Abuse – Page 3 – Talk Nerdy Book Blog

November 2, 2017

B

Series: Sinners

Release Date: June 27th, 2013

Synopsis:

Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Ending

 HFN

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

The heroine, Lexi, is branded and convicted of Lust which results in her continued victimization in the Hole, where she is faced with:
• Threat of Rape
• Attempted Rape
• Torture and violence
• Gaslighting
• Psychological abuse

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 1/5 stars

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A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

By Sarah

In 3-stars, Book Review

August 10, 2017

A

Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016

Synopsis:

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Ending

  Cliffhanger

Representation

• BIPOC sidecharacters
• LGBTQIA+ side characters

Possible Triggers

• Severe PTSD
• Gaslighting
• Emotional and physical abuse
• Violence
• Death
• Torture (off-page, descriptions and flashbacks)
• Rape (off-page, descriptions)
• Allusions to gang rape (off-page, nothing graphic)

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• Does have OW drama
– The Heroine gets jealous when the Hero flirts with an OW. She also thinks he spent the night with her, but it gets cleared up nothing happened. The Hero and Heroine were not together at that point.
• Does have descriptive sex scene with OM
– There is only one scene: Heroine sleeps with her fiancé early on in the book before they break up.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Note: This is a review of the second book in the series; therefore, there will be spoilers from the first book below. Click Here to read my review of the first book in the series.

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Beneath the Scars By Melanie Moreland

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

December 31, 2014

B

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 14th, 2014

Synopsis:

The sound of the ocean, the of the waves as they kick up against he sand and rocks – these are the only sounds Megan Greene wants to hear. She wants to leave the rest of the world behind, and find some peace.
The offer of a private house on the beach, set in a small town in Maine, is perfect. Time to think, to be by herself. It’s all she wants. it’s the escape she needs.

Until she stumbles across the painting that seems to echo her own chaotic mindset. Until she meets the unfriendly artist behind the stormy painting and discovers his secrets.

All Zachary Adams wants is to be left alone. His canvases, and the unending score of the ocean and sand, are his life. They direct him – fill his hours. Bring him focus.

Until she enters his life. She dredges up memories of the past – the haunting images he has hidden for years; the fears he has never shared. A story he keeps buried below the surface.

Can she make hims see what he is missing? Can he trust her enough to believe?

Together they embark on a journey where their pasts collide and threaten to tear them apart. Will their fragile bon hold or wash away with ebbing tide?

Ending

 HEA

Representation

• Side character with a disability

Possible Triggers

• Gaslighting
• Emotional abuse
• Attempted murder (Off-page, described)

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• Does have OM drama
– The Heroine’s ex-boyfriend steals her book and paints himself as a vindictive, gold-digging, lying woman
• No OW
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

(more…)

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Count On Me (Count on Me, #1) by Melyssa Winchester

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

November 12, 2014

C

Series: Count On Me*

Release Date: April 19th, 2014

Synopsis:

There are people that tell you high school is the best time of your life.

They lied.

High school is horrible when you’re like me and you’re autistic.

They think that because I don’t talk and I seem to always be lost in my own world, I’m stupid or deaf. Some even think I’m retarded. i’m none of those things and I don’t like that word.

Just because I’ve got issues, doesn’t mean it’s all I am. There’s a lot more to me, but no one really takes the time to get to know t. St least that’s how it was until Kayden.

Kayden Walker is bad news. he spends his time making people that are different, like me, feel even worse about themselves and he does it with a smile. He’s everything I don’t need in my life, yet he’s the one person I can’t seem to live without.

Underneath, there’s more to him that he’s afraid to let the rest of the world see. I’ve seen it and as I’m finding out, we’re not so different after all.

Ending

 HFN

Representation

• Main character is autistic
• Supporting character has Asperger’s Syndrome

Possible Triggers

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Psychological abuse
• Allusions to alcoholism
• Warning: The bullying of Bella is detailed and includes intense psychological as well as physical abuse.
• Note: The Hero is a very cruel bully of the Heroine–he is never physical with her.

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Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• Kind of OW drama
– The Hero dated-in the past-the Heroine’s main tormentor. But, there was no drama in relation to the OW wanting Kayden back.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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Sweet Home, A Series by Tillie Cole

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Series Review

October 30, 2014

S

About the Series

I have a weakness for cliché contemporary romances, especially books with an alpha male, a strong female lead, and an awesome romantic story. Also, since this book was based on the famous Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet, I had to read Sweet Home. It’s up to the reader to see if these reincarnations of Romeo and Juliet finally get their HEA.

The review of the series includes reviews on each of the following books (listed in order of release):

Sweet Home (Molly and Rome) – Molly’s POV
Sweet Rome (Molly and Rome) – Companion to Sweet Home in Rome’s POV
Sweet Fall (Lexi and Austin)

Note: The review of Sweet Rome may discuss spoilers from the first book since they are companion novels. Books 2-5 in this series are Standalone.

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Offside by Shay Savage

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

September 17, 2014

O

Series: Standalone

Release Date: August 3rd, 2014

Synopsis:

I have to be the best. I am the best. I’m quick. I’m strong. I’m smart. I’m the star keeper of my high school soccer team, and I’ve got major leagues scouting me. As their captain, my teammates will do anything I say – on or off the field. Girls practically beg to be added to my list of conquests. As long as I manage to go pro for the best team in the world, I won’t have to worry about my father’s earth.

I’m Thomas Malone, and I’ve seen to it that the world revolves around me.

There’s a new girl at school, and it’s just a matter of time before she gives in to my charm. This one’s just a little more stubborn than most – she won’t even tell me her name! She’s smart, too. Maybe too smart. I can’t let her in. I can’t let anybody in. I’m not too worried, but even I have to admit she’s interfering with my focus on the goal.

Dad’s not going to be happy about that.

Did I mention I love Shakespeare? Yeah, I know. I’m a walking contradiction, According to the Bard, ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Somehow, I got all three.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

• Sexual assault (off-page, memories)
– Heroine drugged and then coerced into sexual acts which were then photographed
• Death of parent (off-page, memories)
• Domestic abuse (on-page)
• Suicide (on-page)
• Traumatic accident resulting in serious injury (on-page)

Safety Rating: Not Safe

• No cheating
• Does have (light) OW drama
– An ex-hookup of the Hero’s spreads rumours about the Heroine because the OW is jealous
• Does have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
– Before the Hero meets the Heroine: one descriptive scene at the beginning of an OW giving the Hero a BJ
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– They were separated for a couple of months
– Assumed they were both celibate but not confirmation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

(more…)

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The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

August 31, 2014

T

Series: Standalone

Release Date: January 7th, 2014

Synopsis:

For the past five years, Hayley Kincain and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

Ending

 HFN

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

• PTSD
• Suicide
• Depression
• Violence
• Abuse

Mature Themes

• Cursing
• Sex
• Teen drug use
• Underage drinking
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

(more…)

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Painted Lines by Brei Betzold

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

July 14, 2014

P

Series: Standalone

Release Date: June 16th, 2013

Synopsis:

Warning: This is not a fluffy love story – it contains and alludes to violence, torture and rape – a heroine broken in mind but not spirit – a hero with his own past regrets.

Scout has always wanted to follow in her family’s business of custom bike building. Being female never stopped her from getting greasy and slapping on paint with the best of them, and made her work even harder at opening up her own shop someday.

When an opportunity to win $500,000 dollars in prize money presents itself, Scout and her group of misfit friends sign on the dotted line to be filmed for a reality television show to win it. But like anything in life there’s always a catch to free money.

When nightmares of the past meet dreams of the future, Scout is forced to face her demons, or be quickly over run by the memories. In the midst of her inner turmoil, family will come home, and possibly a life she never expected to have could be within her grasp.

Ending

 HFN

Representation

• LGBTQIA+ side characters

Possible Triggers

• Allusions to rape
• Allusions to violence and torture
• Heroine dealing with significant PTSD

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

(more…)

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Unwanted, A Series by Natasha Anders

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Series Review

July 3, 2014

U

About the Series

This whole series revolves around the genre Men You Hate to Love. At the beginning of these novels, these “heroes” are the antithesis of the heroic. To be blunt, they are assholes with a capital bastard.

But throughout each story, Anders contextualizes their behaviour. And, every time, these alpha males realize how truly they messed up. So, the reader is rewarded with a big grovel!

All three novels are emotional, and with each nasty comment and mean dig that these women get, I can’t help but think why they wouldn’t just give up on their men and leave. But the Unwanted series emphasizes that you can’t help who you love; if you love someone, you’re willing to work through the bad parts.

Each of the novels is incredibly turbulent and emotional, and cursing at your book or screen and possibly even throwing said book … oops. But once these men start to realize the error of their ways, a beautiful, angsty romance is built.

If you love angst-filled romances that elicit powerful emotions (both positive and negative), the Unwanted series is for you.

The review of the series includes reviews on each of the following books (listed in order of release):

Note: Each novel in the series is Standalone.

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Delayed Penalty (Crossing the Line, #1) by Shey Stahl

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

June 30, 2014

D

Series: Crossing the Line*

Release Date: June 5th, 2013

Synopsis:

A minor penalty that is not called until the offending team gains control of the puck. As long as the non-offending team maintains possession, the referee allows play to continue and signals a delayed penalty by raising his arm.

I’m Evan Mason, an NHL hockey player for the Chicago Blackhawks. I spend my nights roughing up two hundred pound defensemen and, at times, spend more time in the penalty box than I do on the ice.

That’s my job.

One night changed everything I thought I once knew about my life on, and off, the ice.

A girl.

A brutally beaten girl left to die in an alley.

I don’t know why or how but something made me stay that night after taking her to the hospital. I didn’t know her, nor did I have an obligation to stay but something inside of me rooted me there telling me I should stay. Saving a life is worth something. At least I thought so. And I wouldn’t have been me if I just simply left her there.

Any man who put his heart and soul into a game of hockey couldn’t just walk away when someone needed them. She had no one else right now. The same guy who saw determination where there was desire, now saw hope where there was one despair.

I couldn’t leave. That wouldn’t be me. No, not a man that put all he had into something some called just a game. I couldn’t walk away from her holding onto life, weak, and powerless to something she had no control over.

So I stayed. In a room full of family members praying for their loved ones to pull through, I prayed for a girl I didn’t know and had never met before, to have a beating heart. While others’ sorrow turned to grieving pain, I sat waiting on the words of the unknown.

No bond is stronger than the ones you’ll bleed for.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

• Rape
• Physical abuse
• Violence (blood and gore)
• Death of family
• Grief

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• Does have OW
– The Hero has a friends-with-benefits relationship with an OW (who sleeps with a lot of guys on the hockey team). The OW becomes friends with the Heroine and stays friends with the Hero.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
– There are allusions to the Hero’s past with an OW (not a descriptive scene but thoughts like “freak in the sheets”).
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have brief separations between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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TagAbuse

Branded (Sinners, #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Beneath the Scars By Melanie Moreland

Count On Me (Count on Me, #1) by Melyssa Winchester

Sweet Home, A Series by Tillie Cole

About the Series

Offside by Shay Savage

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Painted Lines by Brei Betzold

Unwanted, A Series by Natasha Anders

About the Series

Delayed Penalty (Crossing the Line, #1) by Shey Stahl

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TagAbuse

About the Series

About the Series

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