Forgiven
(Forgiven #1)
by Rebecca Brooke
What happens when one moment changes the course of your entire life? Do you sit back and accept it, or fight to live the life you choose? Caleb Jacobs has a past that has haunted him for two years. Knowing he can never forgive himself for the events that led to his departure, Caleb chooses to live a quiet life—concentrating on school, sports, and shots. But when he is paired with Angie for a history project he realizes that no matter how much you try to hide from your past, one way or another it will find you.
Angelina Powers knows what she wants from life. Growing up with only an alcoholic father for company, Angie learned early on in life that you can only count on yourself. But that doesn’t stop her wishing for her white knight. She’s confident, happy and focused…until she meets Caleb. So how will she feel when her potential white knight turns out to be more of a black shadow?
-Forgiven on Goodreads
First Sentence:
Beep, beep, beep.
I'm usually overly nice and generous with reviews. Especially with Indie books. This time? Nope. Not gonna happen.
I don't know where this whole trend of putting these abuse boyfriends into books and then romanticizing their behavior started. But it's disgusting. I can look past some "Alpha" tendencies. Some girls like that edge and aggression. I get it. But whenever there is blatant and unapologetic abuse? No. Get out. This book is full of it. I would get sick to my stomach while reading this. I don't know what book everyone read who gave this five stars, but can I read it instead, please?
The worst part about this book? This guy, Caleb, knows he's an abusive asshole. "Put in a good word... I don't get it? I was a total asshole to her." Yes. Straight out of the book, y'all. But wait, that's not all! There are so many references by multiple guys in this story about how they want to have sex with Angie. Does anyone realize she's more than a vagina on legs? No? No one? Right. Let's continue. Caleb is full of anger. Not like the sign yourself up for anger management classes anger. It's more of the how much longer until we get to the scene where Angie is covering up her black eye from him? "Rage coursed through my veins like acid." "I could still feel the jealousy eating away at me. I needed to hit something." "I threw myself into the passenger seat and punched the dashboard." But Caleb's anger isn't limited to just other men and Angie. Here's his thoughts on Angie's best friend and roommate: "I was going to throttle that girl if she didn't let me talk to Angie."
And now for the part that absolutely had me finished with this book before I even reached 50%. Caleb sees Angie in a club dancing with another guy. He immediately goes to Angie and grabs her arm. The other guy is telling him to back off because it's clear that Angie doesn't want Caleb around. After threatening the other guy, Caleb turns his aggression on Angie. "I pulled on my arm. "Get. Your. Fucking. Hands. Off. Of. Me." I said, enunciating each word so he understood. "Not until we talk!" he snapped." Yep. Later on, Angie notices how there are red marks on her arm from where his fingers had dug into her. I'm not even making this up. It's this bad.
So. Can we talk about the moment whenever Caleb stalked Angie and kidnapped her? She goes out on a date with the other guy from the scene before. He waits all night until they return to her apartment building. Caleb winds up breaking the other guy's nose. He then chases Angie as she tries to run inside. "I reached the door just as she was trying to shut it in my face-- but I was quicker, and placed my foot between the door and frame." "I used this distraction to push the door open and wrap my arms around Angie's waist. I picked her up and carried her toward her room. "We're going to talk...even if I have to hold you down so you'll listen to what I have to say." She tried to kick and slap me as I walked through the apartment, "Put me down, you asshole!" she yelled." Then she proceeds to forgive him and give in to his demands. That's the moment I was done.
Somehow, I finished the book. It never redeemed itself. The secret from Caleb's past? Lame and glaringly obvious. In no way did it make up for his actions and demeanor. It was an excuse for him to act the way he did. In all honesty, the only way I would recommend this book is to someone doing a study on Stockholm Syndrome, because that's the only way I can believe that Angie willingly got into a relationship with Caleb. I was too disgusted and upset while reading this book that I can't even comment on the author's writing. Though, I will say the excessive cursing took away from the story. I don't mind cursing at all; I am guilty of having a potty mouth. But there was so much in this book that it was comical. My goal throughout this book was to not throw up.
I'm sorry I ranted a bit. This book really got under my skin. If you liked it, I honestly want to know why. Explain it to me. If you haven't read it, take my review and every other review with a grain of salt. Read it yourself and see what you think of it. But as far as recommending it to anyone, never.
**I received a copy of this for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Rebecca Brooke and Book Enthusiast Promotions.
Wow, how about no. It is shit like this that glamorises the abusive relationships. You did right to give this a bad review. I hate books that make relationships like this sexy.
ReplyDeleteYou never know, if I picked this up I might have liked it. For now, I may give this a miss!
Thanks for sharing! :) xx
Alex @ The Shelf Diaries
Wowziers, I cannot believe you even finished this! The abusive boyfriend would have been enough to make me throw it against the way!
ReplyDeleteMissie @ A Flurry of Ponderings