least one heroine from this series more introverted and socially awkward.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩SPOILERS FOR ALL 3 BOOKS AND TRIGGER WARNING 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
.
.
.
.
I hate the amount of rape there was in these books! There are more ways to show how strong a female character is, than to just make her suffer through rape. Especially the way it was handled:
1. Elodie from book 1: saw her mother raped and killed by her father, was raped by him herself and locked in a box for 5 days! 🤯🤯🤯🤬🤬🤬 Her trauma is not properly discussed, but her boyfriend "saves the day" and puts the father in a coma and makes him paralyzed.
2. Carina from book 2: for a long time witnessed her mother being beaten and raped by her boyfriend, was beaten herself and knew she'll be raped herself when she gets older. At age 11 (!) was forced to strip naked and touched inappropriately by a drug dealer who wanted to rape her, but managed to escape....
3. Presley from book 3: At age 13 was drugged by her half-brother, raped and forced into silence under the threat of the brother killing her and her mother later. She was raped by him repeatedly under her parents roof, until one day he slit her wrists and almost killed her...Later on, the boyfriend saves the day... 😶
I know the world is cruel. I know A LOT of women get raped. But ALL 3 HEROINES? WHO ARE ALL FRIENDS? WHO GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL? Were there no other way to show their trauma? And what was the point of that trauma, if it wasn't properly dealt with? To show the readers how protective the guys were of their girlfriends? Was there NO OTHER WAY OF DOING THAT??
October 19, 2025
**Fourth re-read**
I’ll never not love this book.
**Third re-read**
Yes I read it again. No I’m not sorry. I highlighted the ever loving sh!t out of it - again. At this point the whole book will be highlighted at some point. The way Callie Hart writes Pax is absurdly brilliant, he’s hilariously broken and I still love him more than any other book boyfriend known to man. I stand by everything I wrote the first time I read it. It makes me feel … stuff. All kinds of emotions and I crave the feeling I got when I first read it!!
**First Read**
I’ll start this review by telling you, I had to put this book down throughout reading it for two reasons
1) I didn’t want it to be over
2) The emotion was too much for me to bear
Now I’m the first to admit, I give a lot if 5 star reviews. That 5 stars doesn’t mean those books are flawless or that they’ll go in to be hailed as a classic. Those 5 stars are for something much more important. They’re because that book was that good it moved me, it made me feel, it made me think and it grabbed my heart so tightly it wouldn’t let go.
This book. This deserves that 5 stars by a mile for me.I know that a lot of the series seems implausible, these are kids that are barely 18 years old. But I didn’t read it like that. These are people who are flawed, vulnerable, hurting and it’s their way of finding that there’s more to life than felling numb. It also helped that each story in the series had a good old dark sided mystery to them too!
Pax Davis & Presley Maria Witton Chase are by far my favourite characters on this series. Their push and pull relationship that holds on by a thread is pure genius. They need each other to survive. I live how unapologetic Pax is, that bad boy he’s painted out to be in the other books truly comes alive in this book, Callie Hart didn’t just talk the talk she made Pax walk that walk and I was here for it. He’s also a filthy lover.. wink,wink,nudge,nudge. He made me swoon, he made me giddy, he frustrated the hell out of me but oh how I fell for him!
Presley she was a damn nervous wreck in the previous two books and now we know why, and boy was I glad to see how she survived. Girl is a inspiration!
There were scenes , in the underground car park, at the school where I was yelling at my kindle and then that last chapter.. tears!! Balling. I’m not going to lie but I need more than that Callie Hart. I need to know what happens next. I can’t summon that in my head I need to read it. See it in print. You can’t do that to us readers??
I feel a massive book hangover coming on but it’s one I welcome with pure unadulterated bliss!
I’ll never not love this book.
**Third re-read**
Yes I read it again. No I’m not sorry. I highlighted the ever loving sh!t out of it - again. At this point the whole book will be highlighted at some point. The way Callie Hart writes Pax is absurdly brilliant, he’s hilariously broken and I still love him more than any other book boyfriend known to man. I stand by everything I wrote the first time I read it. It makes me feel … stuff. All kinds of emotions and I crave the feeling I got when I first read it!!
**First Read**
I’ll start this review by telling you, I had to put this book down throughout reading it for two reasons
1) I didn’t want it to be over
2) The emotion was too much for me to bear
Now I’m the first to admit, I give a lot if 5 star reviews. That 5 stars doesn’t mean those books are flawless or that they’ll go in to be hailed as a classic. Those 5 stars are for something much more important. They’re because that book was that good it moved me, it made me feel, it made me think and it grabbed my heart so tightly it wouldn’t let go.
This book. This deserves that 5 stars by a mile for me.I know that a lot of the series seems implausible, these are kids that are barely 18 years old. But I didn’t read it like that. These are people who are flawed, vulnerable, hurting and it’s their way of finding that there’s more to life than felling numb. It also helped that each story in the series had a good old dark sided mystery to them too!
Pax Davis & Presley Maria Witton Chase are by far my favourite characters on this series. Their push and pull relationship that holds on by a thread is pure genius. They need each other to survive. I live how unapologetic Pax is, that bad boy he’s painted out to be in the other books truly comes alive in this book, Callie Hart didn’t just talk the talk she made Pax walk that walk and I was here for it. He’s also a filthy lover.. wink,wink,nudge,nudge. He made me swoon, he made me giddy, he frustrated the hell out of me but oh how I fell for him!
Presley she was a damn nervous wreck in the previous two books and now we know why, and boy was I glad to see how she survived. Girl is a inspiration!
There were scenes , in the underground car park, at the school where I was yelling at my kindle and then that last chapter.. tears!! Balling. I’m not going to lie but I need more than that Callie Hart. I need to know what happens next. I can’t summon that in my head I need to read it. See it in print. You can’t do that to us readers??
I feel a massive book hangover coming on but it’s one I welcome with pure unadulterated bliss!
October 19, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4.5/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Pax
Heroine : Presley
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 6/10
Heat Rating : 7/10
Triggers Involved : Past Trauma (Non Con) , Dub Con
Plot Summary :
Presley's life has been one trauma after the other. From the outside she seems like the perfect girl nerd living her life but no one knows the demons she has to battle everyday. That is until an accident makes her come face to face with the only man she has ever wanted. Pax is an enigma of his own. He is ruthless and a model. The man has a body carved to perfection. Trust me when I say that you don't want to be his enemy because, being that means getting destroyed. Presley doesn't expect him to save her and now he can't stay away. She knows that a boy like Pax is not someone who could ever want her, not when he knows the real truth behind her accident, but there is nothing she can do when he pursues her with everything she has. He doesn't even remember their first night and she hopes that he does not because that might be the last straw which breaks her resistance.
Pax has everything a boy can want in his life. but the only thing he has always wanted was never his. His family. That is until he stumbles upon a broken bird. Presley is absolutely perfect. She is everything he could ever want so then why has he never noticed her before? The girl has been in his classes for years and only now he saw her and that might be the biggest mystery of it all. But Pax is not someone who does relationships. He tries to stay away, but there is this crazy force between them. Everywhere he goes, she is there. But nothing could have prepared him for the real demons the girl battles. Not when it could destroy them both.
Overall Opinion :
Omg, I can't believe that Pax is here! Pax has been my favorite character right from the start. His broody personality and model-like face made the man my most anticipated hero ever. And what storm he is. His book is definitely the BEST one of this series!
Pax and Presley have a take that I can read multiple times. That's how good it is! This standalone romance was dark with a light bit of enemies to lovers to the mix and it was everything my High school Romance loving heart could desire. Don't even get me started on the steamy scenes. They were so freaking phenomenal. The storyline was somewhat disconnected from the one of the first two books and that was okay for me. That does not mean that you can read this as a stand alone. I mean you totally can, but it has very heavy spoilers of the first two books of the series. I suggest reading them all in order for the best experience.
Definitely recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there!
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October 10, 2021
This book is the perfect example of why this author will always be one of my favourites.
I'm sad saying goodbye to this series, but take peace in knowing that this hopefully won't be the last we see of these characters as the author has her characters pop up in the most unexpected places.
