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The Sweetest Taboo
She's a hurricane in disguise. Dangerous. Forbidden.
I fell for a woman for the first time in my life. I never thought the winds of Montana could carry in a storm like Isha George. She's stunningly beautiful. Years younger than me. Definitely a gold digger. She's charming, elegant, and she's my younger brother's girlfriend.
When Isha sweeps into my life, I’m sure she’s a tempest hiding behind a smile as bright as sunshine. And, she has her eyes on the prize - a piece of the Ledger Ranch. My ranch.
So, I do what any good brother and ranch owner would. I steal her away and then proceed to break her heart.
Now six years later, I see her again. We've both grown up, but one thing hasn't changed. I still want her, more desperately than I ever did before. And if there’s the one thing I learned during our time apart, it’s that I'm in love with her even more than I was. I always have been. I always will be. But will she ever forgive me for what I did?
This book
✔️ Her fake boyfriend's brother
✔️ She falls first, he falls harder
✔️ Angst, drama, groveling
✔️ No cheating
✔️ Touches on childhood trauma
The Sweetest Taboo is a standalone billionaire forbidden love story that is A Modern Vintage Romance. Books in this series bring back the nostalgia of romances from the eighties with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound but also to grovel and meet strong women who hold their own.
I fell for a woman for the first time in my life. I never thought the winds of Montana could carry in a storm like Isha George. She's stunningly beautiful. Years younger than me. Definitely a gold digger. She's charming, elegant, and she's my younger brother's girlfriend.
When Isha sweeps into my life, I’m sure she’s a tempest hiding behind a smile as bright as sunshine. And, she has her eyes on the prize - a piece of the Ledger Ranch. My ranch.
So, I do what any good brother and ranch owner would. I steal her away and then proceed to break her heart.
Now six years later, I see her again. We've both grown up, but one thing hasn't changed. I still want her, more desperately than I ever did before. And if there’s the one thing I learned during our time apart, it’s that I'm in love with her even more than I was. I always have been. I always will be. But will she ever forgive me for what I did?
This book
✔️ Her fake boyfriend's brother
✔️ She falls first, he falls harder
✔️ Angst, drama, groveling
✔️ No cheating
✔️ Touches on childhood trauma
The Sweetest Taboo is a standalone billionaire forbidden love story that is A Modern Vintage Romance. Books in this series bring back the nostalgia of romances from the eighties with a modern twist. Meet alpha men who know how to wound but also to grovel and meet strong women who hold their own.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
1392 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Maya Alden
59 books1,209 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
May 24, 2024
Hoo boy. This is like Diana Palmer' After the Music evil twin but squared. The stories parallel almost exactly. Heroine pretends to be a girlfriend so her friend can get his girl. Except here the h is betrayed not only by the H but by the very guy she's trying to help and girl he wants. Out and out nasty slut-shaming from the gitgo where the H and his hated stepmom are on the same page by IDing the heroine as a whoring gold digger because she...breathes? Are they psychic?
I was going to DNF as I really didn't need another 1 star on my conscience but wanted to persevere so see what happened since we all know the heroine was going to take this SOB back.
Heroine verges on Mary Sue with her passive acceptance and forgiveness but it comes more from the point of not inflicting more psychic damage on herself rather than BBS or being a doormat. In fact, when the H comes crawling like the worm he is, she stands strong and is pretty dismissive. Her not ranting at him actually does more damage and, boy, was it deserved.
Despite the fact that the hero is a A+ slut shaming, hate filled creature for the first 40% who goes out of his way to destroy a 20 year old girl, he manages to redeem himself over the course of the book. 3 stars as that's pretty hard to do and most authors don't even bother.
I was going to DNF as I really didn't need another 1 star on my conscience but wanted to persevere so see what happened since we all know the heroine was going to take this SOB back.
Heroine verges on Mary Sue with her passive acceptance and forgiveness but it comes more from the point of not inflicting more psychic damage on herself rather than BBS or being a doormat. In fact, when the H comes crawling like the worm he is, she stands strong and is pretty dismissive. Her not ranting at him actually does more damage and, boy, was it deserved.
Despite the fact that the hero is a A+ slut shaming, hate filled creature for the first 40% who goes out of his way to destroy a 20 year old girl, he manages to redeem himself over the course of the book. 3 stars as that's pretty hard to do and most authors don't even bother.
May 24, 2024
2.5 stars
1. More than once, Isha tried to push Rowan away, told him to stop, let go of her or stop touching her. That’s non-consent to me.
2. Rowan claimed that he loved Isha and had thought of her “every single f*cking day for the past six years” but he never bothered to look for her or try to contact her. And, of course, during that time, Isha was celibate while Rowan was out f*cking around.
3. After the way that Rowan treated her and the terrible things he said to her, when Rowan showed up at her apartment, Isha “politely” invited him in and offered him a drink???
4. Isha apologized to Rowan for telling her best friend the details of what Rowan had said and done to her six years ago????
5. I think that Isha needed different and better “best friends”. Even though Isha had made it clear she wanted Rowan to leave, Arturo invited him to the bar and told him that he would give him permission to talk to Isha if Rowan beat him at darts. Then, he shared personal and private details of Isha’s childhood with Rowan without Isha’s permission.
6. Her other “best friend”, Mick, thought it was ok to eavesdrop on her private conversation and then laugh at her and tell her that it was hilarious? When he KNEW how painful her past with Rowan had been???
7. After everything that Rowan had done to her, all he had to do was give her a few pretty words and she agreed to date him again??? She even told him to stop apologizing.
8. Flora, the four-year-old, talked like she was ten.
9. Isha still didn't fully trust Rowen again yet she agreed to go off birth control because he told her he wanted her pregnant.
10. I really hate it when authors tell you that you can read a bonus chapter on their website but when you go there, you have to agree to let them spam you with their newsletter before you can read it.
1. More than once, Isha tried to push Rowan away, told him to stop, let go of her or stop touching her. That’s non-consent to me.
2. Rowan claimed that he loved Isha and had thought of her “every single f*cking day for the past six years” but he never bothered to look for her or try to contact her. And, of course, during that time, Isha was celibate while Rowan was out f*cking around.
3. After the way that Rowan treated her and the terrible things he said to her, when Rowan showed up at her apartment, Isha “politely” invited him in and offered him a drink???
4. Isha apologized to Rowan for telling her best friend the details of what Rowan had said and done to her six years ago????
5. I think that Isha needed different and better “best friends”. Even though Isha had made it clear she wanted Rowan to leave, Arturo invited him to the bar and told him that he would give him permission to talk to Isha if Rowan beat him at darts. Then, he shared personal and private details of Isha’s childhood with Rowan without Isha’s permission.
6. Her other “best friend”, Mick, thought it was ok to eavesdrop on her private conversation and then laugh at her and tell her that it was hilarious? When he KNEW how painful her past with Rowan had been???
7. After everything that Rowan had done to her, all he had to do was give her a few pretty words and she agreed to date him again??? She even told him to stop apologizing.
8. Flora, the four-year-old, talked like she was ten.
9. Isha still didn't fully trust Rowen again yet she agreed to go off birth control because he told her he wanted her pregnant.
10. I really hate it when authors tell you that you can read a bonus chapter on their website but when you go there, you have to agree to let them spam you with their newsletter before you can read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
empty calories and too much high fructose corn syrup
I think this author just isn't my cuppa.
The writing was just awful.
It was so frustrating how characters would think one thing and then literally one sentence later, do the exact opposite. I felt like it was backwards day or something.
The h goes with a supposed friend to visit his family ranch. With absolutely NO EVIDENCE at all, his family has decided she is a slutty gold digger and proceed to treat her like sh*t on their shoes. And her so called friend lets them. She decides to leave and I'm all, 'you go girl.'
Except she never does until 2 weeks later (time that is completely glossed over).
I think this author just doesn't like to write. In fact I can't help but wonder if she didn't use an AI to help because so much of this book made no sense.
The H was a disgusting sleeze bag who has a brain transplant before he sees her again 6 years later. He corners and molestssexually assaults the h at least 4 times in the first few chapters. And she not only lets him, but supposedly likes it?
It made my skin crawl
Then it's boring repeitive page after page of him being a love forlorn devote to her Mary Sue temple. You never get to see him change and realize his wrongs. All that hard to write stuff is off page. The feckless younger brother had more depth than the rest of them combined.
Safety sucks
A big fat MEH
Not reading this author again. Imho she is mysogynist and has no idea what romance is.
I think this author just isn't my cuppa.
The writing was just awful.
It was so frustrating how characters would think one thing and then literally one sentence later, do the exact opposite. I felt like it was backwards day or something.
The h goes with a supposed friend to visit his family ranch. With absolutely NO EVIDENCE at all, his family has decided she is a slutty gold digger and proceed to treat her like sh*t on their shoes. And her so called friend lets them. She decides to leave and I'm all, 'you go girl.'
Except she never does until 2 weeks later (time that is completely glossed over).
I think this author just doesn't like to write. In fact I can't help but wonder if she didn't use an AI to help because so much of this book made no sense.
The H was a disgusting sleeze bag who has a brain transplant before he sees her again 6 years later. He corners and molests
It made my skin crawl
Then it's boring repeitive page after page of him being a love forlorn devote to her Mary Sue temple. You never get to see him change and realize his wrongs. All that hard to write stuff is off page. The feckless younger brother had more depth than the rest of them combined.
Safety sucks
A big fat MEH
Not reading this author again. Imho she is mysogynist and has no idea what romance is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
I downloaded this as soon as I read a reviewer compare it to Diana Palmer and her penchant for asshole cowboys. I was an early reader and grew up reading from my mom’s bookshelf which had a lot of DP and HPs, so I am a HUGE Diana Palmer fan, and my rating reflects that. FYI
Rowan meets Isha when his younger brother Ace brings her home for the summer. Immediately him and his terrible family determine she’s a gold digger and set out to run her out of town. They are DESPICABLE and I was gobbling it down.
Six years later the two run into each other again, and Rowan decides he’ll do anything to get his girl back.
The good-
🟩 Unlike most of DP’s Hs. Rowan showed significant personal growth and maturity after the jump. (Isha as well)
🟩 No OW drama.
🟩 Drama from his terrible family.
🟩 H does ALL the heavy lifting to get her back. I LOVED that she made him work for it.
The not-so good-
⚫ No real comeuppance for the nasty family which was a HUGE letdown.
⚫ No epilogue.
Bottom Line- I really enjoyed it, but I like asshole cowboys and OTT soapy secondary characters. If you don’t, I wouldn’t recommend it. Pre-separation Rowan is very cruel and very pushy, and Isha puts up little fight to any of them. * I didn't find this taboo or dark at all. She's his brother's fake gf, so no big deal.
Safety-
Rowan meets Isha when his younger brother Ace brings her home for the summer. Immediately him and his terrible family determine she’s a gold digger and set out to run her out of town. They are DESPICABLE and I was gobbling it down.
Six years later the two run into each other again, and Rowan decides he’ll do anything to get his girl back.
The good-
🟩 Unlike most of DP’s Hs. Rowan showed significant personal growth and maturity after the jump. (Isha as well)
🟩 No OW drama.
🟩 Drama from his terrible family.
🟩 H does ALL the heavy lifting to get her back. I LOVED that she made him work for it.
The not-so good-
⚫ No real comeuppance for the nasty family which was a HUGE letdown.
⚫ No epilogue.
Bottom Line- I really enjoyed it, but I like asshole cowboys and OTT soapy secondary characters. If you don’t, I wouldn’t recommend it. Pre-separation Rowan is very cruel and very pushy, and Isha puts up little fight to any of them. * I didn't find this taboo or dark at all. She's his brother's fake gf, so no big deal.
Safety-
Did not finish
June 1, 2024DNF @ 19% - I had high hopes for this, as I adore vintage harlequins… but no. This was not good from page one. The rich hero throwing around f-bombs for no real reason was jarring and off-putting. I’m not someone that typically pearl-clutches over curse words, but the way it was done here had me cringing immediately. We are in the hero’s head way too much and we get too much explanation and telling info-dumps versus showing. The hero was annoying in that his thoughts were the opposite of his actions. This would have worked way better if we weren’t in his head. But we were and he just seems crazy and obtuse, which is not sexy at all. The heroine is cold one minute and weirdly humping the hero’s leg (YES LITERALLY) the next. She’s supposed to be pretending to date his brother, so it’s hard to fault the H for thinking she’s a slutty gold digger after that. 🤣🤣. Anyway, this story line isn’t original, as I’ve read similar by Diana Palmer and Carole Mortimer, and those were not not favorites of mine, and I like it even less in much less talented hands. So, I’m out. ✌🏻
December 25, 2024
It was captivating and it got me hooked from the first page. 4 stars because I wanted a little bit more grovel before the heroine accepted him back.
May 25, 2024
Unfortunately not angsty enough and even I love and prefer celibate heroines she should have been in a relationship or a few ONS!
June 1, 2024
don’t ever disrespect brown people like this ever again
May 29, 2024
I'm sure this book is for someone
But that someone is not me
DNF at 60%
But that someone is not me
DNF at 60%
May 24, 2024
During separation she is celibate while he wh*res around
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 23, 2024
He is incredibly cruel and abusive toward her (after taking her virginity he throws money at her and calls her a wh*re) but the second he shows back up her friends (knowing how he crushed her and permanently damaged her) are inviting him over and giving him tips on romancing her. Because they spoke to him for literally less than two minutes and could tell he was sorry.
She caves immediately. But she's strong now, and obviously strength means accepting that people can treat you terribly and you just take it.
I hated everyone in this book, but I give two stars because despite the flaws it is really well written.
She caves immediately. But she's strong now, and obviously strength means accepting that people can treat you terribly and you just take it.
I hated everyone in this book, but I give two stars because despite the flaws it is really well written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
Manwhore H. Meh. 🫤
May 26, 2024
My angst-loving heart thoroughly enjoyed this! Reminds me of a modern old school Diana Palmer or Linda Howard. Loved the groveling!
May 25, 2024
Came very close to a DNF. The hero and his family are ridiculously OTT in their abuse of the heroine, it’s ugly… Diana Palmer ugly.
We get a HEA, I guess it worked.
It also needs some editing the Clara/Carla thing bugged me.
We get a HEA, I guess it worked.
It also needs some editing the Clara/Carla thing bugged me.
January 20, 2025
This is 0 stars, actually.
Glorifying and glossing over assault, harassment and gaslighting? Hell no!
I actually cried and felt extremely triggered by what the FMC went through because of the MMC. And what does the author do? Make her end up with him!
