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Busted
What if my dad’s best friend finds out all my books’ sexy heroes are based on him?
If it hadn’t been for that mean professor sophomore year, I never would have written an essay about my crush on Navy surgeon Commander Aiden McBride. (Yes, he’s just as deliciously stern as that sounds.)
And if it hadn’t been for my new best friend Ingrid, I wouldn’t have thought to turn the essay into the steamy novel that launched my career as an indie romance author.
I’m grateful, really! There’s just a couple of teeny-tiny things I would do differently if I had it to do over again. But thankfully you can update ebooks, so nobody ever has to know. Phew!
I’ve never expected Aiden to see me as anything but his best friend’s daughter, and I’m okay with that. He mostly ignores me anyway. But graduation means I’m too old to hide behind a school-girl infatuation. It’s time to move on.
If he’ll let me, that is. Because somehow Aiden found out what I did. He’s not happy. And now I seem to be falling deeper in love.
You can tell me the truth — am I totally screwed?
Busted is a full-length standalone romance with no cliffhanger and an HEA.
If it hadn’t been for that mean professor sophomore year, I never would have written an essay about my crush on Navy surgeon Commander Aiden McBride. (Yes, he’s just as deliciously stern as that sounds.)
And if it hadn’t been for my new best friend Ingrid, I wouldn’t have thought to turn the essay into the steamy novel that launched my career as an indie romance author.
I’m grateful, really! There’s just a couple of teeny-tiny things I would do differently if I had it to do over again. But thankfully you can update ebooks, so nobody ever has to know. Phew!
I’ve never expected Aiden to see me as anything but his best friend’s daughter, and I’m okay with that. He mostly ignores me anyway. But graduation means I’m too old to hide behind a school-girl infatuation. It’s time to move on.
If he’ll let me, that is. Because somehow Aiden found out what I did. He’s not happy. And now I seem to be falling deeper in love.
You can tell me the truth — am I totally screwed?
Busted is a full-length standalone romance with no cliffhanger and an HEA.
214 pages, Paperback
Published February 24, 2021
108 people are currently reading
1454 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Sinclair
78 books145 followersI write steamy romance that’s safe, funny, and totally over the top. My heroes are always alpha males because the stronger they are, the harder they fall. Luckily the smart, sassy heroines know how to catch them and make everything better!
I never get tired of believing that love can show up unexpectedly and with determination. That it can find you anywhere, even curled up on the couch, in your jammies, while eating ice cream and binging romance novels. Then a knock on the door reveals your gorgeous new neighbor that you didn’t even know had moved in… or maybe it’s that hot friend of your dad’s you only know through photos…
Possibly the HEAs come easier because my home and office are in a romantic clearing of giant evergreens in the Pacific Northwest. Think Snow White without the Dwarves. But I do have a bounty of wild animals that come to visit. There’s even a resident nuthatch that talks to itself (constantly)! And there *are* currently seven chickens in the henhouse…
I never get tired of believing that love can show up unexpectedly and with determination. That it can find you anywhere, even curled up on the couch, in your jammies, while eating ice cream and binging romance novels. Then a knock on the door reveals your gorgeous new neighbor that you didn’t even know had moved in… or maybe it’s that hot friend of your dad’s you only know through photos…
Possibly the HEAs come easier because my home and office are in a romantic clearing of giant evergreens in the Pacific Northwest. Think Snow White without the Dwarves. But I do have a bounty of wild animals that come to visit. There’s even a resident nuthatch that talks to itself (constantly)! And there *are* currently seven chickens in the henhouse…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 20, 2022
2.5 stars
I couldn't resist this book because of the yummy premise. Age gap romance + best friend's daughter + she's a romance novelist who based all of her fictional heroes on him and he finds out!
The heroine's POV chapters were filled with unnecessary day-to-day details. But the hero's POV chapters were concise and well-written.
The middle section was the best part of this book. The final section was a bit of a chaotic mess. The hero fell in love waaaay too quickly. And the heroine's dad was waaaay too accepting.
Overall, not too bad for a freebie.
I couldn't resist this book because of the yummy premise. Age gap romance + best friend's daughter + she's a romance novelist who based all of her fictional heroes on him and he finds out!
The heroine's POV chapters were filled with unnecessary day-to-day details. But the hero's POV chapters were concise and well-written.
The middle section was the best part of this book. The final section was a bit of a chaotic mess. The hero fell in love waaaay too quickly. And the heroine's dad was waaaay too accepting.
Overall, not too bad for a freebie.
March 3, 2021
Damn, this was so freaking good! I couldn't put it down. It was addictive. I loved Rose, and Aiden was so hot and kinda sweet. But also a bit frustrating! It took him so long to realize his own feelings but thank God not TOO long. I'm so happy they had their HEA. Now I want, not actually I NEED to read Ingrid and Justin's story. Like, right freaking NOW!
February 12, 2022
This was ok. There were definitely elements I enjoyed, but at the end of the day, I wanted a lot more from it.
What to expect:
- Best friend's daughter / age gap romance
- Forced proximity
- Virgin FMC
What I liked about the book:
1. I really liked the plot. I thought this was such an interesting idea and like nothing I've come across before. I'm sure there are a million books out there about romance cover models (because, duh!), but I haven't come across a plot about the inspiration behind the characters. I thought this element was well done and I liked how Aiden's opinion of his inspiration changed.
2. This was a super quick read!
What I didn't like about the book:
1. The characters were ok, but not great. There was no real depth to the MCs or any of the secondary characters. There was no character development, because there was no real character in the first place.
This was another case of the alpha just not working for me. He came off as controlling in an unsexy way, with everything coming out of his mouth sounding very clinical rather than erotic. Also, control is fun, when done right....this fell flat.
2. The steam left a lot to be desired. All the intimate scenes had the basics: tab a, slot b, dirty talk, you get it. But something was missing. I didn't get the typical body tingles and stomach swirls of a good intimate scene.
3. A lot of scenes were rushed while other things were dwelled on unnecessarily. Because of this, the pacing felt weird to me at times.
2.5 stars.
What to expect:
- Best friend's daughter / age gap romance
- Forced proximity
- Virgin FMC
What I liked about the book:
1. I really liked the plot. I thought this was such an interesting idea and like nothing I've come across before. I'm sure there are a million books out there about romance cover models (because, duh!), but I haven't come across a plot about the inspiration behind the characters. I thought this element was well done and I liked how Aiden's opinion of his inspiration changed.
2. This was a super quick read!
What I didn't like about the book:
1. The characters were ok, but not great. There was no real depth to the MCs or any of the secondary characters. There was no character development, because there was no real character in the first place.
This was another case of the alpha just not working for me. He came off as controlling in an unsexy way, with everything coming out of his mouth sounding very clinical rather than erotic. Also, control is fun, when done right....this fell flat.
2. The steam left a lot to be desired. All the intimate scenes had the basics: tab a, slot b, dirty talk, you get it. But something was missing. I didn't get the typical body tingles and stomach swirls of a good intimate scene.
3. A lot of scenes were rushed while other things were dwelled on unnecessarily. Because of this, the pacing felt weird to me at times.
2.5 stars.
June 14, 2023
Busted by Olivia Sinclair is the story of Aiden and Rose.
Aiden McBride, in his forties, is a doctor retiring from the Navy. He is on his way to work at a hospital in Washington state. He gets a call from his sister that her favorite romance writer, Darla Simone, seems to be using him as the model for the heroes in her stories -- right down to the very specific tattoo he has in a private spot on his body. At her urging, he reads all of Darla's books and figures out the author behind the pen name. Uh-oh... Busted.
Rose (no last name??), 23, just graduated from college. Wanting to show up a snooty creative writing professor, she wrote a romance featuring the object of her crush, Aiden, a friend of her father's. Her book takes off and she and her friend, Ingrid start self-publishing Rose's books -- and are very, very successful, with "20 some odd books" to date.
Unbeknownst to Aiden, Rose has been infatuated with him since she was a teenager. She got to know him when he visited with her father, Tristan, and stayed in the pool shed across from her window. With a bit of spying and a peek into her old diaries, she created stories "starring" versions of her and Aiden. It most likely would have never come to light except for mentioning the very specific tattoo in an early version of her first book, Deal with the Devil, which Aiden's sister, Linda, happened to see.
Aiden sets out to get Rose to switch the model of her heroes from him. He's going to spend a month at Tristan's cabin unwinding and preparing for his new job. He wants Rose to write her new book at the cabin while he's there so he can read it and make sure her new hero does not resemble him. She agrees because she's on deadline and she thinks this might help her get over her crush.
But... Aiden realizes he's attracted to Rose and Rose isn't getting over her crush as much as she's falling for Aiden. Will they be able to overcome Aiden's guilt at lusting after his best friend's much younger daughter? At robbing Rose of her life by tying her to a man in his 40's heading to a job in a small, nowhere town? Will they get their HEA? Of course. It says so in the description. The fun is reading to see how they get there.
I have to admit I read this book AFTER reading Deal with the Devil. That book was written in response to a bonus offered readers, an "excerpt" from the Darla Simone book of the same name that featured Aiden's tattoo. Fans wanted more and the author, Olivia Sinclair, expanded that scene to a newsletter serial, then compiled it into a novella.
I liked Deal with the Devil, but felt it missed something. I read Busted to see if it could fill in the blanks. It did and didn't. However, Busted stands on it's own -- and can without the bonus "excerpt."
Aiden and Rose's story is sweet. The book is enjoyable and I liked it, but things keep me from rating more than 3 stars. Though I liked the characters, there wasn't much to them. We get Rose seeming to be the free-wheeler and Aiden a grump in the relationship. He likes to eat healthy. She uses brownies to "fix everything." He loves his sister(s). She is sweet, taking care of her friend, Ingrid, and her (widowed) father. It's not that we don't get a sense of them, it's just not really enough. Love scenes meant to prove their sexual attraction and love were okay, but not really steamy -- and if this has been a "clean" romance I don't think they would have been missed.
Then, there were a couple of threads left hanging in regards to Rose's friend, Ingrid. Will she be getting her own story at some point? If not -- or even if -- there should have been mention of her and an idea of what or how she's doing in the epilogues. Rose is worried her father is keeping something from her. Is he sick? Is he dating and doesn't know how Rose will take it? What? Again, there should have been mention in the epilogues. Also, there's a scene in the second epilogue I'll spoiler tag because it seems inconsistent with what's in the story.
Still, I enjoyed the story enough to recommend it. It's not that I didn't like the book; in the long run, I wanted more. However, I would read more by Olivia Sinclair -- especially a book about Ingrid and her older man crush, Jordan. I liked the book; I just didn't love it.
My Review of Deal with the Devil
This book was not complimentary. I am reviewing it of my own free will because the book, or the experience of reading it, moved me to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own, biased only by my experience(s).
#Olivia_Sinclair; #Busted; #Deal_with_the_Devil; #contemporary_romance; #rom-com
Aiden McBride, in his forties, is a doctor retiring from the Navy. He is on his way to work at a hospital in Washington state. He gets a call from his sister that her favorite romance writer, Darla Simone, seems to be using him as the model for the heroes in her stories -- right down to the very specific tattoo he has in a private spot on his body. At her urging, he reads all of Darla's books and figures out the author behind the pen name. Uh-oh... Busted.
Rose (no last name??), 23, just graduated from college. Wanting to show up a snooty creative writing professor, she wrote a romance featuring the object of her crush, Aiden, a friend of her father's. Her book takes off and she and her friend, Ingrid start self-publishing Rose's books -- and are very, very successful, with "20 some odd books" to date.
Unbeknownst to Aiden, Rose has been infatuated with him since she was a teenager. She got to know him when he visited with her father, Tristan, and stayed in the pool shed across from her window. With a bit of spying and a peek into her old diaries, she created stories "starring" versions of her and Aiden. It most likely would have never come to light except for mentioning the very specific tattoo in an early version of her first book, Deal with the Devil, which Aiden's sister, Linda, happened to see.
Aiden sets out to get Rose to switch the model of her heroes from him. He's going to spend a month at Tristan's cabin unwinding and preparing for his new job. He wants Rose to write her new book at the cabin while he's there so he can read it and make sure her new hero does not resemble him. She agrees because she's on deadline and she thinks this might help her get over her crush.
But... Aiden realizes he's attracted to Rose and Rose isn't getting over her crush as much as she's falling for Aiden. Will they be able to overcome Aiden's guilt at lusting after his best friend's much younger daughter? At robbing Rose of her life by tying her to a man in his 40's heading to a job in a small, nowhere town? Will they get their HEA? Of course. It says so in the description. The fun is reading to see how they get there.
I have to admit I read this book AFTER reading Deal with the Devil. That book was written in response to a bonus offered readers, an "excerpt" from the Darla Simone book of the same name that featured Aiden's tattoo. Fans wanted more and the author, Olivia Sinclair, expanded that scene to a newsletter serial, then compiled it into a novella.
I liked Deal with the Devil, but felt it missed something. I read Busted to see if it could fill in the blanks. It did and didn't. However, Busted stands on it's own -- and can without the bonus "excerpt."
Aiden and Rose's story is sweet. The book is enjoyable and I liked it, but things keep me from rating more than 3 stars. Though I liked the characters, there wasn't much to them. We get Rose seeming to be the free-wheeler and Aiden a grump in the relationship. He likes to eat healthy. She uses brownies to "fix everything." He loves his sister(s). She is sweet, taking care of her friend, Ingrid, and her (widowed) father. It's not that we don't get a sense of them, it's just not really enough. Love scenes meant to prove their sexual attraction and love were okay, but not really steamy -- and if this has been a "clean" romance I don't think they would have been missed.
Then, there were a couple of threads left hanging in regards to Rose's friend, Ingrid. Will she be getting her own story at some point? If not -- or even if -- there should have been mention of her and an idea of what or how she's doing in the epilogues. Rose is worried her father is keeping something from her. Is he sick? Is he dating and doesn't know how Rose will take it? What? Again, there should have been mention in the epilogues. Also, there's a scene in the second epilogue I'll spoiler tag because it seems inconsistent with what's in the story.
Still, I enjoyed the story enough to recommend it. It's not that I didn't like the book; in the long run, I wanted more. However, I would read more by Olivia Sinclair -- especially a book about Ingrid and her older man crush, Jordan. I liked the book; I just didn't love it.
My Review of Deal with the Devil
This book was not complimentary. I am reviewing it of my own free will because the book, or the experience of reading it, moved me to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own, biased only by my experience(s).
#Olivia_Sinclair; #Busted; #Deal_with_the_Devil; #contemporary_romance; #rom-com
January 30, 2022
The blurb for this book is what drew me in.
A young romance author inspired by her crush on her dad’s best friend writes steamy contemporary romance books. When said inspiration figures it out, it gets really interesting, really fast!
I enjoyed the premise of this story very much and read it in one sitting. There were parts that I was not too keen on but ultimately nothing I couldn’t get over.
Busted is a sexy and even funny, romance read. I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books, TBR and Enjoy!
A young romance author inspired by her crush on her dad’s best friend writes steamy contemporary romance books. When said inspiration figures it out, it gets really interesting, really fast!
I enjoyed the premise of this story very much and read it in one sitting. There were parts that I was not too keen on but ultimately nothing I couldn’t get over.
Busted is a sexy and even funny, romance read. I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books, TBR and Enjoy!
February 20, 2022
I have no problems with age-gap romance, although I usually find the best friend "sister/daughter" boring, outdated and usually not well done. As is the case here - this part of the conflict is more to incite guilt over Aiden's character and his path towards going after Rosie than an actual problem to solve. By the end we know it's kind of solved and that her dad had trouble accepting, but the entire convo between the three of them is glossed over and it is shown as a sort of non-issue. So... why do it? He could be guilty over the age gap itself and being worried about the power dynamics between them instead - it would be far more interesting.
The book does get two stars because Rosie's character is so fun! She is open, she knows what she wants, she stands her ground (most of the time - I would appreciate her putting Aiden in his place more). And the premise of the book is such a good one: him finding out he was the inspiration for all the heroes in her books! But again I was not super fond of how that was solved as well. Him being a little jealous over her using other molds for her characters and she agreeing with him (and her fans!) that her previous heroes were better was... blergh. I mean, she could still use part of him, but I liked the journey of her breaking from her habits and writing something different while still inspired by him. The bit at the end kind of breaks this arc for her.
