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Forbidden
At twenty-three, I never expected coming home to feel like stepping into a painful memory.
Marcus married my mom when I was eighteen and already halfway out the door to college. We barely lived under the same roof for a year before I left for good.
Five years later, their marriage ended, and now I’m crashing in his house.
I came back expecting boxes, silence, and the awkward limbo of helping my ex-stepfather pack up the house to move out.
What I didn’t expect was the way Marcus looked at me… like I wasn’t the awkward eighteen-year-old again.
A lingering glance across the kitchen island. The slow brush of his knuckles when he passed me a coffee mug. And the low, rough way he said my name when the room felt suddenly too small, too quiet.
We broke every unspoken rule, crossed every line. Despite that, the man I was never supposed to want, the one who was once family by marriage, became the only one I’ll ever need.
Marcus married my mom when I was eighteen and already halfway out the door to college. We barely lived under the same roof for a year before I left for good.
Five years later, their marriage ended, and now I’m crashing in his house.
I came back expecting boxes, silence, and the awkward limbo of helping my ex-stepfather pack up the house to move out.
What I didn’t expect was the way Marcus looked at me… like I wasn’t the awkward eighteen-year-old again.
A lingering glance across the kitchen island. The slow brush of his knuckles when he passed me a coffee mug. And the low, rough way he said my name when the room felt suddenly too small, too quiet.
We broke every unspoken rule, crossed every line. Despite that, the man I was never supposed to want, the one who was once family by marriage, became the only one I’ll ever need.
First published April 9, 2011
About the author
Jenika Snow
465 books9,019 followersJenika Snow is a USA Today Bestselling Author, and has been a published writer since 2009.
She can be found at:
www.jenikasnow.com
IG: @jenikasnow
FB: @jenikasnow
Email: jenikasnow@jenikasnow.com
She can be found at:
www.jenikasnow.com
IG: @jenikasnow
FB: @jenikasnow
Email: jenikasnow@jenikasnow.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
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March 31, 2026I thought I was going to have a good time because I'm in the mood for something taboo and forbidden, but I didn't because it was the FMC who did most of the chasing while the MMC kept pushing her away. While I try to understand where he's coming from, having to read him reject her, not just once but three times—or was it four? Not sure anymore; kind of pissed me off. So yeah, this might work for some readers, but it didn't for me. 🤷♀️
March 10, 2026
3.5⭐️ 3🌶
Surprisingly fast paced novella that packs a bit of age gap and smut and plot. Falling for your step dad after you graduate from college and are back home to help clean up the house. This taboo tale blends spice and some plot in a fun size treat.
Tropes and triggers: age gap, step parent, forbidden romance, light bdsm, family dynamics
I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
Surprisingly fast paced novella that packs a bit of age gap and smut and plot. Falling for your step dad after you graduate from college and are back home to help clean up the house. This taboo tale blends spice and some plot in a fun size treat.
Tropes and triggers: age gap, step parent, forbidden romance, light bdsm, family dynamics
I received an advanced copy for an honest review.
February 26, 2014
A GREAT VAMPIRE LOVE STORY
Helina Alges wakes up one morning to find that vampires have taken over the world. The human population are either murdered, made into blood slaves or used as servants. Helina hides away in a cave in the forest, when her meagre supplies run low, she ventures out to forage for food. That's when she's found by Gaijryc prince of the vampires. What Helina doesn't expect is how this deadly vampire makes her feel.
What a great love story this is. A forbidden love between a vampire and a human. I loved the characters, the baddies and the goodies, they were all well done. With plenty of hot love scenes and plenty of twists and turns to the plot I loved it. More please.
Helina Alges wakes up one morning to find that vampires have taken over the world. The human population are either murdered, made into blood slaves or used as servants. Helina hides away in a cave in the forest, when her meagre supplies run low, she ventures out to forage for food. That's when she's found by Gaijryc prince of the vampires. What Helina doesn't expect is how this deadly vampire makes her feel.
What a great love story this is. A forbidden love between a vampire and a human. I loved the characters, the baddies and the goodies, they were all well done. With plenty of hot love scenes and plenty of twists and turns to the plot I loved it. More please.
June 29, 2026
3.75
FYI - The book description is for a different book, looks like there's been a mix up. Check the Kindle app for the correct description 😊
FYI - The book description is for a different book, looks like there's been a mix up. Check the Kindle app for the correct description 😊
May 6, 2026
This was cute and weirdly wholesome!! I do wish we got more of his pov though but at least we got it in the epilogue.
February 21, 2015
Yep, worked for me. Hope there will be more in the series x
March 10, 2026
Win forbiddenness overcomes regret and tension wins
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥🔥🔥🔥
🖤TROPES🖤
•Ex Step Father
• Exhibitionism
•Age Gap
•Novella
•Push and Pull
•Forced Proximity
MY THOUGHTS 💭
Book starts out with Lila coming home, from college it's been about 5 years and the way things were left when she went to college is not what she's coming home to her ex stepfather is letting her stay with him so she can get on her feet for her new job and help pack up the house he's ready to move on after his divorce from her mother.
