3.5 Stars 🌟
Love Unexpected is a Taboo/Forbidden Age Gap Romance between a step father and step daughter. This is definitely a story that I would suggest taking caution if this trope isn't something for you or I would suggest going in with an open mind, if like me, you have never read this type of story but are intrigued.
This was my first book by QB Tyler and I have heard from many friends that her stories are unconventional but great reads so when I first read the blurb for Love Unexpected my interests were peaked. I went in with an open mind knowing the nature of this relationship might not be for everyone and honestly I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. The writing style was something I connected with and the flow of the story felt smooth and easy to read.
I liked how the relationship between Stassia and Dominic never felt justified or glorified. Both characters, Dominic more than Stassia, struggled at times with starting a relationship then struggled with how their relationship would be perceived and how it wouldn't be easily accepted. This started off as a slow burn romance with both characters grieving the loss of Stassia's mother then soon their relationship turned into much more. This story had a lot of emotion to it which I enjoyed.
The steam factor in this book is high, intense and straight up fire. I needed a minute or two to cool down. Even though I did enjoy the steam factor there was a few times I had to skim/skip sections as the whole 'Daddy' kink/play is really not my thing. I knew going into this story that, that would be a factor and I found I could still enjoy the story despite not liking those aspects so if that is something you enjoy then you should read this book.
The few parts of the story I couldn't connect with were :
Stassia's character. I understood her and her grief but a lot of the time she came off as immature, judgemental and bratty which I expect since she is an 18 year old but if she is 'mature' enough to want to be in a realtionship with her 40 year old step father, then I would've loved to have seen that character growth from her. She did have some towards the end but I would've loved to have seen more depth from her.
During this story Stassia was dealing with the loss of her Mother and suddenly her Biological Father returns and she doesn't know whether to trust him and how he will fit into her life. This was another part I couldn't connect with. I liked how the story unfolded but I wanted more from it. More explanation on what her Father does and why/how things went about with him and Stassia's mother. We did get some vague explantions here and there and I found his contribution interesting but I just wanted a little more from it.
Even though the Step Father/ Step Daughter relationship didn't bother me while reading this, what did bother me was the fact that Dominic and Stassia knew each other from when she was 10. She had a crush on him and fell 'in love at first sight' at 10 years old, He obviously was unaware but he started off as her teacher and then married her mother so he had a Fatherly presence in her life for 7-8 years before anything physical happened (when she was 18). At one point Stassia's friend tried to justify this as 'oh but they didn't really like each other and had a hate/animosity towards each other' so that makes it 'ok', to me this didn't sit right as it didn't matter what type of relationship they had prior to their physical one I couldn't get over or disassociate with this part of the story.
The ending. I didn't like how the story ended where it did, there were definitely a few pivotal scenes and interactions that I was hoping we would get to see on page but most of it was briefly added in the epilogue.
I did enjoy this story and would reccomend it to those who are interested in this type of unconventional and taboo romance. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
This was my first book by QB Tyler and I have heard from many friends that her stories are unconventional but great reads so when I first read the blurb for Love Unexpected my interests were peaked. I went in with an open mind knowing the nature of this relationship might not be for everyone and honestly I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. The writing style was something I connected with and the flow of the story felt smooth and easy to read.
I liked how the relationship between Stassia and Dominic never felt justified or glorified. Both characters, Dominic more than Stassia, struggled at times with starting a relationship then struggled with how their relationship would be perceived and how it wouldn't be easily accepted. This started off as a slow burn romance with both characters grieving the loss of Stassia's mother then soon their relationship turned into much more. This story had a lot of emotion to it which I enjoyed.
The steam factor in this book is high, intense and straight up fire. I needed a minute or two to cool down. Even though I did enjoy the steam factor there was a few times I had to skim/skip sections as the whole 'Daddy' kink/play is really not my thing. I knew going into this story that, that would be a factor and I found I could still enjoy the story despite not liking those aspects so if that is something you enjoy then you should read this book.
The few parts of the story I couldn't connect with were :
Stassia's character. I understood her and her grief but a lot of the time she came off as immature, judgemental and bratty which I expect since she is an 18 year old but if she is 'mature' enough to want to be in a realtionship with her 40 year old step father, then I would've loved to have seen that character growth from her. She did have some towards the end but I would've loved to have seen more depth from her.
During this story Stassia was dealing with the loss of her Mother and suddenly her Biological Father returns and she doesn't know whether to trust him and how he will fit into her life. This was another part I couldn't connect with. I liked how the story unfolded but I wanted more from it. More explanation on what her Father does and why/how things went about with him and Stassia's mother. We did get some vague explantions here and there and I found his contribution interesting but I just wanted a little more from it.
Even though the Step Father/ Step Daughter relationship didn't bother me while reading this, what did bother me was the fact that Dominic and Stassia knew each other from when she was 10. She had a crush on him and fell 'in love at first sight' at 10 years old, He obviously was unaware but he started off as her teacher and then married her mother so he had a Fatherly presence in her life for 7-8 years before anything physical happened (when she was 18). At one point Stassia's friend tried to justify this as 'oh but they didn't really like each other and had a hate/animosity towards each other' so that makes it 'ok', to me this didn't sit right as it didn't matter what type of relationship they had prior to their physical one I couldn't get over or disassociate with this part of the story.
The ending. I didn't like how the story ended where it did, there were definitely a few pivotal scenes and interactions that I was hoping we would get to see on page but most of it was briefly added in the epilogue.
I did enjoy this story and would reccomend it to those who are interested in this type of unconventional and taboo romance. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
Release Date: August 12
I’d only wanted one kiss.
One kiss, under the dark of night, in a city where no one knew us.
One kiss fueled by my hormones and alcohol and the blinding grief over losing my mother.
One kiss from the man I told myself was untouchable.
But, it didn’t stop at one kiss.
And now we are running full speed down a road with no intention of stopping.
His touch disarms me.
His kiss revives me.
But, our love, could destroy me.
*This is a taboo novel and is intended for mature audiences only.
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Meet Q.B. Tyler
Write. Wine. Work. Repeat.
A look inside the mind of a not so ex-party girl’s escape from her crazy life.
Hailing from the Nation's Capital, Q.B. Tyler, spends her days constructing her "happily ever afters" with a twist, featuring sassy heroines and the heroes that worship them. But most importantly the love story that develops despite inconvenient circumstances.
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