Scandalous Little Obsession

by Rachael Brownell

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Scandalous Little Obsession by Rachael Brownwell takes the reader back to Lake State University. So, I have been following this series from the beginning and with each installment I have grown closer to the characters. The teaser at the end of Wicked Little Promise made me eager to get my hands on Evie and Leo's story. I am happy to report it did not disappoint. Chock full of emotions, Scandalous Little Obsession kept me engaged from start to finish.

SUMMARY

Evie Palmer, the youngest of the Palmer siblings, is a freshman at Lake State University. Ever since her senior year in high school, she has wanted one thing, but her brother Max scared away all the potential candidates. Now she’s in college and she plans to live her life on her own term. To prove to everyone, her brother included, she can take care of herself. The first thing on her agenda is to rid herself of her virginity and walk away with no strings attached. She has the perfect candidate on her radar, but achieving her goal will not be an easy undertaking. First, the guy she set her sights on was rushing the fraternity for which her brother was president. Second, her brother's  determination to keep guys away from her, especially members of his fraternity made her quest harder.

The story began with Evie and Leo’s first encounter. Since that moment they were caught in a game of cat and mouse, with Leo doing the chasing while Evie keeps running. In the middle of the chase, we find Max dishing out threats, hoping to scare Leo from pursuing his baby sister. 

Evie was a great character. In this installment, she grows into a confident and strong individual. She has come to terms with the loss of her dad. The pain is still raw, but she recognized he would want her to live her life to the fullest and she plans to do just that. I admired how she stood up to her brother, letting him know that is her life and not his to control. She definitely has gumption, which made her a perfect match for Leo.

Leo was the one guy Max’s scare tactics did not work on. He refused to back off and proved he would willingly walk through the fire to be with Evie.

The romance which developed falls into the category of slow burn. Despite her eagerness to rid herself of her virginity, it took a while for them to become intimate. In this regard, Leo displayed his gentleman side by putting Evie’s needs above his. That being said, it took me sometime to warm up to Leo. I knew little about him and he appeared too good to be true. Brownwell slowly weaved his past into the story. Eventually, one learns of the betrayal and heartbreak he experienced while in high school. Especially when that past came tumbling into his present, wanting a reconciliation.
As this is a college romance, one would expect there to be an emphasis on the college experience, however, this was not the case. The focus was on Leo and Evie’s relationship and Max’s insecurities in his sister’s ability to take care of herself. Now, while I understood Max’s need to protect his sister, I found his attitude and actions overbearing. It’s clear he harbors deep-seated issues. I sure hope he deals with it. 

Conclusion/Recommendation

Overall, Scandalous Little obsession delivered an entertaining college romance. It will make you laugh and swoon and leave you wanting more of these characters. I am looking forward to the next couple's story.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading