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Cane #1
Wanting Mr. Cane
KANDY
It was love at first sight when I met Mr. Cane.
He was handsome, broody, tattooed, and rich. For years, he's been mine. He just didn't know it.
I wasn't expecting to fall in love with him, or for him to want me in the ways that he did.
None of it was ever supposed to happen, but after all we've done together, it's too late to turn back now. A once harmless crush had blossomed into so much more.
CANE
When we first met, she was just a kid - my best friend's daughter. A sweet, young girl with a big heart. But now, she's a young woman who knows what she wants, and all she wants is me.
I've tried holding back, pretending the connection meant nothing, but my sweet candy cane made it impossible. If anyone finds out, I'll be ruined. I've worked too hard to lose everything I've built. But there's just something about her that tempts me, making me want to sacrifice just about anything to have her.
It was love at first sight when I met Mr. Cane.
He was handsome, broody, tattooed, and rich. For years, he's been mine. He just didn't know it.
I wasn't expecting to fall in love with him, or for him to want me in the ways that he did.
None of it was ever supposed to happen, but after all we've done together, it's too late to turn back now. A once harmless crush had blossomed into so much more.
CANE
When we first met, she was just a kid - my best friend's daughter. A sweet, young girl with a big heart. But now, she's a young woman who knows what she wants, and all she wants is me.
I've tried holding back, pretending the connection meant nothing, but my sweet candy cane made it impossible. If anyone finds out, I'll be ruined. I've worked too hard to lose everything I've built. But there's just something about her that tempts me, making me want to sacrifice just about anything to have her.
314 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Shanora Williams
70 books5,731 followersShanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romance and diverse suspense novels.
She currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina and is the mother of three amazing boys, has a fiercely devoted and supportive husband, and is a sister to eleven.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services. Visit her at shanorawilliams.com or interact with her on Instagram @reallyshanora.
Follow me:
Instagram: Instagram.com/reallyshanora
Facebook: Facebook.com/ShanoraWilliamsAuthor
Facebook Fan Group: Facebook.com/groups/ShanorasSweethearts
Twitter: Twitter.com/shanorawilliams
She currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina and is the mother of three amazing boys, has a fiercely devoted and supportive husband, and is a sister to eleven.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services. Visit her at shanorawilliams.com or interact with her on Instagram @reallyshanora.
Follow me:
Instagram: Instagram.com/reallyshanora
Facebook: Facebook.com/ShanoraWilliamsAuthor
Facebook Fan Group: Facebook.com/groups/ShanorasSweethearts
Twitter: Twitter.com/shanorawilliams
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,073 reviews
November 22, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Wanting Mr. Cane, book 1 of 4. The against-all-odds secret love affair between student & the elusive Mr. Cane, her father’s best friend!
“He studied me briefly before taking a step back. He swept his eyes over me, fixing his shirt. “You’d let me teach you? Dominate you?” he asked.”
Book 1: Wanting Mr. Cane
Book 2: Breaking Mr. Cane
Book 3: Loving Mr. Cane
Book 4: Being Mrs. Cane
Wanting Mr. Cane (book 1) is the opening to the ultra-forbidden and impossible love between tatted bad boy CEO Mr. Cane and his best friend’s daughter Kandy Jennings, Bits.
“What do you think of Kelly?" he asked.
"She's pretty," I admitted.
He smirked. "I know." He hung his jacket on the coat rack. "Jealous?”
Quintin Cane, Cane will do a good job of keeping Kandy at arm’s lengths and on her toes. His hot-cold demeaner drives the story and fuels the intensity of their encounters. Eleven words to describe Cane: Complex, enigmatic, mercurial, cocky, commanding, misguided, reckless, broken, kinky, intense and selfish.
“I just…I don’t know if I’ll be able to be gentle enough with you, Kandy. I’ll try to be, but if there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s that I like to fuck…. hard.”
Kandy Jennings, Bits held her own. Eight words to describe Kandy Determined, strong, fierce, smart, trusting, focused, reflective and impressionable.
“For me, the taste of his mouth would never be erased. Everything about him was engraved in me, seared deep, and soaked in my blood cells—his touch, his smell, even the taste of his cum.”
Wanting Mr. Cane, told from dual POVs, is a doomed May-December affair of epic proportions. As the story unravels it portrays the complexity of Cane and Kandy’s attraction further complicated by lies, secrets, betrayal, jealousy, lust and revenge. It ends leading right to book 2, Breaking Mr. Cane. for the continuation of their story.
All-consuming! Reckless! Complex! Seductive!
“Cane’s tongue rolled over his bottom lip as he studied me. His eyes were smoldering and hungry. It was a short look. A fleeting glance.”
***
Hero: ★★★★★
Heroine: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
Storytelling: ★★★★★
Sexual tension: ★★★★★
Sex scenes: ★★★★★
Story ending: N/A
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Darkness: | LOW FOCUS |
Humor: | LOW FOCUS |
Kink: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Suspense: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
June 8, 2018
➳Forbidden, kinky, sexy, and absolutely hot in every retrospective. That's what Shanora Williams writes in all her down right sexy romances that will have you wanting for more...
➳I find it funny how I seriously talk about sugar daddy's all the time with with my friends Nancy, Yasmin, and Nissa and how we are seriously in the down right look-out for one for each one of us. Of course that does not mean that there is a sugar daddy in this forbidden romance, but the kinky behind it all, the appearance of how Quinton Cane is makes it seem that he is the perfect bad boy sugar daddy. I can never be amazed enough at how Shanora writes romance novels that actually make you crave for more forbidden aspects of all her characters. In this case, one would say that Cane and Kandy have out-spoken their true desires towards each other. The angst that builds in this compelling love story is the one aspect that holds the characters strong together. "Sparks fly" is not enough to describe the attraction these two have. Light up a match with fuel and then you get what the true chemistry between Cane and Kandy is.
➳Jealousy is present, different opinions about each other are said, the wanting to be near each is overwhelming, but internally their inner battles of fighting what is wrong and write is what makes them pause their actions to take the long run. Kandy wants her first time to be with the one that she craves every day, thinks about all the time, and wants her as much as she does. Cane, being Kandy's father's best friend he thinks that everything he thinks and does in the aspect of being intimate with Kandy is wrong. Betraying him is the last thing Cane wants, but his desire for Kandy is one that he will never be able to diminish;
➳This is a short review because if I say a lot, spoilers are present and one must read this forbidden romance no matter what. I want to say more but for the sake of spoilers I will not. If you are one who is looking for a story that has a massive age gap then I don't recommend reading this one. But if the kinky side of you wants some of Cane's masculine aurora, then this novel is the ideal story for you.
➳ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review...
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➳I find it funny how I seriously talk about sugar daddy's all the time with with my friends Nancy, Yasmin, and Nissa and how we are seriously in the down right look-out for one for each one of us. Of course that does not mean that there is a sugar daddy in this forbidden romance, but the kinky behind it all, the appearance of how Quinton Cane is makes it seem that he is the perfect bad boy sugar daddy. I can never be amazed enough at how Shanora writes romance novels that actually make you crave for more forbidden aspects of all her characters. In this case, one would say that Cane and Kandy have out-spoken their true desires towards each other. The angst that builds in this compelling love story is the one aspect that holds the characters strong together. "Sparks fly" is not enough to describe the attraction these two have. Light up a match with fuel and then you get what the true chemistry between Cane and Kandy is.
➳Jealousy is present, different opinions about each other are said, the wanting to be near each is overwhelming, but internally their inner battles of fighting what is wrong and write is what makes them pause their actions to take the long run. Kandy wants her first time to be with the one that she craves every day, thinks about all the time, and wants her as much as she does. Cane, being Kandy's father's best friend he thinks that everything he thinks and does in the aspect of being intimate with Kandy is wrong. Betraying him is the last thing Cane wants, but his desire for Kandy is one that he will never be able to diminish;
"Despite the right and the wrongs.
Despite my age and naivety.
I saw in his eyes the same look I'd seen the night he finger-fucked me.
Hunger. Lust. Confusion.
Even though I knew the consequences—feared knowing my father could find out how I felt about Cane and what I wanted him to do to me—I was tempted to make him sin all over again..."
➳This is a short review because if I say a lot, spoilers are present and one must read this forbidden romance no matter what. I want to say more but for the sake of spoilers I will not. If you are one who is looking for a story that has a massive age gap then I don't recommend reading this one. But if the kinky side of you wants some of Cane's masculine aurora, then this novel is the ideal story for you.
➳ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review...
➳Follow Me On:
Blog ♕ Instagram ♕ Facebook ♕ Twitter
September 21, 2022
THIS WAS SO FREAKING GOOD. Dad's best friend at it's finest! Kandy has always had a special connection with Cane, and she's always loved him. Cane cares about his best friend's daughter, but he's never felt anything more. Until now. Kandy and Cane connect over something that happens to both of them and they quickly give into their attraction and emotional connection. There is definite cheating in here because Cane is dating someone else, so be aware of that. I just loved the relationship between these two and how hard they fell. Cane would do ANYTHING for Kandy and I loved it. This does end on a cliffhanger, so be ready to pick up book two asap!
June 13, 2018
3 Angst-filled Stars
I love Shanora Williams. She writes good erotica books, that is short and sweet. Wanting Mr. Cane is not.
First off, I was really intrigued by the summary. Kandy is young, she’s 18 and she’s had a crush on Mr. Cane (35 years old), her dad’s best friend since she was nine years old.
The book started out great and I really liked the flow. I liked how Kandy and Cane had this love / hate relationship. She didn’t always fall to his feet and I liked how he would take her out. Everything was really innocent and I liked how he never really thought much about her in that sexual way.
As much as I like a feisty young gal, I didn’t like Kandy crawling all over Mr. Cane and seducing him. I know that’s the whole point of the book right? I guess what really got to me was that Cane had a girlfriend and she was really nice. The cheating didn’t really bother me at first because the girlfriend was kind of a side character, but as you read more of the book she become more apparent and then I started to get angry.
I didn’t like that Cane strung his girlfriend along and at the same time playing a hot and cold game with Kandy. He would pull her in, only to push her away and she was a doormat taking any crumbs he was willing to give. I didn’t like the angst factor of the book and some parts were kind of draggy. I did start to skim towards the end.
I didn’t feel like the book should have been a duet and I felt like Cane shouldn’t have played with Kandy so much. I felt like Kandy should have had more of a back bone.
What got me really upset was the ending. Look, I knew there would be a mega cliff-hanger and I was ready for it and when I realized what kind of cliff-hanger it was, I kind of rolled my eyes and was like REALLY?
Ug, I’m not sure if I can handle the second book.
I guess I had expectations of this being an easy, fast pace smutty read and I got a really angsty, hot book. I didn’t mind the hotness factor, I got that, but blah the angst. Not my cuppa.
I love Shanora Williams. She writes good erotica books, that is short and sweet. Wanting Mr. Cane is not.
First off, I was really intrigued by the summary. Kandy is young, she’s 18 and she’s had a crush on Mr. Cane (35 years old), her dad’s best friend since she was nine years old.
The book started out great and I really liked the flow. I liked how Kandy and Cane had this love / hate relationship. She didn’t always fall to his feet and I liked how he would take her out. Everything was really innocent and I liked how he never really thought much about her in that sexual way.
As much as I like a feisty young gal, I didn’t like Kandy crawling all over Mr. Cane and seducing him. I know that’s the whole point of the book right? I guess what really got to me was that Cane had a girlfriend and she was really nice. The cheating didn’t really bother me at first because the girlfriend was kind of a side character, but as you read more of the book she become more apparent and then I started to get angry.
I didn’t like that Cane strung his girlfriend along and at the same time playing a hot and cold game with Kandy. He would pull her in, only to push her away and she was a doormat taking any crumbs he was willing to give. I didn’t like the angst factor of the book and some parts were kind of draggy. I did start to skim towards the end.
I didn’t feel like the book should have been a duet and I felt like Cane shouldn’t have played with Kandy so much. I felt like Kandy should have had more of a back bone.
What got me really upset was the ending. Look, I knew there would be a mega cliff-hanger and I was ready for it and when I realized what kind of cliff-hanger it was, I kind of rolled my eyes and was like REALLY?
Ug, I’m not sure if I can handle the second book.
I guess I had expectations of this being an easy, fast pace smutty read and I got a really angsty, hot book. I didn’t mind the hotness factor, I got that, but blah the angst. Not my cuppa.
June 11, 2018
There is angst and hot steamy sex in Cane and Kandy’s story with surprising revelations along the way.
I enjoyed it a good deal. My rating is actually like a 3.75 but I'm rounding up because I think the author crafted a well developed story with interesting characters.
In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 1/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 3/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 3/5
I enjoyed it a good deal. My rating is actually like a 3.75 but I'm rounding up because I think the author crafted a well developed story with interesting characters.
In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 4/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 1/5 | Secondary Characters 3/5 | Drama-Conflict 3/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 3/5
June 21, 2020
So hot and I am here for it.
June 7, 2018
3.5 “Quinton Cane was hard for me, and I wanted him. Bad.” Stars
This was a pretty good read.
Taboo - daddy’s much older best friend
Slow burn with a ton of sexual tension and build up.
It is pretty slow for most of the book. Building all of the relationships and hinting at back stories. Then the twist at the end is very very soap opera gasp and grab your chest moment.
My only complaint is that this book felt a bit long for no real reason. I mean MAYBE those reasons will be revealed in the following books though. Since this ends in a cliffhanger. The author said that she will be releasing monthly though, so not too much of a wait between books.
This was a pretty good read.
Taboo - daddy’s much older best friend
Slow burn with a ton of sexual tension and build up.
It is pretty slow for most of the book. Building all of the relationships and hinting at back stories. Then the twist at the end is very very soap opera gasp and grab your chest moment.
My only complaint is that this book felt a bit long for no real reason. I mean MAYBE those reasons will be revealed in the following books though. Since this ends in a cliffhanger. The author said that she will be releasing monthly though, so not too much of a wait between books.
Read
December 5, 2022❛We were best when we were alone. Just us. Uninterrupted.❜
February 25, 2019
DNF@76% So I have finally given in and decided to end the torture. As you can see from the 76% mark I tried so hard to read this book and finish it. First because I'm currently obsessing on age gap books. Unfortunately I knew immediately that this book wasn't going to work for me. I thought the story and characters were boring and IMO the writing was awkward and flat. The reason I didn't put it down immediately was because I wanted to give the author a chance to get into a flow. While it's not common I have had a couple of instances where I didn't like how a book started but as I read on it got better and I moved on to love the series. Second I hate the fact that this is my second DNF and it's only February. Anyway as I tried to at least finish this one I came to the conclusion that I really don't care what happens with these characters and I know it ends with a cliffhanger and I have no plans on continuing.
June 6, 2018
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
5 "I need a Mr. Cane in my life" Stars!!!!!
JAW. MEET. FLOOR. What in the ever living hell with that cliffhanger?!?!?! Shanora, you have some explaining to do! Honestly, I can't wait for July, I need the next book now! Ugggggh, I have so many questions. I'm pacing back and forth just thinking about how it's all going to play out. SMH
Wanting Mr. Cane was a sinfully forbidden romance filled with the right amount of heat, come hither moments, suspense and add to that a delicious slow burn. I wasn't expecting the emotional punch this story would give me. I admit, I did shed a few tears. I was hooked, this story gripped me and for the life of me didn't want to let go.
Kandy and Cane were two characters that knew if they gave in to what they were feeling, there'd be consequences. From a young age Kandy started developing feelings for her fathers best friend. Seventeen years her senior she knew it was wrong, but couldn't help what she felt for him. As much as Cane tried he couldn't stop the attraction he felt for Kandy. Not wanting to jeopardize his friendship with Kandy's father, he tried to do the right thing, but trying and actually doing are two different things. And it's only a matter of time before temptation takes over, and the caving begins.
I'm just going to say this right here and now, Cane can dominate me. And I, for one am not into that s*** but for him I'd do whatever he wanted. He definitely got me all hot and bothered. *fans self*
One more thing. I'm obviously trying to keep this review spoiler free. And I don't want to give anything away. So, if forbidden romances are your jam, I definitely with a cherry on top recommend you read this! And I bet you'd fall just as hard for Mr. Cane as much as I did.
5 "I need a Mr. Cane in my life" Stars!!!!!
JAW. MEET. FLOOR. What in the ever living hell with that cliffhanger?!?!?! Shanora, you have some explaining to do! Honestly, I can't wait for July, I need the next book now! Ugggggh, I have so many questions. I'm pacing back and forth just thinking about how it's all going to play out. SMH
Wanting Mr. Cane was a sinfully forbidden romance filled with the right amount of heat, come hither moments, suspense and add to that a delicious slow burn. I wasn't expecting the emotional punch this story would give me. I admit, I did shed a few tears. I was hooked, this story gripped me and for the life of me didn't want to let go.
Kandy and Cane were two characters that knew if they gave in to what they were feeling, there'd be consequences. From a young age Kandy started developing feelings for her fathers best friend. Seventeen years her senior she knew it was wrong, but couldn't help what she felt for him. As much as Cane tried he couldn't stop the attraction he felt for Kandy. Not wanting to jeopardize his friendship with Kandy's father, he tried to do the right thing, but trying and actually doing are two different things. And it's only a matter of time before temptation takes over, and the caving begins.
I'm just going to say this right here and now, Cane can dominate me. And I, for one am not into that s*** but for him I'd do whatever he wanted. He definitely got me all hot and bothered. *fans self*
One more thing. I'm obviously trying to keep this review spoiler free. And I don't want to give anything away. So, if forbidden romances are your jam, I definitely with a cherry on top recommend you read this! And I bet you'd fall just as hard for Mr. Cane as much as I did.
Read
August 23, 2020dnf @ 55%
I’m not into cheating especially when the gf is a real sweetie and also Kandy is super immature and he’s an asswipe. I could have pushed through but then I realised it was a three part series and I don’t care enough to put myself through that. Also Kandy Cane??? I’d k word myself if that was gonna be my future name.
I’m not into cheating especially when the gf is a real sweetie and also Kandy is super immature and he’s an asswipe. I could have pushed through but then I realised it was a three part series and I don’t care enough to put myself through that. Also Kandy Cane??? I’d k word myself if that was gonna be my future name.
January 14, 2022
Her dad was shot and all she can think about his Cane’s dick? Gurll 😶stop being a horny bitch. Your dad dying.
June 10, 2018
I have so many issues, I don't even know where to start.
First of all, this is a touchy subject and maybe little taboo. So, if I was an author writing a story about a hero that's 17 years older than the barely legal (she was 18) heroine - and he knew her since she was 9 year old, i would definitely make it just a super hot erotica novel.
Why drag it for so long and basically waste my kindle battery on drama, a little girl's diary notes and insignificant dialogues.
He's not a hero that made me fall in love with him and she's just a girl with a crush. Some parts were hot, I won't deny that, but that like 5% of the book?
Also, be aware, it ends with a cliffhanger, so...
First of all, this is a touchy subject and maybe little taboo. So, if I was an author writing a story about a hero that's 17 years older than the barely legal (she was 18) heroine - and he knew her since she was 9 year old, i would definitely make it just a super hot erotica novel.
Why drag it for so long and basically waste my kindle battery on drama, a little girl's diary notes and insignificant dialogues.
He's not a hero that made me fall in love with him and she's just a girl with a crush. Some parts were hot, I won't deny that, but that like 5% of the book?
Also, be aware, it ends with a cliffhanger, so...
November 10, 2018
dnf
Poorly written with uninteresting characters that all they could think about was sex, a doormat and immature heroine and hero who fell in lust with her out of the blue but kept stringing along his girlfriend.
This is one my favourite tropes ever, so it goes a long way to show that it's not just about what you write but how you write it as well.
I cannot finish this book, let alone go on for 4 more books so I'm out now that it's still early.
Poorly written with uninteresting characters that all they could think about was sex, a doormat and immature heroine and hero who fell in lust with her out of the blue but kept stringing along his girlfriend.
This is one my favourite tropes ever, so it goes a long way to show that it's not just about what you write but how you write it as well.
I cannot finish this book, let alone go on for 4 more books so I'm out now that it's still early.
March 10, 2022
I would've given it 1 stars for the fact that Cane was a literal man child, but I'll give it 2 because of the smut 😶💅.
I feel like there's no other way to describe it other than the fact that this book was so dry- like the conversations were either really boring or so unbelievably awkward- PLS THE SECOND-HAND EMBARRASSMENT THAT I FELT.
I for the life of me, cannot describe what the hell this book was about, it was just so random- if anything it was just disappointing.
It started off pretty well but just went downhill SO FAST. Kandy was just so immature I truly couldn't deal with it. And please, don't even get started on that poor excuse of a hero. This man was honestly pretty pathetic if I do say so myself, it's been a while since I've read a book where the hero acted like such a child- even though he was meant to be the 'adult' in the relationship (let's not talk about his fragile ego and dry personality).
I genuinely didn't care for a single character in this book.
And please, halfway through the book, the storyline completely changed and was suddenly about how the father has a drinking problem, and racial problems within their country- let's not forget about the whole Adele segment- PLEASE HOW WAS ANY OF THAT RELEVANT?? I'M STILL IN SHOCK TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
The only good thing about the book for me was the smut (I said what I said). It was actually pretty funny, because whenever anything remotely spicey would happen, Cane would literally have a whole-ass personality trait- which we love.
I'm just really disappointed, because I was genuinely really excited to read this book- I mean I just love myself a good age-gap romance- I love the angst (which this did not have). There is just absolutely no way that I'm going to continue this series. And Cane, why don't you try acting like a man? (Tattoos don't make you badass 🥰✌).
Oh and if I see someone say 'Kandy Cane' one more time with their goofy quirky attitude, Imma just 🤜.
Oh, and I literally hated the ending- I can't believe I actually put myself through all of that. That's all.
I feel like there's no other way to describe it other than the fact that this book was so dry- like the conversations were either really boring or so unbelievably awkward- PLS THE SECOND-HAND EMBARRASSMENT THAT I FELT.
I for the life of me, cannot describe what the hell this book was about, it was just so random- if anything it was just disappointing.
It started off pretty well but just went downhill SO FAST. Kandy was just so immature I truly couldn't deal with it. And please, don't even get started on that poor excuse of a hero. This man was honestly pretty pathetic if I do say so myself, it's been a while since I've read a book where the hero acted like such a child- even though he was meant to be the 'adult' in the relationship (let's not talk about his fragile ego and dry personality).
I genuinely didn't care for a single character in this book.
And please, halfway through the book, the storyline completely changed and was suddenly about how the father has a drinking problem, and racial problems within their country- let's not forget about the whole Adele segment- PLEASE HOW WAS ANY OF THAT RELEVANT?? I'M STILL IN SHOCK TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
The only good thing about the book for me was the smut (I said what I said). It was actually pretty funny, because whenever anything remotely spicey would happen, Cane would literally have a whole-ass personality trait- which we love.
I'm just really disappointed, because I was genuinely really excited to read this book- I mean I just love myself a good age-gap romance- I love the angst (which this did not have). There is just absolutely no way that I'm going to continue this series. And Cane, why don't you try acting like a man? (Tattoos don't make you badass 🥰✌).
Oh and if I see someone say 'Kandy Cane' one more time with their goofy quirky attitude, Imma just 🤜.
Oh, and I literally hated the ending- I can't believe I actually put myself through all of that. That's all.
September 4, 2018
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February 13, 2021
was it readable? yes
do I want to continue with the trilogy? no
she is 18 and he is 35 and he is her father's friend
nothing happens until she is 18 but she has a crush on him since she was 9
so kind of gross and not really my thing...
do I want to continue with the trilogy? no
she is 18 and he is 35 and he is her father's friend
nothing happens until she is 18 but she has a crush on him since she was 9
so kind of gross and not really my thing...
May 30, 2018
4 taboo stars for this "dad's best friend" story. I didn't realize going into it that it was part of a series so about 60% I was questioning the slow burn. It was good, just felt a little slow...no major drama or angst up to that point. However, that did eventually pick up and left me wanting more.
We're introduced to the MCs when they're younger but the majority of the book takes place when Cane is 35 and Kandy is 18. They met when she was 9 and Cane would spend time at their house. Over the years her innocent crush turned into an attraction she couldn't resist.
Talk about hot-hot-hot interactions. Cane was fire when he got Kandy alone, his dominant side coming out. I love how she wasn't completely shy around him either and knew what she wanted. But there was so much guilt for both of them, knowing that what they're doing would hurt her dad if he ever found out.
And let's not even discuss the Kelly drama. Uggh. Who knew...
By the end I was ready to throw my Kindle with that cliffy - nooooo, I need to know what happens next! With Derek, Cane's background, Kelly, Candy & Kane's relationship....need.answers.now.
So although it was a little slow getting me to the ending, I'm totally invested now and ready for the next book!
We're introduced to the MCs when they're younger but the majority of the book takes place when Cane is 35 and Kandy is 18. They met when she was 9 and Cane would spend time at their house. Over the years her innocent crush turned into an attraction she couldn't resist.
"Cane was mine, whether he knew it or not. He was always going to be mine. I just wished I could tell him."
Talk about hot-hot-hot interactions. Cane was fire when he got Kandy alone, his dominant side coming out. I love how she wasn't completely shy around him either and knew what she wanted. But there was so much guilt for both of them, knowing that what they're doing would hurt her dad if he ever found out.
"Being with you is fucked up, we both know that, but...it feels so fucking right. And sometimes I hate how right it feels. If it felt wrong, it'd be much easier to let go. End it."
And let's not even discuss the Kelly drama. Uggh. Who knew...
By the end I was ready to throw my Kindle with that cliffy - nooooo, I need to know what happens next! With Derek, Cane's background, Kelly, Candy & Kane's relationship....need.answers.now.
So although it was a little slow getting me to the ending, I'm totally invested now and ready for the next book!
Read
June 10, 2018DNF at 22%!
I loved Cane but Kandy...she grated my nerves really bad. That’s why I can’t read books like these very often. The little girl Kandy was way too young and childish to be thinking about a man 17 years older. lol Her diary thoughts. Don’t get me started. Her name Kandy and his last name Cane. Insert rolling eyes!
Off to find me another book:))
I loved Cane but Kandy...she grated my nerves really bad. That’s why I can’t read books like these very often. The little girl Kandy was way too young and childish to be thinking about a man 17 years older. lol Her diary thoughts. Don’t get me started. Her name Kandy and his last name Cane. Insert rolling eyes!
Off to find me another book:))
March 31, 2022
4.5 stars!!!!!!!!
I usually don’t like taboo age gap romance…but this was sooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!! 😍😍
I usually don’t like taboo age gap romance…but this was sooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!! 😍😍
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 18, 2023DNF @ 45%
The heroine is too childish and whinny and I’m not in the mood to deal with these type of people today 🙄
The heroine is too childish and whinny and I’m not in the mood to deal with these type of people today 🙄
June 8, 2018
This book was 😏👀😏😈🔥🔥🤤🤤🔥😱🙄😒🤬🤬🤬 and I loved it!
Wanting Mr. Cane was angsty, HOT, and exactly what I needed at the moment. I love forbidden romances and this was just that. Kandy has had a crush on Mr. Cane ever since she was nine. He was a tatted up man that kinda freaked her out the first time they met but her father reassured her that he was a good guy. From there, they kind of formed a friendship. And then Kandy is an adult...and Mr. Cane is as hot as ever.
The thing is... Mr. Cane is her dad's best friend.
He's off-limits.
Everything Kandy wants but can't have. ;)
I loved these two together. Mr. Cane didn't want to give in to the feelings he had over his best friend's daughter but with time he knew he couldn't avoid it.
This line right here was 🙌🏼😈
I. Was. Dead. 🔥
I didn't know this book was going to be a series until I was about halfway through and because of that I was a little wary about how this book would turn out. But I wasn't disappointed and I can't wait to read more of them.
Wanting Mr. Cane was angsty, HOT, and exactly what I needed at the moment. I love forbidden romances and this was just that. Kandy has had a crush on Mr. Cane ever since she was nine. He was a tatted up man that kinda freaked her out the first time they met but her father reassured her that he was a good guy. From there, they kind of formed a friendship. And then Kandy is an adult...and Mr. Cane is as hot as ever.
The thing is... Mr. Cane is her dad's best friend.
He's off-limits.
Everything Kandy wants but can't have. ;)
I loved these two together. Mr. Cane didn't want to give in to the feelings he had over his best friend's daughter but with time he knew he couldn't avoid it.
This line right here was 🙌🏼😈
"Don't be greedy," I crooned. "Savor it. Enjoy it. Feel me."
I. Was. Dead. 🔥
I didn't know this book was going to be a series until I was about halfway through and because of that I was a little wary about how this book would turn out. But I wasn't disappointed and I can't wait to read more of them.
October 11, 2019
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars
TROPES: AGE GAP. FORBIDDEN ROMANCE (FATHERS BEST FRIEND)
There's something about a deliciously forbidden read that reels me in. Perhaps it's the constant tug at the heartstrings- knowing that two people shouldn't be together but simply cannot help themselves in the name of love- that consumes me. It could also be the knowledge that two people are going to go through serious, life altering hurdles in order to find peace with each other, that draws me to these gritty reads. Either way, I love a book with a forbidden story line and Shanora knows how to write it for her readers.
Wanting Mr. Cane was an unexpected novel for me. I knew the book was going to be angst filled and enticing, but I didn't realize how taboo it would actually be. You see, Mr. Cane and Kandy have had their eyes on each other since she was 11 years old. (PS: He's not a pervert, but there was always some sort of spark hanging around when the two of them were near). Kandy grew up with him as a sort of parental (or uncle) figure as he is best friends with her dad, so seeing the aching want and need the two had for one another felt sinful. One would think a man who has essentially watched a little girl blossom into a teenager wouldn't develop sexual feelings for her, but alas, this is were the taboo feels come from. It's like these two were soulmates from the very beginning only it needed time and age to come to fruition. I absolutely LOVED this.
Without speaking too much more about the plot, I will mention that there are many unanswered questions about Cane's past that plagued me throughout the story. I'm hoping that some of these issues will be brought to light in the coming books. This one also ended in a major cliffhanger that leaves readers gasping for air. Thankfully, the series is now complete so I don't have to wait and see what's going to happen for too long, but it certainly is a doozy. One that really angered me and left me breathless at the same time.
If you are a fan of age gap/forbidden romances where a young teenage girl and her father's best friend develop feelings for one another then this is a must read book/series. I'm excited to start in on the next on. I don't think I can go more than a few hours without knowing what is going to happen..
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars
TROPES: AGE GAP. FORBIDDEN ROMANCE (FATHERS BEST FRIEND)
There's something about a deliciously forbidden read that reels me in. Perhaps it's the constant tug at the heartstrings- knowing that two people shouldn't be together but simply cannot help themselves in the name of love- that consumes me. It could also be the knowledge that two people are going to go through serious, life altering hurdles in order to find peace with each other, that draws me to these gritty reads. Either way, I love a book with a forbidden story line and Shanora knows how to write it for her readers.
Wanting Mr. Cane was an unexpected novel for me. I knew the book was going to be angst filled and enticing, but I didn't realize how taboo it would actually be. You see, Mr. Cane and Kandy have had their eyes on each other since she was 11 years old. (PS: He's not a pervert, but there was always some sort of spark hanging around when the two of them were near). Kandy grew up with him as a sort of parental (or uncle) figure as he is best friends with her dad, so seeing the aching want and need the two had for one another felt sinful. One would think a man who has essentially watched a little girl blossom into a teenager wouldn't develop sexual feelings for her, but alas, this is were the taboo feels come from. It's like these two were soulmates from the very beginning only it needed time and age to come to fruition. I absolutely LOVED this.
Kissing her felt like I was both drowning and breathing at the same time.
Without speaking too much more about the plot, I will mention that there are many unanswered questions about Cane's past that plagued me throughout the story. I'm hoping that some of these issues will be brought to light in the coming books. This one also ended in a major cliffhanger that leaves readers gasping for air. Thankfully, the series is now complete so I don't have to wait and see what's going to happen for too long, but it certainly is a doozy. One that really angered me and left me breathless at the same time.
Wanting you is a beautiful challenge, Kandy Cane, and though it’s complicated, I don’t want to figure this one out anytime soon.
If you are a fan of age gap/forbidden romances where a young teenage girl and her father's best friend develop feelings for one another then this is a must read book/series. I'm excited to start in on the next on. I don't think I can go more than a few hours without knowing what is going to happen..
June 4, 2018
Wanting Mr. Cane (Cane #1)
By Shanora Williams
4.5 Sham-Wow Stars!!!
One thing for sure, Shanora Williams can sure write the older man, young girl books! After reading Tainted Black, when I heard she was writing another taboo, younger girl/older man book, I jumped up and down!!!
Are you willing to sacrifice many years of friendship with your best friend?
Can you forget that your best friend is the one who saved your mother?
All because you can’t get your best friends daughter out of your head…
Nor can she get you out of her head…
This is a tough one!
Kandy has watched Mr. Cane come over for years. Family dinners, always bringing Kandy a gift of chocolate. It’s once she realized the feelings in her stomach weren’t from disliking Mr. Cane, they were from falling for Mr. Cane.
Years have passed and Kandy is now 19 and getting ready to leave for college. She needs to make the move before she leaves.
Will these two throw in the towel and finally experience what they’ve both been wanting? Or will the family… The friendship… The taboo of the age difference, Stop them in their tracks?
Just when the story reaches the point of no return, we are left wanting to know more!!! Argh…thank goodness, the wait will only be a month to find out what happens <3
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By Shanora Williams
4.5 Sham-Wow Stars!!!
One thing for sure, Shanora Williams can sure write the older man, young girl books! After reading Tainted Black, when I heard she was writing another taboo, younger girl/older man book, I jumped up and down!!!
Are you willing to sacrifice many years of friendship with your best friend?
Can you forget that your best friend is the one who saved your mother?
All because you can’t get your best friends daughter out of your head…
Nor can she get you out of her head…
This is a tough one!
Kandy has watched Mr. Cane come over for years. Family dinners, always bringing Kandy a gift of chocolate. It’s once she realized the feelings in her stomach weren’t from disliking Mr. Cane, they were from falling for Mr. Cane.
Years have passed and Kandy is now 19 and getting ready to leave for college. She needs to make the move before she leaves.
Will these two throw in the towel and finally experience what they’ve both been wanting? Or will the family… The friendship… The taboo of the age difference, Stop them in their tracks?
Just when the story reaches the point of no return, we are left wanting to know more!!! Argh…thank goodness, the wait will only be a month to find out what happens <3
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Follow us on:
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April 26, 2022
I also want Mr. Cane
June 8, 2018
He's handsome, rich, tattooed....and her dad's best friend.
OH DAMN!!! THIS LOOKS HELLA HOT!!
DID SOMEONE SAY FORBIDDEN AGE GAP?! YESSS PLEASE!!!
#Forbidden #Taboo #AgeGap #BestFriendsDaughter #AlphaAlert
BLURB
KANDY
It was love at first sight when I met Mr. Cane.
He was handsome, broody, tattooed, and rich. For years, he’s been mine. He just didn’t know it.
I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with him, or for him to want me in the ways that he did.
None of it was ever supposed to happen, but after all we’ve done together, it’s too late to turn back now. A once harmless crush had blossomed into so much more.
CANE
When we first met, she was just a kid - my best friend’s daughter. A sweet, young girl with a big heart. But now, she’s a young woman who knows what she wants, and all she wants is me.
I’ve tried holding back, pretending the connection meant nothing, but my sweet candy cane made it impossible. If anyone finds out, I’ll be ruined. I’ve worked too hard to lose everything I’ve built. But there’s just something about her that tempts me, making me want to sacrifice just about anything to have her.
-----------------------
RELEASING ON JUNE 7TH, 2018!
RELEASE ALERT: http://bit.ly/2pq9OWU
BLOGGER ARCS: http://bit.ly/2rq5eMH
READER ARCS: http://bit.ly/2Dyd64l
------------------------
OH DAMN!!! THIS LOOKS HELLA HOT!!
DID SOMEONE SAY FORBIDDEN AGE GAP?! YESSS PLEASE!!!
#Forbidden #Taboo #AgeGap #BestFriendsDaughter #AlphaAlert
BLURB
KANDY
It was love at first sight when I met Mr. Cane.
He was handsome, broody, tattooed, and rich. For years, he’s been mine. He just didn’t know it.
I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with him, or for him to want me in the ways that he did.
None of it was ever supposed to happen, but after all we’ve done together, it’s too late to turn back now. A once harmless crush had blossomed into so much more.
CANE
When we first met, she was just a kid - my best friend’s daughter. A sweet, young girl with a big heart. But now, she’s a young woman who knows what she wants, and all she wants is me.
I’ve tried holding back, pretending the connection meant nothing, but my sweet candy cane made it impossible. If anyone finds out, I’ll be ruined. I’ve worked too hard to lose everything I’ve built. But there’s just something about her that tempts me, making me want to sacrifice just about anything to have her.
-----------------------
RELEASING ON JUNE 7TH, 2018!
RELEASE ALERT: http://bit.ly/2pq9OWU
BLOGGER ARCS: http://bit.ly/2rq5eMH
READER ARCS: http://bit.ly/2Dyd64l
------------------------
December 9, 2018
I wasn´t sure how I felt about this one for the first half, but when I started the second half of it I just couldn´t put it down. It really picked up for me.
Then came the end...and now I need to start the next one ASAP!
Then came the end...and now I need to start the next one ASAP!
May 25, 2021
Wow. I--wow.
Please don't mistake my speechlessness with astonishment, but rather interpret it as anger, confusion, and hilarity. This book was exceptionally bad. So bad in fact, that while I was reading it I craved to start my homework. And for that, I must award it with a standing ovation. It’s not everyday I read a book that is as astronomically awful as this one.
I initially began this book a few months ago, having thought the heroine was annoying and that the book lacked a plot that interested me. So, I stopped at the 50% mark thinking that I had endured the worst of it, under the impression that the rest of the story would be an ongoing repeat of what I had already read. Boy was I wrong. Boy did I wish I was right! I decided that I was going to give it a second chance, as the synopsis sounded promising, and I hadn't found many good books that delivered on this trope (age-gap). Now believe me when I say, you should almost always trust your initial reaction to books. Please, save yourself some time. Don't get me wrong, I didn't go into this book thinking it was going to be anything revolutionary. But, I did go into it thinking it would be a nice “forbidden” romance with smut and intriguing characters (preferably a strong heroine and a swoon-worthy Hero). I subsequently left the book thinking that I had barely been delivered one of those things. Now, let's get into it shall we!
*I would like to preface this rant/review by saying that this in no way intended to be an attack on the author, I am simply separating art from artist here
Kandy (heroine)
Wow did I hate this girl. Kandy is an 18 year old that was apparently 11 in 2007 and 18 in 2018. Now, I’m not great at math, in fact it’s one of my weaknesses, but something just isn't adding up. I digress. Kandy has been in love with Cane, her father’s best friend and our Hero, since she was 9 and he was 26. Now, I know you might be wondering, “What did she expect when reading an age-gap romance?” That was not my problem, my problem was the heroine; she was bratty, whiny, bland, immature, manipulative and annoying. I will admit, that book starts off kind of interesting. I loved the perspective of her younger self (9+) and the character build up, I also liked Cane, he seemed worthy of my lust. Little did I know, the maturity that this “perspective” consisted of, lasted the entire book. I have a very hard time believing that the heroine is 18. I know people who are in middle school, and the lot of them are more mature than Kandy. The present starts off with some small talk and time jumps in conjunction with some angst, we learn that the Hero has a girlfriend and, thanks to the time jump, has had one for months. We know this because they come to the heroine’s parents house for dinner on Saturdays. With this in mind, Kandy’s crush is still intact. But, don't worry she wouldn’t do anything about it, I mean he’s spoken for. At least not until her father gets shot twice and is having life altering surgery--then she decides to make a move, because who wouldn't? The timing is perfect! Not.
The entire story is Kandy attempting to seduce Cane. She does this with complete disregard of the relationships she would be ruining. All she cares about is getting her rocks off, and she doesn't care who she has to step on to do so. Including the person she is using in order to fulfill her horny desires, for example:
(This is when Kandy is at Cane’s house because her Dad had just been shot. He is attempting to comfort her and she is trying to kiss him. He does not want her advances, so he tells her no, in which she proceeds to disregard until she has made him horny enough to comply.)
“Kandy” he warned.
“What?”
“No.” A solid command that couldn’t be mistaken. I never liked being told no, though. Maybe he was right about the whole brat thing. I could act like a spoiled little girl when I wanted to. I liked things to go my way, and sometimes that made me pesky and infuriating.”
….Wtf?
Sorry, but the last time I checked, that was sexual assault. And this is a recurring theme throughout the story. Every time he tells her to stop, she does the exact opposite. This is one of the first glimpses we get at the heroine’s entitlement, manipulation, selfishness, and immaturity. Here is a quote we get after that whole ordeal:
(By this time, Cane has entered a state of shame and confusion. He tells the heroine that what happened was a mistake, and shares his worries of being condemned and left by his best friend (her Dad.))
I guess I couldn’t blame him, but when I said I wanted to make him sin again, I meant it. I was bad--so damn bad--and blinded by so much lust.
If this doesn't perfectly encapsulate her selfishness, I don't know what does.
Oh wait, here’s two last quotes to make you squirm:
(This is when Cane has come to the house to pick up Kandy’s Dad for a basketball game. He is sitting in the living room watching television with Kandy, she is trying to get on his lap and initiate in no no behavior. This is also after everything that just occurred.)
I knew what I was about to do was going to piss him off. I knew it was going to make him frustrated and annoyed, but what I also knew was that he was going to react to it. My actions would turn him on. He would most likely tell me to stop, but his body would be screaming for me to keep going.
“You’re a fucking kid, and not just any kid, you’re Derek’s kid, so get the hell off my lap.”
“No,” I snapped, staring him in the eyes. “I know that’s not what you want.”
Girl, consent matters. No means no believe it or not. I would seriously be scared to be alone in a room with this crazy chick.
Not only is she a creepy rapist that should be put on the sex offender registry, but she is also very manipulative. She would allude to doing things with other guys if Cane didn’t conform to what she was asking of him, she would sprinkle bad comments about his girlfriend into conversation despite not knowing if it was true or not, and she would seduce him when she knew he didn’t want to engage in any form of a romantic relationship with her.
(Here is her and her friend talking about how Kandy will seduce him while he is on a beach trip with them...and his girlfriend and his best friend.)
“I wouldn't mind it, but I know he won't do it”
“You never know. Maybe there will be another time where you two are alone. You took what you wanted twice before. Why not do it again? From what you’ve told me, he doesn't seem to be able to resist you.”
(This is after she insinuated that if he didn’t take her virginity, someone else would.)
He was jealous. That much was clear. Maybe my little backstabbing trick did work.
Cane was torn. I couldn’t believe I’d forced him into bringing me here and having us get to this point. Though I didn't exactly make it an ultimatum, I implied it by making it known that if he left me with my virginity while I was in college, I would probably give it to someone else.
All of this boils down to immaturity and selfishness. Kandy is a spoiled brat who has no character development. She is constantly bitchy to Kelly (the Hero’s girlfriend) when she does nothing wrong, she is whiny when things don't go her way, and she is told by literally everyone how pretty she is and sometimes it is too dramatic for me to stomach. Now I’m not saying it’s her fault she is pretty, but when the dialogue is this hyperbolic, I can't help but audibly laugh.
(This is when she is at Cane’s house going for a swim and there is a man that is apparently infatuated with her fixing his chandelier. The next quote is Cane speaking to her.)
Cane nodded, and then he looked at the man. That's when I realized he was ogling me--literally staring at me like a dog would a piece of meat.
You’re young and attractive, you can have any guy you want
(This is when she is leaving Cane’s house and her Mom is talking about how Kandy has to drive her home. Mind you, Kandy is 18 and can legally work most places, it is also summer so she doesn’t have school holding her back.)
I was still waiting on the day they’d give me a car. Mom and Dad had well-paying jobs, Mom in particular, but I was still carless at eighteen. It didn't make any sense to me why they weren’t spoiling me with a Maserati or a Tesla. Okay...that was a bit much, but still.
Um, I don't know, why don't you get a job? But, she shouldn't have to do that, so one chapter later her parents gift her with a brand new car! Yay! Ugh. She is a weak heroine that is poorly attempted to be written as strong. She would give into Cane’s demands despite being angry with him because she was so desperate, and I hated it. Anyways, I hate her.
Literally Everything Else
I won't go into too much detail about my disdain for literally everything else, but just know: I didn't like it. The Hero was awful. Despite being the CEO of a “million-dollar company” (which everyone brings up and I don't understand--if his company is only a million dollars, how does he have multiple houses, private planes, and luxurious cars? I would think that the company is at least worth several million dollars) and “harsh” while covered in tattoos and having a tragic past, he is spineless and a little creepy. He reminds me of a small little tiny kitten dressed up as a tiger. He complains about the “choice” he has to make all of the time:
Why do I have to choose between my best friend and what my heart and mind really desires
Not only did I think this was cowardly, I thought it was random too. At this point in time, he would be saying things in his mind along the lines of, “I can't give in...That was the last time” but wouldn’t show any of that through his actions. He always gave in to Kandy and her advances despite having a girlfriend that loved him a lot. He strung Kelly (his girlfriend) along for months, his inner dialogue often expressed his acknowledgement of her effort she was putting into the relationship like cuddling him in bed, buying them dinners, and wanting to spend more time with him. He typically commented that her trying to do these things was hopeless and pathetic but continued to use her for weeks after, agreeing to take her on a trip with his best friend’s family. He had no problem using her as a pawn in his relationship with Kandy. It’s not like Kelly even deserved his disdain either, she was sweet and nice. She understood that he had a traumatic past and that it’s difficult for him to love, but she still loved him anyway and continued to try to get to know him better. When she turned out to be the evil, stereotypical villain at the end, I cheered for her.
The writing in the book is pretty bad too. The words and tangents were repetitive, the theme of not showing and more telling happened consistently throughout the story, the plot was boring, none of the scenes with other characters were used as a progressive plot device and felt like a waste of my time, and the characters were annoyingly bad and two-dimensional. Here is a great example of how dry the dialogue was:
(This is when Kandy is on the phone with her mother and father who is telling her why she is quitting her job. Kandy learns that her boss tried to sexually assault her, and not only is her reaction drier than the Sahara Desert, but it’s also ironic considering she literally partakes in sexually assaulting others.)
“He tried to come onto your mother. He tried to kiss her! He’s lucky she calmed me down!” I gasped. “What? That jerk!”
Consistency is notably a huge problem in this book. Characters would often contradict themselves in order to create contrived plot twists and practical circumstances. This tells me that the author didn’t really plan out this book, but rather went with the flow of her writing. This isn’t always a bad thing, but when you create a bunch of discrepancies within your story, it takes away from the value knowing that what I just read doesn't matter, because you can just type in the next chapter that they didn't mean it or it never was how it seemed. Like, yes it was. There was absolutely no evidence of that not being the case.
