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NEW PARENT: A Slow Burn Forbidden Romance
Book One of the New Parent Series
When a couple worn down by years of heartbreak opens their home to a new dynamic, what begins as hope soon throws a wrench into their lives. The arrangement feels harmless at first; until emotions and unfamiliar boundaries start to blur.
When a couple worn down by years of heartbreak opens their home to a new dynamic, what begins as hope soon throws a wrench into their lives. The arrangement feels harmless at first; until emotions and unfamiliar boundaries start to blur.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 13, 2025
I don't know why I find this author's writing so addictive considering it always stresses me out. This is the second series I've read and, in both, the women are mind boggingly, gut wrenchingly, stupid. At least it didn't take 5 books for Sabrina to salvage her dignity and get the hell out of dodge. She is a sweet, innocent girl but not dumb.
This whole situation is immensely cringeworthy. Katie is monumentally stupid, and I think I just keep going because I can't wait to see this whole situation blow up in her face. Talk about not thinking this through. Apollo's first love was a black woman, but I'm going to 'adopt' a 19yr old black girl who 'looks younger', bring her into the house even though Apollo is vehemently opposed to the whole thing and finds it crazy (I am 150% on Apollo's side by the way!), all the while trying to force them to interact and be a family. When she tried to force Apollo and Sabrina to hug, I almost broke out in hives. Are there really women walking around this obtuse?? The fact that Katie is a therapist makes me lose faith in the profession. What works really well is that the author does a fantastic job of presenting everyone's point of view, and everything you're thinking is addressed. Apollo is clearly saying everything the readers are thinking - that Katie having some stranger move into the house, without his permission, and try to talk about her being her 'child' is madness. Seems like Katie needs her own therapist! I agree with Apollo that Katie is selfish and inconsiderate, and I can't wait to see this mess unfold.
On to Book 2!
This whole situation is immensely cringeworthy. Katie is monumentally stupid, and I think I just keep going because I can't wait to see this whole situation blow up in her face. Talk about not thinking this through. Apollo's first love was a black woman, but I'm going to 'adopt' a 19yr old black girl who 'looks younger', bring her into the house even though Apollo is vehemently opposed to the whole thing and finds it crazy (I am 150% on Apollo's side by the way!), all the while trying to force them to interact and be a family. When she tried to force Apollo and Sabrina to hug, I almost broke out in hives. Are there really women walking around this obtuse?? The fact that Katie is a therapist makes me lose faith in the profession. What works really well is that the author does a fantastic job of presenting everyone's point of view, and everything you're thinking is addressed. Apollo is clearly saying everything the readers are thinking - that Katie having some stranger move into the house, without his permission, and try to talk about her being her 'child' is madness. Seems like Katie needs her own therapist! I agree with Apollo that Katie is selfish and inconsiderate, and I can't wait to see this mess unfold.
On to Book 2!
November 15, 2025
Unusual
This author truly writes stories about uncomfortable and forbidden themes. The character development and plot are always good, across a serial of books for each story, which makes for great reading.
Plenty of angst which I like, but am a bit annoyed by one of the main characters' extreme lack of self-confidence and constant apologising, though it makes complete sense to their backstory. I hope it changes in time during the story. Other than that it's an enjoyable read and looking forward to reading future books in the rest of the story.
This author truly writes stories about uncomfortable and forbidden themes. The character development and plot are always good, across a serial of books for each story, which makes for great reading.
Plenty of angst which I like, but am a bit annoyed by one of the main characters' extreme lack of self-confidence and constant apologising, though it makes complete sense to their backstory. I hope it changes in time during the story. Other than that it's an enjoyable read and looking forward to reading future books in the rest of the story.
November 26, 2025
I committed to a “no DNF this year
From the standpoint, the narrative underdelivered. The pacing was painfully slow, (which is in the title) bogged down by repetitive descriptions—eye colors, hair colors, trees, scenery, weather, you name it. The author kept over-indexing on aesthetic details instead of pushing the story forward. The book failed to establish momentum early enough to retain reader investment.
I committed to a “no DNF this year,” so I pushed through, but candidly, this one didn’t give me a strong ROI on time spent.
• Sabrina
Positioned as the lonely orphan looking for belonging, but the emotional arc never scaled. Her storyline had potential but wasn’t leveraged—too many descriptive detours diluted her impact.
• Kate & Apollo
Their marriage reads like a breakdown in governance and communication flow. Kate makes unilateral decisions. Apollo is trying to stay aligned and supportive, but the lack of transparency and collaboration creates unnecessary chaos. From a relationship-management perspective, it’s a red flag factory.
The interpersonal tension had the potential to anchor the plot, but because the pacing dragged, the conflict felt more exhausting than compelling.
The book had a solid premise but executed like a project with misaligned priorities: too much focus on scenic filler, not enough on strategic storytelling. The emotional beats never stacked into something meaningful, and the characters behaved in ways that felt reactive rather than intentional.
Right now, my feeling: not great. I’m hoping the next title in your reading pipeline delivers more velocity, clarity, and value-add.
Happy reading and wine drinking
From the standpoint, the narrative underdelivered. The pacing was painfully slow, (which is in the title) bogged down by repetitive descriptions—eye colors, hair colors, trees, scenery, weather, you name it. The author kept over-indexing on aesthetic details instead of pushing the story forward. The book failed to establish momentum early enough to retain reader investment.
I committed to a “no DNF this year,” so I pushed through, but candidly, this one didn’t give me a strong ROI on time spent.
• Sabrina
Positioned as the lonely orphan looking for belonging, but the emotional arc never scaled. Her storyline had potential but wasn’t leveraged—too many descriptive detours diluted her impact.
• Kate & Apollo
Their marriage reads like a breakdown in governance and communication flow. Kate makes unilateral decisions. Apollo is trying to stay aligned and supportive, but the lack of transparency and collaboration creates unnecessary chaos. From a relationship-management perspective, it’s a red flag factory.
The interpersonal tension had the potential to anchor the plot, but because the pacing dragged, the conflict felt more exhausting than compelling.
The book had a solid premise but executed like a project with misaligned priorities: too much focus on scenic filler, not enough on strategic storytelling. The emotional beats never stacked into something meaningful, and the characters behaved in ways that felt reactive rather than intentional.
Right now, my feeling: not great. I’m hoping the next title in your reading pipeline delivers more velocity, clarity, and value-add.
Happy reading and wine drinking
December 16, 2025
Book one, under my belt! A 4.5 star read
This book was gripping right out of the gate. Not even remotely surprised as Alexandria rocked it with the Dante series, my 1st by her. The slow burn is not my norm, I’m usually too impatient for that but Alexandria da Great has given me a new lease in patience for sure!
This book got emotional right away and kept my heart in a vise all the way through. Sabrina is so freaking sweet and strong that I wanted to invite her into my home to be part of a family!! The ways she tried so hard to build a tribe broke my heart. At the end of chapter 30 I had to stop reading for a minute as I full on cried. 31 was a continuation of the sadness and anger too!
Katie just wants to be loved, she full on says it and I wanted her to have her happiness too! The fight she’s been fighting has to be exhausting and what an emotional ride. She is WAY stronger than me and I commend her for trying and trying again.
Then we have Apollo. I don’t like him, like at all. I’m assuming he’s going to grow on me as the series progresses but right now he’s basically a děmon in human skin in my opinion.
All in all a good read, the virtual voice during the listening portion is hard to get used to at 1st but then it just rolls along. I read this in less than a day and can’t wait to see what happens next!
This book was gripping right out of the gate. Not even remotely surprised as Alexandria rocked it with the Dante series, my 1st by her. The slow burn is not my norm, I’m usually too impatient for that but Alexandria da Great has given me a new lease in patience for sure!
This book got emotional right away and kept my heart in a vise all the way through. Sabrina is so freaking sweet and strong that I wanted to invite her into my home to be part of a family!! The ways she tried so hard to build a tribe broke my heart. At the end of chapter 30 I had to stop reading for a minute as I full on cried. 31 was a continuation of the sadness and anger too!
Katie just wants to be loved, she full on says it and I wanted her to have her happiness too! The fight she’s been fighting has to be exhausting and what an emotional ride. She is WAY stronger than me and I commend her for trying and trying again.
Then we have Apollo. I don’t like him, like at all. I’m assuming he’s going to grow on me as the series progresses but right now he’s basically a děmon in human skin in my opinion.
All in all a good read, the virtual voice during the listening portion is hard to get used to at 1st but then it just rolls along. I read this in less than a day and can’t wait to see what happens next!
March 13, 2026
I started this book a few hours ago and I am not feeling it! I have previously read the I’m not Dante’s type serious, which was enjoyable (but crazy), and decided to check out her other stuff. Going into this it was hard to know if Katie was the black woma portrayed on the picture or what……. Once I found out she was not the woman on the cover, I assumed the woman in the cover would be their surrogate or something along the sorts, but their new KID????? NO!!!!!!!!!! That is horrible!?!? She is still a baby!!!! 19 years old…. I tried to hold onto my faith and think ‘maybe the black woman apollo claimed he missed would end up being her mom and they’d reconnect?’ BUT HAVING SABRINA AND APOLLO AS THE LOVE INTERESTS?!??? Nasty!!!!!!! That is a grown man almost 40 and she’s 19!?!? And Katie and Apollo’s dynamic was just a bit too much… not to mention the smut, I’m just going to go ahead and leave this series here. Not my cup of tea, but that’s no diss to you if you like this kind of content!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2026
3.25
You have to try to roll with this story ...
Katie wants to have a baby with her husband Apollo but their having difficulties conceiving and Apollo is getting fed on with being on-call for her baby-making project. He's had enough and when Katie who is a therapist meets Sabrina, she's enthralled with her and wants to her make her life better by adopting her. Apollo is not on-board and thinks the whole thing he weird and he begins to resent his wife and their new 20-year old daughter.
