Dare To Take

Churchill Bradley Academy #2

by L. Ann, Claire Marta

Arabella Gray
Studious. Good Girl. Liar.
I warned her. I told her I would break her if she stayed.
Who knew watching her shatter would taste so sweet?

Eli Travers
Outcast. Artist. Monster.
He vowed to make me pay—to ruin me.
Only now it's my own sin that will break me.

The monsters of Churchill Bradley Academy are stirring and deadly dangers haunt the halls.

In this new game of cat and mouse, secret lovers and sinful dares, will all innocence be lost?

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, High School, Romance, New Adult, Spicy

362 pages, ebook

First published February 15, 2023

About the author

If you are looking for gentle romps through the flowers, with lovers holding hands and never making mistakes, then my books are not for you.

I don't write heroes or heroines, I write people with baggage, history and problems. My characters are flawed, they're messy, they make disastrous mistakes that are hard to come back from. My stories are not sweet or kind, they are dark and, at times, cruel. They deal with uncomfortable subjects and I do not apologise for it.


If you like plot twists, characters you don't think you'll ever grow to love but eventually do, sarcasm, dark paths and messy relationships, then come on in. The water may be deep and shark-infested, but I know the way out ...I promise.

You can find L. Ann at the following locations:-

NEWSLETTER ➙https://lannauthor.com and get a FREE E-BOOK!

AMAZON -- https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B078...

FACEBOOK -- https://www.facebook.com/LAnnAuthor/

READER FB GROUP -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/lanns... - join her Reader Group on Facebook and be in with a chance to pick up ARCs and swag before anyone else.

BOOKBUB -- https://www.bookbub.com/profile/l-ann

INSTAGRAM -- https://www.instagram.com/lee_ann_aut...

TWITTER -- https://twitter.com/LeeAnn_Author

VIP Reader Group - https://clubdamnation.com

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books]

MY REVIEW AND OTHERS can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

ღ 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 ღ Is the second full length dark romance book within the 'Churchill Bradley Academy' series. Spoken in 'dual perspectives' by two new to me authors. HERO: Eli HEROINE: Arabella

Just be aware that these do have to be read in order. Even though it's pegged as dark for me I don't find them dark at all, but overall I still enjoyed this.

Well this was shamelessly inhaled, this picked up right where the previous book left off.

The authors switched up the angst even more in this one. The whole school is against her pitting her up against Eli, the heartbreak, the fear, all alone in a place she doesn’t belong. No one to lean on. Eli has ceased fire, he wants to get to the bottom of things.

The DARES are escalating, but they are from an unknown source, students are getting hurt. Arabella's at the end of her tether.

She still has no idea who Sin is!! So I'm keen to see what that little tidbit is revealed and how she reacts to that betrayal along with all the other betrayals.

And yet again we're faced with another cliffy, this one more brutal than the previous one, but usually where I’d be cursing the authors, there’s no waiting game to play with each book released. Win win..

 

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[Bridget]

ARC review:
What! OMFG! Noooooo! This. book. broke. me. 😫. I can't even put into words how this book effected me. The first half of this book I was living for interactions between Ari and Eli by the end of the book I was a sobbing mess. The third book can't come out soon enough. I'm going have a book hangover for sure!

[Lammie]

This book really amped up everything in this story 😰…. It was super intense 😬. As a reader I could barely endure what Arabella was going through and I just wanted to yell at her to just pack her bags and run.

Finally at the end there might be some light at the end of the tunnel as the boys are piecing together that there is someone else in play.

[Fantasy Book Review Kim]

If you thought you were prepared for the second book in the series, you were wrong. This bully romance takes it to another level.

Eli and Ari feed off each others hate. I love how the authors keep you on the edge the entire time. We get spice and anger that leave you wanting more and more.

I couldn’t get enough of the dynamic of these two. An outside person has set things in motion and I found myself yelling at Ari as she was maneuvered in this book. The book was suspenseful and anxiety inducing and I can’t wait to read more.

[Sarah Strawinski]

Wow! How much more can Ari and Eli take? I love this story so much and can’t wait for the next book. I’m still rooting for Eli and Ari really needs a soft blanket, warm cocoa and a long hug.

[Megan]

arabella my best girl she deserves the world i just wanna hug her :(

[Bene_reads_books]

I had to take a big breath at the end of that book. A breath that was on hold right at the beginning of that story.
I said that Dare to Break, the first book in the series, was a dance. Well, Dare to Take is a roller coaster.
L. Ann and Claire Marta played with my emotions while conducting that story at full speed.
A big breath, yes, I need a second big breath. And may be a third after that.

[Anastasija]

Is it normal to want to thank a cliffhanger and punch it in the face at the same time? 😅

"Dare to Take" is darker than book one, more intense and more triggering, so brace yourself. It was good, but I was also grateful when it ended, because I couldn't have taken another page of that intensity. Still, if that cliffhanger had a face... Very solid 4 stars (any higher and I'd get addicted, or people would start recommending a therapist 😄).🖤

[Amy M.]

Oh WOW! I can't get enough of this series! It's got that mystery to it but the fun times ((wink wink)) are FUN! I'm really excited to see what the next book has in store for Eli and Annabella. Hopefully, we are almost past all the misunderstandings and lack of communication. I'm ready for some retaliation!

[Karen Mc]

“Kiss me until I’m sick of it.”

The Churchill Bradley series continues to own every ounce of me. It’s one of the most addictive series I’ve ever read: invading my mind, burning my body, stealing my soul, and haunting my dreams. My lack of sleep two nights in a row from both stories in this enthralling series? Totally worth it.

Buckle up, readers! Dare to Take is darker and even more twisted than book one. The predator becomes the prey in this ultimate bully romance. The lines blur further between step-siblings, Eli and Arabella, as they break and burn. My heart shattered and soared for these strong soulmates, and I wanted revenge for both.

This book burns with fire, desire, and vengeance. I am in awe of this series that intoxicates at every turn. The twists and turns … the hot and cold … the cat and mouse games … the heady chemistry … oh my was I undone! I was wholeheartedly obsessed with Dare to Take, and can’t wait for more of this heart-stopping series! Sleep be damned.

💋💋💋💋💋💋 kitten kisses

➡️ https://amzn.to/41IYJU6

Reviewed on behalf of Bookalicious Babes Blog

[bookmommyy]

I FINISHED THIS BOOK IN 8 FUCKING HOURS. Oh my god this book hurt😭 The angst literally killed me and like i had to read i couldn’t put this down like this was so intense holy shit.

It literally hurt reading how people were treating arabella… like it fucking hurt. So bad. My hesry broke when she was forced to do all that shit to Eli and how much she hated herself for it and how scared she was and NO ONE noticed… at least until the end thank god.

Also how Eli & Arabella couldn’t be together HURT so mych because I LOVED THEM so much in this one, Th the beginning when they finally were briefly on good terms and etc oh my it was magic🤌

but yeah man this was so angsty i need to start the 3rd book asap im going to sleep for a bit. Ari deserves the biggest apology and I hate everyone in that school except eli & Kellan.

[Nicole A]

Dare To Take is book 2 of the Churchill Bradley Academy series. It is a bully academy romance.
Book 2 drops us right in the action. The characters are more despicable and the depraved nature that swirls around the academy is descending into chaos. Eli and Arabella are making all sorts of bad choices, each with horrible consequences. Their chemistry and attraction are so hot and their love/hate relationship is increasingly toxic.
The storyline is gripping and it’s keeping you on the edge of the seat, wondering what’s going to happen next. The plot twists are shocking and the emotions are running high.
Dare to Take ends in another spiralling cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read what happens next!!

[dany]

Este libro tiene que ser el más intenso en cuanto a sufrimiento de Arabella, porque gaaaaah, aquí es donde entra a juego el chantaje. Y la mala comunicación, inseguridad, etc, así que fue un lectura algo frustrante porque muchas cosas se pudieron evitar pero tiene lógica, no es como que Arabella sepa que Eli & Sin son una sola persona, ayñ, me partía el corazón cuando Arabella se desahogaba con Sin así él no le contestara 🥺. El bullying de parte de Eli a Ari fue peor, like, lo de las nalgadas públicas no se me olvida (espero eso haya sido en este libro, no en el tercero xd pero bueno), y es de duuude date cuenta qué hay algo detrás !!! Y claro, se resuelve un misterio pero surge otro.
Este libro eleva la química, intensidad y pasión-odio entre Eli & Arabella, sin duda.

[Valentina]

This was so good. Just an excellent story. Also, very spicy in the beginning and then more story was the mystery and their romance unfolds.

[RavenRose]

I finished this book in a day, I didn't want to put it down. I absolutely love Kellan and Eli! I think SIN found ways to relate to everyone's dark side a bit. This book is not for those who are easily offended, this is a dark bully romance, but it's great if you enjoy these stories.

[Carina Hales]

A continuation from Dare to break and this was just as enticing as book 1. We see more from Eli and Ari and try to understand them more. They are unbelievable together. The academy though, I hope it gets closed!!I certainly wouldn’t want to go there. A fantastic book that leaves you in the edge of your seat and desperate for book 3. These endings are brilliant and leaving you desperate for the next book!

[Sarah]

Dare to Take is Book 2 of the Churchill Bradley Academy series by L Ann and Claire Marta. Be sure to read these books in order and honestly, block off a few days so you can binge the entire series because each one continues to build upon the next and you are going to want to transition to the next book in the series. Kind of like potato chips, you can't stop at just one.

This collaboration is everything I was hoping for from a series. I'm no stranger to a dark bully romance but wow, this story blew me away. It's hard to write a review without spoilers, especially for this series but seriously, buckle up buttercup, you're in for a helluva ride!

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser]

Still not a fan of Arabella. Book 2 was boring, a lot of the same as book 1, minus the spicy stuff. There wasn’t a lot of that in this one. But my aggravation and frustration with Arabella was at an all time high and I still feel that if it wasn’t for how much I like Eli and Kellan I’d of quit. Arabella acted like such a child. No one, including her own mother, thought Eli was sending those videos and photos, but of course she wouldn’t hear of it. All she did was throw one tantrum after another. And her slapping Eli across the face was really getting old and ridiculous. Someone needed to smack the shit of her for once. I really can’t stand her. Even after Kellan tells her that Eli beat the hell out of Jace for releasing that photo of her in his car, she still couldn’t put two and two together and wonder if maybe Eli was innocent of all the videos and photos getting released. And then when she made the comment to Kellan how she grew a lot and wasn’t the same the girl, I had to seriously to laugh at that. She did anything but grow. She was still the naive, clueless, pathetic girl as before who allowed herself to be a puppet for others.
As far as who’s sending the threats, I’m thinking it’s Jace, Brad, Brett, Lacy and Tina. Especially Jace and Tina. How there’s 4 books in this series is crazy because there’s so much repeat and repeat, and boring moments.

[Ms. Dess]

This book rating: 3.75 ⭐⭐
Series Rating: 4.25 ⭐⭐

FAIR WARNING: this was the hardest fucking book I've ever read- OMG.... like seriously!!! Worth it because SO much comes out of it but Jesus be a fence and brace yourself!!!

The full review of all of the books and the entire series is going to be on the last book "Dare To Live" Churchill Bradley Academy, #4.

[Juliesbooks]

Dare to Take by L. Ann and Claire Marta is book two in the Churchill Bradley Academy series and let me tell you right now, you will love this. There is so much steam, angst, sadness, secrets, mystery, dares and don’t forget about the Taboo. I love it, I’m here for it and I can’t wait to get my hands on the third book.

[Violette Hollis]

This was once again so so good. It made me feel so much and all the characters and relationships are 3d and complex

[Brynn]

This book was so good. I need someone to give my girl Arabella a break. My god!! The things she has been through, and continues to go through. I just have to say Elena is such a horrible, horrible mom. If you could even call her a mom. I like Ei even more in this book. This was so good, and made me so emotional. This book deserves nothing less than 5 stars

[Jeanette George]

I will say this bully series does stand out from many of the others I've read. There is an underlying mystery aspect, which makes this very interesting. The complexities of the characters is good. So, definitely looking forward to what the next book has in store.

[Tonya]

Keep me on my toes. Definitely a thrilled vibe and kept me anxious entire book.

[Coralie Spencer]

Wow! this is good!

The suspense is killing me! Loving this series! Oh Eli! What is happening and what are you going to do? Hopefully getting some answers in book 3!

[Nicoles_bookcorner10]

What in the actual fuck

[Rachel G]

DNF - might come back another time. I like the couple and the story, just very repetitive and hard to find motivation to read 4 books of the same couple and situations

[Shelly Nutley]

Holy 💩, I'm lost for words. There are so many twists and turns it feels like a spirograph drawing!! How many conflicting emotions can you have over one character? This book is a raw, mindf**k, I have laughed, gasped, ground my teeth, and gotten angry, but one thing I have not been able to do is put it down!!
Well done Ladies it just keeps getting better 👏

[Lozz’s Random Reads McKenzie - Lee]

A Broken Relationship, A Broken Girl, A Prestigious School, Bullying Via Social Media,

** Some Spoilers will be Present for this Review***

Dare To Take: Book Two
This second book in the “Dark Bully Romance Series”, continues where the previous book left off.

Arabella ( Bella ) had, had enough of trying to live with Eli: her stepbrother, after having finally consummated their love/hate ( mostly hate ) relationship, and fled.

However it’s not long before Momma, Elena, with the help of Stepdad Elliot’s “P.I.” Is angrily dragging her back home

The cat is out the bag about Bella’s deviant alter ego, due to “ leaked photos”.with her in compromising situations with two.men

Leaked photos attributed to Eli’s school social media account.

The shock of all these revelations is too much for Daddy Travers, Elliot’s health.
Thus, causing a heart attack.

Once Elliott is out of hospital, he and Elena decide that it’s time for Eli and Bella to put their differences aside, and try to get along for the sake of the family.

Coming up with the brilliant plan of forcing the two waring step siblings to spent a day in each others company

This is the beginning of Eli and Bella’s 48HOUR!, FIVE CHAPTER! sex fest.
By the end there isn’t many positions, or holes that haven’t been tried out

Suffice to say, Eli and Bella begin acting like any other goofy, cutesy couple

( when Eli isn’t getting hard, and Bella wet with hard nipples.) 😒

We had dirty Hotel time, then we had cutie bonding over Christmas Shopping time..

SPARE ME!

Next Stop: The Family Home Time

Get ready for more sentimental, Christmas, soppy , happy families S
With everybody getting along like a Hallmark Movie for the sake of Elliott’s health.

By this point, for me, the struggle to continue reading this was REAL!

When THAT wasn’t happening we were..Blessed? 🤔
With MORE the lovely Bella, with her hard nipples,and dripping wet panties😒

Arabella from the first book is dead and gone.

All she cares about is getting the “ D” and satisfying the “ P” in this book.

And the authors have kept all their sexual deviances loose.

There is rarely an occasion when Eli and Bella are together that they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Just when I was about to give up on this book, the real fun began when Bella is forced to return to Churchill Bradley by her mother.

( What kind of mother desperately want her daughter to return to the school where she is most definitely going to have a horrendous time, and be bullied and her reason?
“Because you’re eighteen, and you have to graduate”.
Like, there is no other school she could attend for that? 🤷🏻‍♀️ )

Her mother says that graduating from Churchill Bradley will benefit her in the future.
Ummm… hate to point out obvious but, I’m pretty sure nude pictures stay on the Internet for LIFE

When author want their characters to experience some kind of personal growth, I’m not sure I was expecting it to be Bella being constantly horny in search of the big “ O”, and the “ D”

I was kinda hoping, and preying once Bella left she would put this awful family into the rear view mirror and never look back.
But.
That wasn’t going to be the case so now we get the new, all improved, Elena

Her character is getting a make over.
Gone is the shallow, obsessed with money, and spending it women.
Now, She is the caring , concerned, mother… FFS!

Also what’s with all the freakin nicknames ?
We’ve has “Princess “ “ Kitten” and now “Hellcat”
ENOUGH WITH THE NICKNAMES

Like I said, the real fun part of this story kicks in when Bella arrives back school.

The taunts, and name calling reaches a whole new level.

Then comes the text messages, and the use of all her video’s and photographs for manipulation, pushing Bella mental health, and her relationship with Eli to the brink.

There is also the whole side story involving Miles, the swim captain, trying to come to terms with his sexuality and Kellan, Eli’s bisexual bestie, and roommate.

These two are also involved in trying to figure out what/ who is upsetting Bella.


The bullying by the cheer girls, and the football guys, in this book is OFF.THE.CHARTS.

Bella turns into a paranoid, snivelling mess.

( when she’s not dreaming about Eli banging her, or eating her out )

Didn’t we just all know that once Bella discovered “The Chapel” that it would figure quite prominently with her running there a lot or meeting Eli and Kellan there A LOT!

A bang session was on the cards.

But by the end of this book we have the Penny finally dropping for Eli, with the help of the ever observant Kellan, and Miles.

Will they be on time to save Bella from cracking up completely??


You know what was beginning to bug me the most by the end of this book?
Bella’s inner conversation musings.

God! Her indecision was driving me crazy.

Plus her needy, begging text messages to “ Sin”
This girl was a hot mess.

[Katie Wilks]

Dare to Take
Overall Score ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat Level 🔥🔥🔥🔥

This is the 2nd book in this series and, in my opinion, is much better than the first. The authors portray Arabella's sense of sadness and despair so perfectly, you feel it as if it was your own. I am waiting, impatiently for the next one!