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Crossing the Lines

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Desperate times call for desperate measures.
On her way home from yet another failed job interview, Abigail Winters, a young, single mother on the verge of homelessness, accepts a proposition from a rich, handsome stranger.
Soon, Abigail is leading two very different lives that have to be kept separate at all costs: one in which she’s a loving mother to her young son, and one in which she caters to the needs of the assertive and mysterious Mr. Thorne, both in and out of the bedroom.
Their relationship is meant to be strictly business but as lines are crossed and secrets revealed, Abigail finds herself struggling not to fall head over heels in love with her reclusive Sir, thus putting their arrangement in jeopardy.

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2017

76 people are currently reading
830 people want to read

About the author

S.J. Hooks

4 books255 followers
Although she is a native of Denmark, SJ Hooks has always had a keen interest in the English language. She has a BA in English Literature and Masters degree in American Studies. As a working mother of two special needs children, her days are busy. At night, when she isn’t passed out on the couch, she’s in front of her computer, writing stories of love, humor and passion – the best things in life. Her dream is to build a career as a full-time author.

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5 stars
227 (31%)
4 stars
249 (34%)
3 stars
152 (20%)
2 stars
70 (9%)
1 star
28 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,113 reviews276 followers
October 1, 2022
Wish I hadn’t read this. It not only depressed me, but left me feeling so unsatisfied.

I had NO idea this was a dead ex story, or I wouldn’t have read it. Not a single review mentions that this is a dead ex book and he has a dead child. You don’t find this out until like 90 something percent.

some warm and fuzzy info about this book that are sure to make you want to read it:
•he picked her up because she reminded him of his ex
•they will never sleep in the same bed together
• his ex and baby died on Christmas, so they , including her son, will never celebrate. Which is a big deal bc her son was excited about Christmas.
•pretty much the whole time after her and her son moved in, he insisted on eating in the dining room while they ate in the kitchen
I don’t understand how she loved him, he truly did treat her like an employee. I also don’t like that he pretty much kicked them out of his house. And then giving her a severance package with only three more months salary? Didn’t like that. He knew she had only her friends house to go to and could get a job so idk what he was expecting her to do after those three months. Idk I just didn’t like this book, it style made me feel icky and depressed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Abhilasha.
295 reviews28 followers
Read
September 30, 2025
pre-read - No thoughts, no expectations. I just know two things: it's an age-gap relationship and she's a single mother.
Profile Image for Hilda.
1,324 reviews292 followers
May 16, 2020
Crossing the line.

So many lines were crossed and I loved it. I wanted so badly to click on retellings because this is a Cinderella retelling from beginning to end. Except that our Prince Charming is a controlling ogre. I mean he’s good looking but man is he set in his ways. Luckily for this story our heroin might be submissive in bed but out of it she’s the fire he needs to reevaluate all of his life choices.

It was sexy and fun. A little depressing at times but definitely needed. Both Abigail and Simon have been through some traumas. Still, it was a very cute read and I enjoyed it for the most part. The part that irked me was Abigail’s treatment of her parents. I needed more information to be able to understand her. I absolutely loved Luke and his very innocent kid questions! He was the best!
Profile Image for Olivia Evans.
Author 70 books729 followers
March 18, 2020
Five flaming hot stars, Sir.

This book was fantastic, the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. I love to read a book that makes me fan myself while at the same time creating an emotional connection. The depth of the characters and their growth throughout the book will have you rooting for their happily ever after. Prepare to laugh, cry, swoon, and be swept away by this well crafted journey of self discovery and love.
Profile Image for Sarah.
82 reviews8 followers
July 25, 2020
En rigtig god god, fuldt med hemmeligheder, romantik, og sex. Synes sen var rigtig god og vil ønske det var mere - kan man nogensinde få nok? Nej. Det eneste jeg godt kunne tænke mig var noget mere om Simon og hans følelser, der er mange ubesvaret spørgsmål.
286 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2023
not trying to sound like a hater but the story just felt so incomplete. so many issues that needed to be addressed. i would’ve wanted the epilogue to at least he further in the future so we could see that. like does he ever want kids, does he get over his issues, how do they act in a normal relationship. the fact that they would never sleep in the same bed or celebrate christmas and a lot of other things felt so weird even though he said he’d work on those. also their dynamic felt so icky after knowing the backstory. it felt like she was a stand in for what he wanted his ex-wife to be. that with the uncertainty of how their issues were solved made the ending feel like a happy for now

book had potential but didn’t work

Profile Image for Sui.
157 reviews6 followers
March 7, 2022
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary:
Crossing The Lines is about Simon and Abigail who met one night as Abigail was runny away from being turned down a job as a stripper. Simon gave her a chance which Abigail failed but due to her hunger and for her child, she begged him to give her a chance so she can earn more money. Simon relented and hired her as some sort of an escort that will abide by his wishes. As their relationship proceeds deeper, both of the secrets they’re trying to hide within the shadows come lurking in and one by one they each find out about these which threatens their relationship.

***
I loved this honestly. But more so I loved Abigail. She was a strong and wise woman even though she’s just at the age of 22.

It’s just that He was more of a baggage carrying a man than a man carrying the baggage and as I liked Abigail so much, I’ve had too much of it near then end of the story and my sympathy kind of ran out. Simon is very lovely still don’t get me wrong. I just couldn’t fully fell in love with him because it ended quickly they resolved their conflict.

I hope there were more Luke content. I didn’t get to read him calling Simon dad which I hoped for and I don’t know maybe I was hoping for a . And maybe a little of later down the road.

Whoopty-doo we don’t always get what we want but I still loved the story.
Profile Image for Delia.
122 reviews
June 23, 2020
I highly recommend this book!
I discovered SJ Hooks a few years ago when I ramdomly picked up her The Absolute Novels. I was impressed then and I am still impressed now, after finishing Crossing the lines. She is doing a great job expressing chemistry, regardless any age gap or social background.
Profile Image for Kate.
402 reviews23 followers
July 13, 2021
The rating is entirely based on the books ability to scratch an itch for a dominant but not asshole MMC that's rich, but not billionaire or CEO rich.
Profile Image for Jeanne McDonald.
Author 21 books543 followers
January 17, 2021
It's been some time since I had a book compel me to keep reading well past my bedtime. More than once I read this book until I couldn't keep my eyes any longer. The story of Abigail and Simon is romantically tragic and stunningly beautiful. Two people who have been trampled on by life only to find happiness and contentment within each other. Their passion burns hot off the page. The best part of the book, in my humble opinion, is that it surprised me more than once. I anticipated certain things happening, and would have been disappointed if they had, but no. These two grew together in a way that was real and honest.
I highly recommend you read this book. You won't be sorry!
4.5 WELL EARNED STARS
Profile Image for Minela Mujacic.
130 reviews
April 20, 2025
This one was a random choice from my side. The library is closed due to holiday, so I picked it online based on the catchy description. Must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Very fast paced book. She is 22 with a 5 year old. The boyfriend left and she has no money. Desperately she is searching for a job, but no one want to hire her. Then she meets Mr Thorne, and ohhhhh myyy was it interesting to read about these two. He is rich but has demands. He wants her to be his submissive. Great story and it kept me going almost in one sitting.
Profile Image for T Rojo.
796 reviews20 followers
August 12, 2023
Abbi was right, Simon is a weirdo.

Story was a little melodramatic and “Mr.Thorne” came off kind of one dimensional and his dialogue was wooden. The last few chapters when he finally opens up his personality was more charming and he was a little funny.

I did roll my eyes a bunch of times and laugh out loud at some of the absurd dialogue/situations but I did read the book in one sitting and didn’t find myself being distracted.
Profile Image for Carrie Elks.
Author 72 books2,244 followers
May 23, 2020
I loved Abigail and Simon’s story. It was emotional, sexy and raw. Fabulous writing, great character development and a beautiful read. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Standardized Becca.
115 reviews3 followers
September 4, 2023
I think the big question is: Is it hot? The answer is: Yes.

Beyond that ... it's a solid read. More polished than I expected. The book's language and its general content are no-frills—simple and familiar—without being soulless, and I was surprised to find that Abigail didn't register as another Fantine-esque, tragic good girl caricature. That's where it looked like she was headed, and that she'd quickly fall prey to the Born Sexy Yesterday trope. Yet Hooks tended to steer her away from those clichés.

To be fair, Abigail's not terribly complex, but she's not without dimension, either. Signs of her spirit and integrity (in addition to her gentleness and wide-eyed innocence) peek their way out as the story develops. Similarly, Simon's not written with much detail or color, but he's juuuuuust distinct enough to make the romance feel thoughtful. I like, too, that he's plain and honest with Abigail about the circumstances that drew him to her specifically. I like that she accepts those truths. In fact, the vast majority of characters in the novel are pretty chill about pretty surprising or taboo or otherwise unconventional reveals, which is refreshing.

All that said: Feel free to skip the book's final chapter. It's a bit darling, meandering—literally first-date stuff. Not exactly climactic.
Profile Image for Pimm Cullen.
227 reviews12 followers
May 15, 2020
This is SJ Hooks third novel. SJ writes engaging, compelling stories, that are beautifully written and well thought out.
Abigail is a single mum, her parents disowned her & the baby’s daddy left them with nothing. Mr Thorne is a highly successful businessman, but his personal life is nonexistent. They meet when Abigail is at her lowest point, she’s broke & struggling to keep a roof over their heads & put food on the table and just been turned down for a job. It couldn’t get much worse for Abigail.
Mr Thorne makes Abigail an offer she isn’t able to turn down, so their relationship begins.
It’s not plain sailing for Abigail & Mr Thorne. SJ handles the development of their relationship with compassion, nothing feels overwrought or done for the sake of it. Making it feel real.
The characters are all well considered, properly developed. There is growth in both the main characters and the secondary characters well done. It is easy to feel connected to them.
I loved this book & I’ll definitely be reading it again.
Profile Image for Amber.
455 reviews1 follower
November 17, 2024
This was rather emotional, and it surprised me. A single mother takes a job working for a rather eccentric wealthy man. The deal? He dresses her up, she cooks for him, and he does some kinky stuff with her in exchange for money.
Abbi is down on her luck in the worst way. Can't get a job, cut off from family, her boyfriend dipped out and isn't paying child support, and she's about to be homeless. She's starving herself so her son has food. She's desperate, and fate delivers her into the hands of Mr. Thorne.

I wasn't expecting so much emotion to be in this. At one point I kept telling myself not to cry, but it was hard. There's a lot to love and I relished this. I'm hoping the author will put out another book. I love the journey of these two characters, how they took care of each other in different ways. I would have liked the epilogue to be longer. The ending felt a bit rushed after so much lead up to that point. All in all, it was super good.
Profile Image for S Whaley.
68 reviews
January 17, 2024
I eagerly dove into this book and I was left...flat, empty and disappointed, to be honest.
I hate 'Simon', what an aggrivating and dicky character!!!
It ended up being another book where the female is a dim whit thats willing to lower herself and chase a man not worth chasing, and he just flat out ignored Luke and seemed to have distain for him ...dont care if his kid died you dont have to be that much of a c**t about it.
In the end he is only JUST starting to work through his issues and clearly NOT in a place in his life where he should be entering into a relationship and making grand gestures of love. clearly he is fucked up and man does he need time to sort that shit out but shes like 'nah its cool, ill just throw myself back at you and not think about my son.. ffs.
Profile Image for Giselle Davila.
12 reviews
February 2, 2025
Jaja wey que pedo con este libro, está todo pitero, pinche Wattpad tiene mejores libros que está basura.
DNF 30%


La quote que me hizo no terminar de leer:

I take the drink, gaping at him. It’s such a small gesture, but there’s so much meaning behind it. (Wey le llevó una pinche soda)

No mames pinches migajas.
Lol
Profile Image for Mette Christensen.
210 reviews5 followers
November 24, 2017
Ok not what i expected, but i liked the book. BUT i dont know whats wrong with female charecters in thise stories. They make them self stupid naiv helpless and etc.. and it sorta pisses me off.

but i did not expect it to be another fifthy shades book or sorta.
Profile Image for Christine Anyalai.
59 reviews
December 1, 2024
Fantastic book. You just want so much for these two. Their journey starts out very hot and stays hot but also gets deeper the more you get to know the real them. Well deserved, HEA Loved the audiobook.
Profile Image for Einolem.
99 reviews5 followers
May 20, 2021
You want an unusual, somewhat dark, and ultimately satisfying romance?