This book had a bit of everything and definitely pleasantly surprised me the most out of all of them, I definitely didn't expect to fall in love with the main characters as much as I did, and what they went through both together and apart... let's just say that will tug at the blackest of heartstrings. Their strength will inspire you and you'll see why the match isn't as crazy as it seemed in the previous books.
This was the perfect way to end the series and it's why I've put this book on my top reads of '21 list.
I could keep going on for many more paragraphs but instead I'll just urge you to one click immediately, you won't regret it, even when your emotions are put through the wringer.
I'm sad saying goodbye to this series, but take peace in knowing that this hopefully won't be the last we see of these characters as the author has her characters pop up in the most unexpected places.
This book had a bit of everything and definitely pleasantly surprised me the most out of all of them, I definitely didn't expect to fall in love with the main characters as much as I did, and what they went through both together and apart... let's just say that will tug at the blackest of heartstrings. Their strength will inspire you and you'll see why the match isn't as crazy as it seemed in the previous books.
This was the perfect way to end the series and it's why I've put this book on my top reads of '21 list.
I could keep going on for many more paragraphs but instead I'll just urge you to one click immediately, you won't regret it, even when your emotions are put through the wringer.
April 17, 2022
****AUDIOBOOK****
5 STARS
This was my favorite one of them all (I skipped book 2 based on reviews)!
Pax is that broken hero I can’t resist, angry and the world but can’t resist the heroine, and I loved Presley, strong in dealing with her trauma.
These two together had insane physical chemistry, and as the novel progresses you see them truly fall for one another.
Definitely would recommend this one.
**Contains triggers, particularly SA
5 STARS
This was my favorite one of them all (I skipped book 2 based on reviews)!
Pax is that broken hero I can’t resist, angry and the world but can’t resist the heroine, and I loved Presley, strong in dealing with her trauma.
These two together had insane physical chemistry, and as the novel progresses you see them truly fall for one another.
Definitely would recommend this one.
**Contains triggers, particularly SA
August 19, 2022
my favorite in the series 🥹🥹🥹🥹 this book was EVERYTHING I LOVE PAX AND PRES SO MUCH
check tws!
check tws!
October 8, 2021
*ARC provided for an honest review*
I’ve been anticipating this book since the previous one and wanting to get to know Pax’s character more. He’s someone that’s been so intriguing to me.
Riot Act is Pax and Presley’s story and I honestly couldn’t put it down. The moments they have together are so intense that I found them really interesting. Also getting to know the characters on a deeper level individually was something I liked and found most intriguing. Both characters have such strong personalities that clash together and simply just fit right. Pax is tough and does what he wants, reading his character development was one of the things I really enjoyed. With Presley I was honestly shocked. I just want to give her a big hug!! She’s honestly so strong. I LOVE how she puts up with Pax and doesn’t back down. Her development from the who she was before to who she ends up becoming was very interesting. She comes out stronger in the end.
All in all this book was a great conclusion to a series filled with strong characters and lots of ups and downs. I loved the moments we get from the characters of the previous books!! Pax and Presley’s story was a rollercoaster of emotions and I was intrigued all the way.
I’ve been anticipating this book since the previous one and wanting to get to know Pax’s character more. He’s someone that’s been so intriguing to me.
Riot Act is Pax and Presley’s story and I honestly couldn’t put it down. The moments they have together are so intense that I found them really interesting. Also getting to know the characters on a deeper level individually was something I liked and found most intriguing. Both characters have such strong personalities that clash together and simply just fit right. Pax is tough and does what he wants, reading his character development was one of the things I really enjoyed. With Presley I was honestly shocked. I just want to give her a big hug!! She’s honestly so strong. I LOVE how she puts up with Pax and doesn’t back down. Her development from the who she was before to who she ends up becoming was very interesting. She comes out stronger in the end.
All in all this book was a great conclusion to a series filled with strong characters and lots of ups and downs. I loved the moments we get from the characters of the previous books!! Pax and Presley’s story was a rollercoaster of emotions and I was intrigued all the way.
October 15, 2021
some thoughts:
- it's not that hard to include trigger warnings
- what was the point of the yacht scene in the beginning?
- this felt more like pax's story than presley's, which i guess would have been fine if presley hadn't gone through what she did
- i liked presley's character both in the previous books and here, but it kind of seemed inconsistent? What she experienced was awful and soul-crushing and as she said she had hit rock bottom but the change towards how she behaved around pax was just...i don't know...too abrupt, i guess i can accept that is is possible to change so much after something so traumatic
- the whole book basically she was not in a good state of mind and was trying to cope and the way she did that was being with Pax but because of that i felt like there was no proper romantic development of their relationship from her side, i mean from the beginning of the series she was in love with him and in this book she didn't really think anything romantic in her inner dialogue beacuse she thought that pax would never like her like that and then at the end she told him she loved him...something was lacking here
- the development of pax's feelings could have been better but he did get some laughs out of me from some of the things he was saying or thinking
- how can someone almost run you over and then dump an almost dead body in your feet and then not want to find out what really happened and who did it? didn't pax say what happened to the police or did he think someone found her and just brought her and fleed? nothing suspicious about that?
- i felt like the scene where he opened up to her suddenly came out of nowhere
- how could pax tell the brother to meet him at the club where presley was even if he didn't know the thruth yet, when he saw how he treated her and how she seemed scared of him. it was stupid and dangerous as we saw what happened later
- the attack and the aftermath was brushed off too quickly for the importance it had, right after it we have a long chapter about Pax, his photoshoot and his annoying manager Hilary, then the graduation, his talk with his mother which made me feel nothing towards her after all she has done to him, one chapter when they tell each other their feelings aaand that's it. That's why i said this felt more like pax's story, we were more focused on his future and his life than presley's
- at the end we were TOLD how he slowly changed, when i wanted to SEE it. I think it would have been better to have the attack and reveal sooner, then to see how presley is dealing with it, how pax is arround her and helping her but alas ...
- i wanted to see more in the epilogue and then another one with all the couples together
- the model on the cover is serving FACE, though
Overall, it was okay, but it could have been way better.
- it's not that hard to include trigger warnings
- what was the point of the yacht scene in the beginning?
- this felt more like pax's story than presley's, which i guess would have been fine if presley hadn't gone through what she did
- i liked presley's character both in the previous books and here, but it kind of seemed inconsistent? What she experienced was awful and soul-crushing and as she said she had hit rock bottom but the change towards how she behaved around pax was just...i don't know...too abrupt, i guess i can accept that is is possible to change so much after something so traumatic
- the whole book basically she was not in a good state of mind and was trying to cope and the way she did that was being with Pax but because of that i felt like there was no proper romantic development of their relationship from her side, i mean from the beginning of the series she was in love with him and in this book she didn't really think anything romantic in her inner dialogue beacuse she thought that pax would never like her like that and then at the end she told him she loved him...something was lacking here
- the development of pax's feelings could have been better but he did get some laughs out of me from some of the things he was saying or thinking
- how can someone almost run you over and then dump an almost dead body in your feet and then not want to find out what really happened and who did it? didn't pax say what happened to the police or did he think someone found her and just brought her and fleed? nothing suspicious about that?
- i felt like the scene where he opened up to her suddenly came out of nowhere
- how could pax tell the brother to meet him at the club where presley was even if he didn't know the thruth yet, when he saw how he treated her and how she seemed scared of him. it was stupid and dangerous as we saw what happened later
- the attack and the aftermath was brushed off too quickly for the importance it had, right after it we have a long chapter about Pax, his photoshoot and his annoying manager Hilary, then the graduation, his talk with his mother which made me feel nothing towards her after all she has done to him, one chapter when they tell each other their feelings aaand that's it. That's why i said this felt more like pax's story, we were more focused on his future and his life than presley's
- at the end we were TOLD how he slowly changed, when i wanted to SEE it. I think it would have been better to have the attack and reveal sooner, then to see how presley is dealing with it, how pax is arround her and helping her but alas ...
