Title: Tainted Black (A Forbidden Romance)
Author: Shanora Williams
Genre: Contemp/Dark Romance
Release Date: September 11, 2015
Dear Mr. Black,
I know you were hurting. I heard your cries. I wished over and over again that I could make it better, but as you stated I was too inexperienced; too good for someone as bad as you.
Perhaps you were right, but it didn’t matter because what I did know was that I loved the way you felt—loved the way you smelled. I loved how hard you got for me, and when you called me your Little Knight.
I can still remember that day in the park, when you held me close and kissed me deep. How you effortlessly made me cry your name on top of sweet smelling grass, making me feel like the only girl in the world. I loved how you looked at me, how you spoke to me.
I 'd been madly in love with you ever since I was twelve years old, but I shouldn’t have been.
Isabelle would have hated it—my best friend. I couldn’t afford to lose her. Besides, you two had already lost enough. Losing Mrs. Black was the epitome.
It’s Chloe Knight.
I wanted to be there for you no matter what, but Isabelle needed me too.
And she would have hated me if she ever found out I was sleeping with her father.
** Tainted Black is a forbidden love-story about a girl who helplessly falls for her best friend’s father. After a tragic accident ends the life of Theo Black’s wife, he turns to the one person he has always found interesting.
Chloe Knight, the girl from across the street, his daughter’s best friend, and a person that is considered completely off limits for him. **
I looked down at the person’s name that flashed on my screen. Mr. Black. Surprised, my heart caught speed, and I answered, my voice soft. “Mr. Black?”
“Hey Chloe.”
“Everything okay?”
“I don’t know,” he said, voice low. “You tell me.”
“What do you mean?”
“You just gonna stay in your room and watch me, or are you gonna come over and actually talk to me?”
I huffed a laugh, looking up, heat bombarding my cheeks. Being embarrassed would have been an understatement. “I’m—I don’t know what you mean.”
“Turn on your lamp,” he demanded.
“Why?”
“I want to see you.”
I looked towards my lamp, hesitating. He was quiet, waiting for me to follow through. I blew a breath, going for my lamp. Then I met at the window again, and he was still there. His expression had changed though. He was smiling now. It was gentle. Sweet.
“Damn. Is there ever a time you don’t look good?”
“Please,” I laughed, tugging on the hem of my tank. It was then that I realized I had no bra on. I covered my chest with my arm.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Cover up. Just stand there… let me look at you.”
Slowly dropping my hand, I stared ahead, allowing Mr. Black to get an eye-full. I was in my most natural state—hair up in a bun, shorts low, revealing too much leg, and sporting a white camisole that exposed firm, brown nipples.
“What are we doing?” I asked, voice barely heard.
He was quiet for a moment, his face serious now. “Picking up where we left off.”
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Shanora Williams considers herself a wondrous, down-to-earth author who's all about romance, paranormal, and the historical fiction. Coffee and Oreos are her addiction. Reading is a necessity. Whenever she isn't writing or reading, she's most likely spending her time with family and loved ones, or watching hit TV series on Netflix.
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3.5 'Theo Black' Stars
My first Shanora Williams read, and this author blew me away with her imperfect story of forbidden love. Everything about the book - from the name, to the blurb, the cover, and the imagery that is Mr. Black - superbly done.
When a pre-pubescent girl, sees her new neighbours and excited that there is another girl she can befriend, she rushes over to be the first one to meet them. In her excitement her attention is drawn to the handsome, muscular and ever intriguing man on a motorcycle. Sitting astride his 'stallion' in a calm and domineering manner. Yet with the softest of smiles and the gentlest of affections.
Theo Black and Chloe Knight, two strangers, whose paths crossed. A man and a girl, befriended due to circumstance. An infatuation like no other. Lustful inclinations in her adolescent years, escalated into a scorching hot desire in adulthood. Two strangers, differing timelines whose paths should have never entwined romantically, come together in a forbidden romance, which threatens a family, a friendship and true love.
This is a complex forbidden romance like no other. Theo Black, is Chloe's best friend's father, and her neighbour. He is also twenty years older than Chloe. Who sits at nineteen and on the cusp of leaving for college. After the brutal murder of his wife, Mr.Black has succumbed to his emotions, drowning himself in the bottle. One night, in a drunken stupor, Chloe helps Theo, and her helpful hand, turns into a passionate night of intense desire and euphoric bliss.
In shock, Chloe decides to hide from Theo. By staying away from the Black household, and with Izzy gone off to college early, there is no need for Chloe to stick around. But, as fate would have it, they once again cross each other's part. The unbridled passion surfaces and soon we see them battling their emotions, and fighting to stay away.
“The urge to push him away was strong, but not as strong as my need to pull him close and never let go.”
Soon enough, Chloe's immaturity comes to the forefront, with how she handles certain situations, while the guilt of their actions, burn them to the core. With these turn of events, Chloe runs off to college, without so much as a goodbye, or even a glimpse towards Theo.
Years go by, and Chloe finally returns to her hometown. Izzy, her best friend, never knew what transpired between her father and her best friend, and Chloe plans to keep it that way. Running into Theo at the grocery store, after three years of no contact. Has both Theo and Chloe reeling with shock. It makes all their past desires, and emotions surface with a vengeance.
As the story progresses, the plot thickens and we see where certain secondary characters became more involved in the plot and how they impact the lives of the main characters. Past and present.
For me this was simply an ok read. All my stars go for the premise of the story, Mr.Black and that ending.
My major issue with this story was the women - Chloe and Izzy.
I absolutely hated Chloe and her character. If I could have reached into those pages and strangle her, I may have needed fake bail money. Her immaturity was that of a twelve year old, rather than a nineteen and then twenty-two year old. One would think, that if you're dealing with an older man, you would thread lightly. But, hell no! This girl went all guns ah blazing. She reacted to every silly thing and blew situations out of proportion.
Then there was Izzy. Talk about a pampered, brat. I couldn't imagine how a cool, hottie like Mr. Black, could have fathered that spawn. She was a horrible friend, self-absorbed and vindictive. She came off as such a 'dumb blond' to me. I hated the way she treated Chloe and what she did in the end. Uncalled for.
The redeeming factor was that fantastic ending. I was emotional after reading it. I read it like three times. The raw feelings that emerged had me re-reading this entire story, to see if I missed something.
In the end, I saw the maturity and growth with both Chloe and Theo. I feel a little more at ease with this.
*ARC provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions on behalf of the author for an honest review* THANKS!
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