Credence by Penelope Douglas

“You never smile… You never feel joy. No dreams for the future. No plans. You have no fight in you. You’re barely alive”

Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere. And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. Her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them. And as a part of them. She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.

I don’t really know how exactly to go about discussing this book as it doesn’t really fit in any of the prescribed tropes in which I like to shove things. There are a lot of layers here… and to say it’s a “step-brother/sister” or “reverse harem” romance, or any of the possible labels one might slap on this thing, and it kind of is some of those things, but… it’s also not really any of those things either. This book definitely won’t be for everyone. There are elements in here that are just hard limits for some people. And while I definitely respect and understand those limits, I also encourage anyone on the fence to give this a try if they feel so inclined.  I really enjoyed this book so much. The dynamics between all the characters is so magnetic and tangible.  I loved the way it made me FEEL. I was addicted from the very first page and I never wanted to stop reading.

I rated this novel five stars. Does that mean I agree with everything that went on in this book? Hell no!!! But that isn’t why I read. I read to escape…to be entertained… to feel different emotions— whether it be good or bad. This book definitely did all of that for me! I went into Credence knowing there was forbidden aspects to the story, and that there was probably going to be content that pushed my limits.. and yes that happened for sure! The readers that don’t mind boundaries being crossed, and having their comfort level pushed, then this would be a book you will want to read.

If you do find yourself reading this book and loving it just as much, you MUST go to her page and read the bonus epilogue scenes, they were everything I wanted! I need to check out more of this author’s work! She has caught my attention!!!