I Dare You by Shentel Tessier – A Book Review

Posted February 12, 2019 by Booksandblurbs in Contemporary, Dark, Reviews, Romance / 0 Comments

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I Dare You

by Shantel Tessier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stand alone, Contemporary Dark YA/NA Romance

Available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited

Down and Dirty

A good read, with some trigger warnings for violence thrown in.

What is it about?

Blurb form Goodreads:

“What do you do when the devil has you in his sights?

You show him that you can play his game.

Austin Lowes is new to town. She’s running from a mom who hates her to her dad who cares nothing about her. Only a few months and she will be free, or at least, that’s what she hopes … until she meets him.

Cole Reynolds is the devil disguised as a man. He wants her fear, he wants her blood, and he wants her soul.

Just a little game, he says, I dare you.

Will Austin survive him, or will she lose herself and the game?

Secrets are revealed and justice will be served, but at what cost?

Who survives and who doesn’t?”

Thoughts

This book took me off guard – it wasn’t nearly as dark as the blurb and cover indicate, but it did explore many of the baser human drives, like: revenge, rage, guilt, lust and love. The dark tag comes from violence, and deserves the trigger warning it gets. Pay attention to it. If you are disturbed by blood, rough sex or justifiable homicide, read something else.

Ironically, despite the content, the FMC is 17, though she turns 18 during the tale. I’m rating it a 3.5 for flow (plus the epilogue utilized a vice I hate! But I get it…) and a 4 for content – so it gets a 4 overall.

Austin is an intriguing FMC, one who not only roles with most of the punches, but punches back just as hard. She has a strength of will that comes from her soul, and a messed up childhood. She knows she is not the best person out there, but she is willing to fight the battles that matter – and somehow, Cole is a battle that matters to her, no matter what he has done in the past… or what he is attempting to do now.

Cole, as the MMC, is another intriguing individual, though you will not love him in the beginning. You are not meant too. His path is a dark one, forged from mistakes and a recklessness that is imbedded in his bones. Austin wants to save him, or at least survive him. Cole wants to destroy her… but he’s pretty sure he won’t survive her.

Perspective:

First Person, Multiple POV

Ending Type:

HEA

Pros:

Interesting Plot.
Characters are unique, though not always understandable. But they are THE characters, I suppose they do not need to react in ways that make sense to others.
Lilly… breath of fresh air, that one.
Stand alone, this plot would not support a sequel or series and it was nice to see an author respect that.

Cons:

Doesn’t always feel relatable.
Took a bit to get in to.
Minor editing issues, does not detract.

Favorite Lines

Now, I’m not a religious person. Obviously. But I do know this. When I am damned to hell, it’ll be because I fucking earned it. (2% – Cole’s Perspective)

She is karma wrapped in a gorgeous tan and an innocent smile. (62% – Cole’s Perspective)