Never Gonna Lie

The Forbidden

by Luna Peters

Raven

I’ve been in love with my dad’s best friend for as long as I can remember. When things start going wrong, he steps in to protect me, but will this bring us closer together? Or will my love always be unrequited?

James

One kiss changed everything for me. She went from being my best friend’s daughter to… more. Her life is in danger, and I need to keep her safe. Can I keep myself from crossing a line, or will I happily walk into the fire and burn with her?

Never Gonna Lie is not intended for anyone under the age of 18

Genres: Romance, Forbidden Romance, Dark Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Forbidden Love

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2025

Reviews

[nicklein · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little treat

[Karlee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much Naughty nook PR & Luna Peters for this ARC. Never Gonna Lie is book 2 in the Forbidden series. I absolutely devoured this 😍🤤 Raven a 20 year old girl knows James her entire life due to being her dad’s best friend. Like we already know it’s going to be good with those tropes plssss 👀
Raven is extremely mature for her age and has always had eyes on James as a little crush but as she gets older she notices James more and more, and of course James does as well. I loved the storyline how the characters evolve and understand each other as well. This was a quick & fast paced read and the spice was HOTTTTT sheeshhh, just perfection. Just like the first book the suspenseful events make these books so hard to put down and adds a thriller aspect as well. I won’t give any spoilers you’ll just have to read yourself 😉

Tropes:
💚age-gap (20/36)
🖤dads best friend
💚forbidden
🖤virgin FMC
💚degradation
🖤BDSM
💚possessive MMC

“The Eve to my Adam. The forbidden fruit I’m not allowed to touch or taste but desperately crave.”

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC Review!

•Age Gap
•Dads Best Friend
•She falls first
•Possessive MMC
•Degradation Kink

This the second book in the Forbidden Series and it is a little bit darker than the first one. The taboo romance of falling for your dad's best friend(or best friends daughter, depending on POV) intense. The slow build to the spice was well worth it.

Can we have a moment for Theo? I can't wait for his story!

[Sarah LaFata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was soooooo good!! Of course, it had one of my favorite tropes! Forbidden age-gap romance and Dad’s best friend! I adored James and Raven. I just felt they were meant to be! This book got me from the first word and I was hooked!!! Luna is an extremely talented author!!! There were twists and turns in this book I never saw coming! I’d most definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR!

[Jenelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ giving this for the twist at the end and for the fact that I did like the characters when they weren't having sex lol

I honestly hate "daddy" in sex and just found it all very cringe worthy. There were also editorial errors in this one like the first (which again I try not to judge too hard for lesser known authors, but still sucks to see)

Taking a break from these. Might read Theo in the future, but not for now

[bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute light beach read

daddy/pretty girl + age gap = 🫠🤍

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters

What a deliciously spicy contemporary forbidden romance this was! I knew I would devour it. I mean, the MMC looks like Dr. McSteamy, come on!
There’s something about a forbidden romance that appeals to me immensely, and this one was no exception.

Poor Raven has been in love with James forever, and he didn’t even see her until that birthday party, seeing her as an adult in that beautiful white dress… lust to love. It was definitely a very physical relationship for a good part of the book, but I think James had been lying to himself for a long time too.

Some favorite moments:

“She’s ruined me, and she doesn’t even know it. I down the rest of my drink, desperately wishing the night of Raven’s birthday had never happened.”
“Green. Always green with you,” she breathes out. My chest aches at her words, and I have to stop the urge to rub where she hit me — my heart.”
“Kissing her felt like coming home, like it was the most natural thing to do, and when I tasted her…”


Tropes 💋🔥

• Dad’s Best Friend

• Age Gap (20/36)

• Forbidden Romance

• Jealous & Possessive Alpha

• Billionaire Romance

• BDSM

⭐️ 4 stars
🌶️ 3.5 chili peppers


Thank you @naughtynookpr and @luna_peters_author for the review copy, all opinions are my own.

[Brianas.bookhaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love:
💚 Age Gap
💚 Dads Best Friend
💚 Forced proximity
💚 Billionaire
💚 Virgin FMC

I give Raven credit she knew what she wanted and she wanted James and refused to give up.
James tried to stay away but he couldn’t, the mouth on this man had me weak in the knees.

