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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Ohhhhh man! I had such high hopes for this read. The cover is gorgeous and the whole taboo, forbidden, age gap trope is my catnip. I tried, I really did, to like this book, but sadly I seriously could not connect with either character.
Taboo, forbidden romance, age-gap romance
This review contains spoilers
Basically this is a story of Violet who has an obsession with her next-door neighbor, not the son who she becomes friends with but the dad. Nothing wrong with that, I was happily going along with the plot at that point but future events had me cringing.
Violet was a little strange, a bit of a hermit, a young girl who was introvert and kept herself to herself by always wearing her headphones, to me this screamed mental illness, immaturity, innocence, special needs, a young girl who had no guidance in her life.
[On her 18th birthday, she sneaks into the back yard of her neighbor to get some of the dead roses that Mr. Edwards tends to religiously while she snoops or watches him.
She watches him, He watches her.
Both obsessed, both keep this to themselves and have done for two years.
Tonight though he has gone out, so she decides to go and get some of his dead roses to press into her diary, the diary which has contents mainly about Mr. Edwards, only he comes back early.
They kiss, they get caught by his son Brian who is also her friend and her sister who is a scheming bitch basically, so after rumors, photos all over media, they both get blacklisted by the town. Mr. Edwards leaves town, sacked as the high school soccer coach and following the events Violet ends up in a psych ward.
10 months on and Violet goes to look for Mr. Edwards AKA Graham in her rehabilitation attempts to move on to just say sorry she caused so much trouble, something she hasn’t been able to do with the whirlwind of events that followed “THE KISS”[
I couldn’t get past Violet’s innocents, even after she reached 18 years of age she still spoke like a little girl, acted like a little girl, she didn’t come across as mature at all and so I could not defend Graham’s actions with her, the allegations of him being a perv, because basically due to Violets tendencies and ways, her words, he did come across that way to me due to just the way Violet was, a child in an 18-year-old body with a lot of maturing to do. If Violet had come across as more mature for her age I would have accepted this relationship more.
This book wasn’t for me for lots of reasons
I absolutely love this book! The heroine is quirky and adorable, hero is broody and hard to love in the hottest way!!!!!
I have read every one of Saffron A Kent’s books, I am a massive fan of this author’s writing and this book was really enjoyable. Saffron’s writing is always poetic and wonderfully raw with emotions running wild between her two main characters.
Violet is sixteen, a loner, likes lollipops, blogging and dreaming her days away thinking about and watching her next door neighbour; Mr Edwards. I did enjoy Violet’s character, although she came across very immature at times, she was vulnerable and sulky. I wish she could’ve been portrayed as a stronger heroine but she is only sixteen.
Mr Edwards is a cold, distant man, who I didn’t really connect with throughout this story, but I believe his character would be difficult for anyone to connect with. The sultry sex scenes were wonderfully erotic, well written with fantastic chemistry between Violet and Mr Edwards.
I thought the story was a little slow at times and slightly repetitive but it didn’t deter from my enjoyment. Saffron has a magical way with the forbidden genre that I just can’t resist! If you like a bit of the forbidden then I suggest you one click now.
Saffron is a master at weaving the perfect forbidden romance. Violet and Graham’s… I mean Mr. Edwards… lives are upheaved on her 18th birthday when she acts on the feelings she’s hidden since her 16th bday and kisses him, Graham who just happens to be 18 years older than her and the football coach at the high school she just graduated from. Unfortunately they are happened upon and the whole thing is blown wayyyyy out of proportion. Violet develops severe anxiety and Graham leaves town. These two seemingly could not be any different but they’re drawn to each other and you can feel the chemistry between them jump off the page. Don’t wanna give away all the juicy deals but make sure you have a fan on while reading this because Saffron has outdone herself on the sex scenes. Highly recommend you pick this up right away and make sure your schedule is clear cause you will not want to put it down.
Let me tell you, no one writes a forbidden romance quite like Saffron! She manages to make me stand up and cheer for some of the most taboo relationships.
Dreams of 18 centers around Violet, the young, beautiful, quirky and barely legal girl, and Graham, Violet’s best friend’s Dad, also known as Mr. Edwards. We first meet Violet at 16 and find her thoroughly obsessed with Mr. Edwards who has just moved in. I loved watching through her eyes as she precisely steers through Graham’s world without him “seeing her”, or so she thinks. Violet and Graham’s lives take a drastic turn one fateful night which also happens to be Violet’s 18th Birthday and hang on to your seats cause it’s quite a ride from there! This book packs quite the angsty punch and is hotter than hot!!
I loved Violet and Graham and I also loved that this story was tied to Saffron’s previous book, Medicine Man. I look forward to what Saffron brings next, because Dreams of 18 definitely did not disappoint!
I have read every book that Saffron A. Kent has written. So after reading the blurb of her new release, DREAMS OF 18, I knew I would be reading this book as soon as it was released. This book was full of angst. And with an 18 year age gap, all so very taboo. Well, you can’t help who you fall in love with, and be assured that nothing happens between Mr. Graham Edwards and his young neighbor Violet Moore, until she reaches the legal age of 18. It all started with a kiss!
Two years ago on Violet’s 16th birthday, Mr. Edwards moved in next door with his son. She had an instant crush on this muscled 6’5” man in a plaid shirt. Her older sister, Fiona, had a similar crush on Mr. Edward’s 16 year old son, Brian. His son however, would become Violet’s best friend, not Fiona’s. He was blissfully unaware of her deep attraction for his father. In her head she called his dad the Strawberry Man. Because he makes her feel exactly how she felt when craving the fruit she was allergic to. She liked things that were harmful, wrong and just plain bad. Violet didn’t think it mattered how much older than her he was. Age is just a number. Your not what your age is. Age is just mind over matter. Mr. Edwards was the coach for the high school football team. People say that he’s too abrasive and tough. The players are afraid of him. And secretly call him The Beast. Yet, Violet had a massive crush on her best friend’s dad.
On her 18th birthday, Violet was feeling very lonely, and decided to venture into Mr. Edward’s beautiful rose garden. It was dark and Brian told her he wasn’t home. She just wanted a few of the dying flowers. She wasn’t going to touch the ones in bloom. Then he was there. Wanting to know why she was stealing his roses? She could not believe that he was actually there with her. A dream of two years of craving his company. He told her to leave, but she thought this was the time she could take something for herself. So she went in for a kiss to make a dream come true. No one would be hurt. But then suddenly his son Brian who was also her best friend, was standing there looking devastated. What was just as bad, her own sister Fiona, was standing there witnessing the scene, too. A kiss that lasted only 10 seconds would have devastating repercussions.
Lives were forever changed and ruined over a stolen kiss that was not even reciprocated. Mr. Edwards had left. She was now the girl who ruined his life. She wanted to go to Colorado and find him. Violet was going to somehow make up for everything that happened. Tell him she was so sorry! Her friends told her not to go, but in her crazy way, she was on a mission that started with a kiss!
This is quite possibly one of my favorite book of Saffron A. Kent.
Dreams of 18 was everything I didn’t even know I wanted. Violet and Graham are one of those couples that’ll stay with you forever. The feelings, intensity, the HOTNESS, was out of this world.
Blown Away by this book!!!
How do even begin to write a non spolier review??!! I have been so excited to read Dreams of 18 ever since I read the blurb. Saffron definitely did not disappoint with this story. I loved every word from the sad ones and the happy ones. Age is truly just a number when you find love
First of all, age is just a number. You’re not what your are us. You are what you’ve gone through.
Dreams of 18 by Saffron A. Kent is a forbidden/taboo, age-gap romance filled with trials and tribulations. I’m a fan of all things forbidden and taboo, plus I’m a HUGE fan of Saffron A. Kent, so there was no way I wasn’t getting my hands on this one. As usual, Kent has blown me away with her words. You aren’t going to want to miss this heart-wrenching, beautiful story filled with angst, drama, lust, and love. Just a heads up because I know that some readers don’t care for LARGE age gap’s but I just want to say that yes, in the beginning, the heroine is sixteen and the male protagonist is in his early thirties, but NOTHING sexual or otherwise happens between them at this point, they don’t even have any real interactions. The “forbidden kiss” doesn’t happen until she is eighteen years old. Dreams Of 18 is a standalone novel told essentially from the heroines POV, but we do have a little from the male protagonist.
Love isn’t about asking someone to love you back. It’s about loving. It’s about finding that thing you love and letting it kill you because you’re going to die anyway. And what better way to go than at the hands of someone you love.
When the story begins we meet sixteen-year-old Violet Moore who has just caught her first glimpse of the new neighbors moving in across the street. That’s when she first sees the rugged and manly Mr. Graham Edwards. The attraction is instantaneous. Over the next two years, Violet’s attraction to Mr. Edwards continues to grow. Even though he barely knows she exists, besides the fact that she’s his son’s best friend.
It’s Mr. Edwards to you.
