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Chasing The Forbidden Desire

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Abigail’s college life is going great, excelling in her degree path, when she meets a guy named Joey at a college party, who just so happens to live not too far away from her in her hometown. She’s reluctant to settle down with him because she likes to have different options, which ultimately leads to her attraction to the off-limits Joey’s father, Nick.

During her winter break home from college, Abigail finds herself growing in attraction to Nick each day. She is stuck deciding whether to choose her first interest, Joey, or his attractive father. Which path will she ultimately choose?

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2025

10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read

About the author

Deann Soleil

9 books86 followers
Deann Soleil is a self-published author based in Virginia who focuses on writing forbidden romances. When not writing, she is a full-time social worker who works with victims of community violence to help them overcome their traumatic experiences. 

If you’re looking for short, fast-paced books, then look no further. 

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5 stars
11 (27%)
4 stars
18 (45%)
3 stars
9 (22%)
2 stars
2 (5%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Korinna Romere.
93 reviews5 followers
December 2, 2025
I'm not going to say a whole lot because I don't want to be mean, but this book was definitely not for me.

I'm not a fan of the writing style. It's very mild and favors more towards telling instead of showing. The whole book just feels like, "I did this and then I'm going to do this and then this and then I say this and he says this back to me," and so on and so on. It took me almost an entire month to read this.

The premise of the book is fine, but it was not executed well. I don't feel that the characters are likeable. There's not much depth to any of them. I full hate the FMC. There were a million other ways to handle the situations she got herself into and she chose the worst path every time.

Not good read for me.
Profile Image for Samiha Ahmad.
10 reviews
May 31, 2025
ARC REVIEW

Rating: 4/5
Spice Level: 3.5/5
Tropes: Forbidden Love · Age Gap · Boyfriend's Dad


I’ll be very honest. I picked up this book for the tropes. My absolute favorites: forbidden love, age gap, and the ultimate scandal, boyfriend’s dad.

But then I saw "cheating" listed in the trigger warnings, and it immediately turned me off. I can accept a lot of things in fiction, but cheating? It’s a hard limit for me. I didn’t read the book for an entire day. Then I pushed myself to give it a shot.

And you know what? I didn't regret it.

Initially, I assumed Joey would be the one to cheat (sorry, Joey), but I was wrong. By Chapter 15, I was completely hooked and actually rooting for Abigail and Joey. Their connection was intense, but they were moving way too fast.

Then I remembered, Daddy Nick hadn’t even entered yet! And he's the actual MMC. I was almost a third into the book, wondering where he was. But when he finally showed up... damn. His charm blew me away.

---

Abigail: A strong, complex woman with trauma and commitment issues. She frustrated me at times, but I appreciated her honesty and growth. She says what she feels, and she owns it. I loved that about her. Also minor spoiler I had a feeling who might cheat first... and I wasn’t wrong. But since it wasn’t a committed relationship, I could let it go.

Nick: Twenty years older, and I get why Abigail was drawn to him. He’s hot, supportive, caring, emotionally mature, and yes, good in bed. Bonus points: he’s a math professor who might spank you with a ruler.

Joey: Surprisingly amazing. He has the most growth out of everyone—transforms from a careless f*ckboy to a man who genuinely wants commitment. Sweet, supportive, and actually a great partner. I rooted for him... until I didn’t.

What I loved most? Both men made Abigail feel seen and beautiful. She’s curvy and insecure, but they lifted her up with both words and actions. Joey calling her “beautiful”? Instant swoon.

---

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Nick should’ve entered the story earlier. As the main male lead, he deserved more chapters and a quicker introduction.

Abigail didn’t get justice. Her abuser deserved consequences, and it felt unfinished.

The emotional reveal about her past? I wanted dialogue and real-time reactions, not just narration. That moment deserved more weight.

---

Final Thoughts:

Despite a rocky start, this book won me over. It's a messy, emotional, and addictive love triangle with real character development and emotional weight. While it didn't hit 5 stars for me, I still highly recommend it for fans of older men, student/teacher tension, curvy FMCs, and emotionally layered romance.
Profile Image for The Book Ssirren.
1,300 reviews59 followers
November 17, 2025
This was a great age gap, story. Abby meets Joey at a party one night when her friend Michelle convinces her to put down the studying for just one night and go enjoy herself.
so she decides to go.
her and Joey hit it off from the beginning. they've only known each other for brief amount of time but Joey wants something more serious. but due to past trauma, Abby isn't interested in a relationship.
fast forward to Christmas break they both decide to to visit each other's parents since they live close to one another.
Abby ends up being attracted to Joey's dad, Nick.
things move forward, Abby and Nick hook up. so now she's got to tell Joey because she doesn't want to be with him she wants his dad.
I can totally see how things like this happen. but I severely disliked Abby for this. I feel like to a degree she was using her past trauma as an excuse. and Nicks dad. dude really? do you have any respect for your son?
both Abby and Nick disgusted me. I felt so bad fi
or Joey. he was a great guy all the way around. and neither of them deserved to have him in their life.
I'm giving four stars because I feel like the last 30-40% of the book felt rushed. I feel like so much time and description was put into the beginning, but the last part was just rushed through. I would've liked to have had more description and detail throughout that last leg of the book.
but overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I can't wait for my next read from Deann ❤️
Profile Image for Jessica Benard.
93 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2025
I was given the opportunity for an advance copy of this book, thank you Deann. Here is my honest review.

⭐️Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️Spice 🌶️🌶️.5
✔️Tropes : boyfriend’s dad, age gap, forbidden.
⚠️Triggers - please check before reading. There is some cheating and I know it’s not for everyone.

This book is in 1st person and has three point of views. 🙌🏼 we love to see what everyone is thinking.

Abigail meets Joey at a college party and it’s an instant connection. Over winter break they travel to their hometown and spend the break with their families. When Joey brings Abby home to meet his dad, Nick,….. tension starts building for not only Abby but Nick.

My personal opinion is that I found Abby slightly annoying. I kept asking myself is this her trauma and wanting attention or is she just looking to toy with Joey. Abby had mentioned she had a type and liked older guys. She had the perfect chance to stop playing with emotions but she continued to toy with them. It’s drove my crazy but in a decent way. Towards the end she grew on me.

Joey Joey Joey. This man is the perfect guy and hook boyfriend. Sweet, attentive, hot, etc. my heart hurt for him but I was so happy for the ending.
Nick was a great addition to the story. He had my attention from the get go. He is also very supportive and I liked his bond with his son, Joey.

Overall a cute quick read. Thank you again.
Profile Image for Patsy.
405 reviews20 followers
June 1, 2025
Tropes/Triggers:
Sexual Assault
Hypersexuality after Assault
Mentions of Suicide
Alcohol Abuse
Mental Health Challenges
Cheating
Death of a Loved One
Boyfriend’s Father
Age Gap
Forbidden Love
Sworn off Relationships (FMC)
Love Triangle

This book was complex with just the right amount of spice and it was delicious. I absolutely loved the characters Abigail, Joey and Nick. Just when I was sitting there kind of thinking about Abigail and Joey in walked Nick and he was just so darn captivating.

Abigail was an interesting character. Her past traumas made her very insecure about a lot of things. I liked the raw vulnerability of this character.

Joey in a lot of ways had my heart. He was just carefree and reckless in the beginning. However, underneath it all, as time went on.He just genuinely wanted somebody to love and to love him back.

But sometimes we save the best for last and to me that was Nick. There's something so appealing about his character. He has this depth inside of him that just who's the ultimate partner. Is everything a girl could want and need.

This book definitely makes you look at relationships and scratch your head while sweating and breathing heavy all at the same time. I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Kristina Brutsch.
58 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2025
What to expect:
Age gap
Forbidden romance
Boyfriend's dad

At the start of the book, Abigail goes through a sexual assault that leads her to spiral in life with men. She doesn't exactly have relationships but instead has sexual encounters with men because of what happened to her.

Her friend Michelle convinces her to go to a party and she meets Joey. Something about him is different compared to the other men in her life and they continue to get to know one another over winter break. They meet one another's families, but she somehow is instantly attracted to Joey's father, Nick.

Abigail gifts Nick a present and they start a hidden friendship behind Joey's back, which eventually becomes something more. It's completely inappropriate and wrong, but they can't seem to help their feelings for one another.

