Title: A Hurt So Sweet (Elite of Eden Falls Prep Vol.2)
Author: Betti Rosewood
Genre: Dark High School Bully Romance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I received this novel from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
Because my review of this series book one was extensive and not favorable I am reviewing this second book against the first. I will not be repeating former criticisms in grudge form so any comments herein are specific to Volume Two.
You know when you are fully aware that something awful is happening but you have hopes that some divine intervention will save you from the horror? Well, the cliffhanger of Volume One did its job and allowed the moment of dire catastrophe to breathe. It gave the reader the hope that ill-will would somehow dissolve. Betti Rosewood is not going to be your white knight and just as Pandora is screwed and bound for destruction so are we as readers. We will not be saved and at this point, divinity has forsaken us all.
As a cruel taskmaster would do Rosewood pushes this story further and further into Pandora’s hell. I dislike Pandora as a character. She is annoying and pure nonsense upon nonsense for nothing more than nonsense’s sake but still, I can’t stand to watch the continued torture. While I feel very much like Pandora’s characterization may not be able to be brought up to a point where she is anything more than a poorly portrayed pornstar; the suspense and sense of futility Rosewood sinks the reader into during Pandora’s POV is something with which is beginning to truly exact punches.
However, I will say that Dexter, Caspian, Julian, and Lai are written far better than Volume One. The interjection of Dexter’s POV backstory is fantastic for fleshing out his damage and baggage. He’s disgusting and horrible but his motivations are more reasonably understood. I loathe that Rosewood is making me feel like he is the most redeemable character in this tragedy.
While the portions of the story of patriarchs/male Firstborn are getting better and stronger the females only get worse. We see for the first time Lily Anna and she is as one dimensional as Pandora. Every time Lily Anna and Pandora interact with Dexter or–a new character named Easton is introduced in this novel–Pandora with Easton it falls apart. The psychology of these two is so poorly based that it makes no sense. Pandora continues her whingy claims that Emilian or Dexter will be bothered with her mistreatment while having no reason to believe so at this point. And Lily Anna’s shallowness and cruelty feels pinned into the story rather than tattooed to a specific purpose. Both Pandora and Lily Anna lack form. While neither of the female MCs is likable I still wish that there would be a chance that I understood why Dexter would feel something for either of them. His fascination with Lily Anna makes him look stupid rather than complex.
Ultimately, this book is much better than the first. I’m giving it three stars based on the first and not necessarily on what I would give it against other novels.
Title: A Hurt So Sweet (Elite of Eden Falls Prep Vol. 2)
Author: Betti Rosewood
Genre: Dark High School Bully Romance
Release Date: October 20, 2019
Summary:
Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but my bullies will never f*ck me.
Dexter Booth has taken everything from me.
My pride, my innocence and my resolve to resist him have all fallen prey to his wicked charm.
And now, he wants to pop my cherry – the very thing that could save me from his cruel reign.
Worse than that though, he’s intent on sharing me with his entourage – the Firstborns of Eden Falls Prep.
There are three boys desperate to steal me. Lai. Caspian. Julian. All eager to get their hands on Dex’s property.
When a fourth boy joins the mix, I find an unlikely ally. Easton is kinder. Sweeter. But he might just be the most messed up of all my bullies.
I promised myself this town would never break me. I made a vow to run before Dexter knocks me up.
But when running is no longer an option, I realize the choice was never mine to begin with.
It’s Dexter who has to pick.
My bully will decide whether he’ll put a baby in my belly…
Or ruin me and finally have revenge on my father – the man who destroyed his life.
About Betti Rosewood:
Betti Rosewood is an author of new adult romance. She writes angsty, sexy novels about men who like to taunt the women they love.
When she’s not working on her next book, Betti is probably shopping for makeup or candles (it’s an addiction).
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