Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Credence is a taboo novel that left me highlighting lines and making some "omg" faces as it progressed. In true Penelope Douglas fashion, no topic is shied away from and everything is laid out "bare" on the table. I do feel that those who want to read this NEED to read the synopsis and realize WHAT they are reading before beginning. Will this book be for everyone? Of course not. But those who enjoy taboo and Penn's writing will adore and want Credence on their shelves! The bonus content was the icing on the cake to a steamy read.

Penelope Douglas always bring the perfect amount of passion, angst and spice! Was this book (or this trope for that matter) for everyone? Nope. Did I love it? Yup! Will always one click Penelope Douglas.

My Review:

I want to keep this review short as I don't want to spoil anything essential about this story and I do think it works best if you go blind into it. I will say that this is a love triangle only with four people instead of three. Its NOT a reverse harem or why choose, so don't get in the mindset that it is. I was really disappointed in the ending though and who our heroine ends up with in the end. And this book is a standalone so keep that in mind as you get invested with all of the characters. Its a very complex story though, and the setting was so atmospheric and made me appreciate the mountains even more than I already do. The setup was quite interesting and the slow burn that is built between the different men was a fascinating dynamic. While I found it very captivating at times, there was some unnecessary angst that could have been easily resolved than what we see happen. While there was some lush and almost poetic moments that happen in this book, the way it was resolved in the end wasn't really satisfying like I was hoping for. But I can see why this is so well loved, just wasn't the type of story that would work for me.

First off, I am kicking myself for taking so long to read this. Damn life getting in the way, but... in a way, I am glad that I did wait because holy book hangover. This story is spicy with a real tearjerker at its core. I loved getting to know all the characters. They're stuck in a cabin in the woods, and let me tell you, it's not exactly hearts and roses, but it totally fits the story and I was hooked. Just a heads up though, it's not light reading—brace yourself for some intense moments that might hit home for some folks.

Ahh I love this one so much! It has the best spicy taboo content and it just gets better and better. I read it in one sitting so so fast. If you’re a fan of spicy romance with a sprinkle of taboo (but not really taboo) then this one is the perfect book for you.

It’s definitely not gonna be everyone’s cup of tea but it is my absolute favorite and I already want to reread it.

This book has been everywhere, and I’ll start by saying that it might not be for everyone, but I went in open minded, and stuck with it. I did pair it while reading with a these lighter romance reads and that really helped, but I loved how it all came together in the end. It was emotional, angsty, and forbidden, and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
🌲taboo
💕forced proximity
🪵spicyyyyy
🌲age gap
💕reverse harem

*many thanks to Berkley Romance for the gifted copy for review

I knew the gist of that I was getting into, going into this book. As someone who doesn't chose this genre as one of my go-to genres, I do like to challenge myself from time to time and read this outside my comfort zone. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and actually devoured it! There's a lot of taboo and talk swirling around this book, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. I think all the characters could benefit from some therapy though. But the setting definitely set off a very isolated atmosphere and the character development was great and I really did enjoy how the story wrapped up.

Its an original, cannot g wrong with this book lol. Penelope Douglas will never fail me, even if she tried

This book made me feel like I need therapy (more than I already do). It was fine overall but I found the characters really whiny and annoying and in no world did this book need to be over 500 pages.


Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

I kept seeing this book all over tiktok so was excited to get a copy from netgalley. I would probably put this book in the taboo category since it involves a step uncle and cousins. I had to remind myself a few times not to get hung up and the family aspect/dynamic. Overlooking that, I think the story was enjoyable. There are a lot of different things going on at the same time. The female lead was neglected by her parents, one of the cousins doesn't speak. All these little elements created intrigue and I was curious to learn more about the characters.

This book is like no other that you'll ever read.

It's spicy. It's taboo. It's amazing.

