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Churchill Bradley Academy #1
Dare To Break
Arabella Gray
Studious. Good girl. Liar.
She wants nothing more than to fit in, to be seen, to be loved.
And I'm willing to give her all of that—just to see her break.
Eli Travers
Outcast. Artist. Monster.
He hated me at first sight.
He's my new stepbrother, and he vows to make me pay for the sins of my mother.
In a school where the elite rule and wealth hides dirty secrets, a monster stalks the halls daring the brave to play in the dark. An innocent will be drawn out, their secrets exposed. Hidden desires will be brought to light in a game of sin and madness.
Are you brave enough to enter the dark corridors of Churchill Bradley Academy where a deadly game awaits?
For the first time, the twisted minds of L. Ann and Claire Marta join forces to bring you the Churchill Bradley Academy series. Containing bully romance, stalking, and dares that become more wicked as time goes on, this new series will delight the senses and leave you questioning who you can trust.
Please heed the warnings at the beginning of the book.
All four books follow the same couple, with a guaranteed HEA at the end of book 4.
MF, with some MFM. This is not a “why-choose” series.
Studious. Good girl. Liar.
She wants nothing more than to fit in, to be seen, to be loved.
And I'm willing to give her all of that—just to see her break.
Eli Travers
Outcast. Artist. Monster.
He hated me at first sight.
He's my new stepbrother, and he vows to make me pay for the sins of my mother.
In a school where the elite rule and wealth hides dirty secrets, a monster stalks the halls daring the brave to play in the dark. An innocent will be drawn out, their secrets exposed. Hidden desires will be brought to light in a game of sin and madness.
Are you brave enough to enter the dark corridors of Churchill Bradley Academy where a deadly game awaits?
For the first time, the twisted minds of L. Ann and Claire Marta join forces to bring you the Churchill Bradley Academy series. Containing bully romance, stalking, and dares that become more wicked as time goes on, this new series will delight the senses and leave you questioning who you can trust.
Please heed the warnings at the beginning of the book.
All four books follow the same couple, with a guaranteed HEA at the end of book 4.
MF, with some MFM. This is not a “why-choose” series.
537 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2023
1572 people are currently reading
6250 people want to read
About the author
L. Ann
48 books995 followersIf you are looking for gentle romps through the flowers, with lovers holding hands and never making mistakes, then my books are not for you.
I don't write heroes or heroines, I write people with baggage, history and problems. My characters are flawed, they're messy, they make disastrous mistakes that are hard to come back from. My stories are not sweet or kind, they are dark and, at times, cruel. They deal with uncomfortable subjects and I do not apologise for it.
If you like plot twists, characters you don't think you'll ever grow to love but eventually do, sarcasm, dark paths and messy relationships, then come on in. The water may be deep and shark-infested, but I know the way out ...I promise.
You can find L. Ann at the following locations:-
NEWSLETTER ➙https://lannauthor.com and get a FREE E-BOOK!
AMAZON -- https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B078...
FACEBOOK -- https://www.facebook.com/LAnnAuthor/
READER FB GROUP -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/lanns... - join her Reader Group on Facebook and be in with a chance to pick up ARCs and swag before anyone else.
BOOKBUB -- https://www.bookbub.com/profile/l-ann
INSTAGRAM -- https://www.instagram.com/lee_ann_aut...
TWITTER -- https://twitter.com/LeeAnn_Author
VIP Reader Group - https://clubdamnation.com
I don't write heroes or heroines, I write people with baggage, history and problems. My characters are flawed, they're messy, they make disastrous mistakes that are hard to come back from. My stories are not sweet or kind, they are dark and, at times, cruel. They deal with uncomfortable subjects and I do not apologise for it.
If you like plot twists, characters you don't think you'll ever grow to love but eventually do, sarcasm, dark paths and messy relationships, then come on in. The water may be deep and shark-infested, but I know the way out ...I promise.
You can find L. Ann at the following locations:-
NEWSLETTER ➙https://lannauthor.com and get a FREE E-BOOK!
AMAZON -- https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B078...
FACEBOOK -- https://www.facebook.com/LAnnAuthor/
READER FB GROUP -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/lanns... - join her Reader Group on Facebook and be in with a chance to pick up ARCs and swag before anyone else.
BOOKBUB -- https://www.bookbub.com/profile/l-ann
INSTAGRAM -- https://www.instagram.com/lee_ann_aut...
TWITTER -- https://twitter.com/LeeAnn_Author
VIP Reader Group - https://clubdamnation.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
May 2, 2023
ღ 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 ღ Is the first full length dark romance book within the 'Churchill Bradley Academy' series. Spoken in 'dual perspectives' by two new to me authors. HERO: Eli HEROINE: ArabellaI’ve picked up, and put down at least 5 books so far UNTIL this book!! This pulled me in straight away and kept my attention throughout which surprised me considering the length of it.
What kind of gold digger of a mother marries a wealthy man within a week? Who? Arabella's mother that's who!! And he comes with a son. A son who is going to wreak havoc on her life until she goes crawling back to where she belongs.
To make matters worse she's shipped off to the same academy he attents. Churchill Bradley Academy where the usual clique rich kids run the school.
It all started with a DARE..But that one dare turned sinister where one boy took it further than it's ever been taken before.
This was so wrong on many levels, but she was given many options to pull the plug and type RED. Where lines became blurred, hate, lust, love. And it all stopped being a game.
Beyond hot 🔥 where all her carnal SINs were wrapped up in a masked man who taunted her to let her inhibitions go.
Usually we have the mean girls vying to take down the new girl, this had a new spin, here we had Eli Travers her monster of a step brother and the jocks who wanted her too.
A leaked tape, promiscuous pictures, all fingers suggest that Eli is behind it all. Ending on a cliffy. I'm definitely invested enough to jump into the next book..
March 22, 2023
“Dare to Break” is the story of Arabella and Eli.
Really didn’t enjoy this one.
The fact that he was bullying her for no reason and to be edgy. The fact that I wasn’t warned it had traces of MFM. And lastly the fact that there was too much sex with OP.
Skimmed to finish it. Spoiled my mood. I need to be warned if there’s MFM as I need to be in correct frame of mind to read it.
Whatever
1/5
Really didn’t enjoy this one.
The fact that he was bullying her for no reason and to be edgy. The fact that I wasn’t warned it had traces of MFM. And lastly the fact that there was too much sex with OP.
Skimmed to finish it. Spoiled my mood. I need to be warned if there’s MFM as I need to be in correct frame of mind to read it.
Whatever
1/5
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February 18, 2023Unsure whether this book is for you?
I've posted a six-chapter sample of Dare To Break for anyone to read - no strings attached, completely free. Don't even need to sign up for my newsletter to get it :)
Dare To Break Sample
We'd love to know what you think :)
I've posted a six-chapter sample of Dare To Break for anyone to read - no strings attached, completely free. Don't even need to sign up for my newsletter to get it :)
Dare To Break Sample
We'd love to know what you think :)
January 18, 2023
ARC review:
Wow, just wow! I could not put this book down, I devoured it in a day. My eyes feel like they are going to fall out of my head but it was so worth it! Lee Ann and Claire hit it out of the ball park with this first book. The spice 🥵, the storyline 🔥. Eli makes you want to punch him and kiss him at the same time. Arabella you just want to bubble wrap her and protect her from all the stuff she has to deal with. What a cliffy, I absolutely can't wait for book two.
Wow, just wow! I could not put this book down, I devoured it in a day. My eyes feel like they are going to fall out of my head but it was so worth it! Lee Ann and Claire hit it out of the ball park with this first book. The spice 🥵, the storyline 🔥. Eli makes you want to punch him and kiss him at the same time. Arabella you just want to bubble wrap her and protect her from all the stuff she has to deal with. What a cliffy, I absolutely can't wait for book two.
dnf
March 18, 2023DNF @ 11% - this is goofy - I’m not into emo bois - and the idea that the weirdo artsy dude rules the skool is pretty ridiculous. He’s even got the jocks trembling 🤡 the pretentious music name dropping was the last straw. We get it. You’re special. 👍🏻🫠
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2023
its giving gossip girl, the lying game, and pretty little liars. this series have its own unique spin to it, so i did enjoy, but its doing the utter most also.
January 24, 2023
A highschool bully romance.
I had conflicted feelings before starting to read that book. I was a bit afraid of the trope, but I loved the authors' writing.
That book is everything I thought it would be from the trope and, at the same time, nothing at all.
L. Ann and Claire Marta invited the skittish reader I was to a slow dance with them. I know it now, all of this was a courtship. A twisted courtship to make me fall into Churchill Bradley Academy's darkness.
I'm all in now.
I had conflicted feelings before starting to read that book. I was a bit afraid of the trope, but I loved the authors' writing.
That book is everything I thought it would be from the trope and, at the same time, nothing at all.
L. Ann and Claire Marta invited the skittish reader I was to a slow dance with them. I know it now, all of this was a courtship. A twisted courtship to make me fall into Churchill Bradley Academy's darkness.
I'm all in now.
January 22, 2023
Dare to Break by L. Ann and Claire Marta is book one in the Churchill Bradley Academy series and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! These two authors write fabulous stories on their own, but when they put their deviously creative minds together, WOW
Arabella Gray is such a sweet mess and I just want to wrap her up and protect her from all the bad things.
This book is a steamy, dark, angsty, and a sinfully delicious read full of secrets and dares. I can not wait for the next book. Get it now, you won’t regret it.
Arabella Gray is such a sweet mess and I just want to wrap her up and protect her from all the bad things.
This book is a steamy, dark, angsty, and a sinfully delicious read full of secrets and dares. I can not wait for the next book. Get it now, you won’t regret it.
February 19, 2023
Did not work for me. The hero’s hate for the heroine made no sense!! If he simply hated her because his father married her gold digging mother then that storyline has been used TOO many times!!! Plus the writing was average. The verbiage felt amateurish, forced, and predictable. My opinion. I love bully dramas, but it has to flow.
January 21, 2023
When the monster of your new boarding school takes a special interest in ruining your life, you better hold on. But when that monsters also your new stepbrother… all bets are off.
Bully romance is not my main trope but this book has be binging it. The authors are able to create such a compelling story that I couldn’t stop reading. I was begging for the next book!
Eli is hardened, hot tempered and hot as hell. He takes no crap from anyone including his new stepsister. Arabella is innocent, quiet and just want to pass school without drawing too much attention to herself. But she has a hidden wild side and watching her unleash it was everything.
The buildup, the spice, the anger. This book was full of surprises. I need more!
Bully romance is not my main trope but this book has be binging it. The authors are able to create such a compelling story that I couldn’t stop reading. I was begging for the next book!
Eli is hardened, hot tempered and hot as hell. He takes no crap from anyone including his new stepsister. Arabella is innocent, quiet and just want to pass school without drawing too much attention to herself. But she has a hidden wild side and watching her unleash it was everything.
The buildup, the spice, the anger. This book was full of surprises. I need more!
January 22, 2023
So this book….I can’t write enough about it. I don’t read bully romance but gave this book a chance and literally could not put it down! I am an avid reader of L Ann but this was my first book of Claire Marta and I am hoping these two authors work together more in the future.
Eli and Ari are step siblings who have a lot of chemistry both good and bad. They end up at school together and from there you can’t put the book down. So many twists and turns that you have to keep going. I don’t want to give anything away but trust me you need to have a fan ready for the heat!
I am so excited for book two! These two ladies are incredible together and I love what they have created. Strongly recommend for people to read! You won’t regret it!
Eli and Ari are step siblings who have a lot of chemistry both good and bad. They end up at school together and from there you can’t put the book down. So many twists and turns that you have to keep going. I don’t want to give anything away but trust me you need to have a fan ready for the heat!
I am so excited for book two! These two ladies are incredible together and I love what they have created. Strongly recommend for people to read! You won’t regret it!
January 26, 2023
I wasn’t sure I would like this because I don’t normally care for bully romances, but I devoured this book in a day! Eli is such a tortured soul/jerk, but I really loved his character growth. My heart breaks for Arabella; she can’t catch a break. I really appreciated the dual POV, and while there were a lot of characters, it didn’t feel like it was too much. There’s A-LOT of spice & admittedly I had to pretend they were in college vs seniors in high school to feel better about loving it so much.
Definitely looking forward to book 2!
Definitely looking forward to book 2!
March 15, 2023
Anyone who knows me knows i LOVE a good bully romance with all the dark undertones and this book - OMG! It hit the mark.
This world you are thrown into makes you remember that senior year that you soooo badly want to forget for one reason or another.
It makes you face issues like grief and moving on.
It just … hits you with this story of these two completely opposite but so similar people.
The cliffy too.
Diving right into book 2 ASAP!!
This world you are thrown into makes you remember that senior year that you soooo badly want to forget for one reason or another.
It makes you face issues like grief and moving on.
It just … hits you with this story of these two completely opposite but so similar people.
The cliffy too.
Diving right into book 2 ASAP!!
February 27, 2023
I usually don’t read high school bully romance but I had to read this because I absolutely love L. Ann and I will read anything she writes. I love Arabella and Eli. I didn’t like Eli at the beginning but I was rooting for him by the end. Bella is a mess, I just want to wrap her in a hug and tell her everything will be ok. That ending had me screaming WTF and I need the second book now.
Read
December 4, 2023DNF bc if the MMC doesn’t have a solid reason to hate the FMC I’m out. He literally hates her bc his dad married her mum, albeit his dad did marry the woman a week after knowing her 🤣 but it’s not a good enough reason to be automatically pissed at the stepsister you inherited.
The parents ??? Predictably cringe, absent for their kids lives, no maturity and yet the father is supposedly a millionaire 😂
The dialogue also personally offended me.
I didn’t like it.
The parents ??? Predictably cringe, absent for their kids lives, no maturity and yet the father is supposedly a millionaire 😂
The dialogue also personally offended me.
I didn’t like it.
February 22, 2023
I "DARE" you to read this book... what will it be? Red or Green?
*****
Rating; 5 stars
Steam: 3 flames
Genre: Bully, step-siblings, dark, suspenseful
Triggers: Bullying, cliffhanger
*****
So I am going to be very honest. Bully romance is NOT a genre I read. I love dark/pitch black romance but there is something about bully that just doesn’t sit right with me, so I was very hesitant to read this book. BUT, because L. Ann is one of my all time authors that I have followed for years I decided to give it try. OH. MY. GOODNESS… am I glad I gave it a chance.
This review is intentionally vague because that is the best way to go into this story.
L. Ann and Clara Marte are one heck of a dynamic duo! One of the things I love about L. Ann and her stories are they are not superficial, meaning there is depth to and layers to her writing/plots. Once again I was not disappointed. This is not a cookie cutter regurgitated trope with different characters, nope this story is original and will quickly draw you in.
Character development is well thought out and multidimensional and as the story progresses and backstories are revealed you truly begin to feel as though you know these characters. The bully is easy to hate from the beginning but as the story progresses that hate becomes more of a gray area.
The storyline is intriguing and by the end of the book I was so invested I am glad these books are on a quick release schedule or I would have lost it waiting to see what happens next!
So did I like it? No… I loved it! Will I keep reading? Ah, YES. I have already started book 2 and I just need to know more. Do I recommend? A THOUSAND TIMES YES!
Happy reading y’all!
*****
Rating; 5 stars
Steam: 3 flames
Genre: Bully, step-siblings, dark, suspenseful
Triggers: Bullying, cliffhanger
*****
So I am going to be very honest. Bully romance is NOT a genre I read. I love dark/pitch black romance but there is something about bully that just doesn’t sit right with me, so I was very hesitant to read this book. BUT, because L. Ann is one of my all time authors that I have followed for years I decided to give it try. OH. MY. GOODNESS… am I glad I gave it a chance.
This review is intentionally vague because that is the best way to go into this story.
L. Ann and Clara Marte are one heck of a dynamic duo! One of the things I love about L. Ann and her stories are they are not superficial, meaning there is depth to and layers to her writing/plots. Once again I was not disappointed. This is not a cookie cutter regurgitated trope with different characters, nope this story is original and will quickly draw you in.
Character development is well thought out and multidimensional and as the story progresses and backstories are revealed you truly begin to feel as though you know these characters. The bully is easy to hate from the beginning but as the story progresses that hate becomes more of a gray area.
The storyline is intriguing and by the end of the book I was so invested I am glad these books are on a quick release schedule or I would have lost it waiting to see what happens next!
So did I like it? No… I loved it! Will I keep reading? Ah, YES. I have already started book 2 and I just need to know more. Do I recommend? A THOUSAND TIMES YES!
Happy reading y’all!
February 23, 2023
OMGGGGGGGGG
Oh…. My… freaking … GAAWWDDDD 😳
I’m a need a minute … I’m a neeed a minuteeee 🙃
THIS BOOK IS INSANE!
Is it 1:00am because I stayed up all night reading it ? Yes
Do I love and hate Eli? Yessss
Was this the worst cliff in the history of cliffs? YESS ☠️
I am OBSESSED! Easily going to be my top read of 2023 🔥
I don’t even know where to begin or formulate words. Ahhh-freaking-mazing
All my favourite things
Stalking, Good Girl, blindfolds. Mystery, dares, suspense, broody misunderstood hot artist jerk MMC…. My theory brain is out of control with all these plot twists and trying to figure it out…
And that cliff. Rude..: just really? REALLY?!!!
2am here I come 🤣
5 ⭐️… all these freaking god Damn stars!
Authors - 🖕🏻 so hard right now but actually with so much reader love because I am emotionally volatile and it’s all your fault cause this book is amazing.
Oh…. My… freaking … GAAWWDDDD 😳
I’m a need a minute … I’m a neeed a minuteeee 🙃
THIS BOOK IS INSANE!
Is it 1:00am because I stayed up all night reading it ? Yes
Do I love and hate Eli? Yessss
Was this the worst cliff in the history of cliffs? YESS ☠️
I am OBSESSED! Easily going to be my top read of 2023 🔥
I don’t even know where to begin or formulate words. Ahhh-freaking-mazing
All my favourite things
Stalking, Good Girl, blindfolds. Mystery, dares, suspense, broody misunderstood hot artist jerk MMC…. My theory brain is out of control with all these plot twists and trying to figure it out…
And that cliff. Rude..: just really? REALLY?!!!
2am here I come 🤣
5 ⭐️… all these freaking god Damn stars!
Authors - 🖕🏻 so hard right now but actually with so much reader love because I am emotionally volatile and it’s all your fault cause this book is amazing.
January 29, 2023
Let me start with a warning. If you read this book, and I very strongly advise that you do, you will be in it for the long haul, all four book, and I say this as someone who does not normally read or enjoy high school bully romance.
Both L Ann and Claire Marta are masters on the art of the emotional roller coaster, and their combined talents, well they will rip your heart and soul apart, only to put it back together and do it all over again...... and again, and again.
Dare To Break is the start of the story of Eli and Arabella, their senior year at CBA, and their assorted friends.
Enjoy
Both L Ann and Claire Marta are masters on the art of the emotional roller coaster, and their combined talents, well they will rip your heart and soul apart, only to put it back together and do it all over again...... and again, and again.
Dare To Break is the start of the story of Eli and Arabella, their senior year at CBA, and their assorted friends.
Enjoy
January 23, 2023
Five stars is no where near enough for this book. Eli and Arabella are incredible as they hate each other and she tries to survive the new hell she finds herself forced into. I hated Eli at the start but changed my opinion as the book went on. Arabella and her Sin are so beyond hot, it’s impossible not to get aroused while reading about their meeting. Miles and Kellan are great secondary characters who I can’t wait to learn more about. So can’t wait for more
July 8, 2023
these are MY people. just letting y’all know 😁
February 19, 2025
5⭐️
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Someone call a priest. I have some confessing to do 🥵
5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Someone call a priest. I have some confessing to do 🥵
December 19, 2023
Omg! One of my favorite series ever! Eli Travers is horrible but he worms his way into you heat! You have to read all 4 books in order and then the novella that came out in Nov 2023.
These books are mean, sad and memorable. There’s a ton of spice and a story line.
Highly recommend l!!
These books are mean, sad and memorable. There’s a ton of spice and a story line.
Highly recommend l!!
January 26, 2023
I am so excited for everyone to read this collaboration between L. Ann and Claire Marta. First in a four book series we get to meet Eli and Arabella when their parents get married in a whirlwind Vegas trip.
This book was sent to me as an arc and genuinely couldn’t stop thinking about the story between reading and real life distractions.
The story is super twisty and keeps you guessing along with the hot, hot slow burn between the two main characters. It’s definitely a unique take on the traditional high school bully romance. I can honestly say I’ve read a few but none like this.
I’m also really glad I have the next two books on my kindle because I don’t know if I could’ve waited to see how this all plays out.
This book was sent to me as an arc and genuinely couldn’t stop thinking about the story between reading and real life distractions.
The story is super twisty and keeps you guessing along with the hot, hot slow burn between the two main characters. It’s definitely a unique take on the traditional high school bully romance. I can honestly say I’ve read a few but none like this.
I’m also really glad I have the next two books on my kindle because I don’t know if I could’ve waited to see how this all plays out.
January 25, 2023
I am absolutely feral for more Eli and Bella! I wanted to hate Eli, but there’s something about him that’s broken and I am desperate to know what it is. Bella is a beautiful mess desperate for validation. Toss in surprise step siblings, boarding school and bottomless bank accounts. I could not put it down! I have a strong suspicion who is behind the messages and sabotage but I’m usually wrong about these things! We shall see in book two!!!
January 29, 2023
Wow wow this first book I read by l.ann this book didn't disapoint it so good its high school bully romance I couldn't put this book down cant wait to read next one amazing
Read
May 11, 2025Dnf… the fmc annoyed me so much
January 22, 2025
I’ve never read a high school bully trope. I never had an interest when I saw them advertised on social media. I always thought to myself, “I’m an adult woman, why would I read about high school kids.” There’s one main reason I made the Churchill Bradley Academy series my first. I stumbled upon author L. Ann, in 2021, and after reading Tattooed Memories, I binged everything else of hers I could get. I enjoy her writing style and the range of characters she creates. It’s now two years later and I’ve gotten my hands on everything she’s published that is available. At the end of last year, she introduced a character in one of her short stories who had his own book written by Claire Marta. I enjoyed that and was intrigued by another new to me author. Then they announced they were co-writing the Churchill Bradley Academy series. That alone was enough to get me ready to read a high-school, bully story.
That leads me to now…an hour after finishing Dare to Break, book 1 in the series. We meet Arabella Gray first. She’s a young girl, living the best life she can under the circumstances that are her life. Her mother hasn’t been maternal, to the point that Arabella learned to take care of herself and ,for lack of a better word, the household. She has a plan though and a goal set. Unfortunately, her mother upsets that plan tremendously and makes no apologies or has any regard for how it will impact her daughter. Without warning, Arabella is introduced to her mother’s new husband along with her own new step-brother, Eli Travers.
Eli despises her on sight. He believes she is a gold-digger like her mother. He thinks he knows who she is and his mind is set. Eli has no qualms about making her know he’ll do anything to get her and her mother out of his life.
Arabella finds herself without her home or best friend and thrust into a new school that is host to rich kids. She’s out of her comfort zone and Eli starts out as he plans to go on…making her life miserable. He finds something of hers and chooses to use it to break her.
Arabella hears about the dares at CBA and doesn’t think too much about it when she’s given one. From there, things escalate quickly. Eli is a complete and utter a$$hole, but as I turned page after page, I was intrigued about him more and more. He made a plan, but it doesn’t go exactly how he thought it would. Is he as bad as he seems? What happened to him? What happened last Halloween?
As the story goes on, little things are made known and hinted at. I have questions. There’s a mystery in the pages of this book, actually it seems as if there are multiple mysteries. I need to know the answers to my questions. I need to know what happens next, because this book left off on a cliffhanger. Luckily, this 4 book series is releasing one after the other. You won’t need to wait weeks or months to dive into book 2!
I DARE you to read this series!
Are you in?
Green for yes. Red for no.
That leads me to now…an hour after finishing Dare to Break, book 1 in the series. We meet Arabella Gray first. She’s a young girl, living the best life she can under the circumstances that are her life. Her mother hasn’t been maternal, to the point that Arabella learned to take care of herself and ,for lack of a better word, the household. She has a plan though and a goal set. Unfortunately, her mother upsets that plan tremendously and makes no apologies or has any regard for how it will impact her daughter. Without warning, Arabella is introduced to her mother’s new husband along with her own new step-brother, Eli Travers.
Eli despises her on sight. He believes she is a gold-digger like her mother. He thinks he knows who she is and his mind is set. Eli has no qualms about making her know he’ll do anything to get her and her mother out of his life.
Arabella finds herself without her home or best friend and thrust into a new school that is host to rich kids. She’s out of her comfort zone and Eli starts out as he plans to go on…making her life miserable. He finds something of hers and chooses to use it to break her.
Arabella hears about the dares at CBA and doesn’t think too much about it when she’s given one. From there, things escalate quickly. Eli is a complete and utter a$$hole, but as I turned page after page, I was intrigued about him more and more. He made a plan, but it doesn’t go exactly how he thought it would. Is he as bad as he seems? What happened to him? What happened last Halloween?
As the story goes on, little things are made known and hinted at. I have questions. There’s a mystery in the pages of this book, actually it seems as if there are multiple mysteries. I need to know the answers to my questions. I need to know what happens next, because this book left off on a cliffhanger. Luckily, this 4 book series is releasing one after the other. You won’t need to wait weeks or months to dive into book 2!
I DARE you to read this series!
Are you in?
Green for yes. Red for no.
May 13, 2023
4.5 star leaning towards 5
This one! It's a different spin on the academy bully stepbrother romance. I like it cause everyone has secrets and a dark side, even those who seem to be sunshine upfront.
Well, it starts with Arabella being notified that her irresponsible selfish mother has remarried in Vegas and she has to uproot her modest life to move to the Hamptons to live with her oh so rich stepfather and his son, Eli, who happens to be her age. She's being sent to the same boarding school as him for gr 12. Blah blah blah, same old same old, right? Wrong! There are differences that are holding my interest...
First - Eli, the stepbrother, is NOT the king of the castle - he's an outcast who everyone fears, with only one close friend, Kellan. That being said - he's desirable enough that he's been with half the female students but the girls keep that quiet like it's a dirty secret. He's crafty and smart. His "I don't give a f#@k attitude" is extremely appealing.
Second - there are dares that happen at the school. No one knows who delivers them but the students have to sneak out to do them. If you get one and then don't do it, bad things happen to you...including the death of a student the year before.
Third - I LOVE how bad everyone is. The roommate offering sexual favors to get something she wants - and it's not to her boyfriend. The "nice" guys who offer her a drive but then want her to do something dirty in payment - punishing her till she gives in. Even the dares where she has to flash a teacher (who has a thing for students) and some guy sees her do it. Not to mention her fake relationship with a guy trying to hide his homosexuality. I won't even mention the bad (also known as so very hot) things that happen to her when she sneaks out to do the dares.
Fourth - the scenes are HOT. Seriously. As an avid reader of books with this stuff, I get desensitized but I actually felt uncomfortable reading the book in public. I especially loved the scenes where he brings a "helper". LOL.
I keep waiting to get tired of the story but so far, it's not happening. I'm 13% into book 2 and waiting for the other shoe to drop. WTH is happening and why am I loving it so much??!!
This one! It's a different spin on the academy bully stepbrother romance. I like it cause everyone has secrets and a dark side, even those who seem to be sunshine upfront.
Well, it starts with Arabella being notified that her irresponsible selfish mother has remarried in Vegas and she has to uproot her modest life to move to the Hamptons to live with her oh so rich stepfather and his son, Eli, who happens to be her age. She's being sent to the same boarding school as him for gr 12. Blah blah blah, same old same old, right? Wrong! There are differences that are holding my interest...
First - Eli, the stepbrother, is NOT the king of the castle - he's an outcast who everyone fears, with only one close friend, Kellan. That being said - he's desirable enough that he's been with half the female students but the girls keep that quiet like it's a dirty secret. He's crafty and smart. His "I don't give a f#@k attitude" is extremely appealing.
Second - there are dares that happen at the school. No one knows who delivers them but the students have to sneak out to do them. If you get one and then don't do it, bad things happen to you...including the death of a student the year before.
Third - I LOVE how bad everyone is. The roommate offering sexual favors to get something she wants - and it's not to her boyfriend. The "nice" guys who offer her a drive but then want her to do something dirty in payment - punishing her till she gives in. Even the dares where she has to flash a teacher (who has a thing for students) and some guy sees her do it. Not to mention her fake relationship with a guy trying to hide his homosexuality. I won't even mention the bad (also known as so very hot) things that happen to her when she sneaks out to do the dares.
Fourth - the scenes are HOT. Seriously. As an avid reader of books with this stuff, I get desensitized but I actually felt uncomfortable reading the book in public. I especially loved the scenes where he brings a "helper". LOL.
I keep waiting to get tired of the story but so far, it's not happening. I'm 13% into book 2 and waiting for the other shoe to drop. WTH is happening and why am I loving it so much??!!
September 30, 2023
This book was fantastic! I love stepsiblings and bully romances and to add an intense enemies-to-lovers relationship made this book even better! The main characters are Eli Travers and Arabella Gray. Arabella comes from a poor family and has only ever lived with her single mother, Elena. Elena was never going to win the Mother of the Year award. She was constantly absent from home, partying and sleeping with men for weeks at a time, having no time for Arabella.
At some point, Elena met Eli's rich widowed father Elliot and married him after only a week of dating. They moved into the Travers mansion, and Arabella gets enrolled at the same prestigious boarding school as Eli, where he is referred to as "the monster of Churchill Bradley Academy" for good reason.
Eli hates Arabella more than anything in the world. In his mind, she is just like her gold-digging mother who only cares about his family's wealth. He wants to destroy her no matter what it takes.
At Churchill Bradley Academy, some students receive "dares" in their lockers sent to them from an anonymous sender. Most of the dares are harmless little stunts that students must never ignore or they risk getting hurt or worse. There has been one death connected to a student who didn't take a dare. Based on these dares, Eli creates a plan to destroy Arabella completely.
I would love to tell you more about what goes on between the two of them, but I don't want to spoil it for you. It's best if you read it blind. All I can tell you is it gets hotter and hotter with every dare that Arabella takes!
At 501 pages, this book is longer than most, but I was never at any point bored with it. I really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. There's a cliffhanger at the end, and I'm so glad I didn't have to wait for the second book to come out because all four books in the series are out now.
At some point, Elena met Eli's rich widowed father Elliot and married him after only a week of dating. They moved into the Travers mansion, and Arabella gets enrolled at the same prestigious boarding school as Eli, where he is referred to as "the monster of Churchill Bradley Academy" for good reason.
Eli hates Arabella more than anything in the world. In his mind, she is just like her gold-digging mother who only cares about his family's wealth. He wants to destroy her no matter what it takes.
At Churchill Bradley Academy, some students receive "dares" in their lockers sent to them from an anonymous sender. Most of the dares are harmless little stunts that students must never ignore or they risk getting hurt or worse. There has been one death connected to a student who didn't take a dare. Based on these dares, Eli creates a plan to destroy Arabella completely.
I would love to tell you more about what goes on between the two of them, but I don't want to spoil it for you. It's best if you read it blind. All I can tell you is it gets hotter and hotter with every dare that Arabella takes!
At 501 pages, this book is longer than most, but I was never at any point bored with it. I really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. There's a cliffhanger at the end, and I'm so glad I didn't have to wait for the second book to come out because all four books in the series are out now.
February 15, 2023
Be prepared to not be able to put this one down!!!!
I started writing this review even before finishing this book. I didn’t want to forget what I was feeling or get swept up on where my feelings go. I am already falling in love with Annabella and Eli. I want to protect Arabella and I want to shake Eli. I am filled with so much angst waiting to see what happens it’s killing me and I have to stop myself from jumping ahead!! This book has me wrapped around its finger and isn’t letting go. I lost time reading this book and I would have no problem doing it over and over again. If it were not for my partner, I wouldn’t have slept, cooked dinner or gotten the kids to school. This is one of those books you can’t put down.
Now I’m running off to read the next one.
Bravo Ladies! Bravo!!!!
I started writing this review even before finishing this book. I didn’t want to forget what I was feeling or get swept up on where my feelings go. I am already falling in love with Annabella and Eli. I want to protect Arabella and I want to shake Eli. I am filled with so much angst waiting to see what happens it’s killing me and I have to stop myself from jumping ahead!! This book has me wrapped around its finger and isn’t letting go. I lost time reading this book and I would have no problem doing it over and over again. If it were not for my partner, I wouldn’t have slept, cooked dinner or gotten the kids to school. This is one of those books you can’t put down.
Now I’m running off to read the next one.
Bravo Ladies! Bravo!!!!
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