Credence

 2/16/25

Well I had to start reading this book because it has to go back soon. I was a little intimidated by its size but I'm practically devouring this book. Also I noticed that out of all the books by Penelope Douglas, which is like two counting this one, I'm noticing a bit of a theme. So far I have read books by them that have a bit of a step fetish. When you read this book, you'll understand. Anyways our story follows a young woman who's parents suddenly die. That is literally how the story starts. Our main character finds her parents passed away in their bed, dressed in their best. Police assume it is a suicide brought on the fact that her father was dying of cancer anyways. Our main character doesn't know how to act because her parents never acted like she existed anyway because they were to focused on each other. Our main character then gets a call from her step-uncle saying that her parents had left her in his care until she is of age. Which is like a few weeks away and doesn't seem like it is necessary, but the offer still stands. And she takes it in hopes that the change in scenery is just what she needs. It doesn't take long before the line between right and wrong gets toed a bit. Especially when her step-cousin Kaleb comes back from being in the woods and goes animalistic on her. Then she tempts her step-uncle in the kitchen a few weeks later, only to have the truth thrown in her face. Then her 18th birthday comes around and a lot happens when they celebrate, but the jerk in town thinks he can take what isn't his and pulls in some friends to help him. Luckily the snow storm shows up and protects them from any repercussions for their actions. At least for the time being. Her other step-cousin pulls a joke and puts on a porno to make her uncomfortable but she calls his bluff. Lines get crossed yet again but dear old step-uncle saves the day and puts an end to it before anything gets too far. But lines totally get crossed a few days later and it is dear old step-uncle that crosses it all the way. The sons find out and are a little upset that they didn't get to her first, but they come to an agreement that if our female character doesn't resist, she is fair game. And that is where I stopped for now. I haven't found a 'reverse harem' book yet and this is my first one. This book is literally my life goal at this point. Being trapped by snow in a cabin with hot men and books. No internet, no social media, no connection with the outside world. Sign me up.

2/17/25

I have to make a correction from my last post. I seemed to have mixed up Penelope Douglas with a different author who has a similar name. My mistake and this is the first book I've read from them. It was nice to read a book that I could just breeze through. The book is pretty steamy but I wouldn't put this in the dark romance category. I think some people have put it there and it just seems like a normal romance to me. Of course we have the 'reverse harem' but that isn't anything dark. For people who are polyamorous that is just normal behavior. When I think dark romance, I think BDSM kinks that force the author to have trigger warnings in the beginning. The only thing I see that would be taboo would be the whole step thing going on, but again because we don't judge, isn't that bad. But this book isn't just focused around the steam and spicy. The plot is about healing and discovering yourself. If I had a choice on what to label this book as it wouldn't be a romance. More of a contemporary fiction that has spice in it. I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to those that like the whole harem aspect of things. But I do have to say that the harem thing wasn't that long or huge. It was just part of discovering and healing. By the end of the book, everyone is just monogamous anyway. If I could, this book would get four and a half stars out of five. It almost made me tear up in some parts but almost. Sadly I will have to grade down and give it four stars instead. Five are for the ones that actually get me feeling something other than the spicy scenes. I have to really connect to have five stars and this book almost had it, but it just fell a little short.