- i wanted to see more in the epilogue and then another one with all the couples together
- the model on the cover is serving FACE, though
Overall, it was okay, but it could have been way better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2023
“In the small, dark corner of my soul that still wants things, I recognize that I’ve claimed her and she’s mine now. It’ll be a long fucking time before I’m ready to admit that out loud.” >
as you’ve read book 1 & 2, Pax is the most aggressive guy between Dash & Wren. Where in Dash’s book it intertwined with Wren’s book, Pax book is not a continuous of the first or second book, it’s his own book & the two couples dash & carrie, wren & elodie are already together. this book follows Pax & Presley’s story.
i like the bickering, back & forth flirting, and the “i’m not afraid of you game play”
i enjoyed the book, i just didn’t like the type of trauma, if you’ve read book 1 & 2 the trigger trauma is very similar in just slight differences.
my fav in order:
dash’s book riot rules
pax’s book riot act
wren’s book riot house
triggers: rape, underage sexual assault, non con incest, descriptive memories of the event, blood, violence, explicit content
as you’ve read book 1 & 2, Pax is the most aggressive guy between Dash & Wren. Where in Dash’s book it intertwined with Wren’s book, Pax book is not a continuous of the first or second book, it’s his own book & the two couples dash & carrie, wren & elodie are already together. this book follows Pax & Presley’s story.
i like the bickering, back & forth flirting, and the “i’m not afraid of you game play”
i enjoyed the book, i just didn’t like the type of trauma, if you’ve read book 1 & 2 the trigger trauma is very similar in just slight differences.
my fav in order:
dash’s book riot rules
pax’s book riot act
wren’s book riot house
triggers: rape, underage sexual assault, non con incest, descriptive memories of the event, blood, violence, explicit content
December 3, 2021
I am so so obsessed with Callietea Hart's Riot Act. This book was absolutely incredible. Without a doubt, this book was the best in the series as Pax Davis is honestly unforgettable. This story is dark, edgy and depraved at times and yet it so so addicting! I could not stop reading and devouring this story!
I honestly knew Pax and Presley's book was going to be epic but I couldn't imagine how crazy it would he. The shocking twists and turns in the story had me spellbound. And let's be honest Pax had me wrapped around his finger just like Presley.
Overall this story was beyond sexy, I tense, heartbreaking and yet so uplifting.. I loved every minute of this story! 4.5 stars! Ratula
I honestly knew Pax and Presley's book was going to be epic but I couldn't imagine how crazy it would he. The shocking twists and turns in the story had me spellbound. And let's be honest Pax had me wrapped around his finger just like Presley.
Overall this story was beyond sexy, I tense, heartbreaking and yet so uplifting.. I loved every minute of this story! 4.5 stars! Ratula
November 9, 2023
The third and the final book in the series is about Pax Davis, the anarchist of Riot House.
Like Wren & Dash, Pax too has a wealthy family but he makes a lot of money as a highly sought after fashion model.
Pax is complicated, he lives his life exactly how he wants it without giving any consideration what others would think. But Pax has so much anger in him, bordering on psychotic behaviour.
But reading his story you'll come to understand that Pax is just surviving, and he has all the reasons for that.
Presley Maria Witton Chase, aka Firebrand, has had a crush on the anarchist of Riot House since the dawn of time. He is magnificent. He’s also the cruelest, most unbearable asshole I’ve ever come across.
Want something? Pax will take it from you.
Love something? Pax will destroy it.
Love him? Then Heaven help you. You’d have to be the stupidest person to walk the face of the earth.
While having a major crush on Pax, Presley is also terrified of him. But almost at the end of their time at Pembroke, she changed adopting a fuck-you attitude and strikes a deal with Pax.
There is so much to their story, it is a fab read and is one I highly recommend.
While within the Crooked Sinners universe each can be read as a standalone:
October 11, 2021
Callie Hart decided to ruin me perfectly in Riot Act. This new adult enemies to lovers romance was wrapped in the author's intense, poetic and sharp writing. She didn't let my heart rest easy for a single moment in this twisted and heartbreaking love story. Complex and broken characters. Gut wrenching emotions. Raw and gritty and deviant moments. All over perfection.
.
So the author saved the best( or worst) for the last. Pax Davis. The most unhinged, violent and supposedly devious boy in Riot House. He and his friends rule the prestigious boarding school where the rich and powerful from all over the world send their offsprings. He thought he can never fall in love. And then comes Presley Chase. The red haired girl who used to tremble in fear in his presence. After he finds her bloody and half dead in parking lot of the local hospital..something changes in her. And Pax is fascinated.
.
This story builds up slow and then picks up speed and explodes spectacularly. The author took time to form Pax and Presley with their pasts, their backgrounds, their desires, their fears, their desires, their weaknesses and their strengths. And before I know, they have burrowed in my heart and claimed it. They are both flawed. Alone. Messed up. Bruised. Pax has always been this cruel, sarcastic, manipulative and just all around bad boy. But this story cracked him wide open and came out the boy who is just scared and scarred. On the other hand, the torture Presley suffereded finally broke her. Gone is the shy and careful girl. This Pres is numb and reckless and desperate. Desperate to escape her demons and forget the tragedies. And that is where Pax comes in. He has his own demons but Presley calmed them and he gave her a safe space. It really sounds ridiculous. Because like any clueless arrogant boy, he denied his feels and tried to hurt Pres and own her body to show her that he is the King of the hell. But Pres just turned his world upside down. And my freaking heart is just destroyed. And healed. The emotions were so pure ,undiluted and disarming and I just cannot tell you how this story moved me deeply. And don't worry about the sexy times. It was equally deviant and filthy and I am sure some scenes will make you more than blush!
.
Life is so much more than survival. Life is about loving and feeling. Riot Act by Callie Hart is a beautifully broken and perfect love story.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
.
So the author saved the best( or worst) for the last. Pax Davis. The most unhinged, violent and supposedly devious boy in Riot House. He and his friends rule the prestigious boarding school where the rich and powerful from all over the world send their offsprings. He thought he can never fall in love. And then comes Presley Chase. The red haired girl who used to tremble in fear in his presence. After he finds her bloody and half dead in parking lot of the local hospital..something changes in her. And Pax is fascinated.
.
This story builds up slow and then picks up speed and explodes spectacularly. The author took time to form Pax and Presley with their pasts, their backgrounds, their desires, their fears, their desires, their weaknesses and their strengths. And before I know, they have burrowed in my heart and claimed it. They are both flawed. Alone. Messed up. Bruised. Pax has always been this cruel, sarcastic, manipulative and just all around bad boy. But this story cracked him wide open and came out the boy who is just scared and scarred. On the other hand, the torture Presley suffereded finally broke her. Gone is the shy and careful girl. This Pres is numb and reckless and desperate. Desperate to escape her demons and forget the tragedies. And that is where Pax comes in. He has his own demons but Presley calmed them and he gave her a safe space. It really sounds ridiculous. Because like any clueless arrogant boy, he denied his feels and tried to hurt Pres and own her body to show her that he is the King of the hell. But Pres just turned his world upside down. And my freaking heart is just destroyed. And healed. The emotions were so pure ,undiluted and disarming and I just cannot tell you how this story moved me deeply. And don't worry about the sexy times. It was equally deviant and filthy and I am sure some scenes will make you more than blush!
.
Life is so much more than survival. Life is about loving and feeling. Riot Act by Callie Hart is a beautifully broken and perfect love story.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
October 15, 2021
When you love a books so much…… you fail to come up with words that do it justice……. So you resort to stars.
5/5 🌟
5/5 🌟
October 11, 2021
Outstanding! This series is an absolute favorite. The author created flawed characters with great depth, who evolve and find passionate love. A story of two people broken down by life who finally find their peace in each other.
Pax was everything you wanted him to be, but more than you imagined. This broken boy is cruel and relentless. He loves to torment people and tear them down. He’s intelligent and creative. His photography is his passion that he pursues with great focus. To him, girls are disposable. Something to use for a short while and then discard. His wall was built to protect himself because even the ones who are supposed to love you the most, can’t be trusted. The only love he has is for Wren and Dash. Their girls, he tolerates them at best.
