Forbidden Love… A Second Chance Romance unlike any you’ve ever read before. I’m happy and thriving in a solid relationship with a good guy–until my billionaire ex, Holt Calson, shows up at the resort where I’m working as a Kids Club manager. I’ve moved on, but he definitely hasn’t. He’s also a single-dad now and in desperate need of a capable nanny to manage his out-of-control son. So the … single-dad now and in desperate need of a capable nanny to manage his out-of-control son. So the powerful CEO decides that I’m the perfect woman for the job–whether I want it or not.
According to him….
Revenge is best served BOSS!
Reader Note: This is part 2 of the Ruthless Second Chance Duet, and it completes the epically romantic story of Holt and Sylvie.
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4.5 for me. I really enjoyed this story. I thought it would actually be darker, so it was a surprise that it has dark elements but it more angsty than truly dark.
Sylvie is a poor girl who just graduated from school and is looking for work when she meets Holt at a party. Holt is a very rich young man with a serious drug problem among other issues. He is a total mess when Sylvie first meets him. A warm, nurturing soul, Sylvie is both drawn to Holt and extremely wary of him due to his use of recreational pharmaceuticals and his intensity towards her. Not to mention, Sylvie has an extremely strict and domineering mother whose cultural beliefs clash mightily with Holt’s lifestyle.
Sylvie and Holt do not meet cute but there’s an awareness of her by him that’s instant. Sylvie takes a little longer to warm due to her fear. They fall in love and soon after things fall apart. 10 years later, they meet again and it’s game on!
Sylvie and Holt are flawed protagonists who feel real. Neither one is perfectly right or wrong. Both make [obvious] mistakes but never does it NOT come across that deep down the story is about two people who are very hurt, scared, and still in love. I get Holt’s anger… here’s a woman he loves deeply who left him when he needed her most. He’s so angry at her for seemingly rejecting him while also still being that lost boy who loves her deep down that he’s all over the place in how he responds to her. The book does shows well why Holt is a hot mess and so very bitter toward Sylvie. Sylvie is a bit of a tougher to see all the parts and it takes a while before all the pieces click. Sylvie is slower to come out of her shell plus she is a runner, so it can make it frustrating when half the pairing keeps disappearing or hiding when you hope she’ll stay and fight. I do like Sylvie, it is just think that Holt is more immediately obvious about his emotions whereas Sylvie plays everything closer to the vest or hides so I felt a bit more sympathetic towards him throughout the book even with him being so ruthless at times. All that said, they do make a good coupling once they stop playing games with each other. I really like them and their story together.
Sylvie and Holt’s story is solidly entertaining. Extra points for the author including children who are interesting being incorporated instead of overly precocious or contrived. Wes and Barron make for excellent secondary characters in the story.
I’ve read just about every book that Theodora has written. I love the alpha males she writes. Holt is full of flaws, but you’ll find yourself rooting for him to win Sylvie back. I read this book in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down. It’s full of sexy moments, but also tender moments as well. If you haven’t checked out her Ruthless Tycoon series you really need to.
I couldn’t put it down! I absolutely loved it. Maaaaaahhhhhhn it made me mad, sad and happy. Thank you.