The Forbidden
Jodi Ellen Malpas
Forever
August 8, 2017
A new story of dangerous temptations from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man trilogy.
Annie has never experienced the 'spark' with a guy - the kind of instant chemistry that steals your breath and blindsides you completely. Until a night out with friends brings her face to face with the wickedly sexy and mysterious Jack. It's not just a spark that ignites between them. It's an explosion. Jack promises to consume Annie, and he fully delivers on that promise.
Overwhelmed by the intensity of their one night together, Annie slips out of their hotel room. She is certain that a man who's had such a powerful impact on her and who could bend her to his will so easily, must be dangerous. But she's already in too deep. And Jack isn't only dangerous. He is forbidden.
“Every kiss, every sexy scene, every word between this pair owned a piece of my soul. I could read this book a hundred times and still react as if it was the first time. The Protector is a top 2016 fave for me.” –Audrey Carlan, #1 bestselling author of The Calendar Girl series
I'm sorry there will be some spoilers in this review, but they are their to give you an understand on my feelings about the story.
When I first read the blurb for The Forbidden, I mean it's pretty vague and there are so many things that could be forbidden or taboo. So, that alone intrigued me to want to read The Forbidden. At the beginning you see a little foreshadowing on what is going to happen, but I didn't want to believe that was the case. I was in denial up until we find out what the forbidden issue was, which has to be cheating. Now if you are one of those people that cheating is a big NO, back away from this story. This is a cheating book. Yes, I'm totally against cheating, and it makes me sick to think about. In some ways I hate myself a little for liking this book. I struggle with The Forbidden, because of the issue of cheating, and the other one was Jack didn't use a condom. However, the story is so well written and amazing, so you can see why I'm hating myself for liking this story.
In no way does Jack get a free pass for cheating, because his wife is crazy, but you can understand in someways. At the same time he shouldn't have let guilt of his wife's action dictate what will make him happy. I mean he should have left and divorce and if she did bodily harm to herself it was no way reflected on him. A great way to describe the woman would be unhinged. When he meets Annie she's normal and not crazy, so they have a secret relationship. He lies to Annie, because he feels this connection to her. Yeah, he's not wearing a ring when she comes up to him.
In away you feel bad for Annie, because she's "the other woman". This eats her up for majority of the story, until she comes to understand that Jack's wife is crazy. In some ways she alleviates her guilt, but not completely because she' unable to tell her friends. So, we watch as this story unfolds, and believe me the story does get a little crazy at the end.
Again, still hating myself a little for enjoying this story. I would like to say that it's a beautiful love story, but I can't, because it truly goes against what I believe in. I do believe cheating is a HUGE FAT NO. As I got closer to the end of The Forbidden it reminded me of a reverse Fatal Attraction, instead of having the mistress being psychotic it was a the wife. Seriously, well written story that did have me come back to see what will happen. Like I said if you have no issue with cheating being the catalyst to finding true love, by all means go for it. However, if you moral compass says that it's a big no, don't try this, because it would only make you angry. If you don't mind the gray area romance go for it. However, I hope this doesn't become the norm.
Copy provided by Forever.
Excerpt:
“Thank you for your help,” I say quietly, studying him, definitely detecting that he’s deep in thought. Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask. I need to get back into my apartment without engaging with him, which could prove tricky when he’s blocking the doorway and looking like he has no intention of shifting to let me in.
“Annie,” he breathes. “I’m struggling so badly.”
“I’m not doing this.” I swallow, pushing my way past him. He grabs me by the top of my arm and holds me in place. “Let me go, Jack.”
“I’ve already told you I can’t do that. Annie, I’m drowning here. I’m going out of my mind, and the more time I spend with you the fucking worse it’s getting. Listening to you, talking to you, sharing a passion with you that goes way beyond the amazing time we had in bed together.”
“You have to forget!” I yell, knowing anger is the only way forward. Be angry with him. Let it dominate me and rule me, because the alternative scares me to fucking death.
He pushes me into the hall and slams the door behind us, forcing me to back up. “No,” he says, straight and even. “No,” he repeats, moving one more step forward, except this time I don’t retreat. Because I can’t. Because he has me locked in place with those grey eyes, and now they’re back to their full glory. Sparkling, even if it’s with anger. He reaches for his shirt and starts unbuttoning it before shrugging it off and throwing it to the floor, revealing the chest that’s haunting me.
I quickly look down at the pile of material, my mind reeling. His chest. His perfect damn chest. “What are you doing?”
“I have no fucking idea.” He reaches for me and slides a hand around my neck, pulling me to him. Our chests meet, and my determination to repel him vanishes under our connection. Wrongs turn into rights. Conflict turns into craving.
“I can’t get you out of my head, Annie.” His forehead meets mine, his palm massaging away the tightness in my neck muscles, softening me up until I relax in his hold. “I want you all over again, and I can’t even find the will to worry about how much more that’ll make me want you.” He breathes down on me. “I’ve played that night on repeat. I’ve dreamed of holding you in my arms again. I’ve craved the sound of your voice, the feel of your touch, the softness of your lips on mine. I know I shouldn’t want you. But I do. Nothing has ever made me feel this insane with need. Nothing has taken up so much space in my head. I can’t fucking help it, Annie.” His grey gaze sinks into me, my heart steadying to an even thrum. His head starts to shake mildly, his splayed hand moving up to the back of my head and fisting my hair. “I don’t want to help it,” he growls. “I want you. I don’t care how wrong it is.” His clenched fist tightens, gripping my hair harshly. “I know I’ve been on your mind since I fucked you every which way in that hotel room. Stop denying it. Don’t insult me and tell me you don’t crave that amazing feeling all over again. I can see it in your eyes every damn time I look into them. You. Want. Me.”
It’s me who moves in first. All me. I lunge forward and smash my lips to his, the magnetic force winning. His words winning. Jack winning. My heart winning. I coax his mouth open with hard, hungry kisses. I’ve lost my mind to a craving too powerful to fight off. And, like Jack, I don’t care how wrong it is.
Lost.
Yet as he walks me backward until my back slams into the wall, I feel found again.
I cry out, and Jack moans. We’re clumsy and desperate. He’s pushing me up the wall with the force of his kiss, then he’s rolling away, taking me with him until it’s his back slamming into the wall. It’s the elevator all over again. The atmosphere is sizzling. I’m on fire. He scoops me up, pinning me to him, and carries me into my bedroom. I focus on him. Only him and the return of feelings that I’ve fantasized about since that unforgettable night. All the guilt is abandoning me, and I let it, unprepared to let anything stop me from taking the forbidden.
Add The Forbidden to your shelf on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kclflm
Purchase Links:
About the Author
No comments:
Post a Comment