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Spitfire
Burn for Me
**This title was previously published in the Tangled Sheets anthology as Spitfire but has a new title, cover and added content! **
I ruined his life.
It was my investigation that sent his father to jail. It was my fault his mother killed herself shortly after. I’ve regretted it every day since. When he shows up in my Journalism class, I know I’m in trouble.
Cullen Ayers wants to make me pay.
His torment becomes my life, and I endure every moment because I deserve it. What started as revenge quickly turns into lust. He’s only eighteen, and I should be ashamed of how good this feels when we’re alone, but I can’t help myself. I’m in too deep.
I’m starting to discover his family’s secrets go far deeper than I first thought. The more I uncover, the more ways he finds to punish me.
Cullen wants to ruin me for life, and I’m afraid he already has.
Warning: This is a dark, bully romance with explicit content that may be triggering to some readers, including dub-con, abuse, and murder. Cullen Ayers is covered in red flags, but the bigger the bully, the better the redemption.
I ruined his life.
It was my investigation that sent his father to jail. It was my fault his mother killed herself shortly after. I’ve regretted it every day since. When he shows up in my Journalism class, I know I’m in trouble.
Cullen Ayers wants to make me pay.
His torment becomes my life, and I endure every moment because I deserve it. What started as revenge quickly turns into lust. He’s only eighteen, and I should be ashamed of how good this feels when we’re alone, but I can’t help myself. I’m in too deep.
I’m starting to discover his family’s secrets go far deeper than I first thought. The more I uncover, the more ways he finds to punish me.
Cullen wants to ruin me for life, and I’m afraid he already has.
Warning: This is a dark, bully romance with explicit content that may be triggering to some readers, including dub-con, abuse, and murder. Cullen Ayers is covered in red flags, but the bigger the bully, the better the redemption.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
About the author
Sara Cate
40 books13.4k followersSara Cate is a USA Today best-selling author of steamy romance and sexy book boyfriends. Although she writes a wide range of tropes, Sara is best known for her age gap and taboo romances. One thing you can expect from her entire collection is heaps of steam and plenty of angst.
Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.
Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com
Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time reading, writing, or baking.
Find out more at: www.saracatebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 846 reviews
October 30, 2023
1/5
You are a thirty-two-year-old woman, and you let yourself be pushed around by an 18-year-old. Girl wake up.
You are a thirty-two-year-old woman, and you let yourself be pushed around by an 18-year-old. Girl wake up.
December 31, 2021
I have seen many rave reviews for this book and has been recommended to me by several people. But really captured my attention was how the author market the book on Tik Tok. I abandoned all adult responsibilities and dove right in and read the book in one sitting.
Burn Me is the first book I have read from this author and let me tell you, sure as hell won't be my last. I am kicking myself I haven't read anything from her sooner.
Cullen and Everly have history by a horrific story from eight years prior. Which has left them both lonely. But Cullen is full of hate and revenge towards everyone that was involved, especially Everly. Essentially becoming Everly’s bully. But there is always a fine line between love and hate.
We are taken on a wild and spicy as hell ride. At times Cullen is so cruel, all he knows is hate. Our Everly is no pushover but she does have demons of her own. They both need each other but just can't see it.
At times, I had to keep reminding myself that Cullen is only eighteen years old. If you had to do through what he did you would have grown up faster than others your age.
Burn me is a standalone Professor/ Student, reverse age-gap, that I highly recommend.
Burn Me is the first book I have read from this author and let me tell you, sure as hell won't be my last. I am kicking myself I haven't read anything from her sooner.
Cullen and Everly have history by a horrific story from eight years prior. Which has left them both lonely. But Cullen is full of hate and revenge towards everyone that was involved, especially Everly. Essentially becoming Everly’s bully. But there is always a fine line between love and hate.
We are taken on a wild and spicy as hell ride. At times Cullen is so cruel, all he knows is hate. Our Everly is no pushover but she does have demons of her own. They both need each other but just can't see it.
At times, I had to keep reminding myself that Cullen is only eighteen years old. If you had to do through what he did you would have grown up faster than others your age.
Burn me is a standalone Professor/ Student, reverse age-gap, that I highly recommend.
October 12, 2021
Holy crap this was one wild and sexy ride. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but dude it was intense. Hold on to your seats. This is a dark and gritty age gap- teacher/student read that will leave you squirming.
Every West was a journalist and her big investigation destroyed a family, both the guilty and the innocent. Cullen Ayers had his life demolished in the blink of his 10 year old eyes. His father is sent to prison and his mother becomes a shell of her oneself.
Fast forward 8 years... Evelyn is now a professor at a local college. She can't believe the last name she sees on her list of students. It must just be a random fluke, right. There must be other's with that same name.
Fate is one nasty B. It just so happens to be Cullen. All grown up and hot as hell. Don't let his looks trick you. He wants to bring nothing but pain and suffering to the one person who destroyed his world, who sat in the courtroom with a smug look on her face while his normal was uprooted and we was thrown into hell.
He wants revenge and nothing will stop him. Doesn't matter that he thinks his father is evil. She is the one who welcomed torment and abuse into his life. She threw that door wide open, naively so.
Now she will get a taste of the torment and abuse he went through... because of her.
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Every West was a journalist and her big investigation destroyed a family, both the guilty and the innocent. Cullen Ayers had his life demolished in the blink of his 10 year old eyes. His father is sent to prison and his mother becomes a shell of her oneself.
Fast forward 8 years... Evelyn is now a professor at a local college. She can't believe the last name she sees on her list of students. It must just be a random fluke, right. There must be other's with that same name.
Fate is one nasty B. It just so happens to be Cullen. All grown up and hot as hell. Don't let his looks trick you. He wants to bring nothing but pain and suffering to the one person who destroyed his world, who sat in the courtroom with a smug look on her face while his normal was uprooted and we was thrown into hell.
He wants revenge and nothing will stop him. Doesn't matter that he thinks his father is evil. She is the one who welcomed torment and abuse into his life. She threw that door wide open, naively so.
Now she will get a taste of the torment and abuse he went through... because of her.
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Read
November 8, 2021Dnf at 13% because ✨noh✨
One true cougar.
The guy was 10 when she won a case and had his father arrested. One year later his mother dies of drugs and 8 years later he's at the class she was teaching.
She's 32 and he's not even old enough to get a drink (and yes he said it himself) and talks about his built body and bluey blue eyes and his hair and how she's bored in her life and all the thrill she has in her life at that moment is because of that kid.
This woman is
1)Horny.
2)Desperate.
3)Lame.
4)Scared of that kid FOR NO REASON.
5)Just ...no.
Like bro you won a damn case and you're this big professor and your knees shake around an 18 year old kid?
She literally did not even talk with the kid and she lost her shit even looking at him.
Bitch no we don't do that.
And we don't like that.
(Maybe some other day I will give it a try once again but tbh eehhhhhhhh nope)
One true cougar.
The guy was 10 when she won a case and had his father arrested. One year later his mother dies of drugs and 8 years later he's at the class she was teaching.
She's 32 and he's not even old enough to get a drink (and yes he said it himself) and talks about his built body and bluey blue eyes and his hair and how she's bored in her life and all the thrill she has in her life at that moment is because of that kid.
This woman is
1)Horny.
2)Desperate.
3)Lame.
4)Scared of that kid FOR NO REASON.
5)Just ...no.
Like bro you won a damn case and you're this big professor and your knees shake around an 18 year old kid?
She literally did not even talk with the kid and she lost her shit even looking at him.
Bitch no we don't do that.
And we don't like that.
(Maybe some other day I will give it a try once again but tbh eehhhhhhhh nope)
August 27, 2023
❌Rating amended to 1 star because I used to feel bad about 1-star-ing a new book. Well, it’s not new anymore. I also no longer suffer under the delusion that I need to lie to spare a book from a low rating.❌I’ll leave the 1 star for the writing style. Pity there’s no zero star option…
🚨💯FREE ON AMAZON 8 FEB 2022🚨💯 - The true cougar.
⭐️UPDATE:⭐️
Thoroughly enjoyed the writing style.
The age gap is too big for my comfort (even for me, considering I have five, four and three starred this trope in at least 25 books already); he’s just too young and she’s just to weary.
I want to bash this book because the heroine is a pathetic (her words AND his) creep, but I’m enjoying the writing style, inner dialogue, and I want to know how this pans out.
Loads of red flags:
Red flag no 1:
She’s bored. Unfulfilled. Horny, and not in a “you-go-gurrrl” way.
8 years ago (he was 10 and she was 24) she was instrumental in putting his father behind bars.
That ONE case was the beginning and end of her career as a journalist.
Since then she’s been chasing the same high but hasn’t reached it.
She’s now teaching because she desperately needs a change.
Red flag no 2:
Can’t say I’ve read many H’s who don’t immediately feel attraction to the h.
Not asking for insta lust or love.
Physical attraction or some sort of chemistry, yes, pls.