This is it.

From a strange beginning, to an oddly heartwarming relationship...lovely.
Profile Image for Reader.
82 reviews
July 26, 2020
** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review **

I have read SJ's works when they were online and I loved every one of them. This story was new to me. I will admit it took me a while to get into the story. In honesty, the premise of this story is not one I would choose to read myself. Maybe that is the reason I didn't feel the chemistry between Mr. Thorne and Abigail right away. At one third of the book however, things started to pick up and I read it through in almost one sitting.

Crossing the Lines tells the story of Abigail, a single mom with a little boy who goes to desperate measures to make ends meet. She meets Mr. Thorne, who takes pity on her and who sees something in her that Abigail hasn't noticed herself. For a hefty pay, he hires her for services, both sexual and non-sexual. Like I said, especially at the beginning I had trouble believing Abigail's thoughts and emotions so it was difficult for me to get into the story. After a while that all started to fall into place and I really enjoyed this book. Abigail is a strong person, which not only shows in the way she cares for her son but also in the way she interacts with Mr. Thorne, her parents and her friend Jo. I like that she has people around her to help her out, it gave the story a lot of extra depth to me. Also her character development was very believable, as well as Mr. Thorne's.

While the story is predictable in the best possible way, the way the plot is written and twists and turns in unexpected ways made this story a delight to read. I loved how here was more to Abigail's life than just her relationship with Mr. Thorne, and how she was strong enough to deal with everything that was thrown in her path. I think the relationship with her parents deserved a little more attention, mainly because it would have shown how Abigail became the person she was and how she was able to deal with everything that happens in the book. But, I also love the psychology of relationships so maybe that's my own preference talking. That's why I also kept hoping that Mr. Thorne would open up more, giving the reader more insight into his mind. He was a mystery, even after the book had ended.

Crossing the Lines is a very comforting, nice read. The kind of book you want to read on a rainy Sunday afternoon with blanket and a hot drink of choice. I know I will be reading this book again in the future, and any book that SJ will write from this point on!
136 reviews
May 24, 2025
I quite liked this one but tbh I don’t see how it was “taboo” other than the fact that she was paid to do certain “acts.” Idk yall. People are asking how she could love him when he treated her like an employee but be sooooo for real, guys. He was crossing just as many lines as he was. He showed time and time again he cared about her feelings and treated her son kindly. He wasn’t exactly cold, either. I’d say he was more proper, polite and also had boundaries. A legit employer wouldn’t move into your kid into his house, pay for preschool, throw a birthday party and get him shit like an iPad and trip to Disneyland if he didn’t care for his employee and her well being. Not only that, she was doing a shit ton of things you’d only do for someone you love. Even though she was being paid, it makes complete sense why you would start to care for someone that you’re cooking, cleaning and laundering for once sex gets involved. Especially, when they’ve shown they’re a decent person and they’re attractive. My only complaint is that literally everything worked out for Abigail. Everything made sense and fell in line. She always had someone to watch her kid that she didn’t even have to pay. When she left Simon, her dad dies and leaves her a shit ton of money so she doesn’t even have to worry about where she’s going to stay. One of the positives in this book is definitely Jo. She was a great friend and she wasn’t the typical bff you see in romances (sassy, vulgar, quirky). I know these bffs are supposed to be either comedic relief or relatable but it was nice to see a normal ass character that had a normal life. I will say that Jo was wayyy too nice. Sooo unrealistic. She was constantly able to be emotional support, sometimes financial support and childcare support. That shit must’ve been so exhausted 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ela (Mouse333).
2,094 reviews10 followers
July 12, 2025
I really liked this book, and I even thought that the conflict was reasonable, but I needed to see more details at the end – .

Abigail is desperately looking for a job and after being rejected from a gentleman’s club, she leaves, crying. She bumps into a man who later drives up to her in his car and asks if she wants to make some money. She goes with him, but things don’t progress very far because he stops her when it’s clear how nervous she is, buys her food and gives her his card before dropping her off. They start to meet regularly so that he can control their time together and she gets paid for it.

I liked Abigail and Simon. Luke was a great character when he appeared, even though he could have been shown more. Also, I liked Jo, Abigail’s friend, who was struggling too and helped Abigail talk things through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews

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