Filthy Elites

by May Sage (Editor), Sam Mariano, Angel Lawson

An Anthology of Enemies to Lovers Romance Standalone Novels

Filthy Elites is a collection of scorching hot, full-length, standalone enemies to lovers romance by Sam Mariano, Angel Lawson, Michelle Hercules, Shantel Tessier, Lucy Smoke, May Sage, Eva Chance, Lexi Archer and Gemma Weir.

In these brand new standalone novels, you’ll reconnect with your favorite protagonists from related series and discover more wonderfully imperfect, messed-up, kick-ass new adult characters.

From stepbrothers to mafia lords and rich elites who take everything for granted, they have one thing in common: their love interests hate their guts. But they’re kings and queens, and they’ll fight tooth and nails for what’s theirs.

Genres: Anthologies, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance

2430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2022

About the author

May Sage is a USA Today Bestselling romance writer dabbling in different genres.

When she isn’t writing, she spends her time with her German Shepherd and her two Savannahs. She loves reading, ballet, running, and cake. Mostly, cake.

May Sage also writes longer fantasy romance novels as Alexi Blake.

Reviews

[⚔Irunía⚔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS FOR MISS SAM MARIANO EXCLUSIVELY. KEEP SLAYING, QUEEN. 😌

Other bitches could never.🔪🛐

So guys I wrote a review for Even if it Hurts and wanted to post it on Sam's book page exclusively only to come to realize that I had no characters left.
The clownery. 🤡🔪🤡🔪🤡🔪🤡

She said ✨ dedication ✨

In the mood to waste yet another few minutes of your life procrastinating on Goodreads and reading the first, clown-ish part of my review?
click here, besties, whatever ticks your boxes

SO THE SEQUEL REVIEW roasting the heroine in the oven, worshipping her creator and trying to appear less shallow than I obviously am (obsessing over psychopaths could do that to you)

While reading this book, I could vividly envision Miss Mariano completely losing the hinge of sanity she was barely hanging on in her latest release — Descent, and coming absolutely unhinged while writing this horror romance masterpiece. The last few chapters were absolutely crazy, chaotic and somehow very meticulous. I loved them. 😂

If you like to pay attention to details and piece together what the character does with what he implies, you'll find this book interesting because everything happens for a reason there.

I'm having a blast this week: a second 5-star book in a row with a male lead who is a psychopath to his fingertips. 💦👈🏻

At least this one has a HEA. 🤌🏻

I swear we all became so desensitized to the word psychopath, we started forgetting how they might actually look like. Dare (H) is here to remind anyone with short memory what the true definition of this word is (romanticized, yet quite realistic portrayal. At least in some aspects)

Below you'll find a brief outline of the story's mighty strengths and feeble shortcomings that no one has any interest in reading but when did it ever stop me

The rest is not gonna make sense to the people who didn't read the book. ✨

💥THE PLOT💥

+ it was very dynamic while having the advantage of being totally romance—centered, with no filler scenes or over descriptiveness, which remind me so much of myself when I try to put as many empty and pretty words in some of my school essays as humanly possible just to reach the required word count and make me want to breathe creepily
STOP WAFFLING FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY
into some author's ear.

Here all the scenes played a part in either moving the plot or casting a light on a character's personality and motivation.

+ the last few chapters were so shady they could single-handedly cause the total eclipse of the sun

(and they almost had, so many people began speculating about Dare's attraction to Hannah and other nonsense, while I was sitting there and thinking about how Dare actually might have a point in seeing Hannah as a competition. Aubrey seemed too drawn to this girl's charm. 💀💀💀 If I didn't know that it was a standalone and these characters wouldn't get another book as main characters, I would have thought the story could dive straight into the murky waters of star-crossed-FF-lovers romance. I'm only half-joking, hehe)

Anyway,

🧶why did Hannah wear that necklace knowing its history?
🧶 why did Dare take a pic of Hannah with the necklace? (plotting again?? that little bitch 😤)
🧶 what about the midnight clock tattoo and him calling Hannah Cinderella?
🧶 why did Dare jokingly hint that Hannah join them for the night fun?? We all know at this point that there's nothing more serious than this guy making a joke
🧶why include room service at the end of the book with no closure??

THE LAST CHAPTER HAS ME SO OBSESSED AND PARANOID, I'm calling the cops as we speak. This is a deliberate mental attack, and most likely the answer to my last question.

— (the chapter planted too many questions and answered none. Paired with the sudden escalation of action towards the end, I can see why some people weren't completely convinced of DareAubrey happily ever after. Couldn't possibly be because Dare was a psychopath who just seemed to have succumbed to his obsession, on top of being unable to feel love the way we do, absolutely not)

+ Unlike pretty formulaic Descent (one of Sam's latest releases)

(which I thought had a lot of rape that didn't give me an emotional trauma even for a millisecond piled on a lot of talk that took away from the thrill of watching the talk being turned into action. It followed all the typical Mariano-ish guidelines, but missed the usual sparkle)

and like all the other books by Miss Mariano that I've read, this book is emotionally riveting. I didn't doubt for a second whose side Dare was on, but Sam did a marvelous job of planting little doubts here and there along the way. It made the book edgier.

🔪DARE, THE HERO 🔪 😍

+ the poster psycho boy, forceful, authentic, controlling and always in control, unapologetic, manipulative, aggressive, rough (I feel phantom Aubrey's pain as I'm writing this) and utterly unhinged

Whatever part of her soul Miss Mariano had to sell off to the devil to be able to write psychopaths the way she does, the contact should better be long-term.

This woman doesn't write limp-wristed society playboys that consider themselves unhinged sociopaths/edgy bad boys/dark and dangerous guys and infallibly end up being twisted around someone's finger and bending over backward to stay within the confines of politically-correct agenda. Neither does she write ridiculously caricature psychopaths whose two only personality traits are to obsess over a plain Jane from the second they see her (why? who knows, certainly not us) and do all the crazy stuff to prove themselves worthy of the title. They are so utterly and comically unbelievable, you can't even take them seriously.


Most of Sam's heroes are psychopaths, and I'm amazed at how vastly they all differ from each other. How distinguishable their personalities are. How varied their preferences and methods. 👿 How despite similar approaches and attitudes, none of them feels faceless or lacking in individuality.


🤦🏼‍♀️AUBREY, THE HEROINE 🤦🏼‍♀️

We all could start a flash mob right now and beg Sam to write a heroine who wouldn't be so unabashedly gullible, wouldn't rely so heavily on the word of yet another manipulative, batshit crazy psychopath that she's paired with from the very minute he flashes a psychotically charming dimple at her.

We could threaten her that we would bang our heads against the concrete wall till the moment she bestowed a sliver of common sense and resistance upon her new heroine.

But Sam saying joke's on you, little masochistic troublemakers; I like to watch my readers banging their heads against the walls is more likely to happen than Sam giving her heroine's brain a little credit. 😏

Yes, we all know very well that ultimately even though Sam's hero is no Prince Charming, he's obviously "trustworthy" (if you can call a cunning bastard with zero morals and a vested interest in keeping the heroine at his side trustworthy).

But make him manipulate and scheme work harder to get there. Shouldn't it take him more time to make her putty, pliable and mushy in his hands? It would feel so much more special and satisfying if readers had hard evidence on their hands that only this particular psycho could turn this particular girl into his submissive, obedient little doll. 👉🏻👈🏻🥺

Isn't this the most gripping part about this type of romance?? 🤷🏼‍♀️ More angst and internal conflict can never spoil a story.

Quite the opposite, the story's flavor becomes richer and tastier when heroines offer some kind of resistance. 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

Why rob us like this? I love the power imbalance in a relationship, long live the king, 🤡🤡🤡 but it makes more sense when more blood is drawn while establishing the imbalance.

I love Miss Mariano because I just feel it in my gut that she writes primarily for her own enjoyment and hardly gives any fucks abouy what peasants have to say about her psycho heroes and their naive girls. It's impressionable, admirable and adorable, and it shows. The books written to milk for money in the quest to appeal to certain audiences feel and read completely differently.

My fascination and respect don't stop me from taking a break from applauding and immediately falling into a fit of rage...

There's a thinly veiled line between endearing naivety and outrageous dumbness, and Sam's heroines never fail to cross trample all over it. I get that her heroes' blood doesn't flow through and pumps their hearts for anyone else but typical Sam's heroine. And Sam's girls just scream justifiable homicide.😂🤚🏻🔪🤚🏻🔪🤚🏻

I'm not even talking about a "badass" female (no wonder, I can't stand them unless they are done really well 🤣) or someone resisting the hero at every step and turn.

I'm merely saying that having no survival instincts sucks and gets old pretty quickly. Yeah, ok, keep writing your insecure, clingy little heroines. It's not like I'm not gonna come back for more anyway. 😂

BUT HOW MORE EXCITING, FASCINATING AND INTERESTING IT GETS WHEN THEY (heroines) HAVE A LITTLE WARRIOR SPARK IN THEM. When they resist. When they try to resist. When they don't succumb to manipulation on a whim. When they question and wonder. When they don't blindly believe everything the guy says. You may say it's clever when in the end their trust pays off. But it's also boring. Unlike the conflict that is always interesting.

I was able to enjoy the book as much as I did only because in a typical Sam's fashion her heroine was dumb only when confronted with the hero. Also, there were enough external conflicts to keep me riveted.

It helped that at least Aubrey had the common sense to truly fear Dare. That added a nice edge to their relationship. 💦

My relationship with Aubrey escalated quickly. 😂
I went from

liking

this laid-back, mildly sarcastic girl with witty comebacks and zero-fucks-to-give-about-the-whole-petty-school-drama attitude

to

hating

experiencing a fit of rage

despising

wanting the floor to open and swallow this little bitch up just to spare me the second-hand embarrassment. Watching her fall so gullibly for all the crap Dare spewed her way was sometimes painful.

Not gonna lie, by the end of the book I was faintly amused by her —my psyche's defense mechanism no more, no less.

It's not every day that you meet a heroine who

— helps her psycho boyfriend frame people so that they get into jail
—lies to the police about her own kidnapping (so that her psycho, ex-kidnapper boyfriend's ass doesn't land in jail too to keep his fellow psycho ex-girlfriend company omg 😂)
— act worried about all the lives this guy had ruined for a whole millisecond before forgetting all about them forever

Her reactions were truly priceless. Good Samaritan. 😍 Miss Mariano should raise the prive for that book when she publishes it as a standalone.

The way Aubrey was so casual about sending the nude photo and charging an almost stranger for it, like she did it every day of her life 🤣🤣🤣

The way she kept riding the high horse and claimed she'd never fuck someone else's boyfriend and then...
The hypocrisy was unprecedented. 🔪🔪🔪

She didn't make sense, but she also made sense?

Of course Dare had a nice leverage on her. He was paying for her sick mother's treatment. He threatened to destroy her friends' lives. Ultimately, she had no choice in the matter. Yet, all the shades of his personality, scheming and manipulation were revealed much later.

It started long before that. She had already put unhealthy amount of trust in Dare, despite having all the evidence that the guy was shady at best. Why?

I still can't believe this girl didn't cancel their joint dinner with her mother after she realized Dare didn't break up with his girlfriend, which made her his side piece. 🚬😀

IS THIS THE GUY YOU WANNA NEAR YOUR SICK MOTHER. REALLY? 🤣

Didn't even wait for his fingers to do the hard work of defending his case half-assed explanation.

Well, I guess it paid off in the end since her mother got her treatment and she got the villain. 😌

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read two stories in here but they were filthy and I loved it.

Obsession - Gemma Weir - 4.5 CRAZY Stars!

Sebastian Lockwood might be one of the craziest and sexiest male characters I've ever read. Sebastian is part of the Elite and he sets his eyes on Starling Kennedy and vows to make her his whether she wants him or not. Bastian is obsessed and not your normal kind of obsessed...obsessed as in he controls EVERY little piece of Starling's life. He maneuvers her everywhere so that the two of them are end game.



Bastian is NOT going to be for everyone so be aware of this if you decide to dive into this deliciously crazy and psychotic story. Starling is a good character butttt I think she fought too much. I mean yeah...she should have based off what Bastian did and said but I'm all about that obsessive stalkerish male hero life in my romance novels. Not in real life obviously.

I think you need to go into this blind because it really is a gem if you like completely OVER THE TOP alpha males. This can be found in the Filthy Elites Anthology. I can't wait to see more from this Alphaholes world. Please and thank you Gemma.

Even If It Hurts - Sam Mariano - 4.75 WTAF stars!



Would not classify this as a romance but somehow it was also psychotically romantic.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be loved so hard, so aggressively… it’s frightening, but intoxicating, too.

Dare is… a basket full of triggers all wrapped with a bow that Aubrey just can’t resist. I enjoyed Even if it Hurts by Sam Mariano, but this story is NOT an easy one to get through. The main male character in this one is by no means a hero, he is the hero, but he is more villain than anything. Aubrey is just you’re average high school girl who has been served a crap plate for breakfast lunch and dinner the last few years. She’s getting through it and working crazy hard when she crosses the wrong sociopath. ANYWAY, that’s all I really want to say. If you’ve read Sam’s Morelli series or Untouchable, then you’re probably fine reading this one. It has some differences, but the darkness is along those same lines. Can’t wait for more of her Coastal Elite world, I have a feeling it’s going to be amazing.

TW: cheating not between main couple, dubious consent, non-consent, physical assault, abuse, cancer, drowning, bullying, general unhinged gas lighting behavior.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Sam Mariano’s: Even If It Hurts

How does Sam Mariano always make me fall so madly in love with psychotic, toxic, manipulative book boyfriends?!?!? Immersively tumultuous, deliciously depraved, psychologically intriguing, and alluringly addictive, Even if It Hurts is that swoony, toxic romanticism that I fall for every time from the incomparable Sam Mariano. Swept away yet again- I’m a goner for this psycho Sam hero and his willing prey.

Dare. DARE. How am I so obsessed with this man? I think a need a psychological evaluation, because every rational part of my being says I should not be so in love (or turned on) by this man’s antics. But he owns me. Like close-to-Mateo-owns-me. Somehow Sam makes this recklessly manipulative, conniving and controlling, twisted and depraved anti-hero swoony. YES SWOONY. Don’t get me wrong- he does very bad, wrong, not okay in the real world (and to some not even okay in an imaginary one) things to others and to our heroine Aubrey. But like always Sam has a keen ability of balancing the immoral (and illegal), boundary pushing behavior of her leading men with my catnip trait- they would do ANYTHING to possess, to care for, and to protect the heroine…except from themselves, of course. This is a man with dangerous and twisted proclivities, whose pursuit of our heroine starts in a very wrong place, whose behavior towards her is objectively toxic and far from the archetype of romance, but he’s also a man that makes you think how desperately you wish someone loved you so intensely, unapologetically ruthlessly. This is a man who won’t only rearrange the world to capture the heroine’s heart and keep it, he’ll savagely destroy the whole world (and whoever stands in his way) to do it. And I FLOVE HIM SO HARD. He’s dangerous and wrong, in all the right ways.

His relationship with Aubrey is as unhealthy as it can come- and what a marvelously delicious portrayal. One thing I really love about Sam’s storytelling is how deeply she delves into the psychology of her characters’ behaviors, and how meta they are about their choices. Her heroes are consciously manipulating the world around them- manipulating their love, too. Their self-aware and unapologetic- they more than accept their twistedness, rather, they expect everyone else to adapt to their needs and methods- including the heroine. They keenly discern the firm boundaries of the woman they love, while trampling anything fluid. Dare is one of her best interactions of this -he’s predatory and cunning, truly psycho. He constructs an entirely reality where our heroine has no path anywhere other than to and with him.

But even better, Aubrey is ENTIRELY aware of this. And that’s one of the aspects I really enjoyed about this book, how open Aubrey is about all the wrong she sees in Dare, the harm he does to others, the inappropriate things he’s done with her. She sees the good in him, the sweet and swoony in the way he so ardently pursues and woos her, but she also recognizes all the bad. But what makes Sam's stories so interesting is that the heroine's don’t just SEE the bad, they’re drawn to it- find it magnetic, in a way that doesn’t compromise them. They don’t fall into the darkness with the heroes- but they do find the hero’s darkness compelling. NO one conveys this psychological tension with such deft artistry as Sam Mariano- it’s mesmerizing, completely- because it’s the EXACT psychological journey we are taking as a reader, grappling with our own longing for the hero. Aubrey herself describes it best, “Maybe it’s corruption or liberation. I don’t know if it’s good or bad. I know it’s intoxicating and addictive, and I can’t even imagine a life without him anymore.” Classifiable or not, it’s magical, transfixing in every way. And Aubrey is completely EYES open to it all- willingly part of this chaotic, toxic mess. She loves how arduously he loves her- wouldn’t we all?

But Sam holds on to the key tenet of romantic love, which is why here romances always work so well. TRUST is at the heart of this. This may not be a romantic arrangement palatable in real life (or again, even palpable to some in stories), but it works for this couple because they are so perfectly matched, two pieces of the puzzle. And it works because even if he is certifiable and psycho and she is his willing lamb, they trust one another. And that’s why their whole messed up dynamic works- the truly see and understand one another and they trust the other to safely hold their hearts, even if Dare has hers locked away in his psycho box. It’s how her romances are also swoony and sweet- how the love feels real and meaningful, if it’s different. The authenticity, the trust, the openness- it just works.

Take the trigger warnings on this carefully, my friends- Sam gives a sincere (and delicious) description of what’s in store in the intro. If you have any pause, tread lightly. If you, like me, read the intro and think “Yummy yummy, gimme gimme!” then buckle up and dive right in- this book is everything you love about Sam Mariano’s twisted brain and addictive storytelling. This story made me ravenous. If this is an indication of the delicious, toxic, twisted magic we have in store for us in the Coastal Elites Series, we are in for a TREAT. We have some great side characters (and those from the Bully God book), I’m excited for. I can not wait for more of this world. There’s a reason Sam is my go-to, my unicorn, one of my all time favs- her heroes will forever have a chokehold on me…and sick or not, I welcome it- I liked it. I LIVE FOR IT. This is my kind of crazy. Thank you Sam Mariano for knowing just what I like- and always delivering.

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only read Obsession by Gemma Weir so far and it was fabulous!
Sebastian Lockwood is over the top, and he thinks that being this way is okay, and does not hold back.
He sets his eyes on Starling and that is it for him, he gives her a year to fit into school life, and then bam, the first day of her second year, he is claiming her as his own.
The Elites are a group of students who rule the school they are attending, and with a firm hand and a stern warning, they keep the students at Green Acres Academy in line and issue harsh penalties if they fall out of line.
Sebastian is dreamy in an obsessive and possessive way and Starling balks and runs from his level of crazy until she is put in a situation where they end up at the same place, all orchestrated by the conniving Sebastian.
This story was such an emotionally charged book, with layers of hate and love, and throw in well-crafted characters, and you have the makings of a book that you cannot put down.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be reviewing books as I read them

For my review on Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano, go here

For my review on Obsession by Gemma Weir, go here

For my review on Toxic Hearts by Emm Darcy, go here

For my review on Falling for Catastrophe by Michelle Hercules, here

Previously, my review for Toxic Hearts was on here, but I’ve posted it on the book link now

[Bookgasms Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even If It Hurts - Sam Mariano
https://bit.ly/3cw9ySd

Forbidden Deviant Games - Lucy Smoke

Um. I always knew I needed to read Lucy Smoke and her Sick Boy series but luck would have it that Forbidden Deviant Games would be a Sick Boy origin story. I am OBSESSED with Viks and Haley. Lord this man was dark and dirty and just plain ol' bas but boy was he soooooo goddamn delicious. I loved everything about thos story and can not wit to dive into Smoke's Sick Boy trilogy now! 4.5 stars!

Bad Blood - Faith Summers

This was a fast and sexy mafia Bratva story I was addicted to. Chad and Billie were so good together. I felt their hate and obsession for one another. While this story definitely felt rushed, I thought it was a pretty solid read overall! 3 stars! ~Ratula

Toxic Hearts - Emm Darcy

This was a new author for me. I loved Erica and how fierce she was. This story was sexy and Chase was the most delicious bully ever. I am now consumed and so ready for more.v8oks by this author! 4 stars!

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I’ve only read Sam Mariano’s Even When It Hurts from this anthology. This is my review of that book:
……..

Soooo… if your man doesn’t use a nail gun to crucify the person who insults your ass online is he really all that into you? 😈😈

This book was straight crazy town. I was on the edge of my seat, belly churning and clenching, until the very last sentence.

Dare was something else. I never quite got a full read on him. He was fierce protector, jealous possessive psycho, cunning manipulator, brutal avenger, relentless bulldozer…. He had no moral compass. He’s rough and claimy and not particular concerned about her consent on anything. 🙈😬

So, you know… I was writing him haikus in my head 🤷🏼‍♀️😈🖤😅

I both loved and was terrified by him. A lot like Aubrey. 🤷🏼‍♀️

It was a mix of the 90s movies Fear and Cruel Intentions.

If I was just rating this on thrilling entertainment, it would be 5-star read. I was riveted.

But this is a romance, first and foremost… and I struggled a bit with that. There were times I both hated and adored Dare. And that’s not unusual for Sam’s heros. However, normally, by the end, I’m satisfied with how the MCs have negotiated their relationship. I feel good about their future. I believe in their HEA. But this time, I ended the book unsettled. I was concerned for Aubrey and her future happiness. It felt a little unfinished. I think this is due to how much of the book was spent where we weren’t totally sure what side Dare was on. And that’s fine and made the tension amazing. But we didn’t get enough time where we knew for sure that Dare really loved Aubrey, and Aubrey was with him because she loves him and not JUST because she’s terrified of him. It didn’t feel like Aubrey was getting her needs met. And normally I feel like Sam gives us that balance. Yes, the heroines are with difficult men that they have to trust and maybe they don’t get a lot choices in that, but they also get what they need from the relationship. And I think we were almost there, but not quite. It bothered me that Dare was so set on isolating Aubrey. He was a true antihero in that. I wanted to see a glimmer of softness there… I wanted to feel like he would make sure she had someone even if it wasn’t going to be Hannah (who I loved😍).


Bottom Line? I loved this book. It was quite the page turner. I was keyed up for hours after. Highly recommend. It was an amazing thriller, but at the end I wasn’t 100% sold on the romance part. So I’m going with 4-stars on this one. I hope to see more of this couple in future books.


⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️

- no cheating between MCs - the H has a girlfriend so at first it seems like he’s cheating on her… but not really

- no sharing

- dubcon

- OW drama - the H’s girlfriend is a homicidal sociopath

- no OM drama

- h is a virgin

- H is not a virgin

- condoms used and also not used - it is not discussed, but the h is aware and concerned, but is well aware she can’t make the H do anything he doesn’t want to do

- somnophilia - he drugs her and has sex with her (after they have established a consensual relationship… but it is without her knowledge)

- H is very rough with her - lots of manhandling and marking and bruising

Merged review:

The heroine was crass and sexually aggressive both with the H and in her own head. It’s not just an act. The H tried to get the h to give him a bj… and what does our badass h do? The one who was just daydreaming about how great it would be to suck cocks for a living?? She protests for .5 seconds, because she’s a “badass”… then leads him to her room to provide him some privacy to sexually assault her. 👀 say what?? What is this nonsense? 🥴 I’m good. Peace out. ✌🏻

[Beeg Panda]

Standalone enemies to lovers books:

📚BOOK: Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano Even if it Hurts
Blurb:
This is a standalone novel set in the Coastal Elite world. The story contains triggers and is intended only for a mature, adult audience. See the opening author's note for more explicit triggers, but know this is a very dangerous relationship with a very dark hero.
He could have been my hero.
He saved my life that night, a beautiful dark angel slicing through my fear and the water, dragging me from its deadly clutches.
He should have been my hero.
I thought maybe he was.
Villains aren’t supposed to win, and good should always conquer evil, but in the elite coastal town I live in, the only purpose a label has is letting you know what something—or someone—costs. Good, bad; it’s all relative, and it hardly matters. Baymont, California is a land of beautiful villains and happy-ever-afters that are just out of reach.
Especially for me.
Until Dare moves the world beneath my feet, and even though I’m afraid to trust it—to trust him—boy, am I tempted.
In more ways than one.
Being with Dare is scary, but being without him is impossible.
He makes it impossible.
Dare’s no hero, that much is clear, but maybe…
Maybe he’s mine.
🌱My thoughts:
02/05/22 🖤💔He’s fucking psycho. Just like she promised.
24/04/22🖤💔I’m probably not ready for Dare.
On good authority:
✅we’ll catch up with them in future books
✅there’ll be no cheating between this Hxh
✅he literally IS a psychopath
✅Hannah and Aubrey will NEVER be in competition with each other. Never.


📚BOOK: Blacklist by Angel Dawson
Blurb:
I thought I had everything under control. Turns out everyone was controlling me. I did everything right. I had the right clothes, the perfect hair, stellar social connections, and most of all, I had him, Royer Atkinson, president of the Zeta Zig fraternity. All of this was part of my plan to get into the best sorority at Whittmore University. Except my life imploded and the unthinkable happened, I wasn’t just rejected. I’m blacklisted. And the person that set it up? My not-so-perfect-boyfriend. I have two options: run away or I can get my revenge by posing as a male and infiltrating Royer’s fraternity rush to get enough evidence of hazing to burn them to the ground.
🌱My thoughts:
Went in blind and realised 3/4 way through that its reverse harem (3 heroes)
Here I’m thinking she’s just a heroine who’s attracted to multiple guys.
4 guys, actually: 1 good guy I really like / 1 absolute not-in-a-good-way piece of shit / 1 looks-like-a -slacker but actually isn’t / the big sober one
Mostly telling instead of showing, mostly glossed over, not an in-depth satisfying read
HFN which I hope the author with finish in a future book
The heroine isn’t my favorite: Weak, makes stupid decisions, perhaps her character shows growth but it’s too fast to be believable




📚BOOK: Obsession by Gemma Weir
My thoughts so far:
He's no Travis Maddox.
I cant see any basis for his obsession.
He doesn't know her as a person.
She fights him every step of the way only because he's this weirdo comes out of nowhere and declares her as his. She doesn't even know him. He's just another guy she's seen around.
In OTT hero reads, there's this line between the best kind of alpha obsessive possessiveness and whacked-in-the-head-wanna-be-alphas .
He's the whacked in the head one.
Like wayyyy over that line.
It started well and I settled down to read my next best OTT hero.
Next thing I know he's the weirdo caveman. MOST unattractive.
Of course when he seems to be pulling away that's when her overloaded ovaries take over.
I stopped there because she was playing into his hands and confirming what he thought all along: that she was as into him as he was to her.
I will admit that so far he doesn't change from being a dick to being Mr Nice Guy.
At least he's consistent.
I'll catch up with them if the rest of the cast get their own books.
🚨Heed the trigger warning from the author
🚨She's not exaggerating. Not by a long shot.
🖤He wants his little bird, I’ll give him a fucking flamingo.
🖤 I’m being carried in Sebastian’s arms. “I want to go home,” I mumble sleepily. “I am your home.”
🖤I want to be her north, but she’s the needle on the compass, without her, all directions are meaningless.


NTS
See private notes below
Neaten reviews

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'll try to read this entire book, so hopefully, I'll remember to keep updating this review.

1. falling for catastrophe- Michelle Hercules
she's new at this school and for some reason the first guy she meets hates her. Jason knows Isabelle's secret and he'll make her work in exchange for keeping her secret.
i love seeing hate turn to love, but i hated that the first time they had sex she was sick, is just a no for me.

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even If IT Hurts by SM. DNF (but that’s just one of the stories In this book)
Writing was excellent but it had my pet peeve so dnf.
Plain Jane h paired with a super rich, super gorgeous guy.
They’re seniors in high school.
He’s the most popular guy in school dating the super beautiful queen b.
The h was invisible girl to him, she almost dies and he saves her.
She’s known about him for years but he didn’t even know her name. Even though they have a class together he didn’t notice her. 🙄
And he had a gf, but he’s not cheating , since his evil gf asked him to fuck the h to get back at her, and yea, that’s the reason he goes after the h.🙄

DNF cause I hate wasting my time reading about everyday, boring people.

Merged review:

DNF half way. It’s me, nothing wrong with the book. Nothing seems to keep my attention lately.


Plot:
Her mom is his dads mistress.
His poor mom still lives in the same house with his dad, and she’s a nice lady too 😟..
The pissed off H bully’s the h because of this situation, even making her give him sexual favors like blow jobs. He blackmailed her. Non con, dub con.



What I liked:
💕The 18yr old h is not a virgin or a boring prude.
In fact, she acts like a human. She doesn’t feel shame for feeling desire for cute guys, even if he’s not the H. See, like a normal girl -gasp.🤷🏻‍♀️
She slept with 1 other boy a year before, and she had a good sexual relationship with this guy.
I liked that she dressed for herself, and that she was confident.
I liked that she was good in bed.
I liked how sexy she seemed because she was so confident.
And I liked that she seemed well matched in the bedroom at least with the H.
The h wasn’t a doormat.


What I didn’t like:
Her wearing black lipstick, gross🤮..but again, I did like how she dressed for herself and didn’t care what others thought.
The girl is kickass, but she was also a bitch. Even to decent people.
I love me some kickass, strong female, but if she turns into a raging bitch, she’s no longer a kickass girl but a bitch.


When she turned into a bitch for me, that’s when I decided to move on to another book.🤷🏻‍♀️

I really liked reading about a real human female for once, and not an annoying fake, plastic girl who only feels desire for the H.🙄


More authors need to quit with all the sexist shit.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like that this anthology had full length novels, instead of short teasers, the way that a lot of anthologies do. I won’t review all the books in it, otherwise this would be WAY too long. Plus, I already reviewed Obsession and Even if it Hurts on their own Goodreads pages. But, here’s a review for Angel Lawson's story, which confirms to me that Dukes of Ruin is STILL the only book of hers that I've liked, and she should stick to that world.

"Blacklisted" by Angel Lawson – 2 stars

This one feels like Angel Lawson was just like, “People like my RH books that have fraternities and dubious consent, so I’ll just give them another. But, I’m busy writing the next book in the Lords/ Dukes world, and so, I don’t have time to do character development or create a story that makes sense for a new one – hopefully they’ll eat it up, anyway!”

This story has a lot of the ingredients that her Lords of Pain and Dukes of Ruin books have. But, it’s much more undercooked and it makes even LESS sense – which is impressive, since those books make very little sense in the first place! In this, the heroine is starting college and she wants to get into a sorority. She ends up getting blacklisted and rejected, sabotaged by her evil boyfriend, who’s the head of a frat. She’s planning to drop out of this school, since her social life is ruined…when a random guy approaches her and convinces her to pretend to be a boy to join her ex-boyfriend’s fraternity (for the purpose of exposing their hazing, getting them disbanded from their college, and getting revenge). Sure. Okay.

She agrees to do this, because why not let a random guy convince you to do an insane plan! Then, she proceeds to do a “She’s the Man” type undercover operation, and go through a bunch of terrible hazing shit that these frat guys make her do, while pretending to be a boy.

This book does NOT provide enough background information about the heroine for us to understand WHY she’s going along with this batshit crazy plan. She’s putting herself through hell, since the frat guys are doing messed-up things to her, and we have NO idea why. Revenge on her ex boyfriend isn’t enough of a reason. At least in the Lords of Pain and Dukes of Ruin books, Story had the reason of trying to escape a literal psycho killer in Lords of Pain, and Lavinia has the reason of being trapped in that situation and literally forced into it, in Dukes of Ruin. In this book, the heroine is not trapped, she COULD just leave if she wants to and be fine! And her reason of getting revenge on her ex is way too tame to justify putting herself through all this.

It’s also the most half-assed RH that I’ve ever read, since she only gets a developed relationship with 1 of the guys. The other 2 are tacked on towards the end after spending very little page time with her, just to make this book an RH. And, even though she’s pretending to be a boy, she doesn’t even make any of the guys have a bisexual identity crisis - since they figure out early on that she’s a girl. Wasted potential!

There’s also a “twist” at the end that doesn’t make any sense. So, this is a nonsensical book about college frats…but it’s not nonsense in a FUN way like Dukes of Ruin, it’s just weird and frustrating. Angel Lawson should stick to her Dukes.

[Kim BookJunkie ~ Editor & Proofreader]

EVEN IF IT HURTS (COASTAL ELITES #0.5) by Sam Mariano

[Brianna - Mindfulnessreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden Deviant Games - Lucy Smoke
Sick Boys Origin Story
4 stars!
“The best girls - the ones that drive you crazy and you know are going to end up being the death of you - are usually the ones that hate you at first too.”

When I first found out we were getting Viks’s story, I was freaking ecstatic. I was so curious about him from the Sick Boys series that I wanted more, and Lucy certainly gave us more! And its of his backstory. The origin story for the Sick Boys.

Viks- ugh, that man. He’s a total alpha and completely possessive. So much so, after Haley, who could hardly stand Viks and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, got hurt, he forced her to move into his apartment. And share the bed. Their attraction towards each other was instant, but they kept fighting it. And you could only fight something like they have for so long.

My gosh were they hot! That scene in the morning after- hello. But I love how sensual he is towards her throughout the whole story. There was definitely way more than lust from the start, and I think especially for Viks. There was a moment where I had some doubts about communication, but I was completely surprised when they both were on the same team about the plan that was happening. Being with Viks attracts danger, but Haley didn’t shy away from that.

I had a small issue with the back and forth of the “I’m not yours”, especially with the last two chapters, but overall this story was fun to read. I was obsessed with the plot of the forced proximity and I loved how this felt like a part of the Sick Boys series. There were small elements of suspense that kept me addicted to reading the pages. This is a fast, insta-love/lust paced romance and if you wanna see 16 year old Dean, then read this now.

[Athena Que Será, Será · Rating 3 out of 5]

1# Falling for Catastrophe: Michelle Hercules
h is in hiding from her abusive ex-boyfriend who tried to kill her when she meets the H in her new School. The H hates h and later on falls for her. The H kills her ex when he attacks her. Overall, it was a good read.
Tags: HS setting, E to L, possessive H, ow/om drama, damaged h
Rating: 4/5

2# Forbidden Deviant Games: Lucy Smoke
h works for the H and she hates him. H works for the Mafia. Evil om attacks h, H kills him and saves her. It was an ok read.
Tags: Boss-employee rom, Mafia, om drama, caveman, dirty talking.
Rating: 3/5

3# Blacklisted: Angel Lawson
Gosh! I regret reading this. I hated this book. The h was totally unlikable. I don't know what this stupid book was; was it RH or wannabe RH or something else so, I decide to place it under "Regret" with a big R.
So, the h was betrayed by her cheating boyfriend and his fuck buddy and Blacklisted from coming back into some stupid frat house. Oh! Btw before I forget, the h was blackmailed by the so-called H into blowing him for keeping her stupid secret (and later on he betrays her too). So basically the h and her boyfriend cheated on each other. The h is so dense that she pines over her ex-boyfriend even after he shamefully betrays her in front of everyone.
The h gets revenge on her ex-boyfriend and the ow by going undercover as a boy and infiltrating their frat house to bring hazing and other illegal activities to light. She's helped by the H (who was her ex's best friend) and his friend and another guy. And all of a sudden she wants a relationship with all 3 of em' without including any other woman and they agree. All this happens in the epilogue.
The story seems totally rushed and it didn't make much sense.
Tags: forced seduction, college R, bullying, ow/ om drama, unlikable h, cheating
Rating: 2/5

4# Even if it hurts: Sam Mariano
Ow and H (her boyfriend) bully the h just because they're psychos. The H develops feelings for the h. The h was weak and forgave the H for drugging and raping her, scheming with the ow and threatening to abuse her best friend amongst other evil things. Maybe the h didn't have a choice because he was paying for her mom's treatment but still... There is NO cheating as it was the ow who wanted the H to sleep with the h and then later dump her (which he didn't btw).
Tags: Bully/ hero rapist/ possessive/ alpha/ ow drama/ HS/ drug usage/ cruel H/Dark R heroine is ow/ unlikable h/ weak h/ no grovel/ Psychos in love/ rich H poor h/ virgin h
Rating: 4/5

5# Broken Brutal Hearts: Eva Chance
The h and the Hs (3 brothers) split up when they were teenagers because of a misunderstanding created by the Hs' stepmother. The h kills their evil stepmom and they reunite.
Tags: RH/ h widow
Rating: 3/5

6# Obsession: Gemma Weir
HS/ College/ Psychos in love/ forced seduction/ obsession/ mean girls/ alpha/ caveman/ dirty talking/ h leaves/ no groveling/ rich H poor h/ strong h/ virgin h/ forced seduction
Rating: 4/5

7# Toxic Hearts: Emma Darcy and May Sage
Tags: forced seduction/ possessive H/ rich H/ bully/ HS/ om drama
Rating: 3/5

8# Bad Blood: Faith Summers
Tags: HS/ e to l/ drug usage/ damaged h/ bully/ ow drama
Rating: 3/5

9# Ruined: Charlene Raquel
Tags: college R/ boring/ waste of time
Rating: 1/5

10# Allure: Lexi Archer
Tags: college R/ boring/ waste of time
Rating: 1/5

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

[Hey Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review for Gemma weirs obsession in this anthology

I loved eeetttt! I don't come across ott JP (over the top jealous/possessive) men like this. It was a believable H, great writing and story. There were little grammar errors but it didn't take away from this story.

He does something to the shampoo bottle. I repeat! He. Does. Something. To. The. Shampoo. Bottle! And then he sighs happily and walks away 😂😂😂😂😂 bruh! You cray! And I love it 😈

Only con is I wish there was a wedding or marriage where he just puts the ring on her finger and tells her he's gonna knock her up 😂😂😂😈 maybe its cummmming later 🤷🤔😉

[Ziezie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I haven’t finished this anthology but I’ve read three stories
Even when it hurts by Sam Mariano (Dare & Aubrey)
Obsession by Gemma Weir (Sebastian & Starling)
And
Toxic Hearts by May Sage / Emm Darcy (Chase & Erica)

It’s not surprisingly that I love all three books coz they have OTT crazy bat shit possessive obsessive rich alpha holes with a she’s mine mine mine mentality! Love the heroines too.
Sam Mariano wasn’t kidding when she said her male MC is a villainous psychopath and he sure is!!! I love Dare but if he ever escapes from his book and appear before me, I’ll run away screaming 🤣.

Sebastian can be a bit psycho too. I think Chase is relatively normal compared to the other two but they do share a lot of the same tendencies especially “you can’t leave me or else I’ll lock you in a tower forever” yikes!! But of course I devoured all three books happily!!

I can’t wait to revisit Dare & Aubrey coz I know their story isn’t finished yet.

[Kathyjacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Obsession by Gemma Weir

I loved Sebastian! He was obsessed with Starling. I loved all of the Elite. The way they helped him stalk her and tried to help him keep her. The fact that these boys became marshmallows for Starling in the end. Sebastian was manipulative, stalkerish, obsessed, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I loved every second of his crazy. Starling, not so much. She annoyed me. She was over dramatic and whiny and stuck it out until the last couple of pages. They fought so hard for their HEA but she stayed stubborn until the last couple of pages. I would have loved to see a bit more of them together happy. An epilogue would have been awesome. The book touched on breeding but never got there . An extended epilogue that includes that would be amazing and we would he forever grateful , hint hint hint . If you love ott alphas this is the read for you. If you don’t like stalking , tracking, obsessed, over the top heroes then steer clear of Sebastian. I for one loved him and he has moved to the top of my book boyfriends list!

[Darkreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if it hurts by Sam Mariano

Even if it Hurts is Sam Mariano's story to be featured in the Filthy Elites anthology. This is a high school bully romance, but that description doesn't really do this book justice. To me, Even if it Hurts read like a cross between a new adult bully romance and a psychological thriller. Ms. Mariano warns that Dare isn't for the faint of heart and I would take these warnings seriously. If you had a hard time dealing with Carter in Untouchable, you might want to back away slowly because you won't be able to hang with Dare. This character is in no way safe or, arguably, sane. But I was here for every depraved moment of it!
When Aubrey, who is barely treading water trying to juggle high school with taking care of her terminally ill mom, finds herself at odds with the school's queen bee Anae, Anae's boyfriend turns into her unlikely savior. But is he, really? Dare definitely snuck up on me just as much as he did on Aubrey. Sure, I read the warnings and saw the writing on the wall. And yet, I was lamost lulled into a false sense of security. If you are familiar with this author's work, you know what her "heroes" are like. But Dare, he is something else entirely. While Aubrey might be uniquely suited to survive his brand of love, she certainly doesn't stand a chance when it comes to his manipulative tactics and complete disregard of any boundaries.
There's a lot that goes on in this book. without giving spoilers, I will say that it's not quite the typical romance in its progression. While we get Dare's POV, it's brilliantly crafted to give us just a glimpse and yet not give much away, so that we're just as much in the dark as Aubrey. It's quite a roller coaster ride and I enjoyed every minute of it! My only slight complaint is that I wanted more of an epilogue taking us a bit further into the couple's future. Aside from that, this one is a must read for those who enjoy the darker side of romance where the villain gets the girl.

Merged review:

Emm Darcy is a new to me author and Toxic Hearts is her contribution to the Filthy Elites Anthology. I really enjoyed this bully romance. Erica is the daughter of Chase's father's mistress who recently moved from the wrong side of the tracks to a house on Chase's family property and to his high school. After walking in on his father and Erica's mother in a compromising position, Chase is understandably upset and hurt on his mothers behalf. Of course he endeavours to make Erica's life hell, as one does in that kind of situation. Erica, however, isn't prepared to take this lying down. While I wasn't quite sure about Erica at the start because she appeared too abrasive and, perhaps, a bit too experienced, I grew to like her and all isn't quite what it initially seems with her as well. Turns out she only had one partner before the hero and there's a lot of drama with an ex "friend". Chase is the popular football player with the requisite posse and entitlement to match. There's a lot of chemistry between these two and I liked the fact that Erica acknowledged her attraction to Chase despite otherwise despising him at first. I liked that Chase would protect Erica from everyone but himself and, while he made her an outcast at the school, it seemed that he was the only one really doing any bullying. When new information about the parents' relationship comes to light, Chase is free to fully indulge in his obsession, but is Erica going to get on board? Will he care either way? I enjoyed the "you will be mine whether you like it or not" scenario and the way it was handled much better than another book in the same anthology. I felt the chemistry and the growing feelings. Chase wasn't a tantruming baby despite being willing to do whatever it took to get his way. The ending was a bit rushed and I would have liked an epilogue, but, overall, while this wasn't as dark as some other books in the anthology, this was a winner for me!

[Tabatha Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I’ve only read two stories from this anthology. Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano (the reason I bought this!) and Obsession by Gemma Weir. Both would be worth buying the anthology even if they were the only one you read.

Even If It Hurts is straight up 5 stars, honestly I’d give it all the stars. I waited up for this pre-order to drop at midnight and read straight through til nearly 4 am. I’m an ardent Sam Mariano fan, she hooked me instantly with Untouchable and I’ve been falling for her brand of anti hero ever since.

Sam has never let me down and I trust the journey but I was squirming at points in Dare’s story. Strangely, not the parts I think I was supposed to though. Dare is a straight up villain. No redeeming qualities. He’s intense and scary and absolutely ruthless. He might be the exact definition of depraved. The darker and more unhinged Dare became the more I liked him *lol*. I’m a little afraid of what that says about me lol. Seriously though, the situation in the beginning is prickly and I was on the edge of my seat reading until I grasped Dare’s intentions.

Definitely don’t skip past Sam’s note in the beginning. She won’t lead you astray. As I read through the story her vision became more and more clear. This has strong Cruel Intentions vibes in the best way.

Medium burn, being in an anthology it’s a guesstimate of exactly how far in they get intimate but I’d say it’s near 50%, maybe a little past it.

As I mentioned before there were prickly, uncomfortable parts for me early in the story but Dare NEVER cheats on or betrays h, despite appearances to suggest otherwise. The set up here is unconventional- very Dangerous Liasions/Cruel Intentions-esque situation. Trust Sam though. Her Hs don’t cheat.

There definitely triggers here, dub con for certain, somnophilia, this felt less non con than some other books but also with the somnophilia there are definitely blurred lines. There are probably others. I’m tired though lol.


Ok, now Obsession by Gemma Weir, this was 4.5 stars for me.

She’s great at writing obsessed, possessive cavemen Hs. Sebastian is definitely one. He steamrolls into h’s life with all the grace and subtlety as a bull in a china shop. It was thoroughly entertaining to read.

I pulled a half star though because I feel like the author almost wrote herself into a corner with h’s extreme resistance to H. She then had to figure out how to write herself out if it. I like resistant heroines. I love an h with backbone and this girl had more than most. On one hand, I loved that she wouldn’t just fall at Hs feet, on the other I was more than ready for H/h to stop conflicting and start building a relationship much earlier than we got it.

Clearly doormat heroines are easier to write because they get over Hs bulldozing ways quicker. As a reader it’s sometimes frustrating to see hs give in so easily. What would have made this 5 stars for me is to have had h be less combative and more drawn to H than she wanted be and slowly fall for his charms. I don’t mean body betrayal syndrome either. I mean H desperately working to win h over and her really struggling with his methods but having conflicted softer feelings for the man.

Overall though it’s a great read. I’d have preferred a little more finesse from H in the beginning and a little less combat from h but still a thoroughly entertaining, amazing read.


Note there is no cheating between H/h here either. He’s completely faithful to her even when she’s actively evading/hating him and at one point he even appears to date a former friend but he never touches her or anyone else.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviews are listed in the order read, not the order in the anthology.
Average rating 3.55

Even if it Hurts, by Sam Mariano. (KU) 4.5 stars
26-44%, 650-1063 pgs.
This book was everything! The perfect amount of drama and steam and intrigue. It also covered just about every one of my favorite tropes, including a kidnapping, somnophelia (possibly some of the best scenes I've ever read!), crazy OTT J/P H, and a realistic reaction type heroine. If I had to come up with something negative, or to list what is taking that last star (half star) away, it would be that I'm not sure that I felt the love between these two by the end. It was there in bits and pieces earlier in the book, but after a certain point, I'm not sure that I believed it anymore. BUT, I'm not entirely sure that I care. The rest of the story was good enough that I don't care about the romance IN A ROMANCE book. I highly recommend this one, if you're into darkness, but take heed of the TW if you need to.

Obsession, by Gemma Weir. (KU) 4 stars
53-67%, 1278-1612 pgs.
I enjoyed the crazy OTT J/P Hero in this one, and the basically criminal things that he did for his love. I felt like the reactions that Starling had were fairly realistic as far as what any normal woman would do, but at the same time, it sort of turned me off her as the heroine. I think I need her to be less 'real' and more like a fictional character and just 'accept' that he is a psycho and embrace it! But I enjoyed their story, and would love to see the other guys get to live out their own love-lives, without the arrangements being set up for them.
The biggest turn offs for me here, were the 2.5 year time-jump, the minor inconsistencies with the plot, and the lack of resolution that we got regarding Courtney. I needed some serious revenge to happen there, and it never happened, she just faded into the background, even after the guys learned that she had threatened Starling, and after Starling learned that she was just a pawn the whole time. But even with all of that, I enjoyed the read.

Forbidden Deviant Games, by Lucy Smoke. (KU) 3 stars
10-18%, 239-423 pgs.
This may have been my most anticipated story of the Filthy Elites anthology, as I've already read the first three books of the Sick Boys series (Dean & Ava's story) but it has been my least favorite so far. There wasn't really anything wrong with the story, it was actually pretty action packed and steamy, but I never got excited about it, or really bought into anything more than instalust between the two main characters.

Falling for Catastrophe, by Michelle Hercules. (KU) 3.5 stars
1-10%, 14-235 pgs.
For most of this book, I was going to be rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4, but the last few chapters wrapped things up a bit too quickly and tidily for me, making the plot seem implausible and the story fall flat. Up until that point, I was thoroughly enjoying it all and was into the characters and their love.

Broken Brutal Hearts, by Eva Chance. (Library, not KU) Not Rated, DNF @ 38%
44-53%, 1066-1275 pgs. Nothing really wrong with this one, I am just too bored to continue.

Toxic Hearts, by May Sage/Emm Darcy. (KU) 4 stars
67-74%, 1616-1798 pgs. This was exactly the type of book that I needed to read right now. It met my darkness needs, and kind of pulled me out of my latest slump. I would have loved for the story to be longer, however it didn't need to be. Any extra would have been just so that I could keep living in their world. I would have loved to see how the college years went. I'm hoping that we get to see these characters again, through the other Founding Families kids' stories. Read in KU after the standalone was released.

Bad Blood, by Faith Summers. (KU) 3.5 stars
75-81%, 1800-1963 pgs. I quite enjoyed this Enemies to Lovers story. It was short, initially in the Filthy Elites anthology, but it felt complete. The Enemies bit stayed for most of the book, which I appreciate, even though they ended up together fairly quickly. The only thing that I didn't love was how quickly things wrapped up. There wasn't a satisfying resolution, in my opinion, for some of the things that happened to Billie, and while Chad appeared mad, he never showed us he was mad, by retaliating, as any good mafia kid would do for his love.

Allure, by Lexi Archer. (KU) 2.5 stars
90-100%, 2167-2430 pgs.
This was supposed to be a bullyish enemies to lovers book, but I never understood why there was animosity between Declan and Brooke. Towards the end, it seemed more like it was all in her head, and she just made it all more than it really was. I never felt that connection, even though Brooke was really feeling it. The side story, the one about the mugger, was more of a story than their “love” but I’m not sure that I was really interested in that either. Add in all of the errors throughout, and this one was a miss for me.

Blacklisted, by Angel Lawson. (KU) 4.5 stars
18-26%, 425-647 pgs.
This one ties with even If It Hurts as my favorite from the Filthy Elites anthology. For me, this one was all about the revenge and thriller tension. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book, that gripping sensation in my stomach, waiting for everything to come tumbling down, and not knowing if it would be the plot or the frat. It has been a good long time since a book has torn me up this much, and especially because it wasn’t the romance or smut that was doing it. The only think keeping me from giving it 5 stars was the ending. I love a good RH (this is definitely more Why Chose than RH), and should have seen it coming based on the author, but I think the romance in the story would have worked better had she just picked a single person to be with.

Ruined, by Charlene Raquel. (no standalone) 2.5 stars
81-89%, 1966-2164 pgs.
I didn’t like the writing in this one. It kind of felt juvenile or maybe amateurish. And this story was clearly part of an ongoing series, as it felt like being dropped into the middle of a world that I knew nothing about. And while this story is about a new couple, they seem like integral parts of whatever the previous couple went through. As far as Adrian and Kelsey’s love story, it was a classic Enemies to Lovers, they wanted each other but didn’t want to want each other. Until they did, and then their story became sweet, with the thriller still going on in the background. Overall, it was okay, but not my favorite.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing 2 books from this Anthology:

📚Even If It Hurts By Sam Mariano 📚

I want to start by saying I am a huge Sam Mariano fan and Untouchable is one of my favourite Re-reads.

The more I thought about it the more this story never felt like romance to me. Don't get me wrong it keeps you at the edge of your seat and you can't put it down but I never felt love between Aubrey and Dare.

Dare never seemed to truly love Aubrey to me, he just liked that he could control her entire life and she would let him without ever even arguing with him, forget a fight.
He did things that hurt her. He didn't avenge her or protect her feelings. His wants always trumped hers. By the end of the book Aubrey felt more like his thing. His object rather than his girlfriend. And I love dark/toxic/controlling Heros and I did love Dare.. it was Aubrey who I didn't like.

Aubrey was for lack of a better word, a true doormat. Sam's heroine have a theme where they're usually innocent and naturally submissive which balances out the extreme dominance of her Heros but they usually have a certain hill they will die on. They have a boundary and they find their confidence in the relationship but Aubrey felt like a puppet not a person. She would have internal dialogue and never follow through. She never truly objected to anything. She would just take it. I don't think she ever loved Dare either I think she liked the comfortable life he could give her and feared him.
Sadly Aubrey gave me major domestically @bused wife energy. I've never felt so sad for a Sam Mariano heroine before Aubrey. I feel nothing but deep sadness and pity for her. She has no life of her own. She is truly and utterly owned and what she wants or needs never matters and she's accepted it.

Overall, I loved the suspense and tension and I even enjoyed Dare's manipulation but this story was missing romance for me. It was missing love. To me this relationship to dare was about Control and ownership and to Aubrey is was safety and security.. but love? I never felt it not even for a millisecond.

🌟 🌟 🌟.5



📚 Obsession by Gemma Weir 📚

Damn. Okay, I'll start off by Saying I was so here for Sebastians brand of crazy. He is literally what this title says, he's so obsessed with Starling that his Obsession takes over his whole life..
This book was STEAMY AFFF! I enjoyed the plot and I loved the brotherhood between Evan, Hunter, Clay and Sebastian. I really hope the other guys get books too.

I loved how spaced out the time was. How it followed them from high school to college . Sadly the only thing I didn't LOVE about this book was the heroine.
Don't get me wrong I NEED my heroine to be strong and can't stand doormat heroines and Starling was strong, she was also slightly annoying. Ugh I hate saying this because I truly do love Gemma Weir and her storytelling but I felt like she wrote herself into a corner with Starling because she was so freaking stubborn and by the time she came around the book ended. I would've liked to see them together being romantic NOT fighting even for the epilogue.

Overall Sebastian is my boo and I highly recommend this book ❤️

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟.5

[Tiffany S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading it out of order

Even If it Hurts by Sam Mariano,
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
so dark. So good. Dare is literally a psycho. It’s the bad guy winning. He never is even a little bit good. Maybe to Aubrey and her mom, but that’s it. and not even all the time to Aubrey. Yikes!! I saw someone comment they don’t understand how they really fell in love, but they didn’t fall in love. It wasn’t romance. It was toxic. She was seduced into loving him and hes just obsessed with her.

Falling for Catastrophe by Michelle Hercules
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very high school

Forbidden Deviant Games by Lucy Smoke
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ it’s very action packed. Plot driven and not character driven. I thought the beginning was great. I liked that set up/ dynamic between the main characters. Disappointing that their first sex wasn’t hate sex. This is like a whole established world I think?

Black Listed by Angel Lawson
❄️
RH, sounds like a dark “she’s the man”? Idk if I’ll read this one. I have to really be in the mood for RH.

Broken Brutal Hearts by Eva Chance
❄️
Sounds like another RH, so skipping for now too

Obsession by Gemma Weir
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
How can bff, Courtney, 15, have her drivers license?? Hm?? (Someone commented the author is British; so I guess that’s how. Lol) this was ok. At times gave exactly what you’d expect it to give. When you read these “founding fathers rule the town everyone listens to only them” books you really have to suspend belief. It’s so twilight zone. I really never thought these two were gonna work it out. I liked the second half better than the first.

Toxic Hearts by May Sage and Emm Darcy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ I really liked this one! It was dark, very dub con, typical rich boy who steam rolls the girl into being with him. They had good chemistry, Believable interactions, and snarky banter. Totally going to check out more from this author!

Bad Blood by Faith Summers
⭐️⭐️⭐️ I almost wanted to dnf it. A Russian bratva boy named CHAD?! Lololol … after they make their transactional relationship deal i liked it more. Otherwise it really wasn’t for me.

Ruined by Charlene Raquel
⭐️⭐️ one of those mystery stories. Not really my thing.

Allure by Lexi Archer
⭐️⭐️

[Basak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano
Yep! She ruined me again! I have never been able to get over Untouchable and no villainous hero has ever come close to Carter until… Dare! He is the psycho I never knew I needed. He is unbelievably selfish, emotionally resonant, nefarious, cocky, and unhinged but he is also devoted to Aubrey to a fault, incredibly possessive and protective of her. His obsession knows no bounds. Though he always seems to have an ulterior motive, he always gives Aubrey what she wants/needs to make her happy at the end. Till death do us part is actually originated from him. Since I am a sucker for non-con/dub-con tropes, I found Dare and Aubrey’s chemistry earth-shattering and knee-buckling. I say trust the hype. Whatever Mariano puts out, it will always consume her fans and rightfully so. I am giddy about the upcoming Coastal Elite Series hoping to find more Carters and Dares to fall for. I hope the new book comes out sooner rather than later.

[_book_topia_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love it when I read an anthology and find a couple of fab reads!! There were 3 such reads in this bully anthology that did not disappoint.
First off, Toxic Hearts by Emm Darcy/May Sage was brilliant. A little non/dub con which I’m not a fan of unless it’s done right, and this one gets it really right!!
Then there was Lucy Smoke’s Forbidden Deviant Hearts, a smoking hot take on the bad boy/good girl alpha romance.
And finally was Angel Lawson’s Blacklisted, although the premise was good, there were some aspects that didn’t work for me. But I really dug Miller. Even though I really shouldn’t have.

See below for all the books and my reviews for each.

Falling For Catastrophe ~ Michelle Hercules
🚫 DNF

Forbidden Deviant Games ~ Lucy Smoke
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Viks is freaking hot as sin.

Haley is a kick ass stubborn as hell female character that I adored.

The plot was a good one.

The sex is insanely hot.

The two things I hated was Viks’ nickname “Haley girl” - ugh and the lack of background for both Haley and Viks. I r we Lily wanted a bit more about them.

Haley works for Viks. At club Outsider. Viks works for Nicholas Carter, who’s not to be messed with. There’s anew drug being introduced into Carter’s clubs and also on the university campus that Haley attends. Haley hates Viks. Viks loves to irritate Haley. When Haley is attacked, Viks steps in to keep her safe and the results are bloody fireworks !!

Blacklisted ~ Angel Lawson
⭐️⭐️

I liked Miller in a weird f**ked up way.

The end.

In all seriousness. This ones about a fraternity that hazes and whilst doing so commits some pretty despicable acts. Royer being the worst of the bunch followed by Rat.

I really liked Miller even if he has had some part in the disgusting things his frat entertains. But that’s what you want from an author, you want them to make you love the villain. And Miller is exactly that. A villain. Make no mistake about it.

Reagan was as superficial as they come, and she reeked of desperation at every point in this book.

I wasn’t keen on the whole Knox aspect. I could deal with him watching but not the sharing. Miller doesn’t come across as someone that likes to share.

I hated the ending, it wasn’t a hea I wanted to see, but I’m sure others will love it.

Even If It Hurts ~ Sam Mariano
⭐️

I didn’t realise when reading this as part of the Filthy Elites Anthology that it was the same author that wrote Untouchable. Numerous times I’ve picked that book hoping to see what other reviewers see when they rave about it, but I can never get past the fact that the heroine falls for the guy that practically rapes her at the beginning of the book.

Anyway I went into this one blind, I really wish I hadn’t. Yet another book with non-con littered throughout, and downright abuse. No one could genuinely fall for Dare.

This one left a bad taste in my mouth, and there’s really no hea, all you’re left with is concern for Aubrey and her future with someone who is an actual psychopath.

Broken Brutal Hearts ~ Eva Chance
🚫DNF

Reverse Harem / Revenge \ Mafia

Obsession ~ Gemma Weir
⭐️

Sebastian was an absolute fruit loop.

Possessive, in the least sexy or romantic way I’ve ever read. I mean he puts a tracking device in her neck for petes sake!!

The one saving grace is that the h does leave to be with her dad who is the only person Sebastian doesn’t manipulate. But yet she still comes back again 🤷🏽‍♀️

Anyway instead of coming out looking like a protective alpha that made me swoon. Sebastian made me want to run as fast as I could through a dark forest, alone.

Not much more to say other than it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Toxic Hearts ~ May Sage / Emma Darcy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh god I really enjoyed this one.

I’m not normally a fan of dub-con/non-con but Chase Archer’s kind of f**ked up had me giggling. He’s an absolute nut job, but a funny one at that. There’s a scene that’s a little uncomfortable so if you really don’t like the whole non/dub con this ones not for you. But it really worked here.

You know what else I loved ?? Erica, her badass and couldn’t give a shit attitude was perfect to balance Chase and his entitled prick routine.

The story had some aspects to it that were a bit out there, but I’m presuming it’s to set the scene for Cam’s book. But I literally couldn’t get enough of it.

I’ve now added Cam’s book to my tbr, it’s meant to be darker than this one, and also another by the author that’s in the same light hearted tone as this one.

One of those rare finds you get when reading an anthology and I’m so happy I did!!

Bad Blood ~ Faith Summers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

God yes!! Just give me more Chad & Billie.

Chad is an asshole Bratva Heir. His father has no time for him, so he spends his time drinking and doing drugs.
Billie Fairchild is the girl whose father ruined Chad’s life, and now he’s going to make her pay.

Chad is filthy and I’m here for it. The things he makes Billie do - phew 🥵

Billie was a cool character, my one gripe is that for someone who had been through what she had at such a young age, I think she’d be a little less enthusiastic when it came to certain things she did.

Ruined ~ Charlene Raquel
🚫 DNF

Third person. Could not get past the first chapter.

Allure ~ Lexi Archer
🚫DNF

Very slow moving. Declan didn’t make me swoon at all. This was a weird one. I couldn’t get into it at all.

[SP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if it Hurts- Sam Mariano 4.5 to 4…

I have so much to say about this story. I will collect my thoughts this weekend and post a full review.


Obsession Gemma Weir

Okay starting this one next.

[Donna Bossert · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG each book is better then the last!!
LOVE all these authors!!

[Corina Ciobanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story 🥰 ( Falling for Catastrophe by Michelle Hercules )

I was so excited to read this book because for be was the very first review copy from the author

I must admit I’m a fan of bully romance and this was a very beautiful one.

The story flows and you never get bored. I was hooked from the prologue and the mystery behind Nicola/Isabelle past.

Nicola/Isabelle is a sweet character that had the unfortunate luck to have met the wrong person and with that she’s forced to change her whole life. I love that she’s not a week character, she’s passionate, talented, compassionate, friendly - very girly girl 🥰

Jason - he’s our bully high school alpha that comes from the richest family in town, but he has a beautiful heart and he’s there for her exactly when she needs him to be.
Overall they’re very well written and very mature for their age.

Personally I loved the story and definitely looking forward to be reading Finn’s story further on

Thank you Michelle for this beautiful story ❤️

[Juju · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Obsession by G. Weir. - 3/5 stars
Not bad. I liked the obsessive hero Bastian. Supporting characters were ok. Heroine I didn't go much on, she got quite annoying and repetitive. The hero reminded me of Pepi Le Pew, he just would not give up on his obsession. He was mad about Starling. I didn't like how the heroine realised she loved him in the final chapter, after spending 98% of the book expressing her loathing of him.

Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano. 2/5 stars
Hero: Dare
Heroine: Aubrey.
Dissapointed with this one, as I've loved Sams books. To be fair I did skim some parts. What ruined it for me? Hannah (Aubrey's friend), and the tension between the hero and her, some of which were sexual (breath/touch, and hero creepily taking her photo) and asking her to join them in there room at the end for some "fun". He tells Aubrey (the heroine) he's joking. Really!!! Anyway, Hannah features a lot in the book. The heroine, Aubrey was a weak character. Hero gave me Mateo vibes. I think Hannah features in the coastal series....so more Hannah {:O