
Even If It Hurts
Coastal Elite, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Theo Sinclair
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Allie Shae
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By:
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Sam Mariano
About this listen
A psychopath and his prey.
A dangerous, toxic, and utterly destructive love story....
He could have been my hero. He saved my life that night, a beautiful dark angel slicing through my fear and the water, dragging me from its deadly clutches. He should have been my hero. I thought maybe he was.
Villains aren’t supposed to win, and good should always conquer evil, but in the elite coastal town I live in, the only purpose a label has is letting you know what something—or someone—costs. Good, bad—it’s all relative, and it hardly matters. Baymont, California, is a land of beautiful villains and happy ever afters that are just out of reach.
Especially for me.
Until Dare moves the world beneath my feet, and even though I’m afraid to trust it—to trust him—boy, am I tempted. In more ways than one. Being with Dare is scary, but being without him is impossible. He makes it impossible.
Dare’s no hero, that much is clear, but maybe... Maybe he’s mine.
This story contains triggers and is intended only for a mature, adult audience. See the opening author's note for more explicit warnings, but know this is a very dangerous relationship with a very dark hero.
©2022 Sam Mariano (P)2023 Sam MarianoListeners also enjoyed...
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Story
Borrow the bike. Win the race. Collect the cash. It should've been an easy job. Ran out of town with a broken leg and a lawsuit, my mother's latest flame swoops in like a knight in gilded armor. Blackwood Keep is a place I don't belong, and I'm not the only one who knows. To the boy across the hall, my savior's only son, I'm a stray looking for a bone. He's lord of the manor. King of the academy. And number one on my shit list.
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Hate the story but great narration
- By Glittery Bookworm on 07-27-19
By: B. B. Reid
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Hating You
- A Blackthorn Elite Novel, Book 1
- By: J.L. Beck, Cassandra Hallman
- Narrated by: Blake Richard, Olivia Amayo
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Two years ago, she ruined my family’s life. Maybe, she thought it was only a little lie. That she did the right thing, that the worst was behind her, that no one had gotten hurt. Oh, how naive the black haired beauty was! Fate has finally brought her back to me...to Blackthorn Academy. Once upon a time, I was obsessed, consumed with the need to make her mine. Now, I just want revenge, and I’ll do whatever I can to get it.
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Book one in the series.
- By Charlene Lee on 03-27-20
By: J.L. Beck, and others
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The Wallflower
- Oakmount Elite, Book 1
- By: J. L. Beck
- Narrated by: Renee Thorn, Ryan Stone
- Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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I didn't plan to ever attend an event, but I needed the money. I thought it was nothing more than an adult version of hide-and-seek. I had no idea how wrong I was. Nor did I know I’d meet my worst nightmare that night: Andrew “Drew” Marshall, popular-as-hell football star and a Greek god among mere mortals. To anyone else, he would appear to be normal, a good guy. But that night I saw the cruel, dark monster hidden underneath. He was the epitome of evil, the leader of the Disciples, and I was his newest obsession.
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worth the credit
- By EH on 04-22-24
By: J. L. Beck
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Cruel Intentions
- Blackmore University, Book 1
- By: Cora Kent
- Narrated by: Avery Reid, Corvin King
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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She bats her eyelashes and pretends she's innocent, but I know the truth. The blood in her veins is made of mud, and I will purify it. Kaye Pennington is the daughter of the woman who ruined my life. Now, I will ruin hers. It's not fair; nothing in life ever is.
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FMC
- By Sleepless Raccoon on 12-16-24
By: Cora Kent
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Dirty Ties
- By: Pam Godwin
- Narrated by: Robert Hatchet, Lucy Rivers
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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I race to finance it. I evade to protect it. I kill to attain it. I planned everything. Except her. The alluring, curvaceous blonde at the finish line. With sapphire eyes that cheat and lie. Whose powerful family murdered mine. I hate her. I want her. I know she’s hiding something. But so am I.
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a great narration
- By Micky Luciano @nefariousreads on 03-10-25
By: Pam Godwin
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Savage Beginnings
- A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance
- By: J. L. Beck, C. Hallman
- Narrated by: Alastair Haynesbridge, Samantha Summers
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Dark raven hair and piercing green eyes, sweet and naive Eleanor Romero would make a beautiful bride. Ten million dollars and a forced signature later and she was mine. Like a thief I came in the dead of night and stole her away from her protected castle and placed her in a gilded cage made of gold. The deal had been made. She would become my wife. She would bear my children. She would bend to my will. But most importantly, she would help me destroy the man she loved most, the man who took everything from me: her father.
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Not bad but not awesome
- By Barbara V. on 02-26-21
By: J. L. Beck, and others
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Fear Me
- Broken Love, Book 1
- By: B.B. Reid
- Narrated by: Ava Erickson
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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I don't believe in fairy tales and Prince Charming. I believe in fear. He taught me how to be afraid. We first met on a playground on a wonderful summer day. It was the first time he hurt me and it wouldn't be the last. For 10 years, he's been my tormentor and I've been his forbidden. But then he went away, and yet I was still afraid. Now, he's back, and wants more than just my tears. You see...he thinks I sent him away so now he wants revenge...and he knows just how to get it.
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I just can't...
- By Maribee7 on 10-13-17
By: B.B. Reid
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Worse than Enemies
- By: J. L. Beck
- Narrated by: Avery Reid
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The second was the night my mother told me she was marrying his father. I didn’t know his name then, but I do now: Hayes Ambrose. Captain of the swim team. Popular, gorgeous, the guy every girl wants, with a smile that’s hiding a million secrets.
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lots of rape
- By Mary on 01-07-23
By: J. L. Beck
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Poison Ivy
- A Dark Bully Romance (Stonehurst Prep Elite, Book 1)
- By: Steffanie Holmes
- Narrated by: Angelica Rocca, Myles Washington, Nelson Hobbs, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Victor. Torsten. Cassius – the jock, the artist, the stepbrother. The Poison Ivy Club. Ruthless. Connected. Violent. Untouchable. They rule Stonehurst Prep with an iron fist. If you want Harvard, Princeton, or Yale, they’ll get you in. Guaranteed. But they’ll take their pound of flesh first. A deal’s a deal – you give them whatever they want, and they’ll make your dreams come true.
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Very intense characters, forbidden love, and powerful restraint
- By jeffrey millirons on 01-26-25
By: Steffanie Holmes
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Wronged
- Broken Souls
- By: Rin Sher
- Narrated by: Shiloh James, Robert Hatchet
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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All I wanted was to be away from the limelight, away from my parents. A perfect place where I could live a simple life. A fresh start. A small beach town. That's what I thought I found, until the tortured ocean-colored eyes of the town outcast catch me off guard. Everyone warns me to stay away from him. They tell me he's a monster. His eyes tell another story, though, and I need to know what it is. It becomes almost an obsession.
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Wrong made right
- By Crystal Strickland on 03-21-25
By: Rin Sher
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Hate Me
- By: Ashley Jade
- Narrated by: Desireé Ketchum, Teddy Hamilton
- Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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I'm the whispers in the dark you can't ignore. The bully you can't run away from. I'm the tormentor who makes your life a living hell. The villain you love to hate. I'm the vicious monster sleeping in the next room. The one who knows all your secrets. And I'll stop at nothing to make you pay.
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Dark, twisted, sensual, and deeply intimate.
- By Chelsea on 09-12-21
By: Ashley Jade
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Rhapsody
- The Butcher and the Violinist, Book 1
- By: Kenya Wright
- Narrated by: Blake Stanton, Cami Darian
- Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Jean-Pierre’s greatest gift was a lack of feelings. His past had ripped them away. But then he saw Eden. Onstage, she played her violin, spinning his head with songs he’d tried to forget. Unable to stop himself, he makes Eden his obsession. And unlike any normal man, he takes what he wants. But there’s someone in the shadows blocking his path. His plans for Eden won’t be so simple. This mystery person sends Russians his way, igniting a war with the Bratva. It’s too bad that there’s no limit to his obsession for her - no force that can stop him, no bullet to get in his way.
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Best Narrators, straight Sexy + worth while story
- By Lawanda G. on 10-30-19
By: Kenya Wright
What listeners say about Even If It Hurts
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- Kindle Customer
- 06-22-23
Dare is Dark and Sam Mariano is Amazing
I love Sam Mariano. Her books are dark, but I know that going in. It's dark romance, and it is good. Her books pull you along. I never have a desire to take a break. I just want to keep reading/listening. I wish she would release all of her books in audio format. I'm reading Sophie's Surrender now. Haven't re encountered Dare yet, but I know it's coming and I'm looking forward to experiencing the stories back to back, even if one is on audible and the other on my Kindle.
The narration is PERFECT! It couldn't have been better. Both of the narrator's were new to me, so I was worried, but Sam did a great job selecting the ideal narrators for this story. They read well, emoted well and the pacing was exactly right. It was narrated duet style, which is tricky. They pulled it off with a fabulous end result!!
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- Cherie
- 07-22-24
This takes you on a mind trip the whole way
MMC is completely physco! He's the villain and the villain wins in the end. I can advise that I didnt know what was going on, where the story was headed for 98% of the book.
M/F, Highschool, Abuse, Somnophilia, Non-Consent, New Adult, Audible
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- Sam
- 01-03-25
Dark
This book challenges you. So many feelings. Definitely not for everyone. But if you can push through it is one hell of a ride. Overall a good read/listen. Worth it for some and a hard pass for others.
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- Micky Luciano @nefariousreads
- 09-17-24
wtf did I just read and why do I LOVE it so much
One of my favorite books this year, because wtf just happened? Seriously, if a book takes me by complete surprise I'm ALL in! I was completely enthralled in this read. I suggest my morally black unhinged loving dark romance girlies read this one. My feelings were thrown around left and right, and I wasn't sure who was causing what to happen. I wasn't sure if I was suppose to love the characters or hate the characters. AND then the dots started to connect... I am OBSSESSED with this man!
I want to write a more in depth review... but I can't without giving the whole plot away. If you like dark romance and unhinged men and you're the type that can go into a book blind... please do?
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- Tayboobear
- 08-01-23
This is not a romance
So do not rate it as such. I still liked Mariano’s ‘Untouchable’ better. Carter > Dare, but the sociopathy of these hero’s is everything.
No one else is willing to color outside the lines.. and if they are, they’re unrealistic in how they go about it. Not These Books though! I love it.
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1 person found this helpful
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- AudibleObsessed
- 07-05-23
Dark and twisted
Love that Sam Mariano wrote an antihero and committed to it! There’s no warm and fuzzies for this story. It’s angsty, dramatic, toxic and addictive. The narration was stellar by the talented Theo Sinclair and Allie Shae.
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- Michelle
- 12-03-23
what a lovely mess!
the story was hard to turn off! As a general rule, I prefer unrealistic stories like Sci-Fi and such. But this story is realistically, unrealistic. None of the stuff would ever happen! That's what makes it fun and kept my attention, I believe. It's so twisted and so many turns. There are warnings all over that tell you .. you better have some kinks and sense of adventure if you wanna enjoy this book. Please audible all her works!
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-24-25
One of my favorite Sam Mariano
Dare is the best villain/boyfriend in the series. His possessiveness knows no bounds. You can truly feel Aubrey’s fear of him and her confusion about whether she loves him or is scared sh*tless.
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- Monika
- 06-14-23
Dark
It’s Sam Mariano, so it’s dark. The story is good, but I wanted more from Dare after it came out what he did.
Check Trigger Warnings
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- Cindy
- 06-30-23
Deliciously Dark and Twisted
This is my first Sam Mariano book but if they are all as dark and twisted as this one, then she will soon become one of my favorite authors. Even If It Hurts was captivating, thrilling, and unpredictable. It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. There are many words to describe Dare -- sick, demented, dangerous -- a real devil in disguise. Aubrey is way too naive and innocent for Dare yet once he set a trap for her, there was no escaping him. While I guess this could be considered a romantic suspense, I would consider it more of a romantic psychological thriller. I loved absolutely everything about this story. I wish all books were as intensely captivating as this one. If you like your rollercoaster ride with dark twists & turns that will leave you guessing all the way until the end, then this is definitely for you. Theo Sinclair and Allie Shae both did an amazing job bringing this story to life.
🎧Pink Flamingo Productions, The Flock Reviewer
#TheFlockVIPReviewTeam
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