Birthday Girl

“Birthday wishes don’t always come true, so I don’t waste a chance when I blow out a candle.”

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1. BIRTHDAY GIRL by Penelope Douglas

SYNOPSIS

Jordan

He took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe. He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work. I have to stop this. It can’t happen. My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable. Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one. I am.

Pike

I took her in, because I thought I was helping. She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement. As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to. The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me. But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight. And her boyfriend’s father. Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

BOOK REVIEW

Penelope Douglas writes the most jarring forbidden romances, let me tell you (although, in this particular case, it’s not as taboo as it might sound from the synopsis). I’m not that big on this type of book but do enjoy well-written compelling love stories with a striking age-gap from time to time if they are executed with purpose and precision and handled with tact. What I absolutely enjoy about the author is her ability and talent to create multi-layered characters and develop their unique nature throughout the course of the book while persuading us to rethink and readjust our expectations about the said characters. And don’t forget about the plot… Dubiously complicated and oftentimes confusing, torturously angsty, but heart-gripping and breath-taking nonetheless.

“We’re victims of circumstance. At least I can feel confident that I would’ve liked him no matter what. If he were any other guy who came into my bar, sat down, and talked to me, I would’ve wanted him.”

Pike Lawson was such a desperate housewife’s wet dream. He was always a responsible type with an inner voice of reason, the one who was ready and willing to make sacrifices in order to make those he loved the most better off (even if it meant giving up his own dreams and aspirations). Can you imagine my shock witnessing Pike struggling so hard to conquer his irresistible attraction to a beautiful girl who he perfectly knew was off-limits and to not succumb to his desires? Can you understand my mad feelings and pain his long fight against this bitch of a destiny caused my poor heart? Oh, Pike, you definitely deserved to be happy (I rooted for you like crazy)…

“I knew you were out there somewhere,” I tell her, quirking a sad smile. “The girlfriends, women I dated, Cole’s mother… I never wanted to marry anyone, because they weren’t what I was looking for. I had started to think I had my sights set too high, and you didn’t exist.” I clasp the back of her neck and run my thumbs down her throat. “Turns out my dream girl belongs to the one person it would kill me to hurt.”

Jordan Handley was impossible not to like. Unlike my initial expectations, she was not naive or sheltered. She was mature beyond her years due to the way she grew up. What I absolutely loved and respected about Jordan was that she knew exactly what she wanted and didn’t shy away from getting it…

The chemistry between Pike and Jordan was undeniable. It blew my mind! The delicious slow-burn. The battling feelings. The sexy times. The dirty talks. OMG!

Birthday Girl was so much more than your typical story of a forbidden romance. It was a beautiful story of strength and forgiveness. Of making mistakes and accepting their inevitability and learning how to rectify them. Besides the fact that the book was extremely sexy, it was also unique, so raw and real. I loved every single moment on the pages of Birthday Girl and cannot recommend it enough.

“Time passes by you like a bullet,” he says, “and fear gives you the excuses you’re craving to not do the things you know you should. Don’t doubt yourself, don’t second-guess, don’t let fear hold you back, don’t be lazy, and don’t base your decisions on how happy it will make others. Just go for it, okay?”