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Dark Billionaires #2
A Stone's Throw
I paid to have her once. Now, I’ll risk it all to have her forever.
The first time I saw her, she was an innocent. An untouched beauty offering herself up to the highest bidder.
I told myself I was only bidding to keep her safe. To protect her from men who would shatter her innocence without a second thought.
If I’d had any idea who she was, any idea what defiling her would mean for my future, I might have walked away without ever touching her.
But I didn’t. And now the secrets we’ve kept threaten to unravel both of our lives.
Having her the first time cost me nothing but money. Keeping her… could cost me everything.
Tropes:
💙 Dad’s best friend
🌹 Secret baby
💙 Age gap
🌹 College student heroine
💙 Scottish hero
🌹 Virgin heroine
💙 Highest bidder
🌹 Second chance
The first time I saw her, she was an innocent. An untouched beauty offering herself up to the highest bidder.
I told myself I was only bidding to keep her safe. To protect her from men who would shatter her innocence without a second thought.
If I’d had any idea who she was, any idea what defiling her would mean for my future, I might have walked away without ever touching her.
But I didn’t. And now the secrets we’ve kept threaten to unravel both of our lives.
Having her the first time cost me nothing but money. Keeping her… could cost me everything.
Tropes:
💙 Dad’s best friend
🌹 Secret baby
💙 Age gap
🌹 College student heroine
💙 Scottish hero
🌹 Virgin heroine
💙 Highest bidder
🌹 Second chance
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2024
529 people are currently reading
3245 people want to read
About the author
Stevie Sparks
11 books301 followersStevie Sparks is a British author and long-time copy editor from Windsor, England (where Windsor Castle is).
She suffers from a terrible medical condition that has left her incapable of reading books without smut. She also has multiple sclerosis. When it comes to books, she prefers the phrase 'full steam ahead.'
Stevie writes both contemporary and historical romance.
She suffers from a terrible medical condition that has left her incapable of reading books without smut. She also has multiple sclerosis. When it comes to books, she prefers the phrase 'full steam ahead.'
Stevie writes both contemporary and historical romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
February 17, 2025
DNF 42%
The set up was what drew me in. College student sells her virginity for millions to get out of debt. Older sexy Scot "rescues" her and they spend one hot night loving it up. He leaves for a meeting the next morning but leaves her a note. She never finds said note, thinks he skedaddled and later finds herself pregnant.
All of this sounds freaking fantastic as a set up but the execution is atrocious. First and most importantly SHE HAD NO REASON TO SELL HER VIRGINITY! Because get this...her dad is a MULTIMILLIONAIRE 🤦🏽♀️
I just could not get over this. It was so stupid. She had a supportive loving father and decided prostitution was the better option than just asking him for money she needed. Girl what?!? Also this is incorrectly marketed as a dark romance. There is nothing dark about this. The MMC is a cinnamon roll with zero personality, the FMC is pretty much a moron 🙄 The only thing I found "dark" is the older hero calling the teenage heroine "baby girl" during sex 🤢
The set up was what drew me in. College student sells her virginity for millions to get out of debt. Older sexy Scot "rescues" her and they spend one hot night loving it up. He leaves for a meeting the next morning but leaves her a note. She never finds said note, thinks he skedaddled and later finds herself pregnant.
All of this sounds freaking fantastic as a set up but the execution is atrocious. First and most importantly SHE HAD NO REASON TO SELL HER VIRGINITY! Because get this...her dad is a MULTIMILLIONAIRE 🤦🏽♀️
I just could not get over this. It was so stupid. She had a supportive loving father and decided prostitution was the better option than just asking him for money she needed. Girl what?!? Also this is incorrectly marketed as a dark romance. There is nothing dark about this. The MMC is a cinnamon roll with zero personality, the FMC is pretty much a moron 🙄 The only thing I found "dark" is the older hero calling the teenage heroine "baby girl" during sex 🤢
April 21, 2024
Loved this !
Loved Jensens and Talia’s story so much,
A dad’s best friend to a chance encounter Across the world the story just got better and better.
Talia has the dream to be in medicine just like her mum did when she was alive so getting the scholarship to university in New York was her dream coming true.
Leaving home and having such a huge change Talia wanted to be independent so when it came to loosing the funding for her scholarship she found another way to make the money than to just ask her dad.
In comes Jensen Stone ! This 40 something hunk of a man, ex prisoner and business owner finds himself in a bar in New York with a business associate, but the bar is not your typical bar.
Who knew you could sell your virginity in an auction !
Auction happens Jensen sees Talia on stage sees she’s a virgin and becomes protective of her and wins the auction so she does not go into the hands of a sleeze ball.
He meets her in the room Talia thinking this is it but Jensen wraps her up and tells her to take the money and that’s it !
Oh sweet Jensen !
Things heat up between them and they spend the night, typical she wakes up he’s gone and she moves on.
The storyline from her on just gets you more and more falling for Jensen ! He’s the older protector and he shows up 18 months later at a family wedding and things get bought into light about that night and the feelings start again from there.
You have some characters that shock you with their actions and you have others that make you want to cuddle them after learning what they have been through.
The road for these two is not easy but you can feel the love and the angst between them and you just know it’s going to be a HEA
Loved this book so much, love Stevies style of writing and can’t wait to read more !
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Loved Jensens and Talia’s story so much,
A dad’s best friend to a chance encounter Across the world the story just got better and better.
Talia has the dream to be in medicine just like her mum did when she was alive so getting the scholarship to university in New York was her dream coming true.
Leaving home and having such a huge change Talia wanted to be independent so when it came to loosing the funding for her scholarship she found another way to make the money than to just ask her dad.
In comes Jensen Stone ! This 40 something hunk of a man, ex prisoner and business owner finds himself in a bar in New York with a business associate, but the bar is not your typical bar.
Who knew you could sell your virginity in an auction !
Auction happens Jensen sees Talia on stage sees she’s a virgin and becomes protective of her and wins the auction so she does not go into the hands of a sleeze ball.
He meets her in the room Talia thinking this is it but Jensen wraps her up and tells her to take the money and that’s it !
Oh sweet Jensen !
Things heat up between them and they spend the night, typical she wakes up he’s gone and she moves on.
The storyline from her on just gets you more and more falling for Jensen ! He’s the older protector and he shows up 18 months later at a family wedding and things get bought into light about that night and the feelings start again from there.
You have some characters that shock you with their actions and you have others that make you want to cuddle them after learning what they have been through.
The road for these two is not easy but you can feel the love and the angst between them and you just know it’s going to be a HEA
Loved this book so much, love Stevies style of writing and can’t wait to read more !
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5
If you love the age gap, the pregnancy trope, and a dash of the shmilky shmink and haven’t read a book by Stevie Sparks, why? A Stone’s Throw has all of these and more! Stevie doesn’t hold back and get’s right to it.
Talia is a 19-year-old college student and is strapped for cash. She learns that there’s this special place where she can sell her virginia. Then we have forty-one-year-old Jensen, who is there and is not letting all the other gross older men have her, so he bids on her instead—to save her. And he “saves” her alright. They have quite the night doing everything together. It’s unprotected because she believes she is infertile due to her medical issues. But all things must come to an end, or do they?
Stevie Sparks adds some angst by inserting the secret pregnancy trope, a meddling OM and supposed best friend of Talia, and a second chance of love between Jensen and her. The story is full of steam and heroic, protective moments by Jensen. It's a winning read.
Thank you, Author Stevie Sparks, for sending me a copy of A Stone’s Throw. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you love the age gap, the pregnancy trope, and a dash of the shmilky shmink and haven’t read a book by Stevie Sparks, why? A Stone’s Throw has all of these and more! Stevie doesn’t hold back and get’s right to it.
Talia is a 19-year-old college student and is strapped for cash. She learns that there’s this special place where she can sell her virginia. Then we have forty-one-year-old Jensen, who is there and is not letting all the other gross older men have her, so he bids on her instead—to save her. And he “saves” her alright. They have quite the night doing everything together. It’s unprotected because she believes she is infertile due to her medical issues. But all things must come to an end, or do they?
Stevie Sparks adds some angst by inserting the secret pregnancy trope, a meddling OM and supposed best friend of Talia, and a second chance of love between Jensen and her. The story is full of steam and heroic, protective moments by Jensen. It's a winning read.
Thank you, Author Stevie Sparks, for sending me a copy of A Stone’s Throw. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 3, 2025
This wasn't a bad story, the premise was intriguing and had me jumping right into it as soon as I read the blurb. But it seemed to lose it's momentum about halfway through and to be honest I skimmed a lot of the ending. I can't really pinpoint a particular reason why but the overall story just slowed down a little too much I think.
October 6, 2024
So what exactly was the plot of this book? The synopsis makes this book out to seem more than what it really is. First off, in chapter one we find out that Talia (FMC) is going to lose her scholarship and get kicked out for not having the funds necessary. She ends up finding out that she can sell her virginity to the highest bidder and make money that way. Here’s the kicker, her DAD is a MILLIONAIRE!!!! Like he is literally rich, and is actively in her life and is super proud of her for wanting to go to school overseas and supports her in everything. All she had to do was ask her dad for help. So there really is no need for her to go through this super traumatic experience but she does it anyways because she’s stubborn/prideful? Anyways Jensen (MMC) just happens to be at the auction that day and he bids for her because he just feels the need to protect her from all these other old perverts that want to pay her for sex. He claims to be the good guy off the start, and tells her that she will get the money but no sex will be involved, because she’s just too young or whatever. News flash, they end up having sex anyways, but according to him it’s okay because she’s the one who wanted to. 🙄
That one night results in a pregnancy, that causes a chain reaction of her dropping out of college anyways, and moving back to London. They never exchanged info, he left a note that night but she never got it, so she goes on to have this kid on her own. A year and a half passes and they randomly bump paths at a wedding, where turns out, Jensen is apparently Talia’s dad’s best friend. Which I call BS on because they would have crossed paths sooner if that was the case. Anyways Jensen learns about the baby and starts being super involved with him and Talia lets him because she wants her baby to have a father. They have a few hiccups along the way but overall their relationship takes off pretty smoothly and everyone becomes very understanding of it. The only “plot” is that there is this other guy, Quinn, who has been friends with Talia since college and stayed with her through her pregnancy and birth, who becomes obsessed with her. He develops feelings for her and tells her, she rejects him and he goes crazy and starts doing pretty messed up things to her.
The book just felt like it was everywhere most of the time but giving nothing at all. Overall found myself bored and got the ick a few times because he kept bringing up her age and how wrong it was but yet he kept doing it. 😒
That one night results in a pregnancy, that causes a chain reaction of her dropping out of college anyways, and moving back to London. They never exchanged info, he left a note that night but she never got it, so she goes on to have this kid on her own. A year and a half passes and they randomly bump paths at a wedding, where turns out, Jensen is apparently Talia’s dad’s best friend. Which I call BS on because they would have crossed paths sooner if that was the case. Anyways Jensen learns about the baby and starts being super involved with him and Talia lets him because she wants her baby to have a father. They have a few hiccups along the way but overall their relationship takes off pretty smoothly and everyone becomes very understanding of it. The only “plot” is that there is this other guy, Quinn, who has been friends with Talia since college and stayed with her through her pregnancy and birth, who becomes obsessed with her. He develops feelings for her and tells her, she rejects him and he goes crazy and starts doing pretty messed up things to her.
The book just felt like it was everywhere most of the time but giving nothing at all. Overall found myself bored and got the ick a few times because he kept bringing up her age and how wrong it was but yet he kept doing it. 😒
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2024
I've been obsessed with secret baby lately. This was so good - age gap, he works with her dad, Auctioned V-card, and a few other tropes that just had me over here like *chef's kiss*
April 18, 2024
Captured me from the beginning to the end.
April 24, 2024
Part of the Dark Billionaires series each can be read as a standalone with a much older man and the much younger girl. Talia is sweet innocent to a fault at the beginning she has one dream to be in medicine following in her mother’s footsteps earning a scholarship to the university was a blessing although, she was afraid to leave home but happy for the independence so when she losing her scholarship monies and learning there was another way to make money without going to her father a way she didn’t want to do but felt she had no choice. Jensen sexy as all get out older enough to be her father, reformed (or so they say) prisoner, business owner meeting a client in a bar but it isn’t just a bar it is where girl who need money go to sell their virginity and knowing her father he isn’t going to allow some jerk to take her so his only option is to bid and win the bid taking her home giving her the money to finish school without hesitation. But he could not just leave it at that she was too beautiful to just walk away so he allows himself one night telling himself that is all he needs so taking her innocence and he leaves. Fast forward over a year later and they meet again realizing the feelings didn’t just go away the magnetic pull is there just as strong and no matter how many times he tell himself it is wrong the stronger the pull between them grow but will her father be happy, will he stick around the second time around, will he want the family she thought she could never have, will they allow they a misunderstanding stop them from being together, and will they admit the happiness between them completing their family?
December 20, 2024
This was my first read by Stevie Sparks and I'm on my way to read the rest of this Dark Billionaire series.
This is an age-gap second chance dark romance meets domestic thriller. MMC Jensen (aka Jay) immediately stole my heart with his protective instincts and persona. Thalia was fiercely independent and a perfect match. Aldous was a favorite side character and I'm so excited to read his installation coming out this spring.
This is a very spicy book and it starts fairly early into it, but the plot was also extremely well developed with a hateable protagonist, loveable friendships, suspense and tension. 10/10 recommend.
4.5⭐
This is an age-gap second chance dark romance meets domestic thriller. MMC Jensen (aka Jay) immediately stole my heart with his protective instincts and persona. Thalia was fiercely independent and a perfect match. Aldous was a favorite side character and I'm so excited to read his installation coming out this spring.
This is a very spicy book and it starts fairly early into it, but the plot was also extremely well developed with a hateable protagonist, loveable friendships, suspense and tension. 10/10 recommend.
4.5⭐
May 2, 2024
Another really amazing read by Stevie! I was instantly connected to the story and couldn't put it down!
Talia's world was falling apart making her feel like a failure and powerless to do anything about it. At her lowest point she overhead a conversation that offered a way for her to regain control and put her back on track.
Jensen is in town for a business meeting being wined and dined by a colleague when he's put in a situation he just can't ignore. His protective instincts kick in leading to what he thinks will be a simple matter of "rescuing a damsel" and then go their separate ways.
It ends up being a lot more complicated than this!
Talia and Jensen are two really amazing, caring people who had an instant, deep connection that surprised them both. Sadly, they were never given the opportunity to explore these feelings naturally thanks to some interference by someone who has other plans for Talia.
After reading two other books by Stevie (Despising the Duke and Surrendering to the Duke which are not to be missed!) I thought I was in for another high angst, hair pulling, hot mess but this was not the case. It's just as well written, engaging and hot but with a lighter feel. I really enjoyed everything about it and love when an author can write stories with different styles and tones keeping it fresh.
I received an advance copy directly from the author (Thank you!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Talia's world was falling apart making her feel like a failure and powerless to do anything about it. At her lowest point she overhead a conversation that offered a way for her to regain control and put her back on track.
Jensen is in town for a business meeting being wined and dined by a colleague when he's put in a situation he just can't ignore. His protective instincts kick in leading to what he thinks will be a simple matter of "rescuing a damsel" and then go their separate ways.
It ends up being a lot more complicated than this!
Talia and Jensen are two really amazing, caring people who had an instant, deep connection that surprised them both. Sadly, they were never given the opportunity to explore these feelings naturally thanks to some interference by someone who has other plans for Talia.
After reading two other books by Stevie (Despising the Duke and Surrendering to the Duke which are not to be missed!) I thought I was in for another high angst, hair pulling, hot mess but this was not the case. It's just as well written, engaging and hot but with a lighter feel. I really enjoyed everything about it and love when an author can write stories with different styles and tones keeping it fresh.
I received an advance copy directly from the author (Thank you!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 19, 2024
OMG, I love everything I have read by Stevie! This book was no different. Thalia, struggling to afford to stay at Columbia, overhears of a very unconventional way to pay for her tuition - auction off her virginity to the highest bidder. Luckily for her, that night Jensen (aka Jay) is there, and he is appalled at what he sees happening. He is enthralled with Thalia. He has no intention of sleeping with her, but the two can’t fight their attraction, and end up sleeping together. Thalia, believing she cannot become pregnant due to a medical condition, opts to forgo contraceptives, and after their night of undeniable passion, becomes pregnant.
Fast forward 18 months, and they run into each other in London, their 9 month old in tow. Their passion, still undeniable, but what happened that caused them to stay apart for the last year and a half? Jay believes she chose to keep the baby a secret. Thalia believes he ran off without giving her a second thought.
I adored their story, and loved the connection between the two. Despite the age gap, it was clear the two had undeniable chemistry!
Fast forward 18 months, and they run into each other in London, their 9 month old in tow. Their passion, still undeniable, but what happened that caused them to stay apart for the last year and a half? Jay believes she chose to keep the baby a secret. Thalia believes he ran off without giving her a second thought.
I adored their story, and loved the connection between the two. Despite the age gap, it was clear the two had undeniable chemistry!
April 21, 2024
* Stevie catches you RIGHT from the get go in this book. I was going to finish it tonight but in fact grabbed it and gobbled the rest up 😏 so here we are! Such good plot and I love her writing.
* The MCs… Talia is the virgin FMC, forced to do something to stay on her path. She proves to be a strong-willed and amazing character. Jensen? If you’re in search of a sexy, older, devoted, possessive alpha type Scottish MMC. Then look no further.
* You see growth in both characters, and I’m kind of obsessed with them. Even when they are apart, they still yearn for the other. Neither leaving the others thoughts. The progression of their story had me HOOKED!
* The spice you ask? Don’t we all always want to know about the spice 😂 it was sizzling. The chemistry between these two is undeniable.
* The MCs… Talia is the virgin FMC, forced to do something to stay on her path. She proves to be a strong-willed and amazing character. Jensen? If you’re in search of a sexy, older, devoted, possessive alpha type Scottish MMC. Then look no further.
* You see growth in both characters, and I’m kind of obsessed with them. Even when they are apart, they still yearn for the other. Neither leaving the others thoughts. The progression of their story had me HOOKED!
* The spice you ask? Don’t we all always want to know about the spice 😂 it was sizzling. The chemistry between these two is undeniable.
May 1, 2024
A Stone's Throw (Book 2 of Dark Billionaires) by Stevie Sparks is an age gap billionaires romance. Oh this was a doozy of a romance that pulled at the heart strings. The plot, characters, romance and world building just pulled you in and you could not let go.
Talia needs money for school and she overhears a great way to earn it quickly. Jensen is her dad’s best friend and has known her a long time. He happens to show up at the auction where she earning her money. After he wins her their story begins and boy is it a good story.
I really enjoyed this story and the character development. Ian looking forward to reading more. Great job!
April 16, 2024
Well Ladies Stevie has done it again, it amazes me the level of growth and angst she will write between characters.
The book for me was...
5⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you like...
Dad's Bestfriend
Virgin FMC
Secret Baby
Age Gap
Second Chance
Then this is for you❤️
I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and couldn't put it down☺️
The plot was growing with each chapter and the dialogue between the FMC and the MMC showed growth through out the book. I can honestly say that a new MMC has my heart ☺️
This is a must read and I would recommend it to anyone. Ladies if you thought Warren was Daddy then you haven't met this Man. Devotion and touch her you die vibes are real ❤️
Caution you will...
Scream
Squirm
Blush
Smile
And even feel other emotions!
Please as always check TW!
The book for me was...
5⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you like...
Dad's Bestfriend
Virgin FMC
Secret Baby
Age Gap
Second Chance
Then this is for you❤️
I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and couldn't put it down☺️
The plot was growing with each chapter and the dialogue between the FMC and the MMC showed growth through out the book. I can honestly say that a new MMC has my heart ☺️
This is a must read and I would recommend it to anyone. Ladies if you thought Warren was Daddy then you haven't met this Man. Devotion and touch her you die vibes are real ❤️
Caution you will...
Scream
Squirm
Blush
Smile
And even feel other emotions!
Please as always check TW!
October 7, 2024
Jensen and Talia's story was quite captivating to read. Fast-passed which wasn't a negative. I actually enjoyed it and I'm thinking about reading the first book in the series!
November 23, 2025
‼️Do not read this if you are not into some crazy shit‼️
April 23, 2024
Looked forward to this as new to this author and loved what I have read so far. Talia and Jensen have a dramatic story start when he bids to rescue her from an auction. This starts their long journey as they reconnect 18 months later. No spoilers but this was a fun read with a generous side of spice. Very enjoyable and look forward to more for this author.
April 24, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥
Darkness Level: 🩶
Heat Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: contemporary romance
POV: Dual
Ending: HEA
I can’t get enough of this steamy story. Talia is a young college student who has lost her scholarship and needs quick money. She discovers Quinn, who works at a sex club, where she auctions her virginity for an insanely high price. Jensen buys her for the night, but he never planned on sleeping with her. He just wanted to save her. But she convinces him to stay and their night of passion has unintended results - Talia gets pregnant. She ends up going home for support and using the money to set up life for herself and her son instead of continuing school. She never expected to bump into her baby’s father, let alone find out he’s best friends with her dad. Whew! There are twists and turns and so much drama. But so much passion and love as well. Jensen learning to be a father is just so sweet. I never liked Quinn, not from the beginning. And I -loved- Roman, maybe more than the main characters lol. He was Jensen’s cellmate in prison and he is an absolute hoot. I couldn’t put this book down. I will absolutely have to go read the first book in this series. I highly recommend this!
I received a copy of the book from the author, but my review is entirely voluntary and honest.
My shelves/tags might be considered spoilers, so look at your own risk!
Tropes: second chance, billionaire, ex-con, virgin FMC, sex lessons, single mother, age gap, auction, hidden/mistaken identity, jealous/possessive, mine, stalking by MMC, one night stand, miscommunication, secret baby, third act breakup, touch her and die
Kinks: forbidden romance (dad’s best friend), baby girl, dirty talk, lactation, hand necklace, forced orgasms, face fucking, praise, sex toys, sybian
TW: sex work, stalking, OW/OM drama, pregnancy, SA (attempted, on page), violence, murder (historic), DV (side character, discussed)
Burn: 🔥🔥
Darkness Level: 🩶
Heat Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: contemporary romance
POV: Dual
Ending: HEA
I can’t get enough of this steamy story. Talia is a young college student who has lost her scholarship and needs quick money. She discovers Quinn, who works at a sex club, where she auctions her virginity for an insanely high price. Jensen buys her for the night, but he never planned on sleeping with her. He just wanted to save her. But she convinces him to stay and their night of passion has unintended results - Talia gets pregnant. She ends up going home for support and using the money to set up life for herself and her son instead of continuing school. She never expected to bump into her baby’s father, let alone find out he’s best friends with her dad. Whew! There are twists and turns and so much drama. But so much passion and love as well. Jensen learning to be a father is just so sweet. I never liked Quinn, not from the beginning. And I -loved- Roman, maybe more than the main characters lol. He was Jensen’s cellmate in prison and he is an absolute hoot. I couldn’t put this book down. I will absolutely have to go read the first book in this series. I highly recommend this!
I received a copy of the book from the author, but my review is entirely voluntary and honest.
My shelves/tags might be considered spoilers, so look at your own risk!
Tropes: second chance, billionaire, ex-con, virgin FMC, sex lessons, single mother, age gap, auction, hidden/mistaken identity, jealous/possessive, mine, stalking by MMC, one night stand, miscommunication, secret baby, third act breakup, touch her and die
Kinks: forbidden romance (dad’s best friend), baby girl, dirty talk, lactation, hand necklace, forced orgasms, face fucking, praise, sex toys, sybian
TW: sex work, stalking, OW/OM drama, pregnancy, SA (attempted, on page), violence, murder (historic), DV (side character, discussed)
August 20, 2024
4.75
First thank you to Stevie for the ARC. I loved this book for so many reasons my main reasons this book had Talia (FMC) and her family as Welsh and as someone who lives in Wales (although not welsh) it was fantastic to see Welsh words and phrases used. Another was one of the side characters was mentioned to have a Yorkshire accent which been born a Yorkshire girl made me love it even more. The book was fantastically written and the plot was amazing. Jensen (MMC) wasn't what I thought he was going to be which did surprise me. Despite the age gap Talia and Jensen to me were the perfect couple (age is just a number) Jensen stepped up and took care of both Talia and Felix and it made Swoon a little (ok alot). There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book.
Definitely a must read
First thank you to Stevie for the ARC. I loved this book for so many reasons my main reasons this book had Talia (FMC) and her family as Welsh and as someone who lives in Wales (although not welsh) it was fantastic to see Welsh words and phrases used. Another was one of the side characters was mentioned to have a Yorkshire accent which been born a Yorkshire girl made me love it even more. The book was fantastically written and the plot was amazing. Jensen (MMC) wasn't what I thought he was going to be which did surprise me. Despite the age gap Talia and Jensen to me were the perfect couple (age is just a number) Jensen stepped up and took care of both Talia and Felix and it made Swoon a little (ok alot). There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book.
Definitely a must read
February 14, 2025
This book had potential and I did enjoy it overall I'd say it's a solid 3.5 stars, but
I had some real issues with the early actions of the FMC.
18 year old student decides that auctioning her virginity to pay her university fees is a much better idea than asking her (very supportive, proud of her AND a multimillionaire) dad to pay. 🤦 She thinks it's better than telling him her grades weren't good enough to continue her scholarship. 🤦 Quote A lifetime of humiliation in exchange for a couple of hours of misery Why is it that humiliating to tell him? I appreciate it's a plot device but it would have been better to say Daddy couldn’t afford it, or wouldn't pay. And FAR less annoying.
She's not just naive, she's a reckless idiot.
Hero pays to save her from pervs but they end up having sex anyway. She gets pregnant. 18 months later, they meet again,surprise - he's her Dad's BFF yet they've never even seen a single photo of each other, much less met? Again, not plausible. These plot points let the story down.
Rest is pretty predictable. A misunderstanding deliberately created by someone else but ultimately a HEA.
Jay is just gorgeous and I loved him. However Talia's behaviour when they first met totally put me off. She acted like the stupidest heroine in any romance I've read. EVER. She definitely improved but I still think he deserved better.
Quinn is creepy as fuck. There are so many red flags and some are totally obvious. Apart from the note she-never-knew-existed, his convenient 3000 milecmove and his possessiveness and behaviour when they're only meant to be a friend, his hypocrisy about the sex club when he worked there and "recruited" girls for the auction. 🤢
That rant aside, it's definitely readable and I shall read the others in the series.
I had some real issues with the early actions of the FMC.
18 year old student decides that auctioning her virginity to pay her university fees is a much better idea than asking her (very supportive, proud of her AND a multimillionaire) dad to pay. 🤦 She thinks it's better than telling him her grades weren't good enough to continue her scholarship. 🤦 Quote A lifetime of humiliation in exchange for a couple of hours of misery Why is it that humiliating to tell him? I appreciate it's a plot device but it would have been better to say Daddy couldn’t afford it, or wouldn't pay. And FAR less annoying.
She's not just naive, she's a reckless idiot.
Hero pays to save her from pervs but they end up having sex anyway. She gets pregnant. 18 months later, they meet again,surprise - he's her Dad's BFF yet they've never even seen a single photo of each other, much less met? Again, not plausible. These plot points let the story down.
Rest is pretty predictable. A misunderstanding deliberately created by someone else but ultimately a HEA.
Jay is just gorgeous and I loved him. However Talia's behaviour when they first met totally put me off. She acted like the stupidest heroine in any romance I've read. EVER. She definitely improved but I still think he deserved better.
Quinn is creepy as fuck. There are so many red flags and some are totally obvious. Apart from the note she-never-knew-existed, his convenient 3000 milecmove and his possessiveness and behaviour when they're only meant to be a friend, his hypocrisy about the sex club when he worked there and "recruited" girls for the auction. 🤢
That rant aside, it's definitely readable and I shall read the others in the series.
April 25, 2024
Steamy and Intense
This age gap romance 💘 between 18 y/o Natalie Llewellyn and 40 y/o Jensen has the signature Sparks written all over it. It has the right combination of appealing characters, an interesting storyline, a little intrigue, a couple of mysteries, and a lot of smoldering scenes. It begins with Columbia premed student Talia whose poor grades will cost her, her scholarship…tuition for this UK resident is $100K! Her father is a millionaire, but she is too proud to ask for the money, so she seeks another means of getting the money…selling her VCard.
Although she’s having second thoughts about the auction, she soldiers on. Meeting with a business client, Scotsman Jensen is also present at the sleazy club when the auction takes place. He is aghast that a beautiful young woman is selling herself for one night. He offers the winning bid of $2 million to prevent any pervert for a night with her. He just wants to know why she did it, once he meets Talia backstage, and was glad to give her the money for nothing in exchange. Before he leaves, she offers “Jay” her innocence. Conflicted about their age difference, Jay still accepts. They have a wonderful night together, but that night has unintended consequences.
Read what happens next. What happened to the note that Jay left for Talia? Why does she have to return home? Why did he and his brother Rhys spend a decade in jail? What part does Roman, his prison cellmate, play in his life? Rather than spoil the surprises, I’ll simply add that there are a host of other important characters who are germane to the story: Talia’s father Euan Llewellyn, Jay’s aunt Alison, his cousin Aldous, and Talia’s classmate Quinn. Of them all, readers with find Roman very funny and intense. Enjoy this well written contemporary romance.
I have received an ARC from Booksprout and I am leaving an unbiased review voluntarily.
April 28, 2024
Desperate people often do desperate things, but sometimes they work out better than we could have expected…though it might a little time to get there. One thing I didn’t understand right off the bat, was why Talia didn’t want to ask her father for help after she lost her scholarship if he was wealthy as she claimed? Just to save some embarrassment, to not disappoint him? Surely, that’s what parents do, i.e. help their kids. In the end. she didn’t even enjoy the course she was on anyway. On the other hand, had she done so, she wouldn’t have met Jay. Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways and luckily Jay was in the right place at the right time. However, their incredibly hot night leaves Talia feeling abandoned, with a very tangible reminder of her first time. Now, I have to say I thought Quinn was an understanding friend and it wasn’t until she woke to find Jay gone that I started to feel he had some ulterior motives where Talia was concerned and a few alarm bells began clanging. When he followed her to the UK though, I began to feel uncomfortable whenever he touched her. However, fate steps in once again to reunite Talia and Jay, unfortunately at her father’s wedding, where she learns he’s her father’s best friend. Twists and turns follow, but once Jay learns he has a son, wild horses couldn’t keep him away. I thought Jay was a wonderful man from the start, but everything from his awe at the news of being a father, to the lessons he took from his friend on how to look after a baby, just melted my heart even more. Despite their involuntary separation, Talia and Jay’s chemistry was as strong as ever, and once all the misunderstandings have been cleared up, fences have been mended, the bad guys dispatched and peace restored, Talia, Jay and little Felix have everything they need to live happily ever after.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2024
Talia is in the US in her dream school of Columbia and about to lose her scholarship for her grades when she overhears someone mention how they got paid to sell their virginity. She figures if she is going to lose her vcard, she might as well make money to continue with her schooling as she is too embarrassed to let her father know that she is struggling. She is very nervous about it but it’s just 1 night and a 1-time deal.
Jensen is in the US on business and one of the clients takes him to a gentlemen’s club, but he didn’t realize it was an upscale sex club until he sees and hears the announcement for the Beautiful English Rose that is up for auction. He sees that she looks panicked and bids on her to save her and pays $2mil for all the perverts in the club to not be able to get their hands on her.
The two of them meet after the auction and Talia is very attracted and “Jay” as he calls himself is also very attracted but willing to walk away when Talia says she wants him. He tries to walk away still but she persists, and they have a magical evening together after “Jay” realizes that she was a virgin. Fate intervenes and when Talia wakes up the next morning “Jay” is gone. A couple weeks later, Talia realizes she is pregnant and returns home to London.
There is a time jump and of course Talia and Jensen come face to face and have to work everything out between them as well as some obstacles thrown in their paths. There are twists and turns, friendship/betrayal, some serious chemistry along with age gap, best friend’s daughter, and danger/stalking. Make sure you read the trigger warnings! This book had fantastic characters in it with both Talia and Jensen. But there were also a lot of side characters that were really interesting and contributed to the storyline as well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jensen is in the US on business and one of the clients takes him to a gentlemen’s club, but he didn’t realize it was an upscale sex club until he sees and hears the announcement for the Beautiful English Rose that is up for auction. He sees that she looks panicked and bids on her to save her and pays $2mil for all the perverts in the club to not be able to get their hands on her.
The two of them meet after the auction and Talia is very attracted and “Jay” as he calls himself is also very attracted but willing to walk away when Talia says she wants him. He tries to walk away still but she persists, and they have a magical evening together after “Jay” realizes that she was a virgin. Fate intervenes and when Talia wakes up the next morning “Jay” is gone. A couple weeks later, Talia realizes she is pregnant and returns home to London.
There is a time jump and of course Talia and Jensen come face to face and have to work everything out between them as well as some obstacles thrown in their paths. There are twists and turns, friendship/betrayal, some serious chemistry along with age gap, best friend’s daughter, and danger/stalking. Make sure you read the trigger warnings! This book had fantastic characters in it with both Talia and Jensen. But there were also a lot of side characters that were really interesting and contributed to the storyline as well.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 28, 2024
Read it now
I loved this story for many reasons. First being, that while our heroine, Talia , is young she isn’t stupid. She’s originally in America pursuing a degree using scholarships, but when her grades are failing and she knows she will lose it she has two options. She can ask her father for the money, which he has, or she can find a way to get it herself. Through listening to some students on campus she finds a young man that works at an adult club and asks him questions about the business. She later decides that she’s going to make a profit off her virginity so she can pay off her tuition and continue school. Jensen on the other hand is in the states for business. He goes to the club with a friend, and sees men bidding on Talia, but a deep sense within him forces him to bid until he wins her. He initially has no plans on sleeping with her, but things happen. Fast forward a bit, Talia finds out she’s pregnant, and makes the mature decision to return home so her father and sister can help her out because she’s under the impression that Jensen, who she knows as Jay, isn’t interested in her. They later reconnect during her father’s wedding, and Jensen/ Jay does everything he can to prove to Talia he wants to be there for her and his child.
I loved that Jensen, though not the most innocent of MMC, due to his past, instantly steps up to the plate with Talia and doesn’t let her persuade him to leave them alone. He gives great daddy vibes in all ways throughout the story, and I loved where he’s described as a protector. I enjoyed the dynamic between Jensen and Talia, how they communicated and navigated everything due to the age gap and distance it potentially could have caused in her family.
Ultimately, I enjoyed every sentence in this book, and have to now go read the rest of Stevie Sparks books.
I loved this story for many reasons. First being, that while our heroine, Talia , is young she isn’t stupid. She’s originally in America pursuing a degree using scholarships, but when her grades are failing and she knows she will lose it she has two options. She can ask her father for the money, which he has, or she can find a way to get it herself. Through listening to some students on campus she finds a young man that works at an adult club and asks him questions about the business. She later decides that she’s going to make a profit off her virginity so she can pay off her tuition and continue school. Jensen on the other hand is in the states for business. He goes to the club with a friend, and sees men bidding on Talia, but a deep sense within him forces him to bid until he wins her. He initially has no plans on sleeping with her, but things happen. Fast forward a bit, Talia finds out she’s pregnant, and makes the mature decision to return home so her father and sister can help her out because she’s under the impression that Jensen, who she knows as Jay, isn’t interested in her. They later reconnect during her father’s wedding, and Jensen/ Jay does everything he can to prove to Talia he wants to be there for her and his child.
I loved that Jensen, though not the most innocent of MMC, due to his past, instantly steps up to the plate with Talia and doesn’t let her persuade him to leave them alone. He gives great daddy vibes in all ways throughout the story, and I loved where he’s described as a protector. I enjoyed the dynamic between Jensen and Talia, how they communicated and navigated everything due to the age gap and distance it potentially could have caused in her family.
Ultimately, I enjoyed every sentence in this book, and have to now go read the rest of Stevie Sparks books.
April 22, 2024
Begins well with Talia, a young virgin needing money to pay her school fees getting involved in selling her v card in an auction at a sex club. This had the promise of being very interesting, however once the auction was over and the v card removed the plot became focused on the domesticity of parenting and little else (apart from various sex scenes). Yes, there was the constant threat from Quinn which gave life to the plot but that was just a minor thing until close to the end of the story.
I know this is fiction but I found a few things slightly incredulous, for example, Talia's endometriosis (seems to disappear after having a baby) and lack of contraception (many sufferers are given the Pill to help with symptoms). Jensen was supposed to be Scottish though apart from him declaring this and maybe using the term wee a couple of times no dialect was actually written, so you couldn't imagine the accent at all (well, you may have a better imagination than I do, or I need to hear the audio version being spoken by a Scots person). But don't forget I'm reading an advanced copy and these problems could disappear from the book by publication time.
Just so you know there are many tropes here: age gap, virgin FMC, secret baby, dads best friend, lactophillia to name a few. And you may need to heed any TWs the author offers.
Apart from that the story is well written, even if the plot is very thin, but if you're a fan of the dirty and the domestic this is for you.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I know this is fiction but I found a few things slightly incredulous, for example, Talia's endometriosis (seems to disappear after having a baby) and lack of contraception (many sufferers are given the Pill to help with symptoms). Jensen was supposed to be Scottish though apart from him declaring this and maybe using the term wee a couple of times no dialect was actually written, so you couldn't imagine the accent at all (well, you may have a better imagination than I do, or I need to hear the audio version being spoken by a Scots person). But don't forget I'm reading an advanced copy and these problems could disappear from the book by publication time.
Just so you know there are many tropes here: age gap, virgin FMC, secret baby, dads best friend, lactophillia to name a few. And you may need to heed any TWs the author offers.
Apart from that the story is well written, even if the plot is very thin, but if you're a fan of the dirty and the domestic this is for you.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 14, 2024
Stone’s throw is a story about a one night stand that results in a pregnancy. Our FMC is Talia a college med student in need of money to cover school. She decides to sell her v-card in order to obtain what she needs for school. She’s lucky that the guy who bought her for the night is sweet, caring, and a total gentleman. What could’ve been a disastrous first time was the total opposite due to Jensen’s caring nature.
Love how sweet and caring Jensen is always thinking of Talia and making sure that she felt comfortable with him. It was unfortunate that due to another characters actions he was under the misconception that Talia didn’t want anything to do with him. Thankfully by chance he gets another opportunity to be apart of her and his son’s life. He was shocked to learn about him but adapted quickly and took his role as a father seriously.
Love how caring and overprotective he is of them both and does his best to make sure that they are taken care of care of. He is the best dad to Felix and he takes lessons to learn how to be a hands on dad.
Talia is a little naive and it takes her a while to give in to Jensen but thanks to his persistence she learns to trust again. Once they decide to make it work and be together they have the best relationship. They both truly care for one another and when their relationship is put to the test, they work together to get through it.
⭐️4/5 Recommend
Love how sweet and caring Jensen is always thinking of Talia and making sure that she felt comfortable with him. It was unfortunate that due to another characters actions he was under the misconception that Talia didn’t want anything to do with him. Thankfully by chance he gets another opportunity to be apart of her and his son’s life. He was shocked to learn about him but adapted quickly and took his role as a father seriously.
Love how caring and overprotective he is of them both and does his best to make sure that they are taken care of care of. He is the best dad to Felix and he takes lessons to learn how to be a hands on dad.
Talia is a little naive and it takes her a while to give in to Jensen but thanks to his persistence she learns to trust again. Once they decide to make it work and be together they have the best relationship. They both truly care for one another and when their relationship is put to the test, they work together to get through it.
⭐️4/5 Recommend
February 6, 2025
15 chaps in and i just COULD NOT anymore
The characters are pissing me off
Maybe i’m petty but the first page itself put me off!
The author was trying too hard to come up with these very Oxford dictionary level words that when thrust into every line just makes you feel stupid esp when reading a age-gap, secret pregnancy book!
I’m not saying that i don’t understand them, i do, but i prefer reading shit that i can connect with and not feel like i’m in the middle of an ELS meeting
Oh and how tf is the MFL still nineteen after 18 months of her saying she’s turning nineteen in a week?
the maths is clearly not mathing
Very lacklustre, idk what the hype was about!
I literally saw like 3 diff pages talking about it.
It’s literally like every other age-gap, secret pregnancy book i’ve read!
There’s like a misunderstanding where the MFL thought MML left her after their night together and is distraught after finishing out she’s preggo. But in reality MML had left her a note!
Read like half the book but i still didn’t know who or how the MFL actually was other than the fact that she sold her virginity, was a mum and was totally lusting after a man twice her age!
Oh and the MML seemed like a spineless joke who just tagged along with everything!
The characters are pissing me off
Maybe i’m petty but the first page itself put me off!
The author was trying too hard to come up with these very Oxford dictionary level words that when thrust into every line just makes you feel stupid esp when reading a age-gap, secret pregnancy book!
I’m not saying that i don’t understand them, i do, but i prefer reading shit that i can connect with and not feel like i’m in the middle of an ELS meeting
Oh and how tf is the MFL still nineteen after 18 months of her saying she’s turning nineteen in a week?
the maths is clearly not mathing
Very lacklustre, idk what the hype was about!
I literally saw like 3 diff pages talking about it.
It’s literally like every other age-gap, secret pregnancy book i’ve read!
There’s like a misunderstanding where the MFL thought MML left her after their night together and is distraught after finishing out she’s preggo. But in reality MML had left her a note!
Read like half the book but i still didn’t know who or how the MFL actually was other than the fact that she sold her virginity, was a mum and was totally lusting after a man twice her age!
Oh and the MML seemed like a spineless joke who just tagged along with everything!
April 21, 2024
WOW, murder, revenge, secrets, love, action, steam and what a book you have. Very well written, full of everything to make you sit back and enjoy. This author has put together a fantastic story. Talia is a 18 year old woman in college to study medicine to become a doctor. Her grades are not doing well and she loses her scholarships. So she overhears how she can make some money to help pay for her classes, an auction. This is where she meets Jay, the man who buys her for the night to stop other men from getting her. Their first time together is hot and steamy. With a 20 year gap between them, Jay feels guilty but still wants to see her so he leave a letter and business card for her. Add in Quinn , who wants her for himself and also a baby and the story just keeps on getting better, Lots of happiness and sadness to be shared in this book when Jay and Talia meet up again. Really gives you everything that you need a fabulous read. Would strongly recommend to everyone.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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