Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️ Rating: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 4/5
Genre: Taboo Romance
Tropes:
- Forbidden Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Secret Identities
- Secret Relationship
OMG. I’ve been waiting (not so) patiently for the second book in the Carlson Brother’s series to be released. The first book? So forbidden, so hot. Forget Your Morals? Oof, smack you in the face, forbidden and hot.
Penny and Lincoln have a consensual interaction in a private club. That might be the most PC/non spoiler way of explaining how this all started. When the book prompts you to follow the QR code to reveal the NSFW character art, just do it. As hot and spicy as this book was, and it is, this story also has a lot of heart. Penny’s story of self discovery is harrowing. I really appreciate that Lincoln was all in from the very beginning. It was Penny who was hesitant, worried about the fallout. Once they got on the same page and ready to make their announcement the universe kept putting obstacles in their way. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing the rest of the Carlson brothers stories.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
These Carlson brothers are somethin’ else 😅
Linc simps harddddd and I devoured every second of it.
I really appreciate Sarah’s care/handling of Penny being adopted alongside the view of the situation from Lincoln’s eyes. Penny is so loved, but she still has that fear and feeling of being an outsider given she was adopted. Whereas Lincoln can’t understand her worry of the family’s loving being conditional since he was born into the family.
The spice in this was great and I especially loved the actual portrayal of CNC with conversations beforehand regarding boundaries, safe words, etc. It was refreshing given that there have been a number of times that I see people discussing spicy books and mention CNC, but there was no proper discussion beforehand between partners.
Highlights:
- Romance: MF
- Adopted cousins (NOT BL00D RELATED)
- Tab00/forbidden
- Secret romance
- He falls first
- CNC
- No 3rd act breakup
Note: I was gifted a physical copy and eARC by the author. Decision to read/review was my own. Opinion is my own.
Linc simps harddddd and I devoured every second of it.
I really appreciate Sarah’s care/handling of Penny being adopted alongside the view of the situation from Lincoln’s eyes. Penny is so loved, but she still has that fear and feeling of being an outsider given she was adopted. Whereas Lincoln can’t understand her worry of the family’s loving being conditional since he was born into the family.
The spice in this was great and I especially loved the actual portrayal of CNC with conversations beforehand regarding boundaries, safe words, etc. It was refreshing given that there have been a number of times that I see people discussing spicy books and mention CNC, but there was no proper discussion beforehand between partners.
Highlights:
- Romance: MF
- Adopted cousins (NOT BL00D RELATED)
- Tab00/forbidden
- Secret romance
- He falls first
- CNC
- No 3rd act breakup
Note: I was gifted a physical copy and eARC by the author. Decision to read/review was my own. Opinion is my own.
4.5⭐️ i for one absolutely adore everything sarah puts out and this was no different 😭
this is the second book in the Carlson Brothers series following Penny and Lincoln, whose relationship starts off in the wildest way possible, after each of them have some anonymous fun with complete strangers, insert the ✨glory hole✨ when not being able to stand not knowing who they were intimate with, they both get the biggest shock of their lives, surpriseeee, they slept with each other, only they both know that they are the absolute last people that should be together
this was such a fun, feel good, taboo book with unexpected surprises, freak nastyyyy smut, and emotional moments
the push and pull between these two was insane😩 penny trying to resist because she doesn’t want to break up the family and lincoln being SO obsessed and bad down for her, i was eating it up!!! (my favorite genre of man, shoutout mike faist in challengers🙂↕️)
i also loved how the timelines of this book and the first one were parallel, so we were able to see the first couple’s relationship develop through someone else’s pov (which was so cute)
thank you sarah for the arc, im so excited to see what the next book will be🤭
this is the second book in the Carlson Brothers series following Penny and Lincoln, whose relationship starts off in the wildest way possible, after each of them have some anonymous fun with complete strangers, insert the ✨glory hole✨ when not being able to stand not knowing who they were intimate with, they both get the biggest shock of their lives, surpriseeee, they slept with each other, only they both know that they are the absolute last people that should be together
this was such a fun, feel good, taboo book with unexpected surprises, freak nastyyyy smut, and emotional moments
the push and pull between these two was insane😩 penny trying to resist because she doesn’t want to break up the family and lincoln being SO obsessed and bad down for her, i was eating it up!!! (my favorite genre of man, shoutout mike faist in challengers🙂↕️)
i also loved how the timelines of this book and the first one were parallel, so we were able to see the first couple’s relationship develop through someone else’s pov (which was so cute)
thank you sarah for the arc, im so excited to see what the next book will be🤭
"Um, what the fuck did my poor little eyes just witness?"
Taboo/forbidden, glory hole/free use, CNC, MMC that simps hard; if you need a shot of any of these tropes, this. is. your. book.
❌❌ Slight spoilers ahead ❌❌
These two really needed each other, and it was borderline tragic that they had such a hard time coming together.
The MMC is pretty much all in and ready to risk it all as soon as he realizess who she is. He thinks back to every interaction, seeing their lives through a new lens, and just....simps so hard for her. You could call this insta-love technically, but there's a lot of angst before they're actually together.
"She makes me feel like the best version of me and fuck if I don’t want to do the same for her."
Man, he was awesome. Grumpy but soft for her, and patient enough to let her work her feelings out even when he was dying to announce her as his.
She, on the other hand, feels like she has so much more to lose as the adopted member of the family, and takes a lot of convincing. Her fears are rightfully founded for the most part, especially with so many hard things compounding in her life at the same time.
“Please don’t break my heart or take away my family,”
It was sweet watching her slowly become more and more open to the idea of them being together, and risking it all. There's a good amount of angst, but they never cross lines where you would feel they shouldn't be forgiven. I spent a lot of time mentally begging her to just do it and announce it though.
The only thing that was frustrating for me was that, having read the first book a few days ago, I had to sit through a rehashing of everything that happened in that book too. Any scene that either of the MCs from this book were present for in the last book is rehashed here, even when I felt like it didn't contribute to the storyline. So not only are there a lot of unnecessary spoilers for the first book that could have been glossed over or skipped, but it was like reading a majority of the first book all over again without enough new perspectives given to justify most of it.
Definitely recommend this one though. The glory hole stuff was hawwt, and ended up being some of the best scenes for that trope I've come across.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
step-relatives isn’t usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed this book.
What I appreciated the most was the healing journey of both characters, Linc has been betrayed by a past lover and has withdrawn from everyone; Pen has been dealing with her being adopted for many years, feeling an outcast even in her own family, she also isn’t satisfied with her job and love life. Both are able to let the past go and finally find themselves with the help and support of the other.
I particularly liked the second half of the book, but I didn’t like that around 50% both of them had already developed deep feelings for the other, it felt out of the blue since until that point their relationship has been mostly physical. after that they start dating tho and we see them in a romantic dynamic as well and I appreciated those moments.
What I appreciated the most was the healing journey of both characters, Linc has been betrayed by a past lover and has withdrawn from everyone; Pen has been dealing with her being adopted for many years, feeling an outcast even in her own family, she also isn’t satisfied with her job and love life. Both are able to let the past go and finally find themselves with the help and support of the other.
I particularly liked the second half of the book, but I didn’t like that around 50% both of them had already developed deep feelings for the other, it felt out of the blue since until that point their relationship has been mostly physical. after that they start dating tho and we see them in a romantic dynamic as well and I appreciated those moments.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Help step-cousin, I'm stuck in a book slump after reading this book"
I don't know what kind of magical smut crack Sarah sprinkles in her books but I can confirm, I am addicted.
Lincoln is deliciously grumpy but at the same time, is just absolutely a ride or die family man. Due to his past relationship leaving him jaded, he wants a no strings attached fun and the Key Club has just the thing for him.
Penny is a sunshiny hopeless romantic who struggles with finding her place in her life between being adopted, feeling out of place, and trudging through one shit relationship after another. She wants to find a way to explore her desires and what is better than anonymous relations through......a glory🕳️?
The spice is fantastic and absolutely blush-worthy and the backstory had me shedding a tear -damn you, Sarah for making me feel things! I don't know what store they sell these Carlson brothers at but I'll take the lot!
I don't know what kind of magical smut crack Sarah sprinkles in her books but I can confirm, I am addicted.
Lincoln is deliciously grumpy but at the same time, is just absolutely a ride or die family man. Due to his past relationship leaving him jaded, he wants a no strings attached fun and the Key Club has just the thing for him.
Penny is a sunshiny hopeless romantic who struggles with finding her place in her life between being adopted, feeling out of place, and trudging through one shit relationship after another. She wants to find a way to explore her desires and what is better than anonymous relations through......a glory🕳️?
The spice is fantastic and absolutely blush-worthy and the backstory had me shedding a tear -damn you, Sarah for making me feel things! I don't know what store they sell these Carlson brothers at but I'll take the lot!
I absolutely enjoyed this one. It's book two in the series but it can be read as a stand alone. This story is a spicy, taboo/forbidden romance. Penny and Lincoln are step cousins so this book might not be for you. They definitely do not have any blood relation.
Penny only falls for the wrong men and when her last relationship ends she decides relationships are not for her at the moment. So why not go to a club to find pleasure with a mystery man. The stranger on the other side of the wall really knows how to please her and make her fantasies come true. What she didn't expect is for her mystery man to be Lincoln.
After a failed relationship years ago, Lincoln hasn't had a relationship since. He does visit a club every so often and when they start holding evening with strangers he decides to go. Being a grumpy man he didn't expect to fall for this woman behind the wall.
I really loved the dynamic between Penny and Lincoln as they are really sunshine/grumpy and it was so cute to read. A big part of Penny's journey in this book was finding her birth parents as she felt lost and wanted to know where she came from. At some point Lincoln was also the only person that knew she found something and he really supported her so well.
So if you are looking for a very steamy taboo romance be sure to check this one out!
Thanks to Sarah Blue for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yup, yup, yup!!! See? This is my type of book! Just the right amount of speed/pacing that I like, right amount of smut and best microtropes in this book!
I’ll be honest, I’ve been on my e-ARC grind for the past 2 months and the book that I read prior to this put me in the biggest book slump ever. If it weren’t for deadlines I wouldn’t have pushed myself to read this book until I gave myself a week off of just no books at all. Seriously, that’s how bad it felt. BUT, last night, I said to myself, just read 2 chapters. If I read 2 chapters, I’ll get to read this steadily and be done by release day.
JOKES ON ME! I read this til 2am in the morning with 20% left (I needed to go to bed cuz…appointments). And, I kept coming to this book while at work and JUST finished.
This book was so good. It caught my attention right from the beginning. I have so much understanding for Penny. I understood her reticence but also her desire to explore herself outside of a relationship…ugh but in comes Mr Grumpy Batman aka Lincoln to ruin it all. Gosh he is so needy for her but man do I love that about him! (Red flag where?) 😂 But seriously, I love that he just had this instinct that she was the one. And that she was a little hesitant.
And, I think I can officially say, this is the first book that I have read that had…certain themes in a sex club. I don’t want to give it away in case you don’t know about it but…you’d be in for a big surprise. I’ll leave it at that. UGH and my favorite microtrope of all….i didn’t realize this was my favorite until I read it LOL! But, the car scene 😘 chefs kiss!!
Please, if you’re looking for a fast paced, forbidden/taboo, with so much spice, this one’s for you babe!