At first, I was really into this story. The author did an excellent job of making you feel the forbidden desire. Yes, it is an affair, but the pull is still so strong. Later, my rating dropped some when the characters started doing such dramatic things. Example: She overhears him with going at it with his wife in the bathroom so she picks up a guy and takes him home. He comes and knocks her door completely down because she's in there with the man. She sends the man away and ends up comforting her lover because of his "crazy" wife. I would have probably given the story a 3-star rating up until near the end. An abortion clinic comes into the plot. I was offended by the language used (ex: hideous, immoral) and the way the scene was portrayed. I'm supposed to be open to a person having a long term sexual affair with a married person but not a woman's right to choose? ( )

This book contains cheating.
The Hero is married and he cheats with the heroine.
It is presented that the Hero is in a bad marriage that he entered for all the wrong reasons and the wife is presented as a spoilt 'daddy's girl' who spends money and lashes out at the Hero physically.
It is said he isn't normally a cheater but there is such a strong physical attraction and connection with the heroine that they cannot help themselves, 'Soulmates' so to speak.

Another way to look at it is the Hero married his wife to progress his business without really taking his vows and what that would entail for his future seriously.
Cheating is presented as okay as the Hero is having such a difficult time and the wife deserves it.
The Hero maybe needed a backbone to sort his unhappy life out before he tried anything with anyone else but this is brushed aside as he didn't see through leaving her in the past.

Whatever your views on cheating and the situation this trio find themselves in, the author can really write and the chemistry between the Hero and heroine is explosive.

It was interesting to find the heroine as the 'other woman' though she didn't know that is what she would be at first. Her friends, family's views but the disaproval is watered down when they have a change of heart and see how destined they were for each other.

So if you have an issue with cheating reading this book is not for you.

Well written, though I do not endorse the cheating.

ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annie Ryan doesn't believe in this fairytale that there is one man out there for you, that it's worth giving all her time to, she'd rather reach her dreams in the architect world that fight for the attention of a man. That is, until she meets "the" man. Jack Joseph makes her fall over her words, get goosebumps when he enters a room, and question everything she believes about romance being dead. They get along famously and the attraction is all consuming, but there is something between them that makes it clear nothing can happen. Jack isn't Annie's to have, he is someone else's. Her mind is telling her no, but her heart is telling her yes and as time goes on it gets harder to deny the pull that is bringing them together.

"He's still smiling. It's a dangerous smile. Very dangerous. He's too handsome to be harmless."

I may be in the minority, but I love a book that features a well done forbidden romance story line. Yes, this book is about something that everyone has an opinion about, that many may have experienced, but it doesn't change the fact that it is a good book. It's a hard read that makes you question things, it makes you shake your head as the characters make poor choices, but it also makes your heart race as the main character fights for her happy ending. Jodi Ellen Malpas doesn't sugarcoat the situation, main character Annie is in a predicament, she's found herself being the other woman; she's doing something others consider morally wrong, something she once considered wrong. JEM writes about her inner turmoil, she writes about Annie's friends horrible and similar situation, and she includes all the gritty details in the judgement Annie receives as her decisions come to public eye. It may not be a happy-go-lucky romance, but it is reality for many and The Forbidden is a riveting story that will keep you hanging on till the very end.

"We've explored every inch of each other's bodies, shared the most intimate parts of each other, and here we are acting like it never happened."

Annie Ryan is, unsurprisingly, not my favorite kind of character. She has an attitude that comes across as snooty, she lives to work, and her thoughts on love were hard to relate to. She isn't like me and she isn't like many people I know, but that doesn't make her an awful character. She's also strong, determined, and resilient in ways that many characters are not. I loved reading this different perspective and its obvious that JEM puts time and thought into how her characters read and the viewpoints they offer. The Forbidden is told only from Annie's perspective and despite my dislike of her I was able to really get into the mindset of being the other woman. The situation is difficult, Jack is the kind of man you dream of as a child and grow to believe doesn't exist, and his wife is a horrifying woman that needs more care for mental instability than anything else.

"Wrongs turn into rights. Conflict turns into craving.
'I can't get you out of my head, Annie.'"

Annie shares a lust with Jack that jumps from the pages, it burns you with its controversial nature, but it feels so right. No one can say they approve of the situation, not even if they've been it themselves, it comes with regrets, but reading The Forbidden makes you want the good to come out of everything. The relationship between Annie and Jack is a rollercoaster of passion and upset, riddled with questions about what if and when. JEM makes the confusing time come to life, I could see every scene playing out in my head. The whirlwind of emotions was so accurate to how I imagine this would really feel, pure sensual delight tinged with this fear of someone finding out or worse yet, not being the one he chooses.

"He's not mine. I'm taking something that doesn't belong to me."

The Forbidden falls in the category of being a Love It or Hate It type of book, there is no denying that. Romance readers want a fairytale love story that simply isn't real and I love that JEM took a chance to give us a real love story with all the happy stolen moments and ugly repercussions. The subject matter is sensitive, it is easy to dislike the actions of the characters, especially those of Annie, but it is also realistic and this book reads like it is real life. It was thought-provoking, unique, and so emotional. If you hate forbidden romances, don't read it, but if you can embrace it you will find that The Forbidden is a stunningly crafted novel by Jodi Ellen Malpas. ( )

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**

I've never read a Jodi Ellen Malpas novel but I know that she has a very strong and loyal fan base. So when I saw that this featured one of my favourite romance tropes, forbidden romance, I immediately picked this up!

Let's just say, I never saw what the "taboo" element was going to be and I loved that. When we had that big reveal, my mouth dropped and I muttered some curses because, damn, it's a good one. It sucked me in like no one's business.

One of the most important elements for me in a forbidden romance is that the novel has to convince me why these two should pursue their relationship despite all the obstacles in the way. I want to fall in love with these characters despite what they are doing--I want to root for them.

And this novel succeeded in that in every way!

I loved these two together--they have this phenomenal chemistry and connection--and I desperately wanted to see a positive outcome for them. And given the "forbidden" nature of this story, Malpas has done an amazing job to elicit that reaction from me.

While this story is a romance as its core, there is enough going on to keep the story moving and fresh. I never had a dull moment reading this novel. I was hooked.

The story has a great blend of being real and dramatic at the same time. The circumstances Annie and Jack find themselves in I think is fairly realistic. Some of the drama that accompanies it definitely has a dramatic flare but it just works so well with this story.

A very addicting read from start to finish!

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

Full Review: http://wp.me/p7hLUw-2c0
Actual Rating: 5/5 ( )

Architect Annie meets builder Jack. You would think the two would have a lot in common, but there is one problem, he is married and she is not. Annie longs for a relationship with him. The Forbidden is an age-old story; the wife does not understand that it is over but the husband has already moved on. The author does not pretend that there are any redeeming qualities to cheating even though there is the typical successful conclusion for at least part of the parties involved.

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Although encouraged, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )