Review: pleasantly surprised
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2014
This book teetered between UA book and over 18 mature content....bottom line enough maturity for me to really enjoy it. I was concerned starting this book knowing the characters were in high school. It sounded interesting so I decided to give it a shot and I was not disappointed.First let me say the bullying that took place in this book could rival inmates at a prison and how this went on with only one suspension is beyond me. Between the name calling, hair cutting, beaten and kicked until you pass out,  head getting slammed into the bathroom sink, getting beaned in the head with a milk carton, food dumped on you, humiliation of someone making you clean up their mess, tires slashed....I could go on! For this reason it was not quite 5 stars for me...too over the top.So you have Elle and Chloe the two girls with targets on their backs, you get flash backs through out the book that start to put the peaces together mostly for Elle. Chloe has a story that is still a mystery (how she got her scars) and I have a feeling she may be the story line in the next book...connection with Nero's brother? Elle and Chloe are just trying to survive, don't look up, don't be a alone, don't engage...Elle stays at the school after her father is in a bad accident and looses his job just to protect Chloe. Elle is on scholarship and has to work every night in a bad part of town as a waitress to help pay her way. She has lied to her parents so they have know idea what is happening or where she works.....she has gotten very good and hiding things. While all the bullying is happening no one seems to care or are too afraid to say anything and that make me so sad! While Elle drove me crazy with all her tight lipped "I refuse to tell on anyone" she was strong had spunk and did not whine....while you may not agree with her you did understand.Nero and his crew are mini mobsters in the making and they are thugs you can't help but like. Nero was without a doubt born an alpha male, very protective, controlling and does not like to be told "no". Without spoiling anything...something happens one night while Elle is at work that puts her on Nero's radar and what starts out as one thing turns into something else. The author does a good job at balancing the many nuances of the characters. Things that would or should bother you that Nero and his crew do, you applaud because these kids are so horrible! Call me sadistic but what happens to the evilest of them all, Cassandra, and by who had me smiling....and am not a violent person by nature at all!The author kept things interesting, did not make the main teenagers teenybopperish, no one giggled thank goodness....they seemed like 18 year olds that had to grow up a lot faster than normal because of their circumstances and it seemed to make them more mature and relatable. I enjoyed her style of writing and she made the heat factor between Elle and Nero appropriate, with good build up, great chemistry. She gave you time to enjoy watching their relationship grow and proceed as you would expect from a VERY experienced Nero and a "never even been kissed" "I don't trust anyone" Elle......I never felt that this or any other part of the story dragged it kept me engaged the whole time.I look froward  to reading her next book!