Age of Shade

by Cleo White

Fate is bullshit.Good things happen when you make them happen, when you decide the shitty life you were born into won’t be the one you die with… That’s what I believed, anyway.Until him. Asher Roth, the sweet, dorky, bowtie-wearing dentist.The first time we met, he saved my life.The second, I was paid to be his date.The third, I stripped naked in the middle of his hotel room, and he showed me how good it feels to abandon all my carefully made plans. It was supposed to be one night—casual—until our connection becomes too intense to resist.He says he wants to keep me, but there are things that Asher doesn’t know, and I’m not sure he’ll feel the same way if he does.Age of Shade is a standalone, fated love, secret identity, age gap romance with heaps of spice, romance, no cheating and (as always) a HEA. This story contains triggers and themes that some may not enjoy. Please review the list on Cleo White’s website or inside the book prior to reading.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Doctors, Smut

ebook

Published January 25, 2024

About the author

Cleo White's affinity for all things dramatic and hopelessly romantic began the day she was born, which happened to be in the middle of a record-breaking snowstorm on Valentine’s Day. Her love of literature came soon after, and she spent the better part of her childhood with both a book and a notebook full of unfinished stories in hand. Later in life, she found a love of writing spicy books with complicated characters and dysfunctional family drama. Cleo currently lives in Vermont with her husband and two daughters. When not writing, she can be found hiking, gardening, painting, and consuming excessive quantities of caffeine.

Reviews

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the first times I really enjoyed the FMC better than the MMC. Her character was so authentic, loving and pure. Zero artifice. I loved Adina’s strength.

Age gap (H/40, h/21)
Boss/employee
Secret identity
Virginal h
No 3rd act break up
Daddy talk
HEA

There are times that this book struck such a deep emotional cord, and then they were times his inner dialogue felt a little skeevy. (Why did he have to bring up her age during sex?) Which is odd, because he was such a sensitive, gentle character. I think the author was trying to balance his wholesome family dentistry persona with his older daddy vibe.

I kind of hate the way he discovered the truth about her secret. I was also not a fan of the rushed ending.

Overall, a very well written, character driven romance. This author has a way of making her characters feel very real.

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

-=- 4.5 stars -=-

I don't think I'll ever be able to describe how much I adore anything written by Cleo White.

"I am in awe of you every single day, and being the first person to love you the way you deserve is the greatest privilege of my life.”

-=-
Her books, whether they're novels or novellas, always feel SO well-rounded to me. From the characters, to their relationships, to the setting- just everything is so well thought out, and I'll forever be obsessed.

I honestly don't know how to explain it, but the romance in her books just feels real. The way that CW manages to write genuine relationships is sososo good.

This book follows the story of Adina, who three years prior, was homeless and on the run, who just happened to be staying outside of Asher's dental practice. With very little communication, they both take a chance on each other, where Asher offers her a job to clean his office and in turn, she would get a place to stay (in said office).

For the next three years, they only communicate through letters and cute little notes. A chance encounter forces Adina and Asher to meet under different circumstances, where Asher doesn't know who she is.

From that moment onwards the most genuine, sweetest, and pure (and filthiest 💀), relationship begins. It was so fun seeing how everything played out, and I'm obsessed with how it all happened.

Overall, again, this was just such a well-thought-out story that was personal, and deep- and I truly enjoyed it!!!

CW knows how to write a good book.

-=-

-=- Quotes: -=-

“I’m sorry.” He shakes his head slightly. “You’re so
beautiful, I can’t stop looking at you.”
-=-

"Over the years, whenever I’ve stopped to consider the sheer improbability of our chance encounter, it’s made me feel a little optimistic about the universe. Maybe that’s what’s happening again, and for the second time in my life I should give in and trust my instincts. Maybe—just maybe—meeting Asher Roth will change everything twice."
-=-

"He stops beside me and holds out his free hand. “Come on, angel. Let’s go home.”
As I take it, it occurs to me that I’ve been waiting a long time—twenty-one years, actually—for someone to say that to me."
-=-

"I want to imprint myself on her, to weave myself into the fabric of her body and her soul."
-=-

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 "I want to imprint myself on her, to weave myself into the fabric of her body and her soul."

TROPES:
~age gap
~boss x employee
~hidden identity
~size difference
~strangers to lovers
~unrequited love

PLOT: At the start of this book, Adina is a scared, lost, broken girl. Dr Asher Roth finds her in the alley outside of his office one cold night and invites the young girl to stay in his office for the night in exchange for cleaning. She eventually takes him up on that offer. Three years later, she's still sleeping in his office at night and exchanging sticky notes with him full of jokes and kind words.

One day, her friend Ruby invites her to be a "sugar baby" like her for $3k - just to have dinner with a man who recently went through a break up. That night they come face to face after three years. She knows who he is but he doesn't realize it's her. He's astounded a younger woman like her even wants to spend time with him. Things progress pretty quickly and it gets hot.

THOUGHTS: Oh my god, I loved this book so much. If I could give it 10 stars I would!! Asher Roth is the perfect daddy - all he wants is to care for, protect, and nurture Adina. Oh, and screw her brains out. But he holds himself back until he feels she can trust him completely, which was really romantic in context. There's a ton of heartwarming moments that made me squeal and kick my feet! And the spice is spicy, y'all. Really spicy. ;)

I genuinely had so much fun reading this book and I hope you will give it a chance if this review appeals to you!! <3

SAFETY:
Ages: 21h, 40H
Virgin/celibate?: virgin heroine, celibate for a few months hero
OM/OW?: slight OW drama towards the end but nothing serious!!
Cheating/sharing?: no
Triggers: death of a parent (off page), mentions of drug abuse/overdose, physical abuse, neglect, depression & suicidal thoughts, severe bullying (off page)
Kinks: very light anal play, cockwarming, daddy kink, dirty talk, dry hump, face sitting, good girl/praise, rough sex, light spanking, HOT AS HELL.
HEA? yes!

[Carla Bulian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good story, simple and easy to read!
It’s worth reading.

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age of Shade was a smutty and surprisingly emotional read. Adina was dealt a bad card in life but she's such a humble, loyal and honest woman despite all that. Asher is the doctor that offers her a better life but these two never actually meet. Until they do....

"The good, respectable Doctor Roth is gone, and in his place is a dominant, possessive creature who wants to tie the beautiful virgin to his bed and fuck his cum into her all night."

I really fell hard for Asher. He was so sweet and kind and I adored the way he fell in love with Adina. Dominant in such a beautiful and consensual way, he was basically the male version of "a lady on the streets and a freak in the sheets." Asher lifted Adina up and gave her the confidence and love that she'd been missing in her life. In turn, Adina gave Asher the loyalty and affection he had been seeking.

“I’m not going anywhere. Ever, Adina. This is it for me. You are the hardest working, kindest, most beautiful person I’ve ever known. I am in awe of you every single day, and being the first person to love you the way you deserve is the greatest privilege of my life.”

I credit my Goodreads friend Isabella R. for this recommendation. I have read one other book by Cleo and enjoyed it and this one was no different. Hot with plot that's got a lot!

[CB · Rating 2 out of 5]

REVIEW

Rating: 2/5
POV: 1st; Dual
Tropes: Age Gap (20ish years); technically boss/employee; Instalove; No 3rd act breakup; Virgin FMC
Heat Level: 5/5
Kinks: Daddy Kink; Size Difference

Likes:
*Not really anything I can think of.



Dislikes:
* Our MMC is in his early 40s and written with the brain and thoughts of a 25 year old. I hate when age gaps are written that way.
* I don't mind daddy kink at all but my god it came out of NO WHERE and it just did not work for this story at all. Probably because of my above dislike.
* Unsure if there was an editor involved in this book but if there was they probably need to lower their pay rate because they're not that good, lol.



Conclusion:
I pushed myself to finish this book because I selected it for a challenge and it really wasn't that long of a story. Plus I had already owned it. One of those books I got for free at some point.

The major plot point is that our FMC is a runaway who is "saved" by the MMC. She basically stays anonymous to him for 3 years but she knows who he is since she works for him. They end up meeting and he doesn't know who she is BUT in the synopsis it sort of makes it sound like it's going to be this big plot point, that he doesn't recognize her, and it really wasn't because it completely makes sense why he doesn't.

They hook up on their first night of "meeting each other" and immediately they throw in the daddy kink. It was not done well at all. The book continues and is just so cheesy and then we have these actually pretty hot sex scenes with her screaming daddy for no damn reason lol.

