From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Douglas, comes a new standalone!Three of them, one of her, and a remote cabin in the woods. Let the hot, winter nights ensue…Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early … early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere.And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore.As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.And as a part of them.She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.One of them has her.The other one wants her.But he…He’s going to keep her.*Credence is a full length, stand-alone romance suitable for readers 18+.
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There is so much I can say about this book, and yet I am speechless. Although BookTok led me here again, with its many videos featuring Credence, I started this book without reading the synopsis. While the book’s primary point of view was from Tiernan, the underage female, point of views from the uncle and his sons are also included. I love how the author provided a look inside each person’s mind.
I devoured this book with anticipation and need. I couldn’t put it down. Credence introduced me to the world of Penelope Douglas, and I’ve found a new favorite author.
SO.MANY.EMOTIONS.WTF.
Okay…First let me say I absolutely adore Penelope Douglas! Birthday Girl is one of my all-time favorite reads EVER! From the blurb I thought that this book would be similar but also different. Really, I thought that Tiernan would end up falling for the step uncle and then there would be drama, sexual tension and the usual angst from Douglas. BOY WAS I WRONG.
There are dozens of lengthy reviews out there that will go into depth on what happens and how “creepy” or “wrong” parts of this story are, I am not going to do that. This book is not going to be for everyone! Keep that in mind.
Did I enjoy it? YES
Would I read it again? HELL NO
Did the ending leave me speechless NOPE
Basically, what I am saying if you want something smutty, rough and even a bit disturbed read it.
My rating on this book was next to impossible. There were times where I was like five stars, yes and other times okay, were going to one star because I honestly didn’t know if I would finish it.
I almost have no words. I went into this blind. This book has been all over social media, so I had to check it out. Emotional. Broken. Explosive. Taboo. Steamy beyond belief. And not the ending I was expecting. Shockingly well done. 5 stars
It was an ok book. I went into this thinking it is a why choose novel but in the end she picked one of them. There are elements of dub/noncon and I didn’t like the characters much.
Fair warning… this book could be uncomfortable for some. There’s age gap, step family, and multiple partners. So if that’s not your thing, move on. But this will be a delight for those of us who don’t mind. This story is about four broken souls who help each other discover what they really need. It’s very emotional at times. It’s sexy. And you won’t know how it’s going to turn out until almost the ending. It kept me glued to the pages.
This book was unbelievable! I loved and felt every second of it! The characters were written beautifully. The story made me feel. I absolutely loved this book!
I picked this up on recommendation from a fellow blogger and was extra excited because I have loved each of the books I’ve read by Penelope Douglas so far. Credence is a different sort of beast and I’m bringing it in at barely 4 stars. Partially from lack of closure, I’ll touch on that later, but also from a trope that makes me bare my teeth.
This book will absolutely not be for everyone. Honestly, the relationships felt like a train-wreck half the book and Douglas gave everyone their own batch of trauma. There is angst galore, though it allowed for some interesting character growth, particularly in Tiernan. But then we’ve got dubious consent, forbidden romance, and some sketchy misogynistic behavior in all three men. That said, the tension between the characters was scorching hot and made for some delectable, and occasionally questionable, scenes.
I think the last 20% or so fell flat for me. I needed more to redeem the characters. I enjoy a damaged hero, but there needs to be some significant actions and words on his behalf and I didn’t feel like that happened here. I’m glad I read it, its not my favorite of Douglas’s but it definitely put me in the mood to read more of her work so take from that what you will.
Another book that I had to sit for a couple hours and contemplate my review before I could write it. Have you ever read a book that pushes your boundaries, makes you feel uncomfortable, but at the same time you can’t stop reading? That was Credence for me.
This was a beautifully written story with deeply flawed characters. I did struggle a lot with liking Kaleb because of the way he treated Tiernan and with the what I would call non/con scenes that happened between them. For me personally, I had a really hard time forgiving him and trying to move forward in the story, but I’m also not typically a fan of non/con and generally avoid it in books. This book definitely does not go in the direction I thought it would which made for an all-consuming read because I just had to know what happened next. I stayed up until 3 AM not caring that I had to get up at 6 AM to get my kids ready for school because I was that deep into the story and these characters’ lives. Even though this book pushed my boundaries, I still really enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend it!
Wow. I loved it but I could’ve done without her doing it with her uncle.
This book seemed to get a lot of mixed reviews but… I loved it!!! 4.5. Not 5 because some of the guys’ actions were a little cringe-y but I got over it at the end.
I felt so bad for Tiernan (how the heck do you even pronounce that? I’m not sure if I said it right in my head or not…) because she was basically neglected all throughout her childhood. Her parents ignored her and she basically didn’t exist to them. My heart broke for her at the beginning of the story.
I hated Jake, Noah, and Kaleb with all their girls… it was irritating. Pounding headboards and moaning throughout the house… And every time Tiernan got attention from anyone else, Jake drug her away and said she wasn’t allowed. Double standard there, dude. So annoying.
After they were snowed in, things started feeling better for me. I got a look into Jake and Noah’s POV and felt like I knew them a little better. I hardly got Kaleb’s POV except for the one small chapter, I’m assuming it’s because he didn’t talk, but I was kinda pissed and kinda sympathetic after reading his thoughts.
Also, can you imagine how awkward that has to be, being around a dad and his 2 sons as a “family” but you’ve slept with all of them? So weird… but I guess it works for them.
There were moments in this book where I felt so angry and moments that I teared up. I love feeling those emotions when I’m reading, it makes me feel so much more into the story and invested in the characters. This book definitely did that.
Even after everything, I totally fell for Kaleb in the end.
Credence was my first book by P.D. and I know, I’m late to the game, chill. I’m so glad this was recommended! It has vivid imagery. Well-crafted characters you want to root for. And root with. (Cackles to self. . . Stop it, you’re not that funny, Nicci.)
The heroine (h) didn’t annoy me at all. I mean, I wouldn’t make some of the decisions she did, but I got to play on the tire swing. . . ya know? That swing was mine.
Likes:
*Let’s start with the Hero (H) – the main H. He is everything I like in a H. He’s strong and wild and brooding and single minded. He doesn’t give her what she wants, and he doesn’t give you what you want and that is exactly what you want. . . yep. Sense made.
*40% plot (Plot should always reign). 25% Smexy stuff. 20% character and chemistry build up. 15% romance. I like a fair amount of romance in a book, but it can get redundant if plonked in too early or not trickled through appropriately. P.D. nailed it.
*A good amount of other male moments that invoked jealousy and possessiveness in the main H(es). . . love it!
*The h had a good internal monologue and it seemed realistic and not too repetitive.
*The change in POV was well done. Smooth. The characters were all different. I LOVED the one third person POV and the idea behind it and reason for using it and . . . it was good.
*A few smexy scenes literally had me shuffling in place like a dude trying to keep his boner at bay. (Weird phrase. . . where did the term ‘at bay’ come from?) Anyway, they were good. Some of them were VERY good.
*The end! Good. The epilogue. . . Nawww.
/5 /5
MASSIVE TW: Explicit Sexual Content, Crude Language, Taboo Romance, Rape, S&M.
holy mother of sweet sweet taboo. this was the best kinky/fucked up book I have ever read, period.
PLEASE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. I say this a lot, do not pick up this book if you can’t handle or have no previous experience with explicit novels or dark romances. Penelope Douglas has become my addiction. I can’t stop reading everything she writes and this book made her one of my favorite authors. It was so shocking, beautifully written, so intense. I have no words.
The horror movie vibes this has, the mystery, the complex characters, the dark story behind every character. The feeling of seclusion!!! You can tell a book is good by how uncomfortable it can make you. She made me feel things I didn’t even know I was capable of feeling. Twisted, tragic, haunting, steamy and so ORIGINAL! I have been using the word original so often now that Penelope has hit my reading shelves. This woman is just IMPRESSIVE! No wonder she got so popular.
I already accepted my fate, I have gone down this rabbit hole and it is too late to turn back. Dark romances are my thing now and I won’t make excuses for it but I also won’t recommend it to people I know won’t be able to handle it. DO NOT READ THIS, but also PLEASE READ THIS. If you are like me and you have enjoyed messed up horror movies since you were little, and you still enjoy stories that will mess you UP in every possible way, maybe… and that’s a huge maybe, this book is for you.
It baffles me how women like Penelope Douglas, Pam Godwin, Karie Marie Moaning can create the darkest scenarios, the most unbelievably toxic, complex relationships and still end these books on a high notes and with the most romantic and satisfying ending. PENELOPE I LOVE YOU queen. Pop off sis. That’s all I am allowed to say, I cannot give normal people too much insight on what I have been reading lately or I might lose some friends. LOL or maybe I will make some new – way more interesting – friends.
Add me if you like this book, please. Ok, bye.
I actually liked all the main characters in this book. Uncle Jake and his sons Noah and Kaleb were all different and sexy, and the lead female character (although I have no idea how to pronounce her name) tugged at my cold dead heartstrings and made me have feels. It’s a taboo book of sorts, but the way it was written, I didn’t have any bad feels or angst about cheating (I hate cheating and triangles). This was my first Penelope Douglas book but it won’t be the last.