[Nichole Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shewww! I highly enjoyed this book. I'm a sucker for a silver fox, and Daddy James was definitely giving those vibes. Plus, the mouth on that man! To some he may have started out as a jerk, but I really think his attitude was fitting, especially beings Raven is much younger, and his best friend’s daughter. He tried his hardest to fight the chemistry, but it was just inevitable. The banter between the two of them was perfect. I also enjoyed the banter between James and his friends and between Raven and Mia. The plot twist was so so good. I definitely did not expect it at all! I was shocked. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series. I already have a thing for Theo!

[Whatkatie.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy sh*t!! Can I please give this book more stars?!
it's no surprise. I'm a huge fan of Lunas and that i devoured and loved Never Let Go, but can we just take a minute to appreciate how incredible her new book is? I never wanted it to end, and OH.MY.GOD, that twist! I am shook. As much as I love Caleb from NLG, he will never be James Smith. That man is perfection.
Touching on his history and how it has made him the way he his was truly well written.
i could go on and on and on about how good this book is but if you haven't had the privilege of ARC reading it like I have I strongly suggest buying it when it's released on 18th September!!!!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. There is an age gap and it’s written well so it’s not uncomfortable or weird. You can see that Raven is very naive and younger but it worked with James and how he is as a character. He is very protective. They had intense chemistry and it shows especially in the spicy scenes.

Ps-The books are interconnected but can be read stand alone.

[Val]

DNF 22%
James Gives me the ick
Already too many mentions of how much of a whore he is

[Sarah Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶️🥵

[Gina Betancourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️ “You’re the air that breathes life into me. The fire to my ice. The angel to my demon. You are everything, Raven Carter, and I love you with every single part of my existence.”

Okay, first things first… this book was INSANELY entertaining. 😭 Despite all my frustrations with certain parts of it, I genuinely could not stop reading. I flew through this book ridiculously fast because I constantly needed to know what was going to happen next. And THAT plot twist??? Absolutely insane. The funniest part is it was exactly what I was hoping for. I was literally praying the psycho was who I thought it was, so when everything finally started unfolding I was sitting there feeling vindicated as hell. 🤭 And honestly, this ending already has me excited for the next books in the series because I have a very strong feeling we’re about to see a certain someone’s dad with a certain someone’s best friend… and if that happens? Oh I will absolutely be seated. 😭🤞🏽

Now before I start dragging James a little bit, I do need to give that man his credit because despite ALL my gripes with him throughout this book… he truly redeems himself in the end in a very spectacular way. 😭 By the final stretch, I finally understood the vision and why Raven loved him as hard as she did.

One thing I’ve really grown to appreciate about this series is the friendship dynamic between all the guys. Their banter is genuinely one of the best parts of these books. Every group scene was entertaining because they actually feel like real friends with history instead of random side characters filling space. Theo and James especially had such a believable brother-like relationship, and I honestly loved seeing that softer side of James come out with him.

I also think the mystery element was handled way better in this book than in the previous one, and I’ll definitely give the author her flowers for that. I appreciated that she actually let the tension and chemistry build before immediately throwing the characters into bed together. We didn’t really start getting heavy spice until later on, and I honestly liked that because it gave us angst, buildup, and anticipation first. The flashback scenes especially were some of my favorites because they helped establish the connection between Raven and James in a way that felt more emotional and believable.

NOW… with that being said… 😭

The word “daddy” was used entirely too much for me. Like at first? Fine. I understood the vibe. But after a while combined with all the degradation, it honestly just became repetitive and cringey. The spicy scenes were genuinely good in the beginning, but eventually I was rolling my eyes because it felt like every single scene followed the exact same formula. And don’t get me wrong honey, the spice was definitely SPICING 👀 but at a certain point I desperately needed these people to have one normal hookup without somebody being called a slut every five seconds. PLEASE. 😭

And honestly, my biggest struggle with this book was James himself. Raven saying he gave her whiplash was the most accurate statement in the entire story because that man was giving ALL of us whiplash. 😭 I know the author warns us from the start that he’s selfish and emotionally detached, but some of his actions genuinely crossed the line for me. Sleeping with your best friend’s daughter — who is sixteen years younger than you — after she confesses she’s deeply in love with you, while you supposedly don’t feel the same way, is actually insane behavior when you sit and think about it.

What made it even harder for me to connect with him was how contradictory he constantly was. One second he’s acting possessive and obsessed with Raven, and the next he’s telling people she’s “just a nice girl,” saying he doesn’t have feelings for her, calling her “a means to an end,” and even admitting he originally started sleeping with her to get back at her father… who is supposedly his best friend. Like huh??? 😭 And it would maybe be easier to ignore if those things were only said out loud, but some of it was literally in his internal monologue. So it made it difficult at times to fully buy into the romance because I genuinely struggled to understand what he actually felt versus what the book wanted me to believe he felt.

Overall though, this book was still ridiculously bingeable and entertaining. The mystery kept me hooked, the friendships carried so many scenes, and even when I was frustrated, I was never bored. And honestly? That alone says a lot.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect
Age gap
Dad’s best friend
Forbidden romance
Billionaire romance
Jealous, possessive alpha MMC
V!rg!n FMC
Degr@g@t!on
Mental health rep
Secret Society
Broken hero
Found family
Secret past
Duel POV
Enemies to lovers
Power play
Forced proximity
Bodyguard
Please check the trigger one page your mental health matter matters

“SHE'S CREPT INTO MY LIFE LIKE
A SHADOW AND BREATHED
LIFE INTO ME.”

“One more time little girl, and I’ll put you across my f**king knee and sm@ck you a** so raw, you can’t sit down for a week.”

“ nothing in life thats worth it is easy, pretty girl. You just have to figure out what’s worth fighting for and roll with it.”

“PEOPLE ARESTRANGE, BABY. YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND YOUR PEOPLE AND STICK WITH THEM."

Our FMC has been in love with her dads best friend who is very much older and a playboy. James.
When he shows up for her 19th birthday, but then rushes out early she decides to check on him. With some flirty moments, she takes her chance and kisses him. He says it was a mistake after, leaving her heartbroken. So they decide to stay away from each other. After a few years, he sees her again and is done by her beauty and this undeniable tension Builds up. When Raven‘s life is endangered, he basically becomes her bodyguard, not wanting anything to happen to her, not wanting to cross that line again. But super attracted to each other still, the tension is scorching.🔥🔥🔥
Loved ravens and her father‘s relationship reminded me so much of my own.
James and Raven were undeniable 🥵
I can’t wait to see what Luna peters has next! This series is so fantastic 🔥

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
📕: Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters
Why you’ll love this book!!
Dad's Best Friend
Age Gap (20/36)
Forbidden 
BDSM
Jealous and Possessive Alpha 
Virgin FMC
Billionaire Romance
I loved this book from beginning to end if I had time I would have read it in one setting but real life.. This is my first book by Luna Peters and it will not be the last! Raven and James forbidden love drew me in their chemistry and the suspense of these two was amazing. This is Fathers best friend / age gap trope and this book hit it out of the park with this trope in my opinion!!

[SammyGinge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven has always had a thing for her dad’s friend and colleague, James (the playboy). One kiss sparks the flame and it would seem the two are inevitable. An attempt on Raven’s life drives her into James’ protection where it’s scorching! Add in Luna’s dark elements for a twist I did not see coming.

[Susana Casaca]

Cheguei aos 40% e não aguento mais. Queria mesmo gostar deste livro e fiz um esforço para continuar, mas simplesmente não consigo.

A primeira coisa que me está a irritar é a estrutura dos POVs. Acontece uma coisa num capítulo e, no seguinte, muda para o POV da outra personagem… mas, em vez de continuar a história, volta atrás para mostrar exatamente o mesmo momento. O problema nem é voltar atrás. O problema é que o primeiro POV acaba por dar um mini spoiler do capítulo seguinte. Mostram quatro ou cinco frases do que vai acontecer, fico completamente curiosa e a pensar “what the fuck?”, e depois o capítulo seguinte faz rewind para mostrar como se chegou àquele momento. Quando finalmente lá chega, já perdi parte do impacto porque já sabia, mais ou menos, o que ia acontecer. Se esta estrutura estivesse melhor escrita, talvez funcionasse, mas aqui só quebra o ritmo da leitura.

Depois, a escrita em si deixa muito a desejar. Não diria que é propriamente infantil, mas é muito apressada. Falta profundidade, falta emoção, falta sentimento. Sinto que tudo acontece demasiado depressa e nunca tenho tempo para criar ligação às personagens ou ao que elas estão a viver.

O MMC também não convence minimamente. Era suposto ser um homem na casa dos trinta, acho que tem 36 ou 37 anos, mas fala, pensa e reage como um adolescente. Nunca senti que estivesse a ler sobre um adulto.

Já a FMC é o completo oposto… ou melhor, depende do capítulo. Há momentos em que parece bastante madura e, de repente, passa a agir como uma miúda … simplesmente não resultam para mim.

Por isso, aos 40%, decidi dar DNF.

Curiosamente, continuo com alguma curiosidade para saber o que acontece a seguir. O que acontece por volta dos 40% desperta interesse e faz querer saber como a história vai acabar. Mas, para mim, isso não é suficiente para continuar. Sei que, se insistir, a escrita vai continuar a irritar-me da mesma forma. E isso acaba por estragar qualquer curiosidade que possa ter pelo enredo. É pena, porque acredito genuinamente que, com uma escrita mais cuidada, mais profunda e mais bem construída, este podia ter sido um livro de que eu gostasse muito.

Odeio abandonar livros. Sempre sinto que, de alguma forma, estou a falhar com a história ou com o livro, mesmo sabendo que isso não faz sentido. Mas quando um livro começa a irritar-me, sei que dificilmente o vou conseguir terminar. Pior ainda, fico a adiar a próxima leitura porque continuo presa naquele livro que já não quero ler, e isso acaba por me deixar num reading slump durante imenso tempo. Por isso, desta vez, prefiro parar aqui do que insistir numa leitura que claramente não está a funcionar para mim.

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Never in my life have I ever looked at Raven as anything other than Drew’s daughter, but here she stands, looking like a complete w3t dream, and all I want to do is b3nd her over the table and f*ck her until neither one of us can remember our own names."

Oh I could NOT put this one down. The angst and the spice and the forbiddenness of it all were just perfect.

"The love I have for James isn’t a crush that’ll burn out in a week or two. It’s the kind that spans forever and a day. I know deep within my heart that no man will ever match up to him."

Something I really liked about this book is that even though her father is a billionaire, Raven has a “normal” job, lives in the dorms, and struggles with her courses just like everyone else. And most of it is not called out specifically. For instance, it’s not like she says or even thinks that she doesn’t actually need a job because her dad’s got money.

In general, I just really liked Raven. She was very level-headed and even though her heart was breaking at several points, she didn’t act rashly. She always stayed strong and didn’t let herself get treated as less-then (unless, of course, they were in a scene )

"She’s crept into my life like a shadow and breathed life into me."

James pissed me off a number of times, but I understand what his struggle was. On the other hand, control yourself dude lol. But on the OTHER other hand, his inability to stop himself from going after his best friend’s daughter is testament to what Raven does to him and to the deep feelings he has for her that he's unwilling to admit to, so there’s that. And he's so protective of her, always wanting to look out for her, so I can't be too mad at him.

Her dad honestly angered me too. You KNOW that your daughter is in danger and you’re a freaking billionaire. You can hire like 37 security details and it wouldn’t even be a drop in the bucket to you. Ugh. And then James—not her father, who created the mess—is the one who puts all the security measures in place. I think he's a good guy though, however misguided.

The reveal at the end was truly not one I could see coming! It totally caught me off guard (and not to toot my own horn or anything, but that's hard to do lol).

I will definitely be reading the rest of the series! I think I have to give myself a bit of a break before starting Theo’s story because I feel like I need a bit more mental fortitude than I currently have for that one. Especially considering the bonus chapter at the end. My heart’s already broken for them.

"My girl is pure light. She’s everything good in this world."