I’m not used to lukewarm from the heroes POV:
“she’s not bad-looking for a woman in her thirties. I don’t age discriminate—I’ve been with ladies her age. And if she wasn’t such a heinous bitch, I’d probably hit that.”
AND
“The only difference between the way I feel now and the way I felt at ten is that I used to hate her for what she did to my family—but now, as I watch her sulk out the door in misery, I realize I hate her for how pathetic she is.”
AND
“She was a spitfire, full of angst and hate. But now, this woman I’ve seen twice today, is just…sad”
Red flag no 3:
Her:
“I try my hardest not to check out my scantily clad students, but it’s not easy.”
Him:
“Life has gotten a little boring, hasn’t it? Your job was boring, so you picked a new one. Going home alone on a Friday night is boring. Now you’re eye-fucking a bunch of college students”
NTS:
Edit edit edit 👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽
🚨💯FREE ON AMAZON 8 FEB 2022🚨💯 - The true cougar.
⭐️UPDATE:⭐️
Thoroughly enjoyed the writing style.
The age gap is too big for my comfort (even for me, considering I have five, four and three starred this trope in at least 25 books already); he’s just too young and she’s just to weary.
I want to bash this book because the heroine is a pathetic (her words AND his) creep, but I’m enjoying the writing style, inner dialogue, and I want to know how this pans out.
Loads of red flags:
Red flag no 1:
She’s bored. Unfulfilled. Horny, and not in a “you-go-gurrrl” way.
8 years ago (he was 10 and she was 24) she was instrumental in putting his father behind bars.
That ONE case was the beginning and end of her career as a journalist.
Since then she’s been chasing the same high but hasn’t reached it.
She’s now teaching because she desperately needs a change.
Red flag no 2:
Can’t say I’ve read many H’s who don’t immediately feel attraction to the h.
Not asking for insta lust or love.
Physical attraction or some sort of chemistry, yes, pls.
I’m not used to lukewarm from the heroes POV:
“she’s not bad-looking for a woman in her thirties. I don’t age discriminate—I’ve been with ladies her age. And if she wasn’t such a heinous bitch, I’d probably hit that.”
AND
“The only difference between the way I feel now and the way I felt at ten is that I used to hate her for what she did to my family—but now, as I watch her sulk out the door in misery, I realize I hate her for how pathetic she is.”
AND
“She was a spitfire, full of angst and hate. But now, this woman I’ve seen twice today, is just…sad”
Red flag no 3:
Her:
“I try my hardest not to check out my scantily clad students, but it’s not easy.”
Him:
“Life has gotten a little boring, hasn’t it? Your job was boring, so you picked a new one. Going home alone on a Friday night is boring. Now you’re eye-fucking a bunch of college students”
NTS:
Edit edit edit 👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽
November 29, 2022
Here was the reverse age-gap, forbidden student-teacher, bully romance I never knew I was looking for and let me tell you, I ate. It. Up.
I don’t know what it is, but student-teacher remains one of my favorite “forbidden” tropes and it’s great when I can find one that feels well done. If you spend any time in this sub-genre, you’ll find that it’s dominated by books where the MMC is the one in the position of authority, just as age-gaps books typically have an older hero paired with a younger heroine, and while I enjoy those, it was refreshing to see it done the other way around, and with a significant age gap (14 years in this case).
Sara Cate did not wimp out on that, as so many authors do, promising something taboo/forbidden and then barely toeing that line. Furthermore, she turned the typical bully trope on its head by having the younger character blackmail the older one, and having the person who was technically in the position of authority and expected to hold the power, instead have that power subverted.
I’ve read bully books where the reasons behind it are just so weak. E.g. the MMC is attracted to the FMC and doesn’t like it (for whatever reason) and has to act in a contrary manner, or she just rubbed him the wrong way, whatever. The MMC here had a significant reason to dislike the FMC. Her actions ruined his life. While he understands that his own father is the main reason his life fell apart, he can’t get over the part the FMC played in it, and he wants her to feel some of that pain he felt. There were times he wrestled with what he was doing and his feelings around it, and I liked seeing that inner struggle.
Likewise, I liked that the FMC was fully aware and acknowledged of the wrongness of her desires—which was why she didn’t fight too hard against the MMC when he “forced” her into sexual situations with him. Their dynamic was TOXIC, but gave them each something they needed. Up until almost the end, I wasn’t even sure I could actually root for them as a couple, but Sara Cate managed to bring me around.
I don’t know what it is, but student-teacher remains one of my favorite “forbidden” tropes and it’s great when I can find one that feels well done. If you spend any time in this sub-genre, you’ll find that it’s dominated by books where the MMC is the one in the position of authority, just as age-gaps books typically have an older hero paired with a younger heroine, and while I enjoy those, it was refreshing to see it done the other way around, and with a significant age gap (14 years in this case).
Sara Cate did not wimp out on that, as so many authors do, promising something taboo/forbidden and then barely toeing that line. Furthermore, she turned the typical bully trope on its head by having the younger character blackmail the older one, and having the person who was technically in the position of authority and expected to hold the power, instead have that power subverted.
I’ve read bully books where the reasons behind it are just so weak. E.g. the MMC is attracted to the FMC and doesn’t like it (for whatever reason) and has to act in a contrary manner, or she just rubbed him the wrong way, whatever. The MMC here had a significant reason to dislike the FMC. Her actions ruined his life. While he understands that his own father is the main reason his life fell apart, he can’t get over the part the FMC played in it, and he wants her to feel some of that pain he felt. There were times he wrestled with what he was doing and his feelings around it, and I liked seeing that inner struggle.
Likewise, I liked that the FMC was fully aware and acknowledged of the wrongness of her desires—which was why she didn’t fight too hard against the MMC when he “forced” her into sexual situations with him. Their dynamic was TOXIC, but gave them each something they needed. Up until almost the end, I wasn’t even sure I could actually root for them as a couple, but Sara Cate managed to bring me around.
May 18, 2023
4⭐️
Naaa this is now my fave Sara Cate. Over all the Salacious Players Club books. This is a winner baby.
Once I got over the MMCS name being FUCKING CULLEN ffs, I was well into this.
Catch me melting into a dangerously deep puddle over a solid enemies to lovers, but you chuck in a bully romance and I’m changing my last name to the authors. Shelby Cate yes maaaaaym.
For some reason I didn’t expect this to be any good bc no-one talks about it ?? Well pull my pigtails and call me spanked when it not only exceeded my expectations but it’s now my fave Sara Cate book. Have I said that I already? 🤣
Sure, the writing in this isn’t as good as SPC, and we’re hardly delving into the Da Vinci code with SPC, but if you want bonkers escapism with plenty of spice (and sick spice at that) Sara Cate is your gally. ESP THIS BOOK.
I can’t give it 5⭐️ bc the ‘I am. He is. I was not. I could not.’ Got on my fucking nerves (wasn’t, couldn’t, I’m, please bc we’re all lazy fuckers in speech) BUT I can give it a solid 4⭐️ FOR THE SPICE 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🔥🔥🔥 and the banging enemies to lovers.
Oh and the bully romance. The manipulation and hate sex 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠 oh hot Dayum.
Also, these characters were fleshy fleshy. The backstory was interesting, deeper than any in SPC if I’m being hoeeenest 🤣.
The THOT IN ME WAS SCREAMING FOR THE MAJORITY OF THIS.
Yep, I loved it! Defo recommend 🥰
Naaa this is now my fave Sara Cate. Over all the Salacious Players Club books. This is a winner baby.
Once I got over the MMCS name being FUCKING CULLEN ffs, I was well into this.
Catch me melting into a dangerously deep puddle over a solid enemies to lovers, but you chuck in a bully romance and I’m changing my last name to the authors. Shelby Cate yes maaaaaym.
For some reason I didn’t expect this to be any good bc no-one talks about it ?? Well pull my pigtails and call me spanked when it not only exceeded my expectations but it’s now my fave Sara Cate book. Have I said that I already? 🤣
Sure, the writing in this isn’t as good as SPC, and we’re hardly delving into the Da Vinci code with SPC, but if you want bonkers escapism with plenty of spice (and sick spice at that) Sara Cate is your gally. ESP THIS BOOK.
I can’t give it 5⭐️ bc the ‘I am. He is. I was not. I could not.’ Got on my fucking nerves (wasn’t, couldn’t, I’m, please bc we’re all lazy fuckers in speech) BUT I can give it a solid 4⭐️ FOR THE SPICE 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🔥🔥🔥 and the banging enemies to lovers.
Oh and the bully romance. The manipulation and hate sex 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠 oh hot Dayum.
Also, these characters were fleshy fleshy. The backstory was interesting, deeper than any in SPC if I’m being hoeeenest 🤣.
The THOT IN ME WAS SCREAMING FOR THE MAJORITY OF THIS.
