Birthday Girl Paperback – April 16, 2018

Penelope Douglas is one of those authors that appears on my one-click author list. The writer who I do not need a title, a cover, or a blurb in order to buy it. I just need to know that she wrote it to know that I am going to read it. However, when I heard the word taboo, it gave me pause. The one genre I tend to stay away from has been written by one of my favorites. What do I do? You read it, obviously, and I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of the relationship between Pike and Jordan and the romance created between them. If my boyfriend's father had been Pike Lawson, I might have been in some trouble. Not only does he have that hot older man, perfect like aged liquor, quality happening, but the way he cares about his son, the way he tries always to do the right thing, and the way he tries to protect those he loves makes me enamored with his personality. He is self-aware, which isn't a surprise for his age, but I love that he wants the simple things in life, which matches the "old-soul" of Jordan. As with most of Douglas's men, Pike's skill in the bedroom is top notch, and she delivers a hero who will set your body aflame from the glances across to the room to the way he touches her. Readers are going to love this man, and he is one of my favorite Penelope Douglas heroes. Jordan was going to be the character who made or broke the story for me. If she was too immature, I would have rolled my eyes. If she was too mature, it would have been unbelievable, shattering the taboo illusion. Penelope Douglas, however, hits the right balance of both. Are there moments when Jordan acts 19, yes. She throws fits when her emotions get the better than her, but she also has an authentic maturity based on her past. Her development as a character makes her a teenager who longs, as well, for a simple life. She wants a home, to be loved, to be appreciate for the who she is. She finds the companionship she has always yearned for with Pike, and the physical attraction, which is not something that can always be helped, that sets her body and soul aflame. What solidifies my adoration of her character, though, is her actions when the climax of the story arrives. The way she puts herself first and chooses self-preservation had me cheering, as it should an evolution of character. The beginning of the story was a tad slow in terms of pacing, but a part of this is because of my perceptions of the taboo genre. I expected lots of heat-inducing, secretive moments, and I got that but not as quickly as I thought. There was a considerable amount of time put into to developing the relationship of Jordan and Pike, showing them getting to know each other, to learn about their likes and dislikes, to forge a real friendship, making their relationship believable. This is about more than lust. Pike and Jordan have the foundation of a real relationship, one built to last. Obviously, it doesn't last forever, because there would be no story without conflict, but the expected reveal occurs in an unexpected way, and I found that I enjoyed the weakness it exposed in the hero and the strength it exposed in the heroine. The resolution is the HEA readers of romance long for, and the way Penelope Douglas pulls it altogether gives all players the ending they deserve. I love when a writer puts me in the gray, when he/she shakes up my preconceived notions of acceptable, such as age gaps, particularly younger characters (adult teens, at least 18) and an older person, especially when the relationship is based on more than lust or what one can gain from the other. She shows that there can be real authentic connections between people of different ages because it is very much about the experiences we have that shape us, and those defining moments can make us suitable for other people. It is also about following your heart and not worrying about society and their expectations. It is about what makes you happy and whole and who sets your soul and body aflame. Everyone deserves that.

Book Review: Birthday Girl by Penelope DouglasRating: 4/5 stars | Spice Level: 3.5/5Penelope Douglas’ Birthday Girl is a captivating forbidden romance that delivers both heart and heat. The story follows Jordan and Pike, two characters whose undeniable chemistry is complicated by a very forbidden connection—Pike happens to be her boyfriend’s father.Douglas does an incredible job of developing the characters, making the reader truly empathize with their internal conflicts. Jordan is mature and independent, while Pike is a blend of rugged masculinity and vulnerability. Their relationship unfolds naturally, with just the right balance of tension, longing, and eventual surrender.The spice in this book is palpable, earning it a solid 3.5 stars on the spice scale. While the intimate scenes are steamy and well-written, they are also deeply emotional, enhancing the connection between the characters rather than overshadowing the story.The pacing is steady, but at times, the storyline veers into predictable territory, which is why this is a 4-star read for me. That said, the emotional depth and the characters’ growth more than make up for it.If you’re a fan of forbidden romance with a touch of angst and well-written spice, Birthday Girl is definitely worth adding to your TBR. It’s a compelling blend of passion and heartfelt moments that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Have you ever read a blurb and felt like the author must have crawled inside your head to find exactly what you’d want your new favorite book to be about? That’s exactly how I felt when I read the synopsis for Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas. This was a top secret project the author was working on, but I can tell you that if I’d had any inkling this book was in the works, it would have been at the top of my anticipated reads for 2018. One of the things I like most about this book was that it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Yes - it was taboo and hot enough to make a reader squirmy, but there was a sweetness to this book I didn’t see coming. And I just soaked it right up. I’ve only read one other book by this author (Misconduct,) so I know the author does forbidden romance well; I just didn’t know she could do it even better.First off, I loved the way Jordan and Pike met, that they formed a connection from the get-go without knowing who the other was. I love that they had something that was separate from the betrayal they felt they were part of. It was sort of soft and sweet, and again, so unexpected! So the gist is that Jordan and her boyfriend have lost their apartment and need a place to live. Her boyfriend's dad steps in and offers to let them live with him. To Jordan's surprise, his father is a man she's already met and felt a connection to.There were parts of this story that felt a bit slow, but I think it’s important to remember that Pike is experiencing a push and pull about not being exciting enough for Jordan, and Jordan is loving the stability and comfort of being with Pike. It was essential to the story to establish their connection and see them just being together to understand how well suited they are for each other. Every moment they spent together was special for different reasons, and I just loved that Jordan was happiest being with the people she loved. The evolution of her character was wonderfully done and felt so natural. I love it when a character can identify their personal issues they have and then have the wherewithal to change them. Jordan was determined to make better decisions, and there was no time like the present for her. She was so likable and admirable. While she had her moments, Jordan was mature for her age after the things she’d gone through, and I think that’s what made Jordan and Pike’s relationship so credible. Pike hasn’t had a lot of women like that in his life, and it was one of the things her really liked about her. There was a lot of heat here and this book was so damn sexy, but it was the softer side of Pike and how he wanted everything to be so perfect for Jordan that made me love it so much. Going in, I really thought this was going to be a story of lust turned love, but that’s just not what it was. It was hot, yes, but so sweet and holy slow burn! So worth it. I also liked Pike’s character arc and his struggle with his son. He was so torn (about a lot of things,) and I loved seeing how his relationship with his son changed throughout this book.I have to say, too, that I really appreciate the way things fell apart with Jordan’s boyfriend, that he wasn’t painted as a villain, but he had his own issues he was trying to get through and was just so unaware as to what was going on around him. It would have been stereotypical to turn him into an jerk, but I like that the author went another way with this.Birthday Girl may have been a taboo romance, but that was just one layer of this story. There was so much more to this book and so much character development to witness. I enjoyed every single moment I got to spend with Jordan and Pike, and if you like a sweet love story that will leave your heart racing and melting, I think you will, too. This one will be going on my favorites shelf for sure!This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.