The major problem for me though was Aiden. He is such an ass. Granted, I am not a fan of military people and I know this is a US thing. His ways with her when they are both in the cabin are sooo unnecessary and it does not play well with him seeing her as an equal, an adult like him. It does not do well for the power dynamic here, which is already unbalanced. The worst for me was his comments about women in general, their supposed frivolity (all based on his ex-wife) and how Rose was different. Really?! The fact that he does not really learn that women are people and as such have different interests and cannot be put on the same bag - except for a passing comment from his sister - is such a turn down. I kept reading hoping he would change his mind or be struck by some change, but alas... not found. And that why I could not root for him and engage in their relationship.
The book does get two stars because Rosie's character is so fun! She is open, she knows what she wants, she stands her ground (most of the time - I would appreciate her putting Aiden in his place more). And the premise of the book is such a good one: him finding out he was the inspiration for all the heroes in her books! But again I was not super fond of how that was solved as well. Him being a little jealous over her using other molds for her characters and she agreeing with him (and her fans!) that her previous heroes were better was... blergh. I mean, she could still use part of him, but I liked the journey of her breaking from her habits and writing something different while still inspired by him. The bit at the end kind of breaks this arc for her.
The major problem for me though was Aiden. He is such an ass. Granted, I am not a fan of military people and I know this is a US thing. His ways with her when they are both in the cabin are sooo unnecessary and it does not play well with him seeing her as an equal, an adult like him. It does not do well for the power dynamic here, which is already unbalanced. The worst for me was his comments about women in general, their supposed frivolity (all based on his ex-wife) and how Rose was different. Really?! The fact that he does not really learn that women are people and as such have different interests and cannot be put on the same bag - except for a passing comment from his sister - is such a turn down. I kept reading hoping he would change his mind or be struck by some change, but alas... not found. And that why I could not root for him and engage in their relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2021
I read the summary of this story and loved it. Rose writes (in secret) using Aiden as her inspiration. She becomes famous and Aiden's sister happens to come a crossed a rare copy of the first book, with details she never wanted to know about her brother. Once Aiden becomes aware, he spends his time trying to figure out who it was. The build up between these two meeting again was amazing, the tension thick. I definitely liked Rose more than Aiden in this one. I get his struggle to try and avoid a relationship with Rose but once they became involved, he was super frustrating to me. The angst in this story was drawn out much more than I liked LOL! Great HEA, and Rose's dad stole the show for me, I loved their relationship.
March 9, 2021
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.
Rose has become a successful romance author although in secret, but that’s ok especially when all her stories are based around one man, one man that she can never ever have in the way that she wants. One she knows he would think that he was too old for her but the big sting in the tail is that he is her dad’s best friend. The time is fast approaching when she knows that her infatuation with a man that pretty much ignores her needs to be laid to rest in the cemetery of broken dreams. However just when she is about to let her day dreams go of a happily ever after with Commander Aiden McBride than her secret is about to be exposed to the very person she never wanted to know. Is Rose about to be outed and how did Aiden find out about her books?
Commander Aiden McBride is on the brink of his retirement from the Navy when he receives a shocking phone call from his sister and discovers that he has become the inspiration for a romance author, but the real question is who is the woman writing these books? When he discovers the truth that his best friends daughter Rose is the one who he has no idea how to handle the situation and starts to plot how he can end her crush on him. But will he be able to carry out his plan when all of a sudden having her in his life and as his seems more important than anything else. Can Aiden really turn his back on love and will he still have his best friend when all is said and done?
I love this author and this book was absolutely fantabulous, you cannot help but fall in love with Rose and her dad, their relationship is one that just made me smile every time they had a scene together. Aiden is a little harder to like but I understand his dilemma, all in all this book had everything for me and I am going out on a limb here when I say that I think this is my favourite book if 2021 so far. So I think you can guess that this book is getting a full ***** from me. Highly recommended read.
Rose has become a successful romance author although in secret, but that’s ok especially when all her stories are based around one man, one man that she can never ever have in the way that she wants. One she knows he would think that he was too old for her but the big sting in the tail is that he is her dad’s best friend. The time is fast approaching when she knows that her infatuation with a man that pretty much ignores her needs to be laid to rest in the cemetery of broken dreams. However just when she is about to let her day dreams go of a happily ever after with Commander Aiden McBride than her secret is about to be exposed to the very person she never wanted to know. Is Rose about to be outed and how did Aiden find out about her books?
Commander Aiden McBride is on the brink of his retirement from the Navy when he receives a shocking phone call from his sister and discovers that he has become the inspiration for a romance author, but the real question is who is the woman writing these books? When he discovers the truth that his best friends daughter Rose is the one who he has no idea how to handle the situation and starts to plot how he can end her crush on him. But will he be able to carry out his plan when all of a sudden having her in his life and as his seems more important than anything else. Can Aiden really turn his back on love and will he still have his best friend when all is said and done?
I love this author and this book was absolutely fantabulous, you cannot help but fall in love with Rose and her dad, their relationship is one that just made me smile every time they had a scene together. Aiden is a little harder to like but I understand his dilemma, all in all this book had everything for me and I am going out on a limb here when I say that I think this is my favourite book if 2021 so far. So I think you can guess that this book is getting a full ***** from me. Highly recommended read.
January 30, 2022
This book outperformed my expectations by a mile! So cute, writing is well done, story moves, and the relationship is such a good slow burn!
Aiden is a divorcée, recently retired Naval surgeon, about to transition to civilian life and embrace the consummate bachelor life. But his life tilts sideways after his sister calls him with a serious concern: he may be the inspirational love interest in a series of romance novels! Determined to not only confirm his sister’s hunch, but to figure out who is using him as inspiration … he dives in to several books for research. Shock is an understatement when he suspects that his best friend’s daughter may be his mysterious author.
Rose is a recent college grad and she has a big secret, that she keeps from everyone but her best friend Ingrid: she’s a wildly popular romance novelist. That’s not all though. She also happens to base all of her leading men around her one-and-only crush: her dad’s best friend. Imagine her surprise when she returns to her dads house post-graduation to find Aiden and to realize he knows. Like, knows knows!
Obviously the two need to sneak away to her family cabin to deal with this situation. She’s got a book deadline to meet, and he’ll be damned to let her use him as the inspiration for her new MC.
So I’m not a big consumer of may/December Romance, and was super worried this would be a daddy kink thing… but it absolutely is not. The delicious tension of waiting for Aiden to give in to his desires, so much so that I kept thinking “slow burn me already!” But once he’s on board, his authority and control over their love “lessons” is toe-curling! The essence and appeal of this story is the amazing way Aiden and Rose make each other complete - it was enjoyable from start to the end of the second epilogue!
If the author happens to read this: please please please! I need to know how Ingrid and Justin’s story goes!!
Aiden is a divorcée, recently retired Naval surgeon, about to transition to civilian life and embrace the consummate bachelor life. But his life tilts sideways after his sister calls him with a serious concern: he may be the inspirational love interest in a series of romance novels! Determined to not only confirm his sister’s hunch, but to figure out who is using him as inspiration … he dives in to several books for research. Shock is an understatement when he suspects that his best friend’s daughter may be his mysterious author.
Rose is a recent college grad and she has a big secret, that she keeps from everyone but her best friend Ingrid: she’s a wildly popular romance novelist. That’s not all though. She also happens to base all of her leading men around her one-and-only crush: her dad’s best friend. Imagine her surprise when she returns to her dads house post-graduation to find Aiden and to realize he knows. Like, knows knows!
Obviously the two need to sneak away to her family cabin to deal with this situation. She’s got a book deadline to meet, and he’ll be damned to let her use him as the inspiration for her new MC.
So I’m not a big consumer of may/December Romance, and was super worried this would be a daddy kink thing… but it absolutely is not. The delicious tension of waiting for Aiden to give in to his desires, so much so that I kept thinking “slow burn me already!” But once he’s on board, his authority and control over their love “lessons” is toe-curling! The essence and appeal of this story is the amazing way Aiden and Rose make each other complete - it was enjoyable from start to the end of the second epilogue!
If the author happens to read this: please please please! I need to know how Ingrid and Justin’s story goes!!
February 24, 2021
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was so happy to discover this is an age gap story because that’s one of my favorite tropes. Reading this feels like talking to a girlfriend. I loved how Aiden’s plan to get Rose to end her crush on him backfires and the result is glorious! Partway through, things are going well between them but still, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. My stomach was in knots in anticipation of what’s to come. Olivia Sinclair, you are very good at the angsty writing! My favorite part is when Aiden is talking to Rose’s dad and says “Now show me how you make a fist.” My heart melted when I read that. I also loved reading Aiden’s list.
Favorite quote: Distance is only going to make me run back faster.
Favorite quote: “All I want, Commander McBride, is to be guided by your superior age and wisdom.” LOL I want to be Rose’s best friend.
Favorite quote: Distance is only going to make me run back faster.
Favorite quote: “All I want, Commander McBride, is to be guided by your superior age and wisdom.” LOL I want to be Rose’s best friend.
March 4, 2021
This is my first book from this author and I am absolutely now a fan of her writing and can't wait to read more from her. Rose is a author and has been writing books based upon her secret crush but a crush that's absolutely forbidden one is because he is older and two its her dads best friend. What happens when when Aiden finds out her secret? Aiden learns that an author is writing her books based upon him but he hasn't a clue who it could be , but once he figures it out he isn't happy because 1. It's his best friends daughter and 2. She's way to young and 3. He is now fighting his feelings for her but can he keep away from her and not ruin his friendship with his best friend. Great book.
February 7, 2022
i'll try anything once mas realmente acho que "melhor amigo do meu pai" não é o meu kink. mas se algum dia chegar a ser, não foi esse livro que me despertou interesse. meu problema maior foi: ritmo. os personagens eram até legais, mesmo que esquecíveis, mas as cenas eram tão cheias de um monte de coisa desnecessária que eu lutava para não dormir........... mas enfim. meh. leria um livro sobre a amiga dela com romance estilo daddy-long-legs? talvez.
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July 31, 2023Laughter drifts up from the patio and I realize I can’t have this conversation in my room. I probably shouldn’t be having it at all. I walk down the hall to my dad’s bedroom, the farthest from the backyard, lock the door, and go into the farthest corner — as far away from the backyard and any open windows as I can get.
“So, Ing? The Commander found out.” That’s how we started referring to Aiden after I showed her a picture of him in his dress uniform. Somehow we started thinking that not using his name would avoid summoning exactly what’s about to happen.
***********************************************
Poor Aiden!
"I can’t concentrate, and I have only myself to blame. What was I thinking telling Rose to come to the cabin? I knew I was in trouble when I watched her cheeks hollow as she sucked on that damn straw from her milkshake in the driveway. Her hair is somewhat tamed into a long, loose braid that makes my fingers itch. Mostly to spank her for putting these thoughts in my head, even though I can’t say she’s done anything recently to draw attention to herself.
I’m the one that told her to take the loft. I know she’s always slept up there, so she didn’t seem too surprised. But I didn’t think about having to watch her round little ass as she went up and down the ladder. Again and again and again."
“So, Ing? The Commander found out.” That’s how we started referring to Aiden after I showed her a picture of him in his dress uniform. Somehow we started thinking that not using his name would avoid summoning exactly what’s about to happen.
***********************************************
Poor Aiden!
"I can’t concentrate, and I have only myself to blame. What was I thinking telling Rose to come to the cabin? I knew I was in trouble when I watched her cheeks hollow as she sucked on that damn straw from her milkshake in the driveway. Her hair is somewhat tamed into a long, loose braid that makes my fingers itch. Mostly to spank her for putting these thoughts in my head, even though I can’t say she’s done anything recently to draw attention to herself.
I’m the one that told her to take the loft. I know she’s always slept up there, so she didn’t seem too surprised. But I didn’t think about having to watch her round little ass as she went up and down the ladder. Again and again and again."
January 30, 2022
It was okay, but kind of... boring?
Rose has had a crush for years on her Dad's best friend. She doesn't tell him, but starts writing out her fantasies about him and eventually turns them into an income by writing romance novels. Though she changes a few things to protect his (and her) anonymity, someone clues him into the fact that the heroes from this series of books by a certain romance author all seem like they're based on him. Based on a typo and a conversation he remembers having, he realizes it IS him and just who this author might be. He decides to confront her. Romance (sort of?) ensues.
This could have been a very funny, heartfelt, sexy, and edge of your seat kind of book. It was not. The premise was there. The situation was fraught with chances to spice it up (not just physically), but this whole endeavor fell flat.
(possible spoiler-like content ahead)
The old adage of "show, don't tell" to make a book really pop or stand out to readers is obviously a term this writer hasn't heard. The majority of the book is the characters in their heads. The rest is them TELLING what happened. There is very little show. For instance, they apparently text and sext each other when they're apart, but instead of seeing those texts and their content, how they become more knowledgeable about each other, how those texts made them feel, how they reacted to the texts IRL, and how they deal with the less physical aspects of their relationship, the writer just has the heroine tell us they texted and some were sexy.
I still don't see how the H fell in love with the h. They have very few actual conversations, we don't "see" them spend time or exchange stories. It's simply told to us that they did for the most part.
Even how the H brought it up to her father and the aftermath of how her father and the H reconciled their relationship was skipped and tied up with a "they took a selfie" and we're suddenly friends again. I really expected a serious conversation, maybe yelling, possibly a fist to the nose when the H told Rose's father that he was seeing his daughter AND had encouraged her to lie to her father. It was just too... nothing.
Overall this book left me a little disappointed in and let down by Aiden, Rose, Rose's father, and the author. It was such an interesting premise that promised a bit of taboo, internal and external conflict, unrequited love, a few ah-hah! reveals, and situations that could have been very dramatic and/ or humorous. I mean it had the title "Busted"!
Instead, this one really went soft and bland like bread soaking in whole milk. I couldn't "see" the characters and their reactions or feelings so I couldn't connect with them. So, meh. That's my rating. Wouldn't read it again. And that's the list I'm putting it in.
Rose has had a crush for years on her Dad's best friend. She doesn't tell him, but starts writing out her fantasies about him and eventually turns them into an income by writing romance novels. Though she changes a few things to protect his (and her) anonymity, someone clues him into the fact that the heroes from this series of books by a certain romance author all seem like they're based on him. Based on a typo and a conversation he remembers having, he realizes it IS him and just who this author might be. He decides to confront her. Romance (sort of?) ensues.
This could have been a very funny, heartfelt, sexy, and edge of your seat kind of book. It was not. The premise was there. The situation was fraught with chances to spice it up (not just physically), but this whole endeavor fell flat.
(possible spoiler-like content ahead)
The old adage of "show, don't tell" to make a book really pop or stand out to readers is obviously a term this writer hasn't heard. The majority of the book is the characters in their heads. The rest is them TELLING what happened. There is very little show. For instance, they apparently text and sext each other when they're apart, but instead of seeing those texts and their content, how they become more knowledgeable about each other, how those texts made them feel, how they reacted to the texts IRL, and how they deal with the less physical aspects of their relationship, the writer just has the heroine tell us they texted and some were sexy.
I still don't see how the H fell in love with the h. They have very few actual conversations, we don't "see" them spend time or exchange stories. It's simply told to us that they did for the most part.
Even how the H brought it up to her father and the aftermath of how her father and the H reconciled their relationship was skipped and tied up with a "they took a selfie" and we're suddenly friends again. I really expected a serious conversation, maybe yelling, possibly a fist to the nose when the H told Rose's father that he was seeing his daughter AND had encouraged her to lie to her father. It was just too... nothing.
Overall this book left me a little disappointed in and let down by Aiden, Rose, Rose's father, and the author. It was such an interesting premise that promised a bit of taboo, internal and external conflict, unrequited love, a few ah-hah! reveals, and situations that could have been very dramatic and/ or humorous. I mean it had the title "Busted"!
Instead, this one really went soft and bland like bread soaking in whole milk. I couldn't "see" the characters and their reactions or feelings so I couldn't connect with them. So, meh. That's my rating. Wouldn't read it again. And that's the list I'm putting it in.
February 10, 2022
Rose was the one who had written a book about her having a crush on her dad's best friend. her dad was a doctor in her hometown and his best friend was a doctor in the Navy and he had finished his time and going to get out and going and going to be a Dr. at a hospital in Washington state his name was Aiden. Rose had stayed in her Apt. an extra year after graduating with her roommate Ingrid . Rose was writing Romance novels. Aiden's older sister had sent him a copy of the novel in which she had written like she had a crush on him. When she came home from college he was visiting her father and told her to go out to his truck and get her present which was in the very top of his suitcase. She saw the book She later told him she had written enough books to pay off her fathers mortgage on the House. he had been paying Drs. and hospital bills from when her mother was sick and died. He was going to stay a while at her fathers cabin in the mountains. She was going to visit her friend on the coast so she met him at the cabin. He had her write a story not using anybody's person as a referance that could be identified. She did but he struck up a romance with her. She left and went on to visit Ingrid and while there he called and wanted her to come back and
She agreed where they'd meet and stay at a hotel and work out their agreement. He went and talked to her dad and he agreed to let them marry so they later worked out the wedding when everyone could be there including her dad and Ingrid.
She agreed where they'd meet and stay at a hotel and work out their agreement. He went and talked to her dad and he agreed to let them marry so they later worked out the wedding when everyone could be there including her dad and Ingrid.
January 30, 2022
Rose and Ing are new friends, bonding over their hidden loves, of two older men. This is divulged in class. Rose’s work, reveals she has, a crush on him. All laid out, in a college class assignment. The one in which, the teacher rips apart in front, of the class.
Ing being in her same position consoles, Rose. The two retreats to go work on the paper. Rose, dropped the class. Then, Ing gets Rose to turn it into a story. When it's complete, Ing talks Rose into independent publishing, and a career is born.
There is just one, small glitch. Her muse and crush is her dad's best friend, and he has some distinguishing attributes. Never did she think, he would ever, see her work. Changes are made, but not fast enough. In lies the problem. And this sexy hot story moves forward.
You see the turmoil, Aiden goes through. Coping with new life, as he struggles with untapped feelings. Aiden knows, this relationship, with Rose, might cost him, a dear friend. Especially, when those include the free spirited Rose.
Very good story. Interesting not to mention.
Ing being in her same position consoles, Rose. The two retreats to go work on the paper. Rose, dropped the class. Then, Ing gets Rose to turn it into a story. When it's complete, Ing talks Rose into independent publishing, and a career is born.
There is just one, small glitch. Her muse and crush is her dad's best friend, and he has some distinguishing attributes. Never did she think, he would ever, see her work. Changes are made, but not fast enough. In lies the problem. And this sexy hot story moves forward.
You see the turmoil, Aiden goes through. Coping with new life, as he struggles with untapped feelings. Aiden knows, this relationship, with Rose, might cost him, a dear friend. Especially, when those include the free spirited Rose.
Very good story. Interesting not to mention.
September 2, 2021
Nice and sweet
I wasn't expecting much going into this read. I was thinking it was going to be a run of the mill "father's best friend daddy dom" type story. So whoever is writing the book blurbs needs a redo because this story was so much more. I was pleasantly surprised that the story started from his POV. It really snagged you right away. What followed was a really good love story without a lot of angst. There was some mild heat and then eventually some good steam but it wasn't gratuitous, it was story driven. The only reason I went with 4 stars instead of 5 is that in the first 3rd of the story she's a little weak. For example, when he confronts her about using him for her books he tells her "Here's what is going to happen now" and she does it. It made no sense logically for her to go along with what he said so that was a little weird but beyond that one odd choice, I really enjoyed the book.
I wasn't expecting much going into this read. I was thinking it was going to be a run of the mill "father's best friend daddy dom" type story. So whoever is writing the book blurbs needs a redo because this story was so much more. I was pleasantly surprised that the story started from his POV. It really snagged you right away. What followed was a really good love story without a lot of angst. There was some mild heat and then eventually some good steam but it wasn't gratuitous, it was story driven. The only reason I went with 4 stars instead of 5 is that in the first 3rd of the story she's a little weak. For example, when he confronts her about using him for her books he tells her "Here's what is going to happen now" and she does it. It made no sense logically for her to go along with what he said so that was a little weird but beyond that one odd choice, I really enjoyed the book.
February 15, 2025
This was alright. I don’t think it would be something I would go out of my way to recommend to others.
Rose is a 23 author/recent college grad. Aiden is 45(?) and a retiring/retired Naval doctor. Rose’s father is a few years younger than Aiden. Rose’s dad didn’t even really need to be in this story, he was just there. Added nothing.
Rose has been crushing on Aiden since she was 16 or 18. Aiden has never looked at her as anything, but his friend’s daughter. Rose’s mother passed from cancer.
This story drags a bit. It starts exciting/interesting and fizzles out for the rest of story, falling flat.
Rose’s friend Olivia is intro’d in this story and I would like to read her story, give it a try, but it isn’t in KU. I got Busted as a freebie back when sometime.
Not sure I’ll be reading anything else by this author. Not bad, but not good.
Rose is a 23 author/recent college grad. Aiden is 45(?) and a retiring/retired Naval doctor. Rose’s father is a few years younger than Aiden. Rose’s dad didn’t even really need to be in this story, he was just there. Added nothing.
Rose has been crushing on Aiden since she was 16 or 18. Aiden has never looked at her as anything, but his friend’s daughter. Rose’s mother passed from cancer.
This story drags a bit. It starts exciting/interesting and fizzles out for the rest of story, falling flat.
Rose’s friend Olivia is intro’d in this story and I would like to read her story, give it a try, but it isn’t in KU. I got Busted as a freebie back when sometime.
Not sure I’ll be reading anything else by this author. Not bad, but not good.
October 8, 2021
Rose, the female lead, has been crushing on her father’s best friend, Aiden, the male lead, since she realised sex was a thing. When she started writing, all her heroes were based on him.
When errors she made in her first book reveal who she is to him, Aiden is determined to show her he’s not worth caring/lusting for. But, as they spend time together, he realizes how much he cares for her. But she is still his best friend’s daughter...
This story is dual POV, well written, and longer than most of the author’s other works. It was sexy and steamy and contained a lot of character and relationship development and I greatly enjoyed it. Now I’m just hoping that Rose’s best friend gets her own story!
When errors she made in her first book reveal who she is to him, Aiden is determined to show her he’s not worth caring/lusting for. But, as they spend time together, he realizes how much he cares for her. But she is still his best friend’s daughter...
This story is dual POV, well written, and longer than most of the author’s other works. It was sexy and steamy and contained a lot of character and relationship development and I greatly enjoyed it. Now I’m just hoping that Rose’s best friend gets her own story!
January 30, 2022
so sweet with lots of steam
Loved the story. It had substance and was real enough with real world problems and dilemmas that made it connect. Loved rose and her ability to go after what she wants. And she is such a sweet person and has made a name for herself. Loved how Aiden found out (haha from his sister) about being the muse for the alpha characters in books. Loved that so much. His slightly conceited was about making her come to the cabin to ‘supervise’ her writing a new book with a. New character was hilarious. And I loved that he recognized this fact and that he put himself in a losing position. Hope we get a book for Ing and Justin.
Loved the story. It had substance and was real enough with real world problems and dilemmas that made it connect. Loved rose and her ability to go after what she wants. And she is such a sweet person and has made a name for herself. Loved how Aiden found out (haha from his sister) about being the muse for the alpha characters in books. Loved that so much. His slightly conceited was about making her come to the cabin to ‘supervise’ her writing a new book with a. New character was hilarious. And I loved that he recognized this fact and that he put himself in a losing position. Hope we get a book for Ing and Justin.
February 6, 2022
Misleading title
I had so much angst and sexual frustration as Aiden and Rose that I was ready to explode when they finally did. I really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the direction the author went with it, a totally different concept on the May/ December thing. Aiden was very youthful, romantic and experienced. He did not make Rose feel foolish. Wish the author could've thought of a better title for a well written book. Glad I read it anyway.
I had so much angst and sexual frustration as Aiden and Rose that I was ready to explode when they finally did. I really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed the direction the author went with it, a totally different concept on the May/ December thing. Aiden was very youthful, romantic and experienced. He did not make Rose feel foolish. Wish the author could've thought of a better title for a well written book. Glad I read it anyway.
March 10, 2021
Rose wanted to be a writer, and she used her dad's best friend and crush as her inspiration for her tall, date and handsome. Should be no big deal, when Rose gets her break she can make changes and no one would no or will they. This is an amazing story with well written character and the tension between them pull you into the story that you find yourself lost page of after page.
September 9, 2021
I really liked this book. Having been on a streak with books with dumb heroines and more lust than love this one ticked all my requirements: serendipity, romance, slow building love, twists, clever heroine, equally clever best friend, age gap (although not so big as he was ten years younger than her father), good research, HEA.
I am looking forward to Ingrid's book.
I am looking forward to Ingrid's book.
January 29, 2022
DNF I really wanted to finish this, it had all the makings of a book I would enjoy but I just didn't feel it between them. I think if there had been a wee bit of a start to see them interacting when she was younger and the crush started or something. The writing style was good and it wouldn't put me off reading other books by this author.
January 29, 2022
Great book but very drawn out
Can I do 3 1/2 stars?? The characters, premise and story are great. But the whole thing just takes forever to get through. I seriously considered giving up at the 70% mark because it was just dragging. Some steam, not a lot. I'd love to read Ingrid's story but I'm not sure I want to if it's going to drag.
Can I do 3 1/2 stars?? The characters, premise and story are great. But the whole thing just takes forever to get through. I seriously considered giving up at the 70% mark because it was just dragging. Some steam, not a lot. I'd love to read Ingrid's story but I'm not sure I want to if it's going to drag.
February 4, 2022
DNF @62%~
Very one dimensional, a lot of “telling” us what happens instead of “showing” us. I think the author spent more time telling us boring play by plays of the characters cooking and cleaning than actually building their relationships.
Overall, boring and awkward. A lot of excessive use of parentheses too…no clue what that is about.
Very one dimensional, a lot of “telling” us what happens instead of “showing” us. I think the author spent more time telling us boring play by plays of the characters cooking and cleaning than actually building their relationships.
Overall, boring and awkward. A lot of excessive use of parentheses too…no clue what that is about.
February 5, 2022
Loved it!
I must say I wasn't sure about the whole he's my dads best friend storyline. Turns out I really enjoyed it. We get the HEA. It doesn't make me feel icky because of the age difference and most importantly it is very well written. Just wish we got a clue about Ing in the end.
I must say I wasn't sure about the whole he's my dads best friend storyline. Turns out I really enjoyed it. We get the HEA. It doesn't make me feel icky because of the age difference and most importantly it is very well written. Just wish we got a clue about Ing in the end.
March 26, 2022
No no no
Cute cover but that is it. I did finish it so maybe 1.5 stars. Not well developed at all. Its like a high school girl wrote it. Seriously not developed. No angst or budding relationship .
Immature.
Also how could a young girl finish college and write 20 books in under 4 years. SMH
Cute cover but that is it. I did finish it so maybe 1.5 stars. Not well developed at all. Its like a high school girl wrote it. Seriously not developed. No angst or budding relationship .
Immature.
Also how could a young girl finish college and write 20 books in under 4 years. SMH
March 9, 2021
3.5 for me.. Rose has had a crush on her dad’s friend for a while and decided to write her thoughts into a book and when he finds out it’s her he makes some rules. It took him a while to return the feelings. I enjoyed their relationship.
November 9, 2021
Aiden and Rose
This being a longer story, I fully support. Much better as you get a more detailed in depth storyline.
Aiden is the BF of Rose’s dad and very unaware of Rose’s crush on him until his sister discovers a book written about him.
This being a longer story, I fully support. Much better as you get a more detailed in depth storyline.
Aiden is the BF of Rose’s dad and very unaware of Rose’s crush on him until his sister discovers a book written about him.
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