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Savannah Heirs #1
Cruel
I've got a secret. Savannah, Georgia is full of debutantes and greed. The Heirs own this town. They own me, too. I don't know what I did to ruin what we had. But their kindness turned cruel almost a year ago. I was prepared to leave it all behind and start over at a new school. But Rogue Kelly, the king of the Heirs, ruined that. He doesn't want me anymore but doesn't want anyone else to have me either. I know too much to be set free, but not enough to stay. The Heirs aren't through with me yet. And I crave their cruelty too much to give up now.Authors' Note: This is a bully romance with dark themes that may be triggering for some readers. Please read with caution.
230 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2019
1744 people are currently reading
3640 people want to read
About the author
Coralee June
76 books2,998 followersAuthor Coralee June has always been passionate about storytelling and impressed by the influence it has on people and the decisions they make in life. She loves engaging with the projects she works on, diving headfirst into developing real, raw, and relatable characters that are equally flawed and beautiful. Coralee lives in Dallas, Tx with her husband and two daughters. She's been known to frequently indulge in boxed red wine and day-old pizza. When she's not writing, June is reading or substitute teaching at the local middle school.
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February 23, 2019
I really like Raven Kennedy, and I sometimes like CoraLee June, so I'm very disappointed to have to give this rating.
✴️ The heroine, whose name I've already forgotten, IS A MOTHEREFFING GODDAMNED BLOODY DOORMAT. I cannot remember the last time I saw such a weak heroine - yes, she's worse than Violet. The boys do terrible things to her, and she just keeps desperately trailing after them, wanting even the specks of their attention, even if it's all she can get! I'm sorry, but I need spine in my heroines.
✴️ The thing is, I love bully romances. I do. When they're done well, they're excellent. But in order to be done well, they need strong heroines. There needs to be a good push and pull between the hero and heroine. If the heroine is a doormat (like this one) it isn't a bully romance: it's just a pathetic abuse story. I can't count the number of times she decided she wanted to be strong and then immediately folded the second the hero Rogue got his hands on her.
✴️ SHE SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST. Every. Single. Time. I'm sorry, but in a bully romance, that's not what I want.
✴️ So many OW. But I don't mind the OW as such. What I mind is the plotline of Rogue being all over other girls, but the heroine saves her virginity for him, while he makes sure other boys don't ask her out. BUT HE DOESN'T ASK HER OUT HIMSELF. Look at this way: he'll get turned on by any girl, but she only gets turned on by one boy. No. I'm not here for this.
✴️ The reason for their cruelty was stupid.
✴️ In fact, I find a major plot point of this book stupid. Not a big spoiler, because it happens like 10% in, but: I HAVE NEVER READ A MORE UNBELIEVABLE MURDER SCENE IN MY LIFE. I will never, never, never believe that a bunch of 18-year-olds could commit a murder like that and nobody would find out. They slit his throat! Look, that means an artery. Arteries mean blood. Blood means DNA. The DNA was all over everything, nobody talked about wiping it off. Yet I'm meant to believe that in this world, the police just don't exist.
✴️ I don't know if it's because I recently turned 19, so I'm finally older than most of the characters I read about, but I really can't stand seeing 18-year-old boys being called men. They aren't/
✴️ We were told 19394384292 times that the Heirs own Savannah and they're rich and powerful etc etc etc ad nauseam. We get it, dude.
✴️ Not RH. I can handle that, but the other boys are very obviously sequel-bait. Like the heroine talks about how 'Godfrey will wreck any girl he falls in love with', or something. What's the betting Godfrey's story is next... Also, I have a horrible feeling that a character I don't like will be a future heroine.
It was well-written technically, but I found the plotline and characters stupid.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
✴️ The heroine, whose name I've already forgotten, IS A MOTHEREFFING GODDAMNED BLOODY DOORMAT. I cannot remember the last time I saw such a weak heroine - yes, she's worse than Violet. The boys do terrible things to her, and she just keeps desperately trailing after them, wanting even the specks of their attention, even if it's all she can get! I'm sorry, but I need spine in my heroines.
✴️ The thing is, I love bully romances. I do. When they're done well, they're excellent. But in order to be done well, they need strong heroines. There needs to be a good push and pull between the hero and heroine. If the heroine is a doormat (like this one) it isn't a bully romance: it's just a pathetic abuse story. I can't count the number of times she decided she wanted to be strong and then immediately folded the second the hero Rogue got his hands on her.
✴️ SHE SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST. Every. Single. Time. I'm sorry, but in a bully romance, that's not what I want.
✴️ So many OW. But I don't mind the OW as such. What I mind is the plotline of Rogue being all over other girls, but the heroine saves her virginity for him, while he makes sure other boys don't ask her out. BUT HE DOESN'T ASK HER OUT HIMSELF. Look at this way: he'll get turned on by any girl, but she only gets turned on by one boy. No. I'm not here for this.
✴️ The reason for their cruelty was stupid.
✴️ In fact, I find a major plot point of this book stupid. Not a big spoiler, because it happens like 10% in, but: I HAVE NEVER READ A MORE UNBELIEVABLE MURDER SCENE IN MY LIFE. I will never, never, never believe that a bunch of 18-year-olds could commit a murder like that and nobody would find out. They slit his throat! Look, that means an artery. Arteries mean blood. Blood means DNA. The DNA was all over everything, nobody talked about wiping it off. Yet I'm meant to believe that in this world, the police just don't exist.
