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Barely Controlled Restraint
I’m starting to think the sins I’ve committed are unforgivable. My last hope for redemption lies within the small town, White-Burrow.But when I meet Seth, his quest for vengeance ignites a fire in me that I didn’t know needed to be sparked.Will I be able to cast away this malevolent spirit within me? Or will it give me the strength to uncover the evils that are kept behind closed doors?
359 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 28, 2024
Barely Controlled Restraint absolutely crushed my soul in the way only a good book can. It tells the story of a teenage girl being brought up in a strict religious sect and her search to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. There is a lot of religious tr@üm@ and some @bûsë, so as always, check your triggers before reading.
Jenna is a seventeen year old who has been brought up in a deeply religious sect. The type where women do not work, have long hair, only wear skirts, etc. She has gone to live with her aunt and uncle for religious reflection and rehabilitation as she was deemed to be "too promiscuous" by her parents. Jenna makes her first real friends in her new town but has a nightmare of a home life.
Seth is brought up in the same cult, but no longer attends church and sees the blatant hypocrisy that is evident amongst the church members. He takes an interest in Jenna and becomes her protector.
This book did a great job of describing some horrible situations and realities that exist when people in power @bùsē the position they are in. It also shows that you never really know what goes on in small towns or in places that are supposed to be safe havens. I enjoyed the love story between Seth and Jenna so much and there was just enough spice! There were also plenty of plot twists to keep me wanting more. Definitely recommend this book!
🌶️🌶️/5
🔥Found Sisterhood/Family
🔥Slow Burn
🔥Small Town Romance
🔥Dark Romance
🔥Cûlt Vibes
🔥Protective MMC
🔥Religious Tr@üm@
Jenna is a seventeen year old who has been brought up in a deeply religious sect. The type where women do not work, have long hair, only wear skirts, etc. She has gone to live with her aunt and uncle for religious reflection and rehabilitation as she was deemed to be "too promiscuous" by her parents. Jenna makes her first real friends in her new town but has a nightmare of a home life.
Seth is brought up in the same cult, but no longer attends church and sees the blatant hypocrisy that is evident amongst the church members. He takes an interest in Jenna and becomes her protector.
This book did a great job of describing some horrible situations and realities that exist when people in power @bùsē the position they are in. It also shows that you never really know what goes on in small towns or in places that are supposed to be safe havens. I enjoyed the love story between Seth and Jenna so much and there was just enough spice! There were also plenty of plot twists to keep me wanting more. Definitely recommend this book!
🌶️🌶️/5
🔥Found Sisterhood/Family
🔥Slow Burn
🔥Small Town Romance
🔥Dark Romance
🔥Cûlt Vibes
🔥Protective MMC
🔥Religious Tr@üm@
April 17, 2024
Love it! I’m obsessed!!!
Barely Controlled Restraint by author Tilly Anne is a wild ride with lots of daring spice. Jenna's journey is both inspiring and exciting. A story of self-discovery with morally grey characters, all through the lens good and evil, Heaven and Hell, right and wrong. It’s easy to fall into Jenna’s life and find relatable moments of frustration and humor. Tilly Anne writes compelling relationships in the form of family bonds, love and lust, and sisterhood. This unpredictable story is written in a way that instantly hooks you with twists and drama and betrayal that will leave you shocked.
Barely Controlled Restraint by author Tilly Anne is a wild ride with lots of daring spice. Jenna's journey is both inspiring and exciting. A story of self-discovery with morally grey characters, all through the lens good and evil, Heaven and Hell, right and wrong. It’s easy to fall into Jenna’s life and find relatable moments of frustration and humor. Tilly Anne writes compelling relationships in the form of family bonds, love and lust, and sisterhood. This unpredictable story is written in a way that instantly hooks you with twists and drama and betrayal that will leave you shocked.
September 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and am glad to have dipped my toes into a dark romance novel, a genre which I have never read before.
The story centers around Jenna, a 17 year old religiously raised teenager who is forced to live with her aunt and uncle in a small town filled with super religious and judge mental people. She manages to make a few worthy friends and is getting out of her shell more, but at home, she gets abused by her uncle, and her aunt has no back bone. Her aunt is too timid to intervene, but her aunt is also caring to Jenna.
Soon, Jenna gets noticed by a guy named Seth who has a dark past, and he is pursuant in getting her all to himself, coming off as being possessive. Their chemistry is strong though, and Seth will do whatever it takes to protect Jenna from her terrible living situation.
I enjoyed this book very much and the author is great with words and her writing style.
The story centers around Jenna, a 17 year old religiously raised teenager who is forced to live with her aunt and uncle in a small town filled with super religious and judge mental people. She manages to make a few worthy friends and is getting out of her shell more, but at home, she gets abused by her uncle, and her aunt has no back bone. Her aunt is too timid to intervene, but her aunt is also caring to Jenna.
Soon, Jenna gets noticed by a guy named Seth who has a dark past, and he is pursuant in getting her all to himself, coming off as being possessive. Their chemistry is strong though, and Seth will do whatever it takes to protect Jenna from her terrible living situation.
I enjoyed this book very much and the author is great with words and her writing style.
June 10, 2024
You know a book is good when you read it in two days... I could not put this down! Tilly Anne is a master at weaving humor and lighthearted moments throughout heavy topics (like religious trauma, as depicted in Barely Controlled Restraint). This book follows our protagonist throughout her inspirational yet traumatic journey in a small town where generational abuse runs rampant and hides behind religion. The author didn't rely on your typical stereotypes to tell this story, as the characters came across as frighteningly realistic. The character development, writing, and pacing were spot on. I really enjoyed this story. The ending did not disappoint!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews