Broken at Love - By Lyla Payne *Review*

Whitman University Series - Book 1 | Add to Goodreads
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When a knee injury ends twenty-year-old Quinn Rowland’s pro tennis career, he’s not only dumped by his hot Russian girlfriend but ordered to attend college by his disinterested billionaire father. A rich kid who’s not used to being disappointed by life, Quinn and his sociopathic half-brother Sebastian create a frat house game intended to treat girls how they see them—as simple game pieces to be manipulated for their pleasure.

College sophomore Emilie Swanson knows Quinn’s reputation—after all, he did send one of her sorority sisters into therapy earlier in the semester—but the game and his charm bring them closer together and soon she starts to believe there’s more to Quinn than people think.

But what if the more is something darker than a game of toying with emotions and breaking hearts?

Quinn and Emilie might be falling for each other, but there are secrets he’s not ready to tell—and lifestyle changes he’s reluctant to make. She willingly stepped on the court, but if Emilie finds out she started out as nothing as a pawn in Quinn and Sebastian’s twisted game, she might never forgive him.

To his surprise, Quinn finds that he might finally care about someone more than he cares about himself…even if that means letting Emilie walk away for good.

I feel the need to rename this book "Asshole's Redemption." The first chapter of this book had me in rage mode - think hulk but a 5'7" girl with curly hair = me. Quinn treats girls like shit because his tennis career came to an early end and he has nothing better to do. I'm not joking that's essentially what this idiot does. I'm going to forewarn you I'm a not pulling my review punches. He was a douchebag wallowing in self pity who needed a solid and resounding slap of reality. Quinn's brother is a wanker who should be checked into a psychiatric ward for excessive misogyny and manipulation. I don't think he even has real human emotions. Emilie is a bit of a pitbull, which is great because she refused to let Quinn treat her like all the other girls. Unknowingly of course because she really had no clue HOW much douchebaggery Quinn  was capable of. Typically Emilie is "not like the other girls" and spawns Quinn's self discovery mission to be a better person. They get their happily ever after and Quinn the asshole is redeemed. Buuuuuuut I couldn't feel sorry for Quinn, there wasn't a single part of me that was happy for him. I didn't think Emilie would forgive him because to me what he did was beyond a forgiving chat. I definitely did not like the whole "love will make you a better person." Why couldn't Quinn just grow up and stop acting like a spoiled baby? With or without Emilie there to be his purpose?

I like the way Payne writes and despite hating pretty much every character I still managed to finish the book so there is something to be said about that. 

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3AM Kisses - By Addison Moore

3:AM Kisses Book 1 | Add to Goodreads 
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Baya Brighton is looking forward to her first year at Whitney Briggs University, new friends, dorm life, and finally being close to her brother again. Love is the last thing on the list, but when Baya meets her brother’s roommate she begins to have thoughts and feelings that make even her blush.

Bryson Edwards has a secret he prefers buried in the past and long forgotten. He prefers loose girls, fast cars, and long nights working at the string of bars his family owns. When his roommate’s sister shows up on the scene, she’s far too innocent and sweet for him but he can’t shake Baya out of his mind and worse, it looks like she’s seeping into his heart as well.

Baya seems determined to show her brother she’s not a little kid and equally determined to use Bryson’s body to prove her point. It’s been made pretty clear that Baya is off limits to Bryson but their undeniable sparks explode into a whole lot more than just a few 3:AM KISSES.

Why didn't I like this book? The story drove me nutty. Baya is a "good girl" and by "good girl" I mean she's a virgin and hasn't done anything socially crazy ever. She is more likely to stay home and study etc. Doesn't sound bad until you couple this idea of a "good girl" with the concept of  being worthy of love and good treatment. I was practically foaming at the mouth at the assumption that because Baya was a virgin and hadn't been out partying whatever she was therefore deserving of better treatment than girls who have slept with many guys and party often. Those girls are whores and sluts, you can sleep with them and leave no questions asked. They don't deserve love, good manners and definitely don't take them home to see your parents, right? WRONG. WRONG WRONG. This idea that there are good girls and bad girls with one being the forever kind of girl you treat well and the other being a hussy who you sleep with and leave is ARCHAIC. ALL girls regardless of how many bed partners they have or haven't had are deserving of respect and a loving, committed relationship. It's ridiculous societal values such as the "good girl vs. bad girl" that give males the right to treat females like shit. Bryson has slept with many women at College but he treats Baya differently because of the whole "good girl" concept. What example is this giving young adult women?! Another misconception is that "bad boys" need a "good girl" to make them a better person and change their ways. Yeah, okay that can work but it's not the rule for gods sake! Just because you've slept with more than 0 men doesn't mean you can't also inspire someone to want to be a better person. These implied beliefs lock female sexuality into a do not open cupboard so when the "right guy" comes around you're still the good girl worthy of love. BAHUMBUG! They also perpetuate a culture where women believe their sexuality is the most important characteristic in determining their worth to men. I can't stress how important it is to know that 1) your worth as a person shouldn't be reliant upon men. EVER. 2) If a male doesn't treat you with respect, regardless of sexual experience, he's an asshole. 3) Good girl and bad girl is a make-believe concept developed by idiot fathers back in the middle ages when virginity was a prize to barter off to highest bidder. Keep it in your pants, don't keep it your pants - do whatever the hell you want because this is the 21st Century and you're a grown woman!

So there you go. I did like Moore's writing despite my issues and I will probably read another book in this series hoping for something a little more modern because I'm a firm believer in second chances.  

xxx Literary George