Presley has crushed on him since the first day she entered the academy and saw him. He was the boy she wanted but knew she could never have. He was elusive. Untouchable. He didn’t even know she existed. However, it didn’t stop her from dreaming. But she can’t have him. Her secret is just too much. She thinks no one could ever understand or love her.
They both have secrets. Things that burden them and steal their happiness. They may be better matched than either realizes.
When Pax finds Presley broken and half dead, everything changes. Both of them have no idea how life changing that experience will become.
The author will deal out truths and it won’t be delicate. The truths are ugly and brutal but cathartic when the burden is shared. It’s heart crushing, but healing. They both will have to hit the bottom in order to rise up and conquer their pain.
This series pulls no punches. The pain is raw and it leaves scars. But resilience and strength are beautiful. Finding love in spite of the ugly is even more so.
Two broken halves that find each other to become whole. Passion that just seeps off the pages. Love that sneaks up on them, but consumes. LOVED IT!!! A series I would not hesitate to recommend!
Pax was everything you wanted him to be, but more than you imagined. This broken boy is cruel and relentless. He loves to torment people and tear them down. He’s intelligent and creative. His photography is his passion that he pursues with great focus. To him, girls are disposable. Something to use for a short while and then discard. His wall was built to protect himself because even the ones who are supposed to love you the most, can’t be trusted. The only love he has is for Wren and Dash. Their girls, he tolerates them at best.
Presley has crushed on him since the first day she entered the academy and saw him. He was the boy she wanted but knew she could never have. He was elusive. Untouchable. He didn’t even know she existed. However, it didn’t stop her from dreaming. But she can’t have him. Her secret is just too much. She thinks no one could ever understand or love her.
They both have secrets. Things that burden them and steal their happiness. They may be better matched than either realizes.
When Pax finds Presley broken and half dead, everything changes. Both of them have no idea how life changing that experience will become.
The author will deal out truths and it won’t be delicate. The truths are ugly and brutal but cathartic when the burden is shared. It’s heart crushing, but healing. They both will have to hit the bottom in order to rise up and conquer their pain.
This series pulls no punches. The pain is raw and it leaves scars. But resilience and strength are beautiful. Finding love in spite of the ugly is even more so.
Two broken halves that find each other to become whole. Passion that just seeps off the pages. Love that sneaks up on them, but consumes. LOVED IT!!! A series I would not hesitate to recommend!
October 13, 2021
A compelling story with an undercurrent of insidious darkness enveloping the story as thickly as the loamy forests surrounding Mountain Lakes, New Hampshire
A brutally honest look at some of the most heinous acts ever to be performed on a woman against her will. This book shakes you to your core and you can't help but feel violated for Presley Maria Witton Chase. Her travails are as overwhelmingly large as her full name. She takes my heart, my sympathy and my affections from page one.
On the other end is Pax Davis- one of the three privileged students who reside at the Riot House
"Interacting with Pax Davis: may cause sudden bouts of frustration, annoyance, hurt feelings and anger. Proceed at own peril. "
Abrasive and cynical,he struggles everyday to deal with his life, his family of sorts and his own gigantic chip on his shoulder. Mostly dismissive in attitude, he rude and discordant but all I see is a lost boy crying out for love & affection.
He's wealthy. Entitled. Arrogant. Cruel.
But also Lost. Abandoned. Hollow.compassionate.
I'm legit stunned at the turn this story takes and it's been a while since I liked a HS story. Callie has detailed the jarring story in a laid bare style, she has held nothing back and that's why it just grips you in a choke hold from start to finish.
Try and breathe in between chapters and wipe your tears lot.
4.5 stars for haunted lives
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A brutally honest look at some of the most heinous acts ever to be performed on a woman against her will. This book shakes you to your core and you can't help but feel violated for Presley Maria Witton Chase. Her travails are as overwhelmingly large as her full name. She takes my heart, my sympathy and my affections from page one.
On the other end is Pax Davis- one of the three privileged students who reside at the Riot House
"Interacting with Pax Davis: may cause sudden bouts of frustration, annoyance, hurt feelings and anger. Proceed at own peril. "
Abrasive and cynical,he struggles everyday to deal with his life, his family of sorts and his own gigantic chip on his shoulder. Mostly dismissive in attitude, he rude and discordant but all I see is a lost boy crying out for love & affection.
He's wealthy. Entitled. Arrogant. Cruel.
But also Lost. Abandoned. Hollow.compassionate.
I'm legit stunned at the turn this story takes and it's been a while since I liked a HS story. Callie has detailed the jarring story in a laid bare style, she has held nothing back and that's why it just grips you in a choke hold from start to finish.
Try and breathe in between chapters and wipe your tears lot.
4.5 stars for haunted lives
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
July 18, 2025
In the beginning of this book i didn’t quite like it because i didn’t like pax but his character growth and development was the best one of this entire series. I HATE JONAH and i have hated him since he was introduced i knew that something was up but wow that guy is as messed up as Mr.Fitz is like he deserves more than just 25 years in jail i agree with pax the guy deserves life along with Eloise’s dad all of them suck. I love Presley she was such a good character and loved that she had a little bit of a funkiness to her (the tarot cards and witchy stuff) Presley dad is also someone who i’m not quite fond of because i understand that he didn’t know or anything but at the same time the man prioritized his son over his daughter and he chose not to believe pax when he told him about his son raping his daughter which is sad i mean at least he believed Presley when she finally told him in the hospital.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2022
Ok I am a sucker for a villains redemption story and this one was so good!! Pax was such a great “morally grey” anti hero but it was amazing to get in his head and understand what was triggering his actions. And Presley was the perfect balance for him! I just loved these two together! I loved how Pax went from a tormentor to a protector and loved his alpha broodiness! I could not put this book down- loved it!
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October 14, 2021Coming October 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOPE.... now not until October 12th ☹
NOPE.... now not until October 12th ☹
October 13, 2021
Five amazing stars!!!
Pax and Presley’s story was literally EVERYTHING I have been waiting for! This book had it all it made me laugh cry and the steam holy hell it had me panting and squirming in my seat ! Pax is a dirty boy ! I loved the banter between all the characters I was giggling through some parts and fanning myself through others especially when Pax’s was involved he was so freaking hot he’s so beautifully broken and Presley there was so much more to her than I thought these two couldn’t have been more perfect for each other Pax and Presley’s story is messy it’s complicated and absolutely nothing how I expected it to be. Presley’s strength her character growth was just so awe inspiring and same with Pax these two went through so much together and both were battling huge demons from their past that was heartbreaking and devastating but these two it was so painfully obvious healed each other and filled a longing they both had their chemistry was explosive and when they both finally let their walls down it was absolutely beautiful. I loved seeing the other Riot boys and their girls the friendships the loyalty the love this crew shared for each other hit me right in all my feels. Callie Hart did a beautiful job at writing this amazing conclusion to this series I absolutely live for the boys of Wolf Hall I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end this series. I’m so sad that it’s over but I’m super satisfied with how it ended. Definitely another five star masterpiece from this author !
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book
Pax and Presley’s story was literally EVERYTHING I have been waiting for! This book had it all it made me laugh cry and the steam holy hell it had me panting and squirming in my seat ! Pax is a dirty boy ! I loved the banter between all the characters I was giggling through some parts and fanning myself through others especially when Pax’s was involved he was so freaking hot he’s so beautifully broken and Presley there was so much more to her than I thought these two couldn’t have been more perfect for each other Pax and Presley’s story is messy it’s complicated and absolutely nothing how I expected it to be. Presley’s strength her character growth was just so awe inspiring and same with Pax these two went through so much together and both were battling huge demons from their past that was heartbreaking and devastating but these two it was so painfully obvious healed each other and filled a longing they both had their chemistry was explosive and when they both finally let their walls down it was absolutely beautiful. I loved seeing the other Riot boys and their girls the friendships the loyalty the love this crew shared for each other hit me right in all my feels. Callie Hart did a beautiful job at writing this amazing conclusion to this series I absolutely live for the boys of Wolf Hall I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end this series. I’m so sad that it’s over but I’m super satisfied with how it ended. Definitely another five star masterpiece from this author !
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book
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