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Blossom in Winter #1
Blossom in Winter
Petra, a seventeen-year-old Dutch-American and the only heir of finance tycoon Roy Van Gatt, has always had her life rigorously planned and supervised by her strict father. From her internship at his hedge fund firm on Wall Street to her degree in economics at Columbia University, Petra is all set for a bright future in finance.But everything falls apart when she develops a dangerous relationship with her father’s business partner and utmost confidant, Alexander Van Dieren. A Dutch nobleman, known as an unrepentant heartbreaker, twenty-three years her senior, and who is, above all else, her beloved godfather.A twisted obsession for some, unconditional love for others, but one thing is it’s a relationship that might cost them everything...This book is intended for mature audiences.
462 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2020
4822 people are currently reading
34233 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Martins
22 books2,140 followersMelanie Martins is a digital entrepreneur, travel influencer, and the author of the series "Blossom in Winter", a forbidden love story between a young heiress and her godfather. Her debut novel has been labeled as "wrong", "immoral", and by others as a "masterpiece", "phenomenal" and a "must-read" creating a dedicated, loyal fan base of lovers and haters.
When she is not behind her laptop writing, she can be found globetrotting, reading, daydreaming, and sharing her adventures on Instagram and Facebook
Born in France and raised in Portugal, she currently lives on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta and can't get enough of it.
To get a copy of Blossom in Winter, you may visit blossominwinter.com
When she is not behind her laptop writing, she can be found globetrotting, reading, daydreaming, and sharing her adventures on Instagram and Facebook
Born in France and raised in Portugal, she currently lives on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta and can't get enough of it.
To get a copy of Blossom in Winter, you may visit blossominwinter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,690 reviews
February 11, 2022
It didn't get better. It got progressively worse. 🤡
.......................................................................
This book is giving me so many weird-ass vibes it ain't even funny. I'm noping the fuck out of here while I still can: dnf at around 35%.
Two words immediately come to my mind when I think about each and every character of this book and its cringey ass dialogues:
dramatically POLITE and unintentionally CREEPY in an icky kind of way.
This story really put to the test my gag reflex.
It pissed me the fuck off so effortlessly easy, I'm almost, almost impressed.
Warning: under no circumstances am I to be held responsible for the appropriateness of the emojis below
🏴☠️ Superficial dialogue that sounds like cheesy one-liners taken from some low-quality, old, belated soap opera. 🥰
🏴☠️ "Kindly", "miss", "cordially" and other innocent words repeated hundreds and thousands of times that I grew to absolutely fucking hate 😋 due to the book.
MISS PETRA, WILL YOU KINDLY SHUT YOUR NASTY LITTLE MOUTH LIKE A CORDIAL LITTLE BITCH YOU ARE AND STOP TALKING AS IF YOU JUST CAME OUT OF A TRASHY HISTORICAL NOVEL.
Also, why did a 40-year old creep who she had been paired with by thematchmaker author have the exact same vocabulary?
🏴☠️ Not the heroine's Daddy dearest gifting the hero (aka his bestie, currently his daughter's godfather and her future old-ass boyfriend 🤢) with a submissive prostitute.
The woman (some might want to call her a gift) was kneeling naked on the floor with her lower parts exposed while the aforementioned wannabe gentlemen exchanged pleasantries, discussed the woman's BDSM experience and acted like total c̶r̶e̶e̶p̶s̶ 😇 gentlemen clad in fine suits.
The amount of vicarious embarrassment I had to experience reading those wacky fantasies about purportedly mature, rich and sexy millionaires was truly unprecedented.
Was I supposed to feel hot and bothered by pretentious ass displays of what power and money can give to aging limp dicks? Those guys were trying so hard to come off as cool and sophisticated donjuáns, it looked pathetic.
🏴☠️ "Slutty brat", "hooker" and more slut-shaming comments to come from daddy the dearest. 😍 Stay tuned.💘
Came from a guy who used the services of professional hookers on a daily basis.
🏴☠️ PETRA. PETRAAAAA. MISS FUCKING PETRAAAAAAAAA, a seventeen-year-old dumb as rocks heroine of this series (shoot me, two more books to go jssjjsjsjsj. Not in this life, though☠️) is my 13th reason .
— the heroine's reaction to being selected as a participant of the conference held in Rome at her internship.
Problems of a spoilt, privileged, ungrateful little rat. 😊
A judgmental bitch with a silver spoon in her trashy mouth looking down on her colleague with a less privileged background just because of her overt excitement over the above-mentioned conference is precisely what I call PATHETIC. 😑
I seriously can't handle being inside her head for more than a few extremely painful, derisive, laugh-inducing moments. But unfortunately, the statement applies to any other character of this shit show.
Petra was treated as a holier-than-thou little Mother Teresa by everybody and their mother, but all I wanted to do was bitch slap her face hard so that the little crumbs of her moron inner thoughts permanently left her tiny shit-for-brain.
PRIVILEGED CRAZY ASS RAT, THE AUDACITY OF THAT BITCH TO BE SO CLUELESS ABOUT THE SAD STATE OF HER IQ LEVEL. OMG.
The chick dared to showcase her contemptuous, judgmental nature so fucking openly I was lamenting the fact that she was fictional, and I couldn't punch her through the screen. Her irrelevant comments (that no fucking one had asked of her 🤩) about her mother's life choices and art were my last fucking straw. SHUT YOUR IGNORANT MOUTH, you dumb simulacrum of the real person.
*googles how to purchase a gun for free and without registration*
🏴☠️ On a serious note, her limp-dicked or dick-limped daddy dearest stalked her ass (dude, get a hobby, will you 😭) so I'm not surprised her bad genes were coming through
🏴☠️ The heroine's girlfriend calling her a "babygirl" all the fucking time and doing drugs like a pro? 🥺 A truly multidimensional character.
NOW MAY I KINDLY UNSEE THE CRINGEY, STILT DIALOGUES BETWEEN THIS ELITE PIECE OF SHIT AND HER PEDO 40 YEARS OLD ADMIRER? The shy little virgin and her demented creep of an old man had this hero (as you may have guessed, I don't remember his name. Psychic defense mechanisms, or so they say) whimpering and cowering.
The immature shit came off as more alpha than the guy. But I won't even discuss his persona here. Believe it or not, this book stripped the hero of his masculinity just fine without any outside assistance. I'm not the one to kick a man when he's already down.
My visualization of the iconic couple and their dynamics: 😍
By the way, here you can find insight into the second half of the book in case you crave fora drug-free world more info. 😂
.......................................................................
This book is giving me so many weird-ass vibes it ain't even funny. I'm noping the fuck out of here while I still can: dnf at around 35%.
Two words immediately come to my mind when I think about each and every character of this book and its cringey ass dialogues:
dramatically POLITE and unintentionally CREEPY in an icky kind of way.
This story really put to the test my gag reflex.
It pissed me the fuck off so effortlessly easy, I'm almost, almost impressed.
Warning: under no circumstances am I to be held responsible for the appropriateness of the emojis below
🏴☠️ Superficial dialogue that sounds like cheesy one-liners taken from some low-quality, old, belated soap opera. 🥰
🏴☠️ "Kindly", "miss", "cordially" and other innocent words repeated hundreds and thousands of times that I grew to absolutely fucking hate 😋 due to the book.
MISS PETRA, WILL YOU KINDLY SHUT YOUR NASTY LITTLE MOUTH LIKE A CORDIAL LITTLE BITCH YOU ARE AND STOP TALKING AS IF YOU JUST CAME OUT OF A TRASHY HISTORICAL NOVEL.
Also, why did a 40-year old creep who she had been paired with by the
🏴☠️ Not the heroine's Daddy dearest gifting the hero (aka his bestie, currently his daughter's godfather and her future old-ass boyfriend 🤢) with a submissive prostitute.
The woman (some might want to call her a gift) was kneeling naked on the floor with her lower parts exposed while the aforementioned wannabe gentlemen exchanged pleasantries, discussed the woman's BDSM experience and acted like total c̶r̶e̶e̶p̶s̶ 😇 gentlemen clad in fine suits.
The amount of vicarious embarrassment I had to experience reading those wacky fantasies about purportedly mature, rich and sexy millionaires was truly unprecedented.
Was I supposed to feel hot and bothered by pretentious ass displays of what power and money can give to aging limp dicks? Those guys were trying so hard to come off as cool and sophisticated donjuáns, it looked pathetic.
🏴☠️ "Slutty brat", "hooker" and more slut-shaming comments to come from daddy the dearest. 😍 Stay tuned.💘
Came from a guy who used the services of professional hookers on a daily basis.
🏴☠️ PETRA. PETRAAAAA. MISS FUCKING PETRAAAAAAAAA, a seventeen-year-old dumb as rocks heroine of this series (shoot me, two more books to go jssjjsjsjsj. Not in this life, though☠️) is my 13th reason .
"I hate limos"
(drives a limo)
Oh God, why me? After a few seconds of pondering, I say one word, uttered with no visible excitement. “Okay.”
— the heroine's reaction to being selected as a participant of the conference held in Rome at her internship.
Problems of a spoilt, privileged, ungrateful little rat. 😊
In fact, Jess has gone overboard in getting ready for the trip: ivory pantsuit, beige pumps, red lipstick, and some gold jewelry, which makes her look even older than usual. I roll my eyes. Pathetic.
A judgmental bitch with a silver spoon in her trashy mouth looking down on her colleague with a less privileged background just because of her overt excitement over the above-mentioned conference is precisely what I call PATHETIC. 😑
I’m not even eighteen, yet here I am getting my own fund to invest in my biggest passion. I know I would’ve never had such an opportunity if I wasn’t a Van Gatt, but right now, at this precise moment, no one on this floor knows it but me.
I seriously can't handle being inside her head for more than a few extremely painful, derisive, laugh-inducing moments. But unfortunately, the statement applies to any other character of this shit show.
Petra was treated as a holier-than-thou little Mother Teresa by everybody and their mother, but all I wanted to do was bitch slap her face hard so that the little crumbs of her moron inner thoughts permanently left her tiny shit-for-brain.
PRIVILEGED CRAZY ASS RAT, THE AUDACITY OF THAT BITCH TO BE SO CLUELESS ABOUT THE SAD STATE OF HER IQ LEVEL. OMG.
The chick dared to showcase her contemptuous, judgmental nature so fucking openly I was lamenting the fact that she was fictional, and I couldn't punch her through the screen. Her irrelevant comments (that no fucking one had asked of her 🤩) about her mother's life choices and art were my last fucking straw. SHUT YOUR IGNORANT MOUTH, you dumb simulacrum of the real person.
*googles how to purchase a gun for free and without registration*
🏴☠️ On a serious note, her limp-dicked or dick-limped daddy dearest stalked her ass (dude, get a hobby, will you 😭) so I'm not surprised her bad genes were coming through
🏴☠️ The heroine's girlfriend calling her a "babygirl" all the fucking time and doing drugs like a pro? 🥺 A truly multidimensional character.
NOW MAY I KINDLY UNSEE THE CRINGEY, STILT DIALOGUES BETWEEN THIS ELITE PIECE OF SHIT AND HER PEDO 40 YEARS OLD ADMIRER? The shy little virgin and her demented creep of an old man had this hero (as you may have guessed, I don't remember his name. Psychic defense mechanisms, or so they say) whimpering and cowering.
The immature shit came off as more alpha than the guy. But I won't even discuss his persona here. Believe it or not, this book stripped the hero of his masculinity just fine without any outside assistance. I'm not the one to kick a man when he's already down.
My visualization of the iconic couple and their dynamics: 😍
By the way, here you can find insight into the second half of the book in case you crave for
October 28, 2019
I was excited for this book to come out, truly. I was waiting eagerly for the 28th of October for it to come out on Kindle. I'm always on the lookout for age-gap romance novels, and this just sounded very intriguing!
I'm astounded by the amount of 5-star reviews on this book. It was not an enjoyable read for me at all, apart from the parts where I was laughing so much at the ridiculous things that happen in the story. There's so much wrong with this book, I can't even mention all of it here. I will put parts of my review under a spoiler just in case you want to read it yourself, but honestly, don't put yourself through that.
The writing is very weak, especially when it comes to the characters. No one has any defining personality traits, we are told Petra is shy, introverted, and antisocial, but she agrees to go to every party she's invited to, throws herself at guys she's attracted to, and seems to have no problem arguing with people to get her way.
Petra is supposed to be the protagonist but there are things that happen to her that we don't find out until much later, like
Some other strange writing choices include:
- Emma, a teenage girl, tying up a teenage boy in her basement and hitting him with a baseball bat. Something you should probably go to jail for.
- Petra getting a shady fake ID so she can attend her internship at her dad's company under a fake name, even though she already had the internship before she decided on the name change.
- Petra being on the phone with Emma, but we can only read Petra's side of the conversation (even though the story is written from the first person).
-
The book constantly switches POVs, even within scenes. It often switches to the POV of characters we've never had a POV of before, that don't NEED a POV, that frankly shouldn't have one, and it feels extremely messy. All these POV chapters are written in the first person, but none of the characters have distinct enough personalities for it to matter. We barely get to know people's thoughts at all, and definitly not in an interesting way.
I was hoping maybe the romance would have saved the book, but her relationship with Alex feels very... strange. People keep reminding them that Petra was in love with him when she was 7 years old, and at some point Alex's mother says something like "You stole her heart, and she stole yours when she was 7." Now, I don't know about you, but when I want to read an age-gap story I don't want to read about a romance that started when the younger person was literally a child. In my opinion there is also very little chemistry between them. Petra's friend Emma is more interested in Alex than Petra herself is. They are barely interested in each other at all, until at some point they kiss and are in love?
The sex scenes weren't the most terrible, I guess, although I thought it was hilarious that Petra had apparently never masturbated before even though she's clearly had interest in sex. What was terrible is
I could go on and on about my problems with this book. I'm not in the habit of writing negative reviews, but I didn't want my 6+ hours of reading this to completely go to waste.
I'm astounded by the amount of 5-star reviews on this book. It was not an enjoyable read for me at all, apart from the parts where I was laughing so much at the ridiculous things that happen in the story. There's so much wrong with this book, I can't even mention all of it here. I will put parts of my review under a spoiler just in case you want to read it yourself, but honestly, don't put yourself through that.
The writing is very weak, especially when it comes to the characters. No one has any defining personality traits, we are told Petra is shy, introverted, and antisocial, but she agrees to go to every party she's invited to, throws herself at guys she's attracted to, and seems to have no problem arguing with people to get her way.
Petra is supposed to be the protagonist but there are things that happen to her that we don't find out until much later, like
Some other strange writing choices include:
- Emma, a teenage girl, tying up a teenage boy in her basement and hitting him with a baseball bat. Something you should probably go to jail for.
- Petra getting a shady fake ID so she can attend her internship at her dad's company under a fake name, even though she already had the internship before she decided on the name change.
- Petra being on the phone with Emma, but we can only read Petra's side of the conversation (even though the story is written from the first person).
-
The book constantly switches POVs, even within scenes. It often switches to the POV of characters we've never had a POV of before, that don't NEED a POV, that frankly shouldn't have one, and it feels extremely messy. All these POV chapters are written in the first person, but none of the characters have distinct enough personalities for it to matter. We barely get to know people's thoughts at all, and definitly not in an interesting way.
I was hoping maybe the romance would have saved the book, but her relationship with Alex feels very... strange. People keep reminding them that Petra was in love with him when she was 7 years old, and at some point Alex's mother says something like "You stole her heart, and she stole yours when she was 7." Now, I don't know about you, but when I want to read an age-gap story I don't want to read about a romance that started when the younger person was literally a child. In my opinion there is also very little chemistry between them. Petra's friend Emma is more interested in Alex than Petra herself is. They are barely interested in each other at all, until at some point they kiss and are in love?
