Hmmm. 2.5 stars. Don't trust anyone. A lot of this story seemed very familiar (as in I've read it before). It wasn't bad, it just wasn't oh my gosh amazing I have to read the second one right away. ( )

This trilogy had my heart pumping from the very first page. Talk about a thriller.... Just when you think you have things figured out yet another twist and turn emerge. I HIGHLY recommend this entire series for anyone who loves political thrillers, James Rollins, Dan Brown, feisty women heroines determined to take their lives back.... This whole series goes a mile a miNUTE. I Dare you NOT to end up screaming at the top of your lungs from sheer frustration at the audacity of some of the main players. You WILL know who I'm talking of when you read this. You won't regret taking a chance on this well written gem! ( )

🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS .
A Harmless Little Game (Harmless #1) by Meli Raine is the first thing I have read by this author and it was that oh so intriguing blurb that initially attracted me to this book, that was such a killer of a synopsis, in my opinion, it actually deserves a rating all on its own.
So A Harmless Game is the first instalment in the Harmless Trilogy it is written from Lindsays POV and follows the story of Lindsay and Andrew after Linsay's release from "The Island " Where she's been recovering, hidden from the public eye for the last four year's, Yeh I kid you not, you heard that right I said FOUR BLOODY YEARS!!!
So Lindsay a senator's daughter gets sent to The Island after she is brutally attacked by three of her boyfriend Drew's old school friends while Drew himself supposedly stood by and watched without intervening.
The gang rape sees Lindsay in the hospital and then on to a rehabilitation unit to receive therapy for the attack.
It also goes viral, though the video is doctored to place masks on all involved to conceal all their identities.
Lindsay's name is then also leaked to the press but the investigation stalls when her friends make statements to the effect that Lindsay was high and drunk at the time of the attack and everything that occurred was consensual in nature.
Gives a new definition to the term frenemies, doesn't it?
fast forward four years and after aeons of incarceration in what is nothing more than a glorified prison, Lindsay arrives home to find things are not always what they seem.
What's more, her three attackers are walking around, not just free but in highly successful careers this is despite there young ages and to top it all off her ex-boyfriend Drew is now head of her security detail and seems a completely changed man.
So yeh, I really enjoyed this unusual romantic suspense, I loved the way this was essentially more plot driven and the romance was really just a backdrop, taking more of a back seat to the whole main event.
From the get-go, I surmised there was more here than was initially being drip-fed to the reader and without giving anything away turns out I was right.
This really was a total page-turner that manages to jump right into the fray from the initial onset.
I also found the two main characters extremely likeable, if I'm being honest I have to say I was drawn more towards Drew than Lindsay.
I just felt that sometimes she was too pliable, not inserting her independence more and reading outside the box.
Believing the worst of people she had no cause to doubt while not confronting the many snakes she seemed to be surrounded by.
I decided to give her a break though mainly because
A-I thought she was probably a product of her upbringing.
B-The poor girl had been attacked horrifically and essentially been kept in a mental institution against her will for the past few years.
C- The whole world had labelled her an internet slut while she was shut away unable to defend herself, harsh much.
So where was I, Oh yeh total page turner,
So why four stars instead of Five?
Well, there were a few things here that despite my enjoyment bothered me slightly.
The first one being Lindsays stay at the island, now I'm from the UK so I'm not sure exactly how it works over in the good ole USA, but it surely can't be that different from over here.
I'm slightly sceptical that she would be able to be kept locked up so tight completely against her will for so long, It just seems so far-fetched.
But then again, who knows what can be achieved with power and money, so I could be wrong.
I also couldn't believe Lindsay would put up no fight in regards to Drew being the head of her security detail if she really believes he is complicit in her attack surely that wouldn't have left her feeling very safe with him at all.
And finally, I also found it amazing her lack of major anger towards her parents all that she really does is act like a petulant child towards them.
Despite these three grievances I still very much adored this so I have just marked it down a star overall.
We left this story with Lindsay finally getting some answers to her questions and a much anticipated (from me that is) level of re-connection between her and Drew that definitely left me wanting more.
Harmless #1 closes on a cliffhanger which then assures me I am so going to pick up book two.
No problem recommending this it's a delightful read that despite certain plot-holes still manages to deliver.
(This first installment is currently free on Amazon.)

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS .
A Harmless Little Game (Harmless #1) by Meli Raine is the first thing I have read by this author and it was that oh so intriguing blurb that initially attracted me to this book, that was such a killer of a synopsis, in my opinion, it actually deserves a rating all on its own.
So A Harmless Game is the first instalment in the Harmless Trilogy it is written from Lindsays POV and follows the story of Lindsay and Andrew after Linsay's release from "The Island " Where she's been recovering, hidden from the public eye for the last four year's, Yeh I kid you not, you heard that right I said FOUR BLOODY YEARS!!!
So Lindsay a senator's daughter gets sent to The Island after she is brutally attacked by three of her boyfriend Drew's old school friends while Drew himself supposedly stood by and watched without intervening.
The gang rape sees Lindsay in the hospital and then on to a rehabilitation unit to receive therapy for the attack.
It also goes viral, though the video is doctored to place masks on all involved to conceal all their identities.
Lindsay's name is then also leaked to the press but the investigation stalls when her friends make statements to the effect that Lindsay was high and drunk at the time of the attack and everything that occurred was consensual in nature.
Gives a new definition to the term frenemies, doesn't it?
fast forward four years and after aeons of incarceration in what is nothing more than a glorified prison, Lindsay arrives home to find things are not always what they seem.
What's more, her three attackers are walking around, not just free but in highly successful careers this is despite there young ages and to top it all off her ex-boyfriend Drew is now head of her security detail and seems a completely changed man.
So yeh, I really enjoyed this unusual romantic suspense, I loved the way this was essentially more plot driven and the romance was really just a backdrop, taking more of a back seat to the whole main event.
From the get-go, I surmised there was more here than was initially being drip-fed to the reader and without giving anything away turns out I was right.
This really was a total page-turner that manages to jump right into the fray from the initial onset.
I also found the two main characters extremely likeable, if I'm being honest I have to say I was drawn more towards Drew than Lindsay.
I just felt that sometimes she was too pliable, not inserting her independence more and reading outside the box.
Believing the worst of people she had no cause to doubt while not confronting the many snakes she seemed to be surrounded by.
I decided to give her a break though mainly because
A-I thought she was probably a product of her upbringing.
B-The poor girl had been attacked horrifically and essentially been kept in a mental institution against her will for the past few years.
C- The whole world had labelled her an internet slut while she was shut away unable to defend herself, harsh much.
So where was I, Oh yeh total page turner,
So why four stars instead of Five?
Well, there were a few things here that despite my enjoyment bothered me slightly.
The first one being Lindsays stay at the island, now I'm from the UK so I'm not sure exactly how it works over in the good ole USA, but it surely can't be that different from over here.
I'm slightly sceptical that she would be able to be kept locked up so tight completely against her will for so long, It just seems so far-fetched.
But then again, who knows what can be achieved with power and money, so I could be wrong.
I also couldn't believe Lindsay would put up no fight in regards to Drew being the head of her security detail if she really believes he is complicit in her attack surely that wouldn't have left her feeling very safe with him at all.
And finally, I also found it amazing her lack of major anger towards her parents all that she really does is act like a petulant child towards them.
Despite these three grievances I still very much adored this so I have just marked it down a star overall.
We left this story with Lindsay finally getting some answers to her questions and a much anticipated (from me that is) level of re-connection between her and Drew that definitely left me wanting more.
Harmless #1 closes on a cliffhanger which then assures me I am so going to pick up book two.
No problem recommending this it's a delightful read that despite certain plot-holes still manages to deliver.
(This first installment is currently free on Amazon.)

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

Audiobook Review: A Harmless Little Game (Harmless) by Meli Raine (Author), Andi Arndt (Narrator)

And thus begins the rollercoaster ride of betrayal, heartache and revenge. Lindsay is living out her worst nightmare, with the whole world watching. There is nothing harmless about the tragedy that unfolds. A Harmless Little Game is the type of violation, nobody should have to live through told through the eyes of the victim. Raine taps into the painfully dark mind of a courageous woman. The realism grows when narrator Andi Arndt brings it all to life. ( )