REVIEW: Moody by Penelope Ward

In Moody by Penelope Ward, Massage therapist Wren McCallister thought her newest client, Dax Moody, would be like every other highly successful businessman she’s met before. A gorgeous home in a nice neighborhood. A fancy car in the driveway. And good looks that will make Wren’s time with him no challenge. All of that is true of Dax. But the man is also an enigma who runs hot and cold from one minute to the next. After their first two appointments end with her placating him and answering questions instead of, you know, doing her *job*, the third time was the charm. And Wren was definitely charmed by Dax. But as information is revealed about his life and how she fits into it, she’s sadly come to realize that any romantic hopes she had for their future are all but gone.

“But I agree that it’s more enticing when something isn’t easy. When it’s unattainable.” He stared into my eyes. “That’s my fucking problem right now.”
I felt the energy shift in his dark office. “I think we have the same problem,” I whispered.

Dax found it sweet and rather fitting that Wren called him Moody right from the start. She somehow knew him and could see straight into his soul, or so it seemed. But his life is complicated. And being a widower is just the tip of the iceberg. If she knew the real reason things likely won’t work out–why Dax can’t act on his intense feelings for her–Wren might not speak to him again. Then after they lose touch with each other for about two-and-a-half years the truth comes out in earnest. What he told her before their estrangement was only the beginning. But when Wren shows back up in Dax’s life unexpectedly, he realizes he might have to make some huge changes in his life again to give them the chance they deserve.

She squealed as I carried her up the stairs.
“I love it when you carry me. It’s such a gentlemanly gesture.”
“Nothing I’m about to do to you will be gentlemanly, Wren. *Nothing*.”

Angsty. Sensual and sexy. Complicated. And what seemed like a no-win forbidden romance for the main characters. In other words, Moody had everything I love about Penelope Ward’s provocative books.

‘I was more certain than ever that we’d made the right decision. But the right decision isn’t always in line with your heart’s deepest desires.’

Whether Penelope Ward is writing on her own, as with Moody, or with her (also) awesome writing partner Vi Keeland, she creates some memorable and–even better–completely relatable characters. I knew from the first pages that Dax and Wren would capture my heart. They had a sizzling attraction that couldn’t be stopped or denied, no matter what tough issues they were facing. And it didn’t diminish over time, either. Which was a very important part of their journey where this story had a time jump of about two-and-a-half years at a little more than halfway through.

Moody was the perfect title for this because not only was it the hero’s last name, but widower Dax himself was all over the place emotionally. For good reason. I loved how he was the more mercurial one of the pair and that Wren was the one with her feet planted firmly on the ground, who knew what she wanted: Dax. Between that, their waffling back and forth about being together, and the surprise twist that made their relationship a bit taboo, it made this romance a page turner. The addition of it being a slow burn where their timing never seemed right, plus with an age gap between them complicating things? I couldn’t get enough of Wren and Dax.

QOTD: Will you still read a book if you know it has a taboo romantic relationship in it? (Think: Boss/Employee, step siblings, big age gap, competitors sneaking around together, etc)

Book Info:

Publication: August 22nd 2022 | Penelope Ward Books, Inc. |

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.

The day I showed up to Dax Moody’s sprawling home, I had no idea what was coming.
As a traveling massage therapist, I was used to entering the houses of strangers.
But this assignment was different from any before it.
From the outside, I’d correctly assumed the owner was rich. What I didn’t realize was that he would be younger than I’d imagined, single, stunningly gorgeous, and mysterious.
Despite the fact that Dax had booked a massage, it never actually happened, since our first appointment was unexpectedly cut short by a comedy of errors.
Certain I’d never see him again after that day, I’d done nothing but think about the captivating man.
To my surprise, he called a second time. That appointment, we talked a lot, developing a stronger connection. But once again, there was no actual massage.
The man I now affectionately called “Moody” kept calling me to come back.
It took three times before I finally gave him the massage he’d ordered. Let’s just say it was challenging to keep things professional. I was extremely attracted to Dax, and by that time, I was falling hard.
Eventually, I’d find out why he’d been so aloof, the reason why he and I could never be together.
Our story was supposed to end there, but it didn’t.
Instead, I was left perpetually longing for a forbidden man.