Entwined

by Ava Milns

Entwined (Book One in the Enveloped series) is a dark romance novel that delves into the complex relationship between 18-year-old Alexandra "Alex" Cunningham, a billionaire child genius, and Matthew Michaels, a 40-year-old piano prodigy. Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City and the elite world of the Cunningham family, the story explores themes of forbidden love, power dynamics, and the search for acceptance.

Alex, a gifted physicist with a passion for renewable energy, crosses paths with Matthew at her gym. Despite their significant age gap, Alex is irresistibly drawn to Matthew's commanding presence and his carefree philosophy on life. As their relationship deepens into a romantic and BDSM dynamic, Alex finds in Matthew the father figure she never had, while Matthew envisions a family life, for which he has longed, with Alex.

As they navigate societal judgment and familial disapproval, Alex struggles to balance her ambition, love life and judgment. Her groundbreaking project promises to revolutionize wind energy, yet the pressures from her family's expectations, society and Matthew's ongoing divorce cast shadows over their burgeoning romance. When tension and misunderstanding threaten to tear them apart, Alex is forced to confront her deepest fears and desires.

This book contains sexual scenes, BDSM content, elements of obsession and emotional manipulation, family drama, and violence. For a comprehensive list of content and trigger warnings, please visit my website.

608 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2024

About the author

Hi! I'm Ava Milns.

Welcome to my world of Dark Romance, where complex emotions intertwine with taboo themes and raw intensity.

How did I get here? I’m an introvert and a recluse, often seen as weak and lacking courage. But I am also dark and complex, with a mind that has been conjuring up worlds and stories since an early age. These realms, populated by real people and places from my life, became my sanctuary, offering comfort, protection, and a sense of belonging.

In these imaginative worlds, I found my true home. They helped me function in reality. As I grew up, I began to create these worlds intentionally, seeking refuge in the elaborate and vivid stories that consumed me. Now, I channel my passion into stories that explore the boundaries of desire, pain, and love.

I laugh, cry, fight, rejoice, and mourn with my characters. I love some and hate others. My own doppelgänger in these stories amazes, pleases, tortures, and terrifies me. Attempts to be that person in the real world led me deeper into my imaginative realms, where morality blurs and the heart’s darkest desires unfold.

In reality, I am a lonely person in a family that views me as emotionless, reserved, and slow. Yet, in my stories, I am alive, my emotions raw and real. I converse with my characters more than I do with others. I write to memorialize these worlds and characters, hoping to share them with readers.

I hope you explore these worlds, meet the characters, and experience their stories. I hope you find meaning, warmth, and impact. I hope you laugh, cry, hate, love, forgive, and punish alongside them. I seek company as I relive and explore these worlds anew.

I am based in New Jersey and New York, where many of my worlds and stories were conceived. My day job has taken me to various countries, infusing my stories with diverse flavors, colors, and characters from these beautiful places.

Love, Ava Milns

Reviews

[thekatz_meoww · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to know what happens next

This book was so incredibly well written throughout that unless the FMC was throwing a toddler tantrum I would forget that she was so young. It was interesting to read the development of the relationship between the FMC and MMC…in all honesty I couldn’t stand the FMC the first part of the book like who cries that much about everything?? Or her legs constantly giving out on her…she should probably get that checked out…but as soon as I hit the 60% mark I could not put this book down!! And that curveball thrown at the end I was so unbelievably proud of the FMC and how she stood on business that I cannot wait to see where she goes from here and how she grows as a person. I will admit that I really struggled with the wording of the spicy scenes it was almost clinical in a way and not verbage used today…even the dialogue would throw me off to where I found myself eventually just skipping over those parts because it just weirded me out. Overall will probably be reading the next book to see how everything pans out 💜💜

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This a new author for me. She wrote the story perfectly. It has everything that I like in a book. It has the age gap, forbidden romance, protective/jealous mmc, good girl praise and the spice. I honestly couldn’t put the book down.

[Sakura Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5/5

This book was amazing. Nowadays I don't really read longer than 300 pages books so this was definitely a chunky one but gosh did it worth every second if it!

Going through an emotional period, the dedication alone pulled me in and then I wasn't going anywhere. The young FMC, the age gap, the way towards the end of the book she stands up for herself a bit more. The support from the MMC... gosh! give it to me all!

Diving into book 2 like instantly cuz I neeeeed more of this world and characters.

ps: Have you any idea how difficult it is to write spoiler-free reviews of amazing books?

[Téa Arney · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a dark romance girlie then you will DEVOUR this one!

This is a beautiful love story between Matthew and Alex. It is an age gap, dark romance.

Let me start my saying I loved how Ava made sure to give out the trigger warnings for this book! So before reading I do recommend that you take a look at those even if you love Dark Romances. I am very thankful for this otherwise I may not have read it. Dark romance is a new genre for me that I’m slowly getting into.

Entwined follows the story of young Alex, who is a recent Harvard grad. This girl is hella smart and watching her story within the company she works for and building her projects amazes me. Alex is just a girl who wishes for some kind of praise for her accomplishments rather than being compared to that of her brothers. Matthew is the man to who gives her just that plus some. He looks out for her and cares for her amidst his divorce.

Their meet cute is in a gym and her father learns of the man (who is much older) is hanging with his daughter and requires her to have weekly check ins with her brother because he does not approve of their relationship because of their reputation.

I’ll be honest there were parts in the spicier scenes that got to be too much for me at points but the storyline was amazing that I allowed myself to skip over those parts (really just when it was a very detailed BDSM scene). I really loved the story and wanted to see where it went rather than getting stuck in those moments. This story is beautifully written!!

I will also say there were moments where I wanted to yell at the FMC in the first half of the book because girl you are an adult, you have a fabulous job and man that wants you so please quit acting like a toddler because he didn’t give you the response you wanted I felt that she was very whiny compared to him in how they both spoke to each other. But it helped with the story, it kept a reminder of the age difference. In all honesty I would have completely forgotten about the age difference if it weren’t for that because of how well the book is written.

It is sweet how much Matthew cares for Alex even in the midst of everything going on. He is always reassuring her in ways she needs to and standing up for her.

The ending definitely shocked me. I was not anticipating that all. I’m hoping for another book to follow up with this because I need to know what happens next!

[Romita Mukherjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rollercoaster ride this book was!

When I skimmed through the tropes and trigger warnings of the book, I had no idea that this book was going to be such an intense read. The myriads of emotions this book evoked in me were an experience in itself.

Alex and Matthews journey throughout this book was like an awakening. Their story jumped straight into the instalove trope, which kind of irked me in the beginning. However, as the story unfolded, I was completely captivated by the way the author has explored the fine threads of concepts like age-gap romance, the dom-sub angle in romantic relationships, societal pressure, and much more.

I really appreciate the way the author has conveyed the mind, emotional maturity, and thought processes of both the characters. The maturity of someone who is 40 years old and the whimsical feelings of a teenager have been contrasted well in the story, and that, according to me, added an authentic touch to the story.

The world build-up was good, the characters evoked the perfect emotions they were supposed to evoke, and that ending, which I was not prepared for at all, added meaningful dimensions to the story. Honestly, I can’t wait to read the next part in the series because I am sure it’s going to wreck me again just like this one.

I would definitely suggest you all read this one; however, there are a lot of sensitive topics and triggers in the book, which are mentioned below:

Explicit sexual content, dominance/submission, physical and emotional abuse, emotional manipulation, violence and murder, power imbalance, infidelity, age disparity, surveillance, sexual assault.

Do check these out, and if you are not triggered by these, you can definitely give this book a go.

P.S.: I will not recommend this book for young readers.

[Spiced Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entwined 🌹

Rating: 🖤🖤🖤
Characters: 🖤🖤🖤
Plot: 🖤🖤🖤
Readability: 🖤🖤🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The book was a fun read, with plenty of spicy scenes to keep me entertained. There was a decent smut to plot ratio, exploring Alex's work and Matthew's marriage on the rocks as well as family drama. It was beautifully narrated, almost like a poem. While the book didn't wow me, it was definitely a fun read!

The reason why I am giving it three stars is as followed: Some of the sentences and scenes were very long, and I had to reread them multiple times for the meaning to sink in. Especially with the fancy / difficult words sprinkled in between. Now, this makes sense seeing as Alex is a genius, but it slowed down my reading speed majorly and I had to take much more breaks than I normally had. I think simplifying it a little bit would have made the book an easier read. My brain basically overheated due to too much information at times. And this really effected my reading enjoyment, dropping it from a four star to a three star read.

The character of Matthew was great, I really loved the reasoning behind him being a daddy and his history. His personality really stood out to me. However, I was having a bit of issues with Alex. At some times, she felt too perfect. Smart, attractive, centre of attention. At those moments it felt like she had no flaws, and that irked me a little. And then at other times, she gave a full blown temper tantrum. This felt a little out of balance, the tantrums seemingly coming out of nowhere. It would have been nice if Alex's personality was a little bit more balanced. For every two good traits, one bad trait. There either were too much emotions or not enough. She was crying a lot too, which at some point became a little bothersome and made me think 'again?'.

Another thing that I noticed was that the author repeats some sentences a lot, for example: regarding Alex's legs or Matthew's nose. While this was cute at the start, it became noticeable that it was repeated again and again around 30% through the book. It became a pattern.

That being said, I have to give my compliments on the BDSM part of the book. It felt genuine and real, with safe words and after care. It really felt like the research was done well. It worked great with the plot and really added to it. Matthew really felt like a daddy, which was very comfortable to read. Alex was a bit of a hit or miss, at times she truly felt like a little, but at other times she was bordering on toxic.
This threw the dynamic off a little bit.

It was a lengthy read, around 700 pages long. I was prepared for this, but it felt much longer. It could have done with a few scenes less, a little shorter, to create a better reading flow. I don't mind the length, the reading flow simply was not there for such a lengthy read.
Sometimes it felt like words and scenes added for the sake of it being longer, and that was such a shame.

Something that I really liked was the way that the spice scenes were described. It gave a good image of what was happening and there were enough details to really make the scene feel alive. There was emotion in it, passion, heat. Sometimes a little too lengthy, but other than that, they were really well done and comfortable to read!

All with all, the book didn't wow me but it was definitely a fun read!
There is so much protentional, with the author having a very descriptive and poetic writing style. I really hope that they keep improving, because I think there is something there that can become amazing.

[Roxie Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexandra Cunningham looks like somebody who has it all. An eighteen-year-old genius, born into privilege, she was pushed through education. Graduating at a young age with a prestigious degree, she's now working for her father's empire, destined to revolutionise her chosen field and make a difference in the world.
Except, Alex is at a crossroad in her life. Ahead of her is the path expected of her - marriage to a suitable match, continued work for her family empire, and being paraded as an extension of her family accomplishments.
After negotiating two years grace from her family to experience her own life, she meets a man at her gym, instantly drawn to Matthew, convinced he can offer her the things she is missing from life.
Matthew is twenty-two years older than Alex, and currently separating from his wife. There is no logic behind them being together, but Alex is desperate to be with him.
Their relationship progresses, and they’re drawn into a BDSM lifestyle, and Matthew becomes a father figure for her, acting as Daddy and vowing to take care of her every need. They carry on despite the many obstacles they have between them, facing scrutiny from society and Alex’s family especially due to their age difference, his previous marriage, as well as their social backgrounds.
The story itself is very well written. It explores the dynamics of their relationship, Alex’s background and relationship with her family members, as well as their work, particularly Alex’s. Matthew is clear about his intentions and what he will provide. Alex is clearly talented and a genius, but her inexperience with loving relationships shows - this is something I think well written and suited her character; she was raised at a distance by her family, paraded as an accomplishment rather than a beloved daughter, it is not surprising the way she reacts to situations, and the story contains an underlying jealousy between both characters.
I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. It is a long read given it dives into many different topics. It’s heavy on the spice, but this is used as plot rather than for the sake of writing spice. The story contains consensual but rough BDSM scenes (including the relevant aftercare) and other topics.
The author is clear on the website about the trigger warnings in the book. If you are a reader who does have triggers, I’d strongly advise reading the TW list before reading, but if you’re comfortable with the TW listing, you’re in for a heck of a ride.
Part one of a series, I’m looking forward to the next one!

[Jessica Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

*edit DNF at 52%


This started out as a okay story. Alexandra is a genius with photographic memory who just graduated Harvard at 18. She lives on her own and goes to the gym regularly where she meets Matthew, a 40 year old married man. She starts to try to pursue him and learns he’s about to file for divorce. He is very respectful at the beginning, not really touching her or letting things get physical as he is still married and Alex is 22 years younger than him.
Alex is book smart, not really relationship smart or that mature. When Matthew does decide to pursue Alex, he is very aggressive and tells her that he will hurt her but never harm her, he never tells her what he’s into or what she can expect he just dives in and a lot of the time he seems manipulative and controlling, not the good/fun kind, it’s like he’s taking advantage of her age and her naivety. Their first sexual encounter he tells her you can do one of two things, endure the pain and euphoria or say the safe word and I will stop, I will be very disappointed in you if you do use it though. Which to me was my first red flag.

Their relationship continues into him caring about her and praising her while he navigates his divorce and she becomes motivated by his praise and does better at work. I constantly feel whiplash between these characters as the next in person interaction they have that is sexual starts with him immediately stepping into her house angry with her that she didn’t clean out the closet he told her to. He punished her sexually and then put her in the closet with her hands handcuffed behind her back, tells her not to come out and closed the door. He leaves her in there for a while he goes and does other things, she keeps falling in and out of sleep while in the closet. She finally wakes to the smell of food and asks her “daddy” to come to the closet. He throws open the door and says what do you want. She doesn’t say anything so he pulls her to her feet and then undoes the handcuffs to handcuff her arms to the coat bar above her head then goes down on her and after she finishes he leaves and closes her into the closet again!

I’m not trying to yuk anyone’s yum and I have only ever struggled and got triggered by one other book so nothing really bothers me but this is hard for me to get through, I wish he would be more caring after being so rough and not leave her in a closet for god knows how long, that’s damaging (at least in my head) This is a LONG book, about a 12-14 hour read and I’m at about 30% so I’m committed to finish this book! I shall update my review hopefully if I can finish this book.

[Priyanshi Borad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:

Entwined follows the intense and complicated relationship between Alex Cunningham, a successful entrepreneur, and Matthew Michaels, a pianist with a chaotic past. Their connection grows amidst personal and professional obstacles, exploring themes of power dynamics, emotional vulnerability, and societal pressures. The chemistry between Alex and Matthew is undeniable, and as their relationship deepens, both characters confront their darker desires and struggles. The emotional depth and authenticity of their bond kept me hooked from the start.

The book is a rollercoaster of emotions, full of unexpected twists and moments that will make your heart ache. I loved how the author balanced love, ambition, and emotional turmoil, making every moment feel earned. As their relationship evolves, Alex and Matthew’s journey is filled with growth, pain, and strength.

Overall, Entwined is a must-read for dark romance lovers who enjoy a deep, emotional story with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this book!

Key Tropes:

❤️ Age Gap Romance
❤️ Emotional and Psychological Conflict
❤️ Family Expectations
❤️ Slow Burn Romance

Trigger Warnings:

❤️ Explicit sexual content
❤️ Emotional manipulation
❤️ Power imbalance in relationships
❤️ Themes of infidelity and divorce

Closing Thought:

Can they truly find healing in each other, or will their pasts and vulnerabilities destroy everything they’ve built?

[Ashlynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava so generously shared this amazing book with me and I couldn’t put it down. It was giving age gap, forbidden love, protection/jealousy, and praise kinks.

Alex is an 18 year old Havard Grad genius who spends a lot of time working for her father. However, her father constantly compares her to her brothers and Alex longs to be loved and praised for all of her accomplishments.

Matthew is a 40 year old man who is a piano gooru and going through a divorce. When Alex and Matthew are at the gym their eyes meet and cannot be pulled away.

Their relationship grows into more and BDSM is brought in. Matthew becomes more like a father figure to Alex. The BDSM aspect of this read was very well written and I throughly enjoyed those scenes.

Matthew looks at Alex as the most perfect person. Whereas the families if the two looks at each other very differently. There is family drama but I felt like it all fit together. It brought you out of the book and made it feel like a reality as well. Matthew cares for Alex so much and it is super sweet! He is constantly reassuring her and standing up for her.

I loved how well written this book was! It not only made reading this book better but it also helped me see Alex grow in so many ways. In the beginning Alex had a lot of emotions that are seen regularly (and at a few times I rolled my eyes, get to together girl!) but by the end of the book I felt like she blossomed in herself.

But that ending?! WOW! I didn’t see that coming.

PLEASE read the trigger warnings.

[Maelana Nightingale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duet will live rent-free in my head for a long time. While it does end in a mostly-HEA, the journey there is anything but simple.

Ava Milns does an incredible job putting the reader inside the mind of a young FMC who, for many reasons, didn’t have traditional socialization growing up. She’s sheltered, a little naïve about the real world, and starved for both emotional and physical touch—along with compassionate guidance. When she finally finds that, she clings to it.

The MMC isn’t perfect. He makes one poor choice that sends cascading ripples through many lives, and in the end, everyone loses something.

Many of you know I have strong opinions about how the kink community is portrayed in fiction. Here, the BDSM/D-s dynamic feels like a natural, realistic evolution of the relationship. While there’s no on-page negotiation, contracting, or formal limit-setting, there is absolutely clear on-page consent (both explicit and dubious), a safeword, and aftercare. The MMC’s description of his first dynamic is particularly authentic and rings true.

The trigger warnings could be many for some readers. Personally, the cheating hit me hardest. As an author who has written graphic sadomasochism, violence, alcoholism, and self-harm, those elements didn’t land as heavily for me—but they are present. Protect your mental health.

If you’re looking for a story that makes you think and pulls you deep into the raw, realistic emotions of broken, fragile characters, this duet delivers.

[Katherine M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled between making this a 3 or 4 rating. I enjoyed a lot of it but there are issues for me. First of all, this book is long. About 700 pages and I found myself skimming through a lot that I felt was unneeded. I also was not settled reading this because I constantly was waiting for the shoe to drop. I knew this either would not end well or major things would happen to them. This is a story about an 18 year old genius with a photographic memory and a 40 year man she meets, who is married at the time. He eventually gets divorced though. I love the daddy/submissive context. What I don’t love is how emotionally stunted she is for being a genius. She’s always crying, whining, complaining and it got worse. She begged him for months to move forward in their relationship and when he finally agrees she’s like oh my god it’s too fast. I think he deserves much better. I think she needs to date people her age because their relationship is not mature and healthy because of her. At first, she is mature in her thinking but then her character backtracks into acting like a 12 year old. I can’t stand the family dynamics either. Honestly, the best part was the MMC, although I also don’t agree with his choice to continue with what he was doing that caused their demise. I don’t know, I still feel unsettled after reading this and it just ended abruptly. I don’t see how they could get a happy ending after this.

[D.G. Keene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark, Intense, and Addictive Romance

Entwined is a bold and gripping dark romance that dives deep into power, obsession, and emotional struggle. Alexandra "Alex" Cunningham, an 18-year-old prodigy, has her life planned out—until she meets Matthew Michaels, a 40-year-old piano genius with a complicated past. Their connection is intense and unconventional, quickly turning into a relationship built on control, desire, and an emotional depth that neither of them fully expects. Their dynamic, layered with BDSM and psychological complexity, is not for the faint of heart—Milns crafts it in a way that feels deeply personal.

What makes this book stand out is how well it blends romance with personal conflict. Alex is torn between her ambition, her family’s expectations, and her love for Matthew, while he battles his own demons, including a messy divorce. Their relationship is passionate, complicated, and at times uncomfortable, but that’s what makes it so compelling. The age gap and power dynamics won’t be for everyone, but they’re written with depth, making the story feel real rather than forced.

Ava Milns' writing is smooth and immersive, creating tension without unnecessary drama. The romance is dark and challenging, but if you enjoy stories with complex characters and high emotional stakes, Entwined is a must-read. I’m excited to see where Alex and Matthew’s story goes next!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“‘You look beautiful.’
Not how Matthew compliments me. He says, you’re beautiful.”

For me, relating to an analytical character whose career revolves around numbers and data is tough, but I can relate to one who’s in love. And Alex is fully, completely in love with Matthew, even though he’s over twenty years her senior.

Avan Milns’ portrayal of the contrast between Alex in regular life and Alex with Matthew is brilliant. There is a carefully executed play between three versions of Alex: analytical, logical Alex, frustrated daughter Alex, and wildly reckless in love Alex.

“I’m unmoored, adrift in a sea of sensation, no longer certain where I end and he begins, caught in the tide of overwhelming passion that he controls like a maestro.”

Alex is sometimes silly and spoiled, sometimes sweet, and sometimes so poignantly intellectual, it’s stunning. But I found myself asking, who is this young women becoming with Matthew? Could her family be right about him being all kinds of wrong for her?

Put aside a good space of time to get wrapped up in the sensory storm that is “Entwined,” because it’s lengthy but worth it. Please be sure to read the content warnings before you read. This is a very spicy, age-gap romance.

[Smutty Professor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entwined is a dark romance that pulled me into the complicated world of Alexandra "Alex" Cunningham and Matthew Michaels, with its age-gap dynamic, intense power play, and emotion.

Alex, an 18-year-old genius, is a fascinating FMC- both analytical and vulnerable. Her need for love and acceptance beyond her accomplishments is relatable, and watching her relationship with Matthew, a 40-year-old piano prodigy, was thrilling and frustrating in the best way. Their connection is instant, obsessive, and filled with tension, but the way it develops over time makes it feel earned.

Matthew is undeniably dominant and protective, bringing a strong BDSM element into the story. At times, his intensity felt overwhelming, but his devotion to Alex won me over. Their relationship is messy, passionate, and full of jealousy, which made for an addictive read. The miscommunication trope isn’t my favorite, but it really helped set up the next book, which I am now dying to read.

This is perfect for those who enjoy dark, taboo romances with power dynamics, spice, and emotional depth- Entwined is definitely worth your time. Just be sure to check the content warnings since this book doesn’t hold back!

[Michelle Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally skip extreme age gap books - Alex the FMC is 18 and Matthew the MMC is 40 - but I was so intrigued by the characters bio's in the blurb I took a chance a jumped in. While it was hard to identify with Alex through much of the book - I thought her character was well thought out and portrayed on the pages for us. She's a genius (and man the author really wrote some great "science stuff" for us too), but she has been controlled and shown off by her family, but never really loved for most of her life. Matthew is ending a marriage while he's starting his relationship with Alex. The power dynamic between Alex and Matthew as well as Alex and the various members of her family was really well developed and about 60% in the book I really started to like Alex more and cheer for this relationship. There is some spice - and Matthew introduces Alex to BDSM- but not so much that it took away from the story. There were a few plot twists that I didn't see coming at all! And the cliff hanger at the end! Whew - can't wait to read book 2! Def check out those triggers

[Kendra Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a spicy book! There is no shortage of this, so consider that your warning. Once the relationship between Alex and Matthew actually starting to develop it quickly became obsessive for the both of them. Jealousy was so bad it was hard for them to witness interactions, likely propelled somewhat by the 22yr age gap. Each of them had ideals of what the other was permitted to do. The relationship also turned to a dom/sub situation where Matthew took care of her needs and when Alex disagreed her temper would flare and she would be an absolute brat. Along the way there got to be seeds doubt on where this would end for Alex. Could their love make it despite her family's objection and all the obstacles they had to overcome? Or were they doomed without the support? I think it got a fitting ending, but I think a little bit from Matthew's POV at the ending would have been perfect.

[Ashley Hobsonreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOO BOY. Now I will caveat this by saying I haven’t read an age gap romance before so this definitely felt like an absolute eye opener.

Ava Milns absolutely sucked me into this story with her beautiful writing and her deep dive into many different difficult topics. It’s very very spicy but isn’t thrown in for fun as it’s quite important to the plot and to Alex and Matthew’s relationship. It’s full of twists and turns and surprises and you never have a dull moment in the pages of this book. Considering how long the book is I haven’t felt like it was laboured to read and I actually had to mute notifications on my phone as I was getting distracted from reading the last few chapters and just wanted to focus. This is a brilliant book but please ensure you read the trigger warnings on her website before you do. Can’t wait for the sequel which is out very very soon!

[alexis.rae.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entwined is a dark romance filled with spice, jealousy and family drama.

The story follows Alex and Matthew. Alex is a genius who is eighteen years old. Matthew is a piano teacher and is going through a divorce. He is also twenty two years older than her.

Alex locks eyes with Matthew at the gym. She is instantly attracted to him. The two get to talking and form a friendship, which eventually leads to a relationship. I like how the author had them form an emotional connection first.

They have to deal with societal pressures because of their taboo relationship. This causes a lot of turmoil between the two.

I do feel like Alex was very immature in the beginning of the story when it came to her relationship with Matthew. She was a little too jealous and possessive of him. I also felt like she put a lot of pressure on Matthew when it came to his divorce.

I do like that Matthew was there to take care and protect Alex. They formed a beautiful connection.

I do feel like the author did a good job on the BDSM aspect of this book. I also enjoyed the daddy and sub dynamic between the two.

The story does end on a slight cliffhanger. Reader be warned your heart will definitely hurt for Alex.

If you like dark and taboo romances filled with lots of drama. This one's for you.

Rating 3.5/5
Spice: 4/5

Thank you to the author for a copy of this title.

[Scotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will not yuck someone's yum, but the Constant calling herself a little girl was not for me. I am all for saying daddy in the heat of the moment, but all the time was not for me. I get some people into it, just not for me. I dont like DNFing, so I pushed thru because I did really like the story line, it just moved slowly.

Alex is an 18 year old with definite daddy issues who fall for a 40 year old who is in a failing marriage. Her very prominent family is against it and will stop at nothing to stop the relationship. It had twists and turns and obstacles in their relationship, but will they overcome everything. I gave it 3 stars but definitely will be reading book 2 to see if it gets better and where it goes from here.

[Kristen Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entwined follows eighteen year old Alex Cunningham, who already has graduated college, and Matthew Michaels, a married pianist.

Matthew, soon to be divorced, after his wife lies to him about something he truly wants, finds everything he's ever wanted in Alex, and Alex finds everything she's ever wanted in Matthew.

The chemistry between both Alex and Matthew is undeniable. As their relationship grows, so does the chemistry. but both soon need to face some struggles between family and society itself.

This book is an age gap trope, a 'daddy' romance, that leaves you wondering if their love for each other is enough to drown the whispers of their age and, ultimately, their dark secrets.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to naughtynookpr and the author for a copy!!

this is my first book by this author, and I don't regret reading this!!
this is a much different book than I usually read, and I am pleasantly surprised!

the relationship between the main characters develops throughout the book. there were parts in the book when talking about certain scenes that were a little confusing to me, but I don't think that took away from the story at all.

I do hope to get the physical copy of this book since it have a physical copy of book 2! also, i can't wait to see how she grows as a person in the next book!!

[Ashley Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from start to finish, and it's not a short read! The deep-rooted daddy issues, age gap, manipulation, obsession, family drama, and Matthew's pending divorce all combined to create such a great story. Her longing to feel love and acceptance from her family beyond her achievements was truly heartbreaking.
Despite having everything most people dream of, all she wanted was love and genuine support. I found myself reading it every chance I got. The writing was beautiful, and I absolutely loved it. ❤️

[Kalene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finally finished this book. I got an ARC copy of this and I was so impressed. I could not stop reading when I started and it was so hard to get myself to stop so I could go to bed at night lol. Alex and Matthews story was amazing and the last chapter had me in tears. This was well written and my first age gap story. Thank you for the opportunity to read this Ava! This was an honor to read a book by an author I had just discovered I can't wait to read the next book in the series when I can

[SheReads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got this book for free in kindle store. It started interesting but then I found myself skipping pages. Even with the skipping, I didn't lose the plot. Bc I read the last 5ish% I figured let me read the second book, I have kindle unlimited, and I wanted to see if the next book gets better. Well again I skipped pages for the next book, bc the characters were just too much. They were all toxic, wishy washy, and felt like a never ending cycle. And the epilogue just strengthen my views on these books, and was glad I didn't invest so much reading time on them.

[Kathrine Sylvain · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storyline really showcased the emotional pull that the main character went through. I found myself feeling all the passion-desire-frustration-need to be loved that Alex struggled with. Author Ava Milns writes in such a way that captivates you and is easy to follow along with. I found once that I put the book down I had to pick it right back up. One of my fastest reads for 2024. This is not a short read. It is one that you can enjoy for a while with a lot of flavors of spice added.

[Natalie’s_world_in_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book One in the Enveloped series

Loved this book!
I couldn’t put it down! Definitely a new author for me!
Beautifully written 💜
If you love these tropes

* Age Gap Romance
* Obsessed Heroine
* Father Figure and D/s
* Instalove & Instalust
* Jealousy and Possessiveness
* BDSM
* Family Drama
* Who Hurt You
* Emotional and Psychological Conflict
* Billionaire Romance
* Challenges of the Elite
* Alpha Male

You’ll love this book! 📖

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Jeeeez this book is a ride. For sure read the trigger warnings. This book is dark and heavy on the Daddy/LG (she is 18 don't worry).

The progression of the relationship between Alex and Matthew was done so well. Its definitely insta-lust but not insta-love- there was a lot of progression to that stage which I liked. Alex for sure shows her immaturity in life and relationships, even though she is a genius and already a college graduate. But it works for thier relationship.

The ending though- heart hurting for sure.

[Alisha Pascual · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting the book with a heartbreaking 💔 scene was not expected. Alexs’ situation is very unique, who & what she is. Being her and being so young she is mature but not at the same time, and finding Matthew was a whole experience for her. I loved their story, it gave you all the feels and more. I loved how Alex navigated throughout the story with herself and her relationship with Matthew. Loved! 💕🩷

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF’d at 41%. There was SO MUCH info and descriptions and I just couldn’t get into it. I think the premise of the story was great and I was looking forward to the read. I just couldn’t get into it enough to finish it. That’s just my opinion. I did enjoy the writing style and the way the story was heading. Please read and see for yourself though, because ava milns has some talent.