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Credence
Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere.
And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?
Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.
And as a part of them.
She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.
One of them has her.
The other one wants her.
But he…
He’s going to keep her.
*Credence is a new adult standalone novel suitable for readers 18+.
And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?
Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.
And as a part of them.
She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.
One of them has her.
The other one wants her.
But he…
He’s going to keep her.
*Credence is a new adult standalone novel suitable for readers 18+.
536 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2020
About the author
Penelope Douglas
47 books83.6k followersPenelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Their books have been translated into nineteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, Credence, and Tryst Six Venom. Please look for The Hellbent Series, coming next.
They live in New England with their husband and daughter.
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They live in New England with their husband and daughter.
Would you like to join the reader group? ---> https://www.facebook.com/groups/16198...
Looking for News?
Text DOUGLAS to 603-519-3800 to be alerted when new releases are live!
Website: www.penelopedouglasauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenelopeDoug...
Twitter: www.twitter.com/PenDouglas
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/penelopedoug...
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1A8hUBX
Instagram: www.instagram.com/penelope.douglas
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36,178 reviews
August 18, 2022
TW: *Sexual Assault, death of a parent, emotional manipulating, assault* there will be mentions of these in my review.
There will also be spoilers in this review, take care
Let's play a game, shall we?
I like to call it 'take a shot every time there was a red flag' 🚩
Jake
🚨Threatened to hit her
🚨Hella possessive
🚨Lusted and *nearly* had s*x with a minor
🚨Kept hurting her when she told him to stop
🚨 is way too old to be having s*x with her
🚨 emotional abuse
Kaleb
🚨 Literally tried to r*pe her three times
🚨Hit her multiple times
🚨Hella possessive
🚨Stole her panties (not cool my man)
🚨locked her in her room
🚨has s*x with her while she's asleep
🚨Throws her birth control pills away
Noah
🚨emotional abuse
🚨threatens to get her pregnant so she can't leave
Terrian(ik that's not how you spell her name and idc)
🚨Hopped like a damn bunny from each family members beds each night
🚨 lusted after her uncle
🚨 got with the man who r*ped her and emotionally abused her
So I guess I'm dead from alcohol poisoning now :)
right, so into my whole problem with this book. spoiler alert: its a lot.
literally everything in this book was a mess. First before i get into theromance abuse lets me say one thing. All the three men in this book are related to the mc in some way and form. Jake is her uncle and a decade older than terry. Noah and Kaleb were her cousins.
Right with that out of the way lets dive right in
Okay so from the very start of the book Terry is attracted to her uncle Jake. And what we can gather so does he. Because when she is a minor he nearly has sex with her.
can we point out the multiple problems with that
1. She is a MINOR
2 he is her UNCLE
3. they live in a house with Jakes two sons and he does it at the kitchen bench
And then this mf sons Kaleb is a walking glowing red flag. He is the worst. when he first met Terry he literally r*ped her.
and then when someone was saying how violent he is she thought: "Kaleb isn't like that"
And then as soon as this bish Terry turns 18 shes like hell yeahh i can fuck all my abusive hot af relatives
someone get this girl a therapist
And then Noah says "I wanna fuck my fathers little whore"
Im sorry what sir? *cough*daddy issues*cough*
And the amount of emotional abuse in this book was astronomical. I can't tell you all of it because that would be such a long list but here are some of my highlights:
1. Someone (Kaleb) stole all of Terrys panties. Joe Goldberg is that you?
2. Noah tells Terry that he's the only one who hasn't hit her but he's the only one who shes not interested in?
Sir you were there when he was hitting her and i didnt see you stopping him. Stop with the feminist act we see through your shit.
3. Noah threatens to pump Terry full of his swimmers to keep her there so she can't leave.
You just wait till terry builds an army of your children and they kill you in your sleep lmao
4. Kaleb locked Terry into her room and did not let her out and another time he hurt her so much that she ran away. Kaleb needs to go to rehab and just never talk to women again because no one no matter how horrible deserves someone like him.
5. And my absolute favourite is Terry sleeping with every guy in that house and being weirded out why they are so jealous of her sleeping with his brother/son/father.
But what really pissed me tf off is how good PD is at writing smut because I really started to enjoy it and started to like Kaleb for a little while. I had to take little breaks and talk to myself and say:
"Zoe. remember he is a horrible person he emotionally abuses her, sexually many times too, he wants and does hurt her many times these are small spurts of niceness don't like him we hate him"
Overall I really ate this book and nothing like this should be romanticized.
People who have been SA have severe ptsd. This book tells people that it is okay and that you should get with the person who SAed you. That is totally not okay SA can ruin lives and you have put it in a romance book. I am disgusted.
I don't recommend this book at all, none of this behaviour is romantic it is borderline abusive.
I know this went from fun to serious but i feel that this needed to be said.
Thank you for reading this review
*bows*
There will also be spoilers in this review, take care
Let's play a game, shall we?
I like to call it 'take a shot every time there was a red flag' 🚩
Jake
🚨Threatened to hit her
🚨Hella possessive
🚨Lusted and *nearly* had s*x with a minor
🚨Kept hurting her when she told him to stop
🚨 is way too old to be having s*x with her
🚨 emotional abuse
Kaleb
🚨 Literally tried to r*pe her three times
🚨Hit her multiple times
🚨Hella possessive
🚨Stole her panties (not cool my man)
🚨locked her in her room
🚨has s*x with her while she's asleep
🚨Throws her birth control pills away
Noah
🚨emotional abuse
🚨threatens to get her pregnant so she can't leave
Terrian(ik that's not how you spell her name and idc)
🚨Hopped like a damn bunny from each family members beds each night
🚨 lusted after her uncle
🚨 got with the man who r*ped her and emotionally abused her
So I guess I'm dead from alcohol poisoning now :)
right, so into my whole problem with this book. spoiler alert: its a lot.
literally everything in this book was a mess. First before i get into the
Right with that out of the way lets dive right in
Okay so from the very start of the book Terry is attracted to her uncle Jake. And what we can gather so does he. Because when she is a minor he nearly has sex with her.
can we point out the multiple problems with that
1. She is a MINOR
2 he is her UNCLE
3. they live in a house with Jakes two sons and he does it at the kitchen bench
And then this mf sons Kaleb is a walking glowing red flag. He is the worst. when he first met Terry he literally r*ped her.
and then when someone was saying how violent he is she thought: "Kaleb isn't like that"
And then as soon as this bish Terry turns 18 shes like hell yeahh i can fuck all my abusive hot af relatives
someone get this girl a therapist
And then Noah says "I wanna fuck my fathers little whore"
Im sorry what sir? *cough*daddy issues*cough*
And the amount of emotional abuse in this book was astronomical. I can't tell you all of it because that would be such a long list but here are some of my highlights:
1. Someone (Kaleb) stole all of Terrys panties. Joe Goldberg is that you?
2. Noah tells Terry that he's the only one who hasn't hit her but he's the only one who shes not interested in?
Sir you were there when he was hitting her and i didnt see you stopping him. Stop with the feminist act we see through your shit.
3. Noah threatens to pump Terry full of his swimmers to keep her there so she can't leave.
You just wait till terry builds an army of your children and they kill you in your sleep lmao
4. Kaleb locked Terry into her room and did not let her out and another time he hurt her so much that she ran away. Kaleb needs to go to rehab and just never talk to women again because no one no matter how horrible deserves someone like him.
5. And my absolute favourite is Terry sleeping with every guy in that house and being weirded out why they are so jealous of her sleeping with his brother/son/father.
But what really pissed me tf off is how good PD is at writing smut because I really started to enjoy it and started to like Kaleb for a little while. I had to take little breaks and talk to myself and say:
"Zoe. remember he is a horrible person he emotionally abuses her, sexually many times too, he wants and does hurt her many times these are small spurts of niceness don't like him we hate him"
Overall I really ate this book and nothing like this should be romanticized.
People who have been SA have severe ptsd. This book tells people that it is okay and that you should get with the person who SAed you. That is totally not okay SA can ruin lives and you have put it in a romance book. I am disgusted.
I don't recommend this book at all, none of this behaviour is romantic it is borderline abusive.
I know this went from fun to serious but i feel that this needed to be said.
Thank you for reading this review
*bows*
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January 14, 2020
What the actual HELL did I just read????
Girl's parents commit suicide. Girl is placed under care of her father's stepbrother, who lives in the mountains of Colorado with his two sons. Girl spends winter hopping from one of their beds to the other, before 'falling in love' with the one who's a psycho.
HERE'S WHY NONE OF THIS WORKED FOR ME:
❌ The relationships were not handled well AT ALL. The girl (Tiernan) has sex with her step-uncle Jake first, then step-cousin Noah, then other step-cousin Kaleb. It's just... well, it's hard to describe, but the moment she's finished having sex with Jake or Noah, all the lust that the author has spent ages building up fizzles out of her. It's really weird. But then at random moments, the lust comes back. I just don't understand it, but I can't really explain. Just take my word for it that the relationship dynamics are handled badly and illogically.
❌ Kaleb is a goddamned psychopath. Just trust me on this, as someone who usually loves psychopathic heroes (I gave 5 stars to The Silver Devil and I like Addison Cain, for f*ck's sake) he leaves them in the dust. He doesn't speak because of a 'childhood trauma', he does nothing but rape the heroine until she's convinced she likes it, and finally throws her birth control pills into the bin. If the author balanced this by showing us moments where he CARED about the heroine, I could have possibly tolerated it; I have a high threshold for dark heroes. But he doesn't give a crap about the heroine. HE SPITS ON HER, he slaps her, he throws food at her... Bloody hell.
❌ The 'love' in this book is a joke. Simply, the heroine has sex with three men, and then arbitrarily decides to fall in love with one of them over the other. That's it. There's no deeper reason. They never speak to each other, Kaleb isn't even in like half the book, he rapes her like it's going out of fashion... even when we get a chapter from his perspective, it's evident he feels nothing for the heroine besides a vague physical interest in her. THERE IS ZERO BASIS for their love and this book is not a romance.
❌ I have to say, I can't blame the heroine too much, because Tiernan is clearly suffering from intense mental disturbances and she honestly just needs professional help. It's not her fault - her parents never paid any attention to her. So of course, suddenly three attractive men are displaying interest in her, and she mistakes the Stockholm-esque nature of her feelings for Kaleb for love.
❌ This book is MISOGYNISTIC AS F*CK. It's all about every male in the book having an endless supply of slutty women while they pull a shotgun on a guy flirting with the heroine (whom obviously, the author makes into a baddie. So there isn't even any real option for the heroine). Tiernan thinks about telling the men how hypocritical they are, then sort of just forgets all about it. I wanted to reach into this book and strangle every male character in it.
❌ There's a plot-line about Kaleb possibly getting an OW pregnant. As if this dumpster fire of a book wasn't bad enough.
Think I'm going to stop there, but I've read and disliked Penelope Douglas's heroes before so I really should never have put myself through this torture. Stay the hell away.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Girl's parents commit suicide. Girl is placed under care of her father's stepbrother, who lives in the mountains of Colorado with his two sons. Girl spends winter hopping from one of their beds to the other, before 'falling in love' with the one who's a psycho.
HERE'S WHY NONE OF THIS WORKED FOR ME:
❌ The relationships were not handled well AT ALL. The girl (Tiernan) has sex with her step-uncle Jake first, then step-cousin Noah, then other step-cousin Kaleb. It's just... well, it's hard to describe, but the moment she's finished having sex with Jake or Noah, all the lust that the author has spent ages building up fizzles out of her. It's really weird. But then at random moments, the lust comes back. I just don't understand it, but I can't really explain. Just take my word for it that the relationship dynamics are handled badly and illogically.
❌ Kaleb is a goddamned psychopath. Just trust me on this, as someone who usually loves psychopathic heroes (I gave 5 stars to The Silver Devil and I like Addison Cain, for f*ck's sake) he leaves them in the dust. He doesn't speak because of a 'childhood trauma', he does nothing but rape the heroine until she's convinced she likes it, and finally throws her birth control pills into the bin. If the author balanced this by showing us moments where he CARED about the heroine, I could have possibly tolerated it; I have a high threshold for dark heroes. But he doesn't give a crap about the heroine. HE SPITS ON HER, he slaps her, he throws food at her... Bloody hell.
❌ The 'love' in this book is a joke. Simply, the heroine has sex with three men, and then arbitrarily decides to fall in love with one of them over the other. That's it. There's no deeper reason. They never speak to each other, Kaleb isn't even in like half the book, he rapes her like it's going out of fashion... even when we get a chapter from his perspective, it's evident he feels nothing for the heroine besides a vague physical interest in her. THERE IS ZERO BASIS for their love and this book is not a romance.
❌ I have to say, I can't blame the heroine too much, because Tiernan is clearly suffering from intense mental disturbances and she honestly just needs professional help. It's not her fault - her parents never paid any attention to her. So of course, suddenly three attractive men are displaying interest in her, and she mistakes the Stockholm-esque nature of her feelings for Kaleb for love.
❌ This book is MISOGYNISTIC AS F*CK. It's all about every male in the book having an endless supply of slutty women while they pull a shotgun on a guy flirting with the heroine (whom obviously, the author makes into a baddie. So there isn't even any real option for the heroine). Tiernan thinks about telling the men how hypocritical they are, then sort of just forgets all about it. I wanted to reach into this book and strangle every male character in it.
❌ There's a plot-line about Kaleb possibly getting an OW pregnant. As if this dumpster fire of a book wasn't bad enough.
Think I'm going to stop there, but I've read and disliked Penelope Douglas's heroes before so I really should never have put myself through this torture. Stay the hell away.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2020
4.5 Stars
I don't really know how exactly to go about discussing this book as it doesn't really fit in any of the prescribed boxes (or tropes) in which we romance readers like to shove things.
It's just not that simplistic.
There are a lot of layers here...and to say it's a "step-brother/sister" or "reverse harem" romance - or any of the possible labels one might slap on this thing - and it kind of is some of those things - it's also not really any of those things either.
And yes, I realize how confusing that sounds.
This book definitely won't be for everyone, even previous fans of Penelope Douglas (even PD will tell you that herself in the author notes at the end of this thing - which are SO worth reading, by the way). There are elements in here that are just hard limits for some people - which I understand and respect.
And while I definitely respect and understand those limits, I also encourage anyone on the fence to give this a try if they feel so inclined.
I really enjoyed this. The dynamics between all the characters is so magnetic and tangible. And PD is a master at setting the scene and the characters...and then holding back just the right amount of information and detail for our minds to fill in the gaps in a way that makes it more powerful than if she had just laid things out for us.
Not everyone who gives this book a shot is going to like it, it's just not possible. As with any book, really. But I'm so glad I am one of the ones who did and I commend Douglas for following her writing arrow and taking risks.
I don't really know how exactly to go about discussing this book as it doesn't really fit in any of the prescribed boxes (or tropes) in which we romance readers like to shove things.
It's just not that simplistic.
There are a lot of layers here...and to say it's a "step-brother/sister" or "reverse harem" romance - or any of the possible labels one might slap on this thing - and it kind of is some of those things - it's also not really any of those things either.
And yes, I realize how confusing that sounds.
This book definitely won't be for everyone, even previous fans of Penelope Douglas (even PD will tell you that herself in the author notes at the end of this thing - which are SO worth reading, by the way). There are elements in here that are just hard limits for some people - which I understand and respect.
And while I definitely respect and understand those limits, I also encourage anyone on the fence to give this a try if they feel so inclined.
I really enjoyed this. The dynamics between all the characters is so magnetic and tangible. And PD is a master at setting the scene and the characters...and then holding back just the right amount of information and detail for our minds to fill in the gaps in a way that makes it more powerful than if she had just laid things out for us.
Not everyone who gives this book a shot is going to like it, it's just not possible. As with any book, really. But I'm so glad I am one of the ones who did and I commend Douglas for following her writing arrow and taking risks.
July 30, 2021
18+ (look up TW: includes SA & blatant r*pe)
no. just no. i don’t think i’ve ever read anything so manipulative. literally 3 men manipulate 1 teenage girl. that’s it, that’s the plot. it’s only getting 2 stars because it was an addictive read, but all for the wrong reasons. & because of the scenery/setting -reminded me of twilight.
it was a whole bunch of nothing. i knew what i was getting into but if you’re gonna read this don’t go into it thinking it’s a “dark smutty romance” when it’s just clear abuse after abuse. i don’t get shocked easily but my jaw was on the floor with this one, and not in a good way.
if you ever plan to read this, which i highly suggest you don’t, think critically about what you’re reading because 100% of the things that happened in this book is nothing that should be condoned or romanticized in real life
no. just no. i don’t think i’ve ever read anything so manipulative. literally 3 men manipulate 1 teenage girl. that’s it, that’s the plot. it’s only getting 2 stars because it was an addictive read, but all for the wrong reasons. & because of the scenery/setting -reminded me of twilight.
it was a whole bunch of nothing. i knew what i was getting into but if you’re gonna read this don’t go into it thinking it’s a “dark smutty romance” when it’s just clear abuse after abuse. i don’t get shocked easily but my jaw was on the floor with this one, and not in a good way.
if you ever plan to read this, which i highly suggest you don’t, think critically about what you’re reading because 100% of the things that happened in this book is nothing that should be condoned or romanticized in real life
Read
June 17, 2023wild to think how much i and my opinions have changed over the past 3 years lol
past me was really hyped for this release and read it in 24 hrs, loving the taboo nature. present me... not as into taboo shit and more into well plotted/paced stories with clear character growth. soooo many people like this, and i guess i get it. but it's not a favorite from this author for me.
past me was really hyped for this release and read it in 24 hrs, loving the taboo nature. present me... not as into taboo shit and more into well plotted/paced stories with clear character growth. soooo many people like this, and i guess i get it. but it's not a favorite from this author for me.
October 2, 2021
curiosity killed the kat
October 4, 2023
even porn needs a plot penelope
January 3, 2022
penelope needs a therapist.
April 2, 2022
such a wholesome book about family bonding!! 🥹🥹🫶🫶
July 21, 2022
I'M FREE!!!! WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY FUCKING LIFE
March 22, 2020
an uncomfortable read about 3 horny Gordon Ramsays and one Submissive extremely horny Panini head
this girl prefers to be treated like shit instead of being ignored and left alone
weird flex but ok
p.s. if Tiernan is "depressed " then i should be dead and decomposing right now
p.p.s. agree or not Tiernan
this girl prefers to be treated like shit instead of being ignored and left alone
weird flex but ok
p.s. if Tiernan is "depressed " then i should be dead and decomposing right now
p.p.s. agree or not Tiernan
April 1, 2022
it's the pedophilia✨ for me
idk why PD insists making their female mcs underage (for at least the first part of the book) and at this point i'm too afraid to ask.
i'd beat up uncle jake for free but you will have to pay me a considerable amount of money to finish this
every male character in this is disgusting, and i have only met two out of three. i hope the reason is because the third one is in jail where uncle jake will follow
from the insinuation that he will keep her locked up in the house:
"Maybe", he taunts. "Or maybe I'll decide that you'd benefit from some time here and that you can't leave after all."
"I'll be of age in ten weeks." "We'll be snowed in in eight." And he laughs."
to his and his son's creepy obsession with her smiling - girl lost her parents, just shut up:
"You have a pretty smile. If you stay, I'll make you smile some more."
"I wish she'd smile."
to just the general vibe that these two adults (one in his forties, the other in his twenties) see this seventeen year old as a piece of meat and are just counting the days until they can finally legally fuck her:
“So, when do you turn eighteen?” Noah asks."
"I stop, an image of Tiernan in the backseat of some car—sweat on her face, hair sticking to her cheek, eyes closed, breathing hard—pops into my head."
"She better not. I’m not supplying this town with new pussy."
"If for no other reason than to burn off my exceeding supply of frustration with her father. To make her work off his debt to me. To fuck up her life just a little bit. To make her… She wets her pink lips, and my breath catches for a moment. If I were a worse man..."
there is also this scene where she unbuttons a shirt she is wearing in front of dearest uncle jake - mind you, she is wearing a whole ass t-shirt underneath - and he is like "She should be doing this in the privacy of the bathroom."
the only reason she should be doing this in the bathroom is because he is a disgusting creep who sees his teenage niece as a sex object. he is one of those people other family members would tell their daughters not to wear shorts around cause the entire family just knows he masturbates to the thought of underage girls in the shower.
mind you i am only 16% in but shall we make some predictions?
- it's a whole ass ten weeks until her 18th birthday - no one can wait that long. uncle jake is already thirsting after some teenage 🐱, there is no way he won't at least try to do something. and if not him then one of his twenty year old sons
- at least one of them is going to r*pe or sexually assault her in any way shape or form, i mean, "It does get boring in the winter... when the beer runs out."
- she's probably going to fall for tall dark and handsome - so the dude i haven't met yet. who will probably do something to her that's at least questionable if not full on jail worthy
there is no way i'm wrong about those predictions so consider this read. dnf @16%
idk why PD insists making their female mcs underage (for at least the first part of the book) and at this point i'm too afraid to ask.
i'd beat up uncle jake for free but you will have to pay me a considerable amount of money to finish this
every male character in this is disgusting, and i have only met two out of three. i hope the reason is because the third one is in jail where uncle jake will follow
from the insinuation that he will keep her locked up in the house:
"Maybe", he taunts. "Or maybe I'll decide that you'd benefit from some time here and that you can't leave after all."
"I'll be of age in ten weeks." "We'll be snowed in in eight." And he laughs."
to his and his son's creepy obsession with her smiling - girl lost her parents, just shut up:
"You have a pretty smile. If you stay, I'll make you smile some more."
"I wish she'd smile."
to just the general vibe that these two adults (one in his forties, the other in his twenties) see this seventeen year old as a piece of meat and are just counting the days until they can finally legally fuck her:
“So, when do you turn eighteen?” Noah asks."
"I stop, an image of Tiernan in the backseat of some car—sweat on her face, hair sticking to her cheek, eyes closed, breathing hard—pops into my head."
"She better not. I’m not supplying this town with new pussy."
"If for no other reason than to burn off my exceeding supply of frustration with her father. To make her work off his debt to me. To fuck up her life just a little bit. To make her… She wets her pink lips, and my breath catches for a moment. If I were a worse man..."
there is also this scene where she unbuttons a shirt she is wearing in front of dearest uncle jake - mind you, she is wearing a whole ass t-shirt underneath - and he is like "She should be doing this in the privacy of the bathroom."
the only reason she should be doing this in the bathroom is because he is a disgusting creep who sees his teenage niece as a sex object. he is one of those people other family members would tell their daughters not to wear shorts around cause the entire family just knows he masturbates to the thought of underage girls in the shower.
mind you i am only 16% in but shall we make some predictions?
- it's a whole ass ten weeks until her 18th birthday - no one can wait that long. uncle jake is already thirsting after some teenage 🐱, there is no way he won't at least try to do something. and if not him then one of his twenty year old sons
- at least one of them is going to r*pe or sexually assault her in any way shape or form, i mean, "It does get boring in the winter... when the beer runs out."
- she's probably going to fall for tall dark and handsome - so the dude i haven't met yet. who will probably do something to her that's at least questionable if not full on jail worthy
there is no way i'm wrong about those predictions so consider this read. dnf @16%
January 20, 2020
can y'all just imagine the awkward family dinners 😅
now first of all, i really went in this blind. so blind that when i heard a male character was gonna have two sons, i though that said sons were children... now color me surprised when i finally realized that those two sons were grown ass men and i walked into a reverse harem type of situation.
personally, i don't like sharing because im selfish and i just don't believe a super-duper alpha, possessive type of H would even be down for sharing/threesome, but honestly, this book is really good. the writing, plot, the setting, character development (NOT romantic development)? A+. and this book was H-O-T, HOT . no joke. P. Douglas is so good with creating tension and writing steamy scenes so kudos to her.
and why would i not be intrigued by a h who gets stuck in the Colorado mountains with her step-uncle and two step-cousins?? i mean...
taboo + age-gap + 3 alpha men = GREATNESS
but why only 3 stars? well...
-
-
-
what i didn't like (SPOILERS !!!):
↠ lack of romantic development with Tiernan's endgame.
this really did disappoint me. it would've made more sense if she actually ended up with the person she spent most of the time with in a romantic way (Jake). Her romantic development with Jake was so good and filled with tension from the start that it did not make sense AT ALL for her to be with the other two but, ya know, plot and all that.
but did i ship Tiernan with her endgame? ...yes.
why? because i have a weakness for the silent type of H's
but honestly, the last 30ish % should've started in the middle instead of at the end so there were more scenes with Tiernan and the guy she chooses. and i actually wanted to see more from Kaleb too. i thought he was the most interesting out of all the H's.
i believed in the H's love for Tiernan but i NEVER believed in Tiernan's love for the main H because of the lack of development and the fact that she never felt bad about sleeping with his brother and father?? like, she didn't even think that was weird, she was like meh .
↠ the whole Noah situation.
i really would've been happier if they stayed platonic and they actually just acted like step-cousins. i didn't really believe in their "romantic development". i think it just happened for the sake of the story and smut aka threesome scene. but hey, that's just me.
↠ the ménage à trois.
OK. first of all, i thought this scene was actually hot. second, i'm not a prude and i've actually read some of the other threesome scenes by P. Douglas (Corrupt & Kill Switch) and thought they were all great, sexy, and all that. but my main problem with these scenes is that IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. it doesn't make sense for the character and it doesn't make sense for the story.
did that Kai, Michael and Rika scene make sense? no.
did that Will, Winter and Damon scene make sense? HELL NO.
apparently these threesomes happened for all the characters to heal and connect but it just really bugs me since the H's are extremely possessive but apparently they're down to share their women with their best friends/brother...
why was Kaleb even down for the threesome especially when it's WITH his brother and the woman he supposedly "loves" when he's apparently so "possessive". the reason might've been to hurt himself and withdraw but it was never really explained fully or even talked about.
↠ is Jake really okay?
apparently he is because he apparently forgot the romantic development between him and Tiernan so quickly that he didn't mind or care that she basically kinda cheated on him with his sons? at the same time??
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
but anyways, can we talk about that Jared Trent easter egg?! i just about died when i saw my favorite P. Douglas hero's name.
i still really did like this book despite my dislikes.
but am i gonna read another reverse harem? eh... no. sorry, but i really am that selfish and i don't like sharing.
but am i down to read more about the H's who didn't get their happy ending here? hell yes.
now first of all, i really went in this blind. so blind that when i heard a male character was gonna have two sons, i though that said sons were children... now color me surprised when i finally realized that those two sons were grown ass men and i walked into a reverse harem type of situation.
personally, i don't like sharing because im selfish and i just don't believe a super-duper alpha, possessive type of H would even be down for sharing/threesome, but honestly, this book is really good. the writing, plot, the setting, character development (NOT romantic development)? A+. and this book was H-O-T, HOT . no joke. P. Douglas is so good with creating tension and writing steamy scenes so kudos to her.
and why would i not be intrigued by a h who gets stuck in the Colorado mountains with her step-uncle and two step-cousins?? i mean...
taboo + age-gap + 3 alpha men = GREATNESS
but why only 3 stars? well...
-
-
-
what i didn't like (SPOILERS !!!):
↠ lack of romantic development with Tiernan's endgame.
this really did disappoint me. it would've made more sense if she actually ended up with the person she spent most of the time with in a romantic way (Jake). Her romantic development with Jake was so good and filled with tension from the start that it did not make sense AT ALL for her to be with the other two but, ya know, plot and all that.
but did i ship Tiernan with her endgame? ...yes.
why? because i have a weakness for the silent type of H's
but honestly, the last 30ish % should've started in the middle instead of at the end so there were more scenes with Tiernan and the guy she chooses. and i actually wanted to see more from Kaleb too. i thought he was the most interesting out of all the H's.
i believed in the H's love for Tiernan but i NEVER believed in Tiernan's love for the main H because of the lack of development and the fact that she never felt bad about sleeping with his brother and father?? like, she didn't even think that was weird, she was like meh .
↠ the whole Noah situation.
i really would've been happier if they stayed platonic and they actually just acted like step-cousins. i didn't really believe in their "romantic development". i think it just happened for the sake of the story and smut aka threesome scene. but hey, that's just me.
↠ the ménage à trois.
OK. first of all, i thought this scene was actually hot. second, i'm not a prude and i've actually read some of the other threesome scenes by P. Douglas (Corrupt & Kill Switch) and thought they were all great, sexy, and all that. but my main problem with these scenes is that IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. it doesn't make sense for the character and it doesn't make sense for the story.
did that Kai, Michael and Rika scene make sense? no.
did that Will, Winter and Damon scene make sense? HELL NO.
apparently these threesomes happened for all the characters to heal and connect but it just really bugs me since the H's are extremely possessive but apparently they're down to share their women with their best friends/brother...
why was Kaleb even down for the threesome especially when it's WITH his brother and the woman he supposedly "loves" when he's apparently so "possessive". the reason might've been to hurt himself and withdraw but it was never really explained fully or even talked about.
↠ is Jake really okay?
apparently he is because he apparently forgot the romantic development between him and Tiernan so quickly that he didn't mind or care that she basically kinda cheated on him with his sons? at the same time??
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
but anyways, can we talk about that Jared Trent easter egg?! i just about died when i saw my favorite P. Douglas hero's name.
i still really did like this book despite my dislikes.
but am i gonna read another reverse harem? eh... no. sorry, but i really am that selfish and i don't like sharing.
but am i down to read more about the H's who didn't get their happy ending here? hell yes.
November 24, 2020
There's only one word I could describe to this book: DISGUSTING
May 13, 2023
🎧 4th Read, Nov. 2021 — 5 Stars
I’m praying HARD for A Noah Book. He deserves to have his story told.
🎧 3rd Read, Oct. 2021 — 5 Stars
Yo, quit harassing/shaming me for loving and reading this shit multiple times.
This book’s become more than just a guilty pleasure. I love the way it made me feel when I was reading it. I’m NOT talking about the smut. There are scenes and passages that just hit me right in the chest. I don’t know if you get what I’m talking about, or if you at times feel it too. But sometimes when I’m reading something that (emotionally) affects me, I get this stinging sensation in my chest like a heartburn or some shit. I get that a lot from this book, and I like it.
I’m not saying the book isn’t problematic, but I also happen to think it’s a literary masterpiece and the author who wrote it a genius; for not only is it complex, but it’s also classy, believable, and brings forth an array of emotions. If you choose to see it only for its wrongness, and if you think it’s garbage and disgusting, that’s on you. You’re entitled to your opinions, just as I’m mine. What you’re not entitled to is telling ME what to read and not to read, what to like and can’t/mustn’t like.
Tis the last time I’m explaining/defending myself or I swear God help me!
[2nd Read]
Dec. 2020 — 5 Stars
My alter ego and her inner slut is thrivinggg. Believe it, this is one of my favorite books of 2020. Yes, we love me some sexy, juicy, spicy, saucy hanky panky debauchery.
To say I’d been dyyying to get my hands on the audiobook and re-read this since January would be an understatement. So, it’s sad to admit that the audio wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be. Idk, the experience was just not as intense as reading the book conventionally.
It could be because I listened in double speed. I’d say it was because I didn’t vibe with the narrator(s). Most of the time, I couldn’t tell the difference apart between her delivering the inner monologues and her actually reciting the dialogues. Audiobook wise, it’s 3 to 3.5 stars.
Aside from that, I loved the story still. Every titillating, smutty, lascivious bit. I also still shipped . Not because they made sense, but they were perfect for each other. My heart went out to because he was just so . . . good or the least fucked up and he deserved better.
I’d remind you to read the bonus scenes in PD’s website in case you’re interested. One of it is in ’s POV, and I think reading it helps you get to know him more and shows you the side of him the book couldn’t but you’ve always wanted to see.
This is probably the only book of its kind that I (was, am, and will ever be) obsessed with as I typically tend to stay away from anything ménage or reverse harem-ish.
(Read as an Audiobook)
[1st Read]
Jan. 2020 — 4.5 Stars
Someone call the fire department because I need some cooling down! By the devil! That was one heck of a ride. My my the heat… and the feels… oh the feels! Whew, this book is hotter than hell and wilder than my wildest fantasy.
Following the sudden deaths of her parents, seventeen year old Tiernan de Haas is set to live with her father’s stepbrother and only living relative Jake Van der Berg and his two sons, Kaleb and Noah. Hidden in the mountains of Colorado and miles away from civilization, Tiernan, who grew up with wealth and her parents lack of affection and guidance, soon discovers that home is not a place. It’s a feeling. As lines begin to blur and boundaries start to get crossed, Tiernan finds herself at a crossroad where emotions are clawing at her heart and demanding to be set free. Which one of them will she end up falling in love with? Who will get to keep her?
