An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.From New York Times bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward comes an unexpected love story that started with a boy and girl and heats up when the man and woman reconnect.I’d never forgotten him—a man I’d yet to meet.Griffin Quinn was my childhood pen pal, the British boy who couldn’t have been more different from me. Over the years, through … been more different from me. Over the years, through hundreds of letters, we became best friends, sharing our deepest, darkest secrets and forming a connection I never thought could break.
Until one day it did.
Then, out of the blue, a new letter arrived. A scathing one—one with eight years of pent-up anger. I had no choice but to finally come clean as to why I stopped writing.
Griffin forgave me, and somehow we were able to rekindle our childhood connection. Only now we were adults, and that connection had grown to a spark. Our letters quickly went from fun to flirty to downright dirty, revealing our wildest fantasies. So it only made sense that we would take our relationship to the next level and see each other in person.
Only Griff didn’t want to meet. He asked that I trust him and said it was for the best. But I wanted more—more Griff, in the flesh—so I took a big chance and went looking for him. People have done crazier things for love.
But what I found could change everything.
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Penelope and Vi have done it again. The duo continuously bring fresh material and new perspective to a crowded genre. By title alone, Dirty Letters may give the impression of a solitary steamy romance but it gives so much more. The reader is brought beautifully flawed characters through a complex and uniquely crafted storyline. One of the most respected facets of this pair’s writing is their fearlessness in grasping ahold of emotionally raw subject matter and delivering it in all its gritty glory. Loved this book.
Thank you to @montlakeromance for the beautiful copy of #DirtyLetters. It was read and reviewed voluntarily, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward once again team up to bring us a beautiful, sexy, emotional read that you won’t want to put down. I devoured this story and loved everything about it! Tackling severe anxiety, the authors did a great job of making me feel Luca’s pain and fear. I felt like I was experiencing everything right along with her. I was blown away with Griffin’s love and tenderness. I was expecting the typical rockstar persona but what I got was a man who is just perfect in every way. He was sensitive to Luca’s needs and he had no difficulty expressing his love and affection. Let’s just say that Griffin is most definitely book boyfriend material. I swooned hard over him! The way he loved Luca and the way he helped take care of her…… Their sexual chemistry is H.O.T. I loved the premise of their letters and how those truly shaped their relationship. Luca and Griffin have stumbling blocks to get past and their story isn’t easy. It’s complicated, deep and highly emotional and I certainly shed a few tears late in the book. Keeland and Ward wrote a beautiful story that will certainly stay with me for awhile. 5 stars
What a beautiful and heartfelt story of love, trust and strength. Luca deals with the internal scars that were left after a tragic event and she has struggled everyday since. She is lost and lonely and lives a life as a recluse in a small bubble of safety. When Luca receives a letter from her childhood pen pal, she can’t help but feel excited and hopeful for the future. Griffin has worked hard over the past 8 years and lives a life that most only dream about. He loves what he does, but feels like something is missing. When Griffin and Luca reconnect, the curiosity gets the best of them and they both try to get a glimpse into each others worlds. Griffin is so supportive and patient with Luca. He did his best to help guide Luca through her fears, but is left feeling helpless and scared that his love may not be enough to show Luca the light. Luca continues to struggle and live everyday crippled by her fears. She is terrified and feels like her problems and phobia’s will hold Griffin back from living his best life. Some of the letters were a bit forward and unexpected, so it took me a while to get into this book, but I am glad I stuck it out. Dirty Letters turned out to be more then a few fun letters. It was a wonderful and heartbreaking story of survival, trust and unconditional love. The ending was absolutely perfect and heartfelt.
I LOVE these authors… we talk about chemistry between the characters but lets talk about the chemistry of the authors that write these amazing stories! This book is NO different… great story behind the story… great story to really have your mind thinking… THEY do it again and again and again! Great BOOK!
They’ve exchanged sweet innocent letters since second grade, pen pals to best friends, that’s how they rolled. Until that unfortunate night when Luca stopped writing and became agoraphobic, too anxious even to go out of her own house.
Her pen pal, Griffin was devastated. Too caught up with their past, even eight years later, he couldn’t let Luca forget about her betrayal. So, he sent that one last awful letter that struck her to the core. It was only a matter of time before all hell broke loose onstage and in the deepest recesses of their hearts.
