THE FORBIDDEN by Jodi Ellen Malpas (August 8, 2017; Forever trade paperback original; $15.99)
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
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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.
The Forbidden is a very different side to Jodi Ellen Malpas's writing, it's raw, it's dark, it's heart wrenching , its witty and as the title says it's Forbidden, that being said it captivated me, it drew me in, a taboo subject with plenty of angst but I couldn't put it down and I read it in one sitting.
This is a standalone featuring Jack Joseph and Annie Ryan a couple who meet in a bar, one thing leads to another and they end up having the best night of their lives, never to meet again or will they, fate sometimes works in mysterious ways.....
I fell for Jack big time (I didn't want to, I wanted to hate him) but he sucked me in just like he sucked Annie in and although I struggled at times with the story I needed to know how fate worked out for them. Every character in this book is strong and has depth, the supporting characters are loyal and witty whilst staying true to their own beliefs. This book is a beautifully written story that will have you on a emotional roller coaster, i felt every emotion possible in those few hours and in the end I have to say this is quite possible the best we have seen from Jodi Ellen Malpas and I don't say that lightly I'm a huge Jesse fan. What's next for this very talented writer who knows, she seems to be going from strength to strength and is not afraid to cover subjects others skim over.
I loved it, great job Jodi.
Captivated
Enthralled
Overheated
Sizzling tension....
I had no idea going into this book about what The Forbidden
could mean!
Yes, it's about something forbidden but in my eyes you
cannot deny such a strong connection the characters have!!!
I absolutely loved all the characters bar one, when you read
the book you will know who I mean!
I loved the way the story folded, the sizzling connection
you could FEEL, the banter was great between Annie and her friends!
I just thoroughly enjoyed this romance story that had my
heart hammering in my chest at what could happen!
I experienced a multitude of emotions whilst reading and I
really liked the way it ended!!
I have to say this would have to be one of my favourite
books by this author and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us to
read next!
Jack and Annie's story will amaze you but may make you
question some things and that's ok!! Life is all about the experience!!
Be prepared this book is unlike anything Jodi Ellen Malpas has written and also note that the title is totally in sync with the plot of the book.
This book is raw, emotional, shocking, tragic and above all else confronting. It will not be to everyone's taste and honestly I wasn't certain I could read it, let alone finish The Forbidden. However such is the skill and brilliant writing by Ms. Malpas that I persevered.
What a roller coaster of emotions this book brought to the surface.
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.
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