My favorite aspect about this book is undoubtedly the setting. I love the idea of living in a secluded area near the wilderness, and this book captures that ambiance perfectly. It’s so vivid that you can feel it with all your senses. It seems so mundane, but it’s also blissful and commendable seeing these characters go about their everyday life doing all kinds of domestic chores from cooking meals in the kitchen, to hunting in the forest and feeding livestock at the barn. Gah! I want nothing more than to teleport myself there and never leave the place. We don’t have winter here where I live, and reading this book has made me feel like I’ve lived vicariously through it.
The characters in this book are an absolute treat to read. You feel for them despite their undesirable traits and inexcusable behaviors. It’s beautiful seeing Tiernan’s transformation from someone who’s always lonely, empty, and not used to having people care about her into someone who grows to appreciate, trust, and love the people around her. You can say it’s misogynistic or whatever, but I have no problem with the Van der Bergs being possessive and protective of Tiernan.
The different types of relationship in this book are so blurrily intertwined that I wasn’t sure what these characters meant to each other. Lust, love, family, best friends, lovers? They’re all tangled into one. And because these characters are not afraid to explore themselves and push their limits, they keep you on your toes. You’ll never know what’s going to happen. I do agree that the development of Tiernan’s romantic relationship near the end of the book is quite rushed. Some say it’s unbelievable and insta lovey. But let me tell you where I stand on this,
The book is told from multiple perspectives of all the four main characters, though it’s mostly just Tiernan’s. While her POV certainly helps understand all the characters, it’s a little bit challenging to connect with one of the Van der Bergs considering his “limitation” and that he has the least interaction with Tiernan. I would’ve liked to have gotten more chapters from their POVs. Strangely enough though, this character also wound up to be the one I rooted for the most.
The steamy scenes in this book are one of the most erotic and intense I’ve ever read. One of it honestly was really disorienting for me because there were a lot of motions going on. Obviously if it were up to me I wouldn’t let the smut get this far . However, considering the nature of this book, extreme as it may be, I think it’s also fitting. Not to mention, I appreciate the author being so free with her words and painting something that most see as negative to be liberating and empowering.
CREDENCE might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is mine. Read this book if you’re seeking for an exceptional, thrilling, and treacherous taboo forbidden romance read with some age gap theme and reverse harem feel to it. Make sure you leave your prejudices and beliefs at the door to fully immerse yourself in it. This book will have you reeling by the end. It’s dark, sexy, romantic, heartbreaking, unconventional, and suspenseful. Mixed with complex characters, atmospheric setting, and the author’s alluring story telling, this book will guarantee passage to one of the wildest (and most uncomfortable) rides you’ve ever had in your reading life.
I’m praying HARD for A Noah Book. He deserves to have his story told.
🎧 3rd Read, Oct. 2021 — 5 Stars
Yo, quit harassing/shaming me for loving and reading this shit multiple times.
This book’s become more than just a guilty pleasure. I love the way it made me feel when I was reading it. I’m NOT talking about the smut. There are scenes and passages that just hit me right in the chest. I don’t know if you get what I’m talking about, or if you at times feel it too. But sometimes when I’m reading something that (emotionally) affects me, I get this stinging sensation in my chest like a heartburn or some shit. I get that a lot from this book, and I like it.
I’m not saying the book isn’t problematic, but I also happen to think it’s a literary masterpiece and the author who wrote it a genius; for not only is it complex, but it’s also classy, believable, and brings forth an array of emotions. If you choose to see it only for its wrongness, and if you think it’s garbage and disgusting, that’s on you. You’re entitled to your opinions, just as I’m mine. What you’re not entitled to is telling ME what to read and not to read, what to like and can’t/mustn’t like.
Tis the last time I’m explaining/defending myself or I swear God help me!
[2nd Read]
Dec. 2020 — 5 Stars
My alter ego and her inner slut is thrivinggg. Believe it, this is one of my favorite books of 2020. Yes, we love me some sexy, juicy, spicy, saucy hanky panky debauchery.
To say I’d been dyyying to get my hands on the audiobook and re-read this since January would be an understatement. So, it’s sad to admit that the audio wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it would be. Idk, the experience was just not as intense as reading the book conventionally.
It could be because I listened in double speed. I’d say it was because I didn’t vibe with the narrator(s). Most of the time, I couldn’t tell the difference apart between her delivering the inner monologues and her actually reciting the dialogues. Audiobook wise, it’s 3 to 3.5 stars.
Aside from that, I loved the story still. Every titillating, smutty, lascivious bit. I also still shipped . Not because they made sense, but they were perfect for each other. My heart went out to because he was just so . . . good or the least fucked up and he deserved better.
I’d remind you to read the bonus scenes in PD’s website in case you’re interested. One of it is in ’s POV, and I think reading it helps you get to know him more and shows you the side of him the book couldn’t but you’ve always wanted to see.
This is probably the only book of its kind that I (was, am, and will ever be) obsessed with as I typically tend to stay away from anything ménage or reverse harem-ish.
(Read as an Audiobook)
[1st Read]
Jan. 2020 — 4.5 Stars
I’M SORRY FOR ANYONE WHO COULDN’T HANDLE THIS, BUT THIS BOOK IS IT FOR MY GUILTY PLEASURE.
Someone call the fire department because I need some cooling down! By the devil! That was one heck of a ride. My my the heat… and the feels… oh the feels! Whew, this book is hotter than hell and wilder than my wildest fantasy.
Following the sudden deaths of her parents, seventeen year old Tiernan de Haas is set to live with her father’s stepbrother and only living relative Jake Van der Berg and his two sons, Kaleb and Noah. Hidden in the mountains of Colorado and miles away from civilization, Tiernan, who grew up with wealth and her parents lack of affection and guidance, soon discovers that home is not a place. It’s a feeling. As lines begin to blur and boundaries start to get crossed, Tiernan finds herself at a crossroad where emotions are clawing at her heart and demanding to be set free. Which one of them will she end up falling in love with? Who will get to keep her?
“Something about this house, these people, lend credence every day to what I always knew I needed. Not sex. Not a guy. Just a place. Somewhere or someone to feel like home.”
My favorite aspect about this book is undoubtedly the setting. I love the idea of living in a secluded area near the wilderness, and this book captures that ambiance perfectly. It’s so vivid that you can feel it with all your senses. It seems so mundane, but it’s also blissful and commendable seeing these characters go about their everyday life doing all kinds of domestic chores from cooking meals in the kitchen, to hunting in the forest and feeding livestock at the barn. Gah! I want nothing more than to teleport myself there and never leave the place. We don’t have winter here where I live, and reading this book has made me feel like I’ve lived vicariously through it.
“Jake was holding onto his past and punishing himself, just like me. Noah had no one to talk to, just like me. Kaleb struggles to connect, because of his pain of being forgotten by someone who should’ve loved him enough never to forget. Just like me.”
The characters in this book are an absolute treat to read. You feel for them despite their undesirable traits and inexcusable behaviors. It’s beautiful seeing Tiernan’s transformation from someone who’s always lonely, empty, and not used to having people care about her into someone who grows to appreciate, trust, and love the people around her. You can say it’s misogynistic or whatever, but I have no problem with the Van der Bergs being possessive and protective of Tiernan.
The different types of relationship in this book are so blurrily intertwined that I wasn’t sure what these characters meant to each other. Lust, love, family, best friends, lovers? They’re all tangled into one. And because these characters are not afraid to explore themselves and push their limits, they keep you on your toes. You’ll never know what’s going to happen. I do agree that the development of Tiernan’s romantic relationship near the end of the book is quite rushed. Some say it’s unbelievable and insta lovey. But let me tell you where I stand on this,
The book is told from multiple perspectives of all the four main characters, though it’s mostly just Tiernan’s. While her POV certainly helps understand all the characters, it’s a little bit challenging to connect with one of the Van der Bergs considering his “limitation” and that he has the least interaction with Tiernan. I would’ve liked to have gotten more chapters from their POVs. Strangely enough though, this character also wound up to be the one I rooted for the most.
The steamy scenes in this book are one of the most erotic and intense I’ve ever read. One of it honestly was really disorienting for me because there were a lot of motions going on. Obviously if it were up to me I wouldn’t let the smut get this far . However, considering the nature of this book, extreme as it may be, I think it’s also fitting. Not to mention, I appreciate the author being so free with her words and painting something that most see as negative to be liberating and empowering.
“My home is where you are.”
CREDENCE might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is mine. Read this book if you’re seeking for an exceptional, thrilling, and treacherous taboo forbidden romance read with some age gap theme and reverse harem feel to it. Make sure you leave your prejudices and beliefs at the door to fully immerse yourself in it. This book will have you reeling by the end. It’s dark, sexy, romantic, heartbreaking, unconventional, and suspenseful. Mixed with complex characters, atmospheric setting, and the author’s alluring story telling, this book will guarantee passage to one of the wildest (and most uncomfortable) rides you’ve ever had in your reading life.
October 31, 2023
1/5
People liking this book should be studied.
People liking this book should be studied.
June 10, 2022
if a genie gave me three wishes i’d use all three of them to make sure penelope douglas never writes another book ever again
Shelved as 'finished-writing'
January 14, 2020🔥NOW LIVE!!🔥
#FREE in #KindleUnlimited !!
"We haven't had a woman living in the house in a long time." He looks down at me and everything else stops. "Now we have you."
Amazon US---> https://amzn.to/3a8RUyj
Amazon UK---> https://amzn.to/2Nqj8GT
Amazon AUS---> https://amzn.to/2NpVcUl
Amazon CA---> https://amzn.to/2tk5ApJ
Paperback---> https://amzn.to/35TJCqE
🌲Pinterest Storyboard---> https://bit.ly/380PBMP
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#FREE in #KindleUnlimited !!
"We haven't had a woman living in the house in a long time." He looks down at me and everything else stops. "Now we have you."
Amazon US---> https://amzn.to/3a8RUyj
Amazon UK---> https://amzn.to/2Nqj8GT
Amazon AUS---> https://amzn.to/2NpVcUl
Amazon CA---> https://amzn.to/2tk5ApJ
Paperback---> https://amzn.to/35TJCqE
🌲Pinterest Storyboard---> https://bit.ly/380PBMP
🌲Spotify Playlist---> https://spoti.fi/2Li0bVL
August 22, 2021
DNF’d at 60% because I truly can’t handle this girl fucking her uncle and cousins, let alone at the same time. My pesky morals are rearing their ugly head again.
September 13, 2023
I illegally downloaded this and still have buyer's remorse.
January 15, 2020
Penelope Douglas: Expect the Unexpected.
She pens astounding, jaw dropping stories with tongue-in-cheek bravado and exhilarating narration which keeps the mercury rising
Devilishly Divine, Passionately explosive and deeply explorative of all the complexities of human relationship scenarios, she introduces the Van Der Berg men in all their manly glory. Residing up in the mountains of Chapel Peak, Colorado, they're rugged and handsome, living in seclusion. They haven't had a woman live with them for years, almost animalistic, they eat, mate and fight.
but peace in their tostesterone haven is soon sent in upheavel as their orphan cousin, Tiernan De Haas comes to live with them. I have to mention something here, Pen's heroines have a commonality, they're young but have chutzpah, their physicality contributes to their beauty as much as their character which is very attractive. Tiernan displays an amazing range of sensibilities. She's forlorn, colorless and vapid to begin with, but soon develops wings like a butterfly and finds her place in their home. Her multi faceted personality gets too big to be contained in the House so she sets off to find herself.
“At some point, you started denying yourself anything that made you happy. Out of spite, maybe? Or pride? Candy? Toys? Pets? Affection? Love? Friends?
“You’re going to look in the mirror at the seventeen-year-old girl in a fifty-year-old body and realize you wasted so much time being devastated at how those fuckers didn’t love you that you forgot there’s an entire world of people who will.” **heavy**😵
Pen is also partial to Bad boy Assholes, a weakness of taboo forbidden trope readers. Jake, Noah & Kaleb are bursting with unharnessed sexuality, at logger heads most of the time, scattered and nursing broken hearts at all times. A triumvirate of pulse pounding magnetism and in walks in Tiernan. They become her would-be nemesis - "The Storm, The Whirlwind & The Earthquake"
“When the world feels small, nothing can hurt you. “But then you realize you’re the only one who fits there in that small world, and being alone feels worse than not feeling safe.”
One HAS her, One WANTS her but HE..... He will KEEP her!
There's a FOURTH entity that plays an important part in it all- The House At The Peak
It's represents different things to all 4 people. it's refuge for Jake, it's a prison for Noah, it's a hideout for Kaleb but it's a retreat of sorts for Tiernan. Pen puts all of them in a house, cuts them off from the world and covers them under a huge, thick tarp of snow, till the warring passions illuminate it up from within. It gets warmer, hotter, bursts with fireworks, fills with banter and laughter, sounds of work tools mix with panting breaths, hammers on nails and slaps on skin intermingle, running showers and orgasmic moans resonate and it becomes a Home: A feeling, not a place
I have to mention A particular scene here almost in the middle of the book. It's a very physical scenario, senses start to tingle which triggers a mindbending kiss. But What is a scorching, Panty incinerating scene suddednly stops, Turns, Flips and nose dives straight into the abysmal depths of git wrenching emotions. Lust dissolves into tears, moans turn to sobs and I'm all agog at Pen's talent & magnitude of sentiments of the scene before me... !!! 👏👏👏
It's a Perfect storm of connection . Tiernan is a smart girl, she gives all 3 what they're missing from their lives. She's a kindred spirit for all 3 . Acknowledging their existence, their struggles and their silence and in turn she gets to Belong
And of course you cant have all that heat and not have an outlet, some of the HOTTEST SEX I've read...ever!! Legit panty scorcher, set your kindle on fire, B.O.B to the rescue scenes🔥🔥
“The notches go all the way to the buckle,” I point out. “I’m flattered, but my waist isn’t that small.”
Noah leans in, whispering, “But your wrists are.”
Hormones swell up like a rushing creek, gathering momentum and soon they burst forth in a definite roar and unstoppable force like a waterfall.
And the FEELS are what will drown you, devour you, subsume you from head to toe till it's white out of acute pain and miserable grief. I've cried bucketfulls of #HornyTears and curled up in a ball
“We were forced together and shit happened.My only wrong-step was falling in love with one of them. ”
Open all the windows and doors of your mind before you start cause you'll be Breathless soon, gasping, groaning, moaning and you'll need to stop and take deep breaths often..but pray continue. You're in for the ride of your life!!
Enjoy the magnificience, the power of the fall but go take a peek behind it, there's a hidden cave decorated with beautiful sentiments drawn on the walls, it's a tunnel of warmth and love.
Get soaked and soak up the love
4.5 stars for Lust, Learn, Love...... & Listen
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She pens astounding, jaw dropping stories with tongue-in-cheek bravado and exhilarating narration which keeps the mercury rising
Devilishly Divine, Passionately explosive and deeply explorative of all the complexities of human relationship scenarios, she introduces the Van Der Berg men in all their manly glory. Residing up in the mountains of Chapel Peak, Colorado, they're rugged and handsome, living in seclusion. They haven't had a woman live with them for years, almost animalistic, they eat, mate and fight.
but peace in their tostesterone haven is soon sent in upheavel as their orphan cousin, Tiernan De Haas comes to live with them. I have to mention something here, Pen's heroines have a commonality, they're young but have chutzpah, their physicality contributes to their beauty as much as their character which is very attractive. Tiernan displays an amazing range of sensibilities. She's forlorn, colorless and vapid to begin with, but soon develops wings like a butterfly and finds her place in their home. Her multi faceted personality gets too big to be contained in the House so she sets off to find herself.
“At some point, you started denying yourself anything that made you happy. Out of spite, maybe? Or pride? Candy? Toys? Pets? Affection? Love? Friends?
“You’re going to look in the mirror at the seventeen-year-old girl in a fifty-year-old body and realize you wasted so much time being devastated at how those fuckers didn’t love you that you forgot there’s an entire world of people who will.” **heavy**😵
Pen is also partial to Bad boy Assholes, a weakness of taboo forbidden trope readers. Jake, Noah & Kaleb are bursting with unharnessed sexuality, at logger heads most of the time, scattered and nursing broken hearts at all times. A triumvirate of pulse pounding magnetism and in walks in Tiernan. They become her would-be nemesis - "The Storm, The Whirlwind & The Earthquake"
“When the world feels small, nothing can hurt you. “But then you realize you’re the only one who fits there in that small world, and being alone feels worse than not feeling safe.”
One HAS her, One WANTS her but HE..... He will KEEP her!
There's a FOURTH entity that plays an important part in it all- The House At The Peak
It's represents different things to all 4 people. it's refuge for Jake, it's a prison for Noah, it's a hideout for Kaleb but it's a retreat of sorts for Tiernan. Pen puts all of them in a house, cuts them off from the world and covers them under a huge, thick tarp of snow, till the warring passions illuminate it up from within. It gets warmer, hotter, bursts with fireworks, fills with banter and laughter, sounds of work tools mix with panting breaths, hammers on nails and slaps on skin intermingle, running showers and orgasmic moans resonate and it becomes a Home: A feeling, not a place
I have to mention A particular scene here almost in the middle of the book. It's a very physical scenario, senses start to tingle which triggers a mindbending kiss. But What is a scorching, Panty incinerating scene suddednly stops, Turns, Flips and nose dives straight into the abysmal depths of git wrenching emotions. Lust dissolves into tears, moans turn to sobs and I'm all agog at Pen's talent & magnitude of sentiments of the scene before me... !!! 👏👏👏
It's a Perfect storm of connection . Tiernan is a smart girl, she gives all 3 what they're missing from their lives. She's a kindred spirit for all 3 . Acknowledging their existence, their struggles and their silence and in turn she gets to Belong
And of course you cant have all that heat and not have an outlet, some of the HOTTEST SEX I've read...ever!! Legit panty scorcher, set your kindle on fire, B.O.B to the rescue scenes🔥🔥
“The notches go all the way to the buckle,” I point out. “I’m flattered, but my waist isn’t that small.”
Noah leans in, whispering, “But your wrists are.”
Hormones swell up like a rushing creek, gathering momentum and soon they burst forth in a definite roar and unstoppable force like a waterfall.
And the FEELS are what will drown you, devour you, subsume you from head to toe till it's white out of acute pain and miserable grief. I've cried bucketfulls of #HornyTears and curled up in a ball
“We were forced together and shit happened.My only wrong-step was falling in love with one of them. ”
Open all the windows and doors of your mind before you start cause you'll be Breathless soon, gasping, groaning, moaning and you'll need to stop and take deep breaths often..but pray continue. You're in for the ride of your life!!
Enjoy the magnificience, the power of the fall but go take a peek behind it, there's a hidden cave decorated with beautiful sentiments drawn on the walls, it's a tunnel of warmth and love.
Get soaked and soak up the love
4.5 stars for Lust, Learn, Love...... & Listen
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May 20, 2023
2023:
¿qué tan traumada tengo que estar para amar este libro?
2021:
UHHHH NO TENGO PALABRAS!
este libro no se lo recomendaría a cualquiera, ya que es re turbio y me van a juzgar JAJAJA pero de verdad revisen advertencias antes de comenzar el libro.
si lo leen no me hago cargo por la terapia que van a necesitar.
¿qué tan traumada tengo que estar para amar este libro?
2021:
UHHHH NO TENGO PALABRAS!
este libro no se lo recomendaría a cualquiera, ya que es re turbio y me van a juzgar JAJAJA pero de verdad revisen advertencias antes de comenzar el libro.
si lo leen no me hago cargo por la terapia que van a necesitar.
January 23, 2020
I have been sitting here trying to figure out how to rate this book for quite some time. I came to the conclusion that I am going to give it a five stars. Does that mean I agree with everything that went on in this book? Hell no!!! But that isn’t why I read. I read to escape...to be entertained... to feel different emotions— whether it be good or bad. This book definitely did all of that for me! I went into Credence knowing there was forbidden aspects to the story, and that there was probably going to be content that pushed my limits.. and yes that happened for sure! I still was hooked to this one, and seeing as I read so much, I tend to find it hard to find books that I devour and can’t stop thinking about. I got that also with this story! So, five stars it is!
I will say that this story is not for everyone. The readers that don’t mind boundaries being crossed, and having their comfort level pushed, then this would be a book you will want to read. I thought Penelope Douglas did a wonderful job with her writing, and I was hooked on the story the whole way through. For myself, I am glad I read this!
I am choosing not to write a summary of the book or talk about the characters, because I don’t want to give anything away... and there are so many wonderful reviews out on Goodreads that gives a very clear idea of what Credence is all about. I do know one thing... I need to check out more of this author’s work! She has caught my attention!!!
I will say that this story is not for everyone. The readers that don’t mind boundaries being crossed, and having their comfort level pushed, then this would be a book you will want to read. I thought Penelope Douglas did a wonderful job with her writing, and I was hooked on the story the whole way through. For myself, I am glad I read this!
I am choosing not to write a summary of the book or talk about the characters, because I don’t want to give anything away... and there are so many wonderful reviews out on Goodreads that gives a very clear idea of what Credence is all about. I do know one thing... I need to check out more of this author’s work! She has caught my attention!!!
January 15, 2020
My mind is reeling!!! Penelope Douglas has blown me away. Wow. I just finished the epilogue and acknowledgments (yes I read those 😂) and I’m... speechless. PD has written a book that will blow your expectations of what kind of romances she can write out of the water. I truly believe she improves on her craft and writing with each book she puts out, because it shows. Credence is nothing like her previous romances - or romances in general - yet it’s EVERYTHING. (Don’t worry, there is an HEA and it’s so, so lovely. The ending almost made me tear up.) The story is emotional, heartbreaking, erotic (let me tell you.... you ain't seen NOTHING yet when it comes to filth from PD 🔥🔥🔥), and beautifully told - I loved the way it made me FEEL. I was addicted from the very first page and I never wanted to stop reading. I do have to warn people though - the content in this is not for everyone, and that’s okay. It gets a little dark, a little taboo, and a lot kinky. Credence FOR SURE will take you out of your comfort zone. I might be adding more of my thoughts soon but oh my god GET READY for this wild, emotional ride of a read! ➡️ https://amzn.to/30hQBZw
***
HO-LEEEEE SHIT. I GOT AN ARC 😭😭😭
***
Mountain men from Penelope Douglas? Sign me up.
***
HO-LEEEEE SHIT. I GOT AN ARC 😭😭😭
***
Mountain men from Penelope Douglas? Sign me up.
January 18, 2020
DNF @ 50%
I’ve been reading this book for a couple days now and I just can’t continue it anymore. I read this because I really enjoyed Birthday Girl it’s one of my all time favorite romances and I was curious to see what this author would do next, and I really love taboo romances... but this book was a bit too much for me. It was one of the smuttiest books I’ve ever read to the point where I was extremely uncomfortable. Not only that but the lines of consent are really blurry and her love interests act like fucking bullies in this book. I am a huge fan of hate to love romances but this ain’t it....
In this story we follow a girl named Tiernan who’s family recently just died so she’s going to live with a step Uncle and his two sons in the mountains. She is not related to any of them and she develops romantic relationships with all of them. Jake was an okay character, I actually kind of liked the son Noah, but the son Kaleb is so freaking annoying. He acts like a wild animal neanderthal and he’s the main issue I had with this book. He doesn’t understand consent at all and the way he was bullying her did not sit well with me. He reacts violently to everything and it’s unacceptable. Front the first scene she meets Kaleb he nearly fucking rapes her and I knew I wouldn’t like him from that moment on. I don’t know how Tiernan puts up with these men and their (mostly) misogynistic ways.
Also this book felt very Twilight to me for some reason, I couldn’t really figure out why but just the mood of it I guess. But just a lot more sexually graphic and vulgar than Twilight. This book was just a crazy reading experience I’m not totally sure what I just read to be honest. 🙊🙈
I’ve been reading this book for a couple days now and I just can’t continue it anymore. I read this because I really enjoyed Birthday Girl it’s one of my all time favorite romances and I was curious to see what this author would do next, and I really love taboo romances... but this book was a bit too much for me. It was one of the smuttiest books I’ve ever read to the point where I was extremely uncomfortable. Not only that but the lines of consent are really blurry and her love interests act like fucking bullies in this book. I am a huge fan of hate to love romances but this ain’t it....
In this story we follow a girl named Tiernan who’s family recently just died so she’s going to live with a step Uncle and his two sons in the mountains. She is not related to any of them and she develops romantic relationships with all of them. Jake was an okay character, I actually kind of liked the son Noah, but the son Kaleb is so freaking annoying. He acts like a wild animal neanderthal and he’s the main issue I had with this book. He doesn’t understand consent at all and the way he was bullying her did not sit well with me. He reacts violently to everything and it’s unacceptable. Front the first scene she meets Kaleb he nearly fucking rapes her and I knew I wouldn’t like him from that moment on. I don’t know how Tiernan puts up with these men and their (mostly) misogynistic ways.
Also this book felt very Twilight to me for some reason, I couldn’t really figure out why but just the mood of it I guess. But just a lot more sexually graphic and vulgar than Twilight. This book was just a crazy reading experience I’m not totally sure what I just read to be honest. 🙊🙈
January 9, 2023
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Update: Edited review to reflect the pronouns of the author.
Penelope Douglas is one of those authors where I always think the premise of their books sounds AMAZING but then I read them and I'm, like, virtually disappointed every time. Katee Robert is like that for me, too. I've liked some of their works, but most of the time, I read their stuff and just end up feeling seriously disappointed.
I bought CREDENCE at a thrift shop for a quarter, which seemed like a good deal. Especially since this seems to be the most controversial of her works. I remember when it first came out, my feed was filled with people DNF-ing and going "EWWWW" which obviously made me want to find out what the fuck was going on, because I'm a glutton for punishment like that.
Tiernan is the daughter of a film producer and his starlet wife. When they find out that the father has cancer, the mom and the dad both kill each other-- and they don't even leave Tiernan a note. They're just like BYE BITCH. And they Romeo-and-Juliet themselves. Which is in standard keeping with what we find out about their personalities. They're garbage people who resented their kid because she took time away from their One True Love, and as soon as she was old enough to be foisted upon someone else, they totally did that. Honestly, it was completely fucked up, and added a whole other layer to Tiernan's already-existing emotional damage, because she didn't really mourn her parents because there wasn't much to mourn.
In a last ditch effort at parental responsibility, we find out that her parents have dumped Tiernan off on her step-uncle, Jake, a mountain man who builds dirt bikes and lives off the land, swinging his cock around like an axe as he pees on everything he owns to mark his territory. Or something like that. The drive to his remote cabin is appropriately tense and suspenseful and actually kind of reminded me of TWILIGHT with the cold, privileged girl "exiling" herself to somewhere forested and remote and filled with hot guys. Except I'm pretty sure Bella didn't bang her uncle. Renesmee, on the other hand...
ANYWAY, Jake has two sons, Noah and Kaleb. Noah is honestly the only one I kind of liked because I'm a sucker for the fuckboy with the heart of gold trope. Kaleb was fucking creepy though. I felt like he crawled out of an Omegaverse book and nobody ever told him to go back home, so he just stayed in this book, creepily sniffing people's hair and sexually assaulting women and basically just making me want to slam the book closed every time he or Jake appeared.
So here's the thing. This book made me feel gross. It's the kind of taboo I really don't like. Parental guardians abusing their privilege? Gross. I can take daddy kink and stepbrother erotica, but girls or boys banging stepfathers or stepuncles or teachers?? NO. And what adds an extra layer of gross to this is that they're total misogynists. Like, when Tiernan fixes the fridge to please them and has to take out all the fridge contents and put them back, he doesn't notice she fixed the fridge; he just assumes that she wanted to, like, rearrange the contents like it was a dollhouse. There's all kinds of "not like other girls" type lines, and naturally, Tiernan is a gold star virgin that they all fight over, and some sexual stuff happens well before she turns eighteen, although they don't bang her until she is eighteen, thank GOD.
The brothers doubling up on her and the creepy uncle sexfests just really put me off. I think the book was pretty well written for the most part but I just wish it had been about her and Noah and maybe the rapey uncle could have been the bad guy that Noah saved her from in my ideal version of this story. The setting was great, the girl-on-girl hate was tiring, and the alphahole caveman dickslinging made my vagina pack up its bags and move to that iconic dry desert town known as Nopeville.
*insert kombucha meme here*
1.5 stars
May 12, 2021
has anyone checked on straight people recently?? are they okay?
March 27, 2022
I’m moving to the mountains because of this book!
I liked the premise of this book from the start and it did not disappoint. The story is about a girl named Tiernan who is from Beverly Hills and is the daughter of two famous people who just died. Her parents loved each other so much that they didn’t have room in their world for anyone else, including their daughter.
Tiernan grew up alone with nannies until she was old enough for boarding schools and and during school breaks she was sent to summer camps. Her parents died a week before she was to return to boarding school and just ten weeks before her eighteenth birthday.
Tiernan wants to get away from the spotlight of her parents deaths and she finds out that her fathers estranged stepbrother, Jake has become her guardian. Tiernan wants quiet alone time so she decides to go live with him and his two sons in the Rocky Mountains. I liked Tiernan a lot from the very start. She was obviously very neglected and lonely, but had more or less come to terms with the fact that her parents didn’t care.
Though Tiernan reflected on the fact that she did the Hollywood glamour stuff like shopping, fashion, makeup, to try to get her mothers approved. Tiernan is very quiet at first, rarely talking and when she does it is with as few words as possible. She goes to the mountains for a place where she can breathe and have some space.
Tiernan finds that Jake and his two adult sons, Noah and Kaleb, live on a up on a mountain and the road closes every year once the snow comes. So they are cut off from the nearest town for six months out of the year, which is fine with her since she just wants to be alone. However Jake and Noel don’t let Tiernan cut herself off from them.
There are a few small things I didn’t like about the book, but I won’t go into them because that would be giving things away. Despite those small things I really enjoyed this book. I loved the relationship between Tiernan and each of the guys. She had a different type of relationship with each of them which she really needed and they become a family.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a nice little family drama story. It gets off the charts hot and steamy. I give it five flames out of five 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 for the sexy times and the romance. The characters are completely awesome, each in their own way. I would pay cash money to be snowed in for six months with those three guys. So would most of the girls in the nearest town!
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I liked the premise of this book from the start and it did not disappoint. The story is about a girl named Tiernan who is from Beverly Hills and is the daughter of two famous people who just died. Her parents loved each other so much that they didn’t have room in their world for anyone else, including their daughter.
Tiernan grew up alone with nannies until she was old enough for boarding schools and and during school breaks she was sent to summer camps. Her parents died a week before she was to return to boarding school and just ten weeks before her eighteenth birthday.
Tiernan wants to get away from the spotlight of her parents deaths and she finds out that her fathers estranged stepbrother, Jake has become her guardian. Tiernan wants quiet alone time so she decides to go live with him and his two sons in the Rocky Mountains. I liked Tiernan a lot from the very start. She was obviously very neglected and lonely, but had more or less come to terms with the fact that her parents didn’t care.
Though Tiernan reflected on the fact that she did the Hollywood glamour stuff like shopping, fashion, makeup, to try to get her mothers approved. Tiernan is very quiet at first, rarely talking and when she does it is with as few words as possible. She goes to the mountains for a place where she can breathe and have some space.
Tiernan finds that Jake and his two adult sons, Noah and Kaleb, live on a up on a mountain and the road closes every year once the snow comes. So they are cut off from the nearest town for six months out of the year, which is fine with her since she just wants to be alone. However Jake and Noel don’t let Tiernan cut herself off from them.
There are a few small things I didn’t like about the book, but I won’t go into them because that would be giving things away. Despite those small things I really enjoyed this book. I loved the relationship between Tiernan and each of the guys. She had a different type of relationship with each of them which she really needed and they become a family.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a nice little family drama story. It gets off the charts hot and steamy. I give it five flames out of five 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 for the sexy times and the romance. The characters are completely awesome, each in their own way. I would pay cash money to be snowed in for six months with those three guys. So would most of the girls in the nearest town!
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November 23, 2021
My biggest issue with Credence is not the taboo plot line. It was with
Theres also misogynistic vibes in this book. All three men routinely hook up with other women and even bring them back home while Tiernan is in the house. The moment a man even gives her a minute of his time, they are up in arms. Yes, the character coming onto her was a POS anyways but that's besides the point. The way she's referred to as a "slut" by Kaleb was not okay either.
Honestly, she should've ended up with no one.
Theres also misogynistic vibes in this book. All three men routinely hook up with other women and even bring them back home while Tiernan is in the house. The moment a man even gives her a minute of his time, they are up in arms. Yes, the character coming onto her was a POS anyways but that's besides the point. The way she's referred to as a "slut" by Kaleb was not okay either.
Honestly, she should've ended up with no one.
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