What do you do when the devil has you in his sights?You show him that you can play his game.Austin Lowes is new to town. She’s running from a mom who hates her to her dad who cares nothing about her. Only a few months and she will be free, or at least, that’s what she hopes … until she meets him.Cole Reynolds is the devil disguised as a man. He wants her fear, he wants her blood, and he wants … wants her blood, and he wants her soul.
Just a little game, he says, I dare you.
Will Austin survive him, or will she lose herself and the game?
Secrets are revealed and justice will be served, but at what cost?
Who survives and who doesn’t?
Due to mature content and themes this book is recommended for readers aged eighteen and over. I Dare You is a full-length novel, 123k words. The first in the Dare Series, but can be read as a standalone.
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This was a unexpected, dark, scary book. Didn’t think I would enjoy a book about teenagers in high school but don’t let that stop you from reading it. My only con was that the book was 100 pages too long. Unexpected ending, really good book though.
Another great book by Shantel Tessier! How do go from hating Cole so much to absolutely loving him!! This book was Dark, Sexy, suspenseful, emotional and full of so many surprises. The ending- wow! I didn’t see that coming. All I can tell you is RUN – GRAB THIS BOOK AND READ IT ASAP. You will love it. I Dare You!
Cole Reynolds is in control of what is going on around him and even when it appears that he is in over his head he knows what his ultimate goal is and will not let anything or anyone get in his way. He will use anyone to obtain his goal and along with his friends they are known as the Great White Sharks.
Austin Lowes is being shipped off to her father’s after her mother’s boyfriend kicks her out. She is used to taking care of herself and walks a fine line of getting into trouble and finding her place.
When Cole and Austin meet under not so good circumstances, Cole sees a way in and another person he can use to get to his end. But when Cole discovers that Austin brings out another side of him he must decide how much the dares are worth to him and what he is willing to give up.
This was such a great book and so much more than I was expecting!
When the book started I was shocked at Cole and what he was doing when he first met Austin but then slowly you learn about this huge backstory and how everyone is involved in it. I hated the “dares” that seemed to come out of the group but you soon learn about the revolving group dynamics and how so much more is at play than you could have possibly imagined.
I thought Austin was such a great character. She had such a crappy life with her mother that I was happy she got a brand new start with her father but you soon learn that even that arrangement may be temporary. I loved Austin’s attitude and I was super happy when she became friends with Becky and how close they became. I loved how that threw another curve ball into everything else that was going on.
There was so much mystery in this book about why everything was happening and who was all to blame for events in the past. I was shocked at so much of the things that were revealed as the book went along.
The different dynamics in the book were so interesting to read about and you felt like everyone was a chess piece on a giant board and you never knew who was going to make the next move.
The book was absolutely awesome and I can’t wait for more from this author!
– By Rebecca
Have you ever read a book thinking that you have it figured out, then read the next sentence and think WTF! This book is that and more. I read it in one day because I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I hope that she writes a follow up book to continue with the Sharks story or at least Dekes and then Lily.
I stayed up WAY too late to finish this one, and despite my many reservations, I was not at all disappointed.
It should be known going in that this is not a pretty story. This is a dark romance with lots of heavy, ugly and potentially triggering themes. Do not read if violence, sexual abuse or manipulation tactics are an issue for you.
Lots of money, tons of secrets and a world full of self loathing paint this dark high-school age story. I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of revenge romance, or sex with a side of violence. I don’t understand it, it’s not my thing. It works here, however, and if you are like me I would say just stick with it when you are tempted to put the book down and walk away.
Austin finds herself stuck with Cole and his friends after witnessing something she shouldn’t have seen. From there, it’s blackmail and game-play as she and Cole forge a shaky relationship built on image and manipulation. There are so many underlying issues and secrets with every character in the story that it’s hard to know where to put your trust or what even to hope for in terms of where the story is going.
At the end of the day this was a really engaging read and while I may not understand people like Cole or Austin, they are well matched and an interesting pair of characters.
Recommend this if you need a dark change of pace and like feeling like throwing books across rooms and strangling fictional characters. 😉
I loved Cole and the GWS!!! It was a fantastic story that i couldn’t put down.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Strong female character, lots of angst, and eventually a HEA.
This book completely blew my mind- in a great way. I am a huge fan of twisted books, and this one was like a freaking pretzel!
Saying that our leading lady, Austin Lowes, has not had an easy life is an understatement. The book begins with her being charted off to her father and stepmother’s place. We get the picture super fast that she has no one in her corner and is not super excited about the change, but it is better than the alternative with being with her mother and her boyfriend.
Austin just has to make it to her 18th birthday where she can be in charge of her life and make her own decisions.
Cole is as troubled as troubled can get. He is fiercely loyal in his own messed up way though and will make sure that no one touches what is his. Also, the term “I Dare You” means something to him. Do not dare him if you are not prepared for the consequences.
I do not want to get too in depth and give away what happened in this book, let’s just say that if you like dark and gritty- you will love this book.
The characters, ALL of them, are perfect and descripted in an amazing way. I give major props to this author. I was hooked and will be definitely checking out other books by her.
I give this a 5 out of 5!
PS: I received this book for free in return for my honest feedback.
Wow! I don’t even know where to start. The best place, I think, is my overall thought while (and after) reading Austin and Cole’s story; intense. Intense is defined as, “acute, strong, or vehement, as sensations, feelings, or emotions” and “having or showing great strength, strong feeling, or tension, as a person, the face, or language”. Both of those describe so many things with I Dare You – the storyline, the characters, the twists and secrets, and my emotions while reading. It was fantastic! That being said, it is definitely not for everyone. The storyline is very dark, acts of violence are described (sometimes in detail), and the main characters are still in high school with Austin being 17 for most of the story. Descriptions of sex among the main characters, as well as abusive/controlling behavior are also described. If you like dark reads and like to escape reality for awhile, I definitely recommend checking this one out.
Austin is a bada$$! She is fierce, independent, strong, smart, and loyal. My heart broke for her and the life she has had to live. I was also proud of her for the way she she didn’t cower, she could hold her own, even in the most difficult of situations. Cole was frustrating at times, but I just knew that deep down he wasn’t as bad as he came across or thought of himself. He also had a rough and heartbreaking past. Could these two broken, but oh so strong, souls be just what each other needed? Or would they end up destroying one another? There were quite a few supporting characters who played major rolls in Austin and Cole’s life as well. There were many secrets revealed throughout. As they were uncovered, they revealed twist after twist after twist. My heart stopped at one point in the epilogue, although I’m not going to spoil it by revealing what happened. You’ll just have to read it for yourself to see.
*I voluntarily reviewed an author provided copy of this book. This is my honest review.*
I have to start off by saying that I was impressed with I Dare You. I didn’t realize that it was a YA genre, and there are very few in that class that I can or will read. While this is worthy in comparison to a few other popular YA books, the story has merit all on it’s own. It has a maturity level that you sometimes don’t find in YA novels.
I Dare You is saturated with games, secrets and emotions. Everyone seems to have a game of their own, and the games that are played are manipulative and undermining. The limits and boundaries are pushed in this game of dare on steroids. The heroine is unbridled and shows tenacity in order to prove she can swim with the sharks.
The plot was suspenseful and full of excitement, the characters are mysterious and amply developed. The climax is dramatic and exhilarating. I recommend this to those who enjoy dark erotic suspense reads.
4.5* Great White Sharks
This book is mind blowing!!! It keeps you at the edge of your seat with the crazy suspense, insane plot twists oh and the VERY hot & sexy scenes!!
Cole is an alpha male all the way. Issues from his youth have taken him on path of revenge and letting nothing get in his way. Until he meets Austin!
Sent to live with her father that she barely knows, Austin comes across the sharks by accident, unable to escape their games, until she becomes part of them.
The chemistry between Austin & Cole will leave you wanting more! So crazy and twisted but so so good!!!
I couldn’t put this book down and was in total shock at the way things played out. Bravo to the author!!! Could not have been more perfect!!! This was my first book by this author and I now plan to devour the rest!
This book was insane, it was crazy, lots of what the hell is happening right now but I say this in like in the best way possible.
I was recommended this book by my book buddies and I am so glad I one clicked and read it. This book sort of reminded me of Corrupt by Penelope Douglas, B.B. Reid Fear me series and Amo Jones Elite kings series.
From the moment I started this book, I was intrigued and couldn’t put it down. It sucked when I had to put it down because I had work otherwise I would have had this book read already. One thing I loved was that it was a long book but I wish there was more. Especially more in the years after.
God I loved cole, he was insufferable at times. He was cold, rude, ruthless, craves pain, blood and fighting. His story will make you feel all the feels, the pain, the suffering and the guilt he has been dealing with. He was devious. He was dangerous. He was angry most of the time. You didn’t know whether to give him a hug or shake him to wake him up. But one thing you can’t help but do, is love him.
Austin, the heroine, I love her. She is goals, she feisty, stubborn and so strong. Loved that she could stand up for herself and could give as good as she takes. She is someone cole needs, he needs someone with her strength and that is what makes these two perfect for one another.
When new girl in town Austin Lowes finds herself in the sights of the crew of dangerous men where they like to play games. A game called I dare you! It instantly becomes a battle of daring to beat Cole and his friends in their dangerous and daring games. But when lines get crossed between her and Cole, will his need for Austin’s blood and fear get in the way of final justice and vengeance.
With the connection and chemistry they have and the secrets and lies being revealed, will it be too late to tell each other how they really feel.
Boy was this book good , so good in fact. I’m so sad to say goodbye to all the characters. Especially cole, Austin, deke, Becky, Shane and Bennett.
It starts out as torture, as a game & they absolutely hate each other. There were twists and turns. Secrets and lies. Blood and death, and revenge, lots of revenge.
This book had me twisting for days! I loved it. It was angsty and had just enough of what the @@@@ was going on! I was pulling for Cole even when I wanted to slap him like Austin! When the reveals finally starting I didn’t see that coming at all! What a ride!
I really enjoyed “I Dare You” By Shantel Tessier a lot more than I was initially expecting.
And although this was a very long read it still managed to engage my attention throughout.
I was actually rather sad to finish this and leave such a vibrant cast behind.
So this was my first experience with this author but I can honestly assure you it definitely won’t be my last.
From the very moment I started reading this, I was absolutely transfixed and invested in this addictive storyline.
The characters portrayed here were vividly brought to life against it’s colourful backdrop.
And as well as an extremely interesting and ultimately flawed H & h there was also a fantastic supporting cast running alongside them.
This was told in dual POV which is my all-time favourite.
“I Dare You” also had for me, just the right amount of angst and drama to strike a balance of interest without totally alienating the reader.
And although Cole is a complete and utter dick to Austin throughout this, I still couldn’t help rooting like a one-woman cheer squad for the pair of them.
So this is really not kittens and rainbows, just saying.
Please go into this with your eyes wide open as this story ultimately centres on an extremely toxic YA relationship.
The kind that really isn’t healthy and you definitely wouldn’t want your daughter in.
But that is actually half the draw here, watching these two damaged individuals play a silent game of chess with each other, where the rules are so obscure they actually seem to be made up as they go along.
This is also plenty kind of hot.
Where were these young sex gods when I was a nipper myself.
Totally unrealistic if I’m being real but do I care? not really I enjoyed all the steammy shenanigans like sooo much.
I also adored the cover image here.
I felt it represented the story fabulously and was super eye-catching.
I Cant recommend “I Dare You” enough it was a super read that was full of twists and turns throughout.
Give this fast-paced read a go I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of “I Dare You” of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This book was so exciting! The main characters, Cole and Austin, we’re so interesting and unpredictable . The hea is amazing!!!
WOW!! I am so Blown Away by just how Awesome this book is! First let me say this happens to be my first Shantel Tessier book and I am anxious to get my hands of everything else she has written! I Dare You was like nothing I have read before! I Loved every second of it! There were so many surprises and twists that keep you guessing. Full of secrets and lies, it was beautiful and dark. I devoured this book in one sitting! I just couldn’t get enough! Cole is my new book boyfriend! I Loved and hated him! He is in a category all to himself! Full of hate, anger, pain and his need for blood, he had me completely mindfu*ked! Like a jigsaw puzzle I needed to figure out! He made my pulse race, waiting to see what he would do next! Austin was tough, she was out to prove herself. I easily loved her and wanted to wrap my arms around her. She finds herself thrown to the sharks, but they never expected her to be one. These characters had me so emotionally unstable. I screamed and hyperventilated throughout most the story with all the thrilling yet dangerous situations these characters get themselves into. So much suspense to keep you wondering, nothing could have prepared me so some of these truths! My heart bled and I cried a few times. I swear I was a basket case! But it was oh so worth it! The chemistry between Cole and Austin was hot enough to burn you! I loved their Hate/Love relationship! It was hot as Fudge! lots of sexy as sin swoon worthy moments! I Dare You is easily makes my top 10 books for this year! Tessier is a talented writer, I can’t wait to see what else she has written. I DARE YOU to Read this book!!! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cole is just really intrigued by his woman, “I prefer when I thought you were trying to kill me over small talk,” she snaps. I smile. Yeah, there’s something about Austin Lowes that I like. A lot.” Cole is a bossy one, “you ride with me to and from school,” I tell her. “You may not be mine yet, but to everyone else, you already are.” Then I walk out, not giving her a chance to argue.” Cole wears his battle scars proudly, “the hickey I gave him on his neck is very visible.” Cole really knows how to work his woman, “his lips softly kiss up to my ear. “Pain turns me on, Austin.” He presses his hips into mine and he’s hard. And just like that, I melt like effing butter. Stay strong! You’re mad at him. “Want me to take you out to my car and eff you?” Man oh man did I love this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat, Cole was just so alpha and bossy you couldn’t help but fall in love with him.
I Dare You by Shantel Tessier. I Dare You is a Sports Romance/Suspense Read. Shantel Tessier is one of my favorite authors, and have read most of her books. I was so excited to get to read I Dare You. Shantel Tessier is a very talented writer who had me from page one of this read. This story was awesome;I really connected with the characters. The story flows and the characters are so relatable. The chemistry these two characters have was sizzling hot. I Dare You is about a girl named Austin who Is running from a mother who hates her, and a father who cares nothing about her. Only a few months and she will be free, or at least, that’s what she hopes until she meets Cole. Cole Reynolds is the devil disguised as a man. Cole is a man that gets what he wants when he wants it, and he wants Austin. Austin is a woman who loves a good challenge and sees Cole as a Challenge. Austin and Cole have a love/hate relationship, will the relationship last? I loved this book from start to finish! If you are looking for a sexy keep you on the edge of your seat type of book then look no further!
“I’m treading water, but the water’s too deep, and he’s circling me. He smells like the blood and is just waiting to strike. Waiting to pull me into the darkness where he’ll eat me alive.”
First of all, let me just say that I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a long time!! It just made my little twisted heart so happy!! The twists and turns, the utter and complete messing with your mind, it was intoxicating!! It had my heart racing, my cheeks hot, and my brain all muddled up…I never saw most of it coming, and when it did, it blew me away!! I absolutely devoured it in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down!!
“This man is the devil himself, but I’ve never been afraid of hell.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
5 INCREDIBLE STARS!!! This may be the first book I’ve read by Shantel Tessier, but it definitely won’t be my last. This story drew me in from the very beginning and I couldn’t put it down. The characters are remarkable and extremely well written. Shantel keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout this book. I highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more of Shantel’s work.