The Deception You Weave: A Dark College Bully Romance (Maddison Kings University, Book 2)

The good- the author has a good command of the English language, the writing style is fluid and sophisticated and flows well.The characters have complex backstories and there is a bit of a mystery at play with things that have happened in the past that keep you hanging on waiting to find out what happened.If you like rough, dubious consent, punishing type spicy scenes you won't be disappointed.The men are all tall and hot and handsome and protective and dominant and focused on the main female character.It takes place in college, so college parties and football and drinking etc abound. Missing your youthful college days? Say no more.There is a lot going on. College, mysterious trauma backgrounds, gangs, drugs, violence, poverty and wealth, vendettas, family drama, lies and half truths, etc... not a moment is boring.Some of the characters are so well rounded and likeable you will hope they get their own book at some point or check to see if they already have one. I'm talking about you Luca and Leon lolThe bad (?)-This would be purely based on my own preference but this book really walks the line between a regular romance novel and a reverse harem. Let me explain my reasoning. The main female character is beautiful, smart, decent etc... and virtually every male in this series feels affection/attraction for her. She is surrounded by protective alpha type males who all want her deep down. This would include a set of twins who she claims are her best friends since high school but behave like enamored, attentive, protective and slightly dominant boyfriends. Then several male roommates, a few others on the football team and even the "bad guys" the bully is connected with don't hesitate to not only protect and care for her, but say things alluding to their attraction to her. I personally am not a fan of reverse harem stories, especially when it's clear, no one wants to share... it reads at that point like a love triangle as well, a sad one, because like most love triangles, one person (or more) walk away broken hearted when they don't get chosen. It was uncomfortable bordering on difficult for me to see the anguish the twins clearly went through loving this woman...and it made it harder for me to like her because she was inadvertently using their love for her to provide herself with comfort and attention when she needed it, without really showing the same level of love back. It made her seem a little selfish and narcissistic to me on some level. If you love the whole multiple love interests angle, this won't bother you. But for me, it was distracting.The ugly-Nothing about this was horrible or would qualify as ugly. It's a dark bully romance so the expectation is that it's both dark and that she gets bullied. If you are easily triggered by things that fall under the dark romance umbrella, then this might not be the book for you. This is not a bully romance where by the 50% mark of the book the guy is remorseful and groveling to get her back. This isn't even a stand alone book, the bullying carries through the entire first book and most of the second. And even when he starts to evolve, he remains controlling, toxic and dominant in some ways.Besides bullying there are some themes central to the story and supplying the reasons for why the characters are broken in various ways that are known for being very triggering for some people. Definitely look into that if you suspect it's important to know ahead of time.

I started out not liking Kane, but I can tell you that I’ve become totally pro-team Kane! However, the end of this book rocked me. I’m still in his corner, but I’m so angry right now.This book was just as steamy as the first one, so it definitely didn’t disappoint. There were some grammatical errors (which was why I gave it four, rather than five, stars). However, the story itself was still good. I can’t wait to start the next one.

Damn. This book is a BULLY book, and none of the characters are particularly lovable but they are all trying so hard you want to like them. I really didn’t know where this series was going, and I love a good plot twist.If you want a dark bully romance with a lot of smut this book checks a lot of boxes for me. The FMC is trying to play both the good girl and the bad girl (love that) and you really don’t see where it’s going. MMC is who he is. He’s consistent, doesn’t evolve into a doting boyfriend the second he meets her, he is her bully through and through.I literally read the first two books in one day, can’t wait for number three!

Tracy Lorraine has successfully found away to shatter my heart into a million pieces, put all of the pieces back together, only to break my heart again. This series is dark and addicting! Trying to find the words to express how this book affected me is harder than I thought. So many secrets are exposed and so much pain is given.“The only I can focus on is the pain. The loss. The grief. The emptiness that I’ve only recently managed to somewhat put behind me.”This book starts off where book one left off and while a lot of questions were answered, I still have more. The chemistry between Kane and Letty is on fire. They can’t deny the pull to each other. This does end on another cliffhanger but it’s one I expected. I have so many questions and my brain is literally going in overdrive with trying to figure them out. My calendar is already set for the next release in this series.“Sometimes we have to do bad things to protect those we love.” I’m in love with the writing style and story telling ability of this author. It’s safe to say I’m addicted. 🖤

This is the second book that just draaaags on and on and then to end in a cliffhanger. I don't know if EVERY book in the series is a continuation of the back and forth between Letty and Kane? Again, this book didn't pick up until about 40%, and then it moved better. Both of the books could have been condensed to one by cutting out 30% of the first book. It is a good story but, dark.

This story/part was definitely a growth book where we see ALL characters supporting and main change. I did not like Luca in this one and started to like Letty. Leon is my boo and some of those creek boys aren’t all bad! Relationships shifted, hope bloomed, loyalties crumbled and fear prevailed. Lots of steamy scenes (omg for realz burned up the pages!! 🌶🌶) and a great story to keep you invested. Ended on another major cliff hanger and I have a feeling more shifts coming ahead.

WOW! After throwing my tablet and taking a day I can now write my review. I am so ready for book 3!!! The Deception you Weave - is book 2 in the story about Kane and Scarlett. In this one, we finally learn what happened to Scarlett during the last year and why is she is now at MKU.Kane learns more about himself and how or what he really feels for Scarlett. These two have been through so much, will they make it through the rest of the semester, as enemies, call a truce or maybe lovers? As usual, the supporting cast, drop-in for the humour, togetherness and other parts of college life that brings this story together.The ending of this book I was not expecting!! Points to Tracy Lorraine, that curveball has me so excited and curious, I need book 3 like yesterday!Reasons I enjoyed this book:Entertaining, Page-turner, Steamy, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters

Ok so this series has got a grip on my attention and I need the next k e lime right now.I just can’t even say how much I love this one and soooooo happy I’m able to read it when it’s completed. I want to know everything right now and read how the he!! They get their HEA after that cliffy I was handed. As a reader when you keep wanting to read and it stop till the end that’s the book you can’t help but get excited about. Half way through I already wanted to read faster so I can read the next one. After what these two went though and go through to get together. They need that HEA so badly.In this one we see a softer Kane. One who wants to fight and keep Letty. Letty you can see her letting her walls down. Just such a great book.

What a beginning to start off the second book. There was so much hate and drama in the first book there’s no way that Kane and Letty can survive the fall out in this story… or is there. Although the drama and the spice is still there in this installment, the toxicity is slowly being broken down and being replaced by something else. There are more twists and turns in Kane and Lettys relationship but also the dealings of Victor and the Hawks. Yet again we are left wondering what’s going to happen next with another cliffhanger ending, I’m on the edge of my seat

What a cliffhanger this book ends on. I can't wait for the final book, the conclusion to the Letty and Kane story.

Great part two of this trilogy. The intensity did not let up!!Just when things were starting to ease up for Kane and Letty there was that cliffhanger 🫣🫣Onto book three 💔🖤

I’ll start by saying I didn’t realise this was a trilogy and not a duet until the halfway point of this book. That doesn’t impact my review but I felt like the story dragged on- it was the same cycle with Kane and Letty and as much as the steam is off the charts it didn’t equate to chemistry for me.Finally, Kane starts to pull himself together and begins to show a bit of human emotion especially towards Letty but it felt like it wasn’t natural and maybe it wasn’t for Kane- considering the life he’s led. All the hate sexy times were well detailed but the one time they are like a real couple there’s nothing.Some minor background drama is unfolding and it sometimes felt separate to Kane and Letty... and ughhh- that ending.I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did book one but I will bear the torture and wait for the next book to complete the trilogy.This is a 3.5 Stars for me.