Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the audiobook version of Crave by Piper Lawson in exchange of and honest review.
repare to be spellbound as you delve into the pages of Crave by Piper Lawson. As a romance reader, you'll find yourself completely engrossed in the compelling journey of Olivia, a protagonist whose complex emotions and undeniable resilience will leave you yearning for more. In this review, I will explore the depth of this novel, capturing its essence without revealing any brand-related details. So, let us embark on this passionate adventure together.

Plot and Characters:

Lawson skillfully weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and self-discovery in Crave. Olivia, a young woman who was raised in the lap of luxury, is portrayed with a fine balance of innocence and strength. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with the heartrending betrayal of her boyfriend, Adam, during her time at Russell University.

The author brilliantly captures the emotions of betrayal and heartbreak, thrusting Olivia into a captivating web of conflicting emotions. Her character development is both authentic and relatable. Olivia's vulnerability makes her all the more endearing, while her ability to rise above adversity showcases her incredible resilience.

Writing style and Narration:
Lawson's writing style is a masterstroke, captivating readers from the very first page. Her use of storytelling techniques works wonders in immersing readers into the narrative. Each scene unfolds with vivid imagery, allowing us to feel the characters' joys, sorrows, and triumph. Absolutely love the narrators.

Screaming, crying, throwing up. If you love a good student-teacher, age gap, forbidden romance Crave is for you!

Sawyer and Olivia met at the club and then soon after discover they have more than that one night in common….

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel and I absolutely loved the narrators. I feel like both of their voices really fit the characters and help capture the story.

I really enjoyed the women in STEM aspect, even if Liv originally chose her major for her boyfriend, she soon found her love in engineering. I didn’t feel as if Liv was reliant upon anyone (outside of her family for monetary support while in college), she was her own woman.

I am really interested in continuing this story. I have so many question so stop reading here to avoid spoilers. Did Adam really just give up that easy? Is Liv’s dad’s job in trouble? Does it have anything to do with Sawyer? What’s going on with the 19 year old bosses daughter cliffhanger at the end there?? I guess I just need to keep reading to find out!!

Crave by Piper Lawson is the first book in the Off Limits series. It is about Sawyer Randall and Olivia Barclays.. Olivia and Sawyer met after Olivia danced in the amateur night competition at a strip club. She saw Sawyer in the audience and was immediately drawn to him. He helped shield her from her ex-boyfriend in the parking lot of the club when he kissed her. They exchanged telephone numbers and spent most of the night texting. The following morning, Olivia discovered that her Mechanical Engineering Professor had died and Sawyer was the replacement.. Their attraction was undeniable, but the consequences of a relationship between them would be terrible for Sawyer if they discovered. This is a new adult, forbidden romance, age-gap novel.

This is the first book I’ve read by PIper Lawson and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is not a long book; something that could be completed within a few hours. I’m not sure I would refer to it as a full length novel. It caught my attention in the first chapter and the story drew me in further as it went along. Both main characters had dealt with adversity and lacked supportive parents. Despite a ten year age-gap, I think that these experiences cemented their connection to each other. They each experienced conflicted emotions when it came to their relationship. The story is told more often from Olivia’s POV, but there are chapters from Sawyer’s that add that additional perspective and information. The chemistry between Olivia and Sawyer is super hot, and the story ends on a cliffhanger. I listened to this book in audiobook format and found the narrators to each do an excellent job representing the character whose inner thoughts were being articulated. I would definitely recommend this format for readers who enjoy listening to their books. I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy new adult, contemporary fiction as well as forbidden romance and age-gap tropes. I am voluntarily submitting this honest review after listening to an advanced complementary copy of this audiobook thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Select, Piper Lawson Books.

Crave is the first installation of the Off-Limits trilogy by Piper Lawson. Olivia Barclay is getting ready to start her junior year of college as an engineering major. She’s always done everything to live up to her parents expectations, but when she finds out her ‘perfect’ boyfriend isn’t so perfect, she finally lets loose a little. During her night out with her friends, she meets a guy who is the perfect distraction, or at least he is until Olivia finds out that he is her new professor. Will Olivia and Sawyer be able to keep things completely professional or is the pull between the two of them too much to resist?

