They say there is always a calm before the storm. A time when you think you’re safe, protected from the destruction that you know is going to eventually come. Harper was that calm. And I? I was the motherfucking storm. As kids we were best friends. She was the light to my darkness. I used to protect her from her bullies, now I’ll become her most feared one. Seeing her for the first time after … first time after three years was like a bucket of ice water being poured on me. It chilled me to the bone, making me irrational, angry. No longer is she a little girl but a grown woman with curves and eyes that pierce my black soul.
No one knows the darkness that lingers under the surface, all they see is my smile, my charismatic charm. I’m the all American golden boy.
Having her back in my life is awakening something inside of me. She reminds me of everything good, everything I’ll never have and I refuse to let her stay.
She has to go and the only person dark enough, dirty enough to scare her away is me…
Breaking Harper isn’t as easy… I thought I knew everything, turns out others are just as good at hiding their secrets as I am.
Damaged, dark and falling off the deep end. Will I break her? Will I break us?
“Sometimes the scariest monsters aren’t those that hide in the dark. Sometimes they’re the ones hidden right in plain sight… like me.”
*This is a standalone DARK bully romance. This book contains scenes that may be triggering to some readers. This is not a YA romance novel and should be read by those only 18+ or older. *
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This is the 2nd book in this phenomenal series and is Harper and Warren tale. These gifted authors’ have done an amazing job in penning this story, which is raw, gritty, dark, twisted, thrilling, intense, as well as having vengeance, secrets, misunderstandings and love which lead to an emotional roller coaster ride throughout. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner and cannot wait for the next book in this awesome series.
GAH!! I was anxiously waiting for Warren’s story after that whole look across the cafeteria moment at the end of Hating You. I wasn’t sure going in exactly what I was in for either because TBH I didn’t care for Warren in Hating You, like at all! I’m really glad the authors decided to tell his story though, because we definitely got to understand why Warren was the way he was. There was a lot to why he was the jerk we despised so much in Hating You.
Harper was the gorgeous, but poor girl at Blackthorn on scholarship. She grew up friends then eventually innocent first love with Warren, because her mother was the maid for Warren’s wealthy family. She was a good girl, didn’t get into trouble and was shocked when Warren cut contact with her and her mother was let go from job. She didn’t understand why. Fast forward three years later and her hard work has paid off and she has earned herself a scholarship to Blackthorn University. When she runs into Warren she is mind boggled to discover the extent of the hatred he has for her. She’s hurt, confused and pissed off. When Warren sets out to punish her she is shocked to discover that the lines between torment and turned on are seriously skewed and she doesn’t know what to feel. Caught in a whirlwind of feelings and conflicts will Harper give into Warren’s demands to serve him or will she stand firm? Will Harper get to the bottom of just what it is that she did to make him so angry?
Warren is the quintessential rich college guy. He’s got a great apartment, core group of friends, tons of money in the bank due to his rich parents and a line of ladies waiting and willing. He’s anti-commitment due to a heart that was shattered three years ago by a best friend turned first love. A former first love that is now at his college. He must wreck her world because she sure as Hell wrecked his three years ago with what she did! Revenge must be served. And he’s going to enjoy force feeding her slices of revenge pie over and over until there’s nothing left but crumbs. Will Warren get his revenge by bringing Harper to her knees or will his plan crash and burn when he learns all is not what it seems?
This book is crazy angsty. It bully romance to the Max. Warren is mean, he’s cruel and he’s borderline things that are almost to the point of unforgivable in the many ways he treated Harper. I had to keep reminding myself he was misguided. His decisions and actions were all driven by lies. He truly, down to the depths of his soul, thought he had been deceived and his actions reflected that. Did that excuse his behaviors no, but that’s Bully romance, which I am a huge fan of. I want to see the unredeemable redeemed. The monster became the man with the heart of gold. I don’t just want the Warren whose faults Harper accepts and can live with. I want the man she absolutely CANNOT live without. This is an amazing story of just that!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book!
My cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book!
– Totally amazing Bully romance. This is a friends to lovers to second chance enemies to lovers romance! I love the Blackthorn University Series and can’t wait for the next book! Recommend for bully/NA /dark romance fans. They will all enjoy this!
– HOLY FLIPPING CRAZY! Raw, Gritty and cruel and so not sweet, but oh so hot!
Cliffhanger Warning-No cliffhanger!
Trigger Warning- This book does contain semi- violence. More in a cruel way. While consensual it is somewhat aggressive and might be borderline to people more sensitive. If your concerned feel free to DM me for more information.
Breaking You is the second book in this series but can be read as a standalone. If you had read book one, then you had met Warren, Parker’s best friend. Based on that, we knew him as the cocky, womanizer, popular guy but in this book, man did he do a complete one-eighty! When a girl from his past now goes to the same school he is in, Warren is dead set on exacting his revenge. He will do everything in his power to make Harper’s life, the girl who betrayed him, a living hell.
Wow! These duo continue to deliver captivating bully romances, that they instantly became my go-to authors when it comes to this trope. I liked both guys, but I think I liked Warren much more after reading this, LOL! The intensity, lies and deceits in this story gripped me right from the start. This is a dark bully romance and some instances could be triggering to some, so take that into consideration before reading this. But overall, I loved it and couldn’t wait for the next book.
It was a tough book to read. So many emotions and you wished that Harper and Warren talked to each other, instead of presuming things.
Why didn’t they talk to each other three years ago…
I couldn’t stop reading this story. I was mad, sad and happy, so many times when I read the story.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book
Well the plot of this book is dark twisted that had
me from the very beginning to the end.
Warren and Harper were very good together even though
they came from different back grounds until Warren father step in
and through a spanner in the works than three years later they bumped
into each other at college and the sparks really started.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Deliciously dark, this newest release will have you wanting more. Warren and Harper chemistry is intense and their coming together was explosive. Just the right amount of drama and a whole lot of heat that I look forward to in a romance read. Can’t wait to see what happens next to this series that gets better and better.
Breaking You by JL Beck and Cassandra Hallman
Wow,where do I begin,this book won’t be for everyone. It’s dark, the male character is cruel, vicious, abusive, hateful even uses a form of blackmail to get revenge. When we met Warren in Hating You he appears to be the happy go lucky golden boy/charmer that sleeps with lots of girls. Harper comes from loving parents that don’t have a lot of money. She is sweet, innocent hard working girl who just wants a better life for herself.
Warren and Harper grew up together in the same house only he was rich and lived in the mansion and she was the maids daughter. They grew close and became inseparable even when his dad protested.He was her protector, savior,knight in shining armor. Then everything changed her family was kicked out the house her mom lost her job and Warren never even said goodbye. She struggled after that but worked hard to better her life. Three years later a full scholarship to Blackthorn Elite College she thought life was getting better.
Warren has been trying to forget Harper ever existed by sleeping his way through the female population. So when he sees her at school he is blindsided by his hatred.
He tells her:
“Leave, and I’ll forget you ever showed your face here.Stay and I’ll break you so badly you’ll leave the shell of the person you are now.Either way you’re going to leave.”
She is so shocked and confused by his hatred that she tells him that she can’t leave she has a scholarship.
What he does and sets in motion is unbelievable it’s vicious, abusive,hurtful and hateful to name a few. Once he discovers that what he thought was true isn’t and lies, deceits and betrayals are uncovered he tries to make admends. I just think Harper gave in to easy. I wanted her to speak up fight back and then make him work for it at the end. I also wondered about his dad he popped up in the story caused some trouble then nothing.
Their journey was emotional, captivating,intense and their chemistry was off the charts.
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
They saw there is always a calm before the storm. A time when you think your’re safe, protected from the destruction that you know is going to eventually come. Harper was that calm. And I? I was the freaking storm. As kids we were best friends. She was the light to my darkness. I used to protect her from her bullies, now I’ll become her most feared one. Seeing her for the first time after three years was like a bucket of ice water being poured on me. It chilled me to the bone, making me irrational angry. No longer is she the little girl but a grown woman with curves and eyes that pierce my black soul. No one knows the darkness that lingers under the surface, all they see is my smile, my charismatic charm. I’m the all American golden boy. Having her back in my life is awakening something inside of me. She reminds me of everything good, everything I’ll never have and I refuse to let her stay. She has to go and the only person dark enough, dirty enough to scare her away is me… Breaking Harper isn’t easy..I thought I knew everything , turns out others are just as good at hiding their secrets as I am. Damaged, dark and falling off the deep end. Will I break her? Will I break us?
I should warn you that this book is a dark bully romance. If you have read the first book in this series you met Warren and Harper, but you can totally read this book as a standalone. This is the book where we got the see the softer side of Warren however that doesn’t mean that the still doesn’t have some of the psychopath still in him that you saw in the first book. You don’t have to read three chapters for this book to start either. It is dark and intense from the first pages. I don’t want to give anything away. I didn’t even read the description of this book. I just dove in and loved every singe second of it. I devoured it and you guys will too. J.L. Beck and Cassandra Hallman make and amazing writing team. If you have not read any of the books they have written together then you are missing out.
She thought he was her white knight but then everything changed when they parted ways and he didnt even say goodbye.
Now they are sharing a campus and though it may be big, everywhere she turns there he is with hatred burning bright in her direction.
Three years have more than changed the reletionship they shared.
She has become the prey to his hunter, but how long will she be his victim for?
Oohhh so dark and delicious, these two authors are on FIRE!!
Such hot scenes of anger and passion more than gets the motor running!
I couldnt get enough of his hatred and dominant behaviour. He’s an alpha male through and through!
She’s completely in the dark and quite the innocent little lamb.
Put the two together and they make for an unforgettable read!
This is book two in the interconnecting series and their darkness is simply beautiful!
I cant wait for more!!
OMG! Such Hate!
WOW! The hate in this story is unbelievably intense and oozes off the pages.
The roller coaster ride of emotions that this story takes you on will either make you throw your book at the wall or smash something! I was seething with hatred for Warren. He needed to get his head out of his ass! And Harper made me so frustrated because she couldn’t seem to make herself heard. But even though these two characters frustrated me I loved the turmoil and intense chemistry they had. I may have wanted to punch a wall or two but I loved how they could invoke this kind of reaction from me!
“Sometimes the scariest monsters aren’t those that hide in the dark. Sometimes they’re the ones hidden right in plain sight…like me.”
Once again this amazing author duo writes a story that gives you all kinds of feels and makes you come back time and time again for more of their fantastic torture! Highly recommend.
Can you say HOT! This book could not get and steamier unless it was set on fire. The chemistry between Warren and Harper is off the charts. Warren is so alpha and territorial and it is everything. I didn’t who what hit me with that bathroom scene. It was so harsh and raw and hot as hell. I wish Harper would have made him gravel some more before she took him back though. After the way he stole all her firsts from her, granted, he didn’t know he was doing it, but still, he should have had to do a hell of a lot more then just apologize. It was a good read though, and I will be back to see what else happens at Blackthorn.
Beck and Hallman have done it again. They always manage to tug at my heartstrings while making me mad. I never know whether to cry or throw my kindle. If you like things a little dark and twisted and love a good antihero then these two and their books are for you. Definitely a couple of automatic one click authors for me.
Warren Williams was betrayed by Harper Martin 3 years ago and when she shows up at Blackthorn where he is attending school he demands that she leaves. Warren is incredibly cruel to Harper yet wants no one else to touch her.
Harper Martin is attending Blackthorn on a scholarship and is shocked to see Warren again. Yet she is more confused to why he hates her so much. Yet she can’t deny that she still has feelings for him and struggles to keep her distance from him, no matter how he treats her.
Can Warren find a way to forgive Harper, his former best friend since they were kids or will his actions and his threats force her to leave Blackthorn and lose everything?
This was such a good book and I really enjoyed it from start to finish! I never wanted to put the book down as I knew good stuff was coming!
I had such a love/hate relationship with Warren. He seemed like such a great guy but I hated how cruel he was to Harper and the more I got to know Harper the more confused I was at how she betrayed him. Yet at the same time that he hated her so much he was also incredibly protective over her and never wanted anyone to touch her or go near her. You could tell how deep his love was for her but his surface was all hatred.
Right from the beginning I loved Harper and I knew that there was no way she would have betrayed Warren as she was sheltered and innocent. She was a loner and I felt horrible at times that she was by herself.
There were a few awesome jaw dropping moments that started to change the course of the book and lead you down different paths. Warren and Harper became more intense and you thought he was beginning to get over the past but then something would happen that would change everything again.
Towards the end my jaw hit the floor at how Warren reacted to something and my heart literally shattered for Harper. I was so upset and then so mad at Warren. I was so happy with Valerie for doing the right thing and then everything made complete sense!
The end was great and I was so happy with how everything went and I can’t wait for more!
“’ , ’ .”
Warren and Harper have a dramatic past. Young lovers who broke each other’s hearts without knowing that they were doing it or the reasoning.
Warrant makes her life hell when she shows up on *his* campus. But while he’s trying to hate her, he’s also trying to keep his old feelings for her at bay. He’s punishing her while denying that he’s falling back in love with her… or maybe that love never went away.
Will they both finally just give into their feelings or continue to fight what they know is between them?
______________________________
I’m am seriously loving this darker side of JL Beck and Cassandra Hallman!
Warren and Harper are definitely a dysfunctional duo but yet they work together and only together. They push each others buttons and boundaries while at the same time giving each other exactly what they need.
There were definitely times when I was frustrated with Harper and felt that she was being too weak when it came to Warren, I wished she fought harder and pushed back more. But ultimately I liked their relationship and how he loved her (even when he hated her).
There are also little pieces of the story that did not get resolved that I am hoping are an opening for the next book in the series. I love the side characters and can’t wait to see what happens with them!
*** keep in mind this is a dark bully romance. There are tiggers for domestic violence and sexual assault.
This was a quick 5 star read that sucked me in and kept me there until the end. I enjoyed this story.
Warren hates Harper. She doesn’t know what she did to deserve that hate. But there is a fine line between love and hate.
This is a second chance romance that was difficult to read at times. He was borderline cruel with her but he did protect her from arms way. It is an highly entertaining and captivating story.
This is the second story in this series, but rest assured, it can be read as a standalone. Told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
An enemies to lovers and second chance all in one! I enjoyed this book and how everything unfolded in the end. Definitely a fun listen if these are your type tropes.
Another great book in this series. I was hooked from the very beginning to the end. Each book so far in this series has been great and I absolutely loved this one so much. These ladies know how to write a good romance series together. I cannot wait until the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
This is the second in the Blackthorn Elite series of interconnected standalones. You do not have to read the first one to enjoy this one.
Warren wants revenge on Harper for breaking his heart three years ago, and vows to make her life at Blackthorn Academy miserable.
Warren was an a**hole, and his actions in my opinion were not suitable for what he thinks Harper did to him in the past. He was protective of her, but he also treated her like crap most of the book. I did not really care for his character at all. I did not feel like he had any redeeming qualities really.
Harper has gotten into Blackthorn Academy on a scholarship, and she is just trying to stay off of Warren’s radar and stay to herself. She was a pushover, and let Warren push her around most of the time. Even when he was super cruel, she rarely stood up to him.
The ending seemed super rushed. The whole conflict of the book was resolved in a couple paragraphs.
Overall the book was okay, I really liked the storyline, but the characters did not do it for me.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants an cruel a**hole bully hero.
Breaking you is another prime example of a bully romance written to perfection. Warren and Harper were steamy and pulled me in completely. I was on my toes my flipping through pages eager to find out more. Definitely a five star read for me.
This is an enemies to Lovers story. At one time they were friends, they even dated and were in love, but a big misunderstanding destroys them. Three years have passed and neither have gotten over each other. While Harper has no idea what happened, Warren is out for vengeance. Breaking You is dark, twisted and intense.
I do think that it dragged on for a while. If they would have communicated then their misunderstanding would have been fixed. There was a lot of bullying going on and I don’t like bully romance. I think that it could have been shorter.By Kristina