The sex scenes weren't the most terrible, I guess, although I thought it was hilarious that Petra had apparently never masturbated before even though she's clearly had interest in sex. What was terrible is
I could go on and on about my problems with this book. I'm not in the habit of writing negative reviews, but I didn't want my 6+ hours of reading this to completely go to waste.
March 6, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Blossom in the Winter, book 1 of 4. A must-read ultra-forbidden romance!
Books should be read in order:
Book 1: Blossom in Winter
Book 2: Lured into Love
Book 3: Lured into Lies
Book 4: Defying Eternity
Book 5.1-5.2: Happily Ever After, Part I & II
Book 5.3-5.4: Happily Ever After, Part III & IV
I will be in hibernation until book 3
🎨 To-die-for top-10 hero
🎨 Favorite heroine
🎨 A-mazing couple
🎨 Money, sex, power, secrets, intrigue & betrayal
October 28, 2019
Giving this even one single star is too generous.
The premise excited me since I've always been a fan of age-gap relationships, but from the very first page this novel had me laughing and not in a good way. The writing is stilted and there are little to no transitions between scenes. Some of the language is contrived and just doesn't fit the context of the story, and actually I found myself cringing quite often at the dialogue. None of the characters have a definable personality and they're all annoying and unlikable. Petra is said to be naive and innocent and yet at every turn of the page she's flirting with guys she barely knows. Her relationship with Alex - the focal point of this novel - seems very flimsy and wishy-washy. Indeed, all the characters interact with each other like they're all hollow cut-outs. After about a hundred or so pages, I resorted to skimming the rest of the novel because it was simply that unbearable to keep reading. There's also a literal rape later on, and Petra and Alex's relationship is 'taboo' not because of the age gap, but because of the way he treats her. This story isn't filled with "twists" - it's simply bad, unpredictable writing.
Literally do yourself a favor and do not read this book. It's awful. I don't know how it has so many four- and five-star reviews. It certainly doesn't deserve them. This story has no redeemable qualities.
The premise excited me since I've always been a fan of age-gap relationships, but from the very first page this novel had me laughing and not in a good way. The writing is stilted and there are little to no transitions between scenes. Some of the language is contrived and just doesn't fit the context of the story, and actually I found myself cringing quite often at the dialogue. None of the characters have a definable personality and they're all annoying and unlikable. Petra is said to be naive and innocent and yet at every turn of the page she's flirting with guys she barely knows. Her relationship with Alex - the focal point of this novel - seems very flimsy and wishy-washy. Indeed, all the characters interact with each other like they're all hollow cut-outs. After about a hundred or so pages, I resorted to skimming the rest of the novel because it was simply that unbearable to keep reading. There's also a literal rape later on, and Petra and Alex's relationship is 'taboo' not because of the age gap, but because of the way he treats her. This story isn't filled with "twists" - it's simply bad, unpredictable writing.
Literally do yourself a favor and do not read this book. It's awful. I don't know how it has so many four- and five-star reviews. It certainly doesn't deserve them. This story has no redeemable qualities.
November 17, 2019
“You are curious. Very curious. I love it. Never stop being curious, Ms. Van Gatt. Curiosity is what makes life exciting.”
Ohhhh this was good. Thank You Aisha!!
First and foremost, let me explain you my feelings...
I cannot understand how someone cannot enjoy this book. Petra is so strong and smart. This book has got everything: strong heroine, pure love, cute romance (hello! They go to Rome and Brazil!), and dark and twisted erotica.
This book doesn't follow a typical age-gap romance formula which makes it quite original and real. This is no fairytale, this is raw, forbidden, wrong, and beautiful. Oh and this book is dark... really. I thought I had the storyline all figured it out and BOOM I was wrong.
***This review contains some spoilers***
Since I love gifs, let me explain you my journey with this book.
First 2 Chapters: We meet Petra Van Gatt and Emma Hasenfratz, Petra's bestie and a crazy bitch. Oh, and her overprotective father, tycoon billionaire, Roy Van Gatt.
Then Chapter 3 we meet our hero (or anti-hero?) Alex.
This is where things get really interesting. Because we get his POV too!! And we get to know how he is with other women and how he is a... well, not gonna spoil. He disappeared during 10 years and one day he comes back to New York and Petra is pretty mad at him since he is her godfather and he disappeared during all this time without saying a word.
The plot is sweet and innocent between the two. They are really cute as friends. He never has any sexual thought about her during the whole time we have his POV. He loves her as a friend/goddaughter and I love it. That's why this book is so brilliant, because we feel the chemistry, the cuteness, the affection between the two, but it's not sexual. Their love is not sexualized.
I read some 1-star haters, and I'm sorry, I don't agree. Love is not sexual. Sex and love are two different things. He loves her but doesn't want to be sexually involved with her.
Until one day (or one night)... in Rome... Big Mistake.
But for me, I was already like...
And then, everything starts intensifying...
From a cute, innocent romantic story we start progressively falling into a dark erotic one...
Until one mind-blowing scene happens!!! Yes, you know which one if you read the book.
And I got pretty pissed off!
But then, another one happens! The fight-back one. And I'm all over the place!
And then PLOT TWIST. And everything changes.
The next couple of chapters, I was dropping some tears because I knew it won't end well...
Me at Chapter 35 when I realize the book is over.
Is there violence in this book? Yes
Is there some abusive scenes? Yes.
Is it a great book? Hell yeah!
Book 2, come to me... Please...
Ohhhh this was good. Thank You Aisha!!
First and foremost, let me explain you my feelings...
I cannot understand how someone cannot enjoy this book. Petra is so strong and smart. This book has got everything: strong heroine, pure love, cute romance (hello! They go to Rome and Brazil!), and dark and twisted erotica.
This book doesn't follow a typical age-gap romance formula which makes it quite original and real. This is no fairytale, this is raw, forbidden, wrong, and beautiful. Oh and this book is dark... really. I thought I had the storyline all figured it out and BOOM I was wrong.
***This review contains some spoilers***
Since I love gifs, let me explain you my journey with this book.
First 2 Chapters: We meet Petra Van Gatt and Emma Hasenfratz, Petra's bestie and a crazy bitch. Oh, and her overprotective father, tycoon billionaire, Roy Van Gatt.
Then Chapter 3 we meet our hero (or anti-hero?) Alex.
This is where things get really interesting. Because we get his POV too!! And we get to know how he is with other women and how he is a... well, not gonna spoil. He disappeared during 10 years and one day he comes back to New York and Petra is pretty mad at him since he is her godfather and he disappeared during all this time without saying a word.
The plot is sweet and innocent between the two. They are really cute as friends. He never has any sexual thought about her during the whole time we have his POV. He loves her as a friend/goddaughter and I love it. That's why this book is so brilliant, because we feel the chemistry, the cuteness, the affection between the two, but it's not sexual. Their love is not sexualized.
I read some 1-star haters, and I'm sorry, I don't agree. Love is not sexual. Sex and love are two different things. He loves her but doesn't want to be sexually involved with her.
Until one day (or one night)... in Rome... Big Mistake.
But for me, I was already like...
And then, everything starts intensifying...
From a cute, innocent romantic story we start progressively falling into a dark erotic one...
Until one mind-blowing scene happens!!! Yes, you know which one if you read the book.
And I got pretty pissed off!
But then, another one happens! The fight-back one. And I'm all over the place!
And then PLOT TWIST. And everything changes.
The next couple of chapters, I was dropping some tears because I knew it won't end well...
Me at Chapter 35 when I realize the book is over.
Is there violence in this book? Yes
Is there some abusive scenes? Yes.
Is it a great book? Hell yeah!
Book 2, come to me... Please...
February 16, 2021
40 yr old creepy pedo hero who was the 17-yr-old-heroine's friend 10 yrs prior, meaning she was 7? Ugh.
February 9, 2022
Yikes. 😬😬😬
I'm just gonna list why its 1-star:
- multiple POVs - we're in the heads of all major characters - it was super chaotic 😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫
- so many plots - just waaaaay too much going on ... it made it difficult to dig into the story - this author really needed to pick a lane.
- every single character I disliked on a deep and visceral level -- all entitled pricks with little redeeming value.
- virgin turn porn star 🙄🙄🙄
- h runs the entire show with the H - she's manipulative and aggressive, while acting VERY 17
- didn't feel their connection 🤷🏼♀️
- the H is supposedly a Dom but is nothing but a submissive simp for the h 🙄
- on page intimacy with OW (a prostitute submissive) multiple times without any resolution or point 🥴
- naive virgin h turned dominatrix handing out a vicious flogging to the H while he wimpers and cries into a pillow 👀
- the h lying to the H about birth control and intentionally getting pregnant 😐
- the H demanding the h TERMINATE their baby or their engagement is off - despite the fact that they are rich as sin and he wants a child with her - he just doesn't want to man-up and tell her dad 😵💫😵💫🤯🤯
- the h miscarrying the baby and immediately forgiving the H for asking her to terminate (because that was a better option than having a f*cking adult conversation with his friend😒). 🤯🤯🤯
- that there are more books with this train-wreck of a couple. 😵💫
Bottom Line? I wish I could erase this dumpster fire from my mind. I skimmed most of the book just out of morbid curiosity. 😬😅😱. ⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating - the H has a hooker acting as a submissive occupying his home, waiting for him on her knees and naked... so while he's not with the h at the time that this woman resides in his apartment, we do have to endure him spending time with the h, knowing she's in love with him, and have him thinking about his sub at his house, and seeing him get bjs from her when he comes back from time with the h.... so technically not cheating, because they aren't together yet... but EEEEEWWWWWWW 🥴😵💫🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮
- no sharing
- OW drama - prostitute at his house.... the h never finds out about her.... also the H tries to start a relationship with a mutual friend, and the h has to watch them together at a wedding... holding hands and dancing. - the h sees the H flirting with loads of women when out on the town.
- OM drama - the H's brother is into the h and tries to assault her, the H rescues... the h tries to make the H jealous by flirting with her boss and the h tries to make the H jealous by dancing with a guy at the wedding and leaving with him
- dubcon - there's 1 scene where the H shows a little of his Dom kink - after they have a very established consensual sex life, he takes her abruptly and roughly, and doesn't let her finish... she's thinking the whole time that she's a little scared and a lot turned on and she never tells him no... so its whatever... It seemed consensual to me, since she didn't resist or tell him no and seemed mostly into it.... but she does get mad at him after the fact 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
- attempted sexual assault on the h by the H's younger brother
- BDSM lite - he picks out her pjs every night - she has to ask to be excused from the table - she flogs him - he "uses" her once - and then there's the kneeling naked submissive he kept at his apartment before he is in a relationship with the h
- h is a 17-yr old virgin - they do not have intercourse until her 18th birthday, but they do mess around before that
- H is a 40-yr old experienced man - he recently ended a 10 year relationship with a woman - apparently he has a well known BDSM kink
- H is a stickler for condoms up until he sexes up the h - no condoms used with the h - and it is established that he has been tested and clean - the h tells him she's on birth control
- the h tricks the H into getting her pregnant
- abortion discussed
- miscarriage
- not a cliffhanger but not an HEA either - their story continues into more book(s)
I'm just gonna list why its 1-star:
- multiple POVs - we're in the heads of all major characters - it was super chaotic 😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫
- so many plots - just waaaaay too much going on ... it made it difficult to dig into the story - this author really needed to pick a lane.
- every single character I disliked on a deep and visceral level -- all entitled pricks with little redeeming value.
- virgin turn porn star 🙄🙄🙄
- h runs the entire show with the H - she's manipulative and aggressive, while acting VERY 17
- didn't feel their connection 🤷🏼♀️
- the H is supposedly a Dom but is nothing but a submissive simp for the h 🙄
- on page intimacy with OW (a prostitute submissive) multiple times without any resolution or point 🥴
- naive virgin h turned dominatrix handing out a vicious flogging to the H while he wimpers and cries into a pillow 👀
- the h lying to the H about birth control and intentionally getting pregnant 😐
- the H demanding the h TERMINATE their baby or their engagement is off - despite the fact that they are rich as sin and he wants a child with her - he just doesn't want to man-up and tell her dad 😵💫😵💫🤯🤯
- the h miscarrying the baby and immediately forgiving the H for asking her to terminate (because that was a better option than having a f*cking adult conversation with his friend😒). 🤯🤯🤯
- that there are more books with this train-wreck of a couple. 😵💫
Bottom Line? I wish I could erase this dumpster fire from my mind. I skimmed most of the book just out of morbid curiosity. 😬😅😱. ⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating - the H has a hooker acting as a submissive occupying his home, waiting for him on her knees and naked... so while he's not with the h at the time that this woman resides in his apartment, we do have to endure him spending time with the h, knowing she's in love with him, and have him thinking about his sub at his house, and seeing him get bjs from her when he comes back from time with the h.... so technically not cheating, because they aren't together yet... but EEEEEWWWWWWW 🥴😵💫🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮
- no sharing
- OW drama - prostitute at his house.... the h never finds out about her.... also the H tries to start a relationship with a mutual friend, and the h has to watch them together at a wedding... holding hands and dancing. - the h sees the H flirting with loads of women when out on the town.
- OM drama - the H's brother is into the h and tries to assault her, the H rescues... the h tries to make the H jealous by flirting with her boss and the h tries to make the H jealous by dancing with a guy at the wedding and leaving with him
- dubcon - there's 1 scene where the H shows a little of his Dom kink - after they have a very established consensual sex life, he takes her abruptly and roughly, and doesn't let her finish... she's thinking the whole time that she's a little scared and a lot turned on and she never tells him no... so its whatever... It seemed consensual to me, since she didn't resist or tell him no and seemed mostly into it.... but she does get mad at him after the fact 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
- attempted sexual assault on the h by the H's younger brother
- BDSM lite - he picks out her pjs every night - she has to ask to be excused from the table - she flogs him - he "uses" her once - and then there's the kneeling naked submissive he kept at his apartment before he is in a relationship with the h
- h is a 17-yr old virgin - they do not have intercourse until her 18th birthday, but they do mess around before that
- H is a 40-yr old experienced man - he recently ended a 10 year relationship with a woman - apparently he has a well known BDSM kink
- H is a stickler for condoms up until he sexes up the h - no condoms used with the h - and it is established that he has been tested and clean - the h tells him she's on birth control
- the h tricks the H into getting her pregnant
- abortion discussed
- miscarriage
- not a cliffhanger but not an HEA either - their story continues into more book(s)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2020
I had to give this a go since I am a sucker for age-gaps. It started interesting, with lots of potentials. However, there were moments that the plot went so off the track making certain things hard to swallow. I would rather have a simple plot than so many incredible twists.
My niggles.
My niggles.
December 14, 2019
This book is in a class by itself: erotic, dark, twisted, forbidden, wrong, you name it. And I love it! 😍
UPDATE: I paid £7,99 for my ebook copy. But I received a first version of this book back in September 2019.
I created a Goodreads profile just because of this book. See, I like to read, but I’m not much into writing reviews. I like dark romances so when the publisher was giving this ebook to members of our club, I, of course, accepted. And let me tell you… Oh boy. I couldn’t put it down. My friends who also got a copy couldn’t either. They warned me. But I thought I could stop. The Prologue got me hooked straight away and I had to read more and more until it was 4 AM and I had to wake up at 7 for work. Yeah, great. So warning to everyone who wants to read it: don’t start at night. Start in the morning because you will want to spend all day on it.
First and foremost: Read the disclaimer. There is a big one in the beginning. So before you get all shocked, read it. This book is graphic, emotionally charged, provocative, and controversial (aka it's gonna trigger some folks). For me, bring it all! I loved this book and every single scene (just as many many other people). But for others, it might be "ick", "disgusting", and all, because... age-gap (just in case you didn't know). Oh, and the D/s dynamics between Mr. Van Dieren and Ms. Van Gatt (if you don't know what it means, google it). So for those of you who don't like this type of dynamics in romances, pack your stuffs, and leave the room. Also, I will not debate or engage in any "it's an abusive relationship", "he is grooming her..." kind of bla bla, so don't bother to bring your hate on my review. Thank You!
For me, this book was a goddamn roller coaster. Some said better than FSoG, and I agree! The characters are deep and complex, and you might not grasp their personalities if you try to put them in boxes.
I read it in one day and one night. And it has 36 chapters! I devoured it. I had so much fun. This is the first of a series so I just hope the author will release the next one very soon. <3
"If my father is known to have a devoted network of friends and minions at his service, I seem to be the one working the hardest to avoid his displeasure."
I love Petra's character. Despite doing everything to please her strict father and playing the perfect and mature daughter, we understand since the beginning that Ms. Van Gatt craves for freedom, new experiences, and maybe some romantic adventures...
I don't want to do any spoiler because one must simply read it, but I will say this: hate it or love it, this book will consume you, bring you a lot of mixed emotions, and, at the end, you'll either want more or... trash about it. For those of you not used to read erotic romances, please read the disclaimer at the beginning. Really. Do it. It helps to manage expectations. Otherwise the graphic (although wonderfully written) erotic scenes might shock you and make your cheeks flush (just like another reader pointed out). And I'm not talking about missionary sex here... Nope. But if you want to give it a read with an open mind, then, let me tell you, it's totally worth it.
You are welcome :)
UPDATE: I paid £7,99 for my ebook copy. But I received a first version of this book back in September 2019.
I created a Goodreads profile just because of this book. See, I like to read, but I’m not much into writing reviews. I like dark romances so when the publisher was giving this ebook to members of our club, I, of course, accepted. And let me tell you… Oh boy. I couldn’t put it down. My friends who also got a copy couldn’t either. They warned me. But I thought I could stop. The Prologue got me hooked straight away and I had to read more and more until it was 4 AM and I had to wake up at 7 for work. Yeah, great. So warning to everyone who wants to read it: don’t start at night. Start in the morning because you will want to spend all day on it.
First and foremost: Read the disclaimer. There is a big one in the beginning. So before you get all shocked, read it. This book is graphic, emotionally charged, provocative, and controversial (aka it's gonna trigger some folks). For me, bring it all! I loved this book and every single scene (just as many many other people). But for others, it might be "ick", "disgusting", and all, because... age-gap (just in case you didn't know). Oh, and the D/s dynamics between Mr. Van Dieren and Ms. Van Gatt (if you don't know what it means, google it). So for those of you who don't like this type of dynamics in romances, pack your stuffs, and leave the room. Also, I will not debate or engage in any "it's an abusive relationship", "he is grooming her..." kind of bla bla, so don't bother to bring your hate on my review. Thank You!
For me, this book was a goddamn roller coaster. Some said better than FSoG, and I agree! The characters are deep and complex, and you might not grasp their personalities if you try to put them in boxes.
I read it in one day and one night. And it has 36 chapters! I devoured it. I had so much fun. This is the first of a series so I just hope the author will release the next one very soon. <3
"If my father is known to have a devoted network of friends and minions at his service, I seem to be the one working the hardest to avoid his displeasure."
I love Petra's character. Despite doing everything to please her strict father and playing the perfect and mature daughter, we understand since the beginning that Ms. Van Gatt craves for freedom, new experiences, and maybe some romantic adventures...
I don't want to do any spoiler because one must simply read it, but I will say this: hate it or love it, this book will consume you, bring you a lot of mixed emotions, and, at the end, you'll either want more or... trash about it. For those of you not used to read erotic romances, please read the disclaimer at the beginning. Really. Do it. It helps to manage expectations. Otherwise the graphic (although wonderfully written) erotic scenes might shock you and make your cheeks flush (just like another reader pointed out). And I'm not talking about missionary sex here... Nope. But if you want to give it a read with an open mind, then, let me tell you, it's totally worth it.
You are welcome :)
November 13, 2019
DNF and super salty about how bad this was. I feel punked. I feel like I got husseled in to some sort of scam for the amount of money on KU that I had to pay. I did that because of all the 5 star ratings before the book was even released!! There's absolutely no way this thing has ANY real 5 star reviews...let alone 250+ at the time I write this review...
Premise of this story:
Petra and Alex meet lots of people and say things like, "It is so nice to meet you. You look divine in that dress!", and "I am so glad to meet you. Merry Chistmas!".
Then, in between their meet and greets, they have sex with no talking (but LOTS of thoughts) and Petra says "Ahhhh.." every so often.
Petra frequently acts and thinks like a sheltered teenager. Alex drinks a lot of expensive, manly alcohol. Throw in a little unexpected yet completely random "drama" that miraculously resolves itself before you get too many details as to why or how it happened. Nothing was consistent. The editing was bad. How did she get me to pay almost $10 for this crap. Blah blah blah. I started skimming before I hit the 50% mark. I couldn't fathom reading another word at 88%.
If you couldn't tell, I am extremely put off by this whole experience.
Premise of this story:
Petra and Alex meet lots of people and say things like, "It is so nice to meet you. You look divine in that dress!", and "I am so glad to meet you. Merry Chistmas!".
Then, in between their meet and greets, they have sex with no talking (but LOTS of thoughts) and Petra says "Ahhhh.." every so often.
Petra frequently acts and thinks like a sheltered teenager. Alex drinks a lot of expensive, manly alcohol. Throw in a little unexpected yet completely random "drama" that miraculously resolves itself before you get too many details as to why or how it happened. Nothing was consistent. The editing was bad. How did she get me to pay almost $10 for this crap. Blah blah blah. I started skimming before I hit the 50% mark. I couldn't fathom reading another word at 88%.
If you couldn't tell, I am extremely put off by this whole experience.
November 18, 2024
How, and I mean HOW, does this book have so many good reviews?! It is straight up awful. Horrendous. Terrible. A crime. Reads like ESL amateur hour. Derivative and unskilled and embarrassing. The only way I got through reading (aka skimming) this travesty, was the joy I took in cataloguing all of the idiocy. Listen, I'm bored and have a lot of time on my hands, so I'm reading anything & everything and also have the time for looooong-winded negative reviews!
I would venture to say that not a single character in this book makes any sense. Previously established attitudes/behavior/beliefs/style of dress go by the wayside constantly (For example: how is it that the girl who wears an old-fashioned dress to a high school party also chooses to constantly wear jeans to her internship at an investment firm / aka very corporate environment? Why would this timid & shy agoraphobic say yes to every damn social outing and constantly throw attitude around like a psycho-brat?)
I have a million bad things to say about this book, but I'll just rattle off a long-ass list of things as they occur to me:
- The general plot is patently ridiculous
- The writing is baaaaad - the attempts at male POV are particularly awful. It's written in awkwardly short sentences, and long descriptions are given to irrelevant things, while crucial information frequently falls by the wayside.
- Random POVs of other characters out of nowhere and serve very little purpose. None of the POVs have their own tone, all characters sound the same because the writing is atrocious.
- An ungodly amount of "Pfff" and "Damn" throughout
- There are endless random moments that just don’t add up - for example: the day of Petra’s graduation party, she and her father travel in cold silence to the party together, and he immediately abandons her to speak with his friends upon their arrival. Yet mere minutes later when she gets to their table, he greets her warmly and she runs into his open arms for an embrace as if they haven’t seen each other in ages. It’s dumb & doesn't make any sense (SENSING A THEME?)
- The fact that Petra's godfather - apparently one of the most important people in her life - was missing for 10 years is because when she was 7 she said he could only marry her. That's it. She said a thing that a lot of kids say about adults they like. But this book turns that into something sordid & humiliating, creating an odd sexual undertone, which in turn leaves the reader in the unenviable position of presuming that it... was sexual?
- The fake ID (procured by her father) is because Petra wants no special treatment at her internship (for which she was already hired with her real name BTW) which is even more hilarious when you consider the fact that she was blasé and late on her first day, and then a few hours in was angling for the control of an investment fund... which she was given. Yeah, you say no to that special treatment Petra, good job!
- Speaking of the fake ID, it's a great example of characters making NO SENSE. Her father was established as an incredibly controlling psycho-helicopter dad, SO why why why is he giving his 17 year old daughter a fake ID that will get her into bars, hm? Further example, after not allowing her to attend any parties, he's casually watching her dry hump a rando on the dance floor and then go off and carouse with some drunk drivers...Also also, he just goes ahead and accepts the relationship with Alex with almost no pushback, which, like, WUT
- Caricatures as characters (eg every boy Petra has interactions with: skeez-monster! rape monster! sleazy boss-monster! drunk creep-monster!)
- Use of "cum" and "cumming" is very LOL.
- A particular pet peeve of mine is when writers fail to use contractions for dialogue, it reads & sounds clunky and unnatural.
- I have a genuine problem with our "hero" (quotation marks because I use the term loosely) constantly describing our "heroine" as childlike and childish when he wants to fuck her. Also astounded that his only reason for a fuck-delay is because he wants parental approval, not because he wants to avoid, oh I don't know, statutory rape?
- another big LOL to a recently de-flowered girl aggressively angling for anal on day 2
- speaking of de-flowering, homeboy just went straight for the goal with no foreplay... so dreamy.
- Emma, her supposed "bestie" how & why?!?
- in what I suspect is the authors unsuccessful attempt to make Petra seem more mature, she is incredibly rude whenever her acquaintances show excitement in reaction to fancy things (eg wanting a picture on a private jet or in front of a rare car) Petra, privileged cunty bitch that she is, deems a desire for such photos as “pathetic” and “embarrassing”
- Petra is simply UNABLE to comprehend her mother’s anger at her relationship! 2 gems from that convo: a) the psychic prediction LOLOL b) “Mom, this mental illness is called love. I’m sorry if you’ve never been ill like me” LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
- Guess what else I hate? When something not even remotely funny or clever is said by a character and everyone “bursts into laughter”. This happens often throughout the course of this train wreck. HAHAHAHA!
- Eyeroll at the S&M and NDA (very fucking derivative) In this case it's also done badly. Surprise-attack rough fucking with no warning or foreplay is just a bewildering move. And an inexperienced child-bride's response of aggressive whipping is just... so fucking dumb.
- the pregnancy is baffling and dumb as well - odd to be in Petra's POV when she makes a choice to be a huge fucking liar about birth control, yet we as readers are unaware of it.
- The attempt at drama with Alex & Roy's murdery past is yet another dumb fucking thing.
- The subconscious fighting off the coma was SO STUPID- Awakening from a long coma, unsure if you can ever ever forgive your godfatherlover, then chuckling and immediately proposing... like of course that's what happened. It's so so so bad.
- I've run out of steam now, but suffice it to say this is one big pile of suck
I would venture to say that not a single character in this book makes any sense. Previously established attitudes/behavior/beliefs/style of dress go by the wayside constantly (For example: how is it that the girl who wears an old-fashioned dress to a high school party also chooses to constantly wear jeans to her internship at an investment firm / aka very corporate environment? Why would this timid & shy agoraphobic say yes to every damn social outing and constantly throw attitude around like a psycho-brat?)
I have a million bad things to say about this book, but I'll just rattle off a long-ass list of things as they occur to me:
- The general plot is patently ridiculous
- The writing is baaaaad - the attempts at male POV are particularly awful. It's written in awkwardly short sentences, and long descriptions are given to irrelevant things, while crucial information frequently falls by the wayside.
- Random POVs of other characters out of nowhere and serve very little purpose. None of the POVs have their own tone, all characters sound the same because the writing is atrocious.
- An ungodly amount of "Pfff" and "Damn" throughout
- There are endless random moments that just don’t add up - for example: the day of Petra’s graduation party, she and her father travel in cold silence to the party together, and he immediately abandons her to speak with his friends upon their arrival. Yet mere minutes later when she gets to their table, he greets her warmly and she runs into his open arms for an embrace as if they haven’t seen each other in ages. It’s dumb & doesn't make any sense (SENSING A THEME?)
- The fact that Petra's godfather - apparently one of the most important people in her life - was missing for 10 years is because when she was 7 she said he could only marry her. That's it. She said a thing that a lot of kids say about adults they like. But this book turns that into something sordid & humiliating, creating an odd sexual undertone, which in turn leaves the reader in the unenviable position of presuming that it... was sexual?
- The fake ID (procured by her father) is because Petra wants no special treatment at her internship (for which she was already hired with her real name BTW) which is even more hilarious when you consider the fact that she was blasé and late on her first day, and then a few hours in was angling for the control of an investment fund... which she was given. Yeah, you say no to that special treatment Petra, good job!
- Speaking of the fake ID, it's a great example of characters making NO SENSE. Her father was established as an incredibly controlling psycho-helicopter dad, SO why why why is he giving his 17 year old daughter a fake ID that will get her into bars, hm? Further example, after not allowing her to attend any parties, he's casually watching her dry hump a rando on the dance floor and then go off and carouse with some drunk drivers...Also also, he just goes ahead and accepts the relationship with Alex with almost no pushback, which, like, WUT
- Caricatures as characters (eg every boy Petra has interactions with: skeez-monster! rape monster! sleazy boss-monster! drunk creep-monster!)
- Use of "cum" and "cumming" is very LOL.
- A particular pet peeve of mine is when writers fail to use contractions for dialogue, it reads & sounds clunky and unnatural.
- I have a genuine problem with our "hero" (quotation marks because I use the term loosely) constantly describing our "heroine" as childlike and childish when he wants to fuck her. Also astounded that his only reason for a fuck-delay is because he wants parental approval, not because he wants to avoid, oh I don't know, statutory rape?
- another big LOL to a recently de-flowered girl aggressively angling for anal on day 2
- speaking of de-flowering, homeboy just went straight for the goal with no foreplay... so dreamy.
- Emma, her supposed "bestie" how & why?!?
- in what I suspect is the authors unsuccessful attempt to make Petra seem more mature, she is incredibly rude whenever her acquaintances show excitement in reaction to fancy things (eg wanting a picture on a private jet or in front of a rare car) Petra, privileged cunty bitch that she is, deems a desire for such photos as “pathetic” and “embarrassing”
- Petra is simply UNABLE to comprehend her mother’s anger at her relationship! 2 gems from that convo: a) the psychic prediction LOLOL b) “Mom, this mental illness is called love. I’m sorry if you’ve never been ill like me” LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
- Guess what else I hate? When something not even remotely funny or clever is said by a character and everyone “bursts into laughter”. This happens often throughout the course of this train wreck. HAHAHAHA!
- Eyeroll at the S&M and NDA (very fucking derivative) In this case it's also done badly. Surprise-attack rough fucking with no warning or foreplay is just a bewildering move. And an inexperienced child-bride's response of aggressive whipping is just... so fucking dumb.
- the pregnancy is baffling and dumb as well - odd to be in Petra's POV when she makes a choice to be a huge fucking liar about birth control, yet we as readers are unaware of it.
- The attempt at drama with Alex & Roy's murdery past is yet another dumb fucking thing.
- The subconscious fighting off the coma was SO STUPID- Awakening from a long coma, unsure if you can ever ever forgive your godfatherlover, then chuckling and immediately proposing... like of course that's what happened. It's so so so bad.
- I've run out of steam now, but suffice it to say this is one big pile of suck
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2024
DNF.
The writing was that of a robot. I made it halfway through chapter three when I couldn’t stop cringing and had to put it down.
The plot sounded so good too. Wish I could’ve enjoyed this one.
The writing was that of a robot. I made it halfway through chapter three when I couldn’t stop cringing and had to put it down.
The plot sounded so good too. Wish I could’ve enjoyed this one.
November 22, 2019
Did someone say a dark and intense forbidden story between a young heiress and her godfather?
Let me be clear: I read nearly every single review, from 5 to 1 stars here. And when I realized that the main complaint was the dark erotica and how the relationship was too intense, my decision was quickly made.
I clicked. I read. And now I'm a fool because I need book 2 in my life and I don't have it.
