Violet Moore is in love with a man who hates her. Well, to be fair, she kinda deserves it. On her eighteenth birthday, she got drunk and threw herself at him, causing a huge scandal in their sleepy suburban town.Now everyone thinks she’s a slut and he has disappeared. Rumor has it that he’s been living up in the mountains of Colorado, all alone and in isolation. But Violet is going to make it … isolation.
But Violet is going to make it right.
She’s going to find him and bring him back.
No matter how cruel and mean he is, how much he hurts her with his cold-hearted and abrasive ways, she won’t give up.
And neither will she think about his tempting lips or his sculpted muscles or his strong hands. The hands that she wants on her body, touching her, feeling her skin…
The hands that make her want to forget everything and kiss Graham Edwards – Mr. Edwards, actually – again.
Because you don’t go around kissing your best friend’s dad, do you?
Even though that’s all you ever dream about.
NOTE: A STANDALONE novel set in the world of Heartstone.
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Right now, I’m so lost of words that I can barely write this review but I’ll try.
Each book I read by Saffron A. Kent is a gold mine.
Everything about this story was perfection at its finest.
And after you get a taste of Dreams of 18, you would be in a desperate NEED of a cold shower like I did just a couple of minutes ago. lol
“I’m a lover of bad things. Or so people say”
Who doesn’t like a little taste of the forbidden fruit? Well, let me tell you that our marvelous Violet May Moore is definitely just like us on that aspect. At least, the ones who enjoy feeling tempted by what they can’t have.
The best way to describe Violet is simple… Reckless. But at the same time, she is shy and introvert. Living in a world full of dreams that become her only salvation when no one around her saw her for who she was.
“I call him the Strawberry Man”
I SO NEED A GRAHAM EDWARDS IN MY LIFE , like ASAP. Lol
I have to be honest. I never expected such a complex male character. I was amazed by how this author truly took the time to give both, Violet and Graham such incredible personalities. A character development unique like only Saffron A. Kent knows to do.
But Graham is more than just a tall man in a soft plaid shirt with big hiking boots and rough muscles. He is definitely the ultimate book boyfriend. Rough on the outside but sweet, wild and kind on the inside. Broken like no other but willing to sacrifice his own dreams just to do the right thing. He learns about himself while dealing with his irresistible attraction for Violet and in the process, he teaches Violet to love herself as well. To see how unbelievable unique she is.
They build a love so strongly that not even the age gap can break.
“And because love isn’t about asking someone to love you back. It’s about… loving.”
I was so happy when I read that line that I started crying for how true it is. How we can forget the real meaning of love when we want someone to love us with the same intensity. When in reality, the greatest gift is, knowing we were lucky enough to be in love. But also loving ourselves is fundamental for us to understand love.
All the messages this amazing author deliver to us show us, how good her writing and storytelling are.
The pace never felt rushed and all the scenes were craft to give this story a deserved ovation.
It was one of the best gritty, angsty, sexy, raw, emotional stories I’ve read this year. Probably EVER. And I can’t wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
Angsty emotion, check.
Scorching heat, check.
Tantalizing age-gap taboo, check & double-check!
Saffron A Kent hits me in the soul with every story she crafts. Dreams of 18 is a heartwrenching tale of secret want and burning need. It’s the truly memorable story of two people who shouldn’t fit together, but do…
Violet is a quirky girl, invisible to the ones who should care for her the most. But she has dreams and desires, and a secret crush on the man next door. If only HE would see her… Little does she know, but hot and broody neighbor Mr Edwards has a secret of his own. A secret that will rip their world apart.
I devoured this book in one evening, and every painful and erotic moment is seared on my heart.
4.25 Stars
It was on Violet’s 16th birthday that she saw him for the first time.
Mr. Edwards. The new neighbor. It was some kind teenage-insta-love-lust thing. And it didn’t stop for the next two years. She never even spoke to him. Even though his son became her best friend.
Now it’s her 18th birthday and because of an impulsive, slightly drunk incident … all their lives are forever changed ….
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH VIOLET & MR. EDWARDS?
WILL WE GET A HAPPY END?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
Well, I really kinda loved this!
I really did. Which is weird, because I hate age-gap romances. Or rather, I hate age-gap.
But I really loved this story.
Violet is adorable. Your typical shy and pretty nerd who thinks she’s nothing special. But of course Mr. Edwards noticed her. Which is not really as creepy as it sounds.
I think with him it’s a case of he never really got to be an 18 year old teenager, because he had a son to raise all on his own. Maybe that’s why he’s a bit younger in his head. Ugh – I don’t know what I mean exactly. But that might explain why he’s attracted to such a young woman. I need to explain it in my head, because otherwise it’s just creepy.
We also know Violet from the book Medicine Man. We met her in a psychiatric hospital. She’s still best friends with the three girls she met there. Her parents sent her there after she couldn’t really deal with what happened on her 18th birthday.
But now she’s totally okay again – mostly – sometimes … and she wants to find Mr. Edwards and apologize for ruining his life …
As I said, I really like Violet. She’s so sweet and broken and it’s so sad to watch her go through life so scared and full of guilt.
And then we have Graham – Mr. Edwards. The first part of the book we just hear how amazingly beautiful he his. Violet is soo in love with him – just from watching him from across the street.
But we don’t really meet him at first. And then once we do … I didn’t really like him much. Or at all. It felt a bit like I was in a BDSM dungeon and humiliation and degradation were the topics of the day. He was so weird and angry and mean and unkind. Yes, we know that it’s just a cover to hide his feelings, his attraction. But I wanted to insta-love him. Like Violet did. But I just didn’t. But Violet pretty quickly changed my first impression of him. She just doesn’t give up. And he thaws little by little and we get to meet the real Graham. And we really like him. Even though there’s always this creepy young girl – old man thing in the back of my mind … I just don’t like that. I also didn’t like the whole slut and bad girl thing later on! That was just too much and didn’t fit the story at all in my opinion.
BUT – Violet and Graham are really perfect for each other! We have lots of adorable moments and some very erotic moments. I really loved reading this book. But maybe I should just not read those age-gap thingies anymore – it’s just all too ewww for my tastes. But I know I will read them again anyway. I can’t stay away from good romances!
And DREAMS OF 18 was a very sweet and sexy and heartbreaking love story!
A tiny litte thing about the writing I didn’t like … the word wanna is used way too much. I mean you can say it a few times if you wanna, but it just sounds so silly after 134 times!
Ohhh Saffron Kent is quickly emerging to be an author who’s books hit the spot. This series just makes me happy. I’m not gonna lie I was hella questioning this romance through the first half of the book. It took me forever to get through it because of how old Violet was when Graham had his attraction for her. But damn if I didn’t love this broody man who Violet whipped into shape with her resilience and strength. This romance was great and I loved every minute of them two together within proximity of each other. And holy hot damn was this one steamy. There was a lot of sex after the halfway mark, but I ate it up. But more than that there were so many sweet and heartfelt moments and Violet thinking of all that time from the moment she saw Graham that she loved him. She made him want to be a better person and try. Don’t get me wrong Graham is like an angry, lonely bear, with nothing of real interest other than his love for Violet, but I didn’t even care.
This one just made me feel good while reading it. It was emotional, heartfelt, and sexy. I need to rest of her books.
I finally read “Dreams Of 18” by and I came to a conclusion that Graham aka Mr.Edwards is really hot and Violet is my most fav girl.
This book is a story about a girl Violet who falls in love with her bestfriend’s dad and feels quite quilty about it and after being drunk on her 18th birthday,she throws herself at him and kissing him and causing the big scandal in her town and that’s how the actual story starts.
-I loved Violet and I wanted to read about her very badly after reading the first installment of the series that is “Medicine Man”.
About Graham,he was such an grumpy asshole but he still cares about her but at the end you’ll love him.I kind of wanted to French kiss him because he was so hot.
-This story is about a unrequited love (kind of) and the sex scenes were really steamy.
The writing style as I always say is really amazing and in a poetic way.
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“Dreams of 18” is a age gap forbidden story that Saffron A Kent wrote for us readers. I’m a huge fan of her books and I had this one in my list “books to-read” for this year.
I loved this book very much, but I thought it was very long. I don’t know why authors write long books with the same thing in each chapter.
What made me gave this book 4 stars, were the last chapters I read and where I could see more of Graham feelings.
I’m so in love for him and his beautiful heart.
About the cover, I didn’t like the model she choose it’s not how I imagined Graham.
I love Violet because of her “DREAMS”. Growing in a bad family structure makes you have dreams that’s the way she conquered my heart.
I really enjoyed this book but she could take some pages out.
I can’t wait to start another book of hers.
Trying to finish up reading Saffron’s backlist while waiting for AGV, and what a treat it was to read Dreams of 18 today! SAK’s writing is like chocolate, and I fucking love chocolate.
In Dreams of 18 we have our heroine, Violet Moore, a sweet as sugar girl with a doomsday brain that’s in love with a man that hates her. Our hero is Graham Edwards, or should I say our Strawberry Man, and he hates Violet Moore. He hates Violet Moore so much that he left town and escaped to a life of isolation just to get away from her.
But Violet is a lover of bad things…
I loved this so, so much! I loved Violet’s personality and how over time, she naturally broke down Graham’s walls of hate for her just by being herself. She was a precious smol girl and I just wanted to put her in my pocket for safe keeping. Violet was pure trash for Graham, and tbh so was I. What a DILF. I love a man with a hard exterior and a soft, squishy interior.
And that cover… sigh, that cover.
This is just my second book from Saffron but I am in love with her writing. This book is amazing, I was hooked since the beginning and I couldn’t for the life of me stop! One of my favorite things are the entrances of Violet diary at the beginning of every chapter, my girl can write and is so pure, I love her so so so much!
Speaking of the characters lets start with Violet, she’s just a force to be reckoned with. Seriously she stole my heart and became one if my favorite heroines in the whole wide world. She is so authentic and unapologetic about it is just so refreshing to read a character like her and im going to miss her so much. Now Mr Edwards, I love him, that’s all thank you. Jk, he’s a very complicated man, that has a VERY low image of himself when he is soooo precious and an amazing dad. The way he talks about Bryan just warms my heart so much, and I loveeee how protective of Violet he is, like my girl is GOLD and he knows ir better than anyone, AND I LOVE THAT SO MUCH!
This was an amazing read, now im jumping back to medicine man. Im so excited to read more from Saffron ESPECIALLY a gorgeous villain coming June 3rd! 100% would recommend this book.
: new adult, age gap, taboo and steamy
I have been waiting for Violet’s story since medicine man and I’m glad we’ve got a book about her!
When Violet is 16, she falls at first sight with her new neighbor, who not only doubles her age but also turns out to be her bff’s father.
Then we flash forward to her 18’s birthday, when she decides to follow her instincts and kiss him. But things get out of control; he leaves town and she becomes the town’s sl*t.
Months later, when she gets back to her house after her time in Heartstone, she decides to follow him and things pick up from there.
As all Saffron’s books, Violet is a passionate woman when it comes to Graham and she does the craziest stuff to prove it, including stalking him. But behind her crazy attitude, there is a vulnerable girl who just wants love and being held and that’s exactly what Graham gives her.
Despite loving Violet and her story, I have to say that the first half of the book was a bit slow and once things start to pick up, I felt it was rushed.
Overall, I do recommend you this book if you want a taboo age gap read with unique plot and great writting style.
5 STRAWBERRY MAN STARS!!!
I love a good forbidden romance and no one can do it quite like this author, then you add in another of my favorite tropes that it’s age gap romance and you have in me a super excited reader. But even with all of this, this book was still able to exceed my expectations since it had everything I look for in romance and some things I didn’t even know I needed.
Violet and Graham’s story was messy, taboo, intoxicating but so real and relatable. Their chemistry was so scorching and intense. I liked that this book wasn’t super angsty so we get to really know the characters and their relationship. Seeing them bloom into a couple little by little was amazing.
There is just something about the forbidden fruit that attracts me so much, I love the doubt, the reluctance, the intensity, the stolen moments. In those sort of stories I can really feel the love and devotion because when a couple decides that they are going to be together even thought everyone may be against them you know it’s true love or else it wouldn’t worth it.
I loved both characters in this book and I could relate with them so much. I liked that Violet was sure of herself and she went after what she wanted, she fought for them not really caring if they weren’t supposed to be and I applaud her for that. She was so strong and her love for him never wavered. Graham was a recluse full of self-loathing. He could be so mean to her in a quest to keep her away but truly he was a possessive, protective, romantic man and I so wish to be Violet so I could get some of all that goodness lol.
I love this author’s books so much that I am always so unsure about writing a review because it seems like nothing I may write will be enough to express everything I fell reading her books, but I do have to try. This book was another captivating story that I never wanted to end. I can’t wait to see what other amazing stories she will come up with in the future.
“I’ve always, always been in love with him. Since the beginning. Since the very first moment. The very first sight.”
Review Dreams Of 18 by Saffron A. Kent
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WOW! Where has this author been all my life!? This book has EVERYTHING I love in a romance novel. Age Gap Forbidden Love Sexual Chemistry Possessive Man Sex scenes that burn your kindle down and make you hot and bothered?Not only can this author right in such a way that consumes you where you can’t put it down, but she throws in angst, passion, and beautiful tender moments that leave you breathless, and her sex scenes…. you guys I have never read something so hot. Her writing style is just PHENOMENAL, and I can’t recommend this book enough or this author. Saffron knows what we want and she freaking delivers.
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Violet has always been different, she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and she does what she wants. She’s been alone most her life even though she lives with her sister, mother and step dad. But they never notice her, they don’t even know when her birthday is and her mom tried to get her aborted. So Violet has adapted, she likes being on her own she’s used to it. So when a new family moves in next door and she sees the new gorgeous man who is definitely a lot older than her she can’t help but feel this weird attraction to him. Something about him is calling to her, and now she can’t stop imagining all the things she wishes she could do/say to him. That is until she befriends his son, and now she must avoid him at all costs because you don’t crush on your best friends dad.
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Mr. Edwards (Graham) was one of the best hero’s I have read in a long time. He was everything, and being 18 years older he knows he never should have even looked at Violet his sons bestfriend, so he pushes those thoughts aside. Except when Violet pushes him past his boundaries and his control slips.
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5+
Steam5/5
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZINGGGG I XANNOT COPE. WHAT A BOOK.
Saffron A Kent hits me in the soul evrrytime with feels. Dreams of 18 is a wheel of emotiona for me. I just devoured this book. This was a heart-wrenching read. I really did love Violet. She was so quirky and I felt bad for her she felt invisible. I love she was a dreamer. She had desires and I felt myself resonating with her foe sure. I loved Mt Edwards and how layered and complex he was. Their relationship was so emotional and heartwrecnhing and I liked that their story wasn’t one dimensional. I loved the way Saffron wrote this. She didn’t shy away, her words are like poetry. I loved loved loves this book!
I devoured this book in one evening, and every painful and erotic moment is seared on my heart. Saffron did that! Can’t wait for her next books she is one of my faves
This was my very first Saffron Kent book over a year ago, and one that I return to often-and a story that opened my eyes to the magic of Saffron. Age gap is my all time favorite trope- and Saffron is truly the queen. The illicit, the taboo, the unrequited angst, ALL the longing and nuanced conflicting emotions. She writes it like no one else- and this book is the perfect introduction to her charm.
From the opening pages, you know this is going to be a gripping, seductive, and chaotic story. Young Violet- a quirky wallflower, old in soul but young in age, is in love with her new neighbor. NO, not the boy next door turned best friend, rather she’s in love with his FATHER, the deliciously beastly Graham Edwards. After years of pining and fantasizing, one reckless night on her 18th birthday destroys them all. Time has passes, and Graham and Violet’s worlds look radically different. Violet just wants to make amends- but still finds her passion for the grizzly man consuming, and Graham is bitter and angry, but can’t deny that this unusual girl sparks something in him. The baggage of the past and the taboo of their age gap isn’t the biggest barrier though, it is their own walls.
And that is what I love about Saffron Kent- she takes the taboo, makes it erotic and tintilitating, but utlimately it is all a catalyst to forcing characters to confront their own emotions, their owns hearts. You FEEL her stories, because her characters are pushed to their extremes with each other, forced to examine themselves. All because a fated, soul-mate force, one that starts unusually, won’t let them deny it any longer. Grant has to let go, has to forgive, has to open his heart and realize he’s worthy of love and unworthy of the unfair burden placed on him. And Violet has to refind herself, has to grow, she has to heal, too.
I just loved Violet’s journey- I felt her pain, her longing, her fragileness as it were my own. But she’s also so tenacious- she has a bravery that I admire, a bold vulnerability that makes her so endedaring and magnetic. But she’s so alone- an unfound gem. She just wants to matter to someone- to be seen and cared for- and truly, don’t we all?
And the Beast, the gnarly, delicious Mr. Edwards. He’s such a yummy alpha- brooding, stunted by his anger, demanding. But he’s also protective, self-sacrificing, and so loving- once we see his heart unfurl. He’s just a grumpy, wounded bear- and we feel for him because he bore a lot of the fallout, and was perhaps destroyed the most. And, like Violet, he’s isolated, weighed down by guilt and unhappiness. But unlike her, he’s resigned, defeated.
There is so much angst, that melancholic and aching longing that Saffron does so well. But there is also such a tender intimacy to their connection- it feels heady, deep, the kind of chemistry that wraps around you. There’s a magic in that these two, as opposite as they may be, as rocky and toxic as their beginning was- a magic that stems from the ways in which they help each other heal, but also in the ways in which they become the missing piece in one another. Violet enables Graham to be someone’s hero, and he helps our wilted Violet bloom. I love how they love each other- how Graham cares for her, how Violet never gives up.
One of my favorites of Saffron’s- and an all time favorite in general. Provocative, emotional intense, completely more addictive with every page.
When I say this story made me fall in love with Saffron Kent, that putting it lightly. I still have vivd dreams about these characters and their love.
All Violet Dreams about is turning eighteen and professing her love for the incredibly attractive next door neighbor father of her best friend. Notice I said dream, because one would not do that in real life. Especially someone who has extreme anxiety issues, coupled with the need to hide from the outside world. But, what happens if that dream became a reality? Let me tell you disaster and destruction would ensue.
Saffron Kent not only delivers a grumpy, ridiculously alpha, uber possessive mountain man in Mr. Edwards – Graham but she also gives him depth and struggle.
This age gap romance is unlike anything else out there. If you find yourself reading Dreams of 18 over and over again, fyi I will be starting a support group to deal with Violet and Mr Edwards with-drawl.
When it comes to taboo/forbidden romances SAK makes beautiful love stories. Dreams of 18 is another forbidden trope which gives us delicious feels to our sinful thoughts and makes them come true (imagination only, whores! ).
Violet and Graham’s love story is not easy but romance so true. Both are attracted to each other but are held back because of ‘consequence’. Violet never meant to ruin Graham’s life but she is determined to make things right. Violet has been neglected and heartbroken by her family. Graham has been in her thoughts since he moved in just beside her house. Determined to ask for forgiveness she tried to bring him out of his cold exterior. Graham is such a jerk at times but he has a reason for keeping his distance. Being attracted to his son’s best friend is not what he expected, she is half his age and his son also facies Violet. The story takes time to unfold, no matter the outside judgement it was Brian (Graham’s son) who holds them back.
The story is super sexy, has detailed hot sex and hilariously cheesy talks.
4.5*
Thank you to Saffron Kent and her team for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
I think Saffron Kent is one of the most underrated writers in the community right now. Her books are always filled with angst, forbidden love of some nature or another and drama from page 1 until the end.
This is the story of Mr Edwards and Violet. This from the start is an age gap taboo romance. Mr Edwards is the next door neighbour. He’s also Violet’s best friend Brian’s dad.
At it’s core it’s also about two broken people finding each other.
There’s also a cameo from Willow from Medicine Man.
Content warning for Panic Disorder, talk of a mental breakdown and treatment in a facility.
Also Violet talks about her disorder and her therapy, which as someone who suffers from anxiety I appreciate this wasn’t a “love fixes everything” situation.
I highly recommend this and can’t wait to read more from a fantastic author.
Dreams of 18 by Saffron A. Kent
This book has been on my TBR forever and I read it on impulse, and could not put it down.
This story hit my like a lightning bolt to my heart- and deeper still on a cellular level. It was an awakening- a soul awakening.
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Violet and Graham’s story is everything I love in a romance. It hit me deep in the feels- there’s a rawness in the emotions, pain intermingled with the innocence of first love, and hidden beauty in the midst of something forbidden. This starts if as a slow burn but near enough incinerated my kindle, but what’s more is the soulmate connection was felt throughout the pages.
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Forbidden romance always had that appeal where lines are blurred and crossed in more ways than one- this isn’t your typical boy next door, it’s the man next door- Violet’s best friend’s dad- yet still at no point did I feel conflicted as to whether it was right or wrong… heck, the angst shredded me, especially the way Graham struggled and the guilt Violet carried. In no way did I see Mr Edwards as a perv or a predator, nor did I see Violet as a victim or vulnerable because of her underlying Mental disorder. Her naive innocence was refreshing and she had a quiet strength that was more than admirable.
Saffron A. Kent wrote a story that made me want to dream dreams, to face my darkest fears and to believe; it is truly a beautiful soul deep love story.This book is for the dreamers, for and should be read with an open mind. It’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, compelling love stories with an underlying Beauty and the Beast theme.
5 MOONLIGHT AND MAGIC STARS
The words that rose from the pages of this book were too hot to touch sometimes. The attraction between the H & h in this book is SMOKIN.
As in…if you love a sexy alpha with an absolutely filthy mouth…scratch that…quite possible the dirtiest freaking mouth you’ve ever read..Dreams of 18 is the perfect read for you!
These type of off-limits attractions always grab me, I basically inhale them like the fresh air that I need in order to breathe.
Violet has spent her entire life being ignored, basically spending it doing what she wants because no one else cares what she’s doing. She’s basically invisible to the world around her.
The day she meets the boy next door and his brooding dad; things change. The world becomes slightly brighter for her but all she wants is to feel him. So taking the step she feels deep in her soul that she should take ends up being what opens all the windows in her dark world. Time has passed, now everyone can see her but the things that made her world brighter are gone. Fear pushes her back deep into herself and in order to finally fix herself…she has to fix what she messed up. Trekking across the country to do just that; she finds herself faced with a battle unlike any that she’s ever encountered but refuses to give up. Especially when she sees the condition that her best friend’s dad is now in thanks to her.
The scenes in this book made me blush and want to buy lollipops in BULK!!! I’ll never ever in my life look at a lollipop the same way again and I am SO OKAY WITH THAT! Bring me all the lollipops AND MR EDWARDS TOO!!!
LOVED this age gap! It’s going into my TOPS for the year, so if you love the forbidden aspect of age gap romances then this one is a must read!
4.5 STARS
NO SPOILERS!
Dreams of 18 was a sexy, edgy, angsty, forbidden, and swoon-worthy age gap standalone contemporary romance from Saffron A. Kent, and I absolutely loved Graham and Violet’s story!
Saffron A. Kent is the queen of forbidden romance, and I loved the story she created for Graham and Violet in Dreams of 18. It was definitely unconventional, but I thoroughly enjoyed this sexy and forbidden romance from beginning to end and won’t soon forget it.
Graham and Violet were wonderful yet quirky and sometimes confusing characters, but I ultimately fell in love with them and enjoyed going on their journey. Graham and Violet’s chemistry was off-the-charts HOT, and I loved how their relationship progressed throughout. Graham and Violet’s romance was definitely a slow burn, but once that spark ignited, it burst into flames and stayed on fire. Graham took a while to warm up to, mostly because I couldn’t get a good read on his character right away. I wished there had been more chapters from his POV to better understand his thoughts and feelings, but I ended up loving him so much and how he treated Violet. I was honestly jealous and wanted my own Graham. He was definitely a swoon-worthy alpha, and I absolutely loved it. I also loved Violet and immediately connected with her, even though we didn’t have totally similar characteristics. Graham and Violet were truly amazing, and I was very happy with the conclusion to their forbidden love story.
Dreams of 18 was sexy, angsty, swoon-worthy, edgy, and forbidden, and I loved the storyline and characters Saffron A. Kent created. Graham and Violet’s story has been one of my favorite forbidden romances from this author, and I can’t wait to read more!
Saffron A. Kent’s Been My ‘The One That Got Away’ – NOT ANYMORE
*self-purchased on Amazon. No need of sugar daddies called promo teams*
“I got my red dress on tonight
Dancin’ in the dark in the pale moonlight
Done my hair up real big, beauty queen style
High heels off, I’m feelin’ alive.”
Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey
What’s this book about? (I’m trying to give as little spoilers as possible)
Violet Moore kisses her best friend’s dad, Graham Edwards, and all hell breaks loose.
“I wanna be your vacuum cleaner, breathin’ in your dust
I wanna be your Ford Cortina, I will never rust
If you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot
You call the shots, babe
I just wanna be yours
Secrets I have held in my heart
Are harder to hide than I thought
Maybe I just wanna be yours.”
I Wanna Be Yours – Arctic Monkeys
This is my first Saffron A. Kent read and I’m ashamed to admit that it was long overdue. The Unrequited has been staring at me from Goodreads FOR YEARS, but I always passed it by. I saw Dreams of 18 on KU and I thought this force is calling me… And then I read the author’s bio. YOU HAD ME AT LANA DEL REY, QUEEN.
Let me start off by saying that I picked this up after midnight, around 2 AM, and I was intending to go to sleep ten minutes later. I ended up reading for an hour until I FORCED myself to stop. When I woke up the next day, I should’ve got ready to go meet my bestie, AND I STILL COULDN’T STOP READING. This was an addictive read from page one, a page-turner through and through. I’m a sucker for age gaps and this one, right here, is one of the best ones that I’ve ever read. Hilarious and dark at the right times, this story captivated me and I never wanted to let go. The character chemistry is INTENSE, SWEET AND SCORCHING HOT. The conversations or just plainly the words on every page range from funny, hot, cute, everything in between, smooth, adorable… It felt so natural to read this; Violet had something incredibly relatable about her. I LOVED THIS LEADING LADY. I felt empathy for her; she needed to work on her self-esteem, poor baby girl. I truly felt sad for her. I sided with her on almost everything although she was kinda crazy and I don’t mean that in a funny way about her mental health; I mean she was crazy for Mr. Edwards. LOL. Plus, I TRULY AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE SONGS MENTIONED IN THIS NOVEL.
Now, off we go to dissect Mr. Edwards, a complex older man with a death wish. Yeah. He seemed like he had his period for most of the book, but I always hoped that he’d get around. He was hot though; I give him that. HE WAS SCORCHING HOT. An addition to his character was his son. Love these two or hate them, they had good and bad moments in which I wanted to punch father and son, Mr. Edwards has a son that’ll make you swoon or throw a tantrum and that makes Mr. Edwards himself so much more loveable.
This book is split in two parts for me, the build-up tease and the steam. HOLY HELL. Both were priceless. I was so into the idea of what was happening; Vi got her strawberries. Lots and lots of them. DAMN.
I will pick up more books by Saffron A. Kent because I love how she writes. I don’t believe in romance or love (AND I READ A ROMANCE BOOK A DAY) and Kent is one of the handful of authors that make me dream and believe. PLUS: If she has more Lana Del Rey references in her other books, she’ll make my future reviews even easier LOL.
I recommend this read to lovers of fierce love, breath-taking and heart-breaking character stories, a BRAVE leading girl that has a taste for what’s bad for her and a tortured leading man that has forgotten how to live.