Anyways I finished this book, it kinda sucked, I probably should give it 1 star, and I do not recommend lol.



2/5

[Ari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow does the virgin h/ experienced H trope need to die.

Virgin h but celibate for a few months as in TWO? Wow don’t break your back trying to not have sex with other women big player, all while she exists in complete romantic and sexual isolation and you can enjoy fucking OW 🤨

[Yesmina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look if you're honest as an author and you say "I'm going to write a smutty novella with an age-gap trope". Fine, no hate!

However if you try to sell it as a soulmate connection when the MC sexed themselves to death for chapters, without an honest conversation then you're a liar.

I mean the quote that set the theme in the beginning of the book talked how Destiney could push two extremely different souls together because otherwise they wouldn't take notice.

And sometimes I want just to lie back and read something smutty and sexy knowing that there is no depth to the characters other than their intense chemistry.
But if you try to hock me with a serious heavy plot and a talk about soulmates: you need to deliver!!!!

For the millionth time: good dick don't heal trauma and past SA.
And good pussy don't heal commitment issues!!!!!

[BookishAnya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute and refreshing read. Asher is an older dentist that’s such a sweetheart and kinda nerdy but god don’t let that fool you. The smut in this was hot. He was so patient and sweet with Adina and was literally perfect. I think it was just the right length as it didn’t feel like it dragged on and for the length there was a perfect balance of smut and fluff scenes with no super unnecessary drama.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Age gap
Secret identity
Golden retriever mmc with a dirty mouth
Daddy kink
Nerdy mmc
Virgin fmc

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age of Shade is a steamy, age gap, insta love novella. I think the writing was good, it just felt like the story was doing too much and it could have been streamlined.

Basically Asher is a pediatric dentist and one night after work he sees someone in need of help, it ends up being the heroine who is 17 at the time and a runaway living on the streets. He briefly meets her and tells her she can crash at his dental office after hours to have a safe place at night. He leaves it unlocked and she does stay and ends up cleaning his office too, this arrangement of sorts lasts for a few years when we catch up to the hero and heroine again when she’s 21 and he’s 40.

Asher and Adina haven’t seen one another since that first initial brief meeting, but she’s been staying in his office after hours still while cleaning his offices to help pay her way through college. She’s also developed a crush on him and luck happens to be on their side when her friend and boyfriend invite her to join them on a double date with a friend and it ends up being Asher. It’s her dream come true and while she knows him, he doesn’t recognize her at all (since they only met the once and have communicated through post-it notes ever since).

It’s very insta love and gets steamy pretty early in with daddy kink too. Which is fine on its own, it just felt like the read was trying to do a lot more and it didn’t need to. Novella is on KU.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I’ve said it before but I really do mean it when I say I read this in a single day and couldn’t put it down! Cleo is becoming one of my favorite authors with her ability to keep everything spicy and dirty while keeping it cutesy and happy. I really enjoy the virgin trope in this book because it played into the story and there wasnt a focus on purity culture that some authors obsess over when the FMC is a virgin. 10/10 would read again

[Sarah (thehireader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story! Unexpectedly dear and really lovely and not at the sacrifice of sexiness.

[SwoonAndScroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Unfortunately, while I'm pretty sure I look better than I ever have in my life on the outside, I'm a certified hot mess internally."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤩

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; but Cleo White can do no wrong when it comes to writing MMCs. I love every book boyfriend Cleo has given us and Asher is no exception.

We love an MMC who falls hard and is obsessed 😩
We love a consensual king 🙌
We stan a strong independent FMC 💪

I was a little nervous toward the end, but absolutely loved every minute of this; as per usual when it comes to Cleo’s work!

[T Rojo]

Dnf @25% idk man, I can read about tentacles, Minotaurs, dragons with 2 dicks- but a contemporary romance where a homeless girl lives in a dentist office for 3 years my brain just can’t wrap my head around it.

[thebeespot72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nerdy pediatric dentist who wears a bow tie is old enough to be a college student's father, and they fall in love anyway. Yes, I knew I had to read the latest from Cleo White.

Asher ends a six-year-long relationship, and his friends are ready for him to move on. They set him up on a blind date, and it happens to be with a young twenty-one-year-old, Adina. Adina has had a hard life for someone so young. She has gone through things she doesn't want to share with anyone––and withholds quite a bit from Asher.