But back to the review:
No-Insta Lust/sex - check
Real feelings and affection between H/h - check
Forbidden and inner-conflicts - check
Angst/Drama - check
Steamy scenes - check
Romance - check
Book boyfriend - Check
Dark/provocative scenes - Check
PLOT TWIST no one will see coming - Check
There is also no cheating. Our H/h are very loyal to each other once they are together (I do not stand cheating in my books. MC cheating is a big NO)
This story won't be everyone's cuppa, from the age-gap relationship to the fact they are goddaughter/ godfather (he is her father's best friend and partner) and the dark erotica at the end. But honestly I found Alex soooo refreshing!!! He looked at Petra with affection, love, tenderness, and I was swooning over it. Their first kiss was...
A slow-burn might come as boring for some but it's full of romantic scenes, fast-paced, and we learn a lot of interesting things about Petra and Alex during this time.
I really wanted them to be together. But it's not an easy road to get there. Alex and Petra knows perfectly that they should never cross the line mainly once we know why he disappeared for 10 years.
My favorite scene in the whole book to be honest was their first time! It's without a doubt the most beautiful and passionate first time I've read so far. Again, we feel how he loves her and I was swooning again...
From an innocent cute plot we slowly get to more daring and daring scenes...
And then the very controversial one (if you can't stand dark erotica, just skip this scene lool)
And then the ending was heartbreaking...
Let me be clear: I read nearly every single review, from 5 to 1 stars here. And when I realized that the main complaint was the dark erotica and how the relationship was too intense, my decision was quickly made.
I clicked. I read. And now I'm a fool because I need book 2 in my life and I don't have it.
But back to the review:
No-Insta Lust/sex - check
Real feelings and affection between H/h - check
Forbidden and inner-conflicts - check
Angst/Drama - check
Steamy scenes - check
Romance - check
Book boyfriend - Check
Dark/provocative scenes - Check
PLOT TWIST no one will see coming - Check
There is also no cheating. Our H/h are very loyal to each other once they are together (I do not stand cheating in my books. MC cheating is a big NO)
This story won't be everyone's cuppa, from the age-gap relationship to the fact they are goddaughter/ godfather (he is her father's best friend and partner) and the dark erotica at the end. But honestly I found Alex soooo refreshing!!! He looked at Petra with affection, love, tenderness, and I was swooning over it. Their first kiss was...
A slow-burn might come as boring for some but it's full of romantic scenes, fast-paced, and we learn a lot of interesting things about Petra and Alex during this time.
I really wanted them to be together. But it's not an easy road to get there. Alex and Petra knows perfectly that they should never cross the line mainly once we know why he disappeared for 10 years.
My favorite scene in the whole book to be honest was their first time! It's without a doubt the most beautiful and passionate first time I've read so far. Again, we feel how he loves her and I was swooning again...
From an innocent cute plot we slowly get to more daring and daring scenes...
And then the very controversial one (if you can't stand dark erotica, just skip this scene lool)
And then the ending was heartbreaking...
November 8, 2019
Not the most popular opinion, I know, but...how does anybody like and rate this writing at 5 stars is beyond me.
It is dry, people - soooo, dry.
The story is simple - no need to make it complicated though, if you have all other things covered. An age difference romance, should be simple, as it usually follows the same taboo principles the heroes will go through, and that's ok.
Main heroine - naive, but at the same time mature. Puh-lease - especially towards the end, flogging episode, dominatrix madame... Virgin 2 weeks ago... I rest my case.
Main hero - plain, no depth.
Family on both sides - rigid and almost nonexistent.
Best friend ???? How? How? can these 2 be best friends.
Dialogue is mostly very simple. Any conclusions you should have drawn yourself from a dialogue but couldn't (because it's that "good"), the author hurriedly supplies for you, so that you can see how "mature" or "complicated" or "fun(ny)" our heroine is. It pissed me off throughout the book. I want to see it for myself from the conversation I've just read, maybe have my own thoughts about it, not be served with what the author's intention was about it, no questions asked. Argh...
Premise interesting, certain episodes quite good edited, the rest though....
Rambling over.
It is dry, people - soooo, dry.
The story is simple - no need to make it complicated though, if you have all other things covered. An age difference romance, should be simple, as it usually follows the same taboo principles the heroes will go through, and that's ok.
Main heroine - naive, but at the same time mature. Puh-lease - especially towards the end, flogging episode, dominatrix madame... Virgin 2 weeks ago... I rest my case.
Main hero - plain, no depth.
Family on both sides - rigid and almost nonexistent.
Best friend ???? How? How? can these 2 be best friends.
Dialogue is mostly very simple. Any conclusions you should have drawn yourself from a dialogue but couldn't (because it's that "good"), the author hurriedly supplies for you, so that you can see how "mature" or "complicated" or "fun(ny)" our heroine is. It pissed me off throughout the book. I want to see it for myself from the conversation I've just read, maybe have my own thoughts about it, not be served with what the author's intention was about it, no questions asked. Argh...
Premise interesting, certain episodes quite good edited, the rest though....
Rambling over.
December 27, 2019
I wish I could say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book but it was just so frustrating on multiple levels that it was a genuine struggle to finish it. The premise seemed so interesting and promised such an intense and dark yet erotic story and the blurb seemed so good but it was such an oversell.
Petra was supposed to be some mature, old before her time 17 year old yet she acted like such a child and to me never once seemed mature enough to date a 40 year old. She was so naive and flitted between different guys despite being in love with her godfather AND her obsessively strict no nonsense father. The only way she seemed at all like an adult was seen in her sexual fantasies. Alex and Petra’s relationship just seemed like it was built on nothing. They never spent any time together and it didn’t seem like they had any genuine interest in each other other than sexually. The story got more and more convoluted as it went on with different povs being introduced as well as other storylines and it all started to get too annoying and cringey.
Also the style of writing was annoying - it was all tell not show which meant there was less angst and depth to the story and the characters. The dialogue was incredibly stilted and there were different tenses which just made it all the more annoying to read. It felt way too immature for the style of book. It felt as if a Y/A writer was trying on erotica for the first time and didn’t succeed very well.
It could’ve been so good but it just didn’t deliver ://
Petra was supposed to be some mature, old before her time 17 year old yet she acted like such a child and to me never once seemed mature enough to date a 40 year old. She was so naive and flitted between different guys despite being in love with her godfather AND her obsessively strict no nonsense father. The only way she seemed at all like an adult was seen in her sexual fantasies. Alex and Petra’s relationship just seemed like it was built on nothing. They never spent any time together and it didn’t seem like they had any genuine interest in each other other than sexually. The story got more and more convoluted as it went on with different povs being introduced as well as other storylines and it all started to get too annoying and cringey.
Also the style of writing was annoying - it was all tell not show which meant there was less angst and depth to the story and the characters. The dialogue was incredibly stilted and there were different tenses which just made it all the more annoying to read. It felt way too immature for the style of book. It felt as if a Y/A writer was trying on erotica for the first time and didn’t succeed very well.
It could’ve been so good but it just didn’t deliver ://
February 21, 2020
Total page-turner! Slow-burn hardcore forbidden love
This won't be everyone's cuppa. You do need some stomach to digest this story!!!!
This won't be everyone's cuppa. You do need some stomach to digest this story!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2019
Abandoned at 20%. Ridiculous
January 3, 2020
this book is full of cringe and I DNF at 10%. First time author with a bunch of 5 stars reviews ... hmmm I should’ve been suspicious. It’s so poorly written, 10% in and there were already 3 POVs, 2 of which are not the main characters, LOL, what a disaster. I can’t believe this is the first book I picked up in 2020. UGH.
November 11, 2019
I didn’t like this book, it was very well written, but the story, well... the characters were weak and boring...
Unfortunately!
Unfortunately!
October 13, 2019
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the authors very first book so congratulations on a wonderful debut.
I have to admit that romance books are not my favourite genre. This book was an enjoyable read, I was definitely intrigued to the end, which was a cliffhanger leading into the second book in this series. The book took a twist around three quarters of the way through which I didn’t see coming and kept me wanting more.
An excellent debut for an author that we no doubt will hear a lot more about in the future.
I have to admit that romance books are not my favourite genre. This book was an enjoyable read, I was definitely intrigued to the end, which was a cliffhanger leading into the second book in this series. The book took a twist around three quarters of the way through which I didn’t see coming and kept me wanting more.
An excellent debut for an author that we no doubt will hear a lot more about in the future.
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October 8, 2020
Garbage. The writing is just awful, y’all. It sounds like a middle school girl’s diary. There are also numerous instances indicative of the author’s poor English and apparently no one wanted to bother with an editor... ugh.
How did it get so many five-star reviews, you ask?
I wondered that too and decided to check out some of the accounts. Spam. Spam. Spam. It’s so disappointing. Thankfully Amazon is kind enough to refund my ebook purchase.
How did it get so many five-star reviews, you ask?
I wondered that too and decided to check out some of the accounts. Spam. Spam. Spam. It’s so disappointing. Thankfully Amazon is kind enough to refund my ebook purchase.
September 19, 2019
I don’t even have words, got to be one of the most intense books I’ve read in a while.. just wow. I can not wait for book 2!
Like a damn roller coaster, filled with so many twists and turns you’ll be glued to the pages till it’s over
Like a damn roller coaster, filled with so many twists and turns you’ll be glued to the pages till it’s over
October 30, 2019
was kinda iffy in the beginning hoping it was gonna get better but nope.... if i could give zero stars i would.
Characters have no development and Petras father??? he thought the mother Tess was unfit to take care of her?? has he met himself?? DNFW
Characters have no development and Petras father??? he thought the mother Tess was unfit to take care of her?? has he met himself?? DNFW
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March 18, 2025This sure was something
December 17, 2024
Blossom in Winter by Melanie Martins is a beautifully wrought and expertly woven story of forbidden love, desire, dark pasts, and the lengths one will go to protect everything that matters most to them. This romantic thriller deals with the incredible satisfaction and happiness that comes with falling in love and the consequences of forbidden relationships. The story is fast-paced, engaging, and heart-wrenching from start to finish. The characters are all so unique and compelling and they really tug at the readers heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel -so much so that I devoured the entire 391 pages in less than two days. I honestly cannot wait for the sequel to come out so I can see what happens next to the characters and where their choices take them.
Check out my interview with Melanie Martins here: https://www.wonderforest.net/blog-fee...
Check out my interview with Melanie Martins here: https://www.wonderforest.net/blog-fee...
September 16, 2019
amazing book !! even better than 50shades !! CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE 2ND BOOK !!!
December 28, 2019
I am so mad at this book. I have comtemplated throwing it across the room multiple times. There are just so so so many things wrong with this book.
Tell me why is is acceptable for an UNDERAGE girl t0 have a sexual relationship with a FORTY year old man? Why did nobody in this book object to it? Yes sure, the dad freaked but was quite easily convinced this was a healthy love thingy even though throughout the whole book the strict dad role is emphasised. Nor did any of Petra's friends see any issues with it. It is not and I will repeat NOT healthy for a 17/18 year-old to have such an obsession with her dad's business partner and her dad knowing this particular business partner having a history of shady sex relationships. It is disgusting.
This is just one of the many problems I had with the story, romanticising this 'older and dominating' man even though he was toxic af.
THEN the writing. Oh boy. There was no flow between the scenes. I would often go back to see if I missed some kind of indication a particular scene, or whatever you want to call it, had ended. Also, what was up with the switching of POVs? Normally, I wouldn't mind it as much but totally irrelevant characters got a change to chirp in but then continue saying absolutely nothing crucial at all? Like stop.
AND THE ENDING. I was already so frustrated with this book then it decided to put so many things in fifty pages. It truly lost control. This was not okay nor will it ever be.
I am done.
Jk WHO ALLOWED THIS BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED? NOTHING MADE SENSE. THE WRITING LACKED DEPTH. THE ONLY SENSIBLE PERSON WAS THE 'CRAZY AND DRUNK' MUM WHO WAS DISMISSED EARLY ON. NO NO NO. SHE WAS THE ONLY AND I WILL REPEAT ONLY PERSON THAT SAW THROUGH THIS BULLSH*T. ok bye.
Tell me why is is acceptable for an UNDERAGE girl t0 have a sexual relationship with a FORTY year old man? Why did nobody in this book object to it? Yes sure, the dad freaked but was quite easily convinced this was a healthy love thingy even though throughout the whole book the strict dad role is emphasised. Nor did any of Petra's friends see any issues with it. It is not and I will repeat NOT healthy for a 17/18 year-old to have such an obsession with her dad's business partner and her dad knowing this particular business partner having a history of shady sex relationships. It is disgusting.
This is just one of the many problems I had with the story, romanticising this 'older and dominating' man even though he was toxic af.
THEN the writing. Oh boy. There was no flow between the scenes. I would often go back to see if I missed some kind of indication a particular scene, or whatever you want to call it, had ended. Also, what was up with the switching of POVs? Normally, I wouldn't mind it as much but totally irrelevant characters got a change to chirp in but then continue saying absolutely nothing crucial at all? Like stop.
AND THE ENDING. I was already so frustrated with this book then it decided to put so many things in fifty pages. It truly lost control. This was not okay nor will it ever be.
I am done.
Jk WHO ALLOWED THIS BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED? NOTHING MADE SENSE. THE WRITING LACKED DEPTH. THE ONLY SENSIBLE PERSON WAS THE 'CRAZY AND DRUNK' MUM WHO WAS DISMISSED EARLY ON. NO NO NO. SHE WAS THE ONLY AND I WILL REPEAT ONLY PERSON THAT SAW THROUGH THIS BULLSH*T. ok bye.
November 24, 2019
This was sooo amazing!! Just finished it!! Oh I need book 2, please... So much better than Fifty Shades. The plot, the characters, the smut, the conflicts, the mystery around the Van Dieren's family, the romance, the drama.... So intense, so good, so wrong, so forbidden...
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
After reading all the reviews, I understood that there was a "controversial sexual scene" in it and I so wanted to read it! I think the 1 star reviews made me want to buy the book faster than the 5 ones haha. Some of the readers considered that scene as sexual abuse or even rape. People! Are you serious? Honestly, not sure if we read the same scene, because Petra never withdrew consent, not even once! She was well awake and stated clearly she did not want him to stop and she was moaning all the time. So how the poor guy could know that she didn't want it?! She never said no, loool. And they even have a talk afterward. The entire situation was just because Petra felt ashamed for actually enjoying what Alex was doing. So yeah, my two cents on the infamous scene.
I will definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoy erotic romances like Fifty Shades, Crossfire series, etc. or even just romance in general because let's be honest it is mostly romance.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
After reading all the reviews, I understood that there was a "controversial sexual scene" in it and I so wanted to read it! I think the 1 star reviews made me want to buy the book faster than the 5 ones haha. Some of the readers considered that scene as sexual abuse or even rape. People! Are you serious? Honestly, not sure if we read the same scene, because Petra never withdrew consent, not even once! She was well awake and stated clearly she did not want him to stop and she was moaning all the time. So how the poor guy could know that she didn't want it?! She never said no, loool. And they even have a talk afterward. The entire situation was just because Petra felt ashamed for actually enjoying what Alex was doing. So yeah, my two cents on the infamous scene.
I will definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoy erotic romances like Fifty Shades, Crossfire series, etc. or even just romance in general because let's be honest it is mostly romance.
October 15, 2019
So I was lucky to receive an ARC of this. And oh boy. This is a dark romance with a taboo age gap story line.
Hello everything I’ve ever wanted in a plot.
I really enjoyed that the book gave us both his and her’s POV’s, this made the story that much more intriguing. I’m not gonna spoil it for anyone, but if 50 Shades tickles your fancy, then this will blow your mind.
Hello everything I’ve ever wanted in a plot.
I really enjoyed that the book gave us both his and her’s POV’s, this made the story that much more intriguing. I’m not gonna spoil it for anyone, but if 50 Shades tickles your fancy, then this will blow your mind.
January 17, 2020
Really enjoyed this new-to-me author. I found myself trying to read a bit slower so that it would not end. Looking forward to the second book!
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