✴️ I don't know if it's because I recently turned 19, so I'm finally older than most of the characters I read about, but I really can't stand seeing 18-year-old boys being called men. They aren't/
✴️ We were told 19394384292 times that the Heirs own Savannah and they're rich and powerful etc etc etc ad nauseam. We get it, dude.
✴️ Not RH. I can handle that, but the other boys are very obviously sequel-bait. Like the heroine talks about how 'Godfrey will wreck any girl he falls in love with', or something. What's the betting Godfrey's story is next... Also, I have a horrible feeling that a character I don't like will be a future heroine.
It was well-written technically, but I found the plotline and characters stupid.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
March 4, 2019
CRUEL: SAVANNAH HEIRS is a full length, new adult novel by new to me authors Coralee June and Raven Kennedy. MY REVIEW: can also be found on my blog:
➽ KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
Buddy read with: Tara The Obsessive Book Reader! We went into this completely blind. I only one clicked it because I saw a tag on facebook that it was a great bully book so I couldn't help myself with one clicking. And the same went for Tara!! We are so glad we took that plunge!! Because for me it went from a 5 star rating to becoming a favourite for 2019.
There are so many mixed reviews, so many low star ratings. But I am a sucker for highschool asshole bullies, the worst they are the more I seem to like them. This brought on the angst, it even brought on the feels. And this book threw everything it could at me!! These guys took bullying up to a whole new level!! They put the A-in Assholes!! In life they would be every girls worst nightmare, but in the fictitious world these are the sort of guys all us angst hoes seek out!!
I was their friend since we were seven years old. I thought we'd always be together. Now, I was the scum of this prep school, and the entire student body liked to remind me of that everyday. And the girls? They relished in my downfall.
I know this won't be many readers cup of tea, but if you are like me (a little bit sick in the head) and love high school bully books then give this one a go. It's gone up a whole new notch!! 4 hotholes that rule the school, (The Heirs) that rule the town. Rogue, Bonham, Godfrey and Luis. They have everyone in the palm of their hands. Their parents had the three C's: cash, connections and capability.
Out of all of them, I knew Rogue nest. We met in Kindergarten. I fell off the slide, and he helped me hobble over to the teacher for a band-aid.
I even loved Scarlett the heroine, these guys were her childhood friends, growing up they each had the others back, they treated her like a Queen and they were her Kings. But in the blink of an eye all that changed and without any clue as to what was happening in her world, these 4 boys turned on her in the most horrific way, they instigated everything that happened to Scarlett.
Some saw her as weak I saw her as the opposite. She came at them fighting as much as she could without suffering the consequences of what her mother would do to her if caught fighting again. Her mother was a real piece of work. Climbing the social ladder through her daughter, instead of raising her up she brought her down, played the manipulation card trumps in any way she could.
* Teasers used are off the authors facebook page *
February 24, 2019
★ 2 STARS ★
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MEU DEUS!
Esse livro quase me levou a loucura e não foi no bom sentido, infelizmente.
Faz tempo que não sinto tanta raiva e revolta durante uma leitura... Exagero meu? Talvez sim, talvez não...
Mas eu realmente estou ficando cansada de ler livros nesta temática onde a heroína não se impõe, não se valorize e bata de frente com quem quer que seja que a queira diminuir, prejudicar, maltratar ou sei la o que!
Achei a dinâmica entre os personagens dessa história e principalmente a postura e ações da personagem feminina lamentáveis. Acho que ela conseguiu ultrapassar os limites do que é aceitável ou crível. Se é que isso é possível pois não concordo nem um pouco com o que li aqui.
Não há muita inovação em relação a livros que abordem o mesmo assunto. Cada vez mais tenho a impressão de que determinados temas-assuntos abordados andam seguindo um padrão e não se sai disso. Não sei se não inovam e mudam a receita por medo ou simplesmente por comodidade porque este caminho deu certo com “aqueles” outros livros...
Acho isso frustrante, ainda mais neste caso. Mas ainda tenho uma pontinha de esperança que alguém crie uma personagem à altura e que de fato me faça voltar a sentir prazer em ler sem ter vontade de arrancar os cabelos ou revirar os olhos constantemente.
Deixando de lado TODOS os pontos que eu não gostei, tenho que admitir que a escrita e narrativa foram boas. Daquelas viciantes e fluidas que não conseguimos largar mesmo não curtindo a história ou personagens. Por diversas vezes tive vontade de abandonar a leitura, mas esse foi o fator principal do porque não o fiz. Esse é o único ponto positivo desta leitura que me vem à mente no momento...
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MEU DEUS!
Esse livro quase me levou a loucura e não foi no bom sentido, infelizmente.
Faz tempo que não sinto tanta raiva e revolta durante uma leitura... Exagero meu? Talvez sim, talvez não...
Mas eu realmente estou ficando cansada de ler livros nesta temática onde a heroína não se impõe, não se valorize e bata de frente com quem quer que seja que a queira diminuir, prejudicar, maltratar ou sei la o que!
Achei a dinâmica entre os personagens dessa história e principalmente a postura e ações da personagem feminina lamentáveis. Acho que ela conseguiu ultrapassar os limites do que é aceitável ou crível. Se é que isso é possível pois não concordo nem um pouco com o que li aqui.
Não há muita inovação em relação a livros que abordem o mesmo assunto. Cada vez mais tenho a impressão de que determinados temas-assuntos abordados andam seguindo um padrão e não se sai disso. Não sei se não inovam e mudam a receita por medo ou simplesmente por comodidade porque este caminho deu certo com “aqueles” outros livros...
Acho isso frustrante, ainda mais neste caso. Mas ainda tenho uma pontinha de esperança que alguém crie uma personagem à altura e que de fato me faça voltar a sentir prazer em ler sem ter vontade de arrancar os cabelos ou revirar os olhos constantemente.
Deixando de lado TODOS os pontos que eu não gostei, tenho que admitir que a escrita e narrativa foram boas. Daquelas viciantes e fluidas que não conseguimos largar mesmo não curtindo a história ou personagens. Por diversas vezes tive vontade de abandonar a leitura, mas esse foi o fator principal do porque não o fiz. Esse é o único ponto positivo desta leitura que me vem à mente no momento...
February 24, 2019
If you want to read about a strong female lead who doesn’t go putty every time she is around “hero” and also one who doesn’t let her hormones take over even with his/her friends....well this book is not it!
One of the most desperate and needy female leads I have read in a long time. She had all these inner thoughts of being strong and resolute in not giving in to the “Hero” but that always goes down the drain as soon as he touches her. She also seems to have no problems in letting their friends touch her and she behaves like a sex starved lunatic. She is just as pathetic as the other girls who chase after these guys and she admits that herself. The so called H is a manwhore and supposedly he loves her and everything he did was to protect her. In my opinion he and his friends were too cruel and it doesn’t justify his sleeping around. Saying that this heroine was pathetic and I didn’t like her at all, I can’t respect a female who has no respect for herself so she deserves the whoring H. By the way this book was really graphic in sexual scenes so def not YA.
One of the most desperate and needy female leads I have read in a long time. She had all these inner thoughts of being strong and resolute in not giving in to the “Hero” but that always goes down the drain as soon as he touches her. She also seems to have no problems in letting their friends touch her and she behaves like a sex starved lunatic. She is just as pathetic as the other girls who chase after these guys and she admits that herself. The so called H is a manwhore and supposedly he loves her and everything he did was to protect her. In my opinion he and his friends were too cruel and it doesn’t justify his sleeping around. Saying that this heroine was pathetic and I didn’t like her at all, I can’t respect a female who has no respect for herself so she deserves the whoring H. By the way this book was really graphic in sexual scenes so def not YA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2019
Love, love, loved it! 😍
February 25, 2019
Rogue Kelly was my Achilles heel, and I’d never take another step without feeling the aching pain of his rejection.
Dudeeee. Ok so this one starting out didn’t exactly grab me. Like it felt totally put downable to me. I swear I put it down maybe ten times. Rolling my eyes and shaking my head. But then... this magic happened, and I could NOT STOP reading this book. All of a sudden I needed to know more and more and more. So yes. This starts off as what you expect from a bully romance and THEN the layers start unfolding and you learn more and why and what. Yes. I still rolled my eyes at times, but I was hooked. And I wouldn’t be mad if the other Heir’s (what the group of boys was called) get stories as well.
If you like typical bully romance, and you don’t mind the heroine not really kicking butt and taking names then you will like this read. I’d say if you enjoy Sam Mariano books, then this will make you happy.
It’s new adult bully romance. With new adult steamy bits and new adult angst. So I ended up enjoying it.
https://instagram.com/p/BuRbsxiAcgn/
^fan edit on IG!
Dudeeee. Ok so this one starting out didn’t exactly grab me. Like it felt totally put downable to me. I swear I put it down maybe ten times. Rolling my eyes and shaking my head. But then... this magic happened, and I could NOT STOP reading this book. All of a sudden I needed to know more and more and more. So yes. This starts off as what you expect from a bully romance and THEN the layers start unfolding and you learn more and why and what. Yes. I still rolled my eyes at times, but I was hooked. And I wouldn’t be mad if the other Heir’s (what the group of boys was called) get stories as well.
If you like typical bully romance, and you don’t mind the heroine not really kicking butt and taking names then you will like this read. I’d say if you enjoy Sam Mariano books, then this will make you happy.
It’s new adult bully romance. With new adult steamy bits and new adult angst. So I ended up enjoying it.
https://instagram.com/p/BuRbsxiAcgn/
^fan edit on IG!
April 26, 2021
I read this book once and kinda liked it but now that i re read it again, i just hate it. Heroine is weak and pathetic, the hero is controlling af. So the story is about Scarlett and her 4 bestfriend who one day abandons her and she doesnt know why, from then on she starts to get bullied and also gets humiliated by the 4 guys who were her bffs. Then at the end they give some lame ass excuse for hurting her and she forgives them. 🙄 when they were bulling her, she kept going back to them so they might accept her. Scarlett is just weak af, and the hero on the other hand wants to control everything she does. Both of them annoyed the hell out of me. Scarlett talks back and tries to fight but gives up and listens to what the guys wants her to do easily, and then after doing that she says she hates them but then says she wants them back. I hate weak heroines and Scarlett here is just pathetic.
This might be like a normal bully romance, but seriously, its so annoying to see that the heroine cant even stand up for her self and chooses her lust for the hero over her self respect. Ugh, i need a strong heroine seriously who is mature and knows how to stand up for herself. Scarlett only knows how to talk big game, but end up doing whatever Rouge says. 🙄
This might be like a normal bully romance, but seriously, its so annoying to see that the heroine cant even stand up for her self and chooses her lust for the hero over her self respect. Ugh, i need a strong heroine seriously who is mature and knows how to stand up for herself. Scarlett only knows how to talk big game, but end up doing whatever Rouge says. 🙄
February 28, 2019
I really don’t much have to say in a review for this one. I love the bullying trope, but this one really kind of pushed me the wrong way. Honestly, it felt a bit all over the place to me. Their reasoning for all the cruel things that happened to her was crap and I expected them to at least have to grovel or really apologize.
Scarlett was such a weak doormat heroine that I couldn’t even really make sense of it. As much shit as she talked and for how physically strong she was supposed to be, I don’t get how she let this go on for so long. Even when they orchestrated all this crap for this long, she still wanted them. Still loved Rouge. Girl, just no! They called you trash and literally threw thrash on you. GTFO!
Like I said before, I’m all for bullying book but these characters never redeemed themselves and the plot was also a put unrealistic.
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Scarlett was such a weak doormat heroine that I couldn’t even really make sense of it. As much shit as she talked and for how physically strong she was supposed to be, I don’t get how she let this go on for so long. Even when they orchestrated all this crap for this long, she still wanted them. Still loved Rouge. Girl, just no! They called you trash and literally threw thrash on you. GTFO!
Like I said before, I’m all for bullying book but these characters never redeemed themselves and the plot was also a put unrealistic.
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abandoned
February 23, 2019This is yet another piece of shit.
The h is bestfriends with the 4 harem of guys who basically rules the city. But they suddenly throw her out of their group and bully and torment her. They even let her get injured and all. And they enjoy giving her pain.
Just wow.
Not my thing.
The h is bestfriends with the 4 harem of guys who basically rules the city. But they suddenly throw her out of their group and bully and torment her. They even let her get injured and all. And they enjoy giving her pain.
Just wow.
Not my thing.
February 23, 2019
Amazing!
This is one of my favorite troupes and these new to me authors did not disappoint.
Four Alpha males, Strong Heroine, Bully, mystery, dark, secrets, angst, romance and set in wealthy Savannah. And Great writing! I devoured in one night. I loved it all!
“Maybe I like going against you all, Luis. Maybe I like a little pain.”
This is one of my favorite troupes and these new to me authors did not disappoint.
Four Alpha males, Strong Heroine, Bully, mystery, dark, secrets, angst, romance and set in wealthy Savannah. And Great writing! I devoured in one night. I loved it all!
“Maybe I like going against you all, Luis. Maybe I like a little pain.”
June 22, 2019
#RuinedbyRogueKelly
Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite sort of book is high school enemies to lovers with a group of alpha hole sexy boys...
Cruel was everything I wanted and more! It’s like kindle crack to me!
I just loved this book, loved the story line and I loved Scarlett.
I loved all of the boys and I really hope that each of them get a book! Each boy was a strong alpha male and yes in the beginning they were grade A assholes and I wanted to throw my kindle several times... but as the story progresses you get to see their softer sides and damn if I didn’t fall head over heels in love with them.
The twists and turns I didn’t see coming, it had me flipping pages quicker than I could digest what was happening because I NEEDED to know what happened!
A dark, twisted bully romance with all of the angst and secrets.
Raven Kennedy and Cora lee June have knocked it out of the park with Cruel....
You seriously need to pick up this book today... it will consume you!
Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite sort of book is high school enemies to lovers with a group of alpha hole sexy boys...
Cruel was everything I wanted and more! It’s like kindle crack to me!
I just loved this book, loved the story line and I loved Scarlett.
I loved all of the boys and I really hope that each of them get a book! Each boy was a strong alpha male and yes in the beginning they were grade A assholes and I wanted to throw my kindle several times... but as the story progresses you get to see their softer sides and damn if I didn’t fall head over heels in love with them.
The twists and turns I didn’t see coming, it had me flipping pages quicker than I could digest what was happening because I NEEDED to know what happened!
A dark, twisted bully romance with all of the angst and secrets.
Raven Kennedy and Cora lee June have knocked it out of the park with Cruel....
You seriously need to pick up this book today... it will consume you!
February 26, 2019
I won't write too much on this book. I don't have much to say. I love the bullying trope. But this book was too many pieces of books I read before with the bullying going WAAAAAAY overboard into violence.
The heroine? SO annoying and all over the place. The way she keeps asking for it?! really? There's barely any grovelling and so much goes unresolved in my opinion.
This didn't hit the mark for me.
The heroine? SO annoying and all over the place. The way she keeps asking for it?! really? There's barely any grovelling and so much goes unresolved in my opinion.
This didn't hit the mark for me.
September 3, 2019
Read in summer 2019
a whole bunch of everything happening here...but I liked the thrill and the ride...
for those who like this kind of read, it's another hit, for those who don't, you don't pick it up.
a whole bunch of everything happening here...but I liked the thrill and the ride...
for those who like this kind of read, it's another hit, for those who don't, you don't pick it up.
February 26, 2019
DNF'd at 30%.
I really enjoy reading Bully romances but I can't do this one. I can't for the life of me connect with a doormat, which is what Scarlett Livingston is.
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Update 26/02/2019
Since it was suggested that my first opinion of this book was wrong ^^, I thought that I'd give it another try. Yeah, nah I still couldn't connect with Scarlett. And the more of the book I read, the more I cringed and not just at Scarlett but with the entire story. I still feel that she is a hopeless doormat. I couldn't get past how easy she let EVERYONE off the hook for the abuse she lived through.
I really enjoy reading Bully romances but I can't do this one. I can't for the life of me connect with a doormat, which is what Scarlett Livingston is.
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Update 26/02/2019
Since it was suggested that my first opinion of this book was wrong ^^, I thought that I'd give it another try. Yeah, nah I still couldn't connect with Scarlett. And the more of the book I read, the more I cringed and not just at Scarlett but with the entire story. I still feel that she is a hopeless doormat. I couldn't get past how easy she let EVERYONE off the hook for the abuse she lived through.
February 25, 2019
👑
Man I loved this book! I know that's a crazy way to start a review but when you fall in love you just loose yourself in the moment. And that's what happened to me! I was so enthralled in this book I just couldn't be bothered with anything else and I never wanted it to end. Yes this book had some pretty messed up parts but it was wrapped up in a nice shiny package! My emotions were running wild but it was oh so beautiful at the same time! Such a good storyline even though I was hanging on by the edge of my seat. Definitely another one to add to my favorites list!
Man I loved this book! I know that's a crazy way to start a review but when you fall in love you just loose yourself in the moment. And that's what happened to me! I was so enthralled in this book I just couldn't be bothered with anything else and I never wanted it to end. Yes this book had some pretty messed up parts but it was wrapped up in a nice shiny package! My emotions were running wild but it was oh so beautiful at the same time! Such a good storyline even though I was hanging on by the edge of my seat. Definitely another one to add to my favorites list!
February 29, 2020
3.5 /5
March 7, 2021
Read it until 55%, skimming until the end.
This was stupid! Sorry, but it was!
Four guys are bullying a girl and they make other girls beat her just because they care to much and they want to keep that girl safe, because they are mixed with a wrong crowd and it will be better for the girl if the crowd wouldn't know they care for her. So they call her names and they act like she is trash even though until 7 mo ago they were best friends.
And after she finds out what is happening, they all start to act like she is a porcelain doll. The hero even says that if one of the bad guys scratch her, he will beat the shit out of him..so now is overprotective but when that b**ch Stephanie beat the heroine, he smirked and called her names.
Sorry but the plot was stupid and the heroine was a dormant.nope,not for me!
This was stupid! Sorry, but it was!
Four guys are bullying a girl and they make other girls beat her just because they care to much and they want to keep that girl safe, because they are mixed with a wrong crowd and it will be better for the girl if the crowd wouldn't know they care for her. So they call her names and they act like she is trash even though until 7 mo ago they were best friends.
And after she finds out what is happening, they all start to act like she is a porcelain doll. The hero even says that if one of the bad guys scratch her, he will beat the shit out of him..so now is overprotective but when that b**ch Stephanie beat the heroine, he smirked and called her names.
Sorry but the plot was stupid and the heroine was a dormant.nope,not for me!
March 5, 2022
Quick reread to clean up reviews and get me into the right mindset to finish some books on my TBR. I’ll leave the rating, but really feel like I’ve outgrown the genre. This is a bully romance where the kids act like grownups with very few adults around. I think we see 2 sets of parents out of 6 and they aren’t parenting… so the kids do whatever they want. To enjoy, you’re going to take a major leap into pretend-land… like rich kids being super tough and taking on the mafia or a 17-yr old HS student who did gymnastics after school (not competitive) being good enough to go to the Olympics or a mobster named Johnny Jack. 😁 Basically, don’t read if you’re looking for anything realistic or to make sense-pure entertainment only.
This is Scarlett and Rogue’s story. Scar is the former Heirs’ Queen and Rogue is the leader of their group.
****Original review***
I used to LOVE bully romances but have started to outgrow them. I enjoy dark or twisted books that make me feel things that might be overwhelming or uncomfortable… but don’t have the patience for teens acting their age. The good news is these kids act like adults for the most part, but this isn’t really dark or twisty.
The book starts with Scarlett getting her ass beat by mean girl Stephanie. We quickly learn that Scar used to be the girl sidekick of the Savannah Heirs (4 hot dudes from the richest families) but was rejected out of the blue 7 or so months earlier. Since the rejection, it’s been open season for everyone to bully/abuse her.
Scar starts out pretty wimpy. She tries to grow claws, but they’re kitten claws, so some readers might find her pathetic. I thought the “twist” was very predictable and their reasoning was stupid. I also never understood why they had to go to such lengths to show that they didn’t care about her. They were distanced from the majority of students and didn’t terrorize them. 🤷♀️
Bottom Line- Ok, for the genre… predictable plot that goes into OTT territory towards the end. I needed Scar to be tougher and push back more. She’s way to passive and forgiving.
*I thought this might be reverse harem (based on the blurb) it’s not.
This is Scarlett and Rogue’s story. Scar is the former Heirs’ Queen and Rogue is the leader of their group.
****Original review***
I used to LOVE bully romances but have started to outgrow them. I enjoy dark or twisted books that make me feel things that might be overwhelming or uncomfortable… but don’t have the patience for teens acting their age. The good news is these kids act like adults for the most part, but this isn’t really dark or twisty.
The book starts with Scarlett getting her ass beat by mean girl Stephanie. We quickly learn that Scar used to be the girl sidekick of the Savannah Heirs (4 hot dudes from the richest families) but was rejected out of the blue 7 or so months earlier. Since the rejection, it’s been open season for everyone to bully/abuse her.
Scar starts out pretty wimpy. She tries to grow claws, but they’re kitten claws, so some readers might find her pathetic. I thought the “twist” was very predictable and their reasoning was stupid. I also never understood why they had to go to such lengths to show that they didn’t care about her. They were distanced from the majority of students and didn’t terrorize them. 🤷♀️
Bottom Line- Ok, for the genre… predictable plot that goes into OTT territory towards the end. I needed Scar to be tougher and push back more. She’s way to passive and forgiving.
*I thought this might be reverse harem (based on the blurb) it’s not.
January 22, 2020
Dark? No, just ridiculous
Let me start off by saying I’m a huge Raven Kennedy fan, but this book just didn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, the writing style was good, not a bunch of editing errors but the plot/personalities of the characters just fell short to me. Our female lead at one point basically brags about how Godfrey likes to toy with women and intentionally crush their hearts on purpose, as a game. Not a winning quality in my book, for either of them. Also, what’s with the female lead, supposedly in love with Rogue, yet letting the other guys mess around with her? I get having guys as best friends, but the things they did together made it seem like we were about to have a reverse harem book on our hands but that wasn’t the case. These were not just simple gestures between best friends, it was wayyyy more sexual than what should happen between best friends especially if you’re in love with someone already. If it was a reverse harem, I wouldn’t have minded it, but since this wasn’t a reverse harem it seriously bugged me when she constantly checked out the other guys or let them mess with her body, but then she got pissed when Rogue stayed at another girls house? Stupid. Oh and don’t get me started on the scene where she makes out with the girl who tortured her. That whole part of the plot just pissed me off. There’s a way to show how much she means to all of the guys and that they are best friends without pushing into sexual territory. I know this is supposed to be a “dark romance” but it wasn’t dark to me, just super immature and ridiculous in my opinion. This will not stop me from reading Ravens books, like I said I’ve read plenty by her and love her books, just not this one unfortunately.
Let me start off by saying I’m a huge Raven Kennedy fan, but this book just didn’t do it for me. Don’t get me wrong, the writing style was good, not a bunch of editing errors but the plot/personalities of the characters just fell short to me. Our female lead at one point basically brags about how Godfrey likes to toy with women and intentionally crush their hearts on purpose, as a game. Not a winning quality in my book, for either of them. Also, what’s with the female lead, supposedly in love with Rogue, yet letting the other guys mess around with her? I get having guys as best friends, but the things they did together made it seem like we were about to have a reverse harem book on our hands but that wasn’t the case. These were not just simple gestures between best friends, it was wayyyy more sexual than what should happen between best friends especially if you’re in love with someone already. If it was a reverse harem, I wouldn’t have minded it, but since this wasn’t a reverse harem it seriously bugged me when she constantly checked out the other guys or let them mess with her body, but then she got pissed when Rogue stayed at another girls house? Stupid. Oh and don’t get me started on the scene where she makes out with the girl who tortured her. That whole part of the plot just pissed me off. There’s a way to show how much she means to all of the guys and that they are best friends without pushing into sexual territory. I know this is supposed to be a “dark romance” but it wasn’t dark to me, just super immature and ridiculous in my opinion. This will not stop me from reading Ravens books, like I said I’ve read plenty by her and love her books, just not this one unfortunately.
February 10, 2024
I picked this up because I adored Raven Kennedy and when I heard this was going to be no longer available form the end of the month as the authors are removing it from sale. I thought i'd give it a go before I lost my chance. And whilst I did enjoy some parts of this other bits not so much.
Things just didn't make a lot of since to me the reasoning behind the boys behaviour (and let's be honest here they were boys playing in a man's world). They treat her like absolute shit and encourage others to do the same just to protect her but then when she's given the chance to leave they suddenly aren't strong enough to let her go. Please for the last seven months she's been the shit on your shoe and you didn't find that hard and then when the end is in sight and she has a real chance of starting anew that's your limit huh, talk about selfish reasonings and then to top it all off, all of that crap is incidental because the thing your protecting her from actually happens anyway.
I didn't like that Rogue was a man-Ho and Scarlet was meant to stay pure and innocent. That Scar had absolutely zero backbone and then all of the weird boundary crossing between them this wasn't a reverse harem so why even go there. Then there's that bizarre scene between Scarlett and her bully, just why and she never even gets her comeuppance either.
Finally I wasn't feeling the connection between Rogue and Scarlett he barely did anything to make right how they had all behaved and never really apologised, just explained why they did it and so naturally she just instantly forgave them like it had never happened. It was all about how Rogue was feeling. What would he have done if they'd actually driven her to do something stupid from there relentless treatment kind of counter productive to the goal if you ask me.
You know the more I explain my reasonings the more I'm realising I liked this even less than I thought I did. Look it wasn't a bad book just problematic and I don't mind a well done bully romance that has valid reasonings backing it and a strong heroine this didn't have either and just didn't work for me.
Things just didn't make a lot of since to me the reasoning behind the boys behaviour (and let's be honest here they were boys playing in a man's world). They treat her like absolute shit and encourage others to do the same just to protect her but then when she's given the chance to leave they suddenly aren't strong enough to let her go. Please for the last seven months she's been the shit on your shoe and you didn't find that hard and then when the end is in sight and she has a real chance of starting anew that's your limit huh, talk about selfish reasonings and then to top it all off, all of that crap is incidental because the thing your protecting her from actually happens anyway.
I didn't like that Rogue was a man-Ho and Scarlet was meant to stay pure and innocent. That Scar had absolutely zero backbone and then all of the weird boundary crossing between them this wasn't a reverse harem so why even go there. Then there's that bizarre scene between Scarlett and her bully, just why and she never even gets her comeuppance either.
Finally I wasn't feeling the connection between Rogue and Scarlett he barely did anything to make right how they had all behaved and never really apologised, just explained why they did it and so naturally she just instantly forgave them like it had never happened. It was all about how Rogue was feeling. What would he have done if they'd actually driven her to do something stupid from there relentless treatment kind of counter productive to the goal if you ask me.
You know the more I explain my reasonings the more I'm realising I liked this even less than I thought I did. Look it wasn't a bad book just problematic and I don't mind a well done bully romance that has valid reasonings backing it and a strong heroine this didn't have either and just didn't work for me.
May 28, 2019
Hmmm. On one hand I really loved this...but then I think about how much I didn’t really like Scarlett all that much. She was a little too needy and desperate for my tastes. She gets brutally bullied by her best friends (who all happen to be guys) and in turn gets bullied on by the whole entire school.
Let’s see—
*Her mother sucks ass
*I don’t fully think the boys ever redeem themselves for months and months of torture.
*Then we find out the reason for the bullying and I guess I could jump on board if it weren’t so lame.
*Theres a hint that a character that’s seriously the worst getting a book with one of the heirs. And I’m not here for that. In fact, that’s probably one of the main reasons I won’t continue with the books. I hope I’m wrong because it’s a hero I REALLY like.
*Why couldn’t this be RH? While Rogue is the main man of this here story; little miss Scar has perfectly good chemistry with all the other boys and even lets them kiss and get her all hot and bothered.
*Did I mention that Scarlett is needy and desperate?
Despite everything that I hated about Cruel; it still entertained me and kept me flipping the pages like they were on fire. The relationship between Scar and the guys was great when she wasn’t acting all needy.
Let’s see—
*Her mother sucks ass
*I don’t fully think the boys ever redeem themselves for months and months of torture.
*Then we find out the reason for the bullying and I guess I could jump on board if it weren’t so lame.
*Theres a hint that a character that’s seriously the worst getting a book with one of the heirs. And I’m not here for that. In fact, that’s probably one of the main reasons I won’t continue with the books. I hope I’m wrong because it’s a hero I REALLY like.
*Why couldn’t this be RH? While Rogue is the main man of this here story; little miss Scar has perfectly good chemistry with all the other boys and even lets them kiss and get her all hot and bothered.
*Did I mention that Scarlett is needy and desperate?
Despite everything that I hated about Cruel; it still entertained me and kept me flipping the pages like they were on fire. The relationship between Scar and the guys was great when she wasn’t acting all needy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2019
"Bonham, Luis, Godfrey, and Rogue didn’t just run the school. They were practically going to inherit all of Savannah. Their parents had the three C’s: cash, connections, and capability. This city was in the palm of their hands."
A love/hate pager turner!
Let me just say a few things first.
1) I haven't been in the right place for High School, NA/YA romances lately. I've DNF quite a few, while shaking my head.
2) I almost didn't read this book because of reviews. I usually never read reviews before I read the book. Shame on me.
3) Ker Dukey suggested this one, as she was reading it too. <-- I had to see for myself.
With all that being said, I'm glad I took the chance with two new-to-me-authors, a trope I haven't been in the mood or have the taste for, and ignoring popular reviews. Rogue was a delicious bastard! At first glance, I was livid. These characters were cruel, sadistic assholes. Believe me, you'll be like, I don't know if I want to read this through. STAY WITH IT! I promise, after 20 some percent, the story becomes clearer and you'll be begging for answers. It's hard to write this review without spoiling. Sorry. Anyway, if you read dark romances like chocolate, like me. :) This wasn't really dark. I'll file it in the grey folder, under the romantic suspense section. I think if the story started with how the relationship started between the main characters, readers would have tried to see what caused the tsunami. Just my opinion.
There's nothing I love more than banter. I was eating this back and forth up and licking my lips with anticipation. Scarlett, a doormat she was not. Hurt. Emotions all over the place, she gave it right back. I was cackling. And the Heirs, my oh my. You'll ended up loving them. Gawd, I can't say much... When everything comes to light, you'll be begging to be their queen! If you love love/hate, bully romances, this one is a hit! I'm officially out of my High School Romace funk. I want a story for all the heirs. And most importantly, a win for angry sex, Y'all!
A love/hate pager turner!
Let me just say a few things first.
1) I haven't been in the right place for High School, NA/YA romances lately. I've DNF quite a few, while shaking my head.
2) I almost didn't read this book because of reviews. I usually never read reviews before I read the book. Shame on me.
3) Ker Dukey suggested this one, as she was reading it too. <-- I had to see for myself.
With all that being said, I'm glad I took the chance with two new-to-me-authors, a trope I haven't been in the mood or have the taste for, and ignoring popular reviews. Rogue was a delicious bastard! At first glance, I was livid. These characters were cruel, sadistic assholes. Believe me, you'll be like, I don't know if I want to read this through. STAY WITH IT! I promise, after 20 some percent, the story becomes clearer and you'll be begging for answers. It's hard to write this review without spoiling. Sorry. Anyway, if you read dark romances like chocolate, like me. :) This wasn't really dark. I'll file it in the grey folder, under the romantic suspense section. I think if the story started with how the relationship started between the main characters, readers would have tried to see what caused the tsunami. Just my opinion.
There's nothing I love more than banter. I was eating this back and forth up and licking my lips with anticipation. Scarlett, a doormat she was not. Hurt. Emotions all over the place, she gave it right back. I was cackling. And the Heirs, my oh my. You'll ended up loving them. Gawd, I can't say much... When everything comes to light, you'll be begging to be their queen! If you love love/hate, bully romances, this one is a hit! I'm officially out of my High School Romace funk. I want a story for all the heirs. And most importantly, a win for angry sex, Y'all!
Read
April 25, 2021Not for me.
March 14, 2019
I can’t even....explain how this made me feel. Frustration would be close, but not quite. Disgust? Maybe.
What I liked:
-The concept
What I disliked:
-The protagonist. Couldn’t stand her. The spineless-ness was unreal, she forgave her tormentors way too easily and, AND, was pathetic the ENTIRE TIME! Girl, where’s your pride?!
-Rogue. What the heck, man? Seriously? You “love” this girl and this is how you treat her?
-The “Heirs” and their shady side-jobs.
-The protagonist (whose name I cannot remember, despite reading 30 chapters) and her relationship with her “boys”. Now, I get having male friends, growing up together, etc., etc., but HOW is it that one single touch from any of them immediately makes you want to drop your panties?! And boo-freakin-hoo, all your male friends are attractive and therefore you must be sexually attracted to all of them.
-The double standards. Yes, sure, get mad at Rogue for visiting some girl’s house every weekend RIGHT AFTER you let two boys get you off in ROGUE’S HOUSE!
I love bully romances, but this was definitely not the one for me.
What I liked:
-The concept
What I disliked:
-The protagonist. Couldn’t stand her. The spineless-ness was unreal, she forgave her tormentors way too easily and, AND, was pathetic the ENTIRE TIME! Girl, where’s your pride?!
-Rogue. What the heck, man? Seriously? You “love” this girl and this is how you treat her?
-The “Heirs” and their shady side-jobs.
-The protagonist (whose name I cannot remember, despite reading 30 chapters) and her relationship with her “boys”. Now, I get having male friends, growing up together, etc., etc., but HOW is it that one single touch from any of them immediately makes you want to drop your panties?! And boo-freakin-hoo, all your male friends are attractive and therefore you must be sexually attracted to all of them.
-The double standards. Yes, sure, get mad at Rogue for visiting some girl’s house every weekend RIGHT AFTER you let two boys get you off in ROGUE’S HOUSE!
I love bully romances, but this was definitely not the one for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2019
WOW!
This was definitely scorching hot, and very intense read. I heard amazing things about this book, so I had to find out for myself. I'm super glad I did. I really enjoyed this dark little gem.
I thought I was rereading The Boys at Brayshaw at first, then this book turned into a while new nap game. This was definitely a completely different story. I will not go into detail I think you should go into this blind, if you think you can hands the darkness. I will say Rouge he is the definition of a bully.
This was definitely scorching hot, and very intense read. I heard amazing things about this book, so I had to find out for myself. I'm super glad I did. I really enjoyed this dark little gem.
I thought I was rereading The Boys at Brayshaw at first, then this book turned into a while new nap game. This was definitely a completely different story. I will not go into detail I think you should go into this blind, if you think you can hands the darkness. I will say Rouge he is the definition of a bully.
February 23, 2019
Not my cup of tea. The chick forgave these dudes way too quickly and the “we bullied you horribly to protect you” bs reasoning was not gonna cut it. I’ve read other bully romances before but this one did not have likeable characters at all. From start to end, I did not have a change of heart towards any of the characters. Absolutely disappointing all around.
February 9, 2020
Mildly interesting but the heroine was stupidly attracted to the hero. Extremely slow pace after the initial plot line where we discover why the boys, the Heirs, are behaved as they did. Then it just became too boring to continue. DNF 80% and that was a struggle.
March 3, 2019
For those of you who like bully Romance's, this one was pretty good. I love and hate these types of books. Love them if they're written well (this was), but hate the bullying and the easy forgiveness.
My gut was saying the whole time, fuck this!!
If it was me it'd be a very short book. 😂
The reason for them bullying her wasn't good enough for me.
But having said that, it was written well and had me sucked in wanting to know what happened.
My gut was saying the whole time, fuck this!!
If it was me it'd be a very short book. 😂
The reason for them bullying her wasn't good enough for me.
But having said that, it was written well and had me sucked in wanting to know what happened.
October 18, 2021
Rogue, Godrey, Bonham and Luis the Heirs of Savannah are brutal in Cruel (Savannah Heirs #1) by Raven Kennedy and Coralee June. Had a hate to love with them. Scarlett has been best friends with them since they were little and then one day out of nowhere she is their enemy and have no idea why. Love the mystery why they hated her and was not expecting what their reasoning was.
Good read recommend
* New Adult
* Bully Romance
* Angsty
* Dark Romance
* Enemies To Lovers
Good read recommend
* New Adult
* Bully Romance
* Angsty
* Dark Romance
* Enemies To Lovers
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