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Granton University #3
Believing Bailey
All Bailey Prescott wants is to wrangle a certain cowboy on campus. She spends most weekends searching the party crowds for him. One night, at a lame frat house, she finds herself trapped in a bathroom and ends up the sole witness to a crime...or not a crime? Bailey’s one small voyeuristic moment has gigantic implications. Now she’s forced to make a forget what she saw and move on, or expose herself in order to save a man from spending years behind bars. Whatever her decision, her testimony is the key to everything. It may even open the door to her happily ever after. That is, if anyone actually believes her. She just wanted to find her cowboy…how did she get mixed up in a mess like this?
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2017
20 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Linda Kage
51 books5,537 followersLinda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy.
Published since 2010, she first went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature, then graduated with a Bachelor's in Arts-English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.
She currently lives with her husband, two daughters, a cat named Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas.
She started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club, then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now, she's all over the place with her romance reading tastes.
A few of her favorite things have been:
Stranger Things, Supernatural, Cheers, Teen Wolf, Umbrella Academy, Outlander, Yellowstone, Grey's Anatomy, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Shawshank Redemption, Dirty Dancing, Harry Potter, Tangled, A Walk to Remember, Dr. Pepper, Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and onion rings, the poem "Equipment" by Edgar A. Guest, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Published since 2010, she first went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature, then graduated with a Bachelor's in Arts-English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.
She currently lives with her husband, two daughters, a cat named Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas.
She started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club, then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now, she's all over the place with her romance reading tastes.
A few of her favorite things have been:
Stranger Things, Supernatural, Cheers, Teen Wolf, Umbrella Academy, Outlander, Yellowstone, Grey's Anatomy, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Shawshank Redemption, Dirty Dancing, Harry Potter, Tangled, A Walk to Remember, Dr. Pepper, Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and onion rings, the poem "Equipment" by Edgar A. Guest, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
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October 9, 2017FINALLY! After scrapping I-don't-know-how-many other first drafts and ideas and heroes on this book, I have completed Bailey's story AT LAST and brought an end to the Granton University Triology! JOY! I hear November 2nd will be the big day it releases. I'm happy and beyond ready to share Believing Bailey with the world. It's been a long time coming.
SNEAK PEEK:
I wandered into a new room as if I was searching for something or someone, though I wasn’t. I’d never felt so restless and solitary in my whole damn life. I missed hanging with my two besties.
But I was happy they were happy so I’d stop whining about that. Really. I just needed, I don’t know, something. Not a man. But something to give me a reason to wake up each morning, something to make all this living business worthwhile. A goal maybe.
Yeah, a goal sounded good, like something to work toward and keep my mind busy, aside from school and my part-time job. Something that actually interested me.
Yes, perfect. I was totally going to come up with a cool, stimulating goal. Like...some goal. I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of goal exactly, but—
When I spotted a cowboy hat from the corner of my eye, I paused everything.
Because cowboy hat? COWBOY HAT!
I did a double take and my mouth fell open.
There was my goal. My cowboy.
Holy hedgehog on a Friday at church, he was here! The cowboy I’d first seen a year ago and had been hunting ever since just so I could introduce myself to him and see if the rest of him turned out to be as good as my first impression had been was standing twenty-freaking-feet away. Right in front of me.
Decked out in a cowboy hat, long-sleeved checkered top, big-ass shiny belt buckle, snug Wranglers, and perfect leather boots, he was it, everything I’d ever dreamed I wanted in a guy. His hair was dark and just long enough for the ends to curl out the edges of his hat and make him even more deadly gorgeous. And he was smart enough to be drinking from a longneck bottle, not that stale keg swill they were serving.
Had I just said I didn’t want a boyfriend? Well, forget all that, because this guy, yeah, this guy was my soulmate. I just knew it.
I know, I know. No one likes all that love at first sight BS. But just work with me here. In my fantasies, it could be so. In reality...well, let’s not go there, because I was operating purely in fantasyland at the moment.
As I blinked repeatedly, simply gaping at him, my legs decided they no longer worked, because they weren’t moving, weren’t hurdling drunken idiots or karate kicking dancing girls out of my path to get to him. They were locked and frozen in place, unable to do much more than knock my knees together unsteadily.
Okay, so maybe goals were scary things, because I could not approach my cowboy. My soulmate. What if he turned out to be an asshat? Or worse. What if he was perfect? Then he’d certainly never want anything to do with a mess like me.
Intimidated beyond speech and petrified motionless, I watched him take a drink and then grin at something the blurry person next to him had just said, and oh, angels tumbled from heaven. That smile. It hitched up a little higher on the right side, making it crookedly adorable and sexy at the same time, with a slight laugh line crinkling the corner, telling me he probably smiled a lot.
I whimpered. My ovaries might’ve melted. My panties grew suddenly uncomfortable. My body was ready for him.
Then he turned, and holy cheese on crackers, his butt. His butt in Wranglers was epic. It was every cowboy groupie’s dream come true. And I was the ultimate cowboy groupie.
My mouth watered and fingers itched to grasp until...what? His butt started moving away.
Why was his butt leaving me?
“No. Wait!” Frantic and a little hoarse, my voice cracked as I finally lurched forward and lifted my hand, waving him to stop, as if that would actually waylay the guy twenty feet away with his back to me. “Shit.”
Screw my apprehensions; the scrapper in me kicked to life. He was not getting away this time.
SNEAK PEEK:
I wandered into a new room as if I was searching for something or someone, though I wasn’t. I’d never felt so restless and solitary in my whole damn life. I missed hanging with my two besties.
But I was happy they were happy so I’d stop whining about that. Really. I just needed, I don’t know, something. Not a man. But something to give me a reason to wake up each morning, something to make all this living business worthwhile. A goal maybe.
Yeah, a goal sounded good, like something to work toward and keep my mind busy, aside from school and my part-time job. Something that actually interested me.
Yes, perfect. I was totally going to come up with a cool, stimulating goal. Like...some goal. I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of goal exactly, but—
When I spotted a cowboy hat from the corner of my eye, I paused everything.
Because cowboy hat? COWBOY HAT!
I did a double take and my mouth fell open.
There was my goal. My cowboy.
Holy hedgehog on a Friday at church, he was here! The cowboy I’d first seen a year ago and had been hunting ever since just so I could introduce myself to him and see if the rest of him turned out to be as good as my first impression had been was standing twenty-freaking-feet away. Right in front of me.
Decked out in a cowboy hat, long-sleeved checkered top, big-ass shiny belt buckle, snug Wranglers, and perfect leather boots, he was it, everything I’d ever dreamed I wanted in a guy. His hair was dark and just long enough for the ends to curl out the edges of his hat and make him even more deadly gorgeous. And he was smart enough to be drinking from a longneck bottle, not that stale keg swill they were serving.
Had I just said I didn’t want a boyfriend? Well, forget all that, because this guy, yeah, this guy was my soulmate. I just knew it.
I know, I know. No one likes all that love at first sight BS. But just work with me here. In my fantasies, it could be so. In reality...well, let’s not go there, because I was operating purely in fantasyland at the moment.
As I blinked repeatedly, simply gaping at him, my legs decided they no longer worked, because they weren’t moving, weren’t hurdling drunken idiots or karate kicking dancing girls out of my path to get to him. They were locked and frozen in place, unable to do much more than knock my knees together unsteadily.
Okay, so maybe goals were scary things, because I could not approach my cowboy. My soulmate. What if he turned out to be an asshat? Or worse. What if he was perfect? Then he’d certainly never want anything to do with a mess like me.
Intimidated beyond speech and petrified motionless, I watched him take a drink and then grin at something the blurry person next to him had just said, and oh, angels tumbled from heaven. That smile. It hitched up a little higher on the right side, making it crookedly adorable and sexy at the same time, with a slight laugh line crinkling the corner, telling me he probably smiled a lot.
I whimpered. My ovaries might’ve melted. My panties grew suddenly uncomfortable. My body was ready for him.
Then he turned, and holy cheese on crackers, his butt. His butt in Wranglers was epic. It was every cowboy groupie’s dream come true. And I was the ultimate cowboy groupie.
My mouth watered and fingers itched to grasp until...what? His butt started moving away.
Why was his butt leaving me?
“No. Wait!” Frantic and a little hoarse, my voice cracked as I finally lurched forward and lifted my hand, waving him to stop, as if that would actually waylay the guy twenty feet away with his back to me. “Shit.”
Screw my apprehensions; the scrapper in me kicked to life. He was not getting away this time.
November 11, 2017
I've read many books by Linda Kage. I've liked most of them. This one, however, seriously crossed a line. This story is NOT okay.
At the beginning, I really had high hopes for this book, because frankly, it deals with the very serious, and rarely discussed issue of a woman raping a man. Because that's exactly what Melody does. Beckett didn't want to have sex but she took advantage of his drunkenness. That's rape. Plain and simple. And yet, nobody ever comes remotely close to considering this. Because Beck's a guy. Hell, there seems to be this false belief that guys can only get erections when they're aroused. But that's wrong and Melody raped him. But that's not even slightly indicated. Even Beck himself simply counts Melody as one of the five girls he's slept with as if it's no big deal at all!! This is infuriating. And Bailey, who's hiding in the room and sees everything does not stop it because she's uncomfortable. WTF? You hear a guy tell a girl no, she pushes him, you step in, for God sake! Hell, she even takes out her phone for a commemorative photo!
The plot, however, is all about how Melody falsely accuses Beck of raping her. Again that would have been an interesting plot because sadly enough, too many women think it's no big deal to falsely accuse somebody of such a heinous crime. But here's where this book missed the mark by miles and miles: Beck is arrested. He is thrown out of university. His parents abandon him. His entire life is destroyed because of one lie. He then receives evidence that Melody is lying and what does he do? NOTHING. He mopes around, feeling sorry for himself and just accepting this treatment. He is the victim of vandalism and assault on several occasions and he does NOTHING!
How fucking stupid is this guy? He has evidence to prove not only his innocence but to prove Melody's CRIME and he does nothing about it. Jesus Christ. The ONLY acceptable course of action here would have been to sue Melody. Demand all the news stations cease to defame him as a rapist and demand to be pardoned by the university. The only acceptable course of action would have been to fight back. Beck does nothing of the sorts. He's just a self-pitying victim.
Bailey is no better. She and all her friends are childish and just like Beck, simply accept that all this bad stuff has happened. Bailey is attacked by Melody's brother and she does NOT press charges. Bailey is fired from her job because of Melody and she does NOTHING.
But then, in an endlessly childish and ridiculous act, they "expose" Melody by showing the video that Bailey just happened to take of Melody raping Beck (which was just a ridiculous stupid coincidence, don't you think?). What's even worse is that they not only "expose" Melody but they for some reason felt the need to pull Brittany, Beck's sister, into this high-school revenge plot. Brittany who actually was raped by a guy. They basically show before and after pictures of her, just to make Melody look bad. That's NOT OKAY. Freaking hell. This book is just one giant slap in the face of rape victims. It's an insult to everyone who was ever falsely accused of rape. This is just really really below the belt (pun intended).
But hey, in the end, it's all okay because eventually Beck and Bailey end up married and pop out a few kids to name them with only Bs. That's the moral of this book, apparently. That it all doesn't matter as long as you can get married and pop out kids.
Seriously, this book infuriated me. It took these absolutely serious topics that need to be addressed but placed them in the hands of childish teenagers who only ridiculed them and changed nothing. In the end, the only thing that happens is that Melody is exposed as a lying bitch. That's NOT okay. She's a manipulative, violent rapist. Chance is the one-dimensional right hand to the villain Melody. It's like he does all her dirty work. What kind of brother assaults women just because his sister tells him too? Is he held responsible for his crimes? No. Again, he's only exposed as an asshole. So, in the end, you have a rapist and a violent assailant who go free. You have a rape victim that's only used as a prop to expose a lying bitch. And you have a whole bunch of stupid college kids who obviously have no idea what rape, assault, and defamation is because all of these things are CRIMES which require immediate reaction.
Nothing about this story is okay. Nothing. This isn't just a case of bad world-building or slow pacing. This book raises important issues but then deals with them in an absolutely unacceptable manner.
At the beginning, I really had high hopes for this book, because frankly, it deals with the very serious, and rarely discussed issue of a woman raping a man. Because that's exactly what Melody does. Beckett didn't want to have sex but she took advantage of his drunkenness. That's rape. Plain and simple. And yet, nobody ever comes remotely close to considering this. Because Beck's a guy. Hell, there seems to be this false belief that guys can only get erections when they're aroused. But that's wrong and Melody raped him. But that's not even slightly indicated. Even Beck himself simply counts Melody as one of the five girls he's slept with as if it's no big deal at all!! This is infuriating. And Bailey, who's hiding in the room and sees everything does not stop it because she's uncomfortable. WTF? You hear a guy tell a girl no, she pushes him, you step in, for God sake! Hell, she even takes out her phone for a commemorative photo!
The plot, however, is all about how Melody falsely accuses Beck of raping her. Again that would have been an interesting plot because sadly enough, too many women think it's no big deal to falsely accuse somebody of such a heinous crime. But here's where this book missed the mark by miles and miles: Beck is arrested. He is thrown out of university. His parents abandon him. His entire life is destroyed because of one lie. He then receives evidence that Melody is lying and what does he do? NOTHING. He mopes around, feeling sorry for himself and just accepting this treatment. He is the victim of vandalism and assault on several occasions and he does NOTHING!
How fucking stupid is this guy? He has evidence to prove not only his innocence but to prove Melody's CRIME and he does nothing about it. Jesus Christ. The ONLY acceptable course of action here would have been to sue Melody. Demand all the news stations cease to defame him as a rapist and demand to be pardoned by the university. The only acceptable course of action would have been to fight back. Beck does nothing of the sorts. He's just a self-pitying victim.
Bailey is no better. She and all her friends are childish and just like Beck, simply accept that all this bad stuff has happened. Bailey is attacked by Melody's brother and she does NOT press charges. Bailey is fired from her job because of Melody and she does NOTHING.
But then, in an endlessly childish and ridiculous act, they "expose" Melody by showing the video that Bailey just happened to take of Melody raping Beck (which was just a ridiculous stupid coincidence, don't you think?). What's even worse is that they not only "expose" Melody but they for some reason felt the need to pull Brittany, Beck's sister, into this high-school revenge plot. Brittany who actually was raped by a guy. They basically show before and after pictures of her, just to make Melody look bad. That's NOT OKAY. Freaking hell. This book is just one giant slap in the face of rape victims. It's an insult to everyone who was ever falsely accused of rape. This is just really really below the belt (pun intended).
But hey, in the end, it's all okay because eventually Beck and Bailey end up married and pop out a few kids to name them with only Bs. That's the moral of this book, apparently. That it all doesn't matter as long as you can get married and pop out kids.
Seriously, this book infuriated me. It took these absolutely serious topics that need to be addressed but placed them in the hands of childish teenagers who only ridiculed them and changed nothing. In the end, the only thing that happens is that Melody is exposed as a lying bitch. That's NOT okay. She's a manipulative, violent rapist. Chance is the one-dimensional right hand to the villain Melody. It's like he does all her dirty work. What kind of brother assaults women just because his sister tells him too? Is he held responsible for his crimes? No. Again, he's only exposed as an asshole. So, in the end, you have a rapist and a violent assailant who go free. You have a rape victim that's only used as a prop to expose a lying bitch. And you have a whole bunch of stupid college kids who obviously have no idea what rape, assault, and defamation is because all of these things are CRIMES which require immediate reaction.
Nothing about this story is okay. Nothing. This isn't just a case of bad world-building or slow pacing. This book raises important issues but then deals with them in an absolutely unacceptable manner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
5 +++ STARS!
Believing Bailey is the third and last book of the (fabulous!) Granton University series.
Now it's Bailey's turn. She's the girl who had a crush on a guy with a cowboy hat she has spotted on campus several times.
Unfortunately, the cowboy got away every damn time and when she finally finds him again at a frat party, she's busy witnessing a "crime" which is maybe not so criminal at all.
It's hard to review this book without spoilers but I try my best. The things Bailey sees turn her world upside down. To to the right thing, to rescue a person she barely knows, Bailey risks the life she has built for herself.
I loved Beckett - or Bucket how she likes to call him.
Lifting my hand to stop him because his drunken rambling was making me dizzy, I said, “Look…Bucket.”
“Beckett,” he corrected.
I blinked. “Huh?”
“My name is Beckett. Not Bucket.”
“Well, it sounded like you said Bucket.” I clenched my fingers around the damp hand towel I was still holding. Each second I stood here arguing with a bucket of Beckett, my cowboy was getting farther and farther away
He wrinkled his nose. “What the fuck kind of name is Bucket?”
I growled and threw up my hands. “Well, what the fuck kind of name is Beckett?”
Beckett is best book boyfriend material. This guy is everything. I loved him and his kind heart. He was the right guy for this loud mouthed girl without any kind of filter.
Bailey, living together with two couples, was lonely and I can totally see where that was coming from. Sharing your apartment with two couples so much in love must be exhausting.
When Beckett enters her life he is the answer to everything. He is the one who desperately seeks help but Bailey also needs him. He understands her and sees the real Bailey that's hiding beneath her sass and attitude.
“I appreciate all your help,” he started. “You have no idea how much I appreciate it. But…”
Floundering because he was out of words, I grinned and said, “It’s hard for you to accept help, isn’t it?”
He deflated. “God, yes. You have no idea.”
I chuckled and patted his cheek. “Well, suck it up, buttercup. Because I’m here until you’re one hundred percent again. You better get used to it.”
I loved both, Beckett and Bailey. That's something that happens not often to me. Most of the time I don't like the heroine but Bailey was the greatest. I could so much relate to her and her feelings. She felt real, like a girl you might know from school or work or maybe like yourself :)
I was going to recover from this and come out better at the other end just so Bailey could claim with confidence how much she’d saved me.
I would do it all for her.
If you like NA, give this series a try. All three books are wonderful ♥ Linda Kage will always be my queen of new adult romance.
Believing Bailey is the third and last book of the (fabulous!) Granton University series.
Now it's Bailey's turn. She's the girl who had a crush on a guy with a cowboy hat she has spotted on campus several times.
Unfortunately, the cowboy got away every damn time and when she finally finds him again at a frat party, she's busy witnessing a "crime" which is maybe not so criminal at all.
It's hard to review this book without spoilers but I try my best. The things Bailey sees turn her world upside down. To to the right thing, to rescue a person she barely knows, Bailey risks the life she has built for herself.
I loved Beckett - or Bucket how she likes to call him.
Lifting my hand to stop him because his drunken rambling was making me dizzy, I said, “Look…Bucket.”
“Beckett,” he corrected.
I blinked. “Huh?”
“My name is Beckett. Not Bucket.”
“Well, it sounded like you said Bucket.” I clenched my fingers around the damp hand towel I was still holding. Each second I stood here arguing with a bucket of Beckett, my cowboy was getting farther and farther away
He wrinkled his nose. “What the fuck kind of name is Bucket?”
I growled and threw up my hands. “Well, what the fuck kind of name is Beckett?”
Beckett is best book boyfriend material. This guy is everything. I loved him and his kind heart. He was the right guy for this loud mouthed girl without any kind of filter.
Bailey, living together with two couples, was lonely and I can totally see where that was coming from. Sharing your apartment with two couples so much in love must be exhausting.
When Beckett enters her life he is the answer to everything. He is the one who desperately seeks help but Bailey also needs him. He understands her and sees the real Bailey that's hiding beneath her sass and attitude.
“I appreciate all your help,” he started. “You have no idea how much I appreciate it. But…”
Floundering because he was out of words, I grinned and said, “It’s hard for you to accept help, isn’t it?”
He deflated. “God, yes. You have no idea.”
I chuckled and patted his cheek. “Well, suck it up, buttercup. Because I’m here until you’re one hundred percent again. You better get used to it.”
I loved both, Beckett and Bailey. That's something that happens not often to me. Most of the time I don't like the heroine but Bailey was the greatest. I could so much relate to her and her feelings. She felt real, like a girl you might know from school or work or maybe like yourself :)
I was going to recover from this and come out better at the other end just so Bailey could claim with confidence how much she’d saved me.
I would do it all for her.
If you like NA, give this series a try. All three books are wonderful ♥ Linda Kage will always be my queen of new adult romance.
August 21, 2023
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨
First Impressions
Believing Bailey is such a endearing story and it was a blast of a good time! And what a way to finish off the trilogy. I really enjoyed what the author did with these books. I will say if this university was real, I would never attend because it has the worst luck and the worst human beings that attend there. But I will say that Linda Kage really did a work of art when she wrote this trilogy and I enjoyed every moment. In Believing Bailey, I do think that this book is much more witty and fun than the previous two books. There are some serious events that happen in this one, including a sexual assault scene, so it definitely has some darker elements at times, but the author really balances it out with such strong family ties and humor that will lift your mood, and really helps bring balance to the story in the end.
First Line
This party sucked so bad. Even the beer was stale.
Summary
So the set up is where our heroine Bailey Prescott, has been in search of a cowboy that she once got a glimpse of on campus and ever since has been in search of him. She is also getting tired of her best friends with their boyfriends, like love is so sickening to her of late. But most of that stems from how seeing them and being the fifth wheel makes her feel like an outcast and reject. When she goes to a frat party, just to get a change of scenery, in her search for her cowboy, she runs into Beckett, and when she is voyeur and sees a mix of dubioius consent and videotapes her she is determined to never tell anyone what she witnessed. But when Beckett is falsely accused of rape, she has a difficult choice to make....be seen as a voyeur OR do the right thing and not let a innocent man be accused of a crime he didn't commit.
What I Loved
Believing Bailey was such an interesting dynamic and man my heart broke for our hero. Being falsely accused of rape is no joke and seeing how everyone treated him was awful. Even when he is freed, there is still the rumors and stigma of it where he loses everything...his family, his frat and friends and even being kicked out of college and losing his job. HIs parents steal his money from his bank account and he literally is left with nothing and is constantly being attacked by anyone that recognizes him. Like man....he needs some hugs and lovin'. Bailey is a woman that on the surface seems judgemental and flightly, but she really isn't. She is just spirited and says exactly what is on her mind. I really loved that she was willing to do the right thing and the way that she is with Beckett was just wonderful. I loved how we see her turn into this affectionate woman who begins to see the light and giving Beckett what he needs and supporting him when he needs a friend and more. I had a blast with Bailey's family and how they treat Beckett and defensive she is of him. And man the villain, she gets her just desserts! LOVED seeing that in the end. Quite frankly she deserved jail time but we all know thats not the society we live in.
What I Struggled With
There wasn't anything specific I struggled with this, it just didn't quite get me to a five star level but was still a solid good read. Bailey just isn't my favorite heroine. She was a lot to handle and quite frankly she took way too long to come forward with the truth.
Overall View
Believing Bailey was a pure delight to read and I adored every single moment that delivered such a strong romance that left me with plenty of laughs and tears along the way...
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: College Student, Cowboy
Themes: Falsely Accused of Crime, Pining Hero
Tropes: Unrequited Love, Mistaken Identity, Secret Relationship, Friends to Lovers
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend of both
Song This Book Inspires
Unless Its With You by Christina Aguilera
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standalones, but I recommend reading in order if possible
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
October 27, 2017
Wow Believing Bailey is such an amazing book everything about it drew me in till the very end , I'm such a huge fan of Linda Kage she has written some of my most favorite stories . This can be read as a standalone but I suggest that you read the first two books in the series the couples are mentioned , after reading Fighting Fate I couldn't wait to get my hands on Baileys book and have her find the cowboy of her dreams . Lets just say Bailey and Bucket I mean Becket meet under a very unpleasant moment that will change their lives in one night it was so unexpected did not see it coming . Love Bailey she has no filter what so ever , sassy , lonely , funny , and would do anything for the ones she loves I also admired her for what she did was so brave something most people wouldn't have done . Oh my gosh poor Becket my heart hurt for him the things he had to go through and the people he thought had his back but betrayed him let him fly in the wind , like that we are in his point of view in some chapters we get a look at the emotions that Becket has when faced with destruction that a conniving heifer has created . I think Bailey and Becket are perfect for one another the fierce protectiveness that they fill for each other is beautiful the spark they felt built up to a all out inferno the more time Bailey and Bucket spent in each others company , with sex scenes that are steamy while also being tasteful had me fanning myself while also haveing funny after sexy time talks . This author always knows how to bring out the emotions I felt happy , sad , anger , retribution and victory while reading this . The story flow was great it wasn't rushed or slow it is done just right to were we feel and see what the characters are going through and the struggles Bailey and Beck go through . I can't wait to read more Linda Kage all her books are a must read if you haven't had a chance to get her books you so should especially the Granton university series and her Forbidden men series .
copy provided for honest review
****************************************
hero=10 heroine=10 secondary characters=10 Chemistry=10 steam=5
romance=8 humor=5 darkness level=5 action=3 mystery=3
enjoyment=10 angst=3 story line=10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing=10
cover=10 stars=5 author=10
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book=yes
would I read future books by this author=yes
copy provided for honest review
****************************************
hero=10 heroine=10 secondary characters=10 Chemistry=10 steam=5
romance=8 humor=5 darkness level=5 action=3 mystery=3
enjoyment=10 angst=3 story line=10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing=10
cover=10 stars=5 author=10
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book=yes
would I read future books by this author=yes
November 10, 2017
I wanted to give this book more than 3 stars... but I really can't for a few reasons:
1. I really don't like it when books have one-dimensional villains, and the Fairfields were totally one-dimensional. What college girl walks up to her brother, speaking to another student, and says "who is this chunk?" Some of the things that came out of Melody's mouth just didn't seem believable to me. Also, I felt that her brother's violence was sort of strange. He seemed very violent towards women...while defending another woman who he believed to be the victim of a rape/assault. This just didn't compute for me. I think it is rare in a story to read about a male character who is so willing to punch (PUNCH!) a female character on more than one occasion.
2. This story was very New Adult in the sense that these kids really needed to speak to an ACTUAL ADULT. Random expulsion from the university without any sort of hearing or appeal? No request made for an attorney when you are the one accused of rape? Getting a phone call from the university re-enrolling you with an apology based on a viral video? Some of these things were just strange and unrealistic. If I get wrongfully put in jail, the first word out of my mouth will be: "ATTORNEY." Beckett was so blasé and helpless, I was literally dumbfounded.
3. Oh, Beckett. I didn't hate him, but he was hard to like. There is something strange about reading a book about a character, male or female, who just allows things to happen without fighting them. Beckett was never angry enough for me to like him - he absolutely never stood up for himself. He was hard to read about.
4. Lastly, there were more than a couple of spelling errors throughout the book. Usually, I wouldn't consider spelling errors when rating a book, but some of these were jarring enough to disrupt the flow of the story. In some ways, the presence of glaring errors gave me the impression that the story was haphazardly put together, and didn't benefit from a final round of editing (which I think it needed).
1. I really don't like it when books have one-dimensional villains, and the Fairfields were totally one-dimensional. What college girl walks up to her brother, speaking to another student, and says "who is this chunk?" Some of the things that came out of Melody's mouth just didn't seem believable to me. Also, I felt that her brother's violence was sort of strange. He seemed very violent towards women...while defending another woman who he believed to be the victim of a rape/assault. This just didn't compute for me. I think it is rare in a story to read about a male character who is so willing to punch (PUNCH!) a female character on more than one occasion.
2. This story was very New Adult in the sense that these kids really needed to speak to an ACTUAL ADULT. Random expulsion from the university without any sort of hearing or appeal? No request made for an attorney when you are the one accused of rape? Getting a phone call from the university re-enrolling you with an apology based on a viral video? Some of these things were just strange and unrealistic. If I get wrongfully put in jail, the first word out of my mouth will be: "ATTORNEY." Beckett was so blasé and helpless, I was literally dumbfounded.
3. Oh, Beckett. I didn't hate him, but he was hard to like. There is something strange about reading a book about a character, male or female, who just allows things to happen without fighting them. Beckett was never angry enough for me to like him - he absolutely never stood up for himself. He was hard to read about.
4. Lastly, there were more than a couple of spelling errors throughout the book. Usually, I wouldn't consider spelling errors when rating a book, but some of these were jarring enough to disrupt the flow of the story. In some ways, the presence of glaring errors gave me the impression that the story was haphazardly put together, and didn't benefit from a final round of editing (which I think it needed).
November 24, 2017
WTF did I just read!?
For clarification, I only read like 10% of the book so I don't know if that counts as spoilers but here we go:
•Beckett was extremely drunk at a frat party
•Bailey is hiding in a shower at said party •Beckett walks into the bedroom connected to the bathroom
• Melody comes onto him but Beckett says no(repeatedly)
• Bailey decides to stay and watch while Melody ignores Beckett and has sex with him anyway(rapes him)
• Melody later accuses Beckett of rape
• Bailey struggles to summon the courage (with the insistence of her friends) to tell the police and help Beckett. Her struggle: admitting that she's a voyeur, not that she saw someone being raped and decided to let it happen
Again, WTF!? I have never hated a heroine more, and maybe the book gets better later but I cannot get passed the beginning.
For clarification, I only read like 10% of the book so I don't know if that counts as spoilers but here we go:
•Beckett was extremely drunk at a frat party
•Bailey is hiding in a shower at said party •Beckett walks into the bedroom connected to the bathroom
• Melody comes onto him but Beckett says no(repeatedly)
• Bailey decides to stay and watch while Melody ignores Beckett and has sex with him anyway(rapes him)
• Melody later accuses Beckett of rape
• Bailey struggles to summon the courage (with the insistence of her friends) to tell the police and help Beckett. Her struggle: admitting that she's a voyeur, not that she saw someone being raped and decided to let it happen
Again, WTF!? I have never hated a heroine more, and maybe the book gets better later but I cannot get passed the beginning.
November 4, 2017
This is the last book in Linda Kage's Granton(?) University series. It's the book I've waited for for about a year and a half. I wanted to read all about Bailey and her mysterious cowboy...and I did but with a twist. One I actually liked. It was totally unexpected but it totally worked for me.
What happens in this story definitely took me by surprise. What happened to the hero in the beginning and throughout the book was pretty sucky and even with Bailey getting sucked into it too. The other party involved got off way too easy which really bothered me. I mean this person was exposed but it wasn't enough.
Anyway, despite all that, this was a very sweet book about a girl who does the right thing and a guy who has lost everything, coming together as friends and then falling in love. It happens over a short length of time but I bought it.
All in all a pretty good book. I think though I like her Forbidden Men series better.
Triggers:
What happens in this story definitely took me by surprise. What happened to the hero in the beginning and throughout the book was pretty sucky and even with Bailey getting sucked into it too. The other party involved got off way too easy which really bothered me. I mean this person was exposed but it wasn't enough.
Anyway, despite all that, this was a very sweet book about a girl who does the right thing and a guy who has lost everything, coming together as friends and then falling in love. It happens over a short length of time but I bought it.
All in all a pretty good book. I think though I like her Forbidden Men series better.
Triggers:
November 4, 2017
Mostly a YA read but subject was/is so prevalent in news. It focused both ways...rape and false accusations and how it affects everyone
Would of gotten five stars but the last episode with Chance not being reported to the police was wrong. There was so much to be emotional at when reading this book.
Not your average romance at all. HEA was exceptionally sweet.
Would of gotten five stars but the last episode with Chance not being reported to the police was wrong. There was so much to be emotional at when reading this book.
Not your average romance at all. HEA was exceptionally sweet.
December 24, 2017
I think this is the first time I actually gave 3 stars to Linda Kage’s book.
I’m not gonna lie, I was looking forward to read Bailey’s story and I didn’t even read the blurb. I just start reading it right away because why, Linda Kage’s books are always my jam. But somehow I disappointed at this one. Bailey always think that she’s snarky, cool, all straightforward, yet all her actions didn’t shows all those things. Especially when she’s the only one who have the key to save Beckett’s life. I keep hoping she start to get it together and be brave you know, but it didn’t happen until the story almost ends.
And Beckett, I know he’s confused, shocked, and scared. If it happens to me I’d traumatized for life. But why, for once, I didn’t see him stand up for himself even after he has people that believe him. I mean, Bailey has the key, dude. Be confident for once. And why in the world none of Beckett’s friends supporting him? Not even one? He’s a nice guy, right? He should’ve had I don’t know, at least 2 people backing him as friends, but he got none. And for that I’m pretty bummed. I want to see friendship here.
And Melody. Oh my god. The closure is not enough! I adore the fact that this book brought up such an important issue and I was hoping for you know, pointers, about how to deal with society. Because in Beckett’s case, he’s lucky he has Bailey as a key witness. In real life it’s obviously not this simple. I hope Miss Linda gave us more optimistic attitude and strength from victim’s POV.
But overall I enjoyed this book, although it’s not exactly my favorite. Look forward to read more!!!
I’m not gonna lie, I was looking forward to read Bailey’s story and I didn’t even read the blurb. I just start reading it right away because why, Linda Kage’s books are always my jam. But somehow I disappointed at this one. Bailey always think that she’s snarky, cool, all straightforward, yet all her actions didn’t shows all those things. Especially when she’s the only one who have the key to save Beckett’s life. I keep hoping she start to get it together and be brave you know, but it didn’t happen until the story almost ends.
And Beckett, I know he’s confused, shocked, and scared. If it happens to me I’d traumatized for life. But why, for once, I didn’t see him stand up for himself even after he has people that believe him. I mean, Bailey has the key, dude. Be confident for once. And why in the world none of Beckett’s friends supporting him? Not even one? He’s a nice guy, right? He should’ve had I don’t know, at least 2 people backing him as friends, but he got none. And for that I’m pretty bummed. I want to see friendship here.
And Melody. Oh my god. The closure is not enough! I adore the fact that this book brought up such an important issue and I was hoping for you know, pointers, about how to deal with society. Because in Beckett’s case, he’s lucky he has Bailey as a key witness. In real life it’s obviously not this simple. I hope Miss Linda gave us more optimistic attitude and strength from victim’s POV.
But overall I enjoyed this book, although it’s not exactly my favorite. Look forward to read more!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2017
Another amazing book by Linda Kage. Love all her work. Sadly, that was the last book in the series, but what a great ending it was!
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June 28, 2020This is probably the worst review I have ever given to any book.
TW: RAPE
This is the third, and final book in the Granton University series. I liked the first book (I gave it 3 stars) I gave the second book 4 stars. I honestly loved the second book, so I had high hopes for this one. I have liked Bailey's character throughout the series. She's definitely flawed, but I'm a fan of flawed characters. She made some mistakes. In book two, she took liberties with her best friends relationship and feelings that weren't her place to take, but she did so out of love. I believed her to be a good character.
So, let's get to why I DNF'ed this book and why I think it should just basically not even exist. I am not someone who is at all easily offended. What I am, is someone who thinks that rape and sexual assault should be handled carefully and seriously. Not used as a throw away plot point, or worse yet, written, but not even called rape.
Our character, Bailey goes to a party. She meets Beckett. He's very drunk. I didn't read far enough into the book to see if he was only drunk or if he had been given a date rape drug, but either way, we know that he is at minimum, very drunk. Bailey finds herself in a bathroom and she is too embarrassed to come out of it when she hears Beckett enter the adjoining bedroom. Beckett is followed in by a woman, Melody. Bailey watches as Beckett talks to Melody, letting Melody know that he is not interested in having any sort of sexual encounter with her. However, he is drunk and not really all that able to move well, and Melody pushes him back, onto the bed. BECKETT AGAIN TELLS HER THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE WITH HER. Melody then unzips his pants and performs oral sex on him. Beckett is protesting, but also his body starts reacting to it. This, as everyone should know by now, does not mean that he wants to have this experience. Our bodies are capable of reacting to situations when we have not consented. AND HE DID NOT CONSENT. After he finishes in her mouth, Melody pulls her skirt up and climbs on top of Beckett. He again tells her no. He doesn't want to have sex with her, but she continues. She puts a condom on him. He is too drunk to push her off. He clearly is trying to stop her. This entire time Bailey is in the bathroom and she is seeing what is going on. Melody then climbs on Beckett and RAPES him. Because, make no mistake, it was RAPE. Just because half way through it, he becomes aroused and starts reacting, doesn't mean he wanted to have sex with Melody.
At any point Bailey could have walked out of the bathroom and stopped this. Especially at the beginning. She sees Beckett protesting before Melody even has his pants unzipped, but does absolutely nothing? If the roles were reversed and the character were a man watching as a woman got raped in this way, almost every single review would be a one star. Hell, the book would be chastised. But a man getting raped? Nope. It's just fucking fine? What the hell? How can women be okay with this? For that matter, how can anyone be okay with this?
As far as I can tell, from what I read (and I did skim some of it) it's never even framed as rape. Melody accuses Beckett of rape and Bailey has to decide if she should come forward, because she doesn't want people to think of her as a voyeur? She is more worried about that than the fact that Beckett was fucking raped? Are you kidding me?
The plot of the book seems to be that Melody accuses Beckett of rape and his life goes to shit pretty fast because no one believes he didn't do it. Bailey has to step up and help him. Although, no one in the book seems to think that he actually has been raped. It's more that Melody is an awful person and they want to clear Beckett's name, but Melody doesn't actually pay for her crimes.
I was sickened that someone could write this rape scene, then write it off as just being part of a bigger storyline. And how are we supposed to like a so called "heroine" who, at the very first moment, knew that Beckett didn't want to have sex with this girl, but stood idly by and let it happen? And to believe that they have some sort of great love? To me, it's more they both have a great need for therapy, because they are both clearly fucked up if they think that they have any business being together. Beckett should be dealing with what happened to him and Bailey should deal with what a completely selfish piece of trash she is.
This book had an opportunity to deal with a very real matter. It could have taken something that happens and is often overlooked and brought attention to it. Instead the author chose to go the way that so many people actually do when a man is raped. Totally discounting the fact that men do indeed get raped and violated. That it does affect them. That they are victims of sexual crimes. That they don't have to just be okay.
I have other books by this author on my Kindle. Ones that I have not read yet. I am seriously considering deleting them without reading them. It's really a shame because Ms. Kage did such a good job and took such care with the hard subject of a school shooting in book one and then with the aftermath of the shooting and also the subject of bullying in the second book. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that this was written by the same author.
TW: RAPE
This is the third, and final book in the Granton University series. I liked the first book (I gave it 3 stars) I gave the second book 4 stars. I honestly loved the second book, so I had high hopes for this one. I have liked Bailey's character throughout the series. She's definitely flawed, but I'm a fan of flawed characters. She made some mistakes. In book two, she took liberties with her best friends relationship and feelings that weren't her place to take, but she did so out of love. I believed her to be a good character.
So, let's get to why I DNF'ed this book and why I think it should just basically not even exist. I am not someone who is at all easily offended. What I am, is someone who thinks that rape and sexual assault should be handled carefully and seriously. Not used as a throw away plot point, or worse yet, written, but not even called rape.
Our character, Bailey goes to a party. She meets Beckett. He's very drunk. I didn't read far enough into the book to see if he was only drunk or if he had been given a date rape drug, but either way, we know that he is at minimum, very drunk. Bailey finds herself in a bathroom and she is too embarrassed to come out of it when she hears Beckett enter the adjoining bedroom. Beckett is followed in by a woman, Melody. Bailey watches as Beckett talks to Melody, letting Melody know that he is not interested in having any sort of sexual encounter with her. However, he is drunk and not really all that able to move well, and Melody pushes him back, onto the bed. BECKETT AGAIN TELLS HER THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE WITH HER. Melody then unzips his pants and performs oral sex on him. Beckett is protesting, but also his body starts reacting to it. This, as everyone should know by now, does not mean that he wants to have this experience. Our bodies are capable of reacting to situations when we have not consented. AND HE DID NOT CONSENT. After he finishes in her mouth, Melody pulls her skirt up and climbs on top of Beckett. He again tells her no. He doesn't want to have sex with her, but she continues. She puts a condom on him. He is too drunk to push her off. He clearly is trying to stop her. This entire time Bailey is in the bathroom and she is seeing what is going on. Melody then climbs on Beckett and RAPES him. Because, make no mistake, it was RAPE. Just because half way through it, he becomes aroused and starts reacting, doesn't mean he wanted to have sex with Melody.
At any point Bailey could have walked out of the bathroom and stopped this. Especially at the beginning. She sees Beckett protesting before Melody even has his pants unzipped, but does absolutely nothing? If the roles were reversed and the character were a man watching as a woman got raped in this way, almost every single review would be a one star. Hell, the book would be chastised. But a man getting raped? Nope. It's just fucking fine? What the hell? How can women be okay with this? For that matter, how can anyone be okay with this?
As far as I can tell, from what I read (and I did skim some of it) it's never even framed as rape. Melody accuses Beckett of rape and Bailey has to decide if she should come forward, because she doesn't want people to think of her as a voyeur? She is more worried about that than the fact that Beckett was fucking raped? Are you kidding me?
The plot of the book seems to be that Melody accuses Beckett of rape and his life goes to shit pretty fast because no one believes he didn't do it. Bailey has to step up and help him. Although, no one in the book seems to think that he actually has been raped. It's more that Melody is an awful person and they want to clear Beckett's name, but Melody doesn't actually pay for her crimes.
I was sickened that someone could write this rape scene, then write it off as just being part of a bigger storyline. And how are we supposed to like a so called "heroine" who, at the very first moment, knew that Beckett didn't want to have sex with this girl, but stood idly by and let it happen? And to believe that they have some sort of great love? To me, it's more they both have a great need for therapy, because they are both clearly fucked up if they think that they have any business being together. Beckett should be dealing with what happened to him and Bailey should deal with what a completely selfish piece of trash she is.
This book had an opportunity to deal with a very real matter. It could have taken something that happens and is often overlooked and brought attention to it. Instead the author chose to go the way that so many people actually do when a man is raped. Totally discounting the fact that men do indeed get raped and violated. That it does affect them. That they are victims of sexual crimes. That they don't have to just be okay.
I have other books by this author on my Kindle. Ones that I have not read yet. I am seriously considering deleting them without reading them. It's really a shame because Ms. Kage did such a good job and took such care with the hard subject of a school shooting in book one and then with the aftermath of the shooting and also the subject of bullying in the second book. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that this was written by the same author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2017
What a wonderful book.. I have to say that at times it was so hard to read and the injustices that took place made me cringe. I loved how everything turned out and that Bailey and Bennett grew stronger from everything. Great read that keeps your attention throughout the whole book.
February 11, 2021
*
Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot
*
REVIEW COMING SOON!
REVIEW COMING SOON!
November 4, 2017
Linda Kage never fails to suck me into her books and leaving me wanting more by the end. 4 out of 5 stars! :)
March 13, 2018
3.5 stars
November 4, 2017
Omg! I loved this book!! Full of so much emotion!! I couldn't put it down! Linda Kage is an amazing writer and always makes me want to read more of her stuff!
November 17, 2017
For more of my reviews, visit my blog As the Book Ends or my Bookstagram!
Hello Book Babes! Let's talk underrated authors! There are so many authors I honestly think are underrated, but to me, the most underrated of them all is Linda Kage. I have been a huge fan of her books for years, her Forbidden Men series is a yearly read for me. No joke, I actually read it every year over Christmas break. The entire series. I actually reached out to Linda a few days ago and embarrassingly fangirled, letting her know how much I loved her books and mentioning that I'd love to review them sometime! She was kind enough to send me a review copy of Becoming Bailey!
The issues in this book are no joke - I feel like there are so many stories about the effects of rape on people, and there should be, its a serious issue that needs to be addressed. This is honestly one of the first books I've read about the ramifications of a false accusation. In a humorous opening scene, Bailey witnesses consensual (for the most part, Beck didn't seem too enthused actually) sex between our main man Beck and possibly one of the worst humans ever written. Bailey is so...excited by Beck's reactions that she takes a picture, one that turns out to actually be a video. When Satan (AKA Melody) gets caught, she accuses Beck of rape and he is immediately arrested.
The first half of this book made me unspeakably mad, like seriously raging, pissed the hell off. I was mad at Bailey for a little while, then I was mad for Bailey, then I was LIVID for Beck. Fortunately, all was well in the end, and Linda wrote a really beautiful love story in the midst of a horrendous situation. Beck and Bailey had some serious chemistry, and I loved them both as main characters. They had a lot to work through and I loved that they grew together and separately.
My Takeaway: I can't say enough good things about Linda Kage - I have read all of her books and will continue to read all of them. They are instant purchases for me and I really wish that more people knew about her pure awesomeness!
Hello Book Babes! Let's talk underrated authors! There are so many authors I honestly think are underrated, but to me, the most underrated of them all is Linda Kage. I have been a huge fan of her books for years, her Forbidden Men series is a yearly read for me. No joke, I actually read it every year over Christmas break. The entire series. I actually reached out to Linda a few days ago and embarrassingly fangirled, letting her know how much I loved her books and mentioning that I'd love to review them sometime! She was kind enough to send me a review copy of Becoming Bailey!
The issues in this book are no joke - I feel like there are so many stories about the effects of rape on people, and there should be, its a serious issue that needs to be addressed. This is honestly one of the first books I've read about the ramifications of a false accusation. In a humorous opening scene, Bailey witnesses consensual (for the most part, Beck didn't seem too enthused actually) sex between our main man Beck and possibly one of the worst humans ever written. Bailey is so...excited by Beck's reactions that she takes a picture, one that turns out to actually be a video. When Satan (AKA Melody) gets caught, she accuses Beck of rape and he is immediately arrested.
The first half of this book made me unspeakably mad, like seriously raging, pissed the hell off. I was mad at Bailey for a little while, then I was mad for Bailey, then I was LIVID for Beck. Fortunately, all was well in the end, and Linda wrote a really beautiful love story in the midst of a horrendous situation. Beck and Bailey had some serious chemistry, and I loved them both as main characters. They had a lot to work through and I loved that they grew together and separately.
My Takeaway: I can't say enough good things about Linda Kage - I have read all of her books and will continue to read all of them. They are instant purchases for me and I really wish that more people knew about her pure awesomeness!
February 8, 2018
I found Bailey pretty annoying and selfish. She seemed believably stupid, like the kind of person with whom you could expect to interact in your day to day life but would want to avoid being friends with. So much of her angst surrounded whether she should do the right thing or worry about how people thought about her, and while that's an understandable concern, how often she postponed action to obsess over other people's opinions struck me as particularly terrible. Also, she watched a guy get raped and the worst thing she was worried about was whether people would consider her a creep (they should, because she is).
I liked Beckett a lot in the beginning and was sad that so much awful stuff happened to him in quick succession, but then I realized that he did literally nothing to help himself throughout this book. I'd hoped that he would stand up for himself (not physically, but legally or whatever, using the thousands of channels open to him that he didn't even bother to explore) at least by the millionth time he was attacked, assaulted, and or on the receiving end of bad behavior, but no such luck. The antagonists in this novel were almost too evil to be believable. I was expecting them all to develop handlebar mustaches and start twirling them. Beckett's story arc reminded me of what I often observe with female characters who have suffered a series of terrible setbacks, only to land in the arms of a man who I didn't feel was an ideal partner; if they weren't so low, they would have acknowledged their ability to do better. The cutesy epilogue further annoyed me, and didn't actually clarify why these characters went against their two separate lifetimes of annoyance at certain parental behavior.
So there was a lot that I didn't like. I did enjoy the dialogue and a lot of scenes that were told from Beckett's POV were really moving. I started out by giving this novel three stars, but the more I think about it, the less I like it.
I liked Beckett a lot in the beginning and was sad that so much awful stuff happened to him in quick succession, but then I realized that he did literally nothing to help himself throughout this book. I'd hoped that he would stand up for himself (not physically, but legally or whatever, using the thousands of channels open to him that he didn't even bother to explore) at least by the millionth time he was attacked, assaulted, and or on the receiving end of bad behavior, but no such luck. The antagonists in this novel were almost too evil to be believable. I was expecting them all to develop handlebar mustaches and start twirling them. Beckett's story arc reminded me of what I often observe with female characters who have suffered a series of terrible setbacks, only to land in the arms of a man who I didn't feel was an ideal partner; if they weren't so low, they would have acknowledged their ability to do better. The cutesy epilogue further annoyed me, and didn't actually clarify why these characters went against their two separate lifetimes of annoyance at certain parental behavior.
So there was a lot that I didn't like. I did enjoy the dialogue and a lot of scenes that were told from Beckett's POV were really moving. I started out by giving this novel three stars, but the more I think about it, the less I like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 1, 2025Oof. Never has anyone so fundamentally misunderstood the sensitivity required to deal with rape victims as the author of this book.
Beck is raped by Melody at the beginning of this book. He does not consent and verbally says “no” multiple times as Melody continuously disregards his rejection and takes advantage of his intoxicated state.
To make matters worse, the only person Beck has to turn to after Melody accuses him of raping her and he is shunned from his community is Bailey. Bailey, the only person with evidence to prove him innocent has the evidence because she took a picture of him BEING RAPED because she thought the way he looked was “beautiful”. Bailey, our supposed protagonist, by the way, never actually tells Beck he was raped. Beck was too drunk to remember rejecting Melody and feels intense shame for sleeping with her, confiding this fact to Bailey. SHE NEVER TELLS HIM.
How would anyone who claims to love another person not share this crucial information??? Just gross. I don’t know what Bailey was thinking but she was definitely not keeping what is best for Beck in mind.
The author Linda Kage goes on a diatribe at the end of this book about what a rape victim really looks like. Boxing all rape victims into one response and anyone who doesn’t fit in this idea can’t have been truly raped. In truth, everyone responds to trauma differently and may not shown external signs that anything is wrong. Brittany, Beck’s sister, who was raped the previous summer, is dragged into this story as a way to foil Melody but all it did was make someone fragile from a traumatic event even more vulnerable in the future. The video to expose Melody talked all about Brittany’s rape and even showed BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. The video then went viral. Pictures of Brittany in her most vulnerable state, splattered across the internet, I hope they at least asked for her permission but who am I kidding, that would talk having a real conversation about consent -_-
The most unrealistic thing is just how easily the author makes getting a rape prosecuted. IN WHAT FREAKING WORLD. The Stanford Rapist served 3 whole months in jail and there were two eye witnesses and a very violent rape. Sexual assault and rape are rarely reported and infinitely more rarely prosecuted.
Be for real.
This is not a romance, this is a nightmare.
Beck is raped by Melody at the beginning of this book. He does not consent and verbally says “no” multiple times as Melody continuously disregards his rejection and takes advantage of his intoxicated state.
To make matters worse, the only person Beck has to turn to after Melody accuses him of raping her and he is shunned from his community is Bailey. Bailey, the only person with evidence to prove him innocent has the evidence because she took a picture of him BEING RAPED because she thought the way he looked was “beautiful”. Bailey, our supposed protagonist, by the way, never actually tells Beck he was raped. Beck was too drunk to remember rejecting Melody and feels intense shame for sleeping with her, confiding this fact to Bailey. SHE NEVER TELLS HIM.
How would anyone who claims to love another person not share this crucial information??? Just gross. I don’t know what Bailey was thinking but she was definitely not keeping what is best for Beck in mind.
The author Linda Kage goes on a diatribe at the end of this book about what a rape victim really looks like. Boxing all rape victims into one response and anyone who doesn’t fit in this idea can’t have been truly raped. In truth, everyone responds to trauma differently and may not shown external signs that anything is wrong. Brittany, Beck’s sister, who was raped the previous summer, is dragged into this story as a way to foil Melody but all it did was make someone fragile from a traumatic event even more vulnerable in the future. The video to expose Melody talked all about Brittany’s rape and even showed BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. The video then went viral. Pictures of Brittany in her most vulnerable state, splattered across the internet, I hope they at least asked for her permission but who am I kidding, that would talk having a real conversation about consent -_-
The most unrealistic thing is just how easily the author makes getting a rape prosecuted. IN WHAT FREAKING WORLD. The Stanford Rapist served 3 whole months in jail and there were two eye witnesses and a very violent rape. Sexual assault and rape are rarely reported and infinitely more rarely prosecuted.
Be for real.
This is not a romance, this is a nightmare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2017
Primeramente, puedo decir que me encantan todas las novelas de la serie de "Forbbiden Men" de Linda Kage.
Segundo, no he leído ninguna de las novelas anteriores de esta serie, "Granton University", aún así se puede leer independientemente sin problemas, aparecen personajes de las novelas ya que son amigos de la protagonista femenina, pero sin haber leídos sus historias se puede seguir esta serie con facilidad.
El resumen de la historia es que tenemos a Bailey en una fiesta escapando del piso que comparte con 2 parejas, ya que se siente la quinta rueda, que en realidad no se utiliza y sobra en esta clase de situaciones. En dicha fiesta de hermandad encuentra al hombre del sombrero vaquero, que al parecer lleva un año "buscando" aunque de manera muy pasiva, ya que espera a tener atisbos de él. Por casualidad lo ve en la fiesta y accidentalmente se choca con Beckett que le tira un vaso de alcohol encima. Una cosa lleva a otra y acaba siendo testigo de algo.
La pareja principal son Bailey y Beckett, la cual tiene su chispa al conocerse y progresa de una amistad accidental a un romance a base de confianza, que es lo que más me ha gustado.
Empezando con la reseña debo decir que la trama principal me ha parecido interesante. La base de la historia es de como una persona es acusada de un delito que no ha cometido y de como aun siendo inocente y absuelto, la opinión social no ha cambiado y la palabra de la "victima" es más importante.
Beckett es una buena persona: buen hijo, buen amigo, buen hermano, buen estudiante, un joven universitario que también se divierte y que aún siendo así, todos sus allegados le dan la espalda, eso es algo que sinceramente es real, pero a su vez muy triste. Llega a pasar situaciones muy difíciles pero gracias al apoyo y fe de Bailey los supera.
Lo que más me encanta de la historia de Bailey es que lleva un año obsesionada con el vaquero y una vez que le conoce no es lo que ella esperaba y sin embargo, lo que más deseaba siempre ha estado a su lado, aunque en apariencia no era lo que esperaba, en este lugar la frase: " las apariencias engañan".
Segundo, no he leído ninguna de las novelas anteriores de esta serie, "Granton University", aún así se puede leer independientemente sin problemas, aparecen personajes de las novelas ya que son amigos de la protagonista femenina, pero sin haber leídos sus historias se puede seguir esta serie con facilidad.
El resumen de la historia es que tenemos a Bailey en una fiesta escapando del piso que comparte con 2 parejas, ya que se siente la quinta rueda, que en realidad no se utiliza y sobra en esta clase de situaciones. En dicha fiesta de hermandad encuentra al hombre del sombrero vaquero, que al parecer lleva un año "buscando" aunque de manera muy pasiva, ya que espera a tener atisbos de él. Por casualidad lo ve en la fiesta y accidentalmente se choca con Beckett que le tira un vaso de alcohol encima. Una cosa lleva a otra y acaba siendo testigo de algo.
La pareja principal son Bailey y Beckett, la cual tiene su chispa al conocerse y progresa de una amistad accidental a un romance a base de confianza, que es lo que más me ha gustado.
Empezando con la reseña debo decir que la trama principal me ha parecido interesante. La base de la historia es de como una persona es acusada de un delito que no ha cometido y de como aun siendo inocente y absuelto, la opinión social no ha cambiado y la palabra de la "victima" es más importante.
Beckett es una buena persona: buen hijo, buen amigo, buen hermano, buen estudiante, un joven universitario que también se divierte y que aún siendo así, todos sus allegados le dan la espalda, eso es algo que sinceramente es real, pero a su vez muy triste. Llega a pasar situaciones muy difíciles pero gracias al apoyo y fe de Bailey los supera.
Lo que más me encanta de la historia de Bailey es que lleva un año obsesionada con el vaquero y una vez que le conoce no es lo que ella esperaba y sin embargo, lo que más deseaba siempre ha estado a su lado, aunque en apariencia no era lo que esperaba, en este lugar la frase: " las apariencias engañan".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2019
A bit disappointed with this book. I thought the death of Bailey's mom would make a bigger role than previously stated, since Bailey erased the accident in her memory. I thought the reason why Bailey was hug-repulsive had something to do with her mom. Maybe at the time of accident, her mom hugged her or something like that and that made her didn't like hugging people. But it's not! It doesn't even get mentioned.
I was also so mad with the whole rapist-accusation thing. How can the media accusing on Beck so fast of being a rapist, but when it was proven that he was not, they were nowhere to be seen! He also should be sued them back for defamation! He made into the national news, but how can there were no follow up? It also didn't dragged on for long, only for a few days! With the citizen's bad receptive to Beck, this should be still a hot topic. It really didn't make sense!
For Bailey too, I was rather annoyed with how she was convincing herself that she was not needed to came forward. And even after she knew that Beck and her name were slandered, she didn't tell the world how manipulative and vindictive Melody was. She really didn't look like her own self.
Also I couldn't believe how can Beck's parents threw him out even after they knew that he was innocent. I really couldn't believe it. They even STOLE from him and had the audacity to justify their action! And what did Beck do? NOTHING. He even concocted some elaborate reasons to defend them.
And I couldn't understand WHY the university kicked him out while it was proven that he was innocent? Didn't they have their investigator? And when it became viral in the social media that Beck did NOT rape Melody, they simply phoned him to enrolled again? Ridiculous.
The whole problem-solving was also rather childish. They tampered university's properties while on school program. It just felt.. wrong. It seems everything was made for the sake of the plot, even when it was so unbelievable.
All in all, the whole book was rather too flat, unlike the previous two books. After waiting a few years for Bailey's story, I was disappointed.
I was also so mad with the whole rapist-accusation thing. How can the media accusing on Beck so fast of being a rapist, but when it was proven that he was not, they were nowhere to be seen! He also should be sued them back for defamation! He made into the national news, but how can there were no follow up? It also didn't dragged on for long, only for a few days! With the citizen's bad receptive to Beck, this should be still a hot topic. It really didn't make sense!
For Bailey too, I was rather annoyed with how she was convincing herself that she was not needed to came forward. And even after she knew that Beck and her name were slandered, she didn't tell the world how manipulative and vindictive Melody was. She really didn't look like her own self.
Also I couldn't believe how can Beck's parents threw him out even after they knew that he was innocent. I really couldn't believe it. They even STOLE from him and had the audacity to justify their action! And what did Beck do? NOTHING. He even concocted some elaborate reasons to defend them.
And I couldn't understand WHY the university kicked him out while it was proven that he was innocent? Didn't they have their investigator? And when it became viral in the social media that Beck did NOT rape Melody, they simply phoned him to enrolled again? Ridiculous.
The whole problem-solving was also rather childish. They tampered university's properties while on school program. It just felt.. wrong. It seems everything was made for the sake of the plot, even when it was so unbelievable.
All in all, the whole book was rather too flat, unlike the previous two books. After waiting a few years for Bailey's story, I was disappointed.
December 7, 2017
Bailey has had a crush on a cowboy that she’s seen around campus for the past year. But she sees him again when shes at this frat party because living with two loved up couples can be straining. She goes after her cowboy before he gets away and bumps into Beckett. But things don’t go to plan and instead she witnesses something that could potentially be a crime.
Bailey has to decide some to come forward to share some information that can save the life of Beckett who has been falsely accused of a crime. Both their worlds are forever changed after one awkward encounter and event. Bailey ends up being Beckett’s only support system as almost everyone believes his guilty.
They grow close and develop feelings for each other but the circumstances are really complicated to say the least. Beckett has such a kind heart and compliments Bailey who could speak her mind.
Beckett enters her life and changes everything. Bailey didn’t necessarily want a relationship but she was lonely living with two couples and wanted companionship. Beckett seeks Bailey out for her help but Bailey needs him too. Beckett sees the real Bailey that is hidden under the attitude and understands her more than anyone else.
When I first started reading this, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but I love Linda Kage. But it ended up being addictive and I stayed up much later than I should have because I couldn’t put it down. This series definitely packs a punch and the series deals with some heavy issues. But overall it makes for some great reading. I loved getting to read Bailey and Beckett’s story and finishing the series.
https://www.auniversaltruth.com/?p=1274
Bailey has to decide some to come forward to share some information that can save the life of Beckett who has been falsely accused of a crime. Both their worlds are forever changed after one awkward encounter and event. Bailey ends up being Beckett’s only support system as almost everyone believes his guilty.
They grow close and develop feelings for each other but the circumstances are really complicated to say the least. Beckett has such a kind heart and compliments Bailey who could speak her mind.
Beckett enters her life and changes everything. Bailey didn’t necessarily want a relationship but she was lonely living with two couples and wanted companionship. Beckett seeks Bailey out for her help but Bailey needs him too. Beckett sees the real Bailey that is hidden under the attitude and understands her more than anyone else.
When I first started reading this, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but I love Linda Kage. But it ended up being addictive and I stayed up much later than I should have because I couldn’t put it down. This series definitely packs a punch and the series deals with some heavy issues. But overall it makes for some great reading. I loved getting to read Bailey and Beckett’s story and finishing the series.
https://www.auniversaltruth.com/?p=1274
August 21, 2018
I'm too emotionally drained to write a review. This book was frustrating as hell. I've read my fair share of frustrating books, but I'd never had to scream into my pillow till my face went literally red.
I did that every five minutes. From fucked up situations to fucked up parents... This book had it all. I mean the parents thing seems to be a recurring theme in the series - there seems to be no shortage of shitty parentals going from abusive drunks to parents who turn their back on their own freaking kids and finally, the clincher - parents who don't even believe their own kid. That too a kid like Beck. BECK.
I SWEAR.
Ughh. FUCKING CRAZY. (I'm sorry had to swear there couldn't take it) WHat happened to unconditional love? UGHHH
Not to mention a bloody fucking horrible University that should all things considered sued for defamation multiple times by multiple people.
Yet... I can't not give this book five stars coz the main characters. Were. Pure. Awesome.
I loved Bailey and I LOVED Beck. So despite nearly losing faith in humanity after reading about all the shitty things that happened to the best of people, I just....
I think this will make things clear:
Stepping toward me, she slowly reached out to touch my shoulder. “You thought of everything.”
I lowered my gaze to the front of her shirt. “I only thought of you.” She’d only gotten two buttons together. Slowly, I freed them again. “But then, you are everything, so that makes sense.”
See what I was talking about? Freaking ADORABLE.
I did that every five minutes. From fucked up situations to fucked up parents... This book had it all. I mean the parents thing seems to be a recurring theme in the series - there seems to be no shortage of shitty parentals going from abusive drunks to parents who turn their back on their own freaking kids and finally, the clincher - parents who don't even believe their own kid. That too a kid like Beck. BECK.
I SWEAR.
Ughh. FUCKING CRAZY. (I'm sorry had to swear there couldn't take it) WHat happened to unconditional love? UGHHH
Not to mention a bloody fucking horrible University that should all things considered sued for defamation multiple times by multiple people.
Yet... I can't not give this book five stars coz the main characters. Were. Pure. Awesome.
I loved Bailey and I LOVED Beck. So despite nearly losing faith in humanity after reading about all the shitty things that happened to the best of people, I just....
I think this will make things clear:
Stepping toward me, she slowly reached out to touch my shoulder. “You thought of everything.”
I lowered my gaze to the front of her shirt. “I only thought of you.” She’d only gotten two buttons together. Slowly, I freed them again. “But then, you are everything, so that makes sense.”
See what I was talking about? Freaking ADORABLE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2020
Believing Bailey is the third book in the Granton University series by Linda Kage.
Honestly, this would be a five star read if I hadn’t spent the majority of it raging at all the imbeciles discounting and ostracizing the two upstanding citizens starring in it. And most of the rest wanting to smack Bailey upside her adorable blonde head for being so annoyingly self destructive and disregarding the obvious love and devotion Beck had felt for her from nearly the start.
Becket Hilliard has terrible luck. To have stood beside and defended his younger sister after own sexual assault, and then later be falsely accused by a forceful cheating B****? I enjoyed it when his true country origins came out, shocking Bailey in her presumptive pigeonholing.
Bailey Prescott has spent her life being unapologetically honest. Harboring the insults and negative opinions thrown her way under a tough skin of blatant disregard for how she’s seen. Which makes it all the more tough when she stands against the incorrect arrest of an innocent man and is vilified for it. Tacked together with finally meeting her incorrectly deemed soulmate the Cowboy Chance Fairfield, the ignorantly protective brother of the girl accusing Beck and finding him so utterly lacking.
I also don’t believe Kage gave this sibling duo their just desserts. That resolution was sooo anticlimactic in resolving the terrible conditions our MCs faced throughout this book. And the only saving grace was the final chapter showcasing the beautiful family they found in each other.
Honestly, this would be a five star read if I hadn’t spent the majority of it raging at all the imbeciles discounting and ostracizing the two upstanding citizens starring in it. And most of the rest wanting to smack Bailey upside her adorable blonde head for being so annoyingly self destructive and disregarding the obvious love and devotion Beck had felt for her from nearly the start.
Becket Hilliard has terrible luck. To have stood beside and defended his younger sister after own sexual assault, and then later be falsely accused by a forceful cheating B****? I enjoyed it when his true country origins came out, shocking Bailey in her presumptive pigeonholing.
Bailey Prescott has spent her life being unapologetically honest. Harboring the insults and negative opinions thrown her way under a tough skin of blatant disregard for how she’s seen. Which makes it all the more tough when she stands against the incorrect arrest of an innocent man and is vilified for it. Tacked together with finally meeting her incorrectly deemed soulmate the Cowboy Chance Fairfield, the ignorantly protective brother of the girl accusing Beck and finding him so utterly lacking.
I also don’t believe Kage gave this sibling duo their just desserts. That resolution was sooo anticlimactic in resolving the terrible conditions our MCs faced throughout this book. And the only saving grace was the final chapter showcasing the beautiful family they found in each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2019
Oh how I waited for this book! I already loved Fighting Fate but I know I needed to have the story of Bailey so I can wrap things up with Granton University.
The things about this series is that it's not only about romance or anything cheesy. it deals with some subplot that makes suspense real rather than just relationship issues. Linda Kage doesn't shy away from going to some controversial issues, and Believing Bailey is no exception.
The things about this series is that it's not only about romance or anything cheesy. it deals with some subplot that makes suspense real rather than just relationship issues. Linda Kage doesn't shy away from going to some controversial issues, and Believing Bailey is no exception.
January 26, 2026
I loved it!! I love Linda Kage, she does slow burn sooooo well, how she manages to write gut-wrenching themes in her stories, make them so raw, real and powerful is the reason why I keep coming back.
This series were beautiful, I still think Melody and her brother should’ve gotten a worse punishment
This series were beautiful, I still think Melody and her brother should’ve gotten a worse punishment
December 20, 2017
I've been waiting for that story for a long long ...loooong time - as most of us I presume - and it did not disappoint!
This book gave me the tears, the laughs, the rage and the hots. :P
I'm so happy every time Linda comes out with a new book and this one was no exception!
This book gave me the tears, the laughs, the rage and the hots. :P
I'm so happy every time Linda comes out with a new book and this one was no exception!
April 12, 2018
I fell in love with both of the MC's, I liked everything about them. WOW did this book touch on a touchy subject and did it well and really told the side of the victim who is wrongful accused. Well done and beautifully written.
September 26, 2018
3.75 stars. Would have liked an epilogue to have more of the other couples. Little disappointed in that.
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