From New York Times best-selling author, Penelope Douglas, comes a new stand-alone!
Three of them, one of her, and a remote cabin in the woods. Let the hot winter nights ensue….
Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere.
And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?
Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of 18. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore.
As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.
And as a part of them.
She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.
One of them has her.
The other one wants her.
But he….
He’s going to keep her.
*Credence is a full length, stand-alone romance suitable for listeners 18+.
Tanja Schmidt –
Book is great and good quality
Helen M –
I haven’t finished a book in a long time that has left me feeling as conflicted as this book did. I liked it. A lot. And then, I was confused, conflicted and left completely unsure if I had missed something plot wise. It’s a completely engaging read just not at all what I was expecting. It’s spicy with many forbidden elements. If you’re looking for a straight up romance, this isn’t it. And with so many 5 star reviews, I feel like I need to reread it to make sure I haven’t lost my mind. Kaleb’s transformation requires its own book bc I have so many questions.
Tiernan is 17 and alone after her parents death. She’s sent to live with her step uncle Jake, and his two sons, Kaleb and Noah. Their farm is on a mountain where they live off the land and get snowed in each winter. Each man is fighting their own emotional battles. Tiernan is looking for something different than the life she’s left and struggles to find her way with the gruff men who live off the land and who have uniquely different relationships with each other than typical father/son. I briefly thought this was going to be a reverse harem novel. This is an age gap romance. It’s got a little darkness and a lot of forbidden elements. There’s multiple partners and different partners and each man fulfills a different role for her as she comes of age. Spicy business doesn’t take place until she turns 18.
I guess I just don’t get Tiernan’s choice. Maybe that’s what has been bothering me. There are so many gaps in the plot as we get to 80% that I just don’t understand. There are moments when I’m frustrated bc I can’t figure out why someone in love would move on so quickly and completely. Moments when massive changes are made and characters flip so completely that I just don’t get it. Seriously, I wanted to love this book. I just don’t.
Tatianna –
Kam in einem sehr guten Zustand an.
Anonymousamazonbuyer –
I seen this recommended and slaughtered on social sites and decided to give it a shot. I’m so glad I did. It was well written with a good storyline. Loved how the characters’ relationships’ developed.
Anonymousamazonbuyer –
Amazing book couldnt stop reading it, 5/5 star. You wont be dissapointed. But pls read TW before you start.
E. B. Reads –
The best book I’ve read so far this year!!! This book has been on my TBR for forever. I kept putting it off and finally I gave in and WOW!!! It was amazing!! It was beautiful and moving and spicy and just everything. I cried, I laughed. It’s thought provoking and deep. Definitely a little taboo but still a wonderful story. 5 stars
Aundi.Living.That.Book.Life 📚 –
Penelope continues to amaze me with her unique stories and flawless writing, and this book is no different. She has created an EPIC unconventional romance unlike anything I’ve ever read, and I could not put it down. This story is about 4 lost and broken souls and their journey towards healing. This is not for everyone but if you take the chance on it you will not be disappointed.
“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”—Frederick Douglas”
This book is hard to label as any one thing because it has layers upon layers in it. The story is so unique, and Penelope has delivered it with such precision that it took a couple days to even wrap my head around what I read. The characters are all damaged in some way. And they handle that in their own way’s but what you witness is the process with which they took towards slowly healing from their broken places. This book is emotional and at times hard to read due to what’s happening, but each of their journey’s is a necessary one and so worth the ride.
“His voice is deep but soft, like he’s a little bit scared of me but not scared of anything else.”
The development of each character and their individual personalities really pull this story together effortlessly. Penelope has this way of writing that draws you completely into her stories, to the point you get lost in them. And this story does just that she pulls you in from the very first chapter and as the story progresses you get wrapped up in her twists and turns that continue to keep you on the edge of your seat just waiting to see what she’s going to do next. This book is a Non-Stop ride from start to finish. Every new development and moment she wrote keeps you utterly enthralled. I had to know what was going to happen, she had me furiously turning the pages to see what she would do next.
“I feel it. The need to engage. After the sadness, anger was my constant companion as a kid. And then the anger went away, and there was nothing.”
I love stories that are different and push you out of your comfort zone. Those types of stories for me are my crack I cannot get enough. And this story checks those boxes for me. This is unlike anything I’ve read, and I did not want it to end, alas it did of course. But not before taking me on a journey that I will be hard pressed to forget. Penelope tore open my soul with this book and slowly and meticulously put it back together with her words, but she pieced it with a part of this book embedded into my marrow.