** spoiler alert ** I really really loved this book…at first! I normally love Pen Douglas’s books but I had some issues with this one…WARNING SPOILERS
First of all it went on and on and on…and on and on and on. There was a point where she could’ve stopped the book and it would of been a four star read for me. Secondly, I wish she would’ve left the affair with the uncle completely out, it made things weird and the relationship that developed there never really unfolded any after some intimate moments and conversations. It just kinda stopped and was forgotten and even later on, joked about. Thirdly, the ending was was strange and didn’t feel realistic at all. Not what I am use to with Pen Douglas. I don’t regret reading it but I am a little disappointed. The first half of the book was awesome!
Credence
@Penelope.douglas
When I started listening to this book, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I’ve seen so many people talking about it so I started it without even reading the blurb. It was a hot, angsty, slowwww burn. Who wouldn’t love getting snowed in for 6 months in the mountains with 3 sexy men?…even if they are your uncle & cousins by marriage Both Tiernan & the guys take full advantage of their time together and it is STEAMY! Despite the dark, taboo elements, it is really a sweet love story in the end. I had tears in my eyes at the HEA. This is my first read by Penelope Douglas and it won’t be my last!
Audio- loved all of the narrators! They did a great job and the guys’ voices were sexy AF Definitely recommend this as a audiobook as well!
This is a great taboo listen. Tiernan loses her parents & goes to live with her father’s stepbrother & his 2 sons, Jake, Kaleb & Noah. This book is intense & hot & sexy. Lots of twists & turns. Penelope Douglas totally delivered on this one. Loved it! My Book Hangover was insane!
I really did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. I love Penelope Douglas, but had heard mixed reviews including that it was a reverse harem… let me be clear… it is NOT one! Yes, she has multiple love interests. Yes, she’s intimate with more than one of them, but she ends up choosing one of them and all of that just adds to the story for me! I never really knew what was coming next and I loved that. Kinda wishing I hadn’t taken so long to read it, but what a treat!
I felt really sad for Tiernan in the beginning of the book, but she just kept getting stronger and stronger and I loved seeing it. You could SEE her transformation from shy, insecure girl to strong, confident woman! This was such an emotionally charged story with so many layers to it. Her relationships with Jake, Noah, and Kaleb were so different, and I really enjoyed seeing all them grow.
Penelope Douglas has really outdone herself with this story! It was so intricately woven and was such a fun ride reading all about it. Beautifully done!!
“Because you’re still you, no matter where you go”
Unfortunately I didn’t love this book however I do give it 3 stars for being addictive.
This story is focused on Tiernan (silly name, sorry Penelope), a wealthy socialite whose life changes overnight whether famous parents decide to commit suicide together. Yes, emotional trauma insert here.
17 year old Tiernan is then sent to live with her Step-Uncle (her dads step brother) in the wilderness. Jake lives with his two sons, Noah & Kaleb, where they live in a cabin and run a farm.
Tiernan automatically find a connection with 22 year old Kaleb who is a mute. They communicate by see and touch, and find themselves falling. Until Tiernan falls in bed with his dad Jake, and then his brother Noah.
Yes she sleeps with them all.
Yes it’s very steamy
Yes there is reverse harem involved.
I felt like this book should be labelled an Erotica only as I didn’t feel any “romance”.
Sex overtook the story and Tiernan is extremely annoying with how she handles all her “horny fantasies” (cough selfish cough).
I recommend giving this a read if you feel like reading a sexy erotica with a side of young adult romance (I say romance lightly).
Only 8 months after reading this book for the first time I missed the story and the characters so much that I had to reread it.
I just love the way Pen makes her characters so human and how she makes a story so addicted that you can’t stop reading.
The Van der Berg’s have a special place in my heart and I really can’t wait to see more of them.
4.5 stars
“They lend truth to the fact that I was lost, and it was okay to be hurt. We found each other, and no matter what anyone would say about what happened up here this winter. I’m the only one who needs to understand.”
Wow! This book is great but not for everyone. Be open-minded too while reading it and keep in mind it’s a book especially an age gap and has dark romance aspects to it. Remember the three L’s (lust, learn and love) which they talk about in this book too.
In credence, we follow Tiernan who’s 17, and a few weeks before she turns 18. Her parents died and she had to go live in the mountain in Colorado with her step-uncle Jake whom she never knew anything about and his two sons Noah and Kaleb. Note that they’re not blood-related because Jake was his father’s stepbrother.
My favorite character in this book is Noah. I didn’t like Kaleb throughout most parts of the book because he was so violent towards Tiernan and his first appearance in the book was WILD! He could even be considered as the toxic type. he did things I think all of us would hate him for.
Nonetheless, we get to know him more and his life why he acted this way. I ended up understanding and liking him. This book is sick! but I didn’t mind cause I know what I was getting myself into. I love how we got every character’s point of view. I also love the ending. It was perfect. I’m saying this again, Credence is not for the faint-hearted and is for an audience 18+.
Overall, I’d highly recommend you this book if you like dark romance, age gap, and maybe reverse harem