I knew the rules.Never reveal my true identity.Play the game, give the illusion. Don’t get close to the clients. The dark and glamorous lifestyle of the rich and shameless open my eyes to a lavish world of sin and wealth, and a man I can’t have. A man I desperately want—James Riviera. We’re treading a fine line as we live the ultimate double life until we make a startling discovery that tests … we make a startling discovery that tests both our loyalties.
I only had to follow the rules, but rules are meant to be broken.
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STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GO ONE CLICK THIS BOOK RFN!!!
*Stops to take a breath*
Hush, Hush is going to knock your effing socks off!!
It is Sinful
Smoken HAWT
Dirty
Effs with your mind, like you need to put the book down at times to take a break cuz it is that effing good!!!
GO.IN.BLIND!!!! I had noooo idea what this book was about until one of my book friends told me…girllll go read this book NOW!!!
And I did, and I am sooo glad I listened!! lol
One of the best books I have read all year!!! Y’ALL….ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ!!!
GO ONE CLICK TODAY!!!
Lucia Franco…thank you for writing such an AMAZING BOOK!!! Floved HUSH, HUSH
Okay, I think I’ve put off writing this review long enough. Most people think that the best time to write a review is immediately after reading the book while your emotions are still raw and the book is fresh in your head.
First, I needed some time to try and get my feelings into coherent words.
Second, I promise you this book is still very fresh in my mind – it isn’t that easily forgettable.
Now, if you’ve read any of my reviews you know that I am incredibly uncensored so if you want a very sophisticated review then you need to go somewhere else because I promise you won’t find that here.
So I went in not really knowing what to expect from this book. But of course it’s Lucia Franco’s writing so I wasn’t worried, I knew it would be pure fucking gold.
I started reading and I LOVE that it was different from anything I’ve ever read before. I don’t really know how else to explain it. It was more than just girl meets boy (which by the way James is no boy he is ALL man). It was sexy, and complicated and messy. I am really trying not to give anything away but I love that the “things” that didn’t include our Hero weren’t faded to black or glossed over. I love all the dirty details. I absolutely LOVE when an author does more than just TELLS me a story, I felt like I was living it.
Lucia Franco is more than just her Off Balance books (which by the way, bitch where is book 4?!?!?). She can write the fucking phone book and do it in a way that would make all of us fall in love and lust. I’m so happy she wrote this book and I’m so fucking happy I read it. If you want a sexy book that is kind of taboo, has a great story line, an older man with a younger woman, and hot sex, one thousand percent this is the book for you.
I loved this book! This author is so talented. She writes characters that make you fall in love. I wanted to be friends with these girls, and I am in love with Grammy! At one point I get this idea of where I think we were going, and I wanted to read peaking thru my hands She writes the best angst. You feel their emotions. I had tears falling off my face thru the last 6 chapters. All I wanted to do was hug Aubrey.
In this book, Lucia Franco wrote the best silver fox. She wrote steamy scenes that sizzled off the pages. Aubrey wanted to make her mark, and make a difference in the world. She made her characters fight for it. This was by far the best book of the summer for me!
I absolutely LOVED this book. Yep, that’s right. My morals actually couldn’t give a damn less about some of the more over the line elements. Lucia Franco hit this one right on the head. Having a background with Manhattan and the powerful there, I was almost suspicious how she nailed the way a certain echelon of the city truly does work.
But enough about that – I’m too all consumed by James Riviera, the sexiest Silver Fox I’ve ever come across! I loved how commanding he was, I loved how suave he was, I melted over his tattoos and their meanings. I had absolutely no problem with the age gap – when you find someone that is the one you connect with that’s the most valuable commodity there is. And Aubrey and James connected completely.
Aubrey is the heroine here. She’s on a full ride at Fordham and rooms with Natalie, her absolute bestie. Where Natalie comes from a rich family and doesn’t struggle, Aubrey tolls away working at a laundromat and as a nanny and scrimps by to make ends meet. She also tries to take care of her grammy, the only family she has. While Nat refuses to take money from her family, she makes out really well as a ‘shot girl’ or so Aubrey believes. As Aubrey struggles more to make ends meet, Nat finally reveals the true source of her income and presents Aubrey with the same working opportunity she has.
And that is how Aubrey comes to meet James Riviera. He may be 52 to her 21 but the two of them have insane attraction and connect immediately. And although this story would be controversial for many, I absolutely rooted for these two to end up together. James is sex on a stick and kinky to boot, a complete alpha with a touch of sweet on the side.
I loved his tattoos and how they were a record of memories and moments in his life.
“Memories are priceless to me. Maybe years from now you’ll come back here, and it’ll spark a reminder of our time together. You may not remember everything that happened this day, but you’ll feel it in your heart. Money can buy a lot of things, but it can’t buy moments, and those are priceless.”
But as delicious as James and Aubrey’s storyline is, there are some massive surprises in this one and some huge obstacles that I honestly didn’t see a way out of. Aubrey digs herself into too many lies, complications and too many overlapping stories and when the author throws the twist in, well it all results in one hell of a messy situation. I liked Aubrey in a sense for James but I fully admit she made a lot of wrong turns and if the author didn’t have me so fully, I might not have forgiven her for some of her ‘mistakes’. To say they were pretty big ones would be an understatement!
This is a book that it’s best to go in blind to. It’ll pull you in and then take you deeper. At least that was my experience. And because of my absolute blind love for James and massive crush, I’m absolutely biased and have to give this book *****5 stars x 2! Here’s to all the moments and memories. And a silver fox I won’t forget.
OH MY! I don’t even have the right words to convey how absolutely hot as sin James Riviera is! His words, those moves, his body…those tattoos, I can almost hear his voice!
Where do I even start?!!! Hush Hush was absolutely amazing, humorous when I needed it and pushed the envelope of comfort for me continuously! Before I go any further, I have to say…just the fact that my absolute favorite NYC restaurant was mentioned in this book – LOVVVE Carmine’s!!!! I freaking love you for putting that part in! Reminds me of one of my absolute favorite trips!
Aubrey and Natalie; what a pair these two girls were..the best of friends! The bond between Aubrey and Natalie is one of a kind, it’s the type of friendship that is family! Natalie brings Aubrey into her own world, a world she has kept hidden for quite some time! Once Aubrey makes a choice she can’t undo…she just digs herself deeper!
This book….
*forbidden love
*age gap
*sexy alpha
*shocking twists
*betrayal
*lies
*HOT amazing sex
*heartbreak on so many levels!
The feelings that Aubrey was experiencing jumped from these pages and wrapped around me! There were moments I was so wrapped up in their world that I forgot my world surrounding me.
THIS LOVE, that ultimate trust that you put into another soul! Regardless of how wrong you might feel your love is for them! Just the fact that you’ve found that person whom your soul just clicks with…that your BODY CLICKS WITH! You can love someone without clicking with them on other levels, but to find that person you click with on ALL LEVELS! Downright amazing!
“There’s something about how he takes control with just enough power that makes me fucking weak for him!”
{I received this as an ARC in exchange for an Honest review}
This world is insanely wonderful. I am Obsessed with this story!! I loved every minute!! It was so captivating and intriguing. I can without a doubt say I have never read a book like this before and that is what makes it so special. I never wanted to put it down. I broke my book buying ban (Paperbacks) halfway through because I NEEDED this book to be in my hands. It is so incredible, “Hush Hush” is defiantly one of my Favorite reads of 2019!! Aubrey and James you guys they are magnificent. The connection is instant and real you feel the want and need and love between them. This book has one of the Best Plot Twist of my LIFE!! I didn’t see it coming and it made this book that much more delicious. “Hush Hush” is SEXY and ANGSTY, and just plain INCREDABLE!!! I can not recommend it enough. It’s Erotic, Taboo and completely addicting. I LOVE Aubrey so much. Even with all the sexiness in this book there is real friendship and family too. The love in this book is wonderful. Natalie and Aubrey are Friendship goals!!! I seriously could not get enough of these two. This whole book is amazing. You have to read this. Give it a chance and fall in love!
There are so many more words that I could use to describe this book. As usual, Lucia Franco makes you fall in love with her words as she builds up this delicious sexual tension that cracks and sizzles. This book has some of the steamiest scenes I’ve ever read and while not much shocks me at this point, I can remember one part in particular where even I was SHOOK.
One aspect I definitely want to call attention to is the dynamic between Aubrey and Natalie. I was completely obsessed with their relationship. It’s no secret I love sassy heroines and their besties and the way she wrote these two was phenomenal. They talk to each other like real best friends do, unfiltered, unashamed and it was undoubtedly some of the most relatable dialogue I’ve ever read. She nails reckless party girls in their early twenties. Honestly, the accuracy was astounding.
So on top of that, she has woven quite a large age gap that was so delicious it made my mouth water. James Riviera is walking sex and I can’t even make him a book boyfriend because he’s so clearly not a boy… That’s a book husband. He’s gorgeous and dominating and protective and possessive and despite his wrongdoings (and trust me he’s got a few), he’s so mature in terms of communication which I LOVE in a hero. I LOVED Aubrey and James’ interactions from the first moment until the last. I loved how real they were only with each other. And of course the forbidden nature of their relationship only made each scene more sexy and exciting.
I’ll end this by saying that I definitely do not agree with some of Aubrey’s choices, but then I remember she’s twenty-one. I remember what got her into this lifestyle in the first place. I think about what obscene amounts of money could do to anyone that comes from nothing… but especially a young girl without a ton of guidance? I mean honestly, what girl in her early twenties hasn’t made mistakes?
I really hope Lucia Franco’s not finished with this universe, because I’m dying for more. Five Stars.
Wow! That was a really sexy, angsty, story that captivated me from page one. Aubrey is a college student that struggles day to day. I liked her character and found her to be a no nonsense type girl. Did she make mistakes and did she have character flaws…absolutely? But that’s what I loved about her. She tried to straddle that line between what she felt was morally right and what she felt she had to do to take care of her granny. I liked the relationship she had with Natalie. I even loved James. But all of them were definitely broken in some ways. Such an addictive read and I really enjoyed every single page.
There is absolutely nothing that I love more than a taboo story. Lucia Franco is just the lady to deliver that story. Oh, Aubrey and James. Those two have the type of chemistry that burns off the pages. It was so worth it to discover their journey.
Hush, Hush was pure steamy, gritty, and angsty perfection. I absolutely could not get through this book fast enough and loved how the characters drew me in and held me captive until the last page.
James Riviera is the king of silver foxes. He had me riveted from the very start and with every deliciously dirty word that crossed his lips I loved him more. Aubrey Abrams was an intelligent, sassy and determined young woman who wasn’t afraid to work hard to accomplish her goals and make her life better. When her path crossed with James the chemistry between them was fiery, fierce and undeniable. I loved the push and pull between them and their deep and intense connection.
Hush, Hush wasn’t anything that I was expecting but ended up being exactly the type of riveting read I adore. Full of steamy moments, complex and intriguing characters, all the feels and a uniquely captivating storyline Hush, Hush was a truly spellbinding read you won’t want to miss.
Lucia Franco is a dangerous woman. Queen of forbidden. WHOA. Seriously, you have your forbidden romance books, then you have this steamy, gritty, intense diamond of a book, Hush, Hush. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this story! It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that locks down your mind and not being able to comprehend anything else, but this book! You go, Lucia! Expect so much from this read because the way Lucia writes this story is just flat out magical. It’s that good. I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what would happen, and found myself at times going, whoa. whoa. whoa. Hold up! Back up a minute. I love books that do that! The hotness that was put into this book felt like my body was on fire. A flaming read, that’s one hundred percent what a reader will get with Hush, Hush.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would!
This story had me devouring the pages, no surprises there though, it is a Franco novel and she is one of the few authors who make me forget I have children to look after when I start her books .
I feel like a slave to her words, nothing is extra, they are purposeful, intense and so consuming and this book is exactly that, it is pure perfection .
The book starts with Aubrey struggling, working two jobs, looking after her Grammy and barely making it in NYC. Her flat mate and best friend Natalie comes from a wealthy family but is trying to make it on her own away from her overbearing parents. See sees Aubrey’s struggles and introduces her to Sanctuary Cove, where the Madam sells a good time with a happy ending, making the girls a pretty penny at the end of it. For girls like Aubrey and Natalie who love sex and need the money, it’s the perfect job.
I loved the friendship between Aubrey and Natalie, it was genuine and there was a real sisterhood between them.
Through one of her jobs at Sanctuary Cove, she meets James (sigh), we don’t meet him until around 30% into the book and he had my heart from then, there was just something about him. He’s sensual, confident, sexy as sin and knows how to make women purr! When Aubrey is first introduced to him you could feel the sexual tension and pull between them and this doesn’t lessen throughout the book regardless of the near thirty year age gap!
James is married, his wife knows about his kinks, she doesn’t fulfill them and he seeks them out at Sanctuary Cove and Aubrey sure know how to fill them. This book is burning hot with the perfect amount of sex scenes that will have you fanning yourself with the heat it brings. The little twists along the way cements the forbidden element but the pull they have for each other can’t keep them away, no matter who is going to get hurt.
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What I love about Franco’s books is that they are not a quick read and take you on a storytelling journey that has your heart all over the place. It’s full of angst, it’s forbidden, emotional (get the tissues out) and is so raw, I’m not sure my feelings have fully recovered.
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This is the ultimate forbidden romance that is addicting and I urge any forbidden/taboo fan to read, you will love it.
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My top read of 2019.
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*An ARC received for an honest review*
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Overall Ratings;u2063
First Sex Scene @ 7%
POV – First, heroine
Hero –
Heroine –
Story –
Angst –
Steam –
Chemistry –
Omg!!!! What a phenomenal story!!! My goodness, literally had me squirming!! Cold shower is highly recommended after reading!! Hotness overload!! So much passion coupled with secrets and wisdom made for an awesome book!! Explosive on all ends!!!
August 23, 2021
5/5 stars.
In this award winning novel by Lucia Franco, Hush Hush follows Aubrey Abrams, a college student who struggles to afford day to day life. When her parents died, her Grammy took her in and raised her, and now Aubrey is on a mission to take back her life and care for Grammy the way that she deserves. When Aubrey’s bestie and roommate, Natalie, offers her a once in a lifetime opportunity that comes with quick cash, Aubrey puts aside her hesitations and does what she needs to do to support herself.
With this new job comes a new set of rules: Don’t get attached to clients and don’t let anyone know your true identity.
With a new boy in Aubrey’s life, a best friend who guides her through her work struggles, and a sh*tload of cash, things are turning up—until he becomes her client.
Rules were meant to be broken in this stunning, forbidden age-gap novel.
Aubrey Abrams is the epitome of everything that women desire to be. In the beginning of this book, I fell madly in love with her abrasive yet passionate personality, her outspoken ways, and her drive. She falls out of a shy worker and into this blossoming woman who knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. Even through the ups and downs of her family struggles and personal relationships, Aubrey chooses the path that she believes is right, even when it hurts her in the end. While she may not always be proud of what she does, she is truly an iconic character that can never be repeated in the romance genre.
I’d love to get into the details of the main male character in this book, but some things are better left unsaid. Let’s just say, he’s definitely not what you’d expect. He’s better. While I’m biased and love Kova more than anything, the main male character in this novel is something spectacular. With a lifetime of resentment behind him, he chooses to go after what he wants for the first time.
This story was just as amazing to read as I knew it would be. Having binged Off Balance, I needed a story like this to bring me back to earth. This book is funny, witty, sexy, and a true emotional rollercoaster.
and when you finish reading Hush Hush, you’re going to want to know more. The ending is pretty conclusive, but if you need more like I did, Say Yes is an answer to your prayers. The ending is beautiful, and I absolutely loved it.
Wow. This was my first Lucia Franco book and it certainly won’t be my last!
Warning: This is a book based on a life of a sex worker. It includes drug use and sexual scenes.
This book actually gave me Pretty Woman feels! Was it confronting in regards to the sex trade? Yes. But did it portray it in a sensible/non-judgmental way? Definitely yes. Many people, probably more than you ever know personally, need money and will do anything to have it. Especially if it means taking care of their family. And this is what this story is.
It follows Aubrey, a scholarship college student living with her best friend, who is just trying to keep things going including the financial and emotional care of her Grandma that raised her. When she hits a dead end in her current weekend job as nannying, her best friend suddenly brings out a honest truth about her job. She isn’t a “shot girl” but an escort for wealthy men of New York. Aubrey is a bit funny about entering the trade at first, but she does see sex as more of an activity then intimacy so goes into it confidently. Until she meets James Rivera.
It was obvious from the first meeting that James & Aubrey had more than sexual chemistry. I enjoyed reading about their date where no sex was involved – just getting to know each other. Until Aubrey meets James at a charity event and realises James is someone she can’t know, personally or intimately.
I am so happy the author wrote a sequel novella because even though the epilogue does end their story well, I want more!!!! An easy read for me, especially for my forbidden / taboo romance mood I am in lately. 5/5 stars with 5/5 steam.
4.5 “MEMORIES ARE PRICELESS” STARS!!!
Lucia is seriously the queen of forbidden; no one does it quite like her. I went into this book not knowing what to expect and I ended up loving this unique story. Hush, Hush was all about girl power and I was so here for it. In this book our heroine Aubrey, is the escort and I found that to be so refreshing, she owned her body and sexuality, she was confident and sure of herself and I lived for it. I love a good hero but women really need to be more in the spotlight and Lucia did that.
Aubrey was amazing but so were the rest of the characters. Firstly I loved Nathalie, she was so badass and the friendship she and Aubrey had was seriously goals. Now even though I’m all for girl power I can’t forget about James, gosh even his name gets me all hot. Seriously what’s not to like about a handsome older man that worships you?!! He was truly everything, I swooned so hard every time he was on page, I just couldn’t get enough of their flirty interactions.
I did find this book a bit slow in the beginning but the story quickly got momentum and I couldn’t take my eyes of the pages. Hush, Hush was steamy, funny and a bit angsty. James and Aubrey had so much chemistry and the age-gap+forbidden element just added to it. I truly adored the writing in this book, it was so entertaining. This story was so different from the Off Balance books and I love that, because it showed me that this author can truly write anything and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!!!
This book was absolutely amazing! It brought everything from the feels, emotions, drama. It had me laughing historically, had me bawling my eyes out, and screaming at my kindle. A few times I wanted to it chuck across the room. Aubrey is a college student who doesn’t have a lot of money but she is happy and doesn’t let life get her down. She’s been through a lot growing up. Her roommate Natalie is the opposite. Her family has money but she doesn’t use it all the time. Natalie works but doesn’t tell Aubrey the truth until she see’s that Aubrey needs to quit her 2 jobs and make more money doing what Natalie does. Aubrey tries the job and meets someone older, James. He’s a silver fox. Things heat up between them and things are discovered in each other’s lives. Lies are told. But they can’t stay away from each other. I recommend this book it will totally keep you in suspense. You won’t want to put it down. I’m in such a huge book hangover.
GAH! THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING GOOD!! The chemistry between James and Aubrey is just amazing and so hot! The characters themselves I also absolutely adored! James a hot, dominant, confident, drool worthy alpha male; and Aubrey is strong, confident, sassy and loyal. Also, Aubrey and Natalie were friendship GOALS. This book is just incredible!! It’s steamy, fun, suspenseful, romantic, an emotional roller coaster and I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it!!
i loved this book so much!!! my friend haley recommended it to me and i just love james and aubrey so much. this book is everything!! it was so addicting i could not put it down!
this is about aubrey and natalie who live and go to college in NYC. i love how aubrey (valentina) is a confident heroine and is just looking to make it along in life, being a struggling college student. i enjoyed reading about her classes and everything. aubrey is struggling to make enough money to support herself and her granny, so soon aubrey gets a job alongside her best friend natalie working as an escort for the rich, manhattans elite.
james rivera is the sexy silver fox, and knows what he wants. he’s my favorite kind of rich alpha male, and is just. so. hot. that twist at the end though! this book is definitely a new fav of mine and was so HOT!!
steam 5/5
TW: cheating
I was so excited when this ARC appeared on my kindle. Lucia Franco is an amazing writer who creates a world where you feel the love, hurt with the pain and fan yourself with the sexy times. There is no shortage of any of these in this book.
Aubrey gets out of her comfort zone when her best friend offers her an opportunity to not only provide for her future but to give something back to her grandmother. She did not have the luxuries that her best friend had growing up. Natalie came from money and could have anything and everything she wanted but choose to make her own path whereas Aubrey was raised by her grandmother.
When Aubrey accepts an offer to work where Natalie does instead of the many jobs she needs to get by, her eyes are opened to more than she bargained for. Bring on the excitement, the thrill, the wtf?!, and of course our hero, James.
He is everything you want in a man:
sexy
smart
rich
Only he falling for him is forbidden in more ways than one. It was only supposed to be one night but both James and Aubrey can’t fight the pull between them. Be prepared to feel ALL the feels!
I highly recommend this book as well as Lucia’s other pieces. You better believe that I will be grabbing this paperback to add to my collection.