Two men bound by their shared past face an unknown future.
Atwood struggled and sacrificed but, finally, he has everything he could ever want or need. Except for the one thing he can’t have—the son he gave up for adoption. Then Eren, seventeen years his junior, homeless and in desperate need of a safe place, arrives on his doorstep with a secret that could destroy the tentative relationship they’re building.
No one is guaranteed a happily ever after. Sometimes, the things you desire can destroy you. Is the risk worth the reward? Or does a stray strand of DNA spell doom for Atwood and Eren?
Odessa Hywell is a taboo MM romance author with a book addiction and coffee problem, who lives in the Southern United States with her husband, their teenage daughter, who mocks her for being short, and way too many animals.
Aside from writing and reading, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and playing video games.
Her favorite season is winter—hello, snow—but in the summer, she travels as much as possible.
Some of her favorite spots are The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Dead Horse Point, Moab UT, Gatlinburg TN, Helen GA, Silverton CO, Roswell, NM—plus honestly, a lot more. The list is nearly endless.
A few places she plans to go in the future are New Orleans, LA and Salem, MA during spooky season, Smuggler's Notch, VT during autumn, the Colorado Mountains during the winter, New York City, Washington DC, a cruise to anywhere, on a hot air balloon ride, on a train trip down the California Coast . . .
In 2021, she decided because she is married to a twin it was best NOT to publish her books featuring twincest and other questionable themes under her married name as her husband would not approve.
—His loss, honestly.—
If you know who Odessa Hywell is, don’t be a snitch. Like Benjamin Franklin said, “Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”
I absolutely loved this book. From what I can find, this is the Confessions of the Son and Transgressions of the Father in one book.
Atwood is such a well written character. Who wouldn't swoon over a man that celebrated the birthday of the son that he had to give up. Loved.
Eren was such a sweetheart. Leaving toxic relationships isn't easy and dealing with that all alone can be horrific. I can't blame him for not sharing who he was and I just wanted to wrap him up and keep him safe.
The two of them together was super hot. They have amazing chemistry and I loved how Atwood was the "daddy" Eren needed to flourish and find his confidence again.
This book isn't even on the spectrum of the first. This one was loving and tender. I really enjoyed it and hope that we get similar books from this pen name later down the road.
I'm continuing to read all of Odessa Hywell's backlist lol, and this one was fun!
It's a combination of two shorter stories that follow one another, so this one read seamlessly like it's one book.
I really loved how sweet Atwood was with Eren, them getting to know each other and become friends and then more. Of course, Eren is holding out with some pretty big need-to-know info but I think that when everything comes out, it's handled well. Of course, things ultimately end up in a HEA romance and this is very obviously taboo yall - you have been warned!
I love everything I've read from this author, I can't wait for some of the new projects she has in store for 2026.
I was actually a little disappointed in this book. It felt a lot less like an incest book and a lot more like a standard romance but the blockade to their getting together is DNA alone, not 18+ years of being father and son exclusively. I don't know quite how to explain it. It read like someone uncomfortable with incest writing an incest romance.
It was a decent story, and the characters were all right, but I had hoped the obstacles to their romance would be more significant than "we're related by blood." Plus the whole that Eren did to Atwood, who actually had been previously was a lot and felt really unnecessary. Like a way to make sure the characters would have sex instead of letting the story play out in a slower way.
This was an interesting take on the taboo dynamic. I'm used to taboo stories being more focused on the erotical aspect of it, and not so much on the feelings or even the forbidden side of the romance. Here, however, we see them actually falling in love and fighting themselves due to the taboo of it.
Eren seeks Atwood, his bio dad, when he feels lost and alone and has nowhere to go. Not knowing who Eren actually is, Atwood takes him in, feeds him and makes him feel safe. Despite Eren knowing its wrong, he can't help falling in love with Atwood and Atwood isn't immune either. But then he discovers the truth and things complicate.
It was a nice read, really. Perfect for those who enjoy taboo romances but crave the emotional side they usually lack.
Aso, in the second book we meet the MCs of Twisted Together (not my fav by the author, but here I liked the MCs better than while reading their book LOL).
Atwood has everything he could ever want or need: except the son he gave up for adoption. Then Eren, seventeen years his junior, arrives on his doorstep with a secret that could destroy the relationship they’re building.
I really liked Atwood as a character. He has his life together after a not so easy childhood and now owns his own restaurant. When he sees Eren, dirty and hungry, he voluntarily welcomes him into his life. He knows what it’s like to be lost and he wants to help Eren find his way.
Eren. I can’t blame him for not telling Atwood his secret right away. I can only imagine how good it felt to have someone take care of him for once. I loved watching him be cared for and allowed to take a breath.
I loved these two together, they just felt made for each other. Could their DNA have something to do with that? Sure. But like they both said, Atwood is not Eren’s father, at least not in all the ways that matter. He didn’t raise him, only knows him now as an adult. And when they pull back, it was still right for them.
I think what I loved most about this book was how their relationship progressed, how natural and organic it all was. It almost didn’t even feel taboo because they’ve only just met. But their connection was incredible, loved seeing their dynamic go from friends to lovers.
And thank you for the Bennett/Cooper cameo, loved seeing them again!!!
It’s like I always say: Odessa Hywell can do no wrong, haven’t met a book of hers I don’t enjoy. This was is obviously no exception.
Taboo 🫢 father x son who was given up for adoption and showed up on his doorstep one day. But didn't tell him he was his son until after 🫠🫢😮💨 Working it all out in part two and the heat kicked up a bit more at an all men sex resort 🥵 Overall a fun little read
Omg I loved it! And I’m so so happy for the cameo at the end! I can’t really say too much or it’s a spoiler but just saying I LOVED IT covers how good this was. Definitely a reread worthy book!