Eden O'Neill

This is a low 3 stars. The premis sounded great, even though I'm not into bully romance. The story was...interesting. I think some of it was just off the wall. The reason the MC and his besties hated and tortured the FMC was just ridiculous. And I know bullies in general harrass people for no good reason, but without spoiling it, this reason was really dumb. They were literally mad at her because she got in the way of something that she couldn't have possibly been aware of, and they attacked her as if she had done it maliciously. And then she had no reason as to why they despised her. The FMC was firey and didn't let them intimate her, which I loved.

The writing was okay, but I could have used more editing/polishing. There were a few cringe things, but that wasn't the issue. The repeptition of words and phrases was the problem. A character would mention something, and then within the next paragraph (sometimes within the next few sentences) would literally repeat it. It happened frequently enough to be annoying, and it took me out of the story. The fact that the MC and his friends were brothers, family was overstated. It was evident in their relationships and interactions. It didn't need to be stated time after time within the text.

It ended on a cliffhanger, which I absolutely hate. The spice was just enough, considering they were high schoolers (of legal age). The story wasn't bad, if really convoluted. Despite the parts that irritated me and that it wasn't what I expected, I might be invested to check out the next in the series.… (mer)

Prepare yourself for heartache. This is not a Disney story by any means. HOWEVER at the heart of our story *is* an amazing young lady with a warrior heart, determination, and many emotional scars from her numerous trials. Having lost her mother to cancer at age eight, December (or Em as her sister Paige called her) and then raised by her maternal aunt while her cold father and big sister moved across country... that was just the start of what December used gone through. Their father had never been easy to live with. The complete opposite of her free spirited mother, he was all about control and never showed emotions or outward love toward his daughter. Older sister Paige would often have enough of his regime and appear as if by magic in the middle of the night . So when Paige originally vanished into thin air everyone assumed it was just her usual self dictated time out to give herself a breather. However months later with no contact had December uprooting her own life and moving back in with the ice man himself. All in the hopes her big sister would hear she'd moved in with their dad, and would swoop in just to whisk December back to their aunties house. After all the girls weren't just sisters, they were dear friends even growing up in different states. Which is why Paige vanishing like this with zero contract was so unusual. Little did Em know it wouldn't be the first strange thing. Starting over where nobody knows her is not easy. Especially with the insane rules at home by her father. He's dictating everything from what she's to eat (or not eat), how she'd get to/from school, to getting her a job without her input. The last thing she expected upon arriving at this uppercut school was to learn her out and proud did had been BFF's with the head clique at school. Likened to a fraternity, The Court basically ran the school and that includes faculty. How do they have so much control of everyone, and why? Why was Paige so close with not just The Court, but the head man himself Royal Prinze? Her head was spinning with all this new info and the crazy new world she'd entered. Her only hope was she'd hear from Paige soon. This book is a great introduction to this new series. I ADORED December/Em. What she's already endured in her young life makes my heart hurt, and it looks like she's got more bumps ahead. This book does a great job of introducing the main players. Be warned... It does NOT get wrapped up in a neat little bow. This is just book one and rightly so leaves us wanting more, more, more! One things for certain I'm cheering for Em every step of the way! I've a feeling the actions of her father in the end of this book were NOT by his choice. I for one think there are other forces at play that we've yet to see. I'm hoping Royal and Em end up.helping each other heal their pain, and find true friendship or more together. I'm also thinking book two will have even more bombshells. We met the players and have a rough lay of the land, and now it's getting REALLY interesting! I pity the idiot that underestimated both Em and Royal. I think on their own they're both formidable; watch having endured much. Yet together I think they can conquer absolutely ANYTHING. I can't wait to see them get justice and answers!!! I'll definitely be cheering from the sidelines… (mer)

Just, WOW!!! Prepare yourself for some crazy reveals in this one! Poor December certainly has gone through her fair share of crap! She's still piecing together exactly what happened to her beloved big sister. Maybe she's one step closer by the end of this book? Both December and the readers minds are all confused as to who to trust by the end of this one. Can she trust her friends? Does her father really love her, and the ice routine is just an act? A new player joins the board, and I for one hope he's truly on December's side!! I'm also curious who exactly her sisters married mystery woman was....I have my own thoughts, but not sure. This whodunit left me speechless and wanting more!!… (mer)