Tiernan is staying with her step uncle and his two sons, and the lines begin to blur as she wants them and they want her. I loved this book. I loved the drama, the spice, the everything. It was a fun read, and I love fun, entertaining reads.

I def recommend this one!

I don't really know how to feel about this one. It was okay, but there was a lot of problematic things going on. Really none of the guys were a good option for Tiernan, they were all toxic. What really blows my mind is that out of all the guys, she chooses Kaleb, after he assaults her multiple times, spits on her, and treats her horribly. I didn't like him AT ALL. He wasn't a great person. So I wasn't invested in them, and I didn't route of them. Did he have childhood trauma, yes. Did I feel bad for him, yes. However it didn't excuse how he treated Tiernan. He needed therapy, and in all honesty all the characters did, because how everyone treated each other and expressed what they thought love was, was very toxic. If I had to pick someone for Tiernan to end up with it would have been Noah, he was the least problematic. But I think she should have worked on herself and stayed alone, until she met someone who actually treated her right. The ending was decent, and everything wrapped up nicely. But overall this novel was a little too long, and it wasn't super memorable. I loved Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, so I was a little disappointed in this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m really backed up on some of my ARC’s, so my apologies for not getting through these sooner. This story is a 5 plus level for spice, with a heartbreaking message at its core. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and while the situations they found themselves in snowed in a cabin in the woods weren’t at all wholesome or what I would consider romance, it worked for the story and I enjoyed reading it. Don’t go into this book unprepared, it’s not for the faint of heart and I’m sure has its fair share of triggering moments for some people.

Penelope Douglas writes books that so many shy away from, and I LOVE it! Credence was no exception, it's a taboo kind of romance and had me hooked from the beginning. PD is not for everyone, the love interests are family but NOT blood related and all after the FMC is 18+, so tread lightly if this seems out of your comfort zone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My first reverse harem story, and I absolutely loved every single depraved moment of this book! Penelope Douglas continues to amaze me with her stellar writing, drawing the reader into her world and making us FEEL all the feels the characters are experiencing, even the spicy ones! I loved how dirty this book got at times.

Douglas does an excellent of job of illustrating all three relationships as unique, while blurring the lines of right and wrong driven by a desire to feel a sense of belonging, and fueled by lust that ignites the pages. What’s supposed to feel icky and taboo ends bringing the heat on almost every single page, nonstop. I could not put this book down and finished it in less than a day. I cannot wait for more from this author!

My rating:⭐️⭐️

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Read if you like:
▫️why choose
▫️dark romance
▫️forced proximity
▫️multiple POV
▫️morally grey men
▫️possessive and damaged heroes

I don’t even know how to write a review for this book. Was it well written? Yes. Was it addictive? Absolutely. Was it also a misogynistic dumpster fire of missing consent, trauma, and unhealthy relationships with an underage/barely 18 girl and her 3 older step-relatives. Yep.

Jake was way too old for her and Kaleb was a psychopath. Noah was the only relatively normal, likable one. However, they were all related to her. Was it by blood? No. But it’s still weird. Couldn’t they be family friends? Why did they have to be her step-uncle and cousins?

Besides the obvious, my biggest issue with this book was that she took this why-choose dark romance and tried to turn it into a happily ever after sweet romance, and that didn’t match the tone for the rest of the book.

I just don’t even really know what to say about it. I’m not a dark romance reader, so perhaps I’m not the right audience for this one.

2.75. This one took me a while to finish. Don’t get me wrong it is hot and steamy and all those parts get 5 stars 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵I just had a harder time reconciling how she was treated and how easily it seemed resolved

Read as an e-galley for its republishing #Netgalley

This was not my first time here, but I absolutely jumped at the chance to reread under new publishing!

This is a taboo read and will NOT be for everyone. It is absolutely for me though! The love interests are not blood related, and any sexual activity happens after the FMC turns 18.

My only gripe of this book is that it’s always recommended as a why choose- when she ends up with only one love interest. That is not why choose.