I've always defended Maya Alden's books because even though they're problematic, they're still fun. But this story has traumatised me forever.
I don't know what happened to Maya Alden but I sincerely hope that she doesn't actually believe verbal and sexual assault, public humiliation, physical harassment and manipulation can lead to the romance of the century.
As a woman, I just feel degraded that a female character like the FMC will go through life like she did and still end up with irredeemable trash like the MMC.
I just.... I hope that someone like Isha may never end up with a Rowan in real life.
Glorifying and glossing over assault, harassment and gaslighting? Hell no!
I actually cried and felt extremely triggered by what the FMC went through because of the MMC. And what does the author do? Make her end up with him!
I've always defended Maya Alden's books because even though they're problematic, they're still fun. But this story has traumatised me forever.
I don't know what happened to Maya Alden but I sincerely hope that she doesn't actually believe verbal and sexual assault, public humiliation, physical harassment and manipulation can lead to the romance of the century.
As a woman, I just feel degraded that a female character like the FMC will go through life like she did and still end up with irredeemable trash like the MMC.
I just.... I hope that someone like Isha may never end up with a Rowan in real life.
Read
December 2, 2024Note to self: separated for 6 years, H is not celibate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2025
no grovel - insta love for MMC after he is brutally vicious to MFC
First thing to understand: there is no chemistry. No history to show that they once really loved each other before he absolutely torpedoes their relationship. No flashbacks to the MMC working through his mess up of the past 6 years to get to where he is today (aka growth). All we get is him telling us. There is no grovel. Zilch.
This is just another story by Alden about a MMC treating the MFC horribly based on a lie, not bothering to even attempt to believe the MFC or hear her out, becomes deliberately and hatefully cruel and says truly disgusting and hurtful things to her after they share intimacy (which is her first time)
Somehow - they knew each other for only 3 weeks but he loooooooved her soooo much but barely knows anything about her but he was able to basically screw her and then call her worse than trash, etc.
6 years later….. he makes an excuse to himself that it was “because I loved you SO much but I was denying it and afraid. I was young and dumb.” He ALSO makes this same excuse to her face after he stalks her.
The worst part though? Insta-love or insta-romance when there is no basis for it. At 50% the story just flips to him illegally finding out her address, going to her home uninvited, and shoving himself on her and “apologizing” - aka I did it because I LOVE YOU but didn’t know myself, babe. Ugh - straight vomit.
Then he shows up AGAIN - and ignores her saying no, says he loves her, always had, and he’s taking her on a date. This DUMB FMC - who I thought had some kind of a backbone for ONCE in a Maya Alden story… caves. Agrees to dates with him. Her “friends” who I thought did a good job standing up to her — cave because “he’s such a great guy and there’s something there”. Uhhhh betrayal?? Not the fun kind either.
She tries to break up and to say she doesn’t want a relationship with him - he says too bad, he loves her and he’s not giving up, and she’s gonna remember his you-know-what and she’s gonna be like a slip n slide for him. Like BARF. Queue body betrayal. He then has one-side “special” times on the phone with her… like ewwww unsolicited.
He then whiiiiines about her “not giving him a chance even though he was fighting for one” when SHE ASKS HIM TO LEAVE TO HIS FACE. Then her just coerces her into saying she wants him and “wants to believe him”. Says he “has no choice” about not walking away from her - he’ll never tire of her or them. (Uhhhh so why didn’t he look for her after 6 years and why did he give up so easily on her??? Inconsistent writing)
Then randomly at 65% it comes out that they’ve had off page intimacy and have been fooling around for a while. So once again - telling us and not showing. This makes it worse since it sounds like the MFC caved and didn’t make MMC work for anything.
Of course they do it, he wants to get her pregnant, and she forgives him and says “thank you sooo much for ignoring my boundaries and steamrolling me and basically giving me no choice to continue resisting you” She thanks him for not letting her go. Yowzas , talk about being mentally worn down by your abuser.
He even says she has the illusion of having a choice (in becoming pregnant) but she didn’t really - she loved him and just needed to stop being so afraid. So he wasn’t going to give her any choice about being impregnated. Red flag?? 🚩 anyone??
She eventually gaslights herself into being the bad guy for not trusting him and she gives up her community and wildly successful job to move back to him.
First thing to understand: there is no chemistry. No history to show that they once really loved each other before he absolutely torpedoes their relationship. No flashbacks to the MMC working through his mess up of the past 6 years to get to where he is today (aka growth). All we get is him telling us. There is no grovel. Zilch.
This is just another story by Alden about a MMC treating the MFC horribly based on a lie, not bothering to even attempt to believe the MFC or hear her out, becomes deliberately and hatefully cruel and says truly disgusting and hurtful things to her after they share intimacy (which is her first time)
Somehow - they knew each other for only 3 weeks but he loooooooved her soooo much but barely knows anything about her but he was able to basically screw her and then call her worse than trash, etc.
6 years later….. he makes an excuse to himself that it was “because I loved you SO much but I was denying it and afraid. I was young and dumb.” He ALSO makes this same excuse to her face after he stalks her.
The worst part though? Insta-love or insta-romance when there is no basis for it. At 50% the story just flips to him illegally finding out her address, going to her home uninvited, and shoving himself on her and “apologizing” - aka I did it because I LOVE YOU but didn’t know myself, babe. Ugh - straight vomit.
Then he shows up AGAIN - and ignores her saying no, says he loves her, always had, and he’s taking her on a date. This DUMB FMC - who I thought had some kind of a backbone for ONCE in a Maya Alden story… caves. Agrees to dates with him. Her “friends” who I thought did a good job standing up to her — cave because “he’s such a great guy and there’s something there”. Uhhhh betrayal?? Not the fun kind either.
She tries to break up and to say she doesn’t want a relationship with him - he says too bad, he loves her and he’s not giving up, and she’s gonna remember his you-know-what and she’s gonna be like a slip n slide for him. Like BARF. Queue body betrayal. He then has one-side “special” times on the phone with her… like ewwww unsolicited.
He then whiiiiines about her “not giving him a chance even though he was fighting for one” when SHE ASKS HIM TO LEAVE TO HIS FACE. Then her just coerces her into saying she wants him and “wants to believe him”. Says he “has no choice” about not walking away from her - he’ll never tire of her or them. (Uhhhh so why didn’t he look for her after 6 years and why did he give up so easily on her??? Inconsistent writing)
Then randomly at 65% it comes out that they’ve had off page intimacy and have been fooling around for a while. So once again - telling us and not showing. This makes it worse since it sounds like the MFC caved and didn’t make MMC work for anything.
Of course they do it, he wants to get her pregnant, and she forgives him and says “thank you sooo much for ignoring my boundaries and steamrolling me and basically giving me no choice to continue resisting you” She thanks him for not letting her go. Yowzas , talk about being mentally worn down by your abuser.
He even says she has the illusion of having a choice (in becoming pregnant) but she didn’t really - she loved him and just needed to stop being so afraid. So he wasn’t going to give her any choice about being impregnated. Red flag?? 🚩 anyone??
She eventually gaslights herself into being the bad guy for not trusting him and she gives up her community and wildly successful job to move back to him.
May 27, 2024
I liked it. Rowan is a horrible asshole to Isha in the beginning but I loved the fact that she did not let it hold her back. She went on to achieve her goals and made her own little found family.
My favorite scene is when he goes to her apartment the first time to apologize and she is just stone cold apathetic to him. She didn’t scream or rage or cry and that sent the message better than anything else that she wasn’t obsessing over him like he had been her for years.
I liked Rowan’s turn around and I felt he did redeem himself and he deserved the HEA with Isha. I am very picky about grovel/redemptions and I feel like Maya Alden does them well from what I have read in her books.
The only thing I would have liked better is if Isha had held out just a little longer before agreeing to go on a date with him. She was so strong and resolute and then it was like bam, a 180 and she agreed to a date.
I also wish she had at least had a few dalliances or at least another relationship in the 6 years of separation. I’m so tired of the excuse that these women are so busy with their lives that they can’t possibly ever find time to date or that they even want to. But yet when the MMC shows back up, all of a sudden she has the time. It’s complete BS and is just used as a device to make the FMC have to wait for the MMC for any kind of relationship happiness or ability to have good sex. Meanwhile he’s off getting his without a second thought. The only time I’m ok with a FMC being celibate long term is if the MMC is as well.
Overall, I really liked the book and I recommend it. I’m looking forward to the other books that are coming in the series.
My favorite scene is when he goes to her apartment the first time to apologize and she is just stone cold apathetic to him. She didn’t scream or rage or cry and that sent the message better than anything else that she wasn’t obsessing over him like he had been her for years.
I liked Rowan’s turn around and I felt he did redeem himself and he deserved the HEA with Isha. I am very picky about grovel/redemptions and I feel like Maya Alden does them well from what I have read in her books.
The only thing I would have liked better is if Isha had held out just a little longer before agreeing to go on a date with him. She was so strong and resolute and then it was like bam, a 180 and she agreed to a date.
I also wish she had at least had a few dalliances or at least another relationship in the 6 years of separation. I’m so tired of the excuse that these women are so busy with their lives that they can’t possibly ever find time to date or that they even want to. But yet when the MMC shows back up, all of a sudden she has the time. It’s complete BS and is just used as a device to make the FMC have to wait for the MMC for any kind of relationship happiness or ability to have good sex. Meanwhile he’s off getting his without a second thought. The only time I’m ok with a FMC being celibate long term is if the MMC is as well.
Overall, I really liked the book and I recommend it. I’m looking forward to the other books that are coming in the series.
December 24, 2024
3.5*
'Everyone had seen Isha for who she was, except the man who loved her.'
Anyone who has read Diana Palmer's After the Music, can see the parallels/ inspiration.
--The h going to the H's ranch with as his brother's guest and acting as his fake fiancee as the brother is angling for a neighbor's daughter. In DP's book, both the brother and his gf 'nice' ppl. And the poa was to show his family the gf in a better light visavis the h, and make them accept his gf.
-The H sees the h as a tramp and plans to seduce her himself to breakup with the brother (not realizing that it is a fake relationship). The H's efforts eventually get really cruel and the h leaves.
-He sees sense, follows her, keeps a watch on her and helps her with her music career etc. The H is indeed a changed man and kinda grovels - by being a changed man!
All this took few months, I think till the HEA.
"Oh, you thought you'd swing your ass over, and we'd just roll over and hand over the keys to the family safe?"
But, if anyone has read Robyn Donald's A Durable Fire, you can see some elements from that book here as well
--For one, the brother is a nasty pos as is the gf.
-The H is borderline psychopath and gets sexually fixated on her, and his attentions are unfair, dishonest and sickening. (Ditto in the present book.)
-The mcs' sex scenes, before he drops her at the airport, are borderline triggering. (Again ditto.)
-There is a years-long separation and that the fmc ends up with a child. (In MA's book, the kid is not hers and om's but a friend's). Grovel is dissatisfying.
-That h is from another country - Australia to his NZ, while it is England-US (Montana) here. The move from England to NYC and them meeting is ott fortuitous, imo.
'I had made a mistake by coming here, falling for Ace's sweet talk.was helping someone, and he'd called me a whore. I had to get out of here. I had to get home where I was safe.'
What's different from those other two books?
The brother is redeemed and all the nastiness is now centered on his wife. They have two girls that the now-saintly H looks after.
The h was raised in foster homes - and had a few traumatic incidents that made her wary of intimacy. But then thinks this a-h was worthy of her trust?
She had an awesome bff - but who later meets with tragedy.
'Between him and his brother, they'd taken away so much of my faith in people that I'd never gotten it back.'
'Everyone had seen Isha for who she was, except the man who loved her.'
Anyone who has read Diana Palmer's After the Music, can see the parallels/ inspiration.
--The h going to the H's ranch with as his brother's guest and acting as his fake fiancee as the brother is angling for a neighbor's daughter. In DP's book, both the brother and his gf 'nice' ppl. And the poa was to show his family the gf in a better light visavis the h, and make them accept his gf.
-The H sees the h as a tramp and plans to seduce her himself to breakup with the brother (not realizing that it is a fake relationship). The H's efforts eventually get really cruel and the h leaves.
-He sees sense, follows her, keeps a watch on her and helps her with her music career etc. The H is indeed a changed man and kinda grovels - by being a changed man!
All this took few months, I think till the HEA.
"Oh, you thought you'd swing your ass over, and we'd just roll over and hand over the keys to the family safe?"
But, if anyone has read Robyn Donald's A Durable Fire, you can see some elements from that book here as well
--For one, the brother is a nasty pos as is the gf.
-The H is borderline psychopath and gets sexually fixated on her, and his attentions are unfair, dishonest and sickening. (Ditto in the present book.)
-The mcs' sex scenes, before he drops her at the airport, are borderline triggering. (Again ditto.)
-There is a years-long separation and that the fmc ends up with a child. (In MA's book, the kid is not hers and om's but a friend's). Grovel is dissatisfying.
-That h is from another country - Australia to his NZ, while it is England-US (Montana) here. The move from England to NYC and them meeting is ott fortuitous, imo.
'I had made a mistake by coming here, falling for Ace's sweet talk.was helping someone, and he'd called me a whore. I had to get out of here. I had to get home where I was safe.'
What's different from those other two books?
The brother is redeemed and all the nastiness is now centered on his wife. They have two girls that the now-saintly H looks after.
The h was raised in foster homes - and had a few traumatic incidents that made her wary of intimacy. But then thinks this a-h was worthy of her trust?
She had an awesome bff - but who later meets with tragedy.
'Between him and his brother, they'd taken away so much of my faith in people that I'd never gotten it back.'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2026
2.8- was easy and quick but the MMC didn’t grovel enough
November 8, 2024
0.5 stars
This was my first Maya Alden book and unfortunately I definitely cannot see myself reading another one of her books. I read up until chapter 21 and couldn't tolerate it anymore. I hated this book. From what I've read they have no chemistry and it seems like she enjoys being degraded (not even in a kinky way) cause that's all he did to her yet she loves him.
1) Her obsession with the yellowstone tv show. Istg every like sentence she's like 'omg this isn't like how it is in the show' well yeah. No shit.
2) He's so rude to her the first chapters calling her a gold digger and a whore but she falls in love with him anyway. It's giving doormat.
3) She tells him she's a virgin and he responds in the following way: "Sweetheart, don't kid a kidder." Um excuse me?
4) This scene: ' "Sweetheart, don't kid a kidder." "Get the fuck off of me, you arsehole." "Now, now, darlin'. Don't get mad because I ain't buyin' your virgin routine." I leaned down and rested on my elbows, kissing her, bringing her back to where we were before,' Then in a following scene he proceeds to ' "Shh, shh," I whispered, nuzzling her mouth with mine when I felt her tears. I licked them off her cheeks. ' - NGL its feeling a little bit like rape.
5) Same scene as 3 + 4 but still: ' Her eyes closed, and she winced. "Open your fucking eyes," ' Again, little bit rapey, maybe understand that she is in pain yk.
6) The time jump and her new 'friends'. Mick, from what I've read, decent enough. However, the same cannot be said for Arturo. He knows what she's been through with Rowan yet proceeds to tell him about her childhood trauma that he has no right speaking about. He also kinda just sells her out: "You beat me at darts and maybe we give you permission to talk to Isha." like wtf? He knows what Rowan did to her but a game of darts and its all good? Nah.
7) And my final complaint, this quote from chapter 16:
"But then I used to be a doormat, and no one could say I was one now"
She clearly lacks self respect. Unfortunately, she is definitely still a massive doormat.
This was my first Maya Alden book and unfortunately I definitely cannot see myself reading another one of her books. I read up until chapter 21 and couldn't tolerate it anymore. I hated this book. From what I've read they have no chemistry and it seems like she enjoys being degraded (not even in a kinky way) cause that's all he did to her yet she loves him.
1) Her obsession with the yellowstone tv show. Istg every like sentence she's like 'omg this isn't like how it is in the show' well yeah. No shit.
2) He's so rude to her the first chapters calling her a gold digger and a whore but she falls in love with him anyway. It's giving doormat.
3) She tells him she's a virgin and he responds in the following way: "Sweetheart, don't kid a kidder." Um excuse me?
4) This scene: ' "Sweetheart, don't kid a kidder." "Get the fuck off of me, you arsehole." "Now, now, darlin'. Don't get mad because I ain't buyin' your virgin routine." I leaned down and rested on my elbows, kissing her, bringing her back to where we were before,' Then in a following scene he proceeds to ' "Shh, shh," I whispered, nuzzling her mouth with mine when I felt her tears. I licked them off her cheeks. ' - NGL its feeling a little bit like rape.
5) Same scene as 3 + 4 but still: ' Her eyes closed, and she winced. "Open your fucking eyes," ' Again, little bit rapey, maybe understand that she is in pain yk.
6) The time jump and her new 'friends'. Mick, from what I've read, decent enough. However, the same cannot be said for Arturo. He knows what she's been through with Rowan yet proceeds to tell him about her childhood trauma that he has no right speaking about. He also kinda just sells her out: "You beat me at darts and maybe we give you permission to talk to Isha." like wtf? He knows what Rowan did to her but a game of darts and its all good? Nah.
7) And my final complaint, this quote from chapter 16:
"But then I used to be a doormat, and no one could say I was one now"
She clearly lacks self respect. Unfortunately, she is definitely still a massive doormat.
October 11, 2025
*ARC review*
1.5 stars.
It wasn't as bad as Best Served Cold, but it still wasn't good. I did like the somewhat slower redemption arc, at least she doesn't fall head over heels right away, but why does the fmc still forgive him that easily? I wish that Isha would have moved on after the incident instead of being this perfect virtuous hard-working woman. I loved how she excelled in her career, but I find it incredibly weird that she would be more devasted losing Rowan than her best friends and family. I don't think this author is for me. I don't believe in leaving bad reviews just for the hell of it, so this will probably be the last book I'll read of hers.
1.5 stars.
It wasn't as bad as Best Served Cold, but it still wasn't good. I did like the somewhat slower redemption arc, at least she doesn't fall head over heels right away, but why does the fmc still forgive him that easily? I wish that Isha would have moved on after the incident instead of being this perfect virtuous hard-working woman. I loved how she excelled in her career, but I find it incredibly weird that she would be more devasted losing Rowan than her best friends and family. I don't think this author is for me. I don't believe in leaving bad reviews just for the hell of it, so this will probably be the last book I'll read of hers.
August 5, 2024
I picked this up thinking it looked a bit like an updated version of two of my favorite movies, Sabrina (yes, I love both the Audrey/Bogey version and the Ormand/Ford 90s remake, don't make me pick). In the end, not so much, but I've seen a few other reviews comparing it to some other old Harleys. Isha and Rowan meet when she is 20 and he is (I think... I actually finished this a bit ago and forgot to review it) 29, and she has come to his ranch with his younger brother for the summer. He immediately decides because she's pretty, young, and poor that she must be after his brother for the money and couldn't possibly be a decent person -- and of course, he wants her for himself too.
This results in a couple of months of just about everyone, including the younger brother, treating Isha horribly for a full summer. (Honestly, sweetie, you should have just left the first time your "friend," the younger brother, slut- and poor-shamed you along with everyone else at the dinner table while claiming to be your boyfriend.) This was, like, psychological warfare for weeks, inflicted on a young woman who just thought she was getting away from her life for a bit. It all culminates in Rowan having sex with her, leaving money on the nightstand for her because he is still behaving like a total asshat even though he's totally figured out he was at least wrong about some things, and her disappearing for five years.
But that five years brings out a change in Rowan that a lot of authors don't bother with. He's pretty much had all that time to stew in his own misery and realize that, oops, he loved her. So let the grovel commence.
My issue with this one was similar to the one I had with my last Maya Alden book, which was that I would have liked the heroine to be angrier. Her heroines have this tendency to not actively confront the guys who done them wrong, which yeah, makes the guilt worse, but c'mon it doesn't need to be every character, does it?
In the end, even though the grovel was totally worth it, it ended up being a bit of a long-distance romance and yes, it's immature of me and most romance novels do take it too far, but some
fighting (and more importantly, Isha, standing up for yourself) while you figure things out would be nice.
This results in a couple of months of just about everyone, including the younger brother, treating Isha horribly for a full summer. (Honestly, sweetie, you should have just left the first time your "friend," the younger brother, slut- and poor-shamed you along with everyone else at the dinner table while claiming to be your boyfriend.) This was, like, psychological warfare for weeks, inflicted on a young woman who just thought she was getting away from her life for a bit. It all culminates in Rowan having sex with her, leaving money on the nightstand for her because he is still behaving like a total asshat even though he's totally figured out he was at least wrong about some things, and her disappearing for five years.
But that five years brings out a change in Rowan that a lot of authors don't bother with. He's pretty much had all that time to stew in his own misery and realize that, oops, he loved her. So let the grovel commence.
My issue with this one was similar to the one I had with my last Maya Alden book, which was that I would have liked the heroine to be angrier. Her heroines have this tendency to not actively confront the guys who done them wrong, which yeah, makes the guilt worse, but c'mon it doesn't need to be every character, does it?
In the end, even though the grovel was totally worth it, it ended up being a bit of a long-distance romance and yes, it's immature of me and most romance novels do take it too far, but some
fighting (and more importantly, Isha, standing up for yourself) while you figure things out would be nice.
November 27, 2024
Well, let me just tell you that Rowan was a class A dirtbag to Isha. When they met back up 6 years later Isha should have RUN in the other direction. His actions after they reconnected were good and they were swoony, even though he was kind of a creepster to just show up at her house. She was waaay nicer than me because I'd have shut the door in his face and called the police if he didn't leave LOL
All in all, a very satisfying read that I did enjoy.
All in all, a very satisfying read that I did enjoy.
July 6, 2024
This was such a great fast paced read. Definitely had that old harlequin feeling to the story, so won’t be for everyone - these cowboys are definitely full of misogyny and their thoughts on women are gross. But, they do learn. Slowly.
I loved the heroine, she had a quiet strength. Plenty of angst and betrayals in this one. Definitely recommend.
I loved the heroine, she had a quiet strength. Plenty of angst and betrayals in this one. Definitely recommend.
March 4, 2025
2.5
This had so much potential and I agree with another reader that this book is well written. But I dnf’d at 50% because I just couldn’t stomach the hero anymore. He was so incredibly horrible and emotionally and verbally abusive to the Isha in the first 40% of this book and yet, she still fell in love with him. The way he spoke to her after he took her virginity was so abhorrent. So then six years later when they accidentally run into each other (although she’s strong and acts aloof), in her mind she says he still has a piece of her heart. HOW?!?!? This man called her a whore and threw money at her after she gave him her virginity and told him she loved him. He told her she was trash and not even good enough to be someone’s mistress.
I may have been able to forgive him if he was sick with guilt for the past six years but he wasn’t. He was whoring around (but no one compared to her of course). Sure he thought about her, but never tried to find her. The thought of them getting back together made me feel sick and I didn’t want to read about it at all.
This had so much potential and I agree with another reader that this book is well written. But I dnf’d at 50% because I just couldn’t stomach the hero anymore. He was so incredibly horrible and emotionally and verbally abusive to the Isha in the first 40% of this book and yet, she still fell in love with him. The way he spoke to her after he took her virginity was so abhorrent. So then six years later when they accidentally run into each other (although she’s strong and acts aloof), in her mind she says he still has a piece of her heart. HOW?!?!? This man called her a whore and threw money at her after she gave him her virginity and told him she loved him. He told her she was trash and not even good enough to be someone’s mistress.
I may have been able to forgive him if he was sick with guilt for the past six years but he wasn’t. He was whoring around (but no one compared to her of course). Sure he thought about her, but never tried to find her. The thought of them getting back together made me feel sick and I didn’t want to read about it at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2025
Isha comes to Montana with Ace where she meets Rowan, Ace's brother. Rowan goes out of his way to prove Isha is a gold digger, and crushes here in the most aawful of ways. Years later they come face to face and Rowan realised how wrong he was.
July 23, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
free-on-amazon-today
July 31, 2025Free 31 July 2025 Amazon
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