AN AMAZON TOP 25 BESTSELLERIn the power struggle between two elite groups, one feisty girl will bring them to their knees… me when I turn eighteen.
But, behind closed doors, I plot my escape.
Trent, Charlie, and my twin, Drew, rule the hallways of Rydeville High with arrogance and an iron fist. I execute my role perfectly, hating every second, but they never let me forget my place in this world.
Everyone obeys the rules. They have for generations. Because our families have always been in control.
Until Cam, Sawyer, and Jackson show up. Throwing their new money around. Challenging the status quo. Setting hearts racing with their gorgeous faces, hot bodies, and bad boy attitudes.
Battle lines are drawn. Sides are taken. And I’m trapped in the middle, because I made a mistake one fateful night when I gave my V-card to a stranger in a blatant F you to my fiancé.
I thought it was the one thing I owned. A precious memory to carry me through each dark day.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Because the stranger was Camden Marshall, leader of the new elite and my perpetual tormenter. He hates me with a passion unrivaled, and he won’t be the only one. Fire will rain down if the truth is revealed, threatening alliances, and the power struggle will turn vicious.
My life will hang in the balance.
But I’ll be ready, and I’m not going down without a fight.
Due to mature content and themes this book is recommended to readers aged eighteen and over. This is a full-length novel, 106k words, and it’s book one in a planned trilogy. Cannot be read as a standalone and ends with a cliffhanger.
CAUTION Some of the reviews on this page contain massive spoilers which ruin the story and others are misleading with incorrect statements, so read them at your own peril.
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5 OMG WHAT STARS!! OMG, OMG, OMG……What did I just read. I am exhausted, I feel like I just got off a rollercoaster and a wild one at that. Abby and Cam’s world is crazy, but you will want to join them and hear all about it. I am dying right now…..I need the next book now. Grab this book and devour it like I did…..I finished in about 5 hours give or take. It was so good, this author is phenomenal at storytelling.
I don’t know what I just read but I want more. Holy wow talk about intense!!!! I don’t know where to begin. Abby met Camden on a night that she was very vulnerable and a strong attraction was there. He was very sweet to her and things happened. Names weren’t exchanged and she disappeared. Fast forward 3 months when they see each other again and realize that they are enemies because of their parents past. Abby lives in a world that everything is controlled. She’s considered an elite but she’s no one’s doormat. As much as she was put to the test several times she was a tough cookie. Camden was a bully and Abby’s fiancée was a monster. They are secrets and lots of angst moments and they are moments where you want to pull your hair out and moments that the cruelty is so bad that you despise Abby’s twin and in that moment Camden earns some brownie points. The cliffhanger was oh damn wow!!!! The secrets revealed left me in shock and I don’t know who Abby can trust anymore.
A rollercoaster ride of emotions, wrapped up in an intense storyline. Cruel Intentions had me laughing, crying, shouting, and feeling warm inside. There are twists and turns, and revelations I never saw coming.
I will just say that when this is called a DARK High School Bully Romance it’s not a lie – there are some moments that will make you question how you view situations both in the book and real life, and one scene in particular that made even me very uncomfortable at just how dark and twisted some characters were.
The FMC Abigail is such a brave and courageous person, but sometimes I feel like her bravado is naive and over the top. However, there are moments when I feel like she could be part of who we all aim to be as she questions the way she feels and tries to figure out a way to make sense of it all in her head. What I love the MOST about her though is that she doesn’t just roll over at the word “Sorry” from anyone, and my favourite part of the book is when she says…
“Sorry doesn’t magically make everything right… …You’re supposed to have my back. And you. Did. Nothing.”
The main male characters are an interesting combination of personalities that all seem to complement one another, and there isn’t just a blanket reaction from them. Instead, Siobhan Davis has taken the time to make sure each character she has interwoven into the story is its own entity, which with the amount of supporting characters we have is not an easy feat.
This story has definitely reeled me in, and I’m interested to see where it goes in the next instalment of Rydeville High Elite.
** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for review consideration **
’ve learned that when reading a book by Siobhan Davis, I’m always in good hands. It is why I trust her over and over and over again. I have followed her to countless different genres I would normally NEVER try, and each time, she has come through with the same excellent writing that first drew me to her work. Cruel Intentions is no different.
I was very nervous and hesitant going into this book. I knew that it was a genre type which I have not only never read before, but never really had any desire to read. She also let us beta readers know that there are some extremely difficult scenes in it, and that had me worried, as I’m in a bit of a vulnerable life stage currently. I almost thought, maybe I should sit this one out. But, I thought, well, time and time again, Siobhan has won me over, and made me love a genre that I never thought I would like. I trust her, and I LOVE her work, so because I have fomo (fear of missing out) I decided I’d give it a try, and if I just didn’t like it, or it was too much for me to handle emotionally, I’d let myself DNF (do not finish) if needed.
I’m so glad I took that leap of faith. This book is amazing. I know several other beta readers who are faster than I am were saying how much they loved the book and that it was her best book to date. This , and the fact that her writing has never let me down, helped me stay strong through the beginning part of the book. I’ll be honest, if I hadn’t been reading her books for so long, or known that so many other readers were loving it, maybe I wouldn’t have made it. There were times in the beginning of the book, where I thought, I just don’t know if I’m the right reader for this book. But I persevered, and I’m so glad that I did. If I hadn’t stuck with it, I would have missed out.
The other early readers are right. This is her best book to date, and that’s really saying something, because honestly, her work has been good from her very first book. I’m privileged enough to read her beta books, and I can tell you, her rough drafts are better than many authors finished copies. The lady has talent. I have watched her writing get even better with each book. The complexity of the plot in this book is exquisite. As always, her writing draws you in right from the beginning. I was reading this book during my lunch at work, and it was sometimes painful to drag myself away from my kindle and go back to work. I wish I could have just read it non-stop from start to finish. I am incredibly tempted to go back and read it all again start to finish, just to see all the little clues she planted along the way. I was so SHOCKED by the ending. And she ended with another cliffhanger, the cliffhanger queen lives on. I loved this book, and now I just need to know. When do I get book 2? Because I need it now.
I was very lucky to read a beta copy of this book.
I would recommend this book to : fans of the bully romance genre, and fans of Siobhan Davis with an open mind. This book was not my normal cup of tea, but I loved it.
***I received an ebook copy from the author at no cost***
I have some mixed feelings about this one. I love a good dark, twisted story, so I didn’t think twice about reading this. It’s definitely dark and twisted and Davis is a wonderful writer, so that aspect of the book was great. The story is where I’m on the fence.
There were a few things about this one that felt slightly manufactured to me. The characters were developed good, they fit the bill of bullies and victims, and Davis crafted some that I honestly despise and who can’t be redeemed for me. But it felt like some of the situations they were put in were very over-the-top and unrealistic. And that took away from the story for me.
I did enjoy Abigail. She has to deal with all kinds of crazy crap, inflicted by her family and the people around her, but she stands her ground and is strong throughout the story. I was rooting for her all along and wanted to jump into the book to help her deal with the bullies that seem to be everywhere in her world. She’s sassy and can defend herself when needed, but she’s also sweet and cares about the people closest to her.
This is my first time reading Davis’ work and like I mentioned above, she’s a fantastic writer who paints a picture using words. I’m definitely going to check out her other books, but I’m not sure the whole bully romance thing is for me. However, that’s not to say that fans of dark romances with this sort of theme wouldn’t enjoy this book. I just couldn’t get past the scenarios some of the characters wound up in.
Three stars to this novel!
Wow! Just wow! Just when I thought I had this story figured out, I’m thrown for another loop.
Abby and Cam have such a love
Hate relationship with each other and Siobhan Davis so brilliantly writes them a storyline that oozes with hatred and chemistry at the same
Time.
This is another book by Ms Davis that drew me in from the start and kept
My interest the entire time- she sure has a knack for doing that!
Book does contain possible
Triggers for some people and it does end on a very dramatic cliffhanger, but don’t let that stop you from reading this brilliant work! I highly, highly recommend this book! And any book by Siobhan Davis for that matter! She isn’t afraid to push the envelope and always takes us on an amazing journey
This book is another example of the brilliance of Siobhan Davis’ writing.
The start of a new series, Cruel Intentions peels back the lid on the local elite society in Rydeville. Ruled by the four founding families for generations, its peace is threatened, then shattered, by three new guys turning up at the local high school.
Abby, the daughter of one of the elite families, is engaged to Trent, the son of another. It’s s loveless match which has been arranged solely to strengthen business ties.
At breaking point shortly after her aunts funeral, she meets a mystery guy whom she shares a once-in-a-lifetime night with. my she’ll never see him again, she’s horrified that he turns up in her hometown, intent on upsetting the established order with his two friends.
What follows is quite a brutal tale of bullying, intimidation, violence and seduction as the old guard and the new order battle it out for control of local society. This book is not for the faint of heart. I like my romance dark, and this is a deep shade of black. Not so much the violence, but I’ve rarely read bullying and intimidation so visceral and breathtaking.
That said, it’s not overly gratuitous. The storyline necessitated such scenes to hammer the point home, but there were some parts I read with only one eye open.
I would recommend this book wholeheartedly though, as the storyline and writing are superb and I cannot wait to see where this series takes me.
Cruel Intentions is a novel set in high school, though its themes and content are not high school age appropriate. Trigger warnings for sexual assault, attempted rape, rape, physical and mental abuse.
Cruel Intentions is a bully romance. I’m not usually a fan of bully romances, so I was hoping Davis would change my mind. Unfortunately, she did not.
Cruel Intentions follows Abby as she navigates the treacherous water that is coming from a founding family of her town. Her future has been decided for her based on the needs of her father and his company. There are rules to be followed and everyone knows the consequences when those rules are broken until new players show up.
As I mentioned previously, Cruel Intentions does not shy away from its content like other novels with a similar storylines (The Royals by Erin Watt for example). The scenes are graphic and gut-wrenching at some points. This makes the stakes the characters are contending with more real and the situations more sinister.
Abby and the main love interest, Cam, have a complicated and fraught connection. It’s apparent from the beginning of the novel that this relationship will be dark, complex, and disturbing. Both Abby and Cam bring a lot of baggage to the relationship, so it’s only natural that their connection be difficult. Had Davis not steered into the darker aspects of their connection, their relationship wouldn’t feel genuine or earned. What I enjoyed most about this pairing were the glimpses of a healthy relationship that peak through. These moments are far and few between, but they make an impact.
There are so many twists and turns in the last half of the novel that I had a hard time keeping up. Some of the reveals land perfectly while others needed more groundwork to justify their importance.
Overall, Cruel Intentions is an intense bully romance that will keep you glued to the pages as Davis sets up a twisted social society and the secrets that support it.
My heart is pounding so hard, it may beat right out of my chest. Siobhan, you never cease to amaze me!!
Cruel Intentions is the start of Siobhan’s newest series, Rydeville High Elite, and boy does know how to get your heart pumping and body racing. I gobbled this book in one day. There was no way I could read this any slower, and I tried because I knew it was going to end in a cliffy. But I was so pulled in to this story that I wasn’t coming up for air. And I didn’t.
Rydevillle High is not your typical high school. The school (pretty much town) is run by the top four elite families and their generations-old idealism of how their world works. It is world were pre-arranged marriages still happen to keep the 4 elite families in place; women are only props and men rule. However, the school is where the boundaries are set and learned and carried out once the new generation is of age to takeover their fathers’ places.
However, there are a few within the inner circle that are sick of the old ways and are trying to shake things up. But there’s a new group of families trying to move in and take claim as the new leaders of Rydeville High. They want to shake things up differently.
When new lines are drawn between family and friends, no one can be trusted and everything becomes blurred.
I will be honest – I do this book no justice for how damn enticing it is. LOL There are some pretty intense and rough scenes that may upset some folks but this book is superbly well written. There is bullying and it’s taken to the next level but don’t let that stop you from reading. There is ALOT of teenage drama angst but OMG, I loved it. The sexual tension can be cut with a butter knife and it’s soooooo good. I want to say soooo much more, but I can’t. Just go read it.
Siobhan plays this book out beautifully. Every scene bleeds into the next perfectly and each piece to this puzzle is sprinkled well throughout the book. This book is rifled with tension, action, suspense, angst and drama and I loved every damn word of it. I’m no sure I have the patience to wait for the next one……I need more, NOW!!
Please note that this book is a bully romance. While I am not a fan of romanticizing the topic of bullying, this book is extremely well written, aside from that fact. I chose to not allow my personal issues with bullying go into this review but if you have any triggers that go along with bullying, please read this book with caution.
Who needs sleep when there’s a Siobhan Davis novel on your kindle? Not me and I’m definitely not going to sleep till I get the next book! Nothing is certain and nothing is sacred! Love is ugly and life is a brutal battle filled with more enemies than allies! David has proved ONCE AGAIN that she can craft a story that will leave you speechless and full of warring emotions! You never see anything coming and at this point I don’t even know who the good guys are!
An amazing angsty story that will have you on the edge of your seat and reading till you’ve read every last word!
Abby and her friends are part of the “elite” that rule Rydeville High and keep the social order within the school. That is until some new guys come to town…..
Enter Cam and the new elite who are ready to wreck havoc. There are so many twists and turns in this book it will keep you guessing. I loved this book and so many of the characters.
This book was one where I was so scared for it to end! There is a cliffhanger and book 2 will be out in August. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy.
Abby just wants to feel, so when a gorgeous hottie rescues her from herself one night, she bestows upon him the one thing she’s never given her cruel fiance. Why shouldn’t she give it away? It’s hers to give, and for her to choose. But when that same gorgeous guy appears at her high school, and he’s got disdain in his eyes for her and the Elite, it sets the stage for an epic bully adventure.
You see, Camden has a huge secret and Abby’s at the center of that secret. He can’t possibly have feelings for the girl he rescued, can he? The girl he despises and uses as a pawn in the game he’s playing.
But Abby’s no doormat, she gives as good as she gets. If only she knew the big secret that will rip her heart to shreds and send her world out of whack even more than it already was.
Phew, Cruel Intentions was a clusterfuck of craziness, over the top drama, secrets, and rage. It has shades of Vicious, (as do a lot of high school and bully romances lately), but it has a twist that sets it apart from all the other Vicious wannabes. I cannot wait for what’s to come next, because that cliffy has me going nuts!
In Abby’s world, the Elite rule. Abby is a high school senior and a member of the Elite. Like the other Elite, her family is old money with archaic traditions and far-reaching power. Trent’s family are also members of the Elite and he and his father are just as evil and unscrupulous as Abby’s father. Her marriage to Trent has been planned since she was a child, with no regard to her wishes. No one dares to challenge the Elite until them – Cam, Sawyer, and Jackson – the new money, the New Elite. And Abby is their target.
Abby is smart and strong and wants no part of the life her monster of a father has mapped out for her. In the prologue she is at a point of desperation and about to do something rash. She is saved from making a foolish decision by a nameless boy and he’s so warm and caring that it’s hard to reconcile that boy with the one she meets a few months later; Cam, the boy who leads the bullying and is unbelievably cruel. But Cam has a story too and it will change everything.
I didn’t even know where to begin with a review of this dark high school romance. I have a love/hate relationship with this genre and I very nearly didn’t finish this one. Around 33% in I was so enraged by the bullying that I didn’t think I could go on, so I jumped to the end of the book and what I read sent me straight back to where I left off. I just had to see how the story got from point A to point B. My mind is still spinning from the revelations in this cliffhanger ending and I am sincerely hoping that Abby and Cam’s story will be resolved in the next book because I don’t know if I can take another cliffhanger. This riveting, emotional, gut-wrenching twisted tale put me through the wringer and I could not put it down.
I am voluntarily reviewing an advance reader copy of this book
This was my first read from Siobhan Davis, and HOLY CRAP!
This book was crazy with the angst. If you love a lot of angst, like me, then you’ll love that aspect of this book.
Now I will say I feel like this one definitely leans more towards the Dark High school Romance genre with some of the themes in this book.
Good gosh some of these characters are definitely hate worthy. There are a few that I really hope get their justice along the way in this series.
As you may have noticed if you usually read my reviews I tend to always have quotes from the book, but I have none for this review because I sped through this dang book not wanting to stop and highlight, I just had to keep reading, it had me so enthralled.
Cam is definitely that character that you love to hate at first and then you start to like him more as the book progresses, but we definitely haven’t gotten to know him fully in book one, obviously because this is a series. I can’t wait to see more development from Cam in the future books.
I liked Abbey but felt horrible for her through what she has to deal with in the world of the Elite.
And don’t get me started on the Elite. They are some crazy ass people. Their whole world is so ass backwards.
This book will definitely have you on the edge of your seat the whole time, have you so frustrated, and just disbelieving at the intense craziness.
That’s one thing that doesn’t let up the whole book. You never know where it’s going next and then it ends with a bang.
After that ending I need book 2 pronto!
Siobhan definitely knows how to keep her readers hooked.
Abigail comes from a powerful family and was raised in a life of wealth and privilege however she would trade it all for her independence. Rydeville High is controlled by three men Charlie, Trent who is the man that her family requires her to have in her life and doesn’t want and her twin brother Drew so by default she is part of the group.
While the three men are away a new group has entered the high school which consists of Cam, Sawyer and Jackson. Due to the actions of one night she now finds herself caught in the middle about to become collateral damage and tormented by both sides.
The strength that Abigail shows throughout her ordeals is inspiring while you will both love and hate Cam but he will definitely make you feel. This is a dark and twisty story filled with so much drama and angst that escalates into an epic cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.
Overall Rating:
“I might be a pawn in a game I don’t want to play, but that doesn’t mean I can’t win.”
As I was reading and finishing Siobhan Davis’s Cruel Intentions, two questions/thoughts came to mind:
How much abuse of power can one heroine take onto her self?
Cruel Intentions is a modern day dark romantic Great Gatsby if Gatsby, Nick, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan were high schoolers.
Siobhan Davis is wise to include a warning for this book because it is indeed a dark bully romance to the highest degree. And it is everything wrong and right about this genre.
Now, to be fair, I am fairly new to this genre. I’m still trying to determine if it is my fare. I’m open to most romance. I don’t generally discriminate. However, this book oftentimes crosses a line that makes the reader a bit (or a lot) uncomfortable. Please keep that in mind if you intend to read this book. Davis is right in warning that the book includes “mature content, graphic sexual scenes [one, in particular, is VERY uncomfortable and could trigger someone with past sexual abuse], and cursing.” Take this warning to heart; it is very, very true.
Like Fitzgerald’s Gatsby, this book illustrates the tension between old and new money within the confines of an elite high school. On one side are the elite, the children of the founding families of Rydeville. This includes our heroine, Abigail (Abby). This group also includes her twin brother, Drew, her fiance, Trent, her best friend, Jane, and their friend, Charlie. They run the school, even more than the school administration. Their power comes from their families’ positions of power in history. They are wealthy, entitled, and supreme. However, their lives are constructed by their fathers, and their freedom, even the men, is controlled for the advantage of continued power.
On the other side is the new elite: Camden, Jackson, and Sawyer. They have recently blown into town to challenge the power of the elite. This group is as wealthy as the elite, but their money is “newer,” not founded in tradition. And their goal: to upend the elite from power. Or so it seems.
What we realize quickly is Camden (the leader of the new elite) and Abigail share a past, a chance one night encounter, and it causes Abigail problems when her brother, Trent, and Charlie leave town placing her in charge of the dynamics of their society. During their time alone, she is mercilessly bullied and bullies in return to protect herself. However, it also charges her attraction to Camden, complicating the existing power structure. Abigail’s place is challenged, and her forbidden attraction to Camden complicates her position in elite society. This complication causes much of the strife in this book. Will she gain power again? Will she and Camden truly find happiness, uniting the two sides, or are they destined to hate each other forever? Or will she be destroyed in the end?
This book has so many complications. For one, I think I struggle a bit with this genre: the dark bully high school romance. Yes, the book tells us that Abigail, Camden et al. are high school students, but they definitely do not act as such. They read like adults, just set in a high school. They are sexually experienced in ways that aren’t the norm for high schoolers, and they wield power like they are 40-somethings. I made several notes in my margins about my confusion over their ages because they do not read as high school aged. I share that because some people shun NA romance. If you like something such as dark romance, you could read this book and feel confident that you wouldn’t feel strange reading younger characters. They simply don’t seem to act like typical high-schoolers.
Secondly, as I mentioned at the outset of this review, I wondered time and time again how a heroine could take so much abuse because Abigail is abused on multiple fronts in this story. She is emotionally, mentally, and physically abused. Sometimes, it occurs in ways that are terrible. Yes, the blurb suggests that she holds power, and she uses it to her advantage at certain times, but her character takes on so much to her body and soul that I was often surprised that she survived it. Even more, I found it troubling at times. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE dark romance. I have no triggers for the type of treatment typical of dark romances, but, given that she is high school aged, it made my stomach crawl at times. That being said, I also could not put this book down, even when I was uncomfortable with the bullying/abusive situations. Keep that in mind when you decide to read this book. There is something addictive about this story and these characters.
Additionally, Abigail is quite the “badass” heroine. She has skills in so many areas from ballet to motorcycle riding to surveillance/hacking that you cannot help but admire her, even when she’s abused and brought to her knees (literally and figuratively). I think she represents a strong woman given the structure and cage of her life. She finds her power within those confines, and it is admirable.
Thirdly, the males of this story are fairly interchangeable. There is some crossover of personality with Charlie seemingly synonymous with Sawyer, Drew and Camden being fairly alike, etc. Trent and Jackson are standouts for very different reasons. Trent is horrible. You will hate him, and that is his intent. Jackson is the comic relief, which is necessary to relieve the stress of the story. And trust me, you will feel stressed throughout this story.
Now, one of the complications with the men is the triangle-ish nature of Jackson, Camden, and Abigail. Abby tells us that she will always choose Camden because she feels more with him, BUT I struggled with this. It felt as though she and Jackson had a similar depth of chemistry. Yes, Jackson uses humor and drugs to mask his pain, but I thought she could have easily chosen him, even over Camden. If I had any critical feedback for Davis, I would suggest that she create a deeper connection between Camden and Abbey in the next book, Twisted Betrayal. If the intent is Abigail; finds her HEA with Camden in the end, then I want to ensure that Jackson is NOT an option, as they too have undeniable chemistry.
I feel strongly that Camden and Abbey are a destined couple. They have a strong $exual chemistry. When we end on the cliffhanger of this story, your heart will feel broken from the betrayal between the two. And this is the point of this story. The reader should feel their pain and strife, which is a warning. There isn’t an ending to this book. Instead, we are left with lots of questions and very few answers. The book ends with our hearts in our throats and a deep pit in our stomachs.
Again, how much can or should a heroine take? I think in the coming books in this trilogy, Abigail will wreak havoc on this world and for good reason, much as Gatsby did in West/East Egg. If you love some serious drama, a lot of pain, and delicious darkness in your romance, then you should be reading Siobhan Davis’s Cruel Intentions. It is dark, dangerous, and devastatingly hot, much like Fitzgerald’s Gatsby.
When I get to the end of every book I read by Siobhan Davis, I say to myself, this is her best one yet! Cruel Intentions was no different. I just finished reading it (in one sitting, I might add, because I couldn’t put it down) and I’m trying to come up with words to convey just how riveting this story is, because right now?
I. Am. Stunned.
This story grips you from page one and never lets you go. You’ll be left just as stunned as I am right now. There is no way I’m going to give away any spoilers – you’ll just have to read it and then you’ll understand what I’m trying to convey here. Cruel Intentions is a high school bully romance told from Abby’s POV. I know what you might be thinking, and I know the bully genre is all the rage lately, but PLEASE trust me when I tell you this is unlike any other you may have read. It has everything…the angst and superb writing Siobhan Davis is known for, mystery, suspense, romance, love and yes, hot sexy times! I will warn you that this book ends on a doozy of a cliffhanger – so prepare yourself for that and for a nail biter of a wild ride! Be sure to read the bonus at the end for a little peek into Cam’s POV. Book 2 in the series, Twisted Betrayal, can’t get here soon enough!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I don’t even know where to start with this book. There are Few Authors I one click buy and Siobhan Davis is one because I know I’m about to get something amazing. Nothing prepared me for Cruel Intentions. I kept pressing the button on my Kindle at the end begging it to give me more. This book deserves so much more than 5 stars. It deserves a golden trophy. From the moment you read the first page, you’re hooked. I’m trying by best to keep this spoiler free but there’s so much I want to say. Bully Romances are all the rage right now but Siobhan Davis has a way of taking what’s being done and giving it so much more and adding her own flare to make it unforgettable. Cruel Intentions is so much more than just a bully romance. There’s action, secrets, twists, turns, and utter and complete shock. This is one of those rare finds, that special gem of a book that you’ll never forget and will stick with you forever. One that easily becomes a favorite and you read and reread it multiple times. This is one of those books that completely consumes you and leaves you thinking about it days, weeks, and months after you’ve finished it. If you’re having any doubts about reading it, DON’T. You will never regret reading this book. I think this my be the best book I’ve read of the year and my new favorite by her.
Cruel Intentions is the first book in the Rydeville High Elite series by the very talented, Siobhan Davis. Siobhan is the queen of angst! I have been addicted her books since I read Finding Kyler. Damn, she can write some angsty filled, twisted, and emotionally charged words. And Cruel Intentions is her next epic High School book full of it all. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will make this fast.
The elite. The Founding Fathers’ descendants. They rule the school. The students. The teachers. The administration. There is an order between everyone who attends Rydeville High. That was until the new elite showed up. New money vs. Old Money. There was now a line in the sand and Abby was caught in the middle of it. On the outside she was following all the rules. On the inside she rebelled against them. She was fighting to escape this world. Her father had other plans. The New Elite had other plans. She just wanted her freedom even if it costs her her life.
Will Abby pick a side? Will she find her way out of this cruel life? Will Cameron be the man she thought he was? Is anyone being real? Can she trust anyone in her life?
Sorry. I can’t say much more than that about the story. I will say that if I wasn’t preparing for a vacation and being on said vacation I would have read this book in one day! I crave Siobhan’s stories. They hook me in. The drama. The angst. The characters. The twists. Omg…the twists. Throughout the book I wanted to scream, kick some ass, and give out some hugs. I can’t wait for the next book. Holy cliffhanger. Thank God it’s coming out Mid-August.
Quotes:
“Please make me feel alive. Make me feel like me. Remind me why I should live.”
I’m speechless for once in my life. Because I can’t believe the arrogance of this guy. And I also hate he’s right.
“I think you’ve been put on this Earth purely to torment me,” he whispers, letting my wrists go so he can wind his hands into my hair. “I need you to hate me.”
“Oh, trust me, I’m already there.”
**I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
4.5 Stars
A high school bully romance filled with dirty secrets, lies, deceit and suspense. I had no idea what was coming next! I’m totally hooked and I want MORE!
Abigail was ELITE. She had the money and the family name to back it all up. Her group ruled the school…until the NEW Elite showed up.
The power has shifted, tables have turned and now she’s no longer the ruler…she’s being ruled!!!
Cam, Jackson and Sawyer have their own agenda as the New Elite. Abigail just needs to figure out what it is so that she can take back control. But she also has other plans. Her life is complicated by a father who thinks women play no role other than to marry and secure family alliances, along with a fiance she can’t stand to be around. That’s not the life she chooses. She’s trying to find her way out!
Lots of players in this twisted tale. Everyone seems to have a skeleton or two. You can’t trust anybody! It’s HOT, it’s ANGSTY, it has you wondering WHAT NEXT??? I had no idea what to expect and that was my favorite part. So many twists, and that ending!!! I cannot wait for book two!
This was only the beginning! These characters had me wanting more. So many layers to uncover with their own stories to tell. I am hoping for more of Jackson and Sawyer. If you love romantic suspense, bully romance, YA/NA with tons of heat…you found it!