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askelizabeth's review
medium-paced
4.0
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a book grab and keep my attention. The second I finished this book, I jumped to the next one… can’t wait to see this through…
beyondevak's review
5.0
Quick Summary: A second chance heartbreak
My Review: Cruel Money by K.A. Linde is part 1 of the Cruel series.
About the Book: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. After years apart, Natalie and Penn get a do over. When a bet made in secret is found out, however, two hearts are shattered. What happens next is anyone's guess.
About the Conflict: When an unsuspecting heart comes to confess her truth to the man she loves, she finds out more than she bargained for.
My Final Say: The final scenes were devastating. My heart is bleeding for this couple. What happened was wrong, but...it was obvious that they cared for each other.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Series: Yes
#Goodreadsrecommendation
#libraryfind
My Review: Cruel Money by K.A. Linde is part 1 of the Cruel series.
About the Book: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. After years apart, Natalie and Penn get a do over. When a bet made in secret is found out, however, two hearts are shattered. What happens next is anyone's guess.
About the Conflict: When an unsuspecting heart comes to confess her truth to the man she loves, she finds out more than she bargained for.
My Final Say: The final scenes were devastating. My heart is bleeding for this couple. What happened was wrong, but...it was obvious that they cared for each other.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Series: Yes
#Goodreadsrecommendation
#libraryfind
daftplum's review
1.0
This book made me want to absolutely fight. I almost dnfed it at 20% but figured I was too deep to stop… That was a mistake. How is Penn an ethics professor when he is one of the least ethical people in this book? How does Natalie have zero brain cells? I hated every single character in this book. Including the dog.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review
4.0
When a one night stand turns into a bet that will break her heart, Natalie must put her feelings and her heart aside and walk away from Penn. But as with anyone who is caught up in the "Crews" web it wil not be a easy road nor will it keep her from falling apart. Once you start this series you will not be able to put it down. Filled with angst, hatred, back stabbing and emotions this was a great read.
chandlerainsley's review
dnf @ 9%
what i read of this book was not bad and the premise is kind of cruel intentions-y. but i'm just not in the mood for this sort of romance at the moment and i really don't like that the male protagonist can't remember that he took the heroine's virginity.
might revisit this one day, just not today.
what i read of this book was not bad and the premise is kind of cruel intentions-y. but i'm just not in the mood for this sort of romance at the moment and i really don't like that the male protagonist can't remember that he took the heroine's virginity.
might revisit this one day, just not today.
dropdeadamber's review
4.0
This was actually pretty good and took a turn I didn’t expect. Every billionaire romance I’ve read they have their “we’re over” moment and then get back together and HEA ending. Now this couple continues in the next book, so there may still be a HEA but there isn’t one in this book which was actually pleasant. I got this book as a freebie for stuff your kindle day and it did not disappoint.
anasatticbookblog's review
3.0
One Cruel Night and Cruel Money by KA Linde Book & Audiobook Review
Narrated by Virginia Rose and Stephen Dexter
A prequel and the first in a trilogy.
3.5 stars
I began listening to Cruel Money by KA Linde and just felt like I was missing something, so I did a little research and saw that there was a prequel, so I stopped right there and went back and read the free prequel, One Cruel Night.
“That’s right. We had one night in Paris. You wooed me, you fucked me, and then you ghosted.”
In the One Cruel Night, Natalie and Penn have a perfect night with the best connection. She lost her virginity to him. Then her broke her heart. Six years later, Natalie is house sitting in the Hamptons for the rich and powerful when she runs into Penn again.
“No matter that I’d felt that love-at-first sight feeling with Penn, it had all been a lie. He was a lie wrapped in a pretty package. Like tearing into gorgeous Christmas wrapping paper on the morning of the twenty-fifth, only to find coal on the inside.”
Penn and his “crew” (yes, that’s what they call themselves) are obnoxious, spoiled, mean and catty. They play with people’s lives. I guess I should have seen it coming with Cruel in the title; it’s similar to Cruel Intentions in some ways. Penn has gone against his family wishes and became a Philosophy professor. But his humble job didn’t take away the rich-boy syndrome he has.
“I wanted Natalie. She confused me. She intrigued me. And despite all my training in ethics, I wanted to throw my morals out the window and go after her. Fuck that smart mouth. And have her crying my name out.”
There was a TON of angst in this. Penn is torn between the cruel upper crust world of his family and friends, and the girl he wants and the job he loves. Penn has a really cruel streak in him, and I’m not sure how he will be redeemed for me, but I’ve said that before and have been surprised.
“It’s…a bad idea,” I whispered.
“It’s not.”
“We end in flame.”
“Burn with me.”
My favorite part of Cruel Money was Totle. Pets totally make books better. The only thing was, the male and female narrator said it’s name different. Totle is short for Aristotle, but he pronounced it Total.
“Forget Penn Kensington. Totle was the real chick magnet.”
Likes:
- •It was engaging and addictive. I needed to know what happened.
- •There was absolutely nothing predictable about the plot and I have no clue what will happen.
- •I really loved Nat.
- •An adorable puppy!
- •The prequel has me invested in the couple.
Dislikes:
- •This is not the author’s fault, but I didn’t realize it did not stand alone, and you need to read the prequel and the trilogy. There was a cliffhanger.
- •I’m not really a fan of mean girl shit, and there was TONS.
- •They pronounced Totle the dog differently.
- •“The Crew” seemed like an immature group of spoiled private high school kids instead of adults.
- •Winning was more important than anything else to Penn.
The Narration:
I liked the way Stephen Dexter and Virginia Rose spoke, but there didn’t seem to be enough audio proofing. Along with the dog’s name being pronounced differently, there were a few other things mispronounced or pronounced inconsistently.
The Down & Dirty:
Cruel Money was filled with manipulation, deception, lust, angst, passion, cruelty and sexual tension. I do think that One Cruel Night should be included in this book or it needs to be made clearer to read that first, because if you don’t, you won’t understand the main connection. As a personal preference, I just don’t like reading about mean, catty people, so I did have a little bit of trouble with this installment, but I have no doubt that KA Linde will redeem the hero. I loved the heroine but the hero and his friends were basically assholes, so I was never rooting for the main couple. I was yelling at her (in my head) to run as far from the asshole as she could. Still, I really want to know what happens after being left hanging with my jaw on the floor.
Rating: 3.5 Stars, 4 Heat, 4 Narration
Download One Cruel Night by KA Linde
Purchase Cruel Money by KA Linde
resevoirofme's review
3.0
⚠️⚠️⚠️CAUTION ⚠️⚠️⚠️BET TROPE!!!
It was still rly enjoyable though I just would’ve preferred anything other than that
It was still rly enjoyable though I just would’ve preferred anything other than that
lilybuddy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read the prequel first and it had me INSTANTLY hooked to read the book. I tore through it in less than a day, I wanted my happy ending so much....so of course I got a cliffhanger instead😭
Natalie and Penn meet again 6 years after a whirlwind night in Paris that left Natalie confused and angry. Penn, an Upper East Side rich kid, tried to get away from his family's expectations. Natalie, a military brat and from small-town-nowhere, is trying to make it as a writer. When the two connect, it's like kismet. But they're from different worlds and bored rich people can be monsters...are their feelings for each other enough?
I don't know why I cared so much about these people. It's a testament to the writing, because there was no real plot happening😂 it was mostly character work, which I love and all the characters were dynamic and interesting and deeply (un)likeable in many ways. I'm hoping to pick up the sequel at some point, as I want to know how this ends😂
Natalie and Penn meet again 6 years after a whirlwind night in Paris that left Natalie confused and angry. Penn, an Upper East Side rich kid, tried to get away from his family's expectations. Natalie, a military brat and from small-town-nowhere, is trying to make it as a writer. When the two connect, it's like kismet. But they're from different worlds and bored rich people can be monsters...are their feelings for each other enough?
I don't know why I cared so much about these people. It's a testament to the writing, because there was no real plot happening😂 it was mostly character work, which I love and all the characters were dynamic and interesting and deeply (un)likeable in many ways. I'm hoping to pick up the sequel at some point, as I want to know how this ends😂
tabberz77's review
4.0
Oh Penn! and oh Linde! Once again the queen of angst delivered.
You have to meet Natalie and Penn. This couple has chemistry to spare. I love their love/hate relationship (the hate is mostly one-sided). I love their banter and I love when they come together. These two have a nice depth to them and are not your typical couple from opposite sides of the track. They have a history that is hinted at for a bit and you wait to find all the truths from their first time around (And if you want to read that story you can read One Cruel Night, which is free). This second chance that is given to them in a unexpected way is so much fun to watch unravel. You feel the tension in both good and bad ways and you wonder where this will go, if anywhere. I loved reading it unfold.
I loved Totle, who is my favorite character in the whole book. How a dog can be so expressive and lovable makes me want to get my own (would if I could).
The other supporting characters were fun to see interact with these two. The friends and family from both characters were interesting and brought out new sides to them. There's always the one character you keep your eye on because you know bad things always follow and in this book their "villain" was unlikable in the best way. You just wanted to yell, "RUN!", every time she entered a scene. But the best friends for both characters were great. They were supportive and had great interactions.
Since this is part of a 3-book series you know that this would not be a Linde novel without a cliffhanger. And oh what a cliffhanger it is! I am anxious and expectant for the next book and to see where she's taking out characters. It is a small time-jump so we will probably get to see what they were up to in the interim and see what will happen next.
And as I mentioned earlier in my review, there is a prequel book, One Cruel Night, that is currently free and it's a great read to get to know our characters a little more but not necessary to read this book. There is enough coverage of those events in this book that you get the gist of what happened BUT I think that read was also excellent and really enhances this read. So pick that up too.
Overall...Why do I need to wait so long for the next book!?!?!?!?!?
You have to meet Natalie and Penn. This couple has chemistry to spare. I love their love/hate relationship (the hate is mostly one-sided). I love their banter and I love when they come together. These two have a nice depth to them and are not your typical couple from opposite sides of the track. They have a history that is hinted at for a bit and you wait to find all the truths from their first time around (And if you want to read that story you can read One Cruel Night, which is free). This second chance that is given to them in a unexpected way is so much fun to watch unravel. You feel the tension in both good and bad ways and you wonder where this will go, if anywhere. I loved reading it unfold.
I loved Totle, who is my favorite character in the whole book. How a dog can be so expressive and lovable makes me want to get my own (would if I could).
The other supporting characters were fun to see interact with these two. The friends and family from both characters were interesting and brought out new sides to them. There's always the one character you keep your eye on because you know bad things always follow and in this book their "villain" was unlikable in the best way. You just wanted to yell, "RUN!", every time she entered a scene. But the best friends for both characters were great. They were supportive and had great interactions.
Since this is part of a 3-book series you know that this would not be a Linde novel without a cliffhanger. And oh what a cliffhanger it is! I am anxious and expectant for the next book and to see where she's taking out characters. It is a small time-jump so we will probably get to see what they were up to in the interim and see what will happen next.
And as I mentioned earlier in my review, there is a prequel book, One Cruel Night, that is currently free and it's a great read to get to know our characters a little more but not necessary to read this book. There is enough coverage of those events in this book that you get the gist of what happened BUT I think that read was also excellent and really enhances this read. So pick that up too.
Overall...Why do I need to wait so long for the next book!?!?!?!?!?