Forbidden is the first of a trilogy - keep that in mind as you get started :) The romance is a kind of a slow burn with the story. lots of drama and twists, but the steamy bits are well...steamy! you won't be disappointed. It's well written with complex characters. a great start for this trilogy.

When I began reading the book I was expecting something different. I was expecting the house of sin to be an actual house where BDSM stuff were happening. It's wasn't like that though and I can't say anything because the truth behind the name and everything is revealed towards the end of the book and it changes a lot of things we thought we knew. I had a lot of WTF thoughts in my mind for quite some time. The second is going to be about the same couple aka Luciano and Natalie. This one ends with a cliffhanger, so I suggest to wait for all the books to be out before you begin reading the series.

Received an arc copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
It's totally not my cup of tea. There's too much drama and the Relationship is not one I'm in awe of. ANd then when I decide to finish the book I had the unpleasant surprise to discover that the love story was to be continued. I Don't know if I'll read the other books of the series.

Pretty good, pretty dark, pretty engrossing. Gotta warn you, it's a cliffhanger...but I'll be reading the rest when they come out for sure.

It's rare a book catches me completely off guard, but this sexy thrilling page turner did. Every time I thought I had the plot or the characters figured out, something would come out of the blue and alter my perceptions again. I didn't like Luc at first, and I thought Natalie was beyond naive and impetuous. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get into the story, but the more I read, the more I couldn't put it down and the more I understood the characters. The ending was way more shocking than I expected, and I have already bought book two because I can't wait to know what happens!

Net Galley provided an ARC for review.

More than 5-Stars!
This is book one in the House of Sin series and it features Luc Salvatici and Natalie James. The mystery and intrigue was intense. The suspense is nerve-racking. Secret societies, family-good and bad, archaic laws and the desperate need for change is what this first book and series is all about. He tried to save her but in the mist of saving her, he fell in love with her and everything spiraled out of control from there.

The characters are fantastic! The plot is out of this world! The writing is superb! This would make an outstanding movie. I can’t wait for book two!

*this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars!
The first book in the House of Sin series introduces us to the Salvatici Family. Luciano Salvatici’s family is known for their dark secrets in Italy which have been brought to the states as well. Luc is desperate is distance himself from the lifestyle that his family has chosen, but in being the eldest son, he’s running out of choices. He’s currently running the family company, Covet, in New York, but the true story of the family business is on the verge of becoming more known as a employee recently died.
Natalie James grew up in a small town in Idaho. Her best friend made it big as a model in New York. Natalie recently learned that her best friend overdosed on drugs, but Natalie knows that’s not what her firmed is about. Her desire for answers, leads her to New York hoping to find out what really happened to her best friend.
Natalie meets Luc who runs Covet-where her friend was working. At first, Natalie and Luc do not hit it off, or more so they are attracted to one another and hate that fact. Lus sees his brother making his move towards Natalie knowing full-well what his intentions are. To keep Natalie away and safe, he decides to take her to Italy for a work trip. Ultimately, the trip turns into a distasteful, and her safety is compromised.
Natalie and Luc fit great together-very hot scenes. It’s a cliffhanger ending!! It’s killing me to know what happens next!

I just finished this first book in a new series by Elisabeth Naughton. Normally when I have strong feelings about a book, especially at the end, I like to wait a bit and let my thoughts settle, but I struggled with this book all the way through. I persevered because I am a fan of Naughton’s books, especially her earlier paranormals. I admit I lost track of her work when she moved to self publishing, but if a book was brought to my attention I did read/review it. This is the case with Forbidden. I’m sure I read the blurb when the book was offered, but my decision to read came more from my previous love of Naughton’s writing. As I re-read the blurb, I decided to place it here rather than writing my own summary. While there are words within the blurb that might cause you to conclude there would be light bdsm within the story, I didn’t pick up on it. So I was not happy when the story leaned into the realm. But more on that in a bit.

How to begin…let’s start with our heroine, Natalie James. For a seemingly smart young woman, the fact that she was in Manhattan attempting to uncover some hidden information behind her friend’s death was the first thing that didn’t sit well with me. Only 20 something, she’s planning to infiltrate the walls of Covet where her friend Elena was a model to try to find out who the mystery man her friend refers to in the cryptic messages she sent prior to her death. Messages that infer she had fallen into something with a man and was struggling with the loss of control, etc. Natalie is convinced this man is responsible for Elena’s death. Note: The author interchanges “Laney” and “Elena” in the beginning and until I figured out that Laney was perhaps a nickname for Elena I thought they were two different people.

Natalie meets with the head of Covet, Luciano Salvatici, under the ruse of applying for an internship. Thinking she can find the man Elena had spoke of just by being there. Luc is clear that she isn’t a good fit for Covet and sends her on her way. Just outside the building, she meets Giovanni aka Gio, Luc’s brother and a photographer for Covet. He swoops in, gets her talking, and offers her a job as his assistant. Natalie has no experience with photography, but hey-it gets her foot in the doors at Covet, so I’ll play along.

From there, the forbidden and sinister part of the story begins to take shape. Gio takes her to a party where she witnesses an orgy. Gio has laced her drink with something so while she watches him get it on with two other women she’s not appalled, but aroused. Fortunately, Luc is at this party and he rescues Natalie from it before anything can happen to her. He gets her home safely and watches over her. The next morning, Luc returns to her apartment and offers her a job as his assistant telling her that she must be prepared to leave the next day to join him in Italy for a week to attend meetings, etc. for Covet. She jumps at the chance, because Italy!!! And she kinda has the hots for Luc, cause he’s hot and sexy and she kinda likes his slightly dominant nature even though she doesn’t want to. She stands up for herself and says what’s on her mind. And ITALY!

So, here we have a young woman who has ventured into a world she is clueless about and only has her friend’s scary, cryptic messages to go on. She attends a party and has no clue how she got home, but has flashbacks of a man in a mask. She determines she must have been drugged so now Gio is number one on her list of suspects for the man Elena might have been involved with. But instead of packing her bags and getting on the first plane home, she packs her bags and goes to Italy with the brother of the man who drugged her at a party.

Are we approaching TSTL territory? Yea, I think so! But I read on.

I found Luc to be such a conundrum. You know there is some big family secret that he’s dealing with. You know that being at Covet is the very last place he wants to be, but he’s trapped by family obligations that we learn much, much later go back hundreds of years. It’s not the Mafia, it’s worse. I believed that he thought he was doing what was best for Natalie because he wanted to keep her close and safe and away from the clutches of Gio’s grasp. So he takes her to Italy, the freaking birthplace of the Salvatici empire.

Ummm, not very smart.

I will admit that Luc and Natalie do have a believable connection and their scenes are sexy and hot and while Luc is dominant and commanding, Natalie is a willing partner. She’s submissive when she wants to be, but also takes what she wants. She brings something to Luc that he didn’t know he wanted or needed and the first part of their time in Italy is lovely. But it all goes to shit when Luc’s father realizes Luc is in Italy and summons him to Tuscany, where we learn the details of what the Salvaticis and other founding Italian families have been doing for generations.

Throughout the book I was getting the feeling that this was trying to be an erotic or bdsm story, but things just didn’t click. You know that there is something that you’re missing and that’s why Luc’s actions just don’t make sense. If he is worried for Natalie why take her to Italy, and worse, why take her to his family home? While there are elements of bdsm, Luc’s dominating nature and his need for Natalie to submit, their intimacies were not always D/s-ish. It all begins to make a bit of sense when the truth about the Salvatici family is revealed. At the same time, knowing Luc doesn’t want to have anything to do with that part of his family’s dealings, it seemed to clash with him being a dominant needing Natalie’s complete submission, in and out of bed. So, conundrum.

I’ll end with the fact that this story ends with a cliffhanger. Apparently, the series will be a trilogy and the story will pick up in book two, Deceived out May 15 and finally Undone out June 5. I’m not a fan of the cliffhanger, but the fact that the next two books come out relatively quickly soothe the hate for me. I’m also not sure if I want to continue. I liked Luc, but what happens in the end left me cold and feeling deceived, clearly the right title for the follow-up book. Did I read him wrong? Was he really trying to protect Natalie? Again, conundrum.

I’m not sure I’ll continue, but I admit to feeling the need to get to the bottom of this story and learn everything. If I do, I will wait till both book 2 and 3 have released before picking it up again. The writing pulls you through the story in spite of Natalie’s TSTL moments. Italy is described beautifully and you can imagine clearly the castles and villas and places they visit. But, I wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger and I’m kind of angry about that. In spite of it all, I can’t say I totally disliked this story.

Natalie James leaves her small Idaho town for Manhattan to look into the death of her best friend. She’s determined to get a job at the same company as her friend. Her initial introduction to Luciano Salvatici does not go well and she is sent on her way. Natalie is strong willed, determined and very independent.

Luc is intimidating, dark, dominant, controlling and drawn to Natalie. However he is hiding dark secrets that he never wants her to discover.

While it was an interesting winding, twisting tale, there was so much drama. And I am not a drama queen. Lots of scorching hot, fan your face sex, to the point of practically obliterating the story line. And towards the end it gets pretty dark and disturbing. Lots of possible triggers here. I liked parts of the book, disliked parts and found some parts downright unrealistic/unbelievable. So, I’m kinda on the fence about this one. I will probably read the next one to see where it goes and hope the drama tones down a little.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

When her friend is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Natalie James is going to find out what really happened, no matter the dangers she may face in the process. Getting a job at the company where she last worked, and investigating from within seems like her best plan of action... until she runs into one very immovable hurdle, Luc Salvatici.

Luciano Salvatici takes one look at the enticing and naive Natalie and makes the decision to keep her as far away from him, and his company as possible. Until his brother steps in and makes it impossible for him to not get involved. She may think she knows what she is getting into, but the Salvatici family is one she does not want to gain the attention of...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Natalie James decides the death of her once sweet and innocent friend is not adding up, she decides to get to the bottom of what was going on in her life before she passed away. Living in her old apartment and associating herself with people whom she was involved with, it isn't long before she finds herself subjected to some unpredictable and unwanted attention.

Luciano Salvatici has unwillingly taken over his family business, and while he doesn't agree with the way things are done, it is his duty to protect his family name and the empire they are in charge of. Natalie is a problem he did not see coming, but once he determines that she is not going away, he decides he might as well enjoy her for awhile...

Luc is a cold as steel dominate. But, his desire to be in charge at all times rivals his infatuation of Natalie, who is a strong and determined woman who isn't so easily subdued. And when these two finally give in and are unable to keep their hands off of each other for any significant amount of time, the dark cloud of the Salvatici family is staring to close in on them...

This was a really great book! Dark and sexy, book one in the House of Sin series ends in a cliffhanger that will leave you yearning for more...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

4.25 stars--FORBIDDEN is the first instalment in Elisabeth Naughton’s contemporary, adult HOUSE OF SIN dark, erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on twenty-four year old, American Natalie James, and thirty-two year old Italian businessman Luciano Salvatici’s story line.

NOTE: Due to the story line content, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Luc and Natalie) FORBIDDEN is a dark, erotic romance story line that follows the building but contemptuous relationship between Luc Salvatici and Natalie James. Natalie James have never been to New York but a interview with the House of Salvatici and its fashion magazine COVET meant Natalie would have access to everything her best friend Elena had so cryptically mentioned in the weeks before her sudden death. Meeting Luciano Salvatici (aka the beast) found our heroine unwittingly drawn to the dark and mysterious CEO, a man whose instant dislike for Natalie disguised an urgency to protect her from the monsters within. What ensues is the acrimonious but highly sexual relationship between Luc and Natalie, and the fall-out as the Salvatici family history demands payment and submission from all those who dare to seek the truth.

FORBIDDEN is a story that covertly and slowly reveals a dark and dangerous family secret going back hundreds of years that continues go grow in strength to the present day. The blackened, sexual nature of the family history threatens all those who dare the cross their paths, including our heroine who has inadvertently stumbled down the rabbit hole into a world that is about to destroy her life. Warned numerous times not to tread outside of the lines, our heroine’s constant need to prove she was beyond the reach of mere, mortal men finds herself in the line of fire, threatening her very existence and the heart she lost to Luciano Salvatici.

Elisabeth Naughton pulls the reader into a shadow society that plays by its own rules; a family so deeply immersed into domination, power and control their own son struggles to move on from the past. The premise is dark, dramatic, erotic and intriguing; the characters are colorful, charismatic, and astonishing; the romance is fated, passionate and tragic. FORBIDDEN is a familiar story line but a story line I am desperate to see follow through.

Copy supplied for review

THE READING CAFÉ: review to be posted on May 5 at the Reading Cafe

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If dark is your favorite flavor then you will find Forbidden by Elisabeth Naughton to be one delicious read. Unlike anything I have ever read by this author. It is not a suspense romance as such though it does have suspense and romance. It also is much more erotic in the hot scenes in the book. While looking for information about her friend, Natalie is drawn and seduced into the world of Luciano. The reader is drawn into the story along wither.

First of the House of Sin series, Forbidden lives up to its name as well as the series’ name. Plenty of unanswered questions and mysterious closed doors to keep the reader guessing while also making the reader want to read on even when the book is finished. Not everything is answered in this book.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F BDSM Dark Romance
Triggers: Cliffhanger! Murder, BDSM aspects, "sex kitten" issues, Drugs

Luciano is an enigma. Luciano, or Luc, is trying to live his life, but when he's called to head the family business, he really has no choice. He's thrust into the life he doesn't want and made to heel at his father's whim. He knows that he should not have anyone close to him, but when Natalie comes to his office, he is immediately intrigued with her.

Natalie is at Covet for one reason – find out what happened to her best friend. When she meets Luc for the first time, she's intimidated and then thoroughly dismissed. Feeling defeated, she finds a different way into the company. Natalie is very naïve in this story. She is trusting and so virginal it really takes a lot for me to believe that she can even survive this world.

The journey that Natalie and Luc go on is one of danger and lust. There is a lot of chemistry between Luc and Natalie, but their overall relationship is one of mistrust and lies. When the truth comes out, you can't help but wonder where the story will take you – lead you. This was a quick read with a lot of steam. It will be interesting to see if Naughton can hold the storyline throughout. I hope that it becomes more clear and is developed with less "white noise," as I thought this story was good but had a lot of misdirection woven in.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series. It certainly sets the scene for us, although in a most disturbing world. It is, however, quite fitting that a fashion magazine would be a good cover for such an operation.

At the heart of the story are Natalie and Luc – a mismatched pair, but clearly one that works for them... sort of. The level of secrecy and mistrust is such that I am not sure how it could ever really work, but no doubt Ms. Naughton plans on showing us in future books. I did find Natalie's ability to determine Luc's every mood by his eyes a little unbelievable at times, and then even when she did, she reacted in denial of what she saw. I get that she was a little (haha) out of her depth, but at some point, she had to trust her own eyes.

This was not really for me, but it is well written, and pages of it I loved, but then it got too dark or twisted, or I became frustrated with bad decisions. I do believe that we will get more clarity as we go forward, but for now, I am stuck in uncertainty.

First, let me tell you that this story definitely has a cliffhanger and it is my understanding that it will take 3 books for the author to tell readers the whole story. That being said, let’s get to the review of the first House of Sin story - Forbidden:

Elizabeth Naughton always creates wonderful characters full of depth and characteristics that ensure that readers really want to get to know them and learn their stories, so you can be sure that while this book is different from her other paranormal or romantic suspense stories, the characters will captivate you from the very beginning and hold you hostage until the end. There is wonderful electrifying chemistry between the hero and heroine and the story if full of anticipation building suspense that keeps readers engaged and on the edge of their seats with twists and turns to keep them guessing.

Although, I must say that I found Forbidden to be a bit on the slow side in regