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Off-Limits #2
Risks
Toya is finally focusing on her own happiness.
Despite being far from Varen, everything seems to be working out.
Then unexpectedly, news of a loss shakes up her world and leaves her revisiting an old wound.
No matter how she tries to conceal it, that proves impossible with the one who is closest to her.
Varen had no idea what he would unleash in his intent to help Toya fill the hole in her heart.
There’s no putting out the fire once it’s lit, and their life as they know it will change forever.
Secrets are exposed, and other issues arise, impacting an already tense long-distance relationship.
Both will have to fight for their love if they truly want to hold on to it.
*This is the conclusion to the previous book in the series and cannot be read as a standalone.
18+ for Mature language and scenes.
Trope: Stepsiblings romance, Family drama
Despite being far from Varen, everything seems to be working out.
Then unexpectedly, news of a loss shakes up her world and leaves her revisiting an old wound.
No matter how she tries to conceal it, that proves impossible with the one who is closest to her.
Varen had no idea what he would unleash in his intent to help Toya fill the hole in her heart.
There’s no putting out the fire once it’s lit, and their life as they know it will change forever.
Secrets are exposed, and other issues arise, impacting an already tense long-distance relationship.
Both will have to fight for their love if they truly want to hold on to it.
*This is the conclusion to the previous book in the series and cannot be read as a standalone.
18+ for Mature language and scenes.
Trope: Stepsiblings romance, Family drama
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2022
About the author
Symone West
24 books80 followersSymone West is the author of sweet and sexy, sometimes dark, coming of age and adult romance and suspense.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 18, 2022
4.5!
So this was an emotional ride. I think its better understood, emotionally, by people who have lived with a single parent most of their life. I don't want to give the huge conflict away, but I think that scenario best fits the familia emotional drama that is in the plot.
Yes, there is little hiccups in Varen & Toya's relationship, but all of the drama is family. Their relationship is very stable throughout the plot and actually liked that about this duet.
There wasn't angsty relationship drama, no miscommunication, no OW drama, and no bullying. Just two people who are about to be step siblings falling in love and working to be together. No matter the extreme challenges.
Also they do have an HEA!
So this was an emotional ride. I think its better understood, emotionally, by people who have lived with a single parent most of their life. I don't want to give the huge conflict away, but I think that scenario best fits the familia emotional drama that is in the plot.
Yes, there is little hiccups in Varen & Toya's relationship, but all of the drama is family. Their relationship is very stable throughout the plot and actually liked that about this duet.
There wasn't angsty relationship drama, no miscommunication, no OW drama, and no bullying. Just two people who are about to be step siblings falling in love and working to be together. No matter the extreme challenges.
Also they do have an HEA!
September 22, 2024
4.00 Stars. (BW/WM). Kindle Edition $2.99/ 304 page E-book.
Setting: Baltimore MD, Los Angeles CA, Ny City NY, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Trope: Long distance romance.
Characters:
*1. Latoya "Toya" Anderson, heroine, is a 19-year-old college student in a long distance romance with the hero.
3. Lisa Kirby is Toya's mother who is now married to Varen's father.
4. Kenya is Toya's best friend who is now in a relationship with Finn, Varen's best friend.
5. Aya is Toya's college roommate.
6. Jesiah Morgan is Toya's birth father.
7. Shanice is jesiah's fiancée / wife.
8 Jasper is Toya's flirtatious college mate and fellow writer.
*2. Varen Kirby, hero, is a 19-year-old online architecture engineering student and hardware store associate.
9. Daniel Kirby is Varen's father, a CEO of a prosperous real estate company and a marketing firm executive.
10. Alison Kirby is Varen's older sister, a lawyer.
11. Finley "Finn" Cooper is Varen's best friend.
12. & 13. Granpa & Granma Kirby are Varen's Scottish grandparents.
14. & 15. Odell & Laila Morgan are Toya's fraternal grandparents.
This is a well written and enjoyable read. It was lovely to read a romance where a couple endure adversities, revere their relationship by remaining faithful and true to their commitment to each other. I am glad the author resisted the temptation of having this couple endure years of being torn apart and having other lovers. Most if not all of the drama in this story centered around the parental neglence and dysfunctional behavior of Toya's mother. I enjoyed this duet and would like to read more of Finn and Kenya's romance.
Setting: Baltimore MD, Los Angeles CA, Ny City NY, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Trope: Long distance romance.
Characters:
*1. Latoya "Toya" Anderson, heroine, is a 19-year-old college student in a long distance romance with the hero.
3. Lisa Kirby is Toya's mother who is now married to Varen's father.
4. Kenya is Toya's best friend who is now in a relationship with Finn, Varen's best friend.
5. Aya is Toya's college roommate.
6. Jesiah Morgan is Toya's birth father.
7. Shanice is jesiah's fiancée / wife.
8 Jasper is Toya's flirtatious college mate and fellow writer.
*2. Varen Kirby, hero, is a 19-year-old online architecture engineering student and hardware store associate.
9. Daniel Kirby is Varen's father, a CEO of a prosperous real estate company and a marketing firm executive.
10. Alison Kirby is Varen's older sister, a lawyer.
11. Finley "Finn" Cooper is Varen's best friend.
12. & 13. Granpa & Granma Kirby are Varen's Scottish grandparents.
14. & 15. Odell & Laila Morgan are Toya's fraternal grandparents.
This is a well written and enjoyable read. It was lovely to read a romance where a couple endure adversities, revere their relationship by remaining faithful and true to their commitment to each other. I am glad the author resisted the temptation of having this couple endure years of being torn apart and having other lovers. Most if not all of the drama in this story centered around the parental neglence and dysfunctional behavior of Toya's mother. I enjoyed this duet and would like to read more of Finn and Kenya's romance.
July 2, 2022
Great story except for Lisa
These 2 books are the only things I’ve read by this author and I feel the character Lisa was poorly written and she had no redeeming qualities. This woman caused so much heart ache and pain for everyone in the books. Lasting pain, generational pain and yet the author made sure that she had no lasting repercussions for her actions. Everyone else had to accept it and they all just forgave her and allowed her to live happily ever after? That is what I remember most about these 2 books is that for 2 books I learned more and more about how truly evil this woman was and yet the author treated it like everyone is mad at her for a few pages and then it’s all fine again. That’s what I’ll always remember about these books.
These 2 books are the only things I’ve read by this author and I feel the character Lisa was poorly written and she had no redeeming qualities. This woman caused so much heart ache and pain for everyone in the books. Lasting pain, generational pain and yet the author made sure that she had no lasting repercussions for her actions. Everyone else had to accept it and they all just forgave her and allowed her to live happily ever after? That is what I remember most about these 2 books is that for 2 books I learned more and more about how truly evil this woman was and yet the author treated it like everyone is mad at her for a few pages and then it’s all fine again. That’s what I’ll always remember about these books.
May 24, 2022
Great Finale
I was low key worried that we wouldn’t get the end of Varen and Toya’s story! Seems like I waited for years. Thank you Ms. West for closing this chapter. When the first book ended, Toya was heading off to college and a HEA was not guaranteed. However, this very mature young couple was steadfast in their commitment to be together. Of course, they had barriers: their unique family dynamic, her mother (still), the distance and possible interlopers. Even with this laundry list of possible disasters, they ended strong. I always enjoy books by this author….each one is a treat!
I was low key worried that we wouldn’t get the end of Varen and Toya’s story! Seems like I waited for years. Thank you Ms. West for closing this chapter. When the first book ended, Toya was heading off to college and a HEA was not guaranteed. However, this very mature young couple was steadfast in their commitment to be together. Of course, they had barriers: their unique family dynamic, her mother (still), the distance and possible interlopers. Even with this laundry list of possible disasters, they ended strong. I always enjoy books by this author….each one is a treat!
June 14, 2022
The power of young love
It was so touching to see two young people so much in love and understanding at such an early age the knowledge of someone completing you. I only wish they could have created a new life as a symbol of their love. No one gives you the angst and the passion of young love like Ms. West. I've been waiting for this 2nd book and she did not disappoint.
It was so touching to see two young people so much in love and understanding at such an early age the knowledge of someone completing you. I only wish they could have created a new life as a symbol of their love. No one gives you the angst and the passion of young love like Ms. West. I've been waiting for this 2nd book and she did not disappoint.
August 13, 2022
Happy Ending
Despite their unconventional relationship, these two deserve each other in the end. This book was better written than the first and I enjoyed the different perspectives from the main characters. It was wonderful to see how far they both went and their growth to attain their happy ending.
Despite their unconventional relationship, these two deserve each other in the end. This book was better written than the first and I enjoyed the different perspectives from the main characters. It was wonderful to see how far they both went and their growth to attain their happy ending.
August 15, 2022
Wow, Lisa is a whole tripped and two quarters. From book one you could tell something was off with her. She had little regard for Toya, I mean come on. She had been dating Daniel for a while and he proposed but never met Toya. His family knew about Toya, but she had no clue about them. Then when Lisa had a miscarriage, I think it was because of the secrets she was carrying not because Toya and Varen had started a relationship.
Toya will learn that her whole life is a lie. There will be some drama, healing, acceptance, and resolutions. While this is the final book for Toya and Varen’s story I am glad they ended happily and proved they could not only withstand distance but time. I plan to finish the final book of the Off-Limit series.
Toya will learn that her whole life is a lie. There will be some drama, healing, acceptance, and resolutions. While this is the final book for Toya and Varen’s story I am glad they ended happily and proved they could not only withstand distance but time. I plan to finish the final book of the Off-Limit series.
June 19, 2022
Risks is the conclusion to the story of Toya and Varen. Steps is the first book in the series, and I liked that book a lot. This conclusion fell short for me. This book focuses on Toya and Varen’s relationship while she’s away at college. The main characters are stepsiblings, who were introduced in the first book. They’ve decided they want to be together; this story follows how they’ll do that. I struggle with romance novels where the characters are so young and thinking of marriage and a long-term future together. It seems impossible to me that you would go away to college and never enjoy any of the college experience because you’re missing your boyfriend. Also, I don’t think a second book was necessary. There were dubious situations in this book, and I found myself reading and then skimming the book as the problems felt like fillers. Lastly, the number of times that this author uses the phrase “Geez” is excessive; there were eight uses of this phrase in the book. I do think that other expressions could have been used to convey exasperation, frustration, and anger. I’ve read several books by Symone West, and I’m unsure if I will continue. This one just fell short.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews