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Elginvale High #1-2
Tormented
If someone had told me then, everything that I know now, I would never have kissed him.
I would never have played with fire and I would never have let it consume me.
I would have listened to my friend.
I would have packed my bags and left.
I would have let him win.
But you can’t know what you don’t know.
I couldn’t have known about the secrets, the deception, the manipulation.
I could never have predicted the damage a single kiss could cause.
But what I do know is that I’m a hell of a lot stronger than I was when I moved halfway across the world to Scotland.
He can push, he can pull, he can torment me and he can humiliate me. He won’t break me.
Because you can’t really break something that’s already broken.
Please note that Tormented is a DARK bully romance intended for mature audiences of 18+ only. It contains mature themes that may trigger readers. Contains book 1 and book 2.
I would never have played with fire and I would never have let it consume me.
I would have listened to my friend.
I would have packed my bags and left.
I would have let him win.
But you can’t know what you don’t know.
I couldn’t have known about the secrets, the deception, the manipulation.
I could never have predicted the damage a single kiss could cause.
But what I do know is that I’m a hell of a lot stronger than I was when I moved halfway across the world to Scotland.
He can push, he can pull, he can torment me and he can humiliate me. He won’t break me.
Because you can’t really break something that’s already broken.
Please note that Tormented is a DARK bully romance intended for mature audiences of 18+ only. It contains mature themes that may trigger readers. Contains book 1 and book 2.
538 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2020
156 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Esme Devlin
26 books329 followersEsme is a Scottish romance author who writes books about demanding and possessive alpha-heros. Or anti-heros, when the mood takes her. They're usually gruff and hard, but that is until they meet the women who bring them to their knees.
In her spare time Esme writes sci-fi romance and sometimes remembers to eat. She's a mum of two very fiesty heroines and a wolf-hybrid, and she lives with her very own highlander-husband who she is trying to convince to do her audiobooks ;-)
You can keep up to date by subscribing to her spam-free mailing list (honestly, she is a tech-phobe). https://www.subscribepage.com/x2k2t8
In her spare time Esme writes sci-fi romance and sometimes remembers to eat. She's a mum of two very fiesty heroines and a wolf-hybrid, and she lives with her very own highlander-husband who she is trying to convince to do her audiobooks ;-)
You can keep up to date by subscribing to her spam-free mailing list (honestly, she is a tech-phobe). https://www.subscribepage.com/x2k2t8
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 8, 2020
Brilliant
Awww this story was so sweet and I actually enjoyed it and love the Scottish dialogue kinda made me speak Scottish in my head while reading haha brilliant can't wait to read more of your books
Awww this story was so sweet and I actually enjoyed it and love the Scottish dialogue kinda made me speak Scottish in my head while reading haha brilliant can't wait to read more of your books
May 21, 2024
This book wasn't for me. I CAN see why others liked it, but this book was so boring. I couldn't get over the way the characters were written, there wasn't much development, details, or plot really. It wasn't entertaining and honestly I forced myself to finish the book because I really hate leaving books unfinished. There were some parts that did make me laugh and some parts were you could start to see the characters development, but then it tailored off and left me wanting to know more.
Just not my cup of tea.
Just not my cup of tea.
October 12, 2025
It wasn’t bad.. I can’t really decide if I like it, don’t like it or love it..? There was chemistry and they had some fun bickering.. but it was long for e a duet when the book really only plays out in a couple of months. And to fall in love, have some twists and turns and then the book ends with the situation to be kinda like it was in the first part of the first book with the exception of Liam being gone and they girls being married or engaged. Not bad but not good enough for me to give it more than three stars. ⭐️
I can understand why others love it tho. 🙃
I can understand why others love it tho. 🙃
September 24, 2020
Can't help who you call in love with!!
Lacey is starting a new school once again after her father moves her to Scotland. On her first day a guy named Liam, who's father works with Lacey's father, offers her a ride home and asks her to a party that first weekend. Unfortunately another guy named Shaun is planning on scaring Lacey away from their small town because Shaun's dad wants Lacey's dad gone. This is a great high school bully romance and I loved it.
Lacey is starting a new school once again after her father moves her to Scotland. On her first day a guy named Liam, who's father works with Lacey's father, offers her a ride home and asks her to a party that first weekend. Unfortunately another guy named Shaun is planning on scaring Lacey away from their small town because Shaun's dad wants Lacey's dad gone. This is a great high school bully romance and I loved it.
May 9, 2021
Great Read!
I don’t regret this purchase!! I really liked this story. There were different things that kept you in suspense. I liked how Shaun actually tried to take a stand against his father knowing the consequences. Their chemistry was on fire!!!! I feel the Mcguissness got what they deserved. First time reading a book by this author and I don’t intend on making it the last.
I don’t regret this purchase!! I really liked this story. There were different things that kept you in suspense. I liked how Shaun actually tried to take a stand against his father knowing the consequences. Their chemistry was on fire!!!! I feel the Mcguissness got what they deserved. First time reading a book by this author and I don’t intend on making it the last.
December 8, 2020
Amazing read
Esme Devlin is a word goddess. Shaun and Lacey books were amazing. This is book 1 and 2. I was unable to put this book down. I love the chemistry they had. I hope we get a book on Jamie.
Esme Devlin is a word goddess. Shaun and Lacey books were amazing. This is book 1 and 2. I was unable to put this book down. I love the chemistry they had. I hope we get a book on Jamie.
December 27, 2020
Good Story
I enjoyed the story. It was rather good. I did notice a lot of errors as I was reading. It made it a little more difficult to read at points. However, still a good story.
I enjoyed the story. It was rather good. I did notice a lot of errors as I was reading. It made it a little more difficult to read at points. However, still a good story.
June 6, 2021
Love it!!
Two books into One. The chemisty between Shaun and Lacey was intense and undeniable. I love Lacey and how she stood up to Shaun, she didn't back down from. I love heriones like that in the dark bully romances.
Two books into One. The chemisty between Shaun and Lacey was intense and undeniable. I love Lacey and how she stood up to Shaun, she didn't back down from. I love heriones like that in the dark bully romances.
December 11, 2020
See my review under book 1.
February 4, 2021
Good book
This was a good book really enjoyed it
Made me cry in some places
Just bad about the spelling mistakes though
This was a good book really enjoyed it
Made me cry in some places
Just bad about the spelling mistakes though
July 18, 2022
3.75 stars.
Bully romance as a genre is quite difficult to achieve the best balance between the assholness of the perpetrator and the romanticism of the whole situation.
This story shows definite potential.
Pros:
1. the main bully is actually not a really hateful person, he's just told to torment our heroine, and as an obedient member of the shady group he does what he's told but changes his tactics quickly,
2. our heroine is a well-balanced character, sweet but with backbone, she only melts a little too much in the end. I would prefer to see more resistance in her toward all men around, including her beau.
Cons:
1. It's not really defined what this story is about, it starts as standard high school bully drama, then transforms into some small village mystery (I was afraid for a moment that it will transform into some paranormal gibberish), and ends as some quasi sports drama (very short) suspiciously similar to Chloe Walsh's Carter Kids Series.
2. Villains are sketchy and the whole confrontation ends prematurely with no major consequence for them, only some background explanation.
3. Epilogue is placed too early in time, pregnancy at nineteen is not really the best conclusion for a decent story and a serious sports career is not built over one year. This rushed ending spoils the story a little bit.
Overall not so a bad attempt at this demanding genre.
Bully romance as a genre is quite difficult to achieve the best balance between the assholness of the perpetrator and the romanticism of the whole situation.
This story shows definite potential.
Pros:
1. the main bully is actually not a really hateful person, he's just told to torment our heroine, and as an obedient member of the shady group he does what he's told but changes his tactics quickly,
2. our heroine is a well-balanced character, sweet but with backbone, she only melts a little too much in the end. I would prefer to see more resistance in her toward all men around, including her beau.
Cons:
1. It's not really defined what this story is about, it starts as standard high school bully drama, then transforms into some small village mystery (I was afraid for a moment that it will transform into some paranormal gibberish), and ends as some quasi sports drama (very short) suspiciously similar to Chloe Walsh's Carter Kids Series.
2. Villains are sketchy and the whole confrontation ends prematurely with no major consequence for them, only some background explanation.
3. Epilogue is placed too early in time, pregnancy at nineteen is not really the best conclusion for a decent story and a serious sports career is not built over one year. This rushed ending spoils the story a little bit.
Overall not so a bad attempt at this demanding genre.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews