The Cliffs by bornonhalloween

Official Description:

Edward has just graduated college and is ready to take over the family business- an island retreat called The Cliffs. Can he ever get over his boyhood crush on the babysitter?

Word Count: 268,233

I started reading bornonhalloween’s The Cliffs when my summer vacation was almost over. My only regret is that I waited so long! In this story we have a bit of role reversal going on. Bella is the older woman and Edward is the hot young part owner/manager of a summer resort. They have a history, though, because Bella broke his heart when Edward was fourteen. Now I know there have been stories where Edward falls in love with the nanny, but Bella was so much more to their family. She helped three boys and their father through a really bad time in their lives and they all loved her in their own way. Unfortunately, when she left, Edward (the youngest) never really got over the loss. The flashbacks to that time are really heartwrenching, making me teary eyed multiple times. In the present, however, Edward is discovering that his feelings for Bella have never really changed. Or rather, they have matured into something much deeper than the crush of a 14 year old boy on his 22 year old babysitter.

Edward plays many roles: the steamy masseuse, the buff lifeguard, hot personal trainer, sexy bartender, the broody musician, hardbody yoga partner (couples yoga with Riley, mmm), talented chef, dreamboat captain… This story has it all; every time I thought Cliffward couldn’t get better, he showed another facet of his personality for me to fall in love with. As another reviewer stated, Edward is mature enough that a 29 year old woman would find him attractive, and immature enough that we believe that he is only 22 (seriously, Edward, ‘booby feeling?’).

Unlike many stories I read, The Cliffs does not center around the sex (although there is plenty and it is well written); the story line takes precedence. The supporting characters are well fleshed out (did I mention that Riley was hot?), and totally believable in their roles at The Cliffs. I could totally ‘see’ the encounters with the guests; Kim, the promiscuous 16 year old in the gym (and on the beach), Mary the guppy mom (you have to read to understand), Mrs. Molson. The list goes on.

So go spend a weekend (or a week) at the Cliffs – you’ll come back refreshed and be glad you did! Oh, and the best part? It’s complete, so there’s no waiting for updates! Go on, *makes shooing motion* go read. One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi. What are you waiting for?

I had never read anything by bornonhalloween until I read Comp Sem 101, and I feel like I’ve been missing out on an undiscovered gem. I love the way this girl writes. She’s so descriptive and pays great attention to even the smallest detail. I love all of her characters.

The thing that I love the absolute most about The Cliffs is how realistic it is. Of course Edward had a crush on the babysitter when he was a little boy/young teenager. Of course he wondered What If? into his adulthood. But that didn’t keep him from pursuing meaningful relationships as he grew up. Once they come full-circle, they deal with the feelings that Edward had when he was young and how that affected Bella. I love that Bella still sees their relationship as being taboo–that she worries about what people might think since she’s older and she used to be his nanny. I love his family’s reaction to their relationship as well. And yeah, I love Riley, too.

There’s something that I don’t love about this story, and I feel that I must warn my fellow wuss-pervs about it. There is a non-canon lemon. Possibly lemons. I blocked it out, tbh. But believe me when I tell you that the rest of the story is so good that even I am willing to overlook it. Just skip that part haha.

The Cliffs is a definite must read, and bornonhalloween is certainly an under-appreciated writer. Check out this famazing story.

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