I, like Luca and Griffin, love sending and receiving and reading handwritten letters. In this age of social media and everything online, love letters are now underrated and considered a thing of the past. So it’s a welcome respite to read Dirty Letters by the dynamic duo, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Together, once again they created a beautiful story that makes their readers feel old school and nostalgic about hand-written love notes. Only in this case, there’s nothing innocent in between those pages. No, Griffin and Luca made sure that they covered all bases when it came to finding about their real bedtime preference, their fantasies and liquid dreams. Boy, oh boy, these characters surely made a mess in my head.
Luca and Griffin, the next -to- impossible lovers, crossed borders and struggled to beat all odds in order to come full circle. The fear and anxiety within Luca plus the wildness and openness of Griffin’s world collided and imploded, thus making their story riveting and burning.
Gotta hand it to Keeland and Ward, they’re the tram to beat and there’s no stopping them in penning romances that will have you melting like a candle.
When soulmates come together, anything is possible, and once again Vi and Penelope do not disappoint in their newest co-written novel
The characters were well developed, the plot flowed beautifully.
Dirty Letters was a story that I could not put down!
I can’t wait for the next book by these two authors!
Griffin and Luca have been pen pals since 2nd grade, unfortunately life got in the way and they lost touch. When they start back up they both have secrets but Griffin’s is one that may destroy what they have started to grow. With not being able to trust her feelings and wanting Griffin to have the best, even if that means letting go what she wants most. I loved this book so much, it really shows that every relationship has problems and even love may not be enough. I loved all the quirky characters in this book. The story was not your typical romance and left me heartbroken at times. This is definitely a MUST READ!!!
“A love story that starts long before the lovers meet.” <-- hello, way to hook me! Dirty Letters has been out a week and hit number freaking ONE on Amazon. Incredible! Grab this second-chance romance free in KU <3
I totally fell in love with the letters and Griffin!
Luca has been struggling for years from a traumatic incident that has changed and scarred her life.
She has been working hard on trying to improve herself when she discovers a letter from an old pal. This letter will change Luca forever.
After years of being upset of losing his best friend, Griffin decides to give it a try and send a letter to Luca. What he doesn’t expect is a reply, to his surprise he receives the most shocking response.
Rebuilding a friendship with so many difficult obstacles in between will be the biggest challenge for Luca & Griffin.
I’m so sad this book is over. I read as slow as I could but I wish I could re read for the first time all over again.
“We all have light and dark inside us, love. We try to hide the darkness from others because we’re afraid it will scare them away. But your dark doesn’t scare me, Luca. It only makes me want to hold your hand and be your light until you can find your own again. That’s what people do when they’re in love. I won’t always be able to give you your light back, because sometimes you need to find that within yourself , but I’ll stand by your side and hold your hand in the dark so things aren’t so scary.”
I absolutely loved Griffin in this book. Luca suffers from crippling anxiety due to a past traumatic experience and can’t be in small places and large crowds. I loved how this book touched on anxiety issues especially since I suffer from anxiety as well. Griffin was so supportive and understanding and I loved the love he had for Luca.
My heart broke for Luca as I read this story because she has been through so much in her short life. I admired her strength and courage in this story. I also loved how when Griffin came on to the scene that Luca was magically all better. Her journey and transformation was authentic and real which I appreciated.
I have read many books written by Ward and Keeland and their stories just keep getting better and better. Name a better writing duo? I’ll wait! But on a serious note this story was flawlessly written as always. I love that you can’t tell who wrote which scenes. I have also read their solo books and to this day I can’t figure it out. This story features characters you can’t help but love, cheer, cry and root for while reading.
I get excited whenever I see a new book by these two incredible authors. They are a great writing team and their work always holds me captive. This book intrigued me so much. I remember having a pen pal when I was in elementary school. I was always exciting to get that envelope in the mail and to devour all the words that were written inside. We unfortunately didn’t keep in contact but to think that people could keep in contact for that long via letters is an amazing thought. Then to think they could fall in love? That thought makes this story even more intriguing. Luca has such a tragic story. Just thinking about everything that she went through and is still going through breaks my heart. I couldn’t even begin to imagine. Griffin is such an amazing man. He has a very complicated life yet the love and strength that he has is amazing. He made me love these two. When I wanted to scream at Luca for her struggles Griffin helped me see the light. He wasn’t afraid to fight and I was so glad that he did, even when he struggled to deal with the pain. This is such a wonderful book and it really opened my eyes to even the simple struggles that people suffer with on a day to day basis. I’m glad I read it and I’m glad I got to meet Luca and Griffin. Oh and thanks for the song! LOVE IT!
Bittersweet…
This author duo knows how to surprise and Griffin and Luca’s journey was all about the unexpected. I simply LOVED how they met, how they reconnected and their slow path to discovery. They were the best of friends, not letting anything but words touch each other’s hearts. When they found each other again, it was the same, truthful (mostly) but always honest about their feelings…
If I wished that magical time of discovery had been longer it’s just a testament to how much fun and heart-touching it was….
I read a lot of romance and this felt so original. The mixing of different scenarios that, by themselves may have sounded familiar, but together felt all brand new. Quirky characters surrounded Griffin and Luca and made their unique story even more memorable…
*I happily reviewed this story
Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward are a writing duo that is hard to beat. Their latest, Dirty Letters, adds to an extensive group of books that I have truly loved.
I think one of the things that I enjoy most about their books is that Keeland and Ward tackle subjects that are often not found in other romance books; in Dirty Letters, its main character is suffering in such a way that makes life difficult for her. I also love how the characters are so attracted to each other- I love that they had been sending letters for so long, and I LOVED how dirty they got so quickly!
I always look forward to books co-authored by Keeland and Ward, and I look forward to more!
I rarely can read a book in one sitting, but whenever I come to a book by Mmes. Ward and Keeland, this is a given and, of course, Dirty Letters was no exception.
This book was unexpected and intense and touched every single feeling I could ever have.
A woman suffering from a serious case of PTSD rekindles a relationship with a man that used to be her childhood pen pal after years of silence, but they struggle to mesh their completely opposite lives and how her issues ultimately affect their relationship dynamic.
The authors are amazing storytellers and the depiction of the journey of these characters is, in my opinion, nothing short of a masterpiece.
This is only my second time reading a novel by this duo and I’m kicking myself for not binge-reading all their creations yet! I fell in love with this story!
Griffin is amazing! Sure, we don’t really see his best side in the beginning, but it’s nothing unforgivable. In fact, it turns out he’s a pretty amazing guy. He’s sweet, has the patience of a saint, and is sinfully sexy (it’s a heck of a combination). And not only is he humble and down-to-earth, but the man will he make you swoon page after page. He loves hard and isn’t afraid to show it.
My heart breaks for Luca. She’s been through so much. You can feel her struggle and desire to fix all the wrongs in her life, but it’s just going to take time. Her heartache is palpable. But when it comes to Griffin, she’s more unguarded, unfiltered. You see a different side of her. She’s funny, kind, and loving. And watching her transform throughout the story is beautiful. She’s not perfect, but she’s getting there.
This book was torture of the best kind! From beginning to end, it had me in its grasp and wouldn’t let go. There are so many feels to unravel, and it’ll take you on an emotional roller coaster. Laughs, heat, heartbreaking moments, and one adorable pet pig, this book has it all. And in the end, I think you’ll be more than pleased with this story.
I LOVED this book, and will definitely be reading more from these authors, both their collaborations and their independent works. This one gets all the stars!
Tears of joy and happiness is what you’ll be left with after reading this poignant and passionate love story. It never fails that after every Penelope and Vi book I read, I’m certain that particular book’s male lead is my favorite book boyfriend EVER! However, meeting Griffin “Quinn” taught me that I was unequivocally mistaken. And happily so, might I add. Where Griffin is my favorite book boyfriend possibly ever, Luca is my spirit animal in human form.
I spent a few mornings and evenings trying to avoid waking my love up with my snickers, laughs, sobs, and sniffles. This book left me wrung out and I LOVE IT. The heartbreak that both of these characters endure truly reached into my heart and affected me to my core. The love, faith and patience that they exercise with one another permeates this story’s soul. It’s what sustains their story and sticks with you until the end and there after.
And Doc, this man….although he was a secondary character, his impact on Luca and her relationship with Griffin is extraordinary. He left his mark on my heart and he’s a character I will not soon forget.
THIS book, “Dirty Letters” is THE BEST book written by this dynamic duo, hands down! The way it’s written, the emotion – it’s everlasting. This is one of my favorite reads of the year; and in fact, one my favorite books ever.
5 huge stars!
OMG, I am in so much love with this book! An emotional and blissfully romantic story about childhood penpals reconnecting in adulthood and falling hard for each other. With fantastic banter and flirting, awesome chemistry and emotion, and a hero to die for, this book absolutely rocked my world and is a fave for 2019!
Luca is a successful author in her mid-20s living with an almost crippling anxiety disorder. It dates back to a devastating tragedy she experienced as a teenager, and has left its mark on almost every part of her life. She has pretty much given up hope of a normal life, and doesn’t really socialise beyond her therapist who is more like a father-figure. So when she receives a letter out of the blue from Griffin Quinn, it throws her into a spin.
Griffin and Luca ‘met’ as children. They became penpals through a school program, and even though she was in the US and he was in the UK, they stayed in touch for years, sharing the lives, their hopes and their dreams, and becoming the best of friends. Until Luca all of a sudden stopped writing. It’s been eight years since they’ve been in touch, and Griffin’s letter is full of anger at the way she cut him off, so she decides to write back and explain her situation, opening up communication once again, and the two old friends very quickly reconnect and recommence writing to each other.
Friendship very quickly turns to flirting, which turns to dirty flirting and confessions of their fantasies about each other. It’s fun, sexy and seriously hot, and I loved watching the change in their letters which is so obviously a reflection of their growing feelings for each other. But when Luca suggests meeting in real life, Griffin repeatedly shuts her down. You see, he’s become a massive rock star. He’s living in LA and his life is full of publicity, paparazzi, and life on the road – not exactly the kind of lifestyle that he can easily be shared with somebody who Luca’s anxiety. But when Luca takes the biggest step of her life to track down the man that means so much to her, everything is about to change, and OMG, what a ride!
This book is written in dual POV, which I love. The bond between Griffin and Luca as teenagers was so much deeper than just friends who write, and that is so clear when they reconnect as adults. Their feelings for each other have become more mature, but their soul-deep connection is still there, and after all of those letters and knowing how deep their feelings for each other are before they even meet, I was bouncing up and down with excitement as the story moves towards to the big moment. The anticipation builds perfectly, and I was feeling it all as Griffin and Luca finally take that step, and it was worth every moment of the build up!
When they actually meet, it’s just amazing. Sweet, emotional, sexy and exciting, the feels are intense and the romance is gorgeous, and I absolutely loved seeing them together. But they’ve both been through a lot, and their lives are so very different. There’s a lot that they have to deal with as they figure out what they want, and how to make it happen, and I honestly adored every moment. It’s not easy, but it’s real and heartfelt, and I could not get enough.
“The world keeps spinning without you. The world keeps spinning, but I stand still.”
Luca is a wonderful heroine. Her battle with anxiety is written with so much heart, and I really felt for her and all that she goes through. Her strength is so inspiring, and I love her wit, her sense of humour and her bravery.
And Griffin! Well, Griffin is pure perfection! Not only is he understanding and supportive of all that Luca goes through, but he is a man who knows what he wants, and he’s not afraid to fight for it, and he proves his love over and over through his words and his actions, and I fell madly for him!
“We all have light and dark inside us, love. We try to hide the darkness from others because we’re afraid it will scare them away. But your dark doesn’t scare me, Luca. It only makes me want to hold your hand and be your light until you can find your own again. That’s what people do when they’re in love. I won’t always be able to give you your light back, because sometimes you need to find that within yourself, but I’ll stand by your side and hold your hand in the dark so things aren’t so scary.”
Shout-out, too, to Doc. An incredible side character who has such a profound impact on both characters, he brings a lot to the story and I thought he was wonderfully written.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Andie Arndt and Jacob Morgan (Zachary Webber), and they are pure perfection telling this story. And if there is anything sexier than Jacob Morgan’s voice, it’s Jacob Morgan’s voice doing an English accent. Holy hot damn!
Keeland and Ward prove once again why they are such an incredible combination. A beautifully written story that is funny, sexy and emotional with a fantastic love story, I could put this book down and listened to the whole thing in a day.
I freaking loved it – 5 stars!
The duo does it again! Luca and Griffin made me wish for letters in my mailbox–other than all the bills I have to pay–sigh. I loved it.
Dirty Letters is a great read. Luca and Griffin are so cute, I loved reading their story. Luca has gone through a lot. She’s struggling but living. She find a letter from her old pen pal, Griffin, that she hasn’t wrote to in 8 years. She writes back which sets off a bunch a letters back and forth. Griffin is keeping secrets on who he really is but he has reasons why. Griffin is sweat and super tentative to Luca. He is definitely swoon worthy. They have ups and down which kept me hooked. I loved loved this one. I was so into this story that I walked around with my kindle and my hand reading, I’m surprised I didn’t bump into something. 🙂 You should one clicked this one.
I think this is my 10th or so review for these ladies.. and I feel like I can’t come up with the right words to adequately give enough props to these amazingly talented ladies. Griffin and Luca is no exception. Hot chemistry, unique story line, and you dread the end of the book. There is no question about it, just read the book!