Blog Tour & Giveaway: Corrupt: Penelope Douglas
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes
Genre: Dark, Erotica, Contemporary Romance
Organized by: As the Pages Turn
Organized by: As the Pages Turn
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.
***Corrupt is a stand-alone dark romance set to be released in 2015.
I enjoyed the fright of not knowing
what was coming and from where.
“When we used to wear the masks,”
Michael said, dropping his voice to a near whisper, “you liked it, didn’t you?
It scared you, but it turned you on.”
I raised my hesitant eyes and tried not
to let out a laugh. What was I supposed to say? That the fact that they’d
looked like monsters got me hot?
I shook my head clear and stood up,
saying in a quiet voice. “I’m going to bed.”
I grabbed my phone and took a step, but
Michael’s voice stopped me.
“Come here,” he said softly.
I turned my head, narrowing my eyes. Come here?
He sat up, resting his forearms on his
knees and waiting, while I shifted on my feet.
He was always playing games. I didn’t
trust him.
But the temptation to engage was too
great. He was right. I was getting good at it, and I kind of liked it,
too.
I took slow steps, holding up my chin
to steel myself.
When I reached him, he placed a hand on
my hip and pulled me in between his legs. I gasped as he fell back against the
sofa again, pulling me in with him. I shot my hands out, planting them on both
sides of his head on the back of the couch, keeping myself upright as I leaned
into him.
“Say it,” he breathed out, holding my
hips with both hands now. “It turned you on.”
I closed my mouth and shook my head,
looking down at him with a challenge.
“I know it did,” he maintained, a fire
in his eyes. “Did you think I couldn’t see how tense your body would get or how
your nipples got hard through your shirt when you saw me wearing it? You’re a
little twisted. Admit it.”
I folded my lips between my teeth,
turning my head away.
But then he tipped his chin up and
caught my nipple between his teeth through my tank top, and I closed my eyes,
letting out a small cry.
Oh,
God!
The heat of his mouth swooped into my
stomach as he released my nipple and then snatched it up again, dragging it out
between his teeth.
“I’ve got the mask upstairs,” he taunted,
kissing and nibbling on me through my shirt. “I can get it if you want me to.”
No.
No, I wasn’t like that.
I pushed away from him, but he held me
firm.
“Michael, let me go.”
But then I felt my phone vibrate in my
hand, and I quickly glanced at the screen, seeing no name with the number.
Reading the number, though, I noticed that it was his mother’s. That’s strange. I thought I had her
number saved in my Contacts.
But I let it go, remembering that my
mom was with her. I needed to take this call.
Planting my fists on Michael’s chest, I
shoved him away. “Get off me. Your mom’s calling.”
All he did was laugh, though, and my
face fell.
He grabbed my arm and threw me down
onto my stomach and came down on my back, pinning me to the couch.
I breathed hard and fast, feeling his
cock press against my ass as he snatched my phone out of my hand.
I stared wide-eyed as he placed it a
few inches in front of me, his finger hovering over the green Answer button.
“Michael, no,” I rushed out, panic making
my lungs ache.
But he swiped the screen anyway. The
ringing stopped, and I heard silence as she waited for me to say something.
“Say hi,” he whispered in my ear.
Twisted revenge, isolation, and control is the name of this game. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into with Corrupt. I didn't know if this New Adult writer could pull off the gritty, dark world of erotica. I’d say sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride, but there is no such thing as relaxing with this book. This is not a book for the meek carousel rider, this ride will toss you around and turn you upside down. So strap in tight and get ready for a whirlwind of suspense and intrigue because this will be one hell of a crazy ride!!
I'm a big fan of the whole cat and mouse chase if the plays are written right. Kudos to Ms. Douglas! This journey was the epitome of cat and mouse. She definitely wrote all the right plays. You’ll experience an exhilarating chase from start to finish. The best part was that the mouse wasn’t always who I expected it to be! Think Tom & Jerry. Usually the cat is the hero while the mouse is the heroine, but Pen surprises us as the perceived stereotype changes often throughout the book. I found this to be quite unique compared to everything else I’ve read lately.
Michael, Kai, Will, and Damon: Four strong male leads—you’ll either hate them or love them. These boys were bitter, intense and hate filled, defined by their skeletons. They’re so adept at mind games they’ll leave your head spinning. I spent the entire book flip flopping like a fish out of water when it came to my thoughts and feelings. One moment, all I could think was aren’t you a special kind of d*ck and the next, I wanted my own Kai or Michael, maybe even a Will. However, never ever a Damon. I immensely disliked that man on first sight. Damon gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I wasn’t sure how the author would redeem our male protagonists. Was there even a means to redemption for the dysfunctional? Their dysfunction actually worked as a great allure though; the secrets, personalities, and flaws of these main characters structured every action, response, and consequence, making them even more gripping.
Rika: Kick ass, strong heroine!! I adored everything about her, which is rare for me. She played the game just as well as the guys. Don’t mistake her for a weak character. There is NOTHING weak about Erika Fane. This girl gave as good as she got, and she could be just as wicked as her male counter parts. Our heroine didn’t lay down for anyone, not even when it looked like all her exits were firmly closed off.
The chemistry and connection between each guy and Rika was beyond addicting. It was like fire and ice, unbelievably hot and delicious!! So vivid and tantalizing. I couldn’t get enough of them. I devoured every interaction; there was no stopping. I needed to know what the hell everyone was hiding and if everything would come together in the end, didn’t matter that it was closing in on 3 in the morning.
Still true to Penelope Douglas fashion, Corrupt is filled
with deep, rich development in both plot and characters. It was a story that was
written so damn well it sucked you right in, keeping you glued to every word. A
story that sticks with you way after it is finished.
This isn’t as dark as some of the books that I have read, but it does hold a dark erotic tone. For example, this isn't a CJ Roberts or Pepper Winters type of dark. Its darkness has more of a suspense type of feel to it. More of an edgy, twisted trepidation. These individuals ramped up my anxiety, but not in a drama filled way. Instead, in a what the hell is going to happen next, where’s she taking this kind of anticipation. I’d say, this should be a safe read for those who can’t stomach the real deep darkness. Keep in mind though, this is nothing like Douglas’ Far Away series. You’ll definitely get a much darker vibe. A completely different inflection than Pen is known for, and I for one am hoping she travels this road again. It fits her well.
Corrupt is by far my favorite book by Penelope Douglas. Pen just proved by miles that she doesn’t come close to being a one trick pony. Whether it comes to NA, the forbidden, or a darker read, Ms. Douglas has the ability, in spades, to nail whatever she puts her mind to. With this book, she climbed a tall ladder to become one of my automatic buy authors; an author I will buy without ever reading the synopsis. If Penelope Douglas writes it I will read it.
Thank you, Penelope Douglas, for the complimentary copy of Corrupt.
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.
The giveaway is international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 12/15/2015.
· (1) Signed copy of Corrupt + $100 Amazon or B&N gift card, winner's choice (Intl)
· (2) $20 Amazon or B&N gift card, winner's choice (Intl)
1 comments
Wow, what a great review and recommendation! I love this kind of story and now am anxious to check it out! Thanks!
ReplyDelete