The night of her eighteenth birthday a tipsy Violet decides to sneak into Mr. Edward’s rose garden. But when Mr. Edwards catches her, Violet decides she wants more than just a couple withering roses for her birthday… she wants a kiss. From Mr. Edwards. Violet doesn’t take no for an answer and kisses him.
Only to have her best friend Brian, Mr. Edwards’s son, and her snobby attention-seeking sister Fiona catch them seconds after her lips touch his.
Thus starting the scandals of all scandal in their little town of Cherryville Connecticut.
Mr. Edwards is exiled and moves back to the mountains of Colorado where he was originally from, while Violet is left to take the brunt of the gossip and backlash, sending her into a downward spiral.
The summer after “the kiss” Violet decides she wants to make amends. She knows that she ruined Mr. Edwards’s life and that he hates her because of the mistake she made, but she sets off to Colorado to seek him out anyways.
But when she arrives, she isn’t quite prepared for what she finds.
Mr. Edwards has turned into a self-destructive recluse and Violet is determined to save him from himself. With his rude and callous behavior, he doesn’t make it easy for her but Violet won’t be deterred. So she tries to put aside her feelings for the strong, rugged, and alluring man and help him get his life back together.
Graham Edwards had it all. He was a high school football coach, an amazing relationship with his son… and now his life is in tatters. He lost his job, his relationship with his son is strained at best, and instead of listening to the town call him a pervert, he had to move back to the place he grew up. One night, one girl, and one kiss stole everything from him.
She’s the most terrible thing that’s happened to me. Terrible and beautiful…
And then one night the girl from his nightmares shows up on his doorstep, or actually in his rose garden, again.
Graham is set on sending her packing, the last thing he needs is the constant reminder of what happened, and what he can’t have in his face. Violet wasn’t the only one who liked to watch… Graham struggles with his feelings towards Violet, how can he want a girl 18 years younger than him, his son’s best friend and crush for that matter?
I don’t understand why I want to consume her. Why I want to ruin her and keep her safe all at the same time.
Can Violet fix what she ruined?
Can Graham finally come to terms with his feelings for Violet?
You’ll have to check out Dreams Of 18 to find out what happens next!
Dear Heart,
Why him?
I really enjoyed Dreams Of 18, there were a couple of things that I was a little iffy about but for the most part, it was a really good read. I saw something about a character or two from Dreams Of 18 being connected to another one of Kent‘s books, Medicine Man, go figure that it’s the only book of her’s that I haven’t read. With that being said, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything from the story by not reading that one though.
This is us.
Wild and savage and filthy and beautiful.
Beauty and The Beast.
I really liked that in most books, it’s always the male protagonist that pursues the female, but not this time around. Violet is on a mission to get her man. Even though at the time when she decided to seek him out it was only to make her amends, but I think she always had hope in the back of her mind that “something” may happen. Usually, I prefer things the other way around but I think with the whole age-gap, it made the story less… creepy? Like it wasn’t just an older guy peeving out on a young girl. Hopefully, that makes sense.
I’m hopeless and I’m a romantic. I’m a masochist. I’m addicted to less. I’m addicted to the pain. I’m addicted to him.
In the beginning, I really liked Violet! She was a quirky loner who marched to the beat of her own drum. She spent her days with headphones on drowning out the world, hanging out on the roof at 2 A.M., writing in her journal, and eating lollipops like she needs to them to survive. She was mature beyond her age, although she had her moments where her age definitely showed. Violet has felt invisible her whole life, neglected by her family, and even though she acts like she’s okay with that, there’s something about Graham that makes her WANT to be seen, and he does. I will say that I didn’t care for the change in the character as the story progressed. She went from a cute and quirky girl to someone… vulnerable and needy and.. just different from the Violet we first met, maybe it has to do with her anxiety and all that but I don’t know, she was just a little too different for me.
Because she’s a girl made of moon and magic. She’s a girl who has streaks of gold in her think hair, red as fuck lips. And she’s a girl who glows in the moonlight.
I really liked Graham A.K.A, the sexy brooding Mr. Edwards! I actually would have preferred a lot more of the story from his point of view. He is a great Dad to his son and besides her age, his love for Brian is what kept him from giving in to his feelings for Violet for sooo long. Graham has a prickly exterior but when he cares, he cares. The way he kept building Violet up about herself was just the sweetest. Plus, I mean his dirty talk?! HOLY FUCKING HOTNESS!!! Sheesh, that man…
No, Violet, I’m not saying that you’re visible. I’m saying that you’re the only thing that a man sees. I’m saying that you’re a thing that drives a man to distraction. You make him forget what’s right and what’s wrong. You’re a thing so terrible and beautiful and fucking breathtaking that he can’t escape you…You’re a girl who makes a man go bad.
I didn’t notice colors before I met you.
Now anyone who follows my reviews knows that I am ALLL about my steamy scenes, I mean aren’t we all? But even though there were some FILTHY SMOKING HOT scenes (again, Mr. Edwards dirty talk is ) I felt they were a little… excessive in this one. It kills me to say that since usually I’m a HUGE advocate for MORE steam and I never thought there was such a thing as too much… but I was wrong. There is a limit. I mean I guess it made sense with the two of them up in the mountains all by their lonesome there wasn’t much else to do but hump like bunnies But still, the heroine was a virgin. So going from a virgin at nineteen years old to a straight-up FREAK-A-LEEK all in the span of a couple of weeks was pretty crazy. Plus, some of the steamy scenes weren’t very “steamy” and actually had me cringing and laughing out loud.
That ending… When Graham finally pulls his head out of his ass…. that declaration was SWOON WORTHY! Took him long enough but he figured it out.
There were a few issues with the pacing, things moved a little too quickly for my liking, not giving the characters as much depth as I’m used to from Kent‘s characters. But all in all, I enjoyed reading Dreams Of 18. The story had a Beauty and the Beast feel to it for sure and I loved meeting Violet and her strawberry man. If you are into all things forbidden and taboo like me and don’t mind a large age gap between the protagonists then I most definitely recommend checking out Dreams Of 18!
I want to live in your world, Violet. A world of moon and magic, if you’ll let me.
ℂ ’ ℝ:
There were a few things that I was a little iffy about, causing me to lower my rating just a bit but all in all Dreams of 18 was a great read! If you are a lover of all things forbidden and taboo like me then you will most definitely not want to miss this heart-wrenching, beautiful story filled with angst, drama, lust, and love!
There is TONS of steam in this one! Seriously PAGES of steam! Some of it is… a little more on the quirky funny side. But oh my are there some SMOKING HOT scenes too!
ℂ – Even though characters from a previous Kent novel appear in this one, I don’t feel as if I was missing anything by not reading that one. Dreams Of 18 is standalone and wraps up with a beautiful happy ending.
.
This book was for the hopeless romantics, the
dreamers, and star-crossed lovers. How can you
not love it. It gets you right in the heart. How
vulnerable and pure Violets love is. Graham on
the other hand is closed off. Violet doesn’t give
up though. I love that some of the characters in
this book are connected to Medicine Man().
This book is also for the lonely who live inside
themselves because the world outside their heads
is too much.
Love supercedes everything, hurdles are nothing
when one is looking into the eyes of their soul-mates…
Oh my gosh, this book had all the things I love!!! Age gap, angst, hot protective H, a fabulous complex h and the hotness factor was just unreal!!!! Mr. Edwards and Violet were just it, everything about them I loved!
So I primarily had a problem with Violet. She became very annoying to me kind of obsessive stalkerish and also with the use of how many times she said “fat hobo.” I seriously thought “what in the heck is she talking about…a purse???, and no I never heard a hobo being referenced to a purse. Let’s just say I got the gist. I thought Brian, Graham’s son was kind of pointless to the story, since we never really saw him, just only at the beginning and the end. Why have some sort of obstacle just because this is an age-gap romance. Same goes with the reason Violet was at Heartstone, I felt it was unnecessary. I will say Saffron does have a way with words and especially towards the end which its mentioned, write very poetic. I need to move her books that I have up my list.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
OMFG!! Saffron Kent didn’t Again with DREAMS OF 18!! If you Haven’t Read Any of Saffron’s Books, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!! I’m a Huge Fan of Hers from her Very First Book- A WAR LIKE OURS and I’ve been riding her World Ever Since!
DREAMS OF 18 is No Exception and a Very Unique Experience as a Read to Discover a Different World of Storytelling.
Violet and Graham aka Mr. Edwards story was so BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN and WRITTEN at the Same Time! It was an Such Emotional Rollercoaster Ride that I have Never Ridden Before with Any Other Books which was No Surprise from Saffron.
She likes to put you in the middle of the characters world of chaos and lets you experience it their World eyes so You Have ALL THE FEELS!
Makes you laugh out loud, jump in a suspenseful moment, want to punch the wall and most all Cry at all the Sad & Happy life choices.
DREAMS OF 18 is a Huge Age Gap Tragic Heartbreaking Story of Two Lost Souls trying to find Their Footing in this Crazy Real World We Live In!
To Overcome all theirs fears like you and I do but in Their Own Pace!
And as the World looks at Them Different, Let the World Be Damned!!
For Violet and Graham, they will live their lives how they see fit for each other and Not let Society rule. Of course it is Not Easy and they will hit some road blocks but their chemistry with one another seems to be enough until its Not!
Definitely A Must Read Book!!
If you haven’t Read Saffron Kent before then DREAMS OF 18 might be a small taste of Saffron’s World that will have you thinking…”Why Did I Wait So Long to Read Her Books?!”
I’m really torn on how to review this. I loved the plot and even loved the characters but the overall pace of the story, it was way to fast in spots. Both Vi and Graham were great. I really liked them and who they were but because of the pace of the story I couldn’t find my self super connected. I loved the start and then the end but everything in the middle….. it just didn’t fit the story for me. People are going to love it, I have no doubt, but I was just hoping for a slower burn, more time of them figuring out each other and forming that deeper bond. They had that bond, a beautiful love that was fun to see, but having read this author’s other books and enjoying them a lot, this one was just really fast. Even with that I still really enjoyed it and would love to see more books in this world and for some of the secondary characters. 4 stars #2OCCJD
Forbidden fruit is like the sweetest reward. No matter the age difference, attraction is attraction. Lust and desire woven into an intricate dance of two people trying to deny their need for one another. Graham an Vi had me clinging to every word of their journey. I devoured this book !! The need to just be fed more and more of the intense and erotic pleasures that Vi and Graham experience together. Their connection is so strong. It’s like a force that can’t be broken. But even love and connection can be tried to it’s breaking point. Such an intense and emotional journey with these characters.
Holy hell do I love this book!! Saffron Lent wasn’t a brand new author to me, but what I had read before Dreams of 18 completely blew me away. Of course I was grabby hands for this book!!
Violet and Graham’s relationship isn’t the typical just age-gap story. There’s so much more to them!! They go through difficulties and hardships that continuously test their bounds and pull them through the wringer. It wasn’t an easy journey for them. And that’s what I love about this book. The love is so rewarding.
Violet is a fantastic heroine who knows what she wants and how to get it. She’s got a brave soul and that’s what matters most. Both she and Graham are tortured in their own way, leaving so much room for character growth and Saffron Kent really rounded them up well.
I’m really wowed by how much I loved this story! If you get a chance, I’d definitely pick up Dreams of 18 if you’re looking for more than just an easy age-gap.
5 stars!!
So, I’ve been trying (for days) to find words to do this book justice and I’ve just had to put it in the “too hard” basket. Nothing I write will ever be enough to express how much I loved Violet and Graham’s story.
It was angsty as fuck. Full of “so deliciously wrong that it’s right”. Seriously hot, twisted, dirty and a million other things.
So. Fucking. Amazing.
I agreed to read an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. I have to say, I am a huge Saffron A Kent fan. I love her style of writing, her characters, her ability to write an amazing novel with a ton of angst. While the writing of this book was the usual Saffron wonderful, the actual story line was not my favorite. There were times it actually made me uncomfortable to keep reading. I do not want to deter anyone from reading this book because some people may actually love this story line. I will say thank you to Saffron for getting me to read something that isn’t my usual book type.
Age gap romances are not a taboo for me. Love is love, and as long as the book is well written and it shakes me about a bit, I’m cool with it.
Aspects of this book, I found sexy and oh so hot but parts of it made me cringe, not a toe curl happy cringe, but, I can’t cope with this, cringe. Genitals should never be referred to as a separate person.
I was seriously worried about the health of Violet’s teeth. Lollipops are lovely but if you suck as many as she did you are going to have monumental tooth decay. It’s not good and it’s certainly not pretty.
I’m a stickler for detail, you can’t grow a vegetable patch or a rose garden in a couple of weeks. If you write something, you really need to make it factual unless it’s about wizards and magic.
My heart hurt for Violet, the girl who didn’t want to be seen. The girl who becomes the focus of every pair of eyes. The girl who can only cope in public if she wears her disguise. She’s the wronged. The outcast. She should have been treasured. She’s the one who deserved the stars and moonlight.
Mr Edwards sees the loneliness in Violet, the moonlight and magic but he’s a raging ball of anger. He’s angry at the world, or so it seems.
She’s the calm to his storm. It’s not a bad story just too many of my red lights.