Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Credence by Penelope Douglas

194 reviews

samigilbert's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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this book is supposed to be dark and twisted, and it definitely was. i gave it 4 stars because some of the twists were pretty predictable - still a good read. please again check TW, this won’t be for everyone (SA, dub con, etc.). they’re manipulative for sure, but i knew they weren’t going to be great because this is *supposed to be dark.* 

i felt really grossed out about her uncle, it was my least favorite part… even though the author knows how to write a good spicy scene. idk. blegh. i know they aren’t at all blood related in any way, but it still was just ewwie LOL

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol

djinnn's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Oh, Credence. This book was a trip. I didn’t like the endgame relationship, but damn if this book wasn’t hot as fucking hell. Easily the most well-written smut I’ve encountered so far, and brimming deliciously with UST. The characters were certainly compelling, and for a lot of the book, I found it very hard to put it down. I liked the concept of the story and the way the plot developed, and thought it was pretty well-written. 

My biggest complaint with this book is that

Tiernan, the main character, ends up with the member of the family who sexually assaults her multiple times, including outright rape. His behavior is never really judged, it’s essentially always excused, and he’s basically, in my opinion, a massive piece of shit who gets what he wants by being a child about it.

This left a terrible taste in my mouth, and almost turned me off of the whole book, which is otherwise not all that dark (if certainly quite taboo). Still, I would read this book again, and recommend it with some heavy caveats. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Suicide, Death of parent

Blood relative incest isn’t directly present in the book, but it’s incredibly adjacent, which is why I’ve tagged it. The lines between family and sex are massively blurred.

despicable_knee's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

aakriti_sharma's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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Okay to start with..I really liked the cover of this book...and the volours used..its really soothing..and as far as the book goes...it was a challenging read for me...I mean it kept me engaged till the end...this is my 3rd Penelope Douglas book back to back and I would say her writing is amazing..even if you don't like the plot that much or it is predictable..you are hooked till the end..that's a huge accomplishment for an author...but it wasn't that good..I think it is the most steamy book I have read in this year till now...
I really struggled to imagine the character of Kaleb...like Noah, Jake and Tiernan was pretty easy..but Kaleb..nope I didn't find it easy to imagine her...

maybe beacuse he didn't have that much of role but suddenly becomes the main focus

..so yeah it was good but not that much..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment

zc2's review against another edition

4.0

dark funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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The book was overall good. I fully expected her and Noah to get together and when they didn’t I was a little sad. Kalebs character was good don’t get me wrong but I do feel as though some of his actions were uncalled for and ruthless. As far as Jake goes man….. he’s a dilf for sure but like sir that’s your niece. Not to mention Noah was there pretty much every time teiranan would ya know and she was just like yea no i don’t like you. Anyway the more trigger warnings the better I guess. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

roznn's review against another edition

1.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Incest plot line is the entire book and she get pregnant by the end the hell

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment

readaholic88's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment

This book was a lot. Some real growth for the characters, but overall very unbelievable

jasminealizae's review against another edition

1.0

challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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It was really disturbing to me that during the sex scenes, in their inner monologue, the characters would compare/describe the other as a child.

This excerpt comes from Kaleb's POV as he's raping the fmc Tiernan:
'...he squats down to slide her panties down her legs. And if he weren't looking at a woman's body, he might think a child was speaking to him with how innocent and sweet she sounded.'

Another scene between Tiernan and Kaleb, Tiernan thinks to herself:
'And last night, I didn't hold back in his bed, but today, I know I can't go there again, and he doesn't get it, because he's like a fucking child.' then proceeds to have sex with him?

Between the incest, rape, misogyny, illegal minor/adult relationship, physical and mental abuse it was hard to pretend to care about the subplots Penelope Douglas strung along when there wasn't erotica. 

Having spite-finished this book I can confidently say Penelope definitely just wanted to write smutty book about incest. Adding a back story for Tiernan and Kaleb regarding their absent parents, and Jakes shortcomings with love, was fluff as Jake and his kids waited for Tiernan to turn 18 so that they could legally engage in sexual activities with her. The addition of Cici Diggins, Terrance Holcomb and Mirai were extremely irrelevant and fell tremendously short in their attempt to keep us distracted from the hot mess that was this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

reproductive coercion

britrcup's review against another edition

2.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is dark. It's  taboo. It's spicy. It was like watching a car crash, I wanted so badly to look away but I couldn't. I enjoyed the endgame but I do think a lot of the dark/taboo parts of the book could have been cut out. The complex trauma is written really well and overall the plot is okay. If you are a fan of dark (and I mean really dark) romances and can look past the content warnings the romance might be worth it for you. This is not a book for you if you are looking for fluff.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cancer

bbygirl21's review against another edition

4.0

emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I loved this book. I only wish she could've stayed with all the of them instead of choosing just I've of them, even though I understand the reasons why she didn't.

I loved all the characters. The guys Jake, Noah, and Kaleb are all enjoyable in their own way and they each give Tiernan something she needs. Tiernan could get frustrating at times but overall she's also a great character. And I loved the woman (Mirai) in Tiernan's life as well that acted as a sort of mother to her as well as a friend growing up.i love how caring and affectionate Mirai is with Tiernan throughout the book even while Tiernan is with Jake Noah and Kaleb most of the book.

I loved the storyline as well and seeing why the guys are the way they are until Tiernan shows up. She really brings the three of them together the guys getting along much better with Tiernan around.

Overall a really great book. 4 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Incest, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury

(incest: step cousins/step uncle not blood related)