Book review: Bound to Fate (Bound #1) by Kiru Taye

I struggled with this book. I was excited to read a Nigerian
romance/erotic novel but this story was such a disappointment. Most of the action takes place in Enugu State but very little in shown of the people and culture of Nigeria and somehow I expecting more of that cultural referencing. Instead the reader is told that the story takes place at x school in this state and then everything else is left as is. 

The book begins with Lara Johnson who is 17 years old going to a new school, Lara and her sister Lola, age 16, are transferred late in the school term following the death of their parents, the girls are relocated and live with their aunt. Lara meets Ike Thomas, her geography teacher and of course he is young, sexy, charming, all the good stuff. Fine, I know this was about that sort of relationship and I expected that. But then there was no
relationship building between the main characters, they meet and are attracted
to each other, fine but then the writer skips ahead and there is no real
connection  for the reader to grasp and
appreciate. Instead the action jumps ahead several months and they are
desperately in love. Then there is betrayal, breakups, heartache and another jump in time, five years ahead. 

I hope to read other books by Kiru Taye, hopefully with all the characters being adults and without any sexual violence.

 Goodreads Summary: 

Lara Johnson is coping with the emotional scars of losing both parents in a tragic incident and facing the challenges of starting a new school. Getting involved in a relationship isn’t on her priority list. Certainly not this illicit desire for a man, who demands the best from her, yet leaves her breathless in his presence.

All Ike Thomas wants to do is to keep out of trouble and get through the one year internship required for his degree program. But trouble finds him, in the form of an intelligent and brave girl who turns his world upside down. Falling in love is forbidden. So why does it feel so right?

A love like theirs cannot be denied. But catastrophe lies in wait and one night changes their lives forever.

Bound to Fate is a story about surviving tragedy, forgiveness and the overwhelming love that pulls through against the odds.

Content warning: This book contains scenes that might be triggering for some readers.