Overall, Abigail's story started with a horrible experience and I wish she had gotten justice. Even though it played a factor in why she was the way she was. It doesn't justify going after your boyfriend's father. Abigail is playing a dangerous game. Who do you think she ends up choosing, Joey or Nick?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nikki B..
841 reviews17 followers
June 11, 2025
Chasing the Forbidden Desire is an age gap, boyfriend's dad, forbidden romance.
Abigail is a college student that hits the books hard and maintains her good grades. She decides to attend a party with a friend, which is out of the norm for her. She meets Joey and they hit it off right off the bat. Abby and Joey have a pretty great relationship, but it was moving pretty fast. They decided to meet each others parents, even though its's pretty early in the relationship, over Christmas break. And that's when she meets Nick, Joey's dad. From the moment she meets Nick, she can't stop thinking about him. And there in lies the problem.
Now, I did not enjoy Abby's character at all. I couldn't connect with her and she really frustrated me. I did like Joey. His character portrayed a playboy ready to change his ways and Abby is the one that makes him want to do that. It showed character growth and maturity, whereas Abby was kind of all over the place.
I enjoyed the story, but I don't think this one was really for. The plot itself is interesting though.
16 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2025
Tropes: Boyfriend's Dad, Age-Gap, Forbidden Romance
Trigger Warnings: Talk of previous sexual assault
Spice: 3/5

I received this book via ARC and thought it was pretty good. I will say that for me, this was a pretty short/quick read which led way to my main issue in that there wasn't enough time to have good character relationship development and a good transition into the FMC going from her boyfriend to the boyfriend's dad. I did love how protective the boyfriend's dad was of the FMC and how well her past was explained to give a background of why she acted the way she did. I'm not a huge fan of the cheating tropes, especially when the "victim" of the cheating didn't really do anything wrong, but this was written well enough that I didn't hate it. If you're looking for a quick, not too dark, age gap romance, this is the one.
Profile Image for Em.
267 reviews4 followers
June 10, 2025
📚✨ Chasing The Forbidden Desire by Deann Soleil
⭐️ 3/5 | 🌶️ 2/5

⚠️ Please check the trigger warnings before diving in—this book tackles some heavy topics right from the start and doesn't hold back.

Despite a rocky beginning, this book definitely won me over. It's messy, emotional, and addictive—in the best kind of way. If you're into chaotic love triangles with real emotional stakes, this one's for you.

I read this as an ARC and thought it was pretty solid overall! It's a shorter, quick read, which worked for pacing but left me wishing for deeper relationship development. Still, the characters do grow, and I was surprised how invested I got by the end.

#Bookstagram #RomanceReads #LoveTriangleDrama #QuickRead #DeannSoleil #ARCReview #RomanceBooks #EmotionalReads #SpicyBookTok #MessyRomance #BookReview #IndieRomance #RomanceWithDepth
Profile Image for Rhea Vynn.
Author 7 books120 followers
August 23, 2025
Chasing the Forbidden Desire is an Age Gap, Forbidden Love, spicy little number and is my first introduction to Deann Soleil's stories. It definitely won't be my last.

When first introduced to Abigail, I found a connection with her which surprised me, and when she met Joey I immediately thought, oh great, this will never work. Joey surprised me though, and he grew on me fairly quickly. I loved how their relationship grew, even quickly, and was definitely rooting for them. Until Nick enters the chat. Ooo Nick, he's mature and he knows what he wants. I wish we would have gotten a bit more with him. I did find myself caught between a rock and a hard place when it came to Nick and Joey. My heart felt for Joey, big time, which was the aspect of the book I was worried I might struggle with.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot!

Spice: 3/5



Profile Image for Janelle Sequin.
289 reviews40 followers
May 23, 2025
ARC Review

This was my first book by Deann Solei at first I wasn’t really sure what to except of this book as it was my first one but I really loved it.

Abigail was a college student who had a dark past that she was dealing with and she wasn’t really interested in dating as she was interested in focusing on college until she met Joey they started talking and getting to know each other and see where things went.

They went home for winter break and met each others families and hung out while they were back home as they where from the same town. Things changed between Abigail and Joey when she met his father Nick and they developed feelings for each other.

Writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Robin ferguson.
211 reviews6 followers
April 26, 2025
Abigail, Joey and Joey's father Nick and this story is a Forbidden romance .

Abby and Joey met a college party.  They hit it off from the beginning.  They ended up hanging out and talking, the actual find out that they are from the same home town and both ended up going to the same college.  He definitely isn't the settling down type but something about her draws him in.

