TITLE: ⟫ Bend Him, Break Him
AUTHOR: ⟫ MN Bennet
RATING: ⟫ 4/5
BLURB: ⟫ Grumpy Goths and Himbo Jocks Hate to Love Each Other
Colton has always walked the line of golden boy meets bad boy. It helped catapult his popularity as the starting pitcher in his first year of college and during the scandalous exposé when he came out as bi. But Colton struggles with the accolades he receives, balancing who he is versus who he was versus who he’s expected to be. Because before Colton was a queer icon for star athletes, he was a closeted bully who made one guy’s life completely miserable.
Isaac hates Colton. But to be fair, Isaac hates everyone—maintaining an icy distance from even his closest friends. Mostly, Isaac wants to shove Colton off the pedestal he’s been placed upon. Just because he came out publicly doesn’t mean he’s some sort of hero. It doesn’t help that Isaac once fawned over the closeted jock in high school. He cared deeply for Colton and did everything he could to please the star athlete, even keeping their private rendezvous a secret. Which meant Isaac paid the price of utter humiliation, taunting, and bullying as the weirdo loner gay guy with a creepy crush.
When Isaac catches Colton cheating on an exam, he plans to ruin his enemy by destroying his academic standing and costing Colton his baseball scholarship. Isaac wants nothing more than to see Colton kicked out of campus. But when the jock offers to do anything to keep this a secret, Isaac decides to test the lengths Colton is willing to go to make things right between them. Isaac’s over secrets, but this is an opportunity unlike any other. He presents an ultimatum that’ll push Colton to the edge of his limits. In this sordid hate-fueled lust, all Isaac wants is revenge and all Colton wants is redemption.
REVIEW: ⟫ I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one as I have never read this author before.
Colton was fascinating – a strange mix of confident and strong, along with a desperate desire to be loved, he was a people pleaser to the core. Which was a strange thing to think considering how he treated Isaac when they were young teenagers together. It was fascinating watching as his inner sub came out, along with bratty tendencies, and ultimately the ability to become his true self.
I loved Isaac – I loved the fact that even though he hated Colton initially, he still had reservations about what he was doing, as well as a strong ‘moral’ core whereby he went scorched earth on anyone who upset Colton. Their relationship was interesting from the perspective that Isaac didn’t take it easy on Colton – sexually and academically – yet insisted that he didn’t care whilst sorting out Colton’s schedule, making sure he ate well and ultimately giving him a found family through the GSA.
The sex scenes were frequent and hot; I’m going to give a trigger warning for planned assault and some homophobia displayed by Colton’s team mates. I’m pleased that I took a chance on an author I’d never read before and have already downloaded another book!
I received an ARC from BookSirens.
Book-Endz 