Jade: Hidden Scars: A Forbidden Age-Gap Romance (Book 1) by A. Akinosho – Review by Ayla Phipps

Hidden Scars by A. Akinosho
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Slow burn. Growth. Twists. This is the first book I have read by the undeniably talented A Akinosho. While at first, I was iffy on the age gap between a sixteen- and twenty-six-year-old, the fact that the book covered years made it more understandable and a clear love story to overcome all. That said the book was not illicit but more of a Romeo and Juliet type story. The dual perspectives of Naseer and Jade take you on a rollercoaster of friendship turned more.
Naseer is one of the Princes of Rhanaz. A race challenge with his best friend Brian lands him in several casts and bedridden for months. While Naseer had fully isolated himself from his friends he had become very angry, helpless feeling and completely hopeless, until. Jade (Mariam) at the age of sixteen had her entire world crash down around her. Her parents killed in a house fire, leaving her friends, and moving to a new country, and starting over at a new school as the one percent of the one percent for the poor girl in the school. When she first meets Naseer it’s an accident she needed to pee and accidentally found his room and couldn’t wait. In a moment of surprise to himself Naseer says three words that start the epic love story. “Sit with me” that’s all it took for them to both find someone to bring smiles back into their lives. After losing her parents Jade questioned if she could join them and Naseer questioned why he was still alive after the horrific accident. Jade gave him the biggest gift, Hope. He gave her someone she could drop her shield around and finally feel at peace and things be easy. Unfortunately, darker forces were against them and over the course of high school to college everything would change and change again.
Who are the dark forces that are determined to keep them apart? Can they find a way back to each other? The emotions behind the characters are real and deep. I felt my heart break for Jade at the news of her parents. My heart ached for Naseer when he felt hopeless time and time again as the world and dark forces found every way to stop him from being happy. The moment hope was restored the book ended and I instantly stared into space ready for book two. What secrets will be revealed and will Naseer and Jade finally get there happily ever after? Book two Jade: Chances are available now; I’ll see you there.

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