Lighter

by Mila Cole

She was spoiled.She was forbidden.She was untainted.She was my job.And...She was only eighteen.I couldn't help myself.I wanted to unravel and devour every inch of her.She was a blue-eyed, untouched, complication, and the cost of touching her was more than I could afford.But... She was mine

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2018

About the author

I write books about bad boys with big... HEARTS

Reviews

[Crystal N · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, at first I only wanted to give this one a two. But I persevered and actually got pretty emotional at the end, so I will bump it up to a three.

I'm also curious how Clock and Chloe's book will go. Jensen better not be a complete hypocrite, but I bet he will be!

I liked it pretty well, it was readable, I had some issues with Jensen at first. He was a dick, but not necessarily in an enjoyable way.

*shrug*

PS there were also some weird errors that could have been edited out.

[Secretly Adorkable Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It was intense. I could feel my pulse pick up as if he were about to kiss me. Our lips were only inches apart, so close that I could feel the heat of his breath against my lips."

This is one of my favorite authors and so glad she is doing a different genre! A forbidden romance between a 35 year old and an 18 year old. Lighter was full of suspense, hot scenes and intense moments that put me on the edge of my seat!

[Tai Nelson-Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila Cole is a new author to me and I absolutely fell in love with her writing style. This is an older man/younger woman story. There is a 17-year gap between Lighter and Jenson/Slick. But it isn't such a big deal. She is older than her age when it comes to her maturity, she and Slick have an instant connection so that helps.

Slick is the only support to his niece he also just got this job to be Lighter's bodyguard. When he meets her he thinks she is a stuck up princess and wants nothing to do with her. But he does want her.

I loved that this story is a slow burn, especially since this does have an age gap. This story turns into a true love between two adults and a sweet little girl.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an engaging book that kept me attention from start to finish. The characters are well developed and engaging and the storyline flowed smoothly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chiquita Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discipline and Desire

Slick has been hired to protect young beauty Lighter, whose father is a controlling and corrupt SOB. Slick is 17 years older than Lighter but simply cannot resist her. He knows he should be disciplined enough to resist Lighter, especially because he’s raising his dead sister’s child. It’s an intriguing plot and as always, I enjoy the younger woman/older man relationship, although with Lighter at 18, she’s a bit younger than I care for. I did love all the characters, especially little Chloe, Slick’s adopted daughter. My only complaint was how quickly the book ended.

[SavvyKing · Rating 3 out of 5]

*spoiler*
So when I read the synopsis of this book I was intrigued. I loved the story line and the age difference. It had such promise, I was excited to read this. However, once I started reading it, I found my skimming some pages, just trying to get ahead. I felt the building of the story was slow, and then when everything happened it felt rushed after that. I wanted to live the book, but sadly, it wasn’t a 5 stars for me. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad read. It just wasn’t it for me.
Here you have slick who is the hero, he’s 35 and attractive as hell. Broody, sexy, asshole mask, and unexpected dad title.
Then you have the heroine who is 18, suffered from migraines through the hole story, yet towards the end it never really talked about what happened with her migraines after that, it was all just forgotten about....weird *thinking face*
Anyway I didn’t like how weak she seemed, I’m more of a strong willed, can handle her own, takes no shit from anyone kinda heroine, and lighter just seemed weak.
Then you have the story of her mom who is a famous movie star and her dad who is in some shady business dealings and you never quite understand how that relationship ever happened.
I don’t know, there just so many things that didn’t quite fit in to the story and i feel like it was just for page fillings.
Like I said the story wasn’t horrible however I wouldn’t read it again. There are plenty of books I’ve read and LOVED that I would reread, sadly this one is not one of them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Marie ~ Words We Love By · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jensen is a single guy thrust into fatherhood unexpectedly. (No, not surprise baby story) After adjusting to his new normal, Jensen takes a job as a bodyguard so he can give his daughter a better life. His client is eighteen year old, Lighter. The pampered daughter of a shady lawyer and a Hollywood actress, Lighter is not as she seems. Plagued by debilitating migraines and trying hard to live up to her obligations, Lighter is a more than a princess.

I'll be honest, I didn't realize that this was a May/December romance story. When I first starting reading, I cringed at the age difference. Jensen is 35 years old to Lighter's just turned 18. I was a bit of a shock and colored my reading a bit. However, Ms. Cole handled this slightly taboo subject well, acknowledging it while creating characters that allowed for this to be more romantic than titillating. Lighter is wiser than her years and while Jensen is gruff, he is not in anyway portrayed as fatherly.

The plot revolves around the romance of the two leads with a good amount of side action concerning Lighter's less than stand-up father. The pace is a good giving the reader time to adjust to the idea of Jensen and Lighter being together. They don't fall instantly into bed, instead growing from barely tolerating each other to friends to more.

This is the debut book from this author and portents good things for future works.

[Brianna at Renee Entress's Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

For a debut, Mila Cole hit most of my marks that I crave in romance and with great-practiced ease. Sexy. Angsty. Swoony. Age-gap. Single daddy. Forbidden. Mila packed quite the story into a shorter, fast paced book that will only take a few hours to devour and then leave you ask when is the next.

Lighter was a really, really good book... a lot of push and pull with a ton of emotions, two unforgettable characters, and a sweet, sweet ending that leave you with a big ol' smile on your face.

This is a story about Lighter and Jensen and how they found a happy ending despite a few unsuspecting obstacles in their way. And it goes like this... 

She's a spoiled eighteen year old. He's her new bodyguard. He shouldn't want her because she's totally off limits and not to mention young, young, young yet he can't deny the pull or the way she makes his body hard...everywhere when she's near. She's a tease and needs a firm hand... one he's all to willing to lend but obviously it's totally complicated and the main two reasons... his newly acquired niece and her menacing dad. He needs this job but his heart...needs more.

It's gonna get steamy and sweaty. It's gonna be bumpy and frustrating. Mila is gonna make you work a bit for this one but once the line snaps between them, everything changes and all bets are off. 

Great side characters and one unforgettable journey... Oh yeah this is one I'd definitely recommend.

Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog

[Sarah MacDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mila Cole is a new-to-me author. I really liked the synopsis of the book and so I figured, "let's give it a try". I actually really enjoyed Lighter. It's a unique story that's fast paced, exciting, full of angst and really steamy. It's a taboo age gap romance.

Lighter is an eighteen year old socialite. Her parents are big shots and she needs security at all times. She comes across as a spoiled little rich girl, but she really isn't. She's kind, thoughtful and loving. Slick is a strong, dominant man who takes charge of all situations. He's got a soft heart under all that tough skin though. He's been set to be Lighter's main security and he isn't too happy about it.

He is someone who thinks Lighter is spoiled princess. He doesn't look forward to being around her at all times. But, the more he is around her, the more the sexual tension comes in. She's a tease and he wants nothing more than to show her who's in charge. As their relationship grows from professional to not so much, they have obstacles that they must overcome like Lighter's father for one, and the bad men that surround him.

It was nice to have that change of pace in the forbidden world. We see a lot of books that are "father's best friend", or "brothers best friend". But, I haven't come across a daughter's security trope before. So that was refreshing and new for me and I definitely recommend Lighter.

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Cranky Stars


Jensen aka Slick doesn’t like Lighter when he first meets her. He thinks she is spoiled, and he knows she is forbidden. He is hired to be her bodyguard. He is in this for the money to begin with but something inside him starts to notice Lighter in a whole different light.


I loved this book. It’s about a bodyguard falling for his client’s daughter. So, cue up your Bodyguard soundtrack because you will always love this book. Especially if you like forbidden romances. There is a bit of an age gap between the two lead characters.


The opening scene hit me in the feels so hard, I swear the author knew my weakness. Then blam, outta nowhere comes the hot and steamy scenes between Jensen and Lighter. There were some funny scenes to lighten up some areas of the book, and the smutty scenes were amazing. However, it was the ending that was beautifully written and executed. I will definitely recommend this book to others.

[Amy Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a face-paced, smoking hot age gap read, I highly suggest you get yourself a copy of Lighter by Mila Cole.

I somewhat went into the story blindly. Having never read Mila Cole before, I was excited to try Lighter out. The cover was definitely eye-catching but that doesn't always make a story great. Let me just say, this author has got it going on! I immediately got sucked into the story and devoted my entire day to reading it. Slick and Lighter's story was engrossing, it was fun, and it was just the kind of read I needed to leave a smile on my face. Cole's writing was sexy!

There wasn't a single thing about this story that I didn't like and I'm so happy that I stumbled across it. And the fact that Slick was older never once affected the way I felt about the story. The writing and the way the story played out won me over as a fan. Cole did an amazing job developing her characters and the roles they played throughout the story. There were intense moments, funny moments and, of course sexy moments, but it was a very well thought out story and I loved it! Great job Mila Cole and I look forward to reading more stories by you, especially the one you mentioned in your notes at the end--Clock and Chloe's! OMG, I can't wait!!

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fighting to build a better life but not everything and one is what they appear

I had the opportunity to read Lighter and it took me almost a year to crack it open but I am kicking myself for that. This story by new author Mila Cole is fantastic. It is complicated, emotional, fascinating and engaging. The story is not what it appears to be on the surface as there is so much more going on with the characters than you expect. Lighter may be Mila Cole's first published book but it does not read like a debut book. Instead it it is well written with a story that is multi-layered and woven with wonderfully developed characters. The darn Prologue sucked me in, even shedding a couple tears, and I could not stop reading until I got to the end. I mean with things like this how can you not get sucked in:

If times get too hard, remember these things:

Always be patient with her.
Always let her lead with her heart.
Always comfort her when she's sad.
Always be firm but loving.
Always tell her about me, and tell her how much I love her.
Always trust your heart.

But most of all... always love her.

I really loved this book and would highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[April Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighter is a slow burn, forbidden romance read. It is an older man/younger woman trope with the man who is a bodyguard and the woman who is the daughter of the boss. Jensen/Slick doesn’t like Lighter when first lays eyes on her. He thinks she is all sorts of spoiled, pampered, and also forbidden in big capital letters. But as he gets to know her, he starts to change his mind about her and sees her differently. He starts to crave her, want her and he knows nothing good could come from that yet he couldn’t resist the lure of Lighter. This book is all sorts of forbidden wants, needs, heat, sexy times, suspense, intrigue, drama, angst, passion and want. I did like the twists and turns the story took. I liked the bodyguard/daughter of the boss angle and the older man/younger woman trope. There is so much going on that had me hooked reading. The only criticism that I do have is that the ending felt rushed and I would have liked for it not to feel so thrown together. Other than that, this was a solid romance.


My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lighter has a famous actress mother, and a rich lawyer/businessman father. On the surface, she seems like a rich spoiled brat. Looks can be deceiving. Slick is a single dad to his niece Chloe, as requested by his sister when she died. Dad hires Slick to be the head of Lighter's new security team. Let the games begin... They push each other's buttons from the very start - he calls her princess, she says fine as her answer to everything - but they eventually realize that they want this to go somewhere. She doesn't say anything to him, because he's a lot older, she's getting ready to go to college, and her father will kill her if she gets involved with "the help". He doesn't say anything to her, because he's a lot older, he doesn't do relationships, and her father will kill him if he crosses the line with daddy's little girl. I loved this book - a slow intense burn with two terrific characters, both strong in their own right. This is my first book from this author - looking forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighter is a slow burn, age gap romance with a bit of suspense to boot. The age difference is a big one with Slick being almost twice Lighter's age, but he doesn't come across like a 35-year old and Lighter acts a bit older than her 18 years. Well, sometimes she does. She does have her moments when you see the moody teenager, but somehow, they just work. There is some angst. Some of it comes from the suspense angle of the story and some from the tension between this pair, but it keeps the story moving. We get some close calls on the sexy times between them as they try to deny the attraction, which adds to that tension in the romance, but the story is about so much more than that. The only drawback for me is that the ending felt a little rushed, all in all, the book is well-written and had engaging characters and an interesting storyline.

[MJ's Book Blog and Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by: Jennifer
(4 stars)

This was a forbidden romance, with a very nice sized age gap. He is thirty-five and she is eighteen; he is the bodyguard, she is the precious daughter of his boss. He knew that nothing good could come from wanting her, but he couldn't resist. LOL I'm trying to leave this as ambiguous as the blurb doesn't really say much. I will say that there were bits that promised some really nasty, dirty, amazing sexy times... and what we got was ok. This was an ok story and the build up was really good, but in the end I felt like I wanted more, for a minute I thought it was gonna be left in a cliffy, but no, we get a rushed ending that ties everything up. I give this 4 stars.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn story about a younger woman and her bodyguard who is a lot older than her but also hired by her father to protect her. Due to their circumstances they both do their best to ignore the chemistry between them and their ever-growing feelings for each other. The story moves along at a pretty constant fast pace. The plot and characters are so absorbing and mesmerizing that I had finished the book in no time at all. Being a new author to me I was pleasantly surprised at how well I enjoyed reading this forbidden romance story. This is most definitely an author to watch out for in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gavinsmommaloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Mila Cole so I went in blind to Lighter and am so glad I have this book a read. This is a slow burn suspense filled twisty kinda age gap love story but it was also mote. I laughed and swooned and cried like a baby. Slick aka Jansen is hired to be Lighter bodyguard at first he thinks she a applied best but as he gets to know her he see who she really is but he knows she forbidden bring the bosses daughter. This book is everything you want in a romance and more! I can't wait to read the next book!

[mybookcraze · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This book is a forbidden romance read. This book is about a relationship between an older man (Jensen) and a younger woman (Lighter). He is a bodyguard and he is assigned to protect the daughter of the boss. At first, Jensen thought Lighter was a spoiled brat. When he starts to spend more time with her he ends up liking her but she is still forbidden. The book was really good and loved the twist and turns.

[Jamie Chomyc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book!! This is Lighter and Jensen's story!! She's an 18 year old spoiled rich girl and Jensen is an older smoking hot single father alpha Male who is her bodyguard so she is supposed to be "of limits" to him!! This story is full of angst, obstacles, push and pull and heartbreaking moments that had me crying right along with the characters add in some really steamy, sexy and sweaty moments and I was hooked!! This book is full of emotions that lead to a really amazing ending!!

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book it was great the story was well written and the characters were interesting. Lighter and Jenson wow what chemistry between these two. Lighter is eighteen years old and a spoilt brat. Jenson single dad with daughter Chloe and has a new job being bodyguard for Lighter.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighter is the name of our 18 year old heroine. Slick is her 35 year old body guard. Due to her father’s business dealings, a body guard is necessary for her safety. Things gets heated up when Lighter and Slick spend more time together. An enjoyable story and a good start for Ms. Mila Cole debut novel.

[Paige Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila Cole is a new author to me, so I went into Lighter completely blind. And wow, what a different enjoyable read. Lighter contains a forbidden element, a suspense element, and a heat element. Lighter and Jansen's story is fast-paced and worth the read.

[Monique Hebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good read, definitely an age taboo romance. I like more hot scenes in the books I read. The chemistry is present. There is a few sad and touching parts in the book which adds quality to the book.

[Angelica Larsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fastpaced pageturner that I enjoyed a lot! Love the storyline and the characters. Love the chemistry between Lighter and Slick. I will definitely check out more books from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it

[Shaztwirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but I really wanted to take my red pen to it and sort out all the errors.

[karen marie Meenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book very well written and loved the flow of the story I wanted to keep reading till the end

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Jensen & Lighter's story. Was an intense & a bit of an emotional read. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a free copy of the book via booksprout.