I was going to be her prince and save her until…I became the villain.
She was the girl everyone bullied. I was the boy hiding a secret. She thinks she was just a bet, but she doesn’t know the truth. I watched her break and I tried to fix her, but some might say I took it too far. She was gone for nine months, but here she is…back on the first day of our senior year.
Samantha Saxton, the girl I’ve known my entire life and have loved just as long.
Everything was perfect until the night of prom when someone tried to ruin us. I won’t let them destroy what I have with her, I’ll do what I always do for her…retaliate.
I was done with the games, but I guess one more won’t hurt, right? They started it, they wanted to play, but I will always win.
THIS BOOK DOES COME WITH TRIGGER WARNINGS THAT I WILL HAVE LISTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK. Due to subject matter this book is intended for readers 18+
A new to me author and I loved this young adult bully romance. Samantha and Maddox have know each other since they were very young but rarely spoke or interacted….but Maddox was always watching out for her. Whenever the school bullies struck he exacted his own brand of revenge on her behalf….always without her knowing. Samantha has a traumatic school experience throughout all her childhood and teen life, her struggles are all too real as we learn of the damage harsh words and relentless nastiness can cause such a young sensitive mind.
Maddox has had it pretty tough himself. His home life is pretty hellish and it takes almost all his efforts keeping himself and his sister safe. I found this very interesting how the author shows that it isn’t always the kids with terrible home lives that suffer with traumatic conditions. We are all vulnerable, we can all be weakened and struggle at times. We could all do with someone like Maddox to keep us strong!
I appreciated the growth in Maddox’s character the most. As he fought his own demons he still tried to hold onto what is right and wrong. Sometimes I didn’t wholly agree with his methods but……I was proud of how his character handled his own issues towards the end. The relationships are rocky and at points in the story it’s hard to read of the trauma and desperation. The cruelty of high school is unfortunately not exaggerated. I loved the shift from childhood to adulthood and the change in narration shows that well. As our characters mature as does the writing. Lots of dialogue and some smoking hot scenes that were well placed and fitted the story. The only thing I wasn’t too keen on…the nicknames…. Looking forward to reading about the next two characters in this series. Please be aware of the trigger warning in this story.
Damaged Love was a story that punched me hard in the feels, and I found it hard to breathe at times from the pain radiating through my kindle to surround me. Sammi & Maddox have known each other since they were small children so there's a connection there. She's been seriously bullied throughout her school days, and it's definitely done her considerable harm with her mental state, and I could feel all of it like it happened to me. Little did she know that Maddox was her behind the scenes protector until somehow he became part of the problem, so I found myself wanting to shake him until his teeth rattled. He's also had his own share of problems with his homelife so I wanted to hug him as well. I'm telling you to have tissues ready to go before opening this story up because Harper Monroe isn't pulling any punches especially since she did a remarkable job with issues that are realistic, and maybe just maybe, these two will get through it all for a happily ever after! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Omg what can I say this book was so brilliant, it was definitely took you on a roller coaster of emotions i cried i laughed i wanted to scream, this author is an expert on writing hearbreaking stories, the understanding and sensitivity she gave while writing about these characters problems and deep rooted issues, I couldn't recommend this enough, I loved watching the main characters fall in love but with this you get the bonus of reading about there amazing friendships with the other characters i can't wait to read the next book, I absolutely loved it best book I've read this year so far.
Sammi and Maddox are connected to each other since elementary school. Sammi is bullied throughout her school years and faces demons from the abuse. Maddox has always protected her till he also became the problem. Lots of twist and turns that keep you flipping the pages. End with a happily ever after.
They’ve loved each other since they were eight. Sammi and Maddox are a great couple. He’s this hot guy with family issues. She’s a thick girl with body issues. Years of being made fun of lead her to hurt herself and Maddox is the boy to help her save herself. This is such a great book. I loved how it has real issues that people deal with and how they face those issues. True love at its best.
Ms. Monroe does it again. This is a the second book in Cape Cove series. This book follows Sammi and Maddox. Maddox and Sammi had known each other throughout school and growing up. Maddox was the cool kid and Sammi was the girl everyone seemed to pick on. I loved getting to watch them grow up. The things that Sammi had gone through could happen to anyone. Ms. Monroe makes her characters so relatable. Over time we see how things that happened to them while they were growing up make them into the people they become. I am so glad I was on this journey to see what happens. I absolutely couldn’t put this book down. Not only did we get to enjoy Sammi and Maddox but we got to see other parents of their friends. I highly recommend this book.
Five huge stars for this read! This one totally took me under, honestly!! If you have read the first book in this series, you will have met Sammi and Maddox. And, well let's just say there is history. A history that in places, is hard to read. My heart broke! My emotions have gone from one extreme to the other. Not going to lie there were times I wanted to hug Maddox and times where I could of truly of hurt him!! I want to congratulations this author on dealing with the issues that came up in this book with realism and compassion. I could relate so much and there were tears and tantrums as I made my way through Sammi and Maddox's story. Please, go add this to your tbr now!
We met Maddox and Sammi in Rebel's Love and got a taste of their history there. Damaged Love is their story and it's such an intense, emotional story. It has honestly been such a beautiful thing watching these characters evolve. They've been through so much and being a part of their journey through this book has been heartbreaking at times. This is a fantastic story!
5 ⭐️’s - I couldn’t love this book anymore than I already do! A great follow up to book one in the Cape Cove Series. Max and Samantha are both damaged. Each hiding their own demons. I loved the character development and the writing was too notch!! A must read!
I read the first book so grabbed the second. What I got was a watered down version of the first with the second thrown in. I felt like I was reading a Cliffnotes retelling. While Samantha and Walker's story was strong and compelling, the subject matter handled in a great way, the other characters muted the vibe of the book.
Words are not going to do this book justice. Sammi was a broken down girl struggling with so much self loathing because of the bullying she experienced growing up. She could only count on four people not to participate in the bullying. However, that all changed one night. A night that tipped Sammi into self destruction.
Maddox regretted the role he played in breaking Sammi and when she returns to high school after being gone for awhile he plans to make it up to her. However, Sammi wants nothing to do with him or his group. Will Maddox be able to repair all the damage he did? Can Sammi ever trust Maddox again?
They say time heals all wounds but does it? You will have to read in order to find out.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
She was the girl everyone bullied. I was the boy hiding a secret. She thinks she was just a bet, but she doesn't know the truth. I watched her break and I tried to fix her, but some might say I took it too far. She was gone for nine months, but here she is back on the first day of our senior year. Samantha Saxton, the girl I've known my entire life and have loved just as long. Everything was perfect until the night of prom when someone tried to ruin u. I won't let them destroy what I have with her, I'll do what I always do for her...retaliate. I was done with the games, but I guess one more won't hurt, right? They started it, they wanted to play, but I will always win.
This book has trigger warnings attached to it in the beginning of the book. You will want to heed those before diving into this book. This is a bully romance. Samantha and Maddox have known each other since they were young but they rarely spoke or had anything to do with each other. However it wasn't long before the school bully struck and made her life miserable but Maddox got his revenge that she never knew about. However this didn't make her school like easier and it became very traumatic and there is a lot of damage to her thoughts due to all the bullying. Maddox is a pretty tough guy but he has a horrid home life and he does his best to keep him and his sister safe. However he wasn't about to let Samantha forget that she is strong no matter what kinds of words and actions she has to endure. He is a guy fighting his own demons while holding on to his knowledge or right and wrong and justice and injustice I don't want to give the story away but I did love how we got to see the high school experience to adulthood. I especially loved the growth in Maddox. He was just a great character.
Maddox had wanted to be Samantha Saxon's prince but ended up beng the villain. Sammi and Maddox have known each other since they were children and he's been in love with her just about as long. Her life is a brutal hell while in school while his home life is horrible. He has worked in the background avenging her every time she is treated awfully which she never knew about. She thought she was only a bet and she doesn't know the truth. He took things too far. She was gone for nine months but she's back just in time to start their senior year of high school. Everything was just how it should be until their prom night when someone tried to ruin what they had. He's determined to stop anyone from destroying them. He will do what he does best and retaliate. He thought he was done playing games but one more time won't hurt. After all, he always wins.
This was not an easy journey to follow. My heart truly hurt reading along. It was realistic in the best and worst of ways. I felt so many emotions from anger to anxiety to profound sadness. The HEA was well deserved and hard fought. This was my first book by this author and it absolutely will not be the last. I highly recommend this read. This is my honest opinion, freely given.
This is the second book in this amazing series, and this is Samantha and Maddox’s journey. These two have known each other all their lives, but have rarely connected, but Maddox has watched over her without her knowing. Both characters have had tough, traumatic, and damaging upbringings, which has left them haunted by demons. This is a well written emotional roller coaster story, which is raw, gritty, and powerful, and with secrets, bullying, trauma, challenges, angst, twists, healing, and love, which leads to a steamy and addictive page turner. Be aware of the trigger warnings due to sensitive content, which this author writes with sensitivity and compassion! I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
If anyone deserves a happy ending, it's Sammi and Maddox! Be sure to review the content warnings of this book. The subject matter can feel a bit heavy if it's anything you've experienced. At least, I found that to be so. I really enjoyed this book and feel the heavier topics presented were well written and respectfully handled.
I loved learning Sammi and Maddoxs story all the ins and outs I gave it 4 stars because it isn't really its own story its more the gaps we missed in the first book I would of given it 3 for that but it's good enough 4 even if its jus a different view point of the first book
I think this was better than the first book, probably because you feel like you actually know the characters this time, like catching up with old friends. So much happens with M&S worming their way in to my heart. Now what’s going on with Brin and Lawson ?
Great follow-up to the first book! I love the character development of both main characters who are damaged and have issues to work around! Cannot wait for more!