Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter!
Looking for book sales? Check out our list of deals here!!
Read an exclusive Excerpt of one our most anticipated reads – The Guy on the Left by Kate Stewart!
This book news! The Younger Man by Karina Halle! See the cover and blurb!
Marni Mann wow’s with the cover of her upcoming release! See it here!
See the cover of Devney Perry’s upcoming release, Riven Knight!
Favorite series alert. Check out an exclusive excerpt from Demise of a Self-Centered Playboy!
Read a giggle worthy excerpt from Trying to Score by Kendall Ryan!
The Royal Rogue by Karina Halle is LIVE. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!
Read the first Chapter of His Royal Highness! This is a TOP READ!
Jaw droppingly sexy cover from Julie Kriss. I can’t wait to get my hands on Sexy as Sin!
M. Robinson, The Queen of Angst, has a new release and we have an exclusive excerpt!
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Angie and Jessica's Dreamy Reads

Just another WordPress site

  • Latest News
  • Book Bargains
  • Favorite Must Reads
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Bookish Extras
  • Home
  • About
    • Review Policy
    • Advertising Info
    • Contact Us
  • Angie’s Reviews
    • By Author
    • By Rating
  • Jessica’s Reviews
    • By Author
    • By Rating
  • Book News
    • Book Deals
    • Upcoming Releases
  • Book Recommendations
    • Angie’s Book Recs
    • Jessica’s Book Recs
  • Exclusives
  • Giveaway

Review + Excerpt: The Forbidden by Jodi Ellen Malpas

September 13, 2017 4.5 Stars - OMG. LOVE., Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, Jessica's Reviews, Reviews, Standalone

Review + Excerpt: The Forbidden by Jodi Ellen MalpasThe Forbidden by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Series: Standalone Novel
Published by Forever Romance on 8/8/17
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 369
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

What do you do when you can't control your feelings for someone? When you know you shouldn't go there? Not even in your head.

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.

I’m an absolute glutton for taboo storylines, for forbidden romances between characters who are so wrong and yet so perfectly right for each other. Maybe that’s why this story gripped me right out of the gate. Or maybe it was simply Jodi Ellen Malpas’ mesmerizing storytelling and lush writing style that swept me away. Whatever it was, The Forbidden had me completely consumed the ENTIRE way through.

Purchase here:

Amazon US Amazon UK Barnes iBooks Kobo

Jessica’s Review

4.5 “OMG. LOVE” stars

I’m an absolute glutton for taboo storylines, for forbidden romances between characters who are so wrong and yet so perfectly right for each other. Maybe that’s why this story gripped me right out of the gate. Or maybe it was simply Jodi Ellen Malpas’ mesmerizing storytelling and lush writing style that swept me away. Whatever it was, The Forbidden had me completely consumed the ENTIRE way through. All the reasons many readers will avoid this story are the exact same reasons it pulled me in and never let me go. This book certainly won’t be for everyone, this storyline will scare off many readers. But for a reader like myself who enters into books hoping to find them loaded with angst and complex emotion, to be as infuriated and anxious and uncomfortable while reading as I am overjoyed and hopeful, this book is EXACTLY my cup of tea.

I love a forbidden romance. I love a messy story that sucker punches the reader with the unexpected. I love a book where the reader is made to see rightness amidst wrongness and completely embrace all the forbidden things we’re told we shouldn’t. I love a book that is equal parts heartache and hope, a story that keeps the reader on that tenuous line between contentment and unease. I love anything that makes me feel, both good and bad emotions, from maddening fury to blissful romance and everything in between. With perfectly timed curveballs and exquisitely paced drama, The Forbidden is all of those things and so much more… which is why, to my great surprise, this book turned out to be my absolute favorite from this author since she first gave me Jesse Ward.

Truly, The Forbidden felt like a complete 180 from anything Jodi Ellen Malpas has delivered yet. This story felt more emotional, more relatable, more subdued in it’s romanticism. It’s not an in-your-face loud kind of love story like This Man. In fact, Jack is a far cry from any of JEM’s other heroes. He’s not a man who tramples. He’s not a man who steamrolls in and demands things. He’s sexy in a more reserved way, a character who’s a bit broken, definitely sweeter, more romantic in many ways despite the devastating circumstances he and his love interest find themselves immersed in. This book is just different. The Forbidden, in all its deception and all its ruthless heartache, felt like such a refreshing change from anything this author has written before and I not only appreciated it, I adored it.

I devoured The Forbidden in a day. I know this storyline will scare people away, but I hope readers will allow themselves to take a chance. Step outside the box and allow this story to sweep you away in its wrongness. You might just discover that wrong never felt as right as it does here in this book.

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.

About the Author

Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in the Midlands’ town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her two boys. Working for her father’s construction business full-time, she tried to ignore the lingering idea of writing until it became impossible. She wrote in secret for a long time before finally finding the courage to unleash her creative streak, and in October 2012 she released This Man. She took a chance on a story with some intense characters and sparked incredible reactions from women all over the world. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters have become her passion, a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON

Leave a Comment

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

You Might Also Like

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

Facebook Email
Angie
Jessica

Get the latest blog post sent straight to your inbox

Terms and Conditions of Use

Currently Reading

Angie

Jessica

Latest Reviews

Search By Rating!

  • Just No
  • Needed Work
  • Hmm, I Liked It
  • Good, Definitely Enjoyed It
  • Yes. This.
  • OMG. LOVE.
  • This Was Everything
  • There Is Nothing Better Than This

Recent Posts

Angie's Dreamy Reads

Quick Links

  • Giveaway
  • Releases
  • Upcoming
  • Sale

Footer

Instagram did not return a 200.

@angiesdreamyreads

  • Latest News
  • Book Bargains
  • Favorite Must Reads
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Bookish Extras
Disclosure
Angie and Jessica's Dreamy Reads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed
to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Angie & Jessica’s Dreamy Reads © 2021 · Design by 259 West
Terms + Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.