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THE DARE by Elle Kennedy
Series: Briar U, #4
Genre: College/ Sports Romance
Release Date: 16th June 2020
College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.
The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.
Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance. Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.
Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.
But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.
And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my face.
★3.5 STARS★
I am always excited for an Elle Kennedy release, but the added fact that this was Connor’s book was even more of a draw for me. He partially stole the show when introduced in The Play, and I along with all other readers were hoping we would get the chance to see him in the spotlight.
He has looks, talent, riches and more importantly charisma, so it’s no surprise that he’s incredibly popular. It also doesn’t hurt that he is popular with female population of Briar U. He’s no stranger to hook ups but of late the lack of connection is a novelty that is quickly wearing off.
Sorority life has it pros and cons for Taylor and one of her lowest points comes when she is dared to hook up with none other than Conor. She’s not confident when it comes to guys and the fact Connor is a demigod makes her wish the ground would swallow her up. Rather than loose face infront of her bitchy sorority sisters she plucks up the courage accost him.
What begins as a fake hook up blossoms into a mutually beneficially fake relationship. Taylor gets to stick it to her Sorority sisters and Conor gets to enjoy Taylor’s company whilst being off the market jock chasers. Elle’s humour and charismatic characters are ever prevalent in the book but I have to say Connor was my favourite part. It wasn’t all humour from his part as he had personal issues with identity that affected him in ways unknown to his friends and family.
Taylor played a role in Connor confronting his past to a degree but I wish more emphasis would have been placed on Taylor being to manage her body/self image issues with professional guidance rather than it being a case of her finally believing Conor was attracted at her. Yes, I know it’s fiction, but I felt her issues were unresolved from that point of view. There was also another conflict late on in the story that felt more as a device rather than being integral to it. It may well be explored in another book, we shall see.
Although not my favourite book in the series it was still an enjoyable read, as this review should in no way put you off from snapping it up.
“Tell me something…why aren’t you already here with someone?”
“What do you mean?”
“There isn’t a guy in the picture somewhere?”
It’s my turn to shrink away from the topic. I’d probably have more to say with regards to thirteenth-century textiles than dating. And since I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one evening, I’d rather not compound my humiliation by sharing the details of my non-existent love life.
“So there is a story there,” Conor says, misreading my hesitation for coyness. “Let’s hear it.”
“What about you?” I volley back. “Haven’t settled on that one special groupie yet?”
He shrugs, unbothered by my teasing jab. “Don’t really do girlfriends.”
“Ugh, that sounds slimy.”
“No, I just mean I’ve never dated anyone for more than a few weeks. If it’s not there, it’s not there, you know?”
Oh, I know the type. Bores easy. Constantly looking over his shoulder at the next thing passing by. A walking meme in the flesh.
Figures. The pretty ones are always aching for their freedom.
“Don’t think you’ve distracted me,” he says, giving me a knowing smile. “Answer the question.”
“Sorry to disappoint. No guys. No story.” One unremarkable entanglement sophomore year that hardly fulfilled the definition of a relationship is too pathetic to warrant mention.
“Come on. I’m not as dumb as I look. What, did you break his heart? He spend six months sleeping on the sidewalk outside the sorority house?”
“Why do you assume I’m the kind of girl a guy would pine over in the rain and sleet?”
“You kidding?” His silvery eyes sweep over me, lingering on various parts of my body before returning to meet my gaze. Everywhere he looked is now tingling like crazy. “Babe, you’ve got the kind of body that boys build in their heads under the sheets after dark.”
“Don’t do that,” I tell him, all humor draining from my voice as I start to turn away. “Don’t mock me. That’s not nice.”
“Taylor.”
I jerk when he takes my hand, keeping me in place so that we’re still facing each other. As my pulse kicks into overdrive, he presses my shaky hand against his chest. His body is warm, solid. His heart beats a quick, steady rhythm beneath my palm.
I’m touching Conor Edwards’ chest.
What the hell is happening right now? Never in my wildest dreams did I envision the Kappa Chi Spring Break Hangover party ending this way.
“I mean it.” His voice thickens. “I’ve been sitting here having filthy thoughts about you all night. Don’t mistake my manners for indifference.”
About Elle Kennedy:
A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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