Low and behold there is underlining tension and lines become blurred and there is an overwhelmingly abundantly clear reality that once a line is crossed you can't go back.
What they do from there is this push and pull game of regret remorse on his side but yet she can't regret it because it feels so right when it's so wrong.
I give my man Marcus credit he really tries to resist temptation and the tabooness of it all but she's the missing piece that makes him feel alive and I think after everything this man has been through he deserves that missing piece.
So get ready for spice a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it and a man willing to lay down his grief and dive into her.
Keywords: stepfather /stepdaughter/age Gap/ size difference /read between the lines/ Force proximity/tension
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥🔥🔥🔥
🖤TROPES🖤
•Ex Step Father
• Exhibitionism
•Age Gap
•Novella
•Push and Pull
•Forced Proximity
MY THOUGHTS 💭
Book starts out with Lila coming home, from college it's been about 5 years and the way things were left when she went to college is not what she's coming home to her ex stepfather is letting her stay with him so she can get on her feet for her new job and help pack up the house he's ready to move on after his divorce from her mother.
Low and behold there is underlining tension and lines become blurred and there is an overwhelmingly abundantly clear reality that once a line is crossed you can't go back.
What they do from there is this push and pull game of regret remorse on his side but yet she can't regret it because it feels so right when it's so wrong.
I give my man Marcus credit he really tries to resist temptation and the tabooness of it all but she's the missing piece that makes him feel alive and I think after everything this man has been through he deserves that missing piece.
So get ready for spice a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it and a man willing to lay down his grief and dive into her.
Keywords: stepfather /stepdaughter/age Gap/ size difference /read between the lines/ Force proximity/tension
April 14, 2026
This is a short, quick read.
Lila moves back home to her stepdad's house after college to help him pack up the house after he divorces her mom. He's selling the house and just wants a quiet cabin on the lake with some land. She helps him sort through everything and spruce up the house to make it sellable since she has a month before starting her new job.
It doesn't take long for things to get heavy between them. Sexual tensions rise and she chases it with no hesitation. He tries to hold back but she's pretty relentless. He finally gives in, but he still has misgivings. The taboo of it all is hard for him to feel good about it.
She wears him down and he finally gives in fully. He gives himself over to her fully and they choose to love each other out in the open, whatever come what may. And they live happily ever after.
Not super spicy....just a little. It's a nice little story of taboo daddy vibes but it's not over the top creepy like "actual" dad vibes. I got through this without any cringe, and I'm not into the whole "daddy" kink. So, there's that. :-)
Lila moves back home to her stepdad's house after college to help him pack up the house after he divorces her mom. He's selling the house and just wants a quiet cabin on the lake with some land. She helps him sort through everything and spruce up the house to make it sellable since she has a month before starting her new job.
It doesn't take long for things to get heavy between them. Sexual tensions rise and she chases it with no hesitation. He tries to hold back but she's pretty relentless. He finally gives in, but he still has misgivings. The taboo of it all is hard for him to feel good about it.
She wears him down and he finally gives in fully. He gives himself over to her fully and they choose to love each other out in the open, whatever come what may. And they live happily ever after.
Not super spicy....just a little. It's a nice little story of taboo daddy vibes but it's not over the top creepy like "actual" dad vibes. I got through this without any cringe, and I'm not into the whole "daddy" kink. So, there's that. :-)
March 10, 2026
Lila met Marcus when he married her mother. She was eighteen, graduating high school, and heading to college. Five years later, she returned but now her mom and Marcus are divorced. Moving back into the family home seems strange but comfortable. When Marcus tells her about what led up to the divorce, it wasn’t much of a surprise. When they start packing the house up to sell, Lila decides to take the plunge. The taboo relationship these two have is great when Marcus isn’t fighting it. At times, the story seems to hurt in the heart. Lila is fighting to have a relationship with Marcus and he sees it as wrong. But what is wrong. They aren’t blood. So he was married to her mother, past tense. Why can’t they be happy. Why does what other’s think make it an issue. Thank goodness they fight through and find love and happiness with each other.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 29, 2026
Promising but messy
I typically love books by Jenika Snow, but I had to lower my rating on this one because of the editing. I can usually overlook small errors and move on, but the formatting and editing issues here really affected the flow of the story.
There were multiple repeated paragraphs that were essentially reworded versions of the same scene, which made it feel like certain sections should have been removed during editing. There was also a noticeable timeline issue with the chapter order. The story goes from an evening event, to her meeting with her mom the next day, and then suddenly jumps back to the previous night. It felt like the chapter with her mom was supposed to come after the midnight rendezvous chapter instead.
The story itself had a lot of promise, but it really could have benefited from another round of editing and cleanup.
I typically love books by Jenika Snow, but I had to lower my rating on this one because of the editing. I can usually overlook small errors and move on, but the formatting and editing issues here really affected the flow of the story.
