Bittersweet Memories (Off-Limits)

Product Information

Zane and Celeste discover just how thin the line between love and hate truly is, falling harder than either of them thought possible... Catharina Maura is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her very popular billionaire romance novels that come with a hint of the forbidden. Following the brutal murder of her father and mother when she was a child, she set up a vigilante forum hoping to help others in such circumstances. When they ultimately allow themselves to fall for each other, it results in a beautiful, unconditional, powerful, relatable, and real connection.

The characters meet at 13 (F) and 18 (M), right away he calls her "sweet girl". We then skip two years later (15 and 20 roughly), he calls her "my love", "darling", "sweet girl", "baby", "little girl", and at one point says "She's only sixteen, and she already looks like a vixen." -- blank stare. I don't think I need to go on (but I will). He's CONSTANTLY mentioning her curves, roaming his gaze over her, looking down at her lips, calling her beautiful, pressing her against him, holding her waist, caressing her thigh and cheek, etc.

She is thankful that she got to be born and live in Holand, where she has enjoyed very many opportunities that would not have been available to her in Suriname. Together with his sister, they had been forced to live a life of struggle. Noah becomes a doctor to honor his father’s legacy as he starts working at Astor College in what has always been his dream job. Oh my heart! This story was such a roller coaster of events and emotions. It was tragic and desperate, yet also filled with so much hope and optimism as love blossomed in the tundra of life. The blurb doesn't prepare you for the story that unfolds. I was completely hooked by Silas and Alanna's journey. Silas was ever hopeful and determined. He was stoic, powerful and commanding, but with such a vulnerable, gentle core. Alanna was stubborn and so strong in the face of adversity. Their story was complicated and mired in mystery and machinations. Their connection was intense and destined, and showcased that love truly conquers all. Such a fabulous read! First of all, I was not expecting the amnesia plot and I wasn't that upset about it. I've never read a story where the character had gotten amnesia so I was intrigued and open-minded. I didn't so much mind the fact that she was with Silas's brother, because the girl's got amnesia, she doesn't know better. Plus, her mind went with someone the most similar to Silas. The part that felt extremely out of character though, was Silas being with another woman all while obsessively looking for his "soulmate". To me, it cheapened his passion for her and made it feel like he wasn't as into her and he kept stating. I know it's probably petty of me to think, but part of me hoped he'd stay celibate during their years apart, it would have made their relationship look much stronger to me, especially since he was again, searching for her this entire time.

I didn't waste enough of my time to find out whether they get together when she's 18... but I don't need to read it to know what's going to happen. After living in Holland for several decades, she moved to Hong King and Singapore but ultimate settle in the former. I was really not ready for this novella to end; I needed so much more but I guess that will have to wait until the full-length novel. When he saw Aria in action, he had no choice but to offer her a job and a place to live at his penthouse in Silicon Valley. But Aria has a dark secret.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

On the other hand is Amara who is working on her doctoral degree while running her business dealing in sex toys. She is studying engineering and is determined to make it on her own even though she has a very powerful grandfather. Professor Astor” by Catharina Maura is a story that combines several tropes that will have her readers shedding happy tears and also crying as it is beautifully written. At the opening of the story, a distraught Adrian and Leia are meeting in a bar, where they decide to have an on the spur of the moment role-playing game.

Like many authors, Catharina Maura began writing when she was very little. In fact, aged just ten, she used to tell her friends and family that she wanted to grow up and become an author. Fast forward two years and Leia and Adrian meet again. Since she had been hurt, Leia has set boundaries in her relationship with Adrian who reluctantly agrees. You think you are getting typical girl meets boy at coffee shop, but girl has boyfriend, so boy is going to be all "alpha" about it but nope. Not at all, Silas is most definitely not a boy, and he most definitely isn't going to be all "alpha" because he is the alpha.When he sees Aria in action, he decides to give her a job and offers her a place to live in his penthouse in Silicon Valley. But Aria has a secret that a lot of people even those close to her do not know about.

She is forever grateful for the privilege of living in the Netherlands as she had many more opportunities she does not think she would have had living in Suriname. She is at best an Indian but over the years, she has come to be related to people of Indo Surinaesse, Afro Surinmese, and Javanese. However, Catharina Maura still gets surprised every single time one of the readers of her novels reaches out to declare that they love her books. Ahhh, I could go on and on about all the little things I love about this book and things that happened but I don’t want to spoil anything! This is one of those books that just alters your brain chemistry and I will never forget Silas and Alanna’s story!! I also found myself a bit bored during the second half of the book, and the whole brother being in love with Alanna storyline was super annoying to me. I wished that the brother kept to his previous words about using Alanna, because I was so frustrated that the problem was a love triangle instead of her simply having amnesia. I think that's also just me hating on love triangles, so it's definitely a personal preference thing lol.

Publication Order of Off-Limits Books

Maura has said that writing is something she was doing ever since she was ten, when she use to tell everyone that she would grow up to become an author. However, the new job comes with many stipulations which he may find difficult to adhere to. He is never to sleep with the students or patients and most important of all, he is to stay away from the granddaughter of Harold Astor.