Asher and Adina are perfect for each other. Asher has a mouth on him, and it's even better when the daddy schmink kicks in.

I love Author Cleo White's cleverness, wit, and humor in her writing. She balances it so well with her characters and story that I find my face hurting from smiling, but then I find myself placing my hand on my heart shortly after.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Haley Klapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I am in awe of you every single day, and being the first person to love you the way you deserve is the greatest privilege of my life.”
.
.

“She’s everything I never knew I needed, and living proof that I was wrong about my capacity to love someone more than myself.”
.
.

“Asher Roth is my happy place.”
.
.
Okay I’m behind on some book reviews and my Chloe collection is seriously lacking BUT I finally finished every book she ever wrote and this baby is officially MY FAVORITE 😍 this book is seriously perfect in every way. I love characters who communicate and BOOKS WITH NO 3RD ACT BREAKUP NEED TO BE THE NEW NORM FR. Anyways this was my favorite book of January. I’m still behind some reviews but we’ll get there maybe. Happy weekend yall 💕

[Hannah Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

and with that i have read every book cleo white has published. holding for applause.

i don’t know myself well enough to really differentiate between my actual opinions and recency bias, but this feels like my favorite cleo white book so far.

as per usual it is short, sweet, and spicy! but!! i think the nature of hidden identity made the stakes feel higher with this one and i could not put it down!! this begs to be consumed whole.

i also found myself loving adina more than i have some of cleo’s other fmcs. i was a big fan of the fmc in you’re it and i think i may love adina even more. as for asher, of course he’s perfect. i don’t think any of cleo’s mmcs haven’t been perfect, to be honest.

if cleo white has no fans im dead.

[Christina Rybka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adina was seventeen when Asher save her and let her clean and stay in his dental office. Three years later she is twenty one and almost done with college. Asher and Adina get thrown together on a date. Asher doesn’t recognize her. The attraction between them is intense. What was supposed to be a one night stand turns into more. Adina still has secrets. Can they be together? Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing Book I love Adina and Asher and their character development. This book has all the feels. Make sure to check trigger warnings and than go grab this book

[Jennifer Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely loving Cleo White!!!! This story was so sweet! I gasped outloud several times at how absolutely amazing Asher was!! (it did take me a while to get over his name as I kept thinking of the early 00's rapper named Asher Roth) but it didn't take away my love for this story!!

[Franzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't really vibe with the MMC – he reminded me too much of MY dad before knowing and after leaving my mum and that's too much daddy even for me lol

Still, I loved how much he cared for Adina and how the reveal that she was also Allison went.

And as always with CW books, the smut was phenomenal.

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea, but that´s not the book´s fault. I would say from a neutral POV, the book wasn´t too bad but also nothing amazing.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly I didn’t care much for the MMC so it was a little tougher to get through but it was still a nice short read

[han ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[miss_may · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I think this might be one of my top stories from this author. You got the smut, the yearning, the age gap and two ver fleshed out MCs. I loved that there wasn’t a forced conflict in the end but rather a showcase of how established their relationship already was.

[Fiatgal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 a little bit of a gut-punch.

[Emma Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ such a good storyline, Asher looking after Adine was everything. Classic Cleo Daddy scenes got me too 👀👏🏼

[tattooedbooknerdgirl35 (Amanda Lynn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review on this ARC read by Cleo White.
Age of Shade a very steamy age gap romance, I have to say Cleo has done it again and wrote a really heartfelt and steamy romance featuring characters Asher a dentist and Adina a college student. They meet as Asher saves Adina and it all goes from there, her story is heartfelt and Asher wants to help. You'll just fall in love with this story.

[iqra &#x1fae7;❤️‍&#x1f525; · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Readingjourney [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read, I’m genuinely shocked that there aren’t thousands of reviews for this book.

[Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quickly becoming obsessed with Cleo White’s age gap, daddy books!

𝔸𝕤 𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕫𝕪 𝕒𝕤 𝕚𝕥 𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕤, 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕒 𝕙𝕦𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘—𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙 𝕤𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘—𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣

🖤Age gap
🖤Cinnamon roll MMC
🖤Strong and independent FMC
🖤Daddy kink
🖤Hidden identity
🖤SO much spice

Adina and Asher are perfection! I loved everything from start to finish with these two!