[Storybyscreen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The trope Best friend daughter or Dad's best friend oof... sounds messy 👀👀
Not homegirl trying to seduce him girl what do you mean with the right push he might break 😂😂
They both threw caution and control out the window because it doesn't seem like they are even trying at all....I get that she wants to get over him but when she says things like “Listen to me closely, James Smith, just fucking stop,”....I always feel like baby girl where's the attitude coming from I thought you wanted him. it just comes across like overreacting most of the time... sometimes I'm also like James pick a struggle do you want her or not

Overall it felt like I went over to my friend's house, met her watch a movie and ask her to fill me in on what's going on ....the last straw for me was when he asked her what do you want if you win then she said “I want you to take my virginity.”....at this point I have one question what the hell?
Not me think he has feelings for her for a while now but not he just used her to get back at her dad and then start developing feelings for her because why the hell would he still be asking himself if he has feelings for her after everything
When I read this “You dare to come in here and ask if anything is going on with me and your daughter, yet you’re hiding information from me? Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now?” I was like bro what game are you playing at...it felt like he desperately wants him to be a bad person so he won't feel guilty. I knew something was up when she suddenly referred to Emma as my stepmom out of the blue
And also her friend flirting and (not in my words) eye fu#king her dad all while calling him daddy drew....it was do satisfying when her dad found out and James pissed me off through out ugh
The characters I like would be mia and Theo and even tho I liked Theo I don't think I am interested in his book...I feel like the author just made the characters unlikable.... raven? I have no more words for her, James? he kept saying my best friend but I didn't get any best friend vibe or love between he and drew.... Everyone sucks
I guess I just had I expectations for this book

[Veronica Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters is book 2 of her Forbidden Series. This is an age gap, forbidden, dark romance following James Smith and Raven Carter.
🚩There are dark themes that may be triggering so please check out the content warning before you dive in 🚩

Main Characters ✨
❇️ James, our MMC, 36 and having never fallen in love so the chances of that happening were very slim. Even though his world has tilted upside down when he sees the beautiful redhead Raven after not seeing her for a few years, he never imagined she would grow up to be so beautiful. Also, he never imagined he would be having these thoughts about his best friend’s 19 year old daughter. He promised at that moment that he would stay away….of course promises are meant to be broken!

💚Raven, our kind and gentle soul FMC, has been madly in love and low key borderline obsessed with her dad’s best friend James. So when he shows up at her 19th birthday party and rushes out of the house naturally checking on him was a priority for her. Being outside alone with him, flirting….it was now or never so she kissed him. She never thought he’d tell her it was a mistake, heartbroken she’s determined stayed away…but now he’s everywhere. How much rejection can a female take…surely not much more.

My thoughts 💭
First and foremost I need to address Raven and her father’s beautiful relationship. I loved it so much, she is a daddy’s girl for sure and he clearly loves her very much. Now let me say this very loud so the people in the back can hear me 🤣
🗣️READ THIS NOW🗣️ Ahh it’s so good. I loved Caleb and Lauren’s book (book 1) but man oh man do I love this one. I finished it in less than 24 hours. Daddy James 🥵 woooow. I love forbidden romances (within reason of course 🫣) and Luna Peters did not disappoint with this one! The dynamic between these two is amazing, the character development is perfection. I cannot wait to see what Luna Peters has in store for us in the future with this series💚

✨ I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ReadMeRough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters is a forbidden, age-gap, billionaire romance that delivers spice, angst, and plenty of protective Alpha energy. 🔥📚💼

Raven, a 20-year-old bookworm working at a coffee shop while studying, never expected her dad’s best friend to be the one to unravel her. James, a 36-year-old billionaire with tattoos, a sharp V, and a painful past, is all power and restraint — until Raven pushes his limits. Their first kiss a year earlier set the stage, but now, stuck together at her father’s house, the tension finally snaps.

The chemistry between them is electric. James calls her “baby” and “pretty girl,” while her teasing “Daddy” slips quickly turn serious — leading to spanking, dirty talk, and scorching “good girl” moments. The forbidden edge makes every scene hotter, from the flirtation to the possessive “touch her and die” vibe that defines James.

Beyond the heat, the story has emotional weight. The twists hit hard, and watching James care for Raven during her night terrors showed his protective, devoted side. He hasn’t touched another woman in months, and when he finally gives in, it’s clear he’s all in. The friendships with Theo, Noah, and Caleb add extra depth, and the ending is both satisfying and sweet.

If you love:
✨ Dad’s best friend
✨ Age-gap (20/36)
✨ Billionaire romance
✨ Virgin FMC + protective Alpha MMC
✨ Forbidden spice with emotional depth

…this book delivers it all. The plot twists kept me hooked, the ending made me swoon, and now I’m desperate for Theo’s story. 💫

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise... I'm reading another age gap novel!

I read the 1st book in this series, Never Let Go, and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was already teed up for Never Gonna Lie. Because age gaps and forbidden romances are in fact my jam! Never Gonna Lie did not disappoint!

Raven has been in love with her father's best friend, James, for what feels like forever. When she shoots her shot on her 19th birthday and kisses him, James rejects Raven as he doesn't want to betray his friendship to his best friend. Ugh, that palpable feeling of rejection, poor Raven! And James really does his best to resist Raven, however, now that he knows she's attracted him, it makes it that much more difficult for him. It becomes nigh impossible when Raven's life is threatened, and James moves her in with him. How ever is he going to resist her now?

Such a good and compelling story from Peters. There are twists and suspense elements here, especially when Raven's life is threatened. Beyond that, watching as James and Raven try to navigate their individual relationships with Raven's father had me clutching my kindle. Mostly though, the chemistry between the two lovebirds was dynamite.

Fast paced and spicy, you'll be able to read this standalone in one sitting as long as you're not interrupted!

💚 Dad's Best Friend
💚 Age Gap (20/36)
💚 Forbidden
💚 BDSM
💚 Jealous and Possessive Alpha
💚 Virgin FMC
💚 Billionaire Romance

Thank you to the author and Naughty Nook PR for the gifted copy!

[Emily Knaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters is a sizzling, emotional rollercoaster that dives deep into forbidden love, loyalty, and the fine line between protection and passion.

Raven’s vulnerability and strength make her a compelling protagonist and her love for James, her dad’s best friend, is tender yet fierce. James, on the other hand, is the perfect mix of brooding protector and emotionally conflicted alpha. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the age-gap dynamic is handled with nuance and loads of heat.

The suspense element adds a thrilling layer, especially with the unexpected plot twist that left me gasping. I only wish the aftermath of that twist had been explored more, it felt like a missed opportunity for deeper emotional payoff.

The spicy scenes are deliciously written. Not over-the-top, but enough to keep the tension smoldering.
The side characters are fun, witty, and added such great banter. Oh, and the angst level? Just right.

Tropes:
💚 Dad's Best Friend
💚 Age Gap (20/36)
💚 Forbidden
💚 BDSM
💚 Jealous and Possessive Alpha
💚 Virgin FMC
💚 Billionaire Romance

If you love forbidden romance with a protective male lead and a heroine who’s more than just a damsel, this one’s for you. Can’t wait for book 3 in The Forbidden Series!

A huge thank you to Naughty Nook PR and Luna Peters for the early copy!

[Kim Janey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raven has known James her whole life, and as her father’s friend and partner in business, hes always been extremely off limits. But there’s no going back when they cross the line and end up discovering that their favourite place in the world is in each other’s arms.

“You and I were always destined, one way or another.”

Seriously, this one really got to me. The forbidden element of this series always really gets you engaged, you really know going in that the couple is going to be fire but I seriously wasn’t anticipating how hot Raven and James were together. I actually really loved how organically they came together and really turned into a solid, almost domestic couple. Their chemistry was hot and the push and pull felt electric. They had such history together and paired with Raven’s determination in making James hers really created for some intense and electric moments. Raven wanted this man and she was sure of her love for him, that’s how amazing their bond was. And James was so whipped for our girl, I really enjoyed his inner struggle as he fought himself and his intense feelings that he’s never felt for anyone else.

I really like how every couple in this series has a forbidden story (where do I start a campaign for Mia and Drew’s happy ending?) and yet the fun never gets old, it really keeps the thrill of their love going.


“To the ends of the world.”

I just feel like Luna Peters keeps getting better and better as she writes and this one was definitely my favourite thus far. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Luna comes up with next, her characters are so likeable (despite their flaws) and I love the friendships between the guys, they’re a really solid group of men who deserve their happy endings.

[Chasity Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Forbidden series and I loved it even more than the first. I am definitely a fan of this author’s writing.

Raven has been harboring feelings for her dad’s best friend, James, for as long as she can remember. It’s that classic “forbidden crush” vibe, but Luna Peters doesn’t make it cheesy. It feels messy, real, and, honestly, kind of heartbreaking at times.

James is complicated in the best way. He’s protective, swoony, and clearly wrestling with his own feelings. The tension between them? Off the charts. Every interaction had me both swooning and squirming because you just know sparks like that are going to ignite some serious drama.

What I really loved - Raven’s voice. She’s funny, relatable, and full of heart. You feel every moment with her, the anxiety, the longing, the frustration. And James? He grows in a way that makes the story feel emotional, not just steamy. This book isn’t just about the heat (though, yes, it’s steamy). It’s about navigating messy feelings, boundaries, and figuring out when love is worth the risk.

This book kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s messy, emotional and ridiculously swoony, the kind of book that lingers in your head long after the last page.
4.5/5

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I just read this book in one day and did I love James and Raven? I thought I had enjoyed the first book, but James and Raven were super hot.

James trying to deny that he feels anything for her and Raven trying to show him that he does feel something for her, but also at the same time, trying to keep her distance because why would he want her. There are insecurities from both parts because it’s a forbidden relationship that could destroy their relationship with Raven’s father.

I feel like this book has a lot more action than the first one. And I don’t just mean the smutty scenes. James, with his daddy vibes, and degradation, kink and going into the world of BDSM. Yes, he’s an asshole, but he has a soft side for our girly Raven. She is so good and sweet and she discovers a side of herself that is into the kinky stuff. Theo was also one hottie, he’s such a cute and funny character, and I hope I can get to see him in the next book.

You definitely don’t see some of the twists coming, but I was wary of one character from the start. Halfway through, I was having doubts, but at the end I was right. Raven went through so much and James was always there for her.

Thank you for the early copy @luna_peters_author and @naughtynookpr . This is my honest opinion.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Addictive, Emotional, and Completely Unputdownable
Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters hooked me from the very first page and refused to let go. Peters has a way of writing romance that feels so genuine—equal parts messy, tender, and breathtaking—and this book is a perfect example of why she’s becoming a must-read author for me.
The characters felt incredibly real, with flaws, fears, and vulnerabilities that made every interaction hit a little deeper. Their chemistry? Off the charts. The tension builds in such a natural, effortless way that I found myself hanging onto every word, desperate to see how they would navigate all the lies, truths, and tangled emotions between them.
What truly makes this book shine is the emotional depth. The author doesn’t just tell a love story—she explores trust, second chances, and the courage it takes to open your heart again. There were moments that made my chest ache, moments that made me laugh, and moments that genuinely warmed me from the inside out.
By the time I finished, I was fully obsessed. The pacing is perfect, the writing is gorgeous, and the character growth is everything. It’s the kind of story you think about long after you close the book.
A wholehearted 5 stars. Luna Peters has done it again.

[Ashly Giner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters had me from page one and never let go—this is everything I love in a forbidden age gap romance but on steroids and with so much more depth than I expected. Raven is the kind of heroine you can’t help but love—vulnerable and fiery, aching for something real—and James, her dad’s best friend, billionaire, protector, and every single bit of walking temptation, is pure alpha energy in the dirtiest, most intoxicating way. The forbidden tension between them? Off the charts. Mix in the BDSM, degradation kink, and his COMPLETE lack of apology for any of the above, and I was feral. But what really took this story to the next level for me was the way Luna Peters layered it with plot twists that had me flailing, REAL mental health rep, and a friendship group that jumps off the page and pulls you into their orbit—I adored every single side character, and I am already begging for Theo’s story. This book isn’t just spice (though it is plenty hot); it’s obsession, protection, healing, and love in the least expected places. One of my new favorite age gap romances.

[Sabrina Mordini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5 rounded up
spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Never Gonna Lie by Luna Peters is an intriguing take on the taboo, age-gap, dad’s best friend romance. What stood out to me is that it felt more believable than most in this trope—the “we really shouldn’t do this” struggle came through clearly, and the characters’ distress was shown instead of just told.

I’ll admit, I didn’t love Raven at first. She came on too strong for my taste, and at times she leaned too much into the brat/damsel-in-distress role. There’s a brief mention of her mental health struggles, which could have been explored more deeply to add dimension to her character. Still, by the end, she worked within the story.

James, on the other hand, completely delivered on his role as protector, and I was here for it. The spice is present without being overwhelming, with some light kink exploration that felt natural to the plot. On top of the romance, the thriller elements gave the story an added layer of tension and made it more engaging.

Overall, it’s a solid, steamy, and suspenseful read for fans of age-gap taboo romance with a dash of danger.