I will say that Abby did frustrate me in this book but all and all I really did enjoy it. It was a good read and I would suggest it to others. 
Profile Image for Nancie Blume.
659 reviews11 followers
May 13, 2025
I had zero idea what this book was about, but buckle up, folks, it's a crazy ride. Abigail and Joey had a thing, but his daddy set her ablaze 🔥. I felt the agony of Abigail and Nick, stuck between not wanting to hurt Joey and following their hearts... but Nick was the best choice, being able to understand her and the issues she struggled with from being sexually assaulted when she was younger, as well as being able to help her career wise, because let's be real, who doesn't love a guy who's good for your career and your therapy sessions.
Profile Image for Busychapterbelle.
59 reviews4 followers
May 10, 2025
This is my second book by Deann Soleil and she’s definitely done it again. She hooks me in right away. Abigail seems like your typical “nose in the books” college kid. One night going to a party gives us a look from a different view. Her and Joey were a perfect match. That is until she meets his dad. It quickly becomes a love triangle you don’t see often. I enjoyed the way this book was written out. The conclusion was a great ending. Very unpredictable.
4 reviews
June 2, 2025
I received this book as an Arc copy and it was so much fun to read! This book is a bold and emotionally charged read that dives into complex attraction and personal choices. Abigail is a relatable and confident lead, and her journey is both compelling and thought-provoking. The tension between heart and desire is palpable, and the story handles a taboo subject with surprising depth. Perfect for readers who enjoy romance with a twist and plenty of emotional stakes.
Profile Image for Amber.
289 reviews15 followers
August 13, 2025
hot hot hot

I went into this book blind , not knowing what was to come … boy oh boy …. Dad kink unlocked !!!
Forbidden love
Love triangle
Age gap
Bf dad
I totally loved Joey and Abigail she was sweet and so was he but he made some immature mistakes that caused abi to stray..
Both nick and Joey were amazing men and sweet to her and she was a lucky woman to have them in her life..
Profile Image for Alisha Pascual.
325 reviews25 followers
June 1, 2025
This was a fast faced, taboo story with an age gap. This story was okay. I think if there was a little more detail and senarios that happened I think it would’ve made me like Abby more. Her back and forth between Nick and Joey and how she didn’t explain things thouroughly was a little frustrating. I liked how on the end both Abby and Joey got a happy ending though.
Profile Image for Brittany Hull.
96 reviews4 followers
December 1, 2025
Steamy, fun quick read set over college winter break, perfect for this cold snowy season! The hometown hottie from college and the delicious Daddy both have eyes for our girl Abigail, and it got me hot under the collar watching her war with herself over who to choose❤️‍🔥🥵 Fast paced, spicy, and full of swoon-worthy moments!
Profile Image for Hilary Litz.
210 reviews15 followers
June 1, 2025
Great forbidden read!

This was a great forbidden read. This story was written really well. Abby did frustrate me a little but I loved her by the end. I think she and Nick are perfect together and I hope Joey gets a book of his own!
269 reviews4 followers
June 8, 2025
Lots of spice! It’s a good book. Interesting storyline between the MFC and her situationship and his father. I did think that her past was going to find her again but was pleasantly surprised on what happened. Good read and enjoyed it
Profile Image for Frankie Bell.
528 reviews17 followers
November 27, 2025
I devoured and did a couple of reads of this book!!! If anyone is looking for a forbidden romance with drama and all the other goodies that makes you giggle and swoon highly highly recommend this book!!!
Profile Image for Kayla T.
445 reviews9 followers
May 4, 2025
Tropes:
❄️ Boyfriend’s Father
❄️ Age Gap
❄️ Love Triangle
❄️ Sworn off Relationships
❄️ Curvy FMC
7 reviews
May 11, 2025
Omg! This book is amazing! Very easy to read. If you like forbidden romance this needs to be your next read! Highly recommend! Can’t wait to see what else comes from this author!
Profile Image for Mariah Flores.
165 reviews14 followers
May 12, 2025
This is a quick fast paced love triangle between: Joey, Abigail, and Joeys dad Nick!

Tropes:

Boyfriends Dad
Love Triangle
Age Gap
Forbidden romance
Profile Image for tessa richards.
103 reviews4 followers
May 15, 2025
this was so taboo and cute. honestly didn't think that would be something I would say. I usually read darker things but sometimes something cute is needed. absolutely loved this.
Profile Image for Dayton.
492 reviews5 followers
June 2, 2025
Deann does it again!

This was a great read! The tropes were top tier and written so well!

I was hooked from the start!!

You’ll want to read this, trust me!
Profile Image for Keri.
23 reviews7 followers
July 2, 2025
Absolutely loved this, I've been in a reading slump the past week and this book has broke me put out if.
Highly recommend ❤️
Profile Image for Jenny Lessig.
13 reviews
November 28, 2025
What a remarkable story! Chasing that desire is always a taboo specially when it's forbidden. Absolutely gorgeous. Definitely be looking into more of her books!
293 reviews6 followers
January 6, 2026
this book kept me on my toes the entire time. I loved the way the book started and it kept the same feel to it the entire time
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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