From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new dark romance…ErikaI was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession. His name is Michael Crist. My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He’s handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team … completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.
But I noticed him.
I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.
Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore.
Because he’s finally noticed me.
Michael
Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.
My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway.
Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.
In my city.
Unprotected.
The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out.
We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.
*Corrupt is a STANDALONE dark romance with no cliffhanger. It is suitable for ages 18+.
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I thought that the author wouldn’t be able to top off my favourite series, Bully but boy, does she surprised me!
This was a dangerous combination of dark and angsty. The storyline was full of mystery and very thrilling. I was on the edge while reading this book!
This dark and twisted book was excellent. I loved it. I couldn’t put it down.
Title: Corrupt (Devil’s Night #1)
Author: Penelope Douglas
Publisher: Penelope Douglas LLC
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 461
Genre: New Adult, Dark, Romance
Date Read: 1st 3-04-2016 2nd 06-02-2019 – 07-02-2019
Favorite Quote: “Own who you are and don’t apologize. Own it or it will own you”
Review:
This book is so good! It really pushes the boundaries of what is acceptable. I can’t believe the shit they got away with. They went to far a couple of ties. Way to far for a simple mistake that could have been resolved easily.
They, Will, Damon, Kai and Micheal, kept pushing ant pushing. It even made me feel uncomfortable, my heart kept pounding and I had trouble sitting still and focus on the story.
It provokes such strong emotions.
What is this book about
This book is about Erika, or Rika as she likes to be called. She is a rich girl, she has lived in a sheltered neighborhood her entire live. The only thing that wasn’t save was her neighbors son, Micheal. Rika always noticed Micheal when he walked into a room, she couldn’t help it. She has wanted him since forever but her never wanted or noticed her. Or so she thought.
One night, also known as devils night, it seemed that Micheal finally noticed her. He invited her along with his friends, Will, Kai and Damon, to pull some pranks on Halloween. They are known as the Horseman. They get away with almost everything. Nobody touches them. Until that night, when something went wrong.
Rika hasn’t heard or barely seen the horsemen since then but now they are back. They are hellbent on revenge, on messing with her but why….
What did I like about this book:
I liked the thrill, and emotion this book provokes. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even though I read the book before, it didn’t feel like it. I had trouble remembering and therefor predicting what was going to happen next
Some of the sex scenes where seriously hot. Who knew Rika had that in her and liked it so dirty.
Overall it was a great thrill of a read and I can’t wait to read Kai’s story next.
Rating:
5 amazing stars
Obviously, this book wasn’t for me. I went in fairly blind and on the recommendation of so many reader friends. I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I’m questioning what they saw that I didn’t.
The writing mechanics and structure were very good. The way it was written gave me a thriller type vibe and I loved the time jumps and the slow revealing plot. Those things are kinda my jam. Not so much with everything else.
I didn’t connect with any of the characters and never quite understood their motivation or thought process. If I can’t understand then I just don’t care.
The story concept didn’t work for me either. It was completely unbelievable and over the top. Before you jump all over me for that, I understand it’s fiction and not necessarily reflective of real life but still, the author has to make the reader believe and understand the world she created. That didn’t happen. A solid foundation to support the story and the characters was missing.
I’m all for a boundary pushing stories. In fact, I seek them out. I love a dark plot, morally corrupt characters and I often find myself rooting for the villains and bad guys. I have no hang ups with threesomes, non-con or kink. So it’s not the subject matter that didn’t work, it’s the delivery that failed me.
There are plenty of readers that loved this story and I think this is one of those books that readers will either love or hate. Even as I began to struggle, I tried my best to give it a fair shake. In the end, I had to call a spade a spade and no amount of trying was going to make this work for me.
I read this book after reading Punk 57, where the characters from Corrupt made an appearance. This is definitely a different story from previous Penelope Douglas books that I’ve read.
This has a bit of mystery, wondering how the characters are going to end up in the end of the book. It was a little more dark. I really enjoyed the story.
After reading all the good reviews I knew I was missing out on a gritty book. Never having read this author before I took the plunge… Wow! What a ride I’m so glad I did! The minute The Four Horseman were mentioned my mind flew to similar books that had similar situations… Four Hotholes, Elite Kings and I knew I KNEW I was in for the ride of my life!
Complicated plot – Tick, Dark – Tick, Twisted – Tick, Fast paced – Tick and seriously this author has left a lasting impression. Another author I’ll be hunting down, stalking her work.
This book will have you on the edge of your seat, a white knuckle ride. It will capture you and hold you hostage until you have read the very last page!
I keep hearing about book three in this series that I’ve never even checked out, so I had to start from the beginning. Wow. I loved it so hard. There’s a lot going on and some dark, disturbing moments- scenes where you don’t know how bad it will get or how far the writer will push it. Rika is trying to break out of her gilded cage and has always had her eye on Michael, who always seems to be looking everywhere else. Things get hot and twisted, with a few surprises, and an ending that makes you see things differently. All I can think about now is diving into the next story!
I fell in love with Michael early on. I knew he was a good guy even if he didn’t. I loved Erika and her strength. Can’t wait to read the rest of the boys’ stories!
Reread to prepare myself for Kill Switch. So glad that I did it, there was some stuff that I forgot about. It’s still a great story the second time around!
I think I was up most of the night reading this. I had to know WHY these guys hated the heroine so much. And WHY she and Michael couldn’t stay away from each other, even when they had every reason to.
I loved everything about it. The sex was hot as hell. The back and forth between the love interest was intense. The action was enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. High recommend!
Wonderful beginning to a fantastic series!
This book came highly recommend and it absolutely did not disappoint! From the very beginning I was on edge because this story had my stomach in knots with the crazy twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. I was intrigued with the characters and immersed with the story that I was left holding my breath page after page, chapter after chapter until the very end. This book was unequivocally a 5 star must read that will have you begging for so much more!
Wow. Just wow.
This is my first book by Penelope Douglas and it certainly will not be my last!
This book was dark, twisted, sensual, frightening and exciting all at the same time. My heart was constantly thumping as I read this story, constantly wondering what was going to happen next, waiting to see just how far these character would go. It was so intriguing that even though this story was dark and twisted, there was such a vulnerable message hidden behind the mask…”Own who you are” and don’t apologize for it.
Michael and Rika’s story was so fascinating. I didn’t want to stop reading. I wanted to learn more about this “game” they were playing. To see how they empowered and brought out the best in one another while still struggling to find their ways.
The Horsemen…I don’t even have the words. Simply put they were fantastically dark, twisted, haunting…I wanted more!
This whole story was incredible and I cannot wait to read more!!
Erika is Trevor’s girlfriend and Michael is his brother. The brothers don’t get along at all. Erika has always noticed and watched Michael while they were growing up. Michael likes to torment Erika. Years later they have all grown up. Erika is breaking away from Trevor to be on her own. Michael is a basketball player. These two always had hot sexual chemistry. The dynamics of this story are like no other I’ve ever read. I loved the suspense, steamy scenes and finding out who was the real villain. A great read.
A 2018 read for me. Loved it. Who wouldn’t love Michael and all his broody asshole ways. I loved the originality. The horsemen. The plot twists you never saw coming. Not sure I knew what catacombs were before this book lol. Intriguing to say the least. I love when you learn new things through books you actually like to read like romance. I absolutely loved this couple. Perfect start to an addictive series. Hauntingly good. Thriller for sure but still has hot factor.
I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up Corrupt – I was looking for a book to read the other day and came across this one, and I have ZERO regrets. Not about the lack of sleep I got or the fact that I skipped two meals because I couldn’t be bothered to cook when all I wanted to do was read.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but it’s safe to say that this book kept me on the edge of my seat THE ENTIRE TIME. Michael was the hero I didn’t know I needed, and Rika was just…amazing. I loved it. And I’m even more excited that book 3 is coming and I didn’t even know that was happening! Total 5 stars – if you love twisted romances packed heavy with suspense, then you need this one in your life.
Rika has had a crush on Michael for years. He scares her as much as he turns her on. Michael hates Rika because of what she did 3 years ago. He has a plan now that his friends are out of jail and nothing is going to stop him.
Rika is moving on with her life and starting out on her own. She seems weak and spoiled, but she proves her strength and shows the guys that she is still their Little Monster. She takes their pranks head on and makes them rethink their decisions.
Michael’s emotions are all over the place. His friends are different and Rika isn’t the same either. He honestly struggles with his thoughts and decision making.
I really enjoyed this book. The pranks, twists, and turns just kept on coming. I never knew how far the guys were going to take things or when they were joking or being serious.
Each guy is tortured in their own way, and Rika wants nothing more than to fix them.
I am starting Hideaway right away because I can’t wait to continue this story and figure out more of the mystery that surrounds the other guys.
I have only two words after reading this book and those two words should be the reason (though it’s definitely not the only reason) everyone reads this book…SAUNA. SCENE. Mic drop! Boom!
Corrupt is everything I look for in a book. I love not knowing what was going to happen. I love Rika & Michael, Kai & Will but Damon I knew something was off with him. Rika always wanted Michael and he never gave her the time of day until Devil’s night and all their lives were forever changed. I had to know what was going to happen, I couldn’t put my kindle down, that’s how good the story was. I pissed I waited so long to read Corrupt. Another amazing story by Penelope
Why did I wait so long to read Corrupt by Penelope Douglas?
I could kick myself.
This book is everything a lover of romantic suspense could want.
Corrupt is the story of Micheal and Rika and how they become the couple that they were meant to be.
With alternating points of view and a series of flash backs, the story unfolds.
GREAT Writing and world building and just want more of the Four Horsemen!
A most defiantly recommend!
Texas Hugs and Happy Reading!