As mentioned by another reviewer, these books are fast-paced and addictive, I wanted to see just where this story was headed. What's different from the Dante series I read by this author is ... Katie is already married to Apollo and she's likable enough. Sabrina is sweet and innocent and wonders why Apollo doesn't like her. What is it going to take for the chill to dissapate between them. Stay tuned.
You have to try to roll with this story ...
Katie wants to have a baby with her husband Apollo but their having difficulties conceiving and Apollo is getting fed on with being on-call for her baby-making project. He's had enough and when Katie who is a therapist meets Sabrina, she's enthralled with her and wants to her make her life better by adopting her. Apollo is not on-board and thinks the whole thing he weird and he begins to resent his wife and their new 20-year old daughter.
As mentioned by another reviewer, these books are fast-paced and addictive, I wanted to see just where this story was headed. What's different from the Dante series I read by this author is ... Katie is already married to Apollo and she's likable enough. Sabrina is sweet and innocent and wonders why Apollo doesn't like her. What is it going to take for the chill to dissapate between them. Stay tuned.
February 22, 2026
This was different for me. I like Sabrina and Katie, Apollo, the writing was good for me keep up with especially in different situations made me more and more interested and excited for what came next with everyone plus Apollo i love him like nonchalant with everyone but his wife. Then how katie endometriosis is written was delicate but mentions how mentally and physically exhausting it was. Sabrina did not deserve to be treated the way she constantly was with everyone leaving her and i hate that she feels that it is her fault because they leave. I also hope she becomes more confident and comfortable in herself and seeing forbidden part omg omg . 😆
November 23, 2025
Alexandria said, "You want a forbiddened romance? You got one!" This is only book one where the characters and relationships with others are explained, but nothing crossed the line yet. I hate where this story is going because the wife (Katie) is being so supportive and loving, the young woman she adopts (Sabrina) is deserving of the love and the husband (Apollo) is kind of unlikeable...although I understand his stance. Anyway, the author is a fantastic storyteller and I trust that I'm in for an inthralling tale of events through the next two books.
November 12, 2025
This author is quickly becoming my favorite. I love how their mind works and these taboo scenarios that really make you think. This story in particular I'm so curious where it's going to go. Katie seems so nice and I would feel terrible if she's hurt from what transpires between Apollo and Sabrina, but at the same time Sabrina deserves happiness, and I really want her to find it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
Whoa
This wasn't what I expected at all. This was so well developed and seemed so honestly written. I could not stop reading. Katie is selfish as hell though buy I love that she genuinely loves Sabrina and sees her as a daughter. Apollo is not in a winning situation at the moment and I can't wait to read the next story in this series.
This wasn't what I expected at all. This was so well developed and seemed so honestly written. I could not stop reading. Katie is selfish as hell though buy I love that she genuinely loves Sabrina and sees her as a daughter. Apollo is not in a winning situation at the moment and I can't wait to read the next story in this series.
December 24, 2025
slow and a little repetitive but somehow still managed to be kinda interesting
☆☆☆
☆☆☆
April 7, 2026
3.00 Stars. (BW/WM). Listened at 1.70 speed to Audible free virtual voice reading of this book.
SETTING: Current century in a New York City borough.
TROPE: Adoption of an adult . Forced proximity. Co-dependency. Cheating.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
1. Sabrina, female lead, is a 19-year-old black woman of Caribbean descent who has aged out of the foster care system and is having a hard time supporting herself.
2. Apollo Matthias Laurent, male lead, is 38-years-old, married and of European and North African descent.
3. Sandy, a black woman, is Apollo's first love and appears to be the reason he denied his attraction to black women.
4. Katherine "Katie" Laurent is Apollo's wife.
This is an interesting story; however, is it repetitive to the point of exhaustion. The author could have given us more background on the main characters. Katie is barren and desperately wants the unconditional love of a mother and child. She threw herself at Apollo when they were in college until he finally gave in..was that a reason for her insecurities. Apollo's immediate attraction to Sabrina was the cause for his feigned anger toward her. Sabrina abandonment issues were well flushed out but many things pledging these characters were not.
SETTING: Current century in a New York City borough.
TROPE: Adoption of an adult . Forced proximity. Co-dependency. Cheating.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
1. Sabrina, female lead, is a 19-year-old black woman of Caribbean descent who has aged out of the foster care system and is having a hard time supporting herself.
2. Apollo Matthias Laurent, male lead, is 38-years-old, married and of European and North African descent.
3. Sandy, a black woman, is Apollo's first love and appears to be the reason he denied his attraction to black women.
4. Katherine "Katie" Laurent is Apollo's wife.
This is an interesting story; however, is it repetitive to the point of exhaustion. The author could have given us more background on the main characters. Katie is barren and desperately wants the unconditional love of a mother and child. She threw herself at Apollo when they were in college until he finally gave in..was that a reason for her insecurities. Apollo's immediate attraction to Sabrina was the cause for his feigned anger toward her. Sabrina abandonment issues were well flushed out but many things pledging these characters were not.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews