When I was five years old, I told Toren Grace I was going to marry him when I grew up. When I turned eighteen, I made it clear I still felt the same. The problem? He’s fifteen years older than me, and he’s my father’s best friend. Toren Grace. My father’s best friend. My pseudo-uncle.He’s always been my rock. The one I should never, ever want.But I do want him, and I love him.I always have.Tor’s … him.
I always have.
Tor’s one of the good guys. Loving. Devoted. A strong moral compass. One kiss between us rocked him clear off his axis. Now, we can’t forget how that kiss felt, and what it changed. Nothing will ever be the same between us. I’m not a little girl anymore, and he’s everything I want.
I know he’s struggling, but I’m determined. With a last name of Valentine, I’ve got cupid in my veins. The heart wants what the heart wants, and it doesn’t care about age or how we met. My father cares, though. And he’s the one person neither one of us can stand to hurt.
We’re all being torn apart, and I don’t know how to make everyone see that the wrongs are actually right.
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Kinda of a Taboo romance.
Kenzi and Tor where inseparable as a consequence a love that for most shouldn’t be bloomed, there’s an age Gap and other triggers for ppl so it isn’t a story for all. However I love to read and have no triggers these stories are something I look for a romance that can grown even in unusual parings. (Such as the age Gap and relationship these two originally had)
This book – I cannot say enough good things about it!!
I was a little anxious about it in the beginning, but understood quickly that thus isn’t the story of an uncle figure and niece figure falling in love with each other.
This is a beautiful story that shows how two people’s love grows and changes over time to become more than a protector and who he’s protecting, more than a young girl with a crush, more than all of that. These are two people who found that their love changed, grew and developed over time to become so much more than either anticipated.
Beautifully written and heartbreaking, as well as heartwarming and amazing!!
Tor comes off all broody and everything but that man can be deep when it comes to Kenzi, “I want you sleeping with me all night and waking up with me. You leaving my bed feels like a booty call.” I loved this book, I loved Tor he was such a good guy.
When a book has you so wrapped up in their world, you realize it’s taken only 3 days to read it. Another record for me. In addition, it’s also been my first official and complete read since forever. I’m not going to lie to you at all. Family life has keep me busy and happy. TV has stepped up their game, phenomenally. And at the end of the day, my eyes can never stay open long enough to grab a book and read.
Never heard of Carian Cole until a friend of mine was talking about a book of hers on Facebook. That book being, “Torn”. I was totally in love with the cover and read the synopsis.. needless to say I was hooked. It’s basically about forbidden love. Two people who have been in each other lives for a long time. Who helped each other grow into the people they are today and now see each other in a totally different light. Do they fight the intense feelings? Or do they say to, hell with it, and just let love be?
Is it a bit taboo, to an extent… BUT… it’s a slow burn. And I mean a slow fucking burn. What the hell is the equivalent of blue balls for woman?! Who knows, but I was dying. I loved how the author basically took a paint brush and detailed their relationship from past to present. Not rushed at all. You can’t help but root for them being together. Be warned there is anguish, torment and heartache. But stay with it!! This is such a great read to turn yourself away from. Toren & Kenzi forever. If your heart leaps for forbidden love and you have an open mind, this book is all you.
Out of a 5, I’m giving Torn by Carian Cole 5 Stars!Carian Cole Torn
I flipping loved this book! Torn was very well written and the romance is a slow build which I absolutely adored. This book is a page-turner that fans the flames in your core and leaves you breathless and wanting more.
Absolutely loved this story.
Now I don’t normally go for the whole forbidden love genre…but dammm this book was really good! I loved the build up and thought the author did a great job, with managing the whole from ‘guardian to romantic love’ the characters were well written and I enjoyed the skipping from the past to present. Really enjoyable read and will defo look into more from this author.
I have to say, I was really unsure, throughout most of this book, how we were going to get from pseudo uncle/ niece relationship to a romantic one without hitting a HUGE “ick factor”. I almost gave up reading, but the characters kept pulling me back in. Bit by bit, the author deftly steered the story down a believable, and romantic, path. The side story of the main character’s mom and where she was or what had happened was a little confusing. I felt there was a lot there that was not being discussed…maybe it’s in a different book in the series?
At any rate, a good read, although a bit somber.
To be honest, I was a little iffy about this book to begin with… The age difference didnt bother me, but falling in love with your father’s best friend? Nope! I just knew it would end badly… By the end of chapter 1, I was feeling a little better about it, but by the end of chapter 2, I knew it was going to turn out to be a great book… Everything just didn’t magically fall into place, Toren and Kenzi worked to find their HEA.. I especially liked the fact that it wasn’t so cut and dry.. I ended up really loving this book.. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!
Okay this book was WOW! Honestly, I needed a book for my “taboo” challenge, and I kept putting it off, so I just bit the bullet and WOW I know that is not much but WOW.
I do love a good age gap story but this one was different because Tor helped raise Kenzi and while it might seem perverse or seem dirty it wasn’t. The author made so many compelling points for their love story that before you know it you are falling for in love just as much as they are.
Tor was the perfect MC because he loved Kenzie through all stages of her life from the day she was born and while he knew he had should not be with her he couldn’t help it. Kenzie was a force to be reckoned with, she was way beyond her years and knew what she wanted. This story was so beautifully written that you could not help but feel what these characters were feeling whether they were laughing, crying or angry. I really can’t get over how much I loved this one.
Torn was my first Carian Cole book and after some digging, I saw that almost all over books are intertwined into this one universe so to speak. Her Ashes & Embers series and her Devil’s Wolves series are all involve the same characters in some way, so I plan on reading every single one just to soak up more of this beautiful world she created.
Wow! Talk about a huge book hangover! This book was beautifully written, even with such a ‘Taboo’ storyline. This book was an amazing journey of two souls who were fused from the moment they met. So real, so much love, so much grace, and a HOT alpha that you won’t want to miss! Even if taboo isn’t your thing, I HIGHLY suggest you try this one!
A heartbreakingly beautiful love story.
Toren Grace helped raise Kenzi Valentine since she was a baby. He was her father’s best friend. Kenzie and Tor became best friends as they got older. But when Kenzie turned eighteen, that friendship took a different turn. She started to fall in love with Tor and was willing to do anything to be with him even when he tried to push her away. Tor knew a relationship with Kenzie was wrong and he fought with himself and his jumbled-up feelings until he no longer could. Fate brought them together and nothing was going tear them apart.
I cried and cheered and went through every emotion while reading this book. It is a forbidden love story that I just couldn’t get enough of. I like how the story would slip back in time to show how Toren and Kenzie’s relationship grew over the years. It really showcased the depth of emotion between them. I highly recommend this age gap romance.
This book has heart. I didn’t expect to love it, but Carian Cole hasn’t done me wrong yet so I gave it a chance and I’m glad I did. This isn’t just a taboo age gap story. The family and the love depicted is so heartwarming and real I had trouble saying goodbye to the characters and can’t wait to continue with this families journey. Please read this book.
I freaking loved Toren Grace!!! He has been my favorite of all Carian Coles men. I love how he protected Kenzie her whole life and it grew into love. Father’s best friend is one of my favorite tropes, and this book was done so well.
Loved getting to learn more about Asher. I’ve been curious about his story since he showed up in Storm.
Kenzie may have only been 18, but she was mature for her age. She had her bratty moments still, but for the most part she was mature and responsible.
I’m looking forward to reading more about the Grace family.
This story left my mind reeling. Well written, flowed decently and was a good read. Kenzi is a strong minded female, who knows what (who) she wants and went after it full force. Toren is a strong alpha male who had to come to terms with the fact that the little girl he helped raise, was now a grown woman he wanted in his bed and as his wife. There is emotional turmoil, moments of sweetness and a little heartache.
I am SOOO in love with this!!!!!!
Age gap romances are some of my favorites and this book blew me away for so many reasons. The angst. OMGG the angst was so high. Tor fought so hard to keep his feelings at bay for Kenzi but she wouldnt have it. They were so sweet together. I am so happy I read this book. The audio was FANTASTIC too. The narrators did a perfect job. I am so excited to read Torens brothers book next!!!
This is such a lovely, touching story about going love, first love and forbidden love and they are all the same love.
Toren, a man who is tasked with helping to raise his best friends’ baby and helps teach her all the ways of life and how to be a good person.
Kenzie the little girl that toren watches grow everyday untill one day he sees her differently.
As much as he tries to deny it and push her away thier attraction is magnetic. The universe pulling them together.
Carian Cole writes a lovely story that grabs you deep in your soul and brings you along for the ride.
I laughed, I cried, I cringed and loved the love in this book.
2.5 stars
This was my first time reading this author. I finished this book in one day. I literally couldn’t put it down. The story was well thought out, well written and left me an emotional mess. My only slightly negative comment is the ending felt rushed, but I really didn’t want the story to end so maybe it was just me. If you like taboo romance this one is for you.
3.5 stars
So this one is a tough one to rate, This is my first Carian Cole book and while I loved the writing style and I am a huge fan of taboo this book had a few pacing issues for me and occasionally the descriptions of Toren the H was just cringy. I will be continuing with the series but this isn’t one I would reread.
Kenzi the h is Torens pseudo niece that he helped raise and they start growing a physical attraction when she is about 17 with Kenzi heavily pursuing Toren. Cue all the angst and push and pull we love in this trope. Kenzi as a character I loved, she had the ultimate goal of literally to having a family and being a mother, that’s rare anymore in romance because no one wants to admit that occasionally that’s what a woman’s dream is and that is okay. Toren was a bit broody but is highly family oriented and sacrificed his dreams to care for his family. Now he just wants to settle down with someone who wants him for him and not the image of the bad boy biker. Did I mention he rescues animals. I did enjoy the actual character growth that has to take place between them after a certain event and I was really glad to see that it made it feel alot more mature.
All in all I would recommend for anyone who enjoys age gap, taboo, and angsty reads