Rival: A steamy, emotional enemies-to-lovers romance (Fall Away Book 2)

Product Information

Penelope Douglas is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling American writer of the Fall Away series. She is a teacher and a writer based in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Lowa Penelope is the oldest of five children, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Northern Lowa. She then went ahead to pursue a Master’s degree specializing in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans. Penelope is married and has a daughter named Aydan. When she is not writing, you will find Penelope touring old ships and road-tripping. On the one hand, I absolutely adored it. I loved both Fallon and Madoc. They are not without flaws, but they are written like real human beings. Throughout the book, we slowly learn more about each character and like them more and more. The two characters are fantastic. For instance, there is Fallon, a loner seeking retribution for all the wrong things that were committed against her. She is tough and a tender-hearted young woman who gave her love as well as body to a man who has managed to remain deeply ingrained in both her heart and soul. Imagine how heartbreaking it could be finding out that the person whom you cared and loved the most could deceive and break your heart into a million pieces? This is what Fallon feels and the main reason why she seeks revenge. However, the question is, was all that she was meant to believing true or just mere fabrications? OMG can't wait ....love soo much this type of storylines with angst, character knowing each other since childhood, sexual tension, the game of seduction, who's going to succumb first.

But we were different now. I wanted only his pain, and judging from the girl he’d come home with last night, Madoc was still the same. A user. She shook her head. “You don’t even remember what today is, do you?” She folded her trembling lips between her teeth and looked down at the ground. yet they seem to become buddy-buddy pretty easily considering how socially inept they both appear to be. Fallon is exactly the sort of heroine I love to read about; smart mouthed, sassy, and with a spine of steel. This girl sure knew how to dish it, and she could take it just as well.But when they were younger, eager, Madoc and Fallon forgot who they were supposed to be–to each other, to their parents–and let the darkness take them to places where secrets grew deeper, lies held more weight. Also, I felt that the "aha" epiphany moment where they realize they love each other just wasn't as seamless and clearly done as it was in Bully. Yes, I realize that this is a different book, but it's impossible not to compare the two. Overall,this author can write, the pace was good and those sex scenes were steamy but the love wasn't there and the last 30 percent was soap opera ridiculous. There is always a reason when it comes to bullying, and so is to Jared’s case. There are some reasons as to why he becomes a bully, and there are also reasons for his hate. However, does this make it right? Not. Jared anger and his hurting behavior have some explainable causes; he is a lonely young man dealing with his pain but decides to lash it on others. In this particular case, he unleashes his burdens on the one person who loved him unconditionally. I really enjoyed this story. I hate to do this, but with series you tend to compare, and this one didn’t blow me away like Bully did. I liked the story a lot. I liked Madoc and Fallon together. I was able to relate to their characters and their heartbreak. I loved how Madoc was protective of Fallon. I loved that he saw past the image she used to protect herself. This is a beautiful story about overcoming the past, and finding a future.

For example, in Bully Tate lives in France for one year but there's no mention of her experience. Was it an educational exchange? Were other American pupils there? Did she live with a family or in dorms? Did she make any friends? Nope! It was all left out and I'm assuming that PD just found it easier to leave it out. I wanted to come at her. Again and again until she came undone. I wanted her screaming and crying. I wanted to chip away this tough little act until she was red with anger and sobbing miserably. That beautiful girl hated me, and I heated her, but- goddamn it- I loved how we hated, because it was raw and real. It didn’t make any sense, but yeah- it was real. Disclaimer #2: This is going to be a short, probably shiteous review because I am in a book coma from the crazy book marathon that was my weekend. Bully is an excellent start to an exciting series. Tate is a strong woman, such that she can put up with Jared and his bullying even though she has no idea of why her once best friend chooses to be so bad for her. Her relief comes when she gets to spend a year in France, away from Jarred and his taunting. However, it reaches a point when she has to stand her ground, which forces Jared to up his game. Throughout the story, Tate not only matures as a character but also as a woman from being the defenseless naïve girl to being a woman who can stand for herself, and her ground. Jared bullying leaves Tate with very few friends, and this causes her at times to be socially inept. However upon realizing herself, Tate blossoms and manages to stand for herself.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

And there comes she, David’s Goliath, no matter how much he tries , he can't deny his attraction to her and what's under it... BUT she wants REVENGE With a voice that is even stronger than her already brilliant debut and the promise of work that will only grow deeper, more fulfilling, Douglas brings her readers a more mature, headier blend of forbidden love that leaves them panting for more. It’s the secrets we keep that change us. It’s what we do, what we say, when no one is looking that define who we really are. why the hell would they get married? They're too young, still step siblings and why couldn't it wait til after college if the truly want to be together forever? So unrealistic!!

Giveaway : Penelope is offering up the following prizes. The giveaways are international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 09/15/2014.As sophomores they were already starting to wield power that was going to be out of control by the time they reached senior year. Overall, I wasn't wowed but still a decent read for me. And if you loved Bully and Until You, I'd still definitely recommend this one. For Madoc and Fallon the truth of who they are, who they want to be only surfaces behind closed doors. After all, no one would understand, right? Theirs would be a brow lifting relationship. I figured out the big secret rather early and i spent the rest of the book screaming O.M.G. everytime a new revelation came to light. And let's be honest some of them were quite mindblowing. This sequel unveiled many secrets.. Madoc and Fallon are two star crossed lovers fighting against the pain and secrets of the past. Their connection was one that has stayed with them both and their obsession with each other doesn't seem to want to end. One wants revenge, the other wants to beat its partner at it's own game. They both need each other. But will games, hate, family connections and a dark past stop a love that was destined to be or will they both be able to fight beyond themselves. Follow this fall away novel and fall in love with rivals that can't help but love to hate each other.