Lastly, you can tell that the author wrote all of the POV’s. I hate when this happens. The entire time I was reading this book, I imagined the author writing the scenes. I do this usually when the dialogue is dry and lacking any purpose or depth. Words were often recycled and the book’s dialogue felt cyclical. Most of the time in a romance book, men use obscene language and only think about sex. Cane used the words “man” and “fuck” in every conversation with his best friend. EVERY CONVERSATION. It just didn't feel real, hence it did not peak my interest. Oh and look at this, oh my goodness I swear I thought I was reading a Sarah J. Maas book:
“Derek!” I barked.
“Fuck!” He roared.
I honestly might just read the second book to read about Kelly ruining the main characters lives for some series redemption.
But, I must say that the ending was very satisfying:
“Fuck you, Cane,” was the last thing I heard before the back of my head hit concrete and all I saw was black.”
Quite honestly, it almost made everything worth it.
(This was not planned or outlined, so I may have jumped around a lot--sorry about that. Also, as you read on, you can see my writing abilities start to deplete because I was so exasperated with having to write about these characters for way longer than I expected to lmao.)
Please don't mistake my speechlessness with astonishment, but rather interpret it as anger, confusion, and hilarity. This book was exceptionally bad. So bad in fact, that while I was reading it I craved to start my homework. And for that, I must award it with a standing ovation. It’s not everyday I read a book that is as astronomically awful as this one.
I initially began this book a few months ago, having thought the heroine was annoying and that the book lacked a plot that interested me. So, I stopped at the 50% mark thinking that I had endured the worst of it, under the impression that the rest of the story would be an ongoing repeat of what I had already read. Boy was I wrong. Boy did I wish I was right! I decided that I was going to give it a second chance, as the synopsis sounded promising, and I hadn't found many good books that delivered on this trope (age-gap). Now believe me when I say, you should almost always trust your initial reaction to books. Please, save yourself some time. Don't get me wrong, I didn't go into this book thinking it was going to be anything revolutionary. But, I did go into it thinking it would be a nice “forbidden” romance with smut and intriguing characters (preferably a strong heroine and a swoon-worthy Hero). I subsequently left the book thinking that I had barely been delivered one of those things. Now, let's get into it shall we!
*I would like to preface this rant/review by saying that this in no way intended to be an attack on the author, I am simply separating art from artist here
Kandy (heroine)
Wow did I hate this girl. Kandy is an 18 year old that was apparently 11 in 2007 and 18 in 2018. Now, I’m not great at math, in fact it’s one of my weaknesses, but something just isn't adding up. I digress. Kandy has been in love with Cane, her father’s best friend and our Hero, since she was 9 and he was 26. Now, I know you might be wondering, “What did she expect when reading an age-gap romance?” That was not my problem, my problem was the heroine; she was bratty, whiny, bland, immature, manipulative and annoying. I will admit, that book starts off kind of interesting. I loved the perspective of her younger self (9+) and the character build up, I also liked Cane, he seemed worthy of my lust. Little did I know, the maturity that this “perspective” consisted of, lasted the entire book. I have a very hard time believing that the heroine is 18. I know people who are in middle school, and the lot of them are more mature than Kandy. The present starts off with some small talk and time jumps in conjunction with some angst, we learn that the Hero has a girlfriend and, thanks to the time jump, has had one for months. We know this because they come to the heroine’s parents house for dinner on Saturdays. With this in mind, Kandy’s crush is still intact. But, don't worry she wouldn’t do anything about it, I mean he’s spoken for. At least not until her father gets shot twice and is having life altering surgery--then she decides to make a move, because who wouldn't? The timing is perfect! Not.
The entire story is Kandy attempting to seduce Cane. She does this with complete disregard of the relationships she would be ruining. All she cares about is getting her rocks off, and she doesn't care who she has to step on to do so. Including the person she is using in order to fulfill her horny desires, for example:
(This is when Kandy is at Cane’s house because her Dad had just been shot. He is attempting to comfort her and she is trying to kiss him. He does not want her advances, so he tells her no, in which she proceeds to disregard until she has made him horny enough to comply.)
“Kandy” he warned.
“What?”
“No.” A solid command that couldn’t be mistaken. I never liked being told no, though. Maybe he was right about the whole brat thing. I could act like a spoiled little girl when I wanted to. I liked things to go my way, and sometimes that made me pesky and infuriating.”
….Wtf?
Sorry, but the last time I checked, that was sexual assault. And this is a recurring theme throughout the story. Every time he tells her to stop, she does the exact opposite. This is one of the first glimpses we get at the heroine’s entitlement, manipulation, selfishness, and immaturity. Here is a quote we get after that whole ordeal:
(By this time, Cane has entered a state of shame and confusion. He tells the heroine that what happened was a mistake, and shares his worries of being condemned and left by his best friend (her Dad.))
I guess I couldn’t blame him, but when I said I wanted to make him sin again, I meant it. I was bad--so damn bad--and blinded by so much lust.
If this doesn't perfectly encapsulate her selfishness, I don't know what does.
Oh wait, here’s two last quotes to make you squirm:
(This is when Cane has come to the house to pick up Kandy’s Dad for a basketball game. He is sitting in the living room watching television with Kandy, she is trying to get on his lap and initiate in no no behavior. This is also after everything that just occurred.)
I knew what I was about to do was going to piss him off. I knew it was going to make him frustrated and annoyed, but what I also knew was that he was going to react to it. My actions would turn him on. He would most likely tell me to stop, but his body would be screaming for me to keep going.
“You’re a fucking kid, and not just any kid, you’re Derek’s kid, so get the hell off my lap.”
“No,” I snapped, staring him in the eyes. “I know that’s not what you want.”
Girl, consent matters. No means no believe it or not. I would seriously be scared to be alone in a room with this crazy chick.
Not only is she a creepy rapist that should be put on the sex offender registry, but she is also very manipulative. She would allude to doing things with other guys if Cane didn’t conform to what she was asking of him, she would sprinkle bad comments about his girlfriend into conversation despite not knowing if it was true or not, and she would seduce him when she knew he didn’t want to engage in any form of a romantic relationship with her.
(Here is her and her friend talking about how Kandy will seduce him while he is on a beach trip with them...and his girlfriend and his best friend.)
“I wouldn't mind it, but I know he won't do it”
“You never know. Maybe there will be another time where you two are alone. You took what you wanted twice before. Why not do it again? From what you’ve told me, he doesn't seem to be able to resist you.”
(This is after she insinuated that if he didn’t take her virginity, someone else would.)
He was jealous. That much was clear. Maybe my little backstabbing trick did work.
Cane was torn. I couldn’t believe I’d forced him into bringing me here and having us get to this point. Though I didn't exactly make it an ultimatum, I implied it by making it known that if he left me with my virginity while I was in college, I would probably give it to someone else.
All of this boils down to immaturity and selfishness. Kandy is a spoiled brat who has no character development. She is constantly bitchy to Kelly (the Hero’s girlfriend) when she does nothing wrong, she is whiny when things don't go her way, and she is told by literally everyone how pretty she is and sometimes it is too dramatic for me to stomach. Now I’m not saying it’s her fault she is pretty, but when the dialogue is this hyperbolic, I can't help but audibly laugh.
(This is when she is at Cane’s house going for a swim and there is a man that is apparently infatuated with her fixing his chandelier. The next quote is Cane speaking to her.)
Cane nodded, and then he looked at the man. That's when I realized he was ogling me--literally staring at me like a dog would a piece of meat.
You’re young and attractive, you can have any guy you want
(This is when she is leaving Cane’s house and her Mom is talking about how Kandy has to drive her home. Mind you, Kandy is 18 and can legally work most places, it is also summer so she doesn’t have school holding her back.)
I was still waiting on the day they’d give me a car. Mom and Dad had well-paying jobs, Mom in particular, but I was still carless at eighteen. It didn't make any sense to me why they weren’t spoiling me with a Maserati or a Tesla. Okay...that was a bit much, but still.
Um, I don't know, why don't you get a job? But, she shouldn't have to do that, so one chapter later her parents gift her with a brand new car! Yay! Ugh. She is a weak heroine that is poorly attempted to be written as strong. She would give into Cane’s demands despite being angry with him because she was so desperate, and I hated it. Anyways, I hate her.
Literally Everything Else
I won't go into too much detail about my disdain for literally everything else, but just know: I didn't like it. The Hero was awful. Despite being the CEO of a “million-dollar company” (which everyone brings up and I don't understand--if his company is only a million dollars, how does he have multiple houses, private planes, and luxurious cars? I would think that the company is at least worth several million dollars) and “harsh” while covered in tattoos and having a tragic past, he is spineless and a little creepy. He reminds me of a small little tiny kitten dressed up as a tiger. He complains about the “choice” he has to make all of the time:
Why do I have to choose between my best friend and what my heart and mind really desires
Not only did I think this was cowardly, I thought it was random too. At this point in time, he would be saying things in his mind along the lines of, “I can't give in...That was the last time” but wouldn’t show any of that through his actions. He always gave in to Kandy and her advances despite having a girlfriend that loved him a lot. He strung Kelly (his girlfriend) along for months, his inner dialogue often expressed his acknowledgement of her effort she was putting into the relationship like cuddling him in bed, buying them dinners, and wanting to spend more time with him. He typically commented that her trying to do these things was hopeless and pathetic but continued to use her for weeks after, agreeing to take her on a trip with his best friend’s family. He had no problem using her as a pawn in his relationship with Kandy. It’s not like Kelly even deserved his disdain either, she was sweet and nice. She understood that he had a traumatic past and that it’s difficult for him to love, but she still loved him anyway and continued to try to get to know him better. When she turned out to be the evil, stereotypical villain at the end, I cheered for her.
The writing in the book is pretty bad too. The words and tangents were repetitive, the theme of not showing and more telling happened consistently throughout the story, the plot was boring, none of the scenes with other characters were used as a progressive plot device and felt like a waste of my time, and the characters were annoyingly bad and two-dimensional. Here is a great example of how dry the dialogue was:
(This is when Kandy is on the phone with her mother and father who is telling her why she is quitting her job. Kandy learns that her boss tried to sexually assault her, and not only is her reaction drier than the Sahara Desert, but it’s also ironic considering she literally partakes in sexually assaulting others.)
“He tried to come onto your mother. He tried to kiss her! He’s lucky she calmed me down!” I gasped. “What? That jerk!”
Consistency is notably a huge problem in this book. Characters would often contradict themselves in order to create contrived plot twists and practical circumstances. This tells me that the author didn’t really plan out this book, but rather went with the flow of her writing. This isn’t always a bad thing, but when you create a bunch of discrepancies within your story, it takes away from the value knowing that what I just read doesn't matter, because you can just type in the next chapter that they didn't mean it or it never was how it seemed. Like, yes it was. There was absolutely no evidence of that not being the case.
Lastly, you can tell that the author wrote all of the POV’s. I hate when this happens. The entire time I was reading this book, I imagined the author writing the scenes. I do this usually when the dialogue is dry and lacking any purpose or depth. Words were often recycled and the book’s dialogue felt cyclical. Most of the time in a romance book, men use obscene language and only think about sex. Cane used the words “man” and “fuck” in every conversation with his best friend. EVERY CONVERSATION. It just didn't feel real, hence it did not peak my interest. Oh and look at this, oh my goodness I swear I thought I was reading a Sarah J. Maas book:
“Derek!” I barked.
“Fuck!” He roared.
I honestly might just read the second book to read about Kelly ruining the main characters lives for some series redemption.
But, I must say that the ending was very satisfying:
“Fuck you, Cane,” was the last thing I heard before the back of my head hit concrete and all I saw was black.”
Quite honestly, it almost made everything worth it.
(This was not planned or outlined, so I may have jumped around a lot--sorry about that. Also, as you read on, you can see my writing abilities start to deplete because I was so exasperated with having to write about these characters for way longer than I expected to lmao.)
May 28, 2018
⭐️ 5 "Forbidden Temptation" Stars ⭐️
There’s just something extremely alluring about taboo / forbidden romances. Wanting Mr. Cane is one of those perfect illicit stories. Shanora Williams is a favorite author of mine and once again she brings the heat, but also the emotions to a high level to make this novel decadently enjoyable!
“Kissing her felt like I was both drowning and breathing at the same time. How was that even possible? How could she give me life and damn near kill me at the same time?”
Kandy Jennings met Quinton Cane, her father’s best friend when she was only nine years old. She grew up with him as a big part of her family and through the years she developed a huge crush on him. Now on the verge of leaving for college, she’s more than determined to show Cane she’s a woman with needs only he can satiate!
Kandy definitely knows what she wants. She’s young, bold and sassy! Her feelings for Cane are sincere and heart-breaking. Their age difference is another big problem in their impossible relationship. In spite of the seventeen years between them, there’s just something special they share when they’re together. There is an understanding and definite caring sentiments. The temptation is only growing through the chapters and the anticipation is deliriously enthralling!
“I would be broken without him. Something would be missing – a piece of myself would be forever lost unless we connected again.”
As it’s the standard with any Shanora’s books, the sexy moments are downright sinful and explosive, but also bursting with underlying feelings. You clearly sense the struggle Cane experiences about his immoral craving for Kandy. He doesn’t want to lose his only real friendship with Derek, Kandy’s father, but the attraction to her is wickedly powerful.
I adored Cane! He’s a complicated man, but an alpha to the core! He has a commanding presence, a dirty mouth and an affectionate side he seems to only reserve for Kandy! He’s closed off, but there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his loved ones! This man is the epitome of alpha hero that’s for sure! Under all this intensity though, lies a man with a lots of secrets and a sense of inferiority. He doesn’t feel good enough to be in the life of the Jennings. I can’t wait to peel his multiple layers and discover more about this enigmatic man!
“If you really want me,” he continued, “kneel for me. Right now.”
Shanora Williams created another scandalously hot and passionate romance! That cliffhanger… jaw-dropping! I was left on the highest rush and I’m so eager to pursue this series with Breaking Mr. Cane! This novel can’t come soon enough! The wait will be torture!
** ARC received in exchange for an honest review **
June 13, 2018
From when she is small Kandy has been drawn to 'Mr Cane' However Cane saw her as his best friends little girl and nothing more. That is until Kandy is no longer a girl, she is a woman and Cane can not ignore the attraction that he feels for her, despite the people in their way.
I loved this steamy romance and I admit that at first I was dubious but this is a story of consenting adults with a passionate connection. Yes, he's older and knew her as a child but his attraction is to Kandy is that of an adult man for an adult woman. The big issue is that he's her Dad's best friend and that makes it more taboo. (I would go nuclear if an adult friend of mine was attracted to my daughter- she's an adult but will always be my baby)
So lets examine the important stuff
attraction rating? - Off the hook!
Sexual Chemistry (as adults) - Give me a fan - its hot stuff
plot and pace- Both plot and pace were brilliant. This book had great flow and an interesting, difficult, romantic plot.
I devoured, and thoroughly enjoyed every page and didn't want to put it down and then it ended.... Yes it ended on a cliffhanger! Shanora Williams you have left me with questions. I need answers and I need them now! Thankfully the next in the Cane series is due out on 12th July so it's not too long. Still, I need more!!
For lovers of sexy, romance stories- seriously buy this- you won't be disappointed.
I loved this steamy romance and I admit that at first I was dubious but this is a story of consenting adults with a passionate connection. Yes, he's older and knew her as a child but his attraction is to Kandy is that of an adult man for an adult woman. The big issue is that he's her Dad's best friend and that makes it more taboo. (I would go nuclear if an adult friend of mine was attracted to my daughter- she's an adult but will always be my baby)
So lets examine the important stuff
attraction rating? - Off the hook!
Sexual Chemistry (as adults) - Give me a fan - its hot stuff
plot and pace- Both plot and pace were brilliant. This book had great flow and an interesting, difficult, romantic plot.
I devoured, and thoroughly enjoyed every page and didn't want to put it down and then it ended.... Yes it ended on a cliffhanger! Shanora Williams you have left me with questions. I need answers and I need them now! Thankfully the next in the Cane series is due out on 12th July so it's not too long. Still, I need more!!
For lovers of sexy, romance stories- seriously buy this- you won't be disappointed.
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