There were multiple repeated paragraphs that were essentially reworded versions of the same scene, which made it feel like certain sections should have been removed during editing. There was also a noticeable timeline issue with the chapter order. The story goes from an evening event, to her meeting with her mom the next day, and then suddenly jumps back to the previous night. It felt like the chapter with her mom was supposed to come after the midnight rendezvous chapter instead.
The story itself had a lot of promise, but it really could have benefited from another round of editing and cleanup.
March 14, 2026
It was hot but felt like it was missing something
The chemistry between Lila and Marcus was so real and hot. How much they cared for one another was very heartfelt. Marcus thinking that maybe Lila should move on with her life instead of being with a man old enough to be her father. I guess I was expecting to get more of a story out of it too, but it was pretty good for a short story. I wish there had been more intimate times but what was included was top tier.
The chemistry between Lila and Marcus was so real and hot. How much they cared for one another was very heartfelt. Marcus thinking that maybe Lila should move on with her life instead of being with a man old enough to be her father. I guess I was expecting to get more of a story out of it too, but it was pretty good for a short story. I wish there had been more intimate times but what was included was top tier.
March 16, 2026
A little bit sweet, a whole lot of taboo!
A little bit sweet, a whole lot of taboo! The 20th book in the popular A Real Man series brings Marcus and Lila’s story to life in the best way. He’s the ex-stepdad and she’s the step daughter that grew up. When she returns to town to help him, it brings a taboo relationship that he tries hard to ignore. What happens next was a quick and deliciously steamy romance story that did not disappoint.
A little bit sweet, a whole lot of taboo! The 20th book in the popular A Real Man series brings Marcus and Lila’s story to life in the best way. He’s the ex-stepdad and she’s the step daughter that grew up. When she returns to town to help him, it brings a taboo relationship that he tries hard to ignore. What happens next was a quick and deliciously steamy romance story that did not disappoint.
March 17, 2026
I love a good age gap❤️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Darkness: 🤍🩶
Ending: HEA
Epilogue: YES
4 Stars: Highly Recommend!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommending it often. It may not be a personal all-time favorite, but it's a well written story.
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 - Good blend of spice and storyline. Detailed scenes. Praise talk. Deliciously naughty. Steamy. Obsessive. Kisses that can be felt for days and a little D/s ❤️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Darkness: 🤍🩶
Ending: HEA
Epilogue: YES
4 Stars: Highly Recommend!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommending it often. It may not be a personal all-time favorite, but it's a well written story.
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 - Good blend of spice and storyline. Detailed scenes. Praise talk. Deliciously naughty. Steamy. Obsessive. Kisses that can be felt for days and a little D/s ❤️
March 16, 2026
Marcus and Lila
Short and easy read. Loved the intensity. The author narrated well the tension between the characters. The attraction as well as their resistance on taking the forbiden step.
Short and easy read. Loved the intensity. The author narrated well the tension between the characters. The attraction as well as their resistance on taking the forbiden step.
April 22, 2026
Short but good.
I have loved Jenika Snow for years but this was my first time reading this series. The book was really good. Short but not rushed. Steamy but emotional and the mmc makes you want to roll your eyes. Overall, 5 ⭐️ will definitely read more of the series.
I have loved Jenika Snow for years but this was my first time reading this series. The book was really good. Short but not rushed. Steamy but emotional and the mmc makes you want to roll your eyes. Overall, 5 ⭐️ will definitely read more of the series.
March 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🫦🫦🫦
MF
Stepfather
Forbidden
Short Story
56/26
MF
Stepfather
Forbidden
Short Story
56/26
March 12, 2026
3 1/2. Steamy and sexy with an hea. 80 pages
no-to-novella
March 14, 2026I mean.....it was a novella. Not really anything to comment on. It was taboo so if you're into that, have fun. I didn't like the push and pull. Too much for me.
April 21, 2026
step daddy fun
What a great little read. Taboo but not OTT, why fight something that’s inevitable. Marcus and Lila were good characters
What a great little read. Taboo but not OTT, why fight something that’s inevitable. Marcus and Lila were good characters
August 24, 2026
Quick read, straight to the point!
September 9, 2026
Jenika Snow certainly knows how to write a Forbidden romance. Another great addition to the Real Man series. Glad I was able to receive an ARC for this novella.
May 10, 2026
I’m a sucked for a good age gap forbidden romance. I ate this up. The blurb about vampires in here is throwing me off this was for sure not about vampires.
March 9, 2026
This is short novella that is really well written with tons of spicy. The characters are interesting and the wrighting keeps the age gap and step relationship from being creepy. Overall a fun short read.
April 29, 2026
This book does not cook
August 22, 2013
I want the second part of this story, I know there is more, there has to be, this was just so damn juicy!
August 23, 2015
3.5 stars
April 21, 2011
Oh my gosh. A def must read!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews