Toxic: A Forbidden Romance

by Penny Blacwrite

First, it started off as a little fling for the then nineteen-year-old Imani Bleeker. It was advantageous, beneficial, and fun because it was something forbidden, something and someone she knew she had no business doing. A man who watched her grow up, a man who taught her how to fight, and a man who accompanied her to her sweet sixteen.

Deep down, Don "Greedy" Davidson, fifty-four, is disgusted with himself for fooling around with his goddaughter, Imani, but he can’t stop from falling in love with her beauty and timeless, familiar grace. Not to mention, over the last four years, Imani and Don’s intimacy has deepened, trapping them both into a web of lies and secrets.

Now, at the age of twenty-three and home from studying abroad, Imani has to put her big girl panties on and face the real world. For some reason, she thought she could continue her and Don's low maintenance, yet very rewarding relationship, from her being wined and dined and flewed out all across the world. She really thought she could just continue hunching this middle-aged man with no real strings attached. Silly little girl is in for a rude awakening when she learns just how serious Don is about solidifying and going public with their relationship.

Watch Imani and Don’s tight family circle disintegrate when their secret is revealed. And this whole time, Imani thought she was the only one with secrets. Just wait until you find out what the rest of the family—her mother, Bonita, and her father, Robert—have going on.

In true Penny Blacwrite fashion, the ending will blow your mind!

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 27, 2024

About the author

Penny Blacwrite burst onto the literary scene in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. With fourteen bestselling novels under her belt, she’s become a force in women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Best known for her hit series Charlie’s Angels, When a Wife’s Fed Up, and Toxic, Penny delivers gripping stories filled with jaw-dropping secrets, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and unforgettable endings. Her work boldly explores themes like age gaps, love triangles, polyamory, secret babies, steamy romance, and the complexities of modern relationships.

A proud Brooklyn native, Penny is a graduate of Howard University and a dedicated member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Deeply rooted in her Caribbean heritage—Barbadian and Jamaican—she finds joy in calypso, soca, and reggae music. When she’s not crafting her next page-turner, you’ll likely find her unwinding at the spa, soaking in a jacuzzi, or jet-setting to a Carnival celebration on a tropical island.

Reviews

[Crimson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm

This was a very messy, messy, messy book. When I hit around page 200, I was hollering. Baby, if y'all haven't read this book....do it. Just read the damn book!!!!!

[Quonesha Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Total cluster f***. There was so much going on and everyone in the book was trifling except for Rob, Dennis, and baby Zion. Imani was trifling, Don was trifling, Bonita was trifling, and Darren was trifling.

First of all, how can Don sleep with his best friend Rob’s daughter, who is actually is goddaughter KNOWING he was beating down her mom who is also his best friend’s wife, Bonita? How can Bonita, f*** on Don for all these years while married to Rob? She could’ve just divorced him instead of cheating all those years. How can she CONTINUE to have sex with Don even after finding out he was sleeping with her daughter? I hope her and Don are enjoying hell.

How can Imani be okay f****** on her old as god daddy and not realize he groomed her?

And lastly, how can Darren beat his mama’s ass like that?

LOL this book was a lot. I hate that Rob died but Bonita and Don deserved their one way tickets to hell.

[Brittany Mercer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was good, but the author failed miserably at delivering. All the characters were severely under developed. The brothers seemed to not really have a place. Imani had no depth. Bonita was trifling on so many levels, Rob was confusing and then then Don? How is it that Imani is sexually assaulted at Gun Point and the only reaction we get from her is being upset when the media finds out? That's a traumatic thing to go through and for the author to use that and by pass it as if it's nothing seems like a slap in the face to people who have experienced that.
Everyone is so superficial, childish and materialistic in this story. It's seems as though they only care about brands, money, cars and sex.
Everyone's character kept changing. Imani had attitude about people taking drugs, but then she's popping pills later. How or why did her view on drugs change?
There's so much contradictory moments in this book. There's also a lot of grammatical errors.
And for the life of me, I cannot understand why Don would kill himself BEFORE he even read the DNA results. And why would Bonita be so selfish and leave her kids behind?
The idea of this book was good, but it that's about it.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this story. Poor Rob I knew holding on to Bonita's secrets end the end I think he couldn't handle it anymore and finding out that he was sicker than he expect I think it wasn't an accident I think he took his life. Just like Don did after all if the Betrayal from the love of his life and the way he handle her secrets to realizing that getting back at Bonita only lead him to fall in love with her but the cliffhanger was him taking his life before he died not knowing I'm anni was not his daughter therefore he was not sleeping with his daughter. Happy that I man I decided not to out her brothers through all of the extra grief, betrayal and mothers dirty little secret. Bonita was indeed a love sick person to take her life after finding Don she didn't even think about how her sons would feel discovering they lost all of their parents were dead. Great story

[Briitta (Momma_Shligga) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, the messiness of this had me shook!

Toxic: A Forbidden Romance by Penny Blacwrite is exactly the kind of delicious, chaotic roller coaster I crave. From the very first chapter, I was pulled straight into the push-pull tension, the emotional wreckage, and the dangerously irresistible chemistry between the main characters.

Penny Blacwrite knows how to craft characters who are flawed, magnetic, and impossible to walk away from. Every decision they made had me yelling at the pages, but also flipping them faster because I needed to know what happened next. The intensity, the angst, the off-limits temptation, and the secrets finally revealed had my jaw open for most of the book.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys messy, forbidden love stories that keep you breathless until the final line.

[Mizz Jay Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay

I really wanted to love this book since it addresses some important societal issues. Also, I LOVE me a toxic MMC. However, the narrative felt disjointed. The character development was lacking, and some plot progressions did not make sense. One minute the MMC is acting older than his age and then he’s acting 20 the next. Overall, the plot was interesting, but I often struggled to believe the year in which the story was set, which significantly detracted from my enjoyment.

[Jessica Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Toxic, it is!

Don and Bonita needed therapy and an ass whooping. Imani - young and fast. Can’t call her dumb because sis got some motion but she def went after that man and shouldn’t have. And we know he should’ve kept that at bay knowing his previous relationship.

I only feel sorry for Rob and those boys and even Rob is a stretch because he knew what it was and stuck around.

This book had so many twists and turns and was beautifully written. I only gave it 4 stars because I just keep gritting my teeth from cringing. Eeeyuuukkkkk is all I kept screaming.

[Keisha Renny · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, I’m deducting half a star for the author spoiling the plot twist on FB while promoting her book. Girl, just post the synopsis and the link and move on lol.

Anyway; whew! This was a ride! Everybody in this book was trifling as hell and got what they deserved. But I do feel like the readers were left with questions. Cuz why did he think he was the father? And what happened to the mama

[Deborah Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow- Forbidden & Toxic

This book was intriguing from start to finish! Secrets have a way of be revealed! Imani and Don had no business being in a relationship for obvious reasons. I won't say the reason, as I don't want to give the story away! I will say that a lot of the issues and/or deceit began with Imani's mama and father. I enjoyed the ending, as the kids were not collateral damage and Imani understood her wrongs!

[Janmarie Boutte · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s in the name

Listen toxic ain’t a strong enough word for the events of this book. This is my first time reading this author and she did not disappoint. Don was toxicity at its finest and lacked emotional maturity. Imani was definitely the victim of old people and they secrets. Bonita was a wild girl honey. The secrets that unfold will leave your mouth wide open and your mind blown.

[Brenda Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! It took me a while to get thought this book. More my fault! Life! But any who! If I would of read this faster I think it would of gotten the 5 starts! It was interesting! It was easy for me to come back and still be interested after taking a break. Just as you may think it can't get any worse the cherry on top! I will definitely recommend!




Imani/Don/Bonita/Rob

[Candy Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kinda disgusted. And was the girl his daughter or not? The fool committed suicide thinking she was. Then, she had a baby by him. The mom was as much to blame as the Goddad. But him being petty made things worse.

[Mello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t even know what to say. This was wild & messy asf. My jaw is on the floor gimme a couple of days to pick it up, because boy wtf??? The ending had my flabbers gasted in a way that I didn’t know flabbers could gast …

[Kia :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow!!!

This book had my attention from beginning and till the end. Alot twist and turns literally
First book from this author I'm intrigued and want to read more books from her.

[Sharrie Kellam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toxic is an understatement

This book have my blood pressure up to the max degree!! But one thing I'm confused on Don results said he was the father and Imani said he wasn't so that left me bewildered!! Overall a good book!!!

[Christina Purefoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Messy Messy…

Baby the title of this was spot on! From the start to finish it was toxic in the most delicious ways… from forbidden romances, to hidden affairs & paternity questions I couldn’t put it down!!!

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew this book took me on a roller coaster and I loved every minute of it. Mouth was wide open the whole time. I just love a good story line.

[Kayla Tolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn this book was fire

Lies,lies and more lies. What else gonna happen? What else gonna come to light? Dang Bonita, what a very wicked web you’ve weave.

[LaurenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Plot!!!! Omg!!! I overly enjoyed this book!! Man I knew I didn’t like Bonita for a reason ! She was so wrong. I’m mad Don went out like that too!

[Breya Mallory · Rating 1 out of 5]

ummmmmmm..

I’m really at a loss for words. I’ll just say, not my cup of tea. Wasn’t really what I expected.

[Jada Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The MESSIEST book I have ever read. It just. . I—

[Junie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chewed my nails off with this one. I just want to scream 😱 🤦🏽‍♀️ so not the ending that I thought it was going to be 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

[Renee Booktok · Rating 4 out of 5]

whew chile

This book was messy ! Plot twist after plot twist. I can’t even begin to fathom myself in this situation

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messy AF!!!!