Because I Can by Elaine Marie

Title: Because I Can
Author: Elaine Marie
Genre: Romance
Published: September 14, 2016
Pages: 220
Goodreads

Synopsis

Jenna is a victim of an attack on her college campus. After barely escaping, she manages to make her way to campus security. With the help of the security guard, the local police are called, but she soon learns no one will help her case, and the police and the college administration dismiss her accusation, leaving her feeling empty. 

Tired of the whispers and looks from her classmates and professors, she decides to take charge of the situation. Tired of being a victim, she’s determined to take her life back. 

Jenna soon undergoes a dramatic makeover…one that leaves even her best friend unable to recognize her. With her new look and the help of some online self-help videos, she begins her search for her attacker. 

In her search, the one thing Jenna didn’t expect to find was the handsome, new student, Nic. As she gets to know him, she learns he isn’t who he claims to be. It’s then Jenna begins to suspect the guy she’s fallen for. 

As she closes in on her attacker, she makes a few new discoveries, and she can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. As she races against time, will she be able to uncover the identity of her attacker before he strikes again? 

Review

A friend of mine left her copy of this book on my coffee table once when she was over visiting. I tried to give it back to her, but she said she never wanted to see the book again, so I kept it. I figured since I had it, I should go ahead and read it myself, and I gotta' say, I understand why my friend never wants to see the book again because I don't either. 

This book basically pissed me right the fuck off. It basically demonstrates everything that is wrong with campus society these days, and I suspect that the plot was heavily influenced by the freaking Brock Turner case. I wish I could say that the events in this book are just unbelievable and that no woman who has been attacked would ever have trouble getting the authorities to take her seriously, but I think most of us know that it happens all too often, as is evidenced by the freaking Brock Turner case. I mean seriously, when a dude who was caught in the act by two other dudes gets off with such a light sentence, there's just not much hope for justice for a woman whose attacker wasn't caught by other men. 

I'm going to be totally honest with y'all. I had to start taking blood pressure medication while I was reading this book because my blood pressure was just through the roof and my doctor was getting a wee bit concerned that I might have a stroke, and I'm only thirty-three. He tried to get me to stop reading the book to help with my blood pressure issues, but I ain't no quitter. I started the book so I needed to finish it no matter how much it pissed me off. But take my advice, just leave this book alone. 

I give it two rigged juries. 

Buy the Book

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About the Author

I’m a true Jersey girl at heart, and my accent and attitude are the only forms of proof there is that I originated from the Bronx. I currently reside in the beautiful Garden State—northern New Jersey—with my hubby, three amazing children and our dogs and cats. I love football and hockey because who wouldn't (those uniforms!). In my spare time, I enjoy cheering on my kids during their after-school activities and reading.

Alternate Reviews

I was unable to find any blog reviews of Because I Can, so you will just have to check the reviews on Goodreads or Amazon.