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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4.5/5 Stars
I ended up liking this book much more than I thought I would. This is a book that took me out of my comfort zone and I honestly think that it is better for it.
I have to applaud Penelope Douglas for her storytelling. In all aspects, it was incredible. The world-building was atmospheric. I felt myself there in the woods and the cold. I was transported right into the story. The emotion that she pumps though this story is intense. This story is one with excellent build-up.
The characters and the emotions that they evoke are really what make this story what it is. All of the characters in this story are complex. They each have deep-seated issues in one area or another. Issues that they have not come to terms with. Tiernan’s presence really pushes them all to acknowledge these things and confront them. All of these characters had excellent growth and development. The author really knows how to incorporate emotions and bleed them into the story. The emotions in this story are more complex than I’ve seen in quite a while. They aren’t black and white. There are so many layers to them.
Overall, this is a book that pushes boundaries. It is not your typical love story. It goes far beyond that. There is a complex story at the core. This is not a conventional story. This book is not for everyone. There were times that I thought it wasn’t for me, but ended up really liking it. That is such a testament to the author’s storytelling. This is one of those books that you just have to experience for yourself. I would definitely recommend reading this from start to finish even if it is giving you an itch that you just can’t scratch. You have to experience the whole story to appreciate it.
“One of them has her. The other one wants her. But he… He’s going to keep her.”
As soon as I read this line I knew I had to read this book. I love taboo books and I was so excited to read this when I found out what is was going to be about. It was crazy. At first I was so excited and trying to guess who she was going to end up with. The more I read the more I just fell into the flow of Tiernan’s mind and I was just seeing were things would go. It was definitely an adventure. I really like Tiernan. She is such a complex character and I loved watching her come into her own. The men in this book are definitely in a league of their own. All three of them are so different and help Tiernan in different ways. It was sexy and wild. I felt Tiernan’s connections to them all in the beginning but the more we got into the story I lost that connection. It was a good book. It is a long one too. I felt like I was reading forever but I didn’t want to put it down until I was finished. I enjoyed this story a lot I just wasn’t really feeling the connections between Tiernan and who she ends up with. I was hoping she would end up with someone other than she did. It’s very interesting and sexy and it has some background angst that I enjoyed. I thought this was a good book it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I am looking forward to reading more of Penelope’s works.
Amazing Read
This story was mind blowing! I couldn’t put it down. The complexity of the Van der Berg’s family dynamics and their individual struggles tore at my heart. Tiernan broke my heart and I loved her path to who she became. This story is not for the faint of heart. It’s strong, raw and unyielding. A story I will not soon forget.
Intense !
Well….
Haha. This book is something else !
I started the book blind , only heard that it was a great book and worth reading ! and a short way in I quickly thought it was going to be an age gap romance kind of book. Which I’ll be honest isn’t always my cup of tea..
So I read a few reviews and thought from those it was going to be a reverse herum scenario and wasn’t sure if I should continue ..
BUT I’m glad I did !!! It’s not either of those , not really!
Yes she sleeps with the dad … don’t get me started on my feelings about that . Lol
And yes she sleeps with each of the brothers at least once … BUT
there’s a lot more to the story then that too and she does fall in love and grows and heals and so do the others in their own ways .
Tiernan is a 17 (almost 18) year old whos parents, before they died , were in their own world and left her to herself . She became withdrawn because of this and carries heavy emotional baggage.
Her step uncle Jake becomes her guardian and she goes to live with him and his 2 sons on a remote, secluded mountain.
Together they break through the emotional walls they have all built and become family – a warped and crazy family but still family .
There’s a line towards the end that tiernan says she wouldn’t blame anyone else for not understanding what happened between them all and she doesn’t care because it led them to their lives and finding each other . And I think that sums it up really …
There’s some hot and heavy scenes , there’s some suspense (just a little ) , but mostly there’s adventure , relationship building and great character building !
Ooooohhh Lordy Lord, this book made a hell of a mark on my soul and if you didn’t know beforehand, it’s a reverse harem. Yes people, 3 men, 1 girl and 1 house deep in the mountains of Colorado.
This story, like all other works of Pen Douglas, satisfied my appetite for the day. I love her storytelling! I love the dirty, taboo filled moments of angsty filth and lust! Because damn, those scenes were HOT AS HELL!!!
Although the man I was rootin’ for didn’t make the final cut, he still gets his happy ending. I’m still kinda pissed about it though!
Until the next release from Pen goes live, enjoy some of the highlights I posted. Pen has a way with words that stay with you forever!
Credence by Penelope Douglas is a complete MUST READ!
A book about family, finding one’s “own” voice and inner strength.
There is a little bit of a taboo element but was expected. I could not read fast enough.
“You’ve got this,” I hear her say.
I look up to see her watching me. “And you’re going to be okay,”
Ever read a story that left you drained?
Not in a bad way just took a toll on me
So much to process
Scenes that a hit close to home that exposed forgotten fears
It wasn’t just what the author put on the pages – the black and white
It was the storm of emotions
it was the intent behind the words
it was all she didn’t say but alluded too
“Some lessons can’t be taught,” “Just learned. Don’t you think?”
Tiernan was always front and center but never really seen.
She tried so hard to be seen –
Just one brief acknowledged moment would have made her complete.
Noah with his heart of gold just wanted to fly
Kaleb was trapped in the nothingness
Frightened
Wanting to be heard but not knowing how to speak
Jake wanted forgiveness
A second chance
“because it’s only too late that they realize the journey is filled with people who are afraid. They didn’t have to walk alone.”
Didn’t think this would be something I would like. I can see myself re-reading this many times over.
4.5 Mind-Blowing Stars!
Once again I ask myself “What goes through Penelope’s mind?” She has a way of writing a story that pulls you in, surprises the heck out of you and yet spits you out whole….
I was completely shocked, mortified even, but I could not put it down. I had to keep reading, I had to “feel” what was going on, make sense of it and then embrace it. You have to LOVE when an Author is able to make you feel that way through the words she weaves.
I loved Tiernan’s strength, this girl did not break through the toughest of times, she learned to love in a world that did not show her how, she made her own way
I loved that Noah had a connection with Jared Trent and how he described him as a mix of Jake and Kaleb – I could sooo see it and actually burst out laughing at the point! I do enjoy when an Author creates a connection between their books and characters.
Omg. I can not believe how in love I am with this book. It was a roller coaster ride of dark, dirty, and dangerous and I loved every word. The characters were amazing. I felt like I knew each one. The plot was fast paced and so complex. Every new layer was a punch to the gut. I wasn’t sure how this book was going to end up and I am so happy with how it did. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone!
What a beautiful book.
*book read on KINDLE UNLIMITED. No arcs involved.*
Let me live this fantasy, y’all. I could enlist ten thousand Lana lyrics for this book, but I went with Change. (The girl in the novel looks nothing like Lana and there’s little to no overt patriotism in the story, in case you read this review and think that it’s like that)
“There’s something in the wind
I can feel it blowing in
It’s coming in hotly
And it’s coming in strong.”
Change – Lana Del Rey
What’s this book about? (I’m trying to give as little spoilers as possible)
Tiernan de Haas is a couple of months short of 18 years old when she suddenly becomes an orphan. Her parents leave her in the care of Jake Van der Berg, Tiernan’s father’s stepbrother. She moves to Colorado to live with Jake and his two sons Noah and Kaleb.
This isn’t my first Penelope Douglas novel.
There was something inexplicably American about this novel. It just oozed American vibes off of each page. This is the romantic version of America people like me study in our little American culture seminars on the other side of the planet, thematically speaking. Colorado. Woods. Guns. Meat. Masculinity on fleek. Crazy celebrity parents. The peak. The last frontier of some sorts. This story had an eerie feeling to it, drawing you in until you didn’t want to be pulled out. The moment they referenced The Shining I was creeped out. I was scared, y’all, but it wad beautiful. I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want the story to end. I love it when our sort of books (the romances, the eroticas, that all the punks out there look down upon) go beyond and color outside of the lines. I live for this sort of creation.
It came as easy as breathing to empathize with Tiernan. Her first couple of chapters before she leaves for Colorado broke my heart and made me invest my all into this story. Her chemistry with the other characters was priceless and even though she can be considered as an unpredictable young woman, with her choices and all, I didn’t see it like that. For some reason, I agreed with how she went through life. This novel is tagged as a coming of age story and I truly observed that as I was reading.
Penelope Douglas is SO GOOD that she didn’t even get me to frown when at one point, Tiernan said that the guys probably thought she was acting like such a girl. There were a bunch of heavy topics addressed here and the practice of binary concepts was one of the heavy ones. Douglas managed to get a millennial and liberal snowflake like me to find the binary practices here ACCEPTABLE. What sort of magic is this, the evil witch raises her hands in innocence. I found myself reflecting on how the men behaved around Tiernan, wanting to protect her and such, and what I thought about it. Quite honestly, their circumstances were abnormal for a Cali girl like Tiernan and I won’t go all feminist on this because how of these men lived their life in their remote woods and quite frankly, AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME TO GIVE A FCK ABOUT SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS UP THERE IN THE WOODS, YOU GET ME? I flinched at the beginning, but as the story progressed, everyone found their role in Jake’s household and it had little to do with the fact that Tiernan was a girl to be hidden in the kitchen only. I mean, yeah, Tiernan was a girl to the men of the house for some other reasons, but you won’t see me complain… LOL. The steam was real. The sexual chemistry was off the chains. Questionable and taboo as hell but OFF THE CHAINS.
Tiernan gained a family in the duration of this novel, as crazy as that sounds. I enjoyed how protective the men were of her and how willing, understanding and accepting they were when they taught her about their way of life (sans the occasional meltdown that our girl Tiernan had LOL). There is so much that I want to discuss concerning this novel, from how self defense and gun culture was portrayed to vegetarianism. I’m a vegetarian with a tendency of veganism and to be completely honest, (knowing that none of my vegan friends will read this), I understood their way of life. When Jake said “You wanna know what that meat you buy nicely packaged in the grocery store went though before it came there? These animals have a hell of a lot better life than the meat you buy, girl, so wise up and feed your goddamn family” I FCKING FELT THAT.
I’m going to end this review by saying that this was a beautiful read, going places that you wouldn’t expect it to. It was a page-turner for me, reading it in one night and a morning. While being twisted, romantic, heartfelt and steamy, it was also scary to me, but that’s just me LOL. I’m weird with these sort of aesthetics. I’m incredibly grateful to every single person that recommended Credence to me. I won’t forget this book in a long while!
Loved every little aspect of this story. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, a twist came out of nowhere and I was like so no…this isn’t how this story is going to go. And I feel my heart jump for joy when an author can take me by surprise. A story about broken people with some steaminess thrown in there and a little bit of healing in the end. Bravo!
5 They Didn’t Leave a Note Crowns
Penelope continues to amaze me with her unique stories and flawless writing, and this book is no different. She has created an EPIC unconventional romance unlike anything I’ve ever read, and I could not put it down. This story is about 4 lost and broken souls and their journey towards healing. This is not for everyone but if you take the chance on it you will not be disappointed.
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”—Frederick Douglas
This book is hard to label as any one thing because it has layers upon layers in it. The story is so unique, and Penelope has delivered it with such precision that it took a couple days to even wrap my head around what I read. The characters are all damaged in some way. And they handle that in their own way’s but what you witness is the process with which they took towards slowly healing from their broken places. This book is emotional and at times hard to read due to what’s happening, but each of their journey’s is a necessary one and so worth the ride.
“His voice is deep but soft, like he’s a little bit scared of me but not scared of anything else. ”
The development of each character and their individual personalities really pull this story together effortlessly. Penelope has this way of writing that draws you completely into her stories, to the point you get lost in them. And this story does just that she pulls you in from the very first chapter and as the story progresses you get wrapped up in her twists and turns that continue to keep you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what she’s going to do next. This book is a Non-Stop ride from start to finish. Every new development and moment she wrote keeps you utterly enthralled. I had to know what was going to happen, she had me furiously turning the pages to see what she would do next.
“I feel it. The need to engage. After the sadness, anger was my constant companion as a kid. And then the anger went away, and there was nothing.”
I love stories that are different and push you out of your comfort zone. Those types of stories for me are my crack I cannot get enough. And this story checks those boxes for me. This is unlike anything I’ve read, and I did not want it to end, alas it did of course. But not before taking me on a journey that I will be hard pressed to forget. Penelope tore open my soul with this book and slowly and meticulously put it back together with her words, but she pieced it with a part of this book embedded into my marrow.
“I swallow. Why would he put a dreamcatcher on there? But it is beautiful. He made this himself? Then I notice something else, and I chuckle. “The notches go all the way to the buckle,” I point out. “I’m flattered, but my waist isn’t that small.” Noah leans in, whispering, “But your wrists are.”
I am so grateful that she took the chance with this book, because I couldn’t imagine not having it. I commend authors who write what they want to write even though they know that not everyone will like their story. Those books are the ones that we need, if they aren’t going to write those stories than who will? Is this book for everyone? Absolutely not. But is it without a doubt worth the risk? Yes! All you must do is keep an open mind and embrace this amazing world that Penelope has created.
Alright so I know I have a tendency to write long reviews, and ramble. But I won’t do that for this one because I refuse to spoil ANYTHING and I don’t want to hide my review for spoilers out of principle lol.
So I’m going to keep this short and sweet…
READ. THIS. BOOK.
I know for a fact this book won’t be/already isn’t for everyone. But I can’t even find it in myself to give a fuck. I still think EVERYONE should open their minds up and read this book, just to see what it does for you.
I expected nothing less than brilliance from my QUEEN Penelope Douglas, but this book took everything I was thinking and smashed it to bits, obliterating my predictions and assumptions completely.
All I’ll say about the characters, again without spoiling, is that first, I actually liked Tiernan a LOT, although it’s usually very difficult for me to relate to teen heroines since I’m in my thirties, and I felt like I was thirty when I was seventeen lol. But Tiernan was a force. Her story was so sad and devastating, that I absolutely loved taking the journey with her.
Jake… well, you guys know how I feel about the hot older men. Daddy issues, you say? Maybe ;-P
Noah was my sweetheart, and probably the best person in the entire book.
And Kaleb… Oh, Kaleb. What can I say? He reminded me a bit of another fantastic, twisted, fucked-up Pen character… A man you may know as my soulmate. Damon Torrance. LOL They don’t have many similarities, but just them being so severely lost and dark made me swoon with the desperate need to cuddle their evil hearts into my own.
Anyhoo… I’m done now because I’m two seconds away from saying something I shouldn’t. I loved this book exactly as much as I thought I would. Pen is my favorite author, and that being said, the blurb was sort of vague and mysterious, which I LOVED. I went into this book with no idea what to expect and I was BEYOND satisfied and even thrilled with how it all turned out. I would love some bonus scenes for this, Pen (hint hint). Also I just have to say, the placing of her POV swaps was ON POINT.
Endless everlasting applause for Pen and the deep, dark wilderness of Credence.
3 1/5 Stars
I went completely blind when I started Credence besides reading the blurb, and I recommend you do the same. Do not spoil this book by reading reviews that will give it away.
I was not a huge fan of the heroine Tiernan for a good amount of the book. She is a broken, lonely, teenager that has never had any love in her life. Her parents really messed her up by acting like she did not exist her whole life. She was really immature, and had a lot of growing up to do.
We get chapters of both Jake and Noah’s POV’s along with Tiernan’s. I really wished there would have been more from Kaleb’s POV. I would have loved to get into his head more.
This book is really taboo, and has issues and scenes that will not be for everyone.
I reccomend this book if you want a taboo read
I had so much to do today but I started reading Credence this morning and I’ve done nothing but read it now. I cried. I laughed. Its a beautiful story that goes places I never expected. I loved this book. 10 Stars.
Forbidden Romance
WHAT. A. BOOK. Wow! Credence is something else- totally different than what I normally read but intoxicating none the less. I took me about 2 weeks to read this one. Not because it’s long, but because I was savoring it little an expensive glass of wine. I wanted to rush through it because I was so enamored in the story but reading it piece by piece and reveling in the story felt GOOD. I think it also made me love it even more. Now, there were a few pieces of the story that niggled on my, but as a whole, this is one fantastic story!
How can I adequately describe Credence to potential readers? Hmm… This isn’t JUST a forbidden romance between COUSINS. This isn’t JUST a REVERSE HAREM romance where the heroine let’s all three men have their way with her (even two at the same time). And this isn’t JUST an erotic romance. This book is so much more than all of this. It’s sexy of course, but it’s also COMPLEX , heartbreaking, and angsty. These characters are not just fillers for a story filled with sex. They are complicated and dealing with serious issues while trapped together in close proximity for months on end. These characters are all dealing with emotional demons and overcoming past hurts in order to live happily in the future. And they are also finding love in the most unexpected and forbidden ways. I love how Penelope wrote this book and incorporated serious issues into the story line. It makes everything that comes off as wrong feel so right! I also love how she weaved each relationship and made them all important. She truly did a wonderful job with this story and I am thrilled to have experienced it.
Now, while I did LOVE this book there were a few issues that bothered me while reading. Please DON’T keep reading this if you haven’t read Credence yet as it could contain POTENTIAL SPOILERS:
First, I feel like her relationship with Kaleb came out of NOWHERE. Everything in the plot suggested that Jake would be her HEA as she was with him first and loved him for taking her in and making her feel like a human. Kaleb wasn’t a huge part of the story like Noah and Jake because he disappeared so much, so I was left wondering HOW Tiernan fell in love with him over the others. It also came so abruptly! I was scratching my head.
I also think the little plot twist towards the end was unnecessary. We didn’t need that added but of suspense (if I can call it that) added to the story. I think it should have been kept on the relationships and where they were going rather than throwing this in. It just felt out of place in the story.
END POTENTIAL SPOILERS
Overall though, this is a GREAT book and experiencing it was wonderful. Penelope Douglas can certainly write a book and I’ve been a fan since BULLY. I wouldn’t mind a spinoff either. Jake maybe? Noah!?
A uniquely erotic and sinfully edgy can’t put down read.
My Rating: **3/4
Standalone: Yes
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fiction
Narration: Mostly Single POV. Few chapters with Jake and Noha’s POV
Primary Characters: Jake, Noha, Kaleb, Tiernan
Source: Free in KU
Blurb:
This a standalone adult romance novel. I had heavy expectations on this book, but some how it was very disappointing. Tiernan gets a call from her father’s step brother, after her parents’ suicide, that if she chooses to stay with them she can stay with Jake (father’s step brother) and his 2 sons in Colorado mountain till she becomes adult. She has couple of months left to become adult. She seems to be quiet in the beginning and develops a lot over the story. Jake thinks of her initially as below
“She is Quiet, boring and a little Pathetic”
She is not related to any of them and she develops a relationship with them all. Initially, book was good. From being lonely to having abonnement issues and never bought up with people her reaction seemed natural, some how post that it kept on dragging.
Jake —“You are a brat, A self -absorbed, snobby, little brat”.
Tiernan– I’m not! I’m just not used to people. They don’t talk to me at home. No one talks to me.
Jake Van der Berg is an older guy who struggles with helping his teenage ‘niece’ find a balance from the life she has become used to, which was mostly loneliness, and he also wants to give her a happier life, but give parental guidance as well, but feelings happen…
She needs a lot, and all of them are things you can’t buy. She needs to laugh and get drunk. She needs to be ticked and cuddled and carried and teased. I don’t want to see her cry, but if she does, I want her to know there’s comfort.
All 3 of them become very protective of her. Noah being calm and pleasant and Kaleb being silent and brooding. All of them will be secluded in their cabin with no connection to outside world when winter hits. They are protective of her and keep warning her of local guys.
“Everything on their property is their property”
The character development of Jake and Noha suddenly became NIL in the second half. Kaleb part was very little till almost till 60% of the book. Kaleb has been mute since he is four years old and has abonnement and trust issues resulting in no control over emotions and lashing out, which was acceptable, if he was in early teens. It’s hard to connect with a character that basically only smirks, glares, or pushes around the heroine. It’s really hard to understand the heroine’s attraction.
The lack of substance in Tiernan’s connection with Kaleb was made more obvious in contrast to her relationships with both Noah and Jake. Tiernan’s connection with Noha was natural. Calm, pleasant and happy Noha could have been the most obvious choice, somehow, he is not. The story was at extremely slow paced and layered at the beginning with typical teen romance and it became repetitive, frustrating, boring and predictable at the end.
After she abruptly ends her relationship with Noha and Jake, it was good to see Jake with Mirai. But certain question always remains like” How did Tiernan so easily turn off her attachment and connection with Jake?” Just because he mom told her to try 3L, did she really have to go through with that? Initially when it was tough to choose between 3, was it so easy for her to choose at the end? How did other 2 give up without fight? Somehow it was an ok read for me. DON’T let my review deter you from trying this one. Read and rate it yourself. You may love it.
Heart-gripping, taboo, HOT. Couldn’t put it down!