A review by booksjenrecs
Credence by Penelope Douglas

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

This probably says more about me and less about the plot itself, but I went into Credence expecting it to come off as more taboo than it felt. I knew pretty early on who I was rooting for Tiernan to end up with, so every other entanglement until then seemed more like a passing thing rather than a potential endgame. 

I did love the depth of the four main characters. This story was about so much more than the physical relationship between Tiernan, Jake, Noah, and Kaleb; everyone had their own demons to overcome, and I thought Douglas developed each and every backstory well. Everyone had their own resolution, some more extensive than others, but I loved that everyone seemed to be in a good place by the story's conclusion. I do think Jake should be in the running for a worst father/caregiver award, but since everyone had their own issues, at least Jake wasn't alone. 

This story was a solid four stars for me. I ended up wishing for more closure when it came to the physical relationship between Jake/Tiernan and Noah/Tiernan, but loved the edginess that Kaleb brought to every scene. Kaleb was, by far, by favorite Van der Berg; I loved the intensity of his character, both physically and emotionally. He had some of the biggest obstacles to overcome, and I thought his journey had the best resolution. 

Credence was definitely on the milder side of taboo romance, but it was a worthy story full of complex emotional journeys, leading all the main characters to their rightful happy endings.