“I swallow. Why would he put a dreamcatcher on there? But it is beautiful. He made this himself? Then I notice something else, and I chuckle. “The notches go all the way to the buckle,” I point out. “I’m flattered, but my waist isn’t that small.” Noah leans in, whispering, “But your wrists are.”
I am so grateful that she took the chance with this book, because I couldn’t imagine not having it. I commend authors who write what they want to write even though they know that not everyone will like their story. Those books are the ones that we need, if they aren’t going to write those stories than who will? Is this book for everyone? Absolutely not. But is it without a doubt worth the risk? Yes! All you must do is keep an open mind and embrace this amazing world that Penelope has created.
CB –
And from what I’ve gathered, many readers echo similar sentiments. While there’s an addictive quality to this novel and its page-turning nature, I have some reservations about the romance development it portrays.
Like other reviewers, I found myself engrossed in Douglas’s storytelling, unable to tear myself away from the book. The sensual and sexual tension compels you to read forward, even when you don’t see it as quite right.
The fast-paced narrative will also kee you hooked, eager to uncover what’s next in the story. There’s also some good writing bits and I’ll even add that Tiernan’s character development is well done where emotional journey and growth is concerned.
However, I couldn’t ignore some of the shortcomings and red flags in the romance department.
It’s clear that the romantic relationships will leave you feeling uncertain and conflicted, at times detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story.
It’s a taboo sort of story after all, involving an underaged, emotionally vulnerable, young woman, with her step uncle and his two sons, one of whom initiates an aggressive rape-like situation.
Even if you’re into dark romance (and personal fantasies are not on trial here), one may not be able to avoid feelings of discomfort.
In conclusion, “Credence” offers an engaging reading experience with its gripping plot and addictive writing style. However, some flaws in romance development may leave some readers wishing for something different.
Tatianna –
Credence is like poetry to me. It pulled every possible emotion out of me, reaching inside and rewiring me at the core. I get chills just thinking about this book. I am speechless in so many ways and in awe of Penelope Douglas’s writing. I commend them for writing this story that is unconventional, raw, and gripping. I don’t even know how to write a review that will do it justice. So I’m warning you, this will be a bit of a hot mess.
Many potential triggers — please review content warnings as needed. This is a borderline taboo romance with multiple love interests.
Tiernan de Haas is the product of two famous parents that have only ever loved each other. She’s been neglected her entire life, and at age 17, she is emotionally stunted and withdrawn. After the sudden death of her parents, she takes a chance to temporarily escape the Hollywood spotlight and travels to live with her father’s estranged step brother and his two sons in a remote mountain town in Colorado. It’s here that she finds the human connection she’s never known.
I often struggle to connect to teenage protagonists because of my own age, but I saw so many pieces of myself in Tiernan. Her journey had me so invested. On the surface, she’s a privileged woman, but underneath, she’s a struggling, disconnected, broken, mess. And perhaps this is why this book affected me so deeply. If you’re a member of the sad girl’s club, this book might just speak to your soul.
“Pain always reminds us that we’re alive. And the fear along with it that we want to stay that way.”
I don’t want to give too much information about this story or its characters. I truly think it needs to be experienced as each layer unfolds. If you’re convinced that the boundary-pushing nature of this book is not your thing, I completely understand and respect that. However, if you are at all curious and would like to be pushed out of your comfort zone a little, I highly recommend reading this book.
I don’t really read taboo romance books. There is no blood relation here so it’s really on the border — but the lines are definitely blurred and it has the potential to make readers very uncomfortable. I didn’t know if I would like it, but I surprised myself. It felt so wrong at times, but also so right. It didn’t feel gimmicky; the emotion and connection was believable for me, and it worked.
This book has so much of what I look for in fiction. It’s emotionally intense, gripping, angsty, poetic, masterfully put-together… and it’s pretty dark & twisted. It doesn’t fit in a box, it’s like no story I’ve read before, and its incredibly affective. While most of the plot is character driven, there is also some mystery and suspense and I could not put it down. The characters are all so unique and well-developed; each relationship Tiernan cultivates is unique, complex, and affects her in a different way. I had no idea how it was going to end, and the conclusion exceeded my expectations.
And look — just because this is a contemporary romance, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Penelope Douglas doesn’t write healthy; their characters are flawed, broken and make mistakes. All of the men in this book are toxic in their own way, and if you are someone that has a hard time forgiving characters for bad behaviour, this book may really frustrate you. This book will not be for everyone, and that’s ok.
Personally, this book has sold me on Penelope Douglas and I can’t wait to read the rest of their backlist… Although, I have a feeling that this one will remain my favourite.