Yep, I loved it! Defo recommend 🥰
January 9, 2023
Just uncovered my new fav trope: older woman/younger man
I used to avoid books with said trope, thinking it was not my jam. Then I somehow read Defy and LOVED it! So my brain convinced me it was a fluke. But now I just finished this book and the whole aspect of her being older than him just did SOMETHING to me. I guess never say no unless you've tried it at least once. Drop me recs for older woman-younger guy books, is what I'm saying 😁😇
Also, Sara Cate can write! Her Praise did nothing to me, but this one...THIS ONE! It's hard to believe they're both written by the same person. This story was angsty, and spicy, and emotional, and a bit dark but not for the kicks of it, rather logically dark (if it makes sense).
When I first read the synopsis for this story, I believed the hero would be the rich, invincible, asshole/sociopath type of dark hero, but was pleasantly surprised that he was poor, not really a cruel mastermind, but rather a hurt, fucked-up individual. Made the story more believable for me.
This was simply marvelous! 100% recommend!
I used to avoid books with said trope, thinking it was not my jam. Then I somehow read Defy and LOVED it! So my brain convinced me it was a fluke. But now I just finished this book and the whole aspect of her being older than him just did SOMETHING to me. I guess never say no unless you've tried it at least once. Drop me recs for older woman-younger guy books, is what I'm saying 😁😇
Also, Sara Cate can write! Her Praise did nothing to me, but this one...THIS ONE! It's hard to believe they're both written by the same person. This story was angsty, and spicy, and emotional, and a bit dark but not for the kicks of it, rather logically dark (if it makes sense).
When I first read the synopsis for this story, I believed the hero would be the rich, invincible, asshole/sociopath type of dark hero, but was pleasantly surprised that he was poor, not really a cruel mastermind, but rather a hurt, fucked-up individual. Made the story more believable for me.
This was simply marvelous! 100% recommend!
December 11, 2021
We open eight years in the past inside a Florida courtroom as Everly prepares to see the criminal mastermind of a human trafficking ring sentenced.
In the present, Everly has left her job as an investigative reporter, deciding to make a change professionally. Instead of crafting stories, she’s going to try her hand at teaching journalism at the local college. This new direction results in unexpectedly crossing paths with Cullen whom she hasn’t seen since the fateful day in the courtroom eight years earlier.
Still angry for the losses he’s suffered and the hardships he’s faced, Cullen blames Everly and sets out on a course of revenge. But as the enemies become lovers and the lines of hate and love are blurred, the duo will have to come to terms with their past. Yet the past never really stays in the past. So when secrets surface and monsters wriggle out from under the bed, choices must be made: retribution or redemption.
I really enjoyed this story all the way around. Both characters grow tremendously individually and as a couple. There was plenty of steam to balance the story and the surprises. I’d definitely recommend this one if you haven’t read it yet!
⛔️ Warning: This book/series may cause blushing, squirming, combusting pantries, and/or self-care. It’s definitely NSFW or with a kiddo by your side. In fact, I would highly recommend you read this one after dark to avoid side eye or awkward conversations.
⚠️ Safety Squad: Reverse age gap, bully, mild on- and off-page violence
📚 I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In the present, Everly has left her job as an investigative reporter, deciding to make a change professionally. Instead of crafting stories, she’s going to try her hand at teaching journalism at the local college. This new direction results in unexpectedly crossing paths with Cullen whom she hasn’t seen since the fateful day in the courtroom eight years earlier.
Still angry for the losses he’s suffered and the hardships he’s faced, Cullen blames Everly and sets out on a course of revenge. But as the enemies become lovers and the lines of hate and love are blurred, the duo will have to come to terms with their past. Yet the past never really stays in the past. So when secrets surface and monsters wriggle out from under the bed, choices must be made: retribution or redemption.
I really enjoyed this story all the way around. Both characters grow tremendously individually and as a couple. There was plenty of steam to balance the story and the surprises. I’d definitely recommend this one if you haven’t read it yet!
⛔️ Warning: This book/series may cause blushing, squirming, combusting pantries, and/or self-care. It’s definitely NSFW or with a kiddo by your side. In fact, I would highly recommend you read this one after dark to avoid side eye or awkward conversations.
⚠️ Safety Squad: Reverse age gap, bully, mild on- and off-page violence
📚 I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2023
dude wtf is this 💀 everly is just doing her job and putting a CHILD TRAFFICKER behind bars. cullen literally has no standing to be mad about that, but it doesn’t seem like he even cares about what his dad did. he only cares about how HIS life was fucked over, how humiliating it is that he has to work a part time job to cover school expenses, like EVERY OTHER COLLEGE STUDENT. he is literally so immature and selfish and everly is pathetic for letting him walk all over her. personally, if it were me, i would have kicked him out of my class on the second day. you’re a fucking 32 year old woman!! act like it!!!