From the beginning of this book I was hooked. I always love a good college romance and this one pulled me in. I really like the characters of Olivia and Sawyer and their chemistry was so good. The student/professor angle is just what you’d expect, but I think it was nicely done. I am not a huge fan of trilogy romances and would have loved to see a resolution in one book, but I am definitely going to keep reading on. I look forward to seeing what the second part of this trilogy holds. If you are looking for a good, quick college romance this is worth the try!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook version of this book!

Olivia has a steamy kiss with a man on her night out to only discover that he is her new professor in class the next week. Sawyer, her fill in professor, happens to be the son (adopted son) on Olivia's favorite professor who suddenly passed away. Will they make it through the semester with a forbidden romance? Olivia was a strong female lead who had lots of depth with all she had going on outside of school with her family.

This story was such a good, spicy romance. There is a pretty big cliffhanger, which the description stated. and I was very glad with the second and third book came out shortly after. This is definitely a book that will keep you intrigued!

Forbidden romance
Professor/student
Cliffhanger
Slow burn
Dirty talking professor
Age gap
Cliffhanger

Narrator Connor Crais as our sexy, dirty talking professor and Vanessa as our sassy and smart Olivia made the story come alive


Fast paced with angst, laughter sadness. The emotions ran high. Anger and disappointment due to parents, laughter with the friends, angst of the forbidden romance.
They both stand too loose a lot. The cliffhanger shoves the angst to another level.

I love it!! The forbidden romance, professor x student, age gap, with a lot of will they or won't they. The chemistry between Olivia and Sawyer is very apparent from the beginning and that cliffhanger, why! Very glad to have 2 more books to keep reading Olivia and Sawyer's story.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select for an audio copy of Crave for an honest review.

Olivia has went to a strip club, and got up on stage after finding her boyfriend had been cheating on her. She finds the man of her dreams there. But wait... she finds out that he is her professor!

Very steamy!

"Crave" unfolds in the academic world, where the lines between desire and restraint blur as Olivia Barclay, a student reeling from a cheating boyfriend, finds an unexpected connection with a captivating man. Their passionate encounters spark a fire that's impossible to ignore, but there's a catch—she later finds out this magnetic man is her new professor, Sawyer Redmond.

The audiobook wonderfully captures this forbidden romance. The narrators bring Olivia's perspective to life, revealing her complexities and internal struggles. Additionally, the male narrator's contributions, though brief, pack a punch and complement the storyline effectively. I'm hoping we hear more from him in the next audiobooks.

Now, let's chat more about the one aspect I hated: the cliffhangers. I'm sure many of you agree that cliffhangers, especially in shorter contemporary romance stories, can be more than a tad frustrating. It's like reaching the peak of a rollercoaster only to find the ride halted. Nonetheless, the allure of the plot and the compelling characters pushed me to dive headfirst into the subsequent books. That and the number of audible credits I had.

I don't know about you, but like me and many of us, Olivia is full of contradictions which gives her character depth. Sawyer's an enigmatic character, but we only touch on his issues in "Crave". While Olivia's decisions might seem questionable at first, her complex background sheds light on her actions. And Sawyer, the brooding professor with a troubled past, adds depth to the narrative. Plus who doesn't fall for the brooding bad boy.

The tangled theme of family dynamics and societal pressures further enriches the storyline, making it more than just a steamy taboo romance. It explores how upbringing shapes individuals and influences their choices, giving readers a glimpse into Olivia and Sawyer's motivations.

In all, "Crave" is a thrilling and tantalizing audiobook experience that sets the stage for a gripping series. It's a perfect pick if you're a fan of slow-burn romance with a dash of danger and suspense. Especially if you can look past the cost.

So readers, if you're ready for a ride that will make your heart race and leave you breathless, dive into "Crave" by Piper Lawson. And don't forget to keep those Audible credits handy for the next books in the series—trust me, you'll want to know what happens next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed how this book started off with Olivia and Sawyer meeting and having a somewhat steamy encounter. I really enjoyed this book and how Olivia was a smart and strong female character. This book had the right amount of steamy romance scenes.

(audiobook+ebook) Is it hot in here, or what? I didn’t see a lot of feelings though. Attraction, interest, lust, yes. Love, not really. Especially dubious after that last revelation.

Olivia is full of contradictions. She’s supposed to be real smart, but she makes a couple of questionable decisions that jeopardize everything. She’s also supposed to be privileged, but aside from a handful of boot-lickings she receives, it seems to me it’s mostly jealousy talking. We–and Olivia too–learn informations in this book that show it’s way more complicated. Controlling parents, cheating boyfriend, forgotten dreams, and a few disorders. Not exactly the rainbows and sunshine her classmates imagine.

Sawyer is a difficult character to get. He claims he’s a bad boy and that he loves trouble. But he had a difficult childhood–or so he says–and wants to help other kids in his situation. Great initiative. He’s also a teacher, so he shouldn’t fraternize with his students. He knows it, yet he does the exact opposite. That’s more like a bad boy. But he encourages and supports Olivia. While basically endangering her relationship with her family and risking her career. Sure, he was hot, especially when he loses control because of Olivia, but I didn’t know what else to think of him.

I guess the title says it all: they lust after each other, a craving they can’t control. Or do they crave the danger they put themselves into because their life is a little too tame? Even Sawyer’s: he’s had to keep his nose clean for too long, probably. And they are very compatible. It’s a steamy read. Heart of a star hot.

Family is an important topic in this story. They both have different experiences, yet neither are good ones. Between the parental pressure, the importance of appearances, the denial of the children’s personality, it’s an abuse fest in a way. Maybe Sawyer’s experience, since he’s older, makes him want to help Olivia, and their connection through Sawyer’s adoptive father influences their relationship. But clearly, they are who they are because of their upbringing.

The book is mostly told through Olivia’s point of view. Thankfully, the female narrator is extremely talented and she does a great job with Olivia. The male narrator is pretty good too, but he only does a few chapters. But it’s a very good audiobook anyway, and with that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to listen to the next book.

Quickie

- Series: Off-limits #1 (ends on a cliffhanger, first book in a trilogy about the same couple)
- Hashtags: #college romance #forbidden romance #student #teacher #age gap
- Triggers: parental abuse, cheating, mild bullying
- Main couple: Olivia Barclay & Sawyer Redmond
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 2/5
- + I loved how Sawyer helped Olivia taking control of her life
- – communication, people! secrets are dangerous

Crave by Piper Lawson was a new adult forbidden teacher/ professor romance that had me captivated from start to finish. This is book one in the Off-Limits series, I prepped myself for the cliffhanger ending. The start of Olivia and Sawyer's romance was sweet, seductive, forbidden, and spicy! Vanessa Edwin and Connor Crais elevated this audiobook and had me completely lost in Sawyer and Olivia's love story. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Crave by Piper Lawson
Narrators, Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin
Part one of the Off Limits series
This a very steamy, very short, not that extremely taboo, age difference M/F romance. Ok so they met at a strip club, she only danced as a favor for her friend’s birthday. Totally innocent. And they didn’t know he was her engineering professor when they met and she is an adult and the age difference is ten years not twenty or more. So, maybe mildly taboo because of the professor/student thing and he is kind of controlling but she does not seem submissive.
Yes, the ending is a cliffhanger but the synopsis clearly says so. It’s a trilogy and I plan to get the other two parts asap. Very entertaining and pretty hot.
Narrators: I am already a fan of Connor Crais and the other narrator, Vanessa Edwin is also very good.
Thanks to NetGalley

This is the first book that I have read of Ms. Lawson's and I thought that it was an enjoyable book. I will however give one as warning - this book ends with a cliffhanger so if you don't like cliffhangers then this will not be the book for you.

In this book we get Olivia and Sawyer's story - story of forbidden romance after a chance meeting with what turns out to be a student/professor relationship with an age gap. Wow! I think that covers a lot of the romance troupes!

Olivia is a college student that has a chance meeting with Sawyer when out with her friends. Her attraction to his is instant despite she is still reeling from discovering that her boyfriend was cheating on her and ending that relationship. She later learns that Sawyer is her professor and their forbidden yet slow burn relationship starts.

Sawyer has returned to his hometown and takes over his father's professorship after his father's sudden death. Returning is the last place that he wants to be as well as his unexpected attraction to Olivia.

While trying to navigate their attraction and their careers/schooling, Sawyer and Olivia have chemistry that is off the charts. Their interactions were genuine and where their relationship is forbidden it was an enjoyable read to what unfold.

Overall this was a good book. I listened to the audio version of this book and found the narrators, Connor Crais and Vanessa Edwin, to be enjoyable to listen to. This pair did a great job bringing this story to life. Overall, this was a good book and I would recommend it to others.

Crave by Piper Lawson is a steamy, forbidden romance love story with an age gap! This is such a gripping and sexy read. There is even female STEM representation! Olivia is the perfect daughter, student, girlfriend and sister, until her boyfriend cheats and she decides to let loose a bit. Including sharing a scorching kiss with Sawyer, a willing rescuer. But what happens when it turns out that Sawyer is her professor? The chemistry between the two of them is irresistible, despite how much it might cost them both.

This may have been my first Piper Lawson book, but it is certainly not going to be my last! She was able to fit so much plot and character development into a such a small novel. I love myself an alpha male with some forbidden romance! This book delivers on spice and everything it promises.! It is the first in the series, so if you do not want to be in for a long series then this may not be the book for you, as it cannot be read as a standalone. Also, this is an illicit book, so if you do not like spice or taboo then this might not be for you.

I loved this book and completely inhaled it through my ears. The audiobook was so well done, both of the narrators really brought voices to the characters and elevated the story. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this audiobook, it was such a great read!

Noooo Piper how could you do this to me?! This book ends on such a cliff hanger, I am dying to jump into the next book to see what happens!

This is a really good listen! The narrators do a great job- love a dual narration. Love a professor/student trope. Can't wait to listen to the next book!!

**ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER** (and I’m not happy about it)

Student/professor
Age gap


I’m conflicted on how to rate this book for a few reasons. I don’t typically even read these tropes but the book summary is so good, I was dying to. I’m absolutely furious it ends on a cliffhanger- I feel like it should have a big red warning banner on the cover. I never would have started this had I known- my brain will never stop ruminating over it but now I won’t pick up the second book out of frustration.

The cover of this book is perfect. Zero notes.

I did the audiobook for this and Connor Crais might officially be one of my favorite narrators. He is stellar and his voice is the kind you want whispering in your ear 🥵

The meet cute is exactly what the description promised and I loved it. I loved that our MFC is fighting for her engineering degree despite expectations. We love a woman in STEM. The two MCs are absolutely begging to be caught and that is exciting to others but it stressed me oooout. I have to mention that the spice was good. V good.


Would I recommend this book? I have a friend that loves age gap so maybe to them specifically but with an emphasis on the fact that it DOES end in a cliffhanger. I’m gonna be salty about this for a while.

I went in partly blind (my fav thing to do) so I knew this was a teacher / professor trope, but this was done so well in my opinion. Because I went in blind I thought each book was a different couple until I was about 80% in realizing it was not getting wrapped in a pretty little bow for me. NOT A BAD THING. I’m very excited to see the growth the characters continue to have I think they both can grow a lot & grow together as well.
I already bought book 2 & I cannot wait to jump in!!
This was also my first book by Piper Lawson & it will not be my last I really enjoyed this one!

This audio was well done as well! Makes me wish I could listen to book 2!

🖤 Teacher Professor
🖤 Age Gap
🖤Forbidden Romance

I’d like to thank NetGalley & Dreamscape for a copy of this book in return for an honest review!

Teach/student, slowish burn romance with a plot. Sounds good yeah?
And it is, except for the cliffhanger.
Romance shouldn't end on a cliffhanger, especially contemporary romance.
I finished this book and really enjoyed it, but there are 2 more books for Sawyer & Olivia's story and I don't have any credits left in my Audible account.
And since they are super spendy in the price tag ($42.97 for each 5hr book WTF?!) I will not be purchasing them.
I will likely never know what happens between Olivia & Sawyer and that bugs me. But, I will not pay more for these books than I have for full cast romantasy books that are more than 20 hours long.
That price tag is ridiculous and the author should be ashamed.
The paperbacks are more reasonably priced, but I'm so turned off by the Audible fiasco I don't want to give this author money now. We will see if I change my mind as I cool down.
Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Select for my ALC.

4⭐ (audio) Both narrators for this were good. Vanessa Edwin is especially good with the spicy scenes. Most audiobook narrators are kinda cringey with the sex scenes, but not here! Enjoyed the performance by both narrators.

4 ⭐ (story) Okay, on one hand, I hate the older teacher / student trope, but when it's written well, I CRAVE more. Also, I hate cliffhangers, but since the other two books in the series are available, I'll give that a pass.

I love that Olivia is a smart woman in her own right, She met Sawyer the one night she was most vulnerable from her own drama, and he kind of rescued her in a gentlemanly way. She doesn't even know he's her professor until the next day. Oops.

PIper Lawson can write heat between her characters. I totally loved the interactions between Olivia and Sawyer, from the first meeting to the crazy cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to read the second book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!