With a broken heart, and a deep sadness running through her veins she picked up the pieces and forced herself to move on. After all, what better place to start fresh than at University of California, Berkeley?
That is until the day she finds out Rex got accepted to Berkeley too, and that he will be following her off to college. To add salt to the wounds, it seems as if he will do anything to win her back. With Rex, on the prowl and her heart being the prey can she resist his advances towards her?
Even more so can she move on from the vengeful things he once did and fall into a deep bittersweet love? Or will the hate, lies, and secrets break them beyond repair? Is love really capable of healing all wounds or is everything still just a lie?
***Bittersweet Love
is the second book in this series and should be read after reading Bittersweet Revenge to fully understand
the background and story. There may be
possible spoilers in this review if you have not read book 1 yet***
Jenna and her best friend Mimi left the bullshit of high school
behind and headed off to college but unfortunately they were unable to leave
Corey and Rex behind as well. Jenna is
still hurt over what Rex did to her and has no plans on ever forgiving the boy
who got her to trust and fall in love with him only to find out that it was all
a lie. I was so happy when Jenna finally
found her voice and didn’t take anyone’s bullying, especially from Corey, the
guy who spread nasty rumors about her and made her life hell in high school. I’ll admit I think she should have made Mimi
work harder for her forgiveness even though she only played a small part.
Rex is trying to get Jenna to forgive him and give him a
second chance. He fell in love with her
and didn’t want to hurt her even though he kept the truth from her. He will do
anything to just even be friends with Jenna.
He is miserable without her. I
really had loved Rex in the previous book, but after I found out what he did I
wanted to hate him, but I just couldn’t.
He earned back my love in this book by working to win Jenna back after
he messed up so horrifically.
I enjoyed reading both novellas for this series. They are both quick reads that kept my
attention and wanted to see what would happen next. This series reminds me a lot of the Fall Away series by Penelope Douglas
which is another series that I absolutely love.
I will continue to read this series because with the way she ended this
novella, I need to know what happens with Corey and Mimi.
~ Book Links ~
Bittersweet Hate Book 3 Amazon Pre-Order
~ Excerpt ~
“Jenna.” His voice is deep and honeyed just as I remember it. There are no hard feelings between us now, but it doesn’t mean that being around him doesn’t remind me of my ex. Hell, that’s his twin it’s like looking at a clone of him.
“Ryder.” I say hesitant. It’s impossible not to have some type of affect when he talks to you. His voice makes you want to melt into him, to give into every single demand he has, and he's a very demanding man.
“Long time no see beautiful.” I find myself leaning into him, but pull away immediately afraid he may have noticed. He’s right, long time no see. It’s been four months since I last talked to him. I tried my best to ignore him but he slowly got under my skin and we created this friendship that was easy going. He knew what it was like to be me, and that was it.
“Don’t call me beautiful, and sorry I’ve been busy. I didn’t even know you were living in this area.” I was shocked by the courage in my voice. Since Rex, I’ve been able to speak my mind and talk for myself more. Instead of being Mimi’s shadow I create my own.
A smile creeps onto his face, tingles go down my spine. The kind I use to get when Rex smiled at me. Yup, there’s still an effect there.
“But you are beautiful so I’m just speaking the truth. As for why I’m here, I’m sure you already know that. As you know, where Rex goes I go. So now, I will grant you my wonderful presence.” Great. The arrogance oozes from him reminding me of why I use to consider him an asshole.
“That’s great and all, but you and your brother can just go back to wherever it is you came from. No assistance from any of the Winchester’s is needed here.” I say as nice as humanly possible. Instead of taking a sip of drink, I down the rest of the glass unable to deal with this situation anymore without more alcohol in my system.
I get up to get another drink, but am pushed back into the booth. I look up angrily at Ryder as he smiles down at me. “Allow me to get it for you, I'll be right back.” I ease back allowing him to do this one thing for me. What could go wrong it’s just a drink?
In no time he’s back with my drink, and a drink of his own. He slides into the booth, just as I take my first sip of the beverage.
“Are you even old enough to be drinking?” He asks. I look up at him astonished by his question.
“Are you?” An arrogant-assholish smile mares his face and I feel myself getting that urge to punch him again.
“No, but no one ever worries about whether I’m old enough to drink.” He says, taking a gulp from his beer bottle. I glare at him over the top of my drink, shaming Mimi for leaving me to this.
“Then why exactly do you give a fuck?” I ask eyebrow raised, as my blood pressure goes through the roof. For some unknown reason, when people ask me stupid questions I feel the urge to act out violently.
“Ahh. Like I’ve told you many a time, you’re not like the rest.” At this point I realize I’m going to need a whole lot more Vodka to get through the night.
“So I’ve heard. But you don’t know me Ryder, so stop trying to lay the moves on me, or whatever it is you're doing here. I don’t care. I’m not buying it, so go sell your shit elsewhere.” I down the rest of the drink much faster than needed.
The woozy feeling of the alcohol settling is starting to affect me. The burn of the liquor makes my eyes water and my nose burn, but I push through, waiting for the numbness to take hold. Wow, two drinks and I’m feeling tipsy. What a total lightweight.
“Whoa Nelly, slow down.” He says grabbing at my glass. I bat his hand away, wanting to get every last drop.
“I’m not a horse.” I say, giving him the glass and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. Really unladylike, but zero fucks are to be given at this time.
“I didn’t call you a horse, I told you to slow down.” He says as if he's annoyed. What the hell, no one asked him to babysit, hell I don’t need a babysitter. Suddenly, I’m angry, really angry.
“Yes you did, you called me Nelly, which is a horse’s name, I think. Also what are you really doing here? Because I don’t need a babysitter, I can take care of myself just fine.” I say, none too ashamed that some of my words slurred together. Where the hell is Mimi? I ignore Ryder and his glares as I look over the crowd below us. The dance floor is just too full for me to spot Mimi’s sequin top. Either that or things are starting to get blurry.
“I need another drink, now you can either go and get me one or I’m going and getting one.” His eyes bore into mine, and more and more he starts to look like Rex and less and less like Ryder. I catch myself leaning in over the table. His eyes look glassy, and I wonder if he’s drank more since coming to this table.
“I’m going to go and get you another drink.” He says, our noses almost touching. His eyes meet mine, and I see the need there. It’s startling. He pulls back just as I lean in more, I would say I was leaning into smell him but then I would be lying. Maybe smell his face.
He leaves me to wallow in my sorrows. Like how I’m nineteen with problems of the average twenty eight year old. Maybe I should create a knitting club, or become the local hoarding cat lady.
“Here’s your drink sweetheart.” Ryder says sliding into the seat next to me. Or at least I think its Ryder, I can’t tell. Could be Rex for all I know. The alcohol is affecting me in a number of ways.
“Thanks.” I reply grabbing it and ignoring his presence. Questions are itching to breaking through, and with the effects of the drinking I just can’t hold em back any longer.
“You know, I trusted your brother. I cared about him and all he did was rip my heart out. He’s made it not only impossible to move on but he’s made it impossible for me to trust people. Because of him I’m going to forever be the nineteen year old cat hoarding, knitting lady.” I say sulking. He smiles big and wide, and then lets out a deep belly shaking laugh; although his belly doesn’t shake, unless his abs can but… never mind.
“You will not forever be the cat hoarding, knitting lady; although you would be a very adorable one.”
I ignore his comment and whisper. “He hurt me Ryder.” I can’t hide the emotions from my voice. Damn you vodka, damn you.
“I know he did, but you’re only nineteen you’ll love again. The fact that you're out and about now proves that. Don’t give up hope just yet.” He says as if encouraging me to move on and find someone else. The only problem is I don’t think I want to.
~ Synopsis ~
I’m
a slut. Or at least that’s what everyone calls me. I guess that’s
what you get when everyone think’s you've slept with the whole
football team and then some.
My junior year of high school I gave my heart to Corey Winchester. He was handsome, cocky, and a pure gentlemen. Then everything changed in an instant. When I found out he was spreading malicious rumors about me, after I refused to sleep with him I was utterly surprised. To add to it, he broke up with me in front of the whole school. I essentially became the laughing stock of the town. People that I once called my friends became my enemies. Finding a way to ruin my life one day at a time. Now the shitty part is I should have known a pretty boy like him was too good to be true. After ruining my reputation and life I did everything I could to stay under the radar, but it just wasn't enough. I slowly learned that all the torment, and hate was all for one thing. Revenge. That’s what Corey wanted, and why I didn't know. Then Rex Winchester came along. Corey’s cousin, and someone I knew I shouldn't be getting close with. A whole six feet of hotness, a smile that melted the panties off of every girl in a fifty mile radius, and a heart of gold. He could have anyone he wanted, so why he chose me Corey’s ex, the bullied, slutty girl was beyond me. All I knew was that I wanted him. I wanted him more than anything. The problem was, I couldn't tell if Rex, was just like Corey or if his intentions were as innocent as he was making them out to be.
My names Jenna Haines, and this is the story of how the one thing I wanted.. turned out to be the one thing that would hurt me the most. What happens when the one thing you least expect to happen, does? When all the lies and secrets come out. Well you're about find out.
My junior year of high school I gave my heart to Corey Winchester. He was handsome, cocky, and a pure gentlemen. Then everything changed in an instant. When I found out he was spreading malicious rumors about me, after I refused to sleep with him I was utterly surprised. To add to it, he broke up with me in front of the whole school. I essentially became the laughing stock of the town. People that I once called my friends became my enemies. Finding a way to ruin my life one day at a time. Now the shitty part is I should have known a pretty boy like him was too good to be true. After ruining my reputation and life I did everything I could to stay under the radar, but it just wasn't enough. I slowly learned that all the torment, and hate was all for one thing. Revenge. That’s what Corey wanted, and why I didn't know. Then Rex Winchester came along. Corey’s cousin, and someone I knew I shouldn't be getting close with. A whole six feet of hotness, a smile that melted the panties off of every girl in a fifty mile radius, and a heart of gold. He could have anyone he wanted, so why he chose me Corey’s ex, the bullied, slutty girl was beyond me. All I knew was that I wanted him. I wanted him more than anything. The problem was, I couldn't tell if Rex, was just like Corey or if his intentions were as innocent as he was making them out to be.
My names Jenna Haines, and this is the story of how the one thing I wanted.. turned out to be the one thing that would hurt me the most. What happens when the one thing you least expect to happen, does? When all the lies and secrets come out. Well you're about find out.
~ Author Bio ~
J.L. Beck is the author of Bittersweet Revenge(A Bittersweet Novella Book 1). A four part novella series. She lives in Elroy, WI with her husband Brandon, and daughter Bella. Since the moment she could reach the shelves on the book shelf shes been reading, thus influencing her to write. Her favorite books are those that leave an imprint on your soul. You know the ones that have you putting everything off because you have to find out what happens next.
When she's not writing or reading(of course)you can find her picking up after her three year old daughter, or explaining to her husband why its unsafe to do something any other way, than the way your wife told you too.
Shes a huge fan of all things drama, with shows like The Vampire Diaries, and Arrow being some of her favorites. She's addicted to all things social media, caffeine, and Starbucks.
Stalk me, you know you want to.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jo.L.Beck?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJLBeck
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23673426-j-l-beck
~ Giveaway ~
No comments:
Post a Comment