September 4, 2022
Please check trigger warnings.
The intensity and madness in this was amazing. The beginning is pretty dark and twisted. But as things unravel between them, the level of vulnerability and intimacy was equally intense.
There are some bully elements, but mostly there's a lot of degradation kink with little praise in between, in case that's not your thing. It oddly worked for me too well. Not sure what that says about me lol
The intensity and madness in this was amazing. The beginning is pretty dark and twisted. But as things unravel between them, the level of vulnerability and intimacy was equally intense.
There are some bully elements, but mostly there's a lot of degradation kink with little praise in between, in case that's not your thing. It oddly worked for me too well. Not sure what that says about me lol
October 11, 2021
5/5⭐️ 3.5/5🔥
STEAM: 4/5🌶
Previously published as Spitfire in the Tangled Sheets Anthology
A dark bully romance, reverse age-gap, forbidden 🚫✨
🧡Revenge Plot
🖤Reverse Age-Gap
🧡Student-Professor
🖤Bully Romance
I’m a sucker for Age-Gap but I don’t think Reverse Age-Gap gets enough recognition and written a lot of the time. Sara Cate did me through the backdoor and I LOVED IT ALL ❤️🔥
Everly is fourteen years old than him, his professor, his enemy but they can’t seem to stay away.
“I can still hate you and want to fuck your brains out. Want me to show you?”
“I’m playing with fire, and I know it.”
Cullen Ayers is eighteen and ready for revenge for what Everly did to his family, leaving his northern away and his farther to prison. There comes a lot of HEAT, Passion and someone gets burned along the way 🔥🥵
STEAM: 4/5🌶
Previously published as Spitfire in the Tangled Sheets Anthology
A dark bully romance, reverse age-gap, forbidden 🚫✨
🧡Revenge Plot
🖤Reverse Age-Gap
🧡Student-Professor
🖤Bully Romance
I’m a sucker for Age-Gap but I don’t think Reverse Age-Gap gets enough recognition and written a lot of the time. Sara Cate did me through the backdoor and I LOVED IT ALL ❤️🔥
Everly is fourteen years old than him, his professor, his enemy but they can’t seem to stay away.
“I can still hate you and want to fuck your brains out. Want me to show you?”
“I’m playing with fire, and I know it.”
Cullen Ayers is eighteen and ready for revenge for what Everly did to his family, leaving his northern away and his farther to prison. There comes a lot of HEAT, Passion and someone gets burned along the way 🔥🥵
May 22, 2022
Nope.
July 20, 2023
A really decent enemies to lovers treat.
November 28, 2022
Shew that was a wild ride! Age gap bully romance where the h is 32 and H is only 18. She ended up being basically the same age as his mother! It gave me the ick at first, but I pushed through and I enjoyed the book.
It’s heavy on the feels and angst. By the time it was all said-and-done I felt Cullen had redeemed himself. After all, his frontal lobe won’t develop fully until he’s 25! I was really hoping for like a 5-10 year epilogue.
It’s heavy on the feels and angst. By the time it was all said-and-done I felt Cullen had redeemed himself. After all, his frontal lobe won’t develop fully until he’s 25! I was really hoping for like a 5-10 year epilogue.
May 16, 2022
I don't normally fuck with the blonde boys but Cullen just does it for me.
Sara Cate is quickly becoming an instant buy author for me. I devoured this in one sitting, at my desk. In public. Because I have no fucking shame. I'm obsessed with this reverse age gap, kinda enemies to lovers, student teacher story.
Sara Cate is quickly becoming an instant buy author for me. I devoured this in one sitting, at my desk. In public. Because I have no fucking shame. I'm obsessed with this reverse age gap, kinda enemies to lovers, student teacher story.
June 20, 2022
This one was a little hard for me to get into at the start but once I was in I was all in!
April 3, 2022
Cullen’s evil ways do all the right things to Everly. Even when she wants to hate him she succumbs to him. Fighting has never been so good.
🔥 OWYM
🔥 student-teacher with a revenge twist
🔥 32yo Professor Everly West
🔥 18yo Cullen Ayers
🔥 dubcon instigated by him
𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭. ~ Everly
𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨. ~ Cullen
𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
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🔥 OWYM
🔥 student-teacher with a revenge twist
🔥 32yo Professor Everly West
🔥 18yo Cullen Ayers
🔥 dubcon instigated by him
𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭. ~ Everly
𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨. ~ Cullen
𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
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December 2, 2022
I thought that this book was good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
It was the kind of dark romance I enjoy. Where the male character is detestable–because, let’s face it, it’s rarely the female character who’s bad in dark romances–but you can’t help but like him anyway. Where the author shows all the reasons why he’s become like that, and you understand him. Where, in the end, his redemption arc tears your heart out.
Cullen was such a character. A survivor who’s decided that attachment results in pain and that he must avoid it. A little boy that doesn’t know what love is. Lost, in search of an anchor, something that can make his life less miserable, he comes across the woman who ruined his life and wants to make her pay.
Everly is lost too. After her big article in her early twenties–the one that exposed Cullen’s family–she’s been searching for the meaning of life, going through the motions looking for excitement.
She and Cullen were meant to end up together. They bring to each other what was missing in their life. Even through a twisted, unhealthy, not quite relationship where they discover who they are and what they need. The fact that Everly is much older than Cullen, and her teacher, gives another forbidden element to their story.
And the little suspense in the story added some tension that I liked a lot.
As for the steam? Keep a fan by your side. Just an advice. The author brings the heat, and it’s only natural with ‘fire’ as a recurrent pattern. The writing was on point.
Quickie
- Series: standalone
- Hashtags: #dark romance #bully romance #forbidden romance #reverse age gap #enemies to lovers
- Triggers: dubious consent, abuse, violence, death
- Main couple: Everly West & Cullen Ayers
- Hotness: 5/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + Cullen was still a kid, but he learned so much in this story
- – is Cullen’s father actually deranged?
Cullen was such a character. A survivor who’s decided that attachment results in pain and that he must avoid it. A little boy that doesn’t know what love is. Lost, in search of an anchor, something that can make his life less miserable, he comes across the woman who ruined his life and wants to make her pay.
Everly is lost too. After her big article in her early twenties–the one that exposed Cullen’s family–she’s been searching for the meaning of life, going through the motions looking for excitement.
She and Cullen were meant to end up together. They bring to each other what was missing in their life. Even through a twisted, unhealthy, not quite relationship where they discover who they are and what they need. The fact that Everly is much older than Cullen, and her teacher, gives another forbidden element to their story.
And the little suspense in the story added some tension that I liked a lot.
As for the steam? Keep a fan by your side. Just an advice. The author brings the heat, and it’s only natural with ‘fire’ as a recurrent pattern. The writing was on point.
Quickie
- Series: standalone
- Hashtags: #dark romance #bully romance #forbidden romance #reverse age gap #enemies to lovers
- Triggers: dubious consent, abuse, violence, death
- Main couple: Everly West & Cullen Ayers
- Hotness: 5/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + Cullen was still a kid, but he learned so much in this story
- – is Cullen’s father actually deranged?
August 30, 2023
Y'all really expect me to believe that a grown ass 32 year old woman would allow an 18 year old BOY to push her around and, I quote, bully her? Like seriously??? The level of immaturity and the way the FMC was so fucking spineless shouldn't have surprised me - I shoulda known that when I found out that the MMC was a freshman in college lol. Not to mention the OW drama...I'm so over it y'all ffs. Even the smut was subpar and that's something that I can expect to be decent/good when it comes to Sara Cate books - but not this time, unfortunately. The audacity of the MMC to be a hypocrite and tell the FMC that she's "his" but then proceeds to get a BJ from another girl at a party (before the MCs get tg) + he tries to hook up with said girl (after having sex with the FMC MULTIPLE TIMES) but eventually can't because he can't think of anyone else but his love interest/because he can't get it up for the OW. Anyways, I'm out BYEEEEEE.
October 20, 2021
Wow!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: enemies to lovers/reverse age gap
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: dubcon, assault
Wow -what an intense ride! I've read more than a couple bully reads, but nothing quite like this. A reverse age gap bully/revenge read where the heroine had ruined the heroes life. Super interesting and original storyline. Very well written. She does an awesome job creating a super nuanced relationship - especially as it transforms from hate into codependency into love. Both of the main characters were super complex and the tension between them was tangible. If you're looking for a super intense and dark bully read - look no further!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: enemies to lovers/reverse age gap
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: dubcon, assault
Wow -what an intense ride! I've read more than a couple bully reads, but nothing quite like this. A reverse age gap bully/revenge read where the heroine had ruined the heroes life. Super interesting and original storyline. Very well written. She does an awesome job creating a super nuanced relationship - especially as it transforms from hate into codependency into love. Both of the main characters were super complex and the tension between them was tangible. If you're looking for a super intense and dark bully read - look no further!
October 19, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Cullen
Heroine : Everly
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 6/10
Heat Rating : 6/10
Triggers Involved : Dub Con , Bullying
Plot Summary :
Everly thought she was doing good sending a man involved in sex trafficking to jail. But what she didn't consider were the repercussions it will have on that man's family. One such person suffering from her decision was that man's son. Cullen has never had an easy life. He was once content but all that was taken from him. He lost his parents and had to spend the rest of his years with a monster.
Now years later He has the one person who started all the mess in front of him. He has been suffering and Everly has been living in the glory of being the hero. Those days were over. she will now pay. He will destroy her no matter what happens.
Overall Opinion :
I am not a huge fan of reverse age gaps but this one was good. Everly was Cullen's teacher and she was much older than him. That did not stop him from destroying her and terrorising her in every way possible. Things got messy as he began wanting the one woman he was going to destroy. And now both will be the same because they were not meant to be.
I Loved this standalone so much! It was an amazing read for me. I am a huge fan of dark romance with a few dubcon scenes in the mix and this one had that and so much more. Definitely recommending this book to all the student teacher Romance loving people. It has a reverse age gap with bullying too.
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May 17, 2022
Student/teacher romance??? Age gap??? YES PLS!!
this was dark, intense, spicy and heart breaking.
I LOVED IT!
I went into this blind so I had no clue what to expect and fuck me, those twists and turns came out of nowhere.
I was as blindsided as Everly was when she found that the child of the man she put in prison was in her class… no way could I have stood up and carried on the way she did, she was so strong.
I can’t imagine how Cullen must’ve felt when he was 10, it was absolutely devastating.
Just when you think things couldn’t get worse you find out about the horrific things his uncle did, my heart broke.
I want to give Cullen a hug and tell him that it’ll all be okay. He was so full of anger, and hatred towards the adults in his life. I can understand his need for control when he was unable to control so many things in his life.
I can understand why Everly felt so guilty, but at the same time it wasn’t her at fault, it was all Cullen’s dad (I hope he had a painful death as he definitely deserves it the cruel, disgusting man)
I’m glad things started looking up and Cullen and Everly solved the missing cases and found out about Sasha, I can’t imagine how heart breaking that must’ve been for Cullen. My heart hurts so much for him but it must’ve been a relief finally knowing the truth of everything.
I’m so glad Cullen and Everly got their happy ending, they deserve it more than anything.
this was dark, intense, spicy and heart breaking.
I LOVED IT!
I went into this blind so I had no clue what to expect and fuck me, those twists and turns came out of nowhere.
I was as blindsided as Everly was when she found that the child of the man she put in prison was in her class… no way could I have stood up and carried on the way she did, she was so strong.
I can’t imagine how Cullen must’ve felt when he was 10, it was absolutely devastating.
Just when you think things couldn’t get worse you find out about the horrific things his uncle did, my heart broke.
I want to give Cullen a hug and tell him that it’ll all be okay. He was so full of anger, and hatred towards the adults in his life. I can understand his need for control when he was unable to control so many things in his life.
I can understand why Everly felt so guilty, but at the same time it wasn’t her at fault, it was all Cullen’s dad (I hope he had a painful death as he definitely deserves it the cruel, disgusting man)
I’m glad things started looking up and Cullen and Everly solved the missing cases and found out about Sasha, I can’t imagine how heart breaking that must’ve been for Cullen. My heart hurts so much for him but it must’ve been a relief finally knowing the truth of everything.
I’m so glad Cullen and Everly got their happy ending, they deserve it more than anything.
June 16, 2022
I truly enjoyed my first book by Sara Cate, but this was just a fucking mess! I enjoy bully romances as much as the next person, but there has to be a glimmer of hope and space for a redemption arc, so the character can't do anything I find unforgivable. Cullen was just a fucking idiot and Everly a weakling. He only ever treated her like shit and she not only accepted it, but also craved it. And it all started with him spitting in her mouth and telling her to swallow it.
February 26, 2023
Reverse Age gap. Teacher (fmc, not really submissive but likes to give up control) / student (mc, dominant nature) But there’s a lot more to the story. Dual POV. Interesting plot. The end felt a bit rushed. I enjoyed how they both accepted their feelings changing from hate/ fear to love. In some books the (mainly) fmc are so insecure and behave contradictorily (fucking annoying), and it’s NOT the case with this book.
September 4, 2022
3⭐️-3.5⭐️
I don’t know how to feel about this book
I don’t know how to feel about this book
October 17, 2023
It was cute but i won’t be reading the second book it just didn’t give me what u thought it would.
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