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4.5 Stars SPOILER FREE Review
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Three years ago, curious little Erika Fane wanted to play with the boys, so we indulged her, and she betrayed us. There was no way we'd forget.

How in the ever loving hell do I even begin reviewing this book?! Honestly. I'm completely at a loss for words. So my only way out is to be vague as shit and trust me when I tell you you'll thank me for it. You want to know absolutely nothing about this book. Even the very minute detail can be a spoiler. If you want my advise, avoid reviews altogether and go in absolutely blind. Hell, don't even read the blurb.

First of all, while this book is categorized dark, I wouldn't agree with that. It's a heck of a lot darker than anything Penelope Douglas has written and surely a leap away from anything she's written in the past. But dark? Well, on my scale, I'd rate it a light gray. It was erotic, and very edgy, but if you compare to the Pepper Winters, CJ Roberts, or the like, it's not quite on the same scale. It's also not for everyone. Penelope took some risks with this one and there are some scenes and occurrences that may not agree with everyone. But this girl? Devoured it like the crack that it was.

I'd always been scared of him. The thrilling kind of scared that got me turned on.

Erika Fane has been in love with Michael Crist. He captivated her with his brooding intensity, drew her in with his aloofness, and completely disregarded her. But something about him, something behind his eyes drew her to him like a moth to a flame. Erika was too young to really know. Too naive to really see. And she was also dating Michael's younger brother. Now she's single, in a new city by herself for college, and fully in Michael's crosshairs....

Michael Crist is a force to be reckoned with. He's enigmatic, rich, and used to not playing by the rules. Erika may have had the run of his house growing up, but now she's finally where he wants her. No longer under the protection of his family, no longer dating his brother. She's alone...and his to do with what he wants. And what he wants is revenge. He won't rest until she's paid restitution for what she did to him and his friends those fateful three years ago. He'll make her pay, even if he has to corrupt her fully to do it...

Such a good girl...
Say it, Rika."
"I'm a good girl," she panted, her voice shaky.
"And I'm going to fuck you up."

I don't remember the last time a book kept me up all night reading. I inhaled it in one sitting, completely enraptured. It was positively spellbinding and unlike anything I'd have ever expected from this author. There's one thing to say for Penelope's writing, it's absolutely captivating. She knows how to draw her readers in, how to make her characters so alive they practically leap off the pages at you. Michael was that character for me. He was so intense, in a way that equal parts terrified and seduced. The fact that you get both his and Rika's POV only serves to draw you in fully into the story. Even when he does something that you want to hate him for, even when Rika does something you want to throttle her for, you can't put it down. It was like an addiction. I had to have a hit. I simply couldn't stop until I knew what was going on. And Penelope keeps you hanging on that edge of suspense until the last page. They mystery behind everything is what really captured my interest. It's told in flashbacks of three years ago and present, but it's weaved together flawlessly. I know some readers don't enjoy the flashbacks from past to present, but it truly worked it. It's what drove the plot and the mystery. It whetted the appetitive for more.

What if I'd completely corrupted her? What if she'd begun to like playing games too much, and the lust to play- and to win- overpowered her need for me?

I read this 2 days ago and I still can't stop thinking about it. There was one particular scene that really threw me and made me wonder if it was really necessary. However, after giving it some though, it was barely a blip on my radar. I also wished for a bit of something from Michael at the end (I won't say what because I'm a teasing bitch like that) but you'll see what I mean once you read it. But once again, thinking on it some more, Penelope stayed true to his character, and having him handle it any other way would not have been that. So I can respect that.

While young Rika frustrated me, I loved seeing her grow that backbone and truly come into her own throughout the book. She certainly gave as good as she got, and she got plenty. Michael is the epitome of an anti-hero that you'll love to hate.

Corrupt is much sexier than any of Penelope's other books that I can't even compare. The woman can write the hell out of a sex scene, let me just tell you. But everything about her writing just worked for me. Get ready to be Corrupted, because after reading this, you will never be the same.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review

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