Published by Self-published
Title: Corrupt
Author: Penelope Douglas
Genre: Dark | Erotica | Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 17, 2015
Organized by: As the Pages Turn
Synopsis
Erika
I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession.
His name is Michael Crist.
My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He is handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.
But I noticed him.
I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.
Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore.
Because he’s finally noticed me.
Michael
Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.
My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway.
Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.
In my city.
Unprotected.
The opportunity is too good to be true as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out.
We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.
Carla’s Review:
*I was giving a copy of this book as a gift from Stephanie’s Book Reports in exchange for an honest review
5 stars!!
This book blew my mind! It is a total mind f**k! This is Penelope Douglas’ first dark read, and boy she did a great job! I will warn you-this is a very dark read, so if that is not a genre that you enjoy, this may not be the book for you.
Erika Fane has known the Crist family all her life, and it seems like she has been in love with their oldest son, Michael, equally as long. Michael plays pro basketball, but before he went pro, he was a high school and college super star. While in high school, he and three other friends formed a tight knit group called the Four Horsemen. The Four Horsemen were feared and respected by everyone in their community. It was because of this as well as their parent’s wealth and connection that they felt like they were untouchable. One night, Erica tagged along on one of their nights of debauchery. Events transpired that ultimately led to the incarceration of three of the horsemen. Three years have past, and the horsemen are free and looking to exact some revenge. They believe it was Erica who turned over the evidence that led to their arrests, and they have spent the last three years planning her demise. What will happen when they discover what really happened on that fateful night three years earlier?
I am a huge fan of dark reads, and this book just may be the best one that I have ever read. It is wickedly unpredictable. I love story lines that make me think, and this one sure didn’t disappoint! It is full of twists and turns that will have your poor brain working overtime trying to figure out what will happen next. **Watch out for the scene in the sauna! It is so hot you just might get burned! This is one of those books that will leave you with a huge book hangover. I know that I will be thinking about it for days. Great job, Penelope Douglas! I look forward to reading more dark stories from you in the future!
• • • Corrupt ~ Excerpt • • •
I turned and stalked off, taking a left down the hallway toward the elevator. The doors opened as soon as I pushed the button, and I stepped inside, trying to calm my racing heart.
They still intimidated me.
And excited me. And challenged me. And knotted me up.
I’d kind of wanted to go to a party but not with them.
The doors started closing, but just then a hand shot into the elevator, and I jumped, seeing the doors re-open. I sucked in a breath, staring wide-eyed as Michael reached in, grabbed my shirt by the collar with one hand, and pulled me out.
“Michael!” I shouted.
I stumbled into him, and before I knew what was happening, he grabbed my wrists and locked them behind my back, walking into me and forcing me backward, back down the hall toward the kitchen.
“Let me go!” I demanded, my lips brushing the tip of his chin.
“I don’t know, guys,” he teased over my head, “she still seems pretty fucking easy to push around. What do you think?”
Laughter greeted me as he forced me back into the living area.
Every muscle in my body was on fire, and the tips of my toes kept getting caught under his sneakers.
I twisted my body, trying to break his hold. “What the hell are you doing?”
I pushed against his chest and jerked my body to the left, tearing out of his hold with every muscle I could muster.
I stumbled, losing my balance, and fell backward, crashing to the floor. Pain shot through my ass, running down my legs as the fall knocked the wind out me.
Shit!
Shooting my hands behind me, I pushed myself up and bent my knees, looking up at him as he advanced.
He stalked over and then stopped, towering over me. I immediately moved my hands and feet, crawling backward, away from him.
But then I felt something at my back, and I halted. I twisted my head, seeing a dark pant leg, and I didn’t know if it was Damon, Will, or Kai, but it didn’t matter. I was closed in.
Oh, no. I slowly raised my eyes, seeing Michael’s lips tilt in a devious smile. I stopped breathing, seeing him lower his body to the floor, planting his knees between my bent legs, and his hands at my sides.
My neck arched back as his face hovered over mine, but I tried to keep myself up as much as possible, no matter how close his body got.
“I thought you were one of us,” his whispered, his breath caressing my lips. “I thought you could play.”
I stilled, staring into his eyes.
You’re one of us now. Will had said that to me on that night so long ago.
Michael’s amber eyes searched mine and then dropped to my mouth, his breathing growing heavy as he stared at me like he was about to take a bite.
I wanted to cry. What the hell was going on?
Three years ago was nearly the happiest night of my life, and it quickly became the worst. And ever since then, Michael not only acted as if I didn’t exist, but also, at times, as if he wished I didn’t.
Now the guys were free, and they were all back together again. What did I have to do with any of this? What did he want with me?
“I don’t know this game,” I told him, barely audible.
He stared into my eyes, thinning his own as if studying me. “All you need to know,” he finally answered, “is that you can’t tap out.”
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1HSufMV
• • • About Penelope Douglas • • •
Penelope Douglas is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Fall Away series.
She dresses for autumn year round, loves anything lemon flavored, and believes there is too much blood in her Coca Cola stream. Or too much Coca Cola in her blood stream. Or…
You know what? It doesn’t matter. She loves Coke. Now you know.
She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and daughter.
Website + Facebook + Twitter + Pinterest + Instagram + Goodreads
• • • Enter Giveaway • • •
The following goodies are up for grabs!
- (3) Signed copy of Corrupt (Intl)
- (2) $20 Amazon or B&N gift card, winner’s choice (Intl)
Busy reading Corrupt now and I can not wait to go home and finish. I am biting my nails.
I think the book sounds FANTASTIC!Love the cover!
Thank you for the giveaway!