Chapter 41

Happy bookish birthday to me! 🎂The past few years on my birthday I've taken a long weekend at a cabin in one of our local state parks, brought my hammock and a bag full of books, and just read. This year I am staying home and celebrating quietly with family.

My first read for December, in honor of my 41st birthday, was a re-read of Penelope Douglas' Birthday Girl.

Author: Penelope Douglas
Title: Birthday Girl
Publisher: self published
Date Published: 04/15/2018

Read Dates: 11/30/2024- 12/02/2024
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Birthday Girl is a dual POV age-gap romance. Jordan and her boyfriend, Cole, get evicted and have no where to go until Cole’s dad, Pike, offers them a place to stay. It’s supposed to be temporary but when Jordan and Cole break up Pike extends an offer for Jordan to keep the spare room to save up for her own place. Being in close quarters leads to the development of some sometimes confusing and frustrating feelings until it all spills over!

This was a fun re-read for my birthday! I love Pike and Jordan and whole “ex boyfriend’s dad” can be a bit of a messy trope this book is just so enjoyable, with the right balance of angst and spice.

JORDAN

He took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.

I have to stop this. It can’t happen.

My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable. Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.
I am.

PIKE

I took her in, because I thought I was helping. As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.

But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.

And her boyfriend’s father.

Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.