From New York Times Bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new forbidden love story?JORDANHe took me in when I had nowhere else to go.He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the … the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.I have to stop this. It can’t happen.My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable.Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.I am.PIKEI took her in, because I thought I was helping.She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me.But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.And her boyfriend’s father.Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.*BIRTHDAY GIRL is a stand-alone, contemporary romance suitable for ages 18+.
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Just like any of Penelope’s books, Birthday Girl was just as easy to fall into and honestly love.
Jordan hasn’t ever really honestly felt what it was like to be loved. Yes, she has her sister and her friends. But to feel as if she is everything to that one single person. But she does find him. In the most unlikely place. Now, most have an issue with a vast age difference. But the way that Penelope writes it is so easy to not to have any problem with it. Pike is one of those characters, that would be so easy to love. Jordan is one of those characters that you hope will have her happy ending.
I loved how this was written. I did take my time with this; I didn’t rush read it. I probably spent a couple of weeks going back and forth. I Honestly didn’t want it to be over. Penelope’s writing is brilliant. The way that she’s able to make you feel with your whole heart, how these characters are feeling. I loved this story so much that I wanted to purchase the signed paperback right after.
Overall, I have to give this Five Boundless Stars.
Been hearing nothing but awesome recommendations for this book. I’m glad I finally had the chance to read it! I loved every minute of it. Not the typical older man book. I loved the build up. The desire they both felt and didn’t act on. I couldn’t digest it fast enough!
Birthday Girl was my first read from Penelope Douglas and it was amazing!! I already love taboo, but this book had a different feel to it than most. It definitely falls in the category of slow burn, but when you finally get to the explosion all of the waiting is worth it.
Jordan is a 19 year old in college with a boyfriend that hasn’t really grown up yet. He ends up getting them kicked out of their apartment and the only place for them to stay is with his father. However, there is some serious chemistry between Jordan and Pike (which incidentally started before they were even living together). Girl and boyfriend’s dad… yea, you can see why there may be some problems here.
Birthday Girl is a book that you will not want to miss!! I highly recommend this book, especially to those who love age gap!
Good book i have read others of hers and just great to read.
This book was sooo good! It had all the ingredients for a beautiful love story. I wasn’t bored at all and couldn’t put it down once I started I was almost instantly invested in the characters and wanted nothing but the best for them. Age gaps always make for a good story and the realistic situations and feelings that they experienced, pulled me in a little further with each struggle they encountered. It was happy, sad, romantic and sexy, with so much anticipation through most of the book. Just a really beautiful lighthearted read! Well done!
I’ve been dying to read this for ages & I’m so glad I finally sat down and made this a priority.
Oh man Pike I just really loved you from the minute you entered this story I knew you were such a good guy & I was championing you the whole way.
Yip sometimes thing sucks eggs but if it’s worth fighting for, it’s worth doing right!
Jordan your soul is just amazing the Birthday Girl with her dreams waiting for her to be carried out, only to be changed in a matter of seconds. But when something is worth it you have to keep pushing through, regardless of the outcome.
I bloody loved this story I could have read more & more about them.
Hot Damn! Buckle Up people!! Birthday Girl will blow your mind and make you want to blow out some candles, while wishing for a “Hot Dad” of your own! When I read the blurb I immediately knew I had to read this book! I was sucked in from the first chapter, I’m talking 5 stage clinger! Nobody was prying me away from my kindle! This forbidden temptation was exciting and sexy! Jordan is a young girl trying to make it, a girl who wanted the life. Pike is man just trying to do the right thing. I loved these two characters so much! A beautiful story that shows how age is just a number and love finds a way! Definitely made my list for best books of 2018! Take a chance and fall in love with Pike!
NO SPOILERS!
Birthday Girl was a sexy, intriguing, and entertaining standalone forbidden romance, and I absolutely loved it with all of my heart! The storyline and characters were phenomenal, and I loved the author’s writing style. Birthday Girl was my first novel from Penelope Douglas, and it definitely won’t be the last. I loved this book to pieces and can’t wait to read more from this author!
The storyline was amazing. I don’t know what it says about me, but I love the forbidden romance trope. I haven’t read many as of yet, but I can honestly say that Birthday Girl has been the best one so far. I didn’t fully know what to expect going into this book, but it was even better than I imagined. It was heartbreaking and emotional at times, but also super fun and sexy, and I loved everything from beginning to end.
The characters were phenomenal. Pike and Jordan were amazing, and I loved their personalities and super hot chemistry together. It wasn’t always easy, but I loved how their relationship progressed throughout. It was slow for a little while, but then it got really good, and I was hooked from there on out. I loved reading the book from both Pike and Jordan’s point of view, and most of their banter and interactions with each other. Their relationship definitely wasn’t considered normal by most standards, but it was beautiful nonetheless, and I absolutely loved it with all of my heart. It will stay with me forever, and I can’t wait to read it over and over again. Since Birthday Girl was a forbidden romance – Pike was thirty-eight and Jordan was nineteen – you’d think it would be weird with such a large age gap, but it honestly wasn’t. Pike was kind, hardworking, mature, super hot, and a good man all around. He wasn’t a pervert preying on a teenager, but a man who had finally found his soulmate, his better half, and struggled with how to handle it the right way. Jordan was sweet, hardworking, mature for her age, and a wonderful woman at heart. She had a good head on her shoulders, and even though she had her moments of immaturity (which were very rare), she knew what she wanted out of life for the most part. I loved her obsession with all things 80s, and even though I was born in the 90s, I could definitely appreciate her taste in music. Pike and Jordan were amazing together, and I absolutely adored them and their story. I was addicted from beginning to end and couldn’t get enough. Birthday Girl was a beautiful and memorable tale of forbidden love, and I was so freaking ecstatic with the conclusion to Pike and Jordan’s story.
Birthday Girl was a sexy, beautiful, and unforgettable standalone forbidden romance, and I would HIGHLY recommend it! Even if you don’t think you’d like this trope, you should still give it a try. It was everything I wanted and so much more. Penelope Douglas did an excellent job with this book, and I was very happy with the outcome to Pike and Jordan’s story. Penelope Douglas is a new author to me, but I can safely say she is also a new favorite. I can’t wait to devour more of her books, especially the standalone spin-off to Birthday Girl, Motel, next year!
80’s Jam Stars
Another 5 star read by Penelope Douglas. I loved Jordan and Pike! Anything that has to do with forbidden age gaps I will instantly love.
This was Such a sexy read. Where can I find myself a Pike? I love men who use their hands to build things.
Jordan was an amazing heroine. We see her grow from being a girl that is used to letting people walk all over her, to finally standing up for herself and putting her first.
I’ve never read a book where the age gap actually had th younger person in the relationship. It was an interesting twist, not to mention the fact that it was her boyfriends father!!! Like, WHAT?!
lol, it was amazing.
Penelope Douglas definitely knows how to push these forbidden boundaries. Makes us look outside our norm and crave these characters she creates.
I can’t wait to see how Danni’s story will fare out in Motel. Soooooo excited!
This was pretty good. I’m always intrigued by this trope, it makes some people highly uncomfortable. I always get a kick out of it because my first boyfriend at 18 was 10 years older and my second at 2o was 20 years older than me. He and my dad got along great. I joke around with my husband who is 5 years older than me, that he’s the youngest I’ve ever had. I know it’s weird but I never really looked at the age difference as a big deal. I was really mature for my age, like Jordan, and I clicked better with the older crowd. That’s what happened with Pike and Jordan, they just clicked. You try to fight it and are afraid of what other people will think, but at the end you can’t deny that special chemistry. You can either fight for it, or live a lifetime of regrets. I loved the epilogue, it gave me the warm fuzzies.
I loved this book and can’t wait to get my hands on more by this author!!
Penelope Douglas has quickly become a favorite of mine and Birthday Girl showcases why she’s an automatic one click for me. Phenomenal. Her books suck you in so much that you feel like you’re part of the story instead of just reading it.
And I knew Birthday Girl was going to suck me in. I LOVE taboo books. Older man, younger woman? Yes please? She’s his son’s girlfriend? Hell yes! I couldn’t one click this book fast enough. And she did not disappoint. Loved the storyline, the characters, everything about this book.
So so good!! Talk about slow burn!!! Loved Pike and Jordan!! It’s May- December romance. Their chemistry is off the charts!!
Not even close to the most taboo thing I’ve ever read, but it’s so well written that even those who don’t like taboo will love it!
Pike and Jordan just make sense. It has nothing to do with age or experience. It’s about love and compatibility. It’s about respect.
Beautifully done. Loved it!!
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I like that it is a great story about regular people with regular problems.
Have I mentioned how much I freaking love Penelope Douglas? Because, I truly do love her books! This book was no exception. Birthday girl is a stand-alone novel which is sad news for those of us who have some serious Pike Lawson withdrawal. The story is told from both Pike and Jordan’s points of view by rotating between each chapter and letting you see inside each of their thoughts. Jordan is a down-on-her-luck type of girl but she doesn’t play the victim. She is strong and does whatever it takes to get by. Pike is a good guy who minds his own business and works hard. Oh, and he’s sexy as hell! They have a chance encounter not knowing that they have something in common, Cole. Cole is Jordan’s boyfriend and Pike’s son. Things become even more complicated when Jordan and Cole move into Pike’s house.
Birthday Girl is a forbidden romance with an age gap. Be prepared to feel all sorts of different emotions. This book is full of angst, steamy sex and will have you routing for Pike and Jordan. Even though their relationship might not be what most would consider conventional.
4.5 out of 5 stars!
Get ready to fall for Pike Lawson!
Based on the blurb, I wasn’t sure I really wanted to read this book but since it was the May selection for book club, I dove in and I am so glad that I did. While this forbidden trope is fairly common, the way this story played out was unique and surprising.
I absolutely loved the immediate connection between Jordan and Pike. I didn’t think I would root for them but I was, every step of the way. Of course, there’s a lot of angsty moments in this book. Things that brought tears to my eyes, made me gasp, and made me want to shake the characters and toss my kindle. I think my favorite thing about this story was that, even though there is a tremendous age difference, these two felt meant for each other from the very beginning.
*Borrowed from KU*
Birthday Girl took me by surprise. I was expecting a book where the focus was more on the hot and sexy times, on the desire you find in a “forbidden” romance and maybe not so much on the emotions. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Now, don’t mistake me, there’s plenty of the sexy stuff. The emotional stuff was more unexpected and, if I’m honest, it’s what pushed this book from good to great for me. The feelings and growth and the true connection between these characters is what makes it memorable. And I can tell you, I’ve barely stopped thinking about it since I finished it… and I don’t expect to anytime soon.
Forbidden romances aren’t always my jam, but it depends on the setup. Of course, I love Penelope Douglas’s books so it should be no surprise at all to learn I basically dropped everything else to read this one as soon as I got my hands on it. Plus, I was intrigued by Pike and Jordan’s connection — through her boyfriend who happens to be his son, Cole. Oh and did I mention they’re all living under the same roof? It’s like freaking catnip to me. I was a little worried about whether there would be cheating or a ridiculous love triangle, but I should’ve known better. I can trust Penelope.
Man oh man did I love Jordan and Pike. (I’ll admit I wasn’t ever a fan of Cole… or at least not until closer to the end of the book.) These two had wicked hot chemistry. I mean, I straight up thought my iPad might catch fire from the sparks flying between them. I knew it would be SO FREAKING GOOD when they finally got together and I pretty much wanted to lock them in a room together to get a move on things. But, I was conflicted because the story was so good and I also loved the slow burn thing they had happening. (And, you know, there had to be some resolution with Cole before anything could or should really happen.)
I loved reading along as things developed between Jordan and Pike so, so much. I was totally in for them. The age difference didn’t bother me a bit and I think that’s because they seemed so well-suited for each other despite it. Also, it was obvious there was more than just lust happening. They had a real connection. I loved what they found with each other. I’m not going to say much more about the plot of Birthday Girl. I’ll just highly recommend you read it and experience it for yourself. I do suggest you prepare yourself for some pretty big feels, too, if you’re an emotional reader like I am. Don’t fret, it’s nothing too overwhelming, but I got all teary. I’ll admit it. Jordan and Pike were special and so was their story.
FAVORITE QUOTES
It’s always the same wish. Every candle. Every time. I want a life I never want to take a vacation from. That’s my goal.
“I like you watching me. You’ve always watched me, haven’t you? Always wanted to have your fun with me.”
“We don’t need food to survive this life as much as we need our hearts broken at least once. But the best part is, the first break is always the worst. It’ll never feel this bad again.”
HOLY MOLY! WHAT A FANTASTIC BOOK!!! Jordan and Pike were hot, hot, hot! I’m usually not a fan of this trope, but I AM a fan of Penelope Douglas. And boy am I glad that I gave this a chance. So many feels.
4.5 stars! I loved it until I got whiplash about 20 times near the end, but it was so close to being one of my favorite books ever! Age gap? Check. Forbidden? Check! Boyfriend’s dad? Check! Nearly cheating, but not quite? Check! Hot sexy time? Yeppp that too! HEA and a nice little bow around everything? Definitely. Expert level epilogue? Totally.
All in all, great read. If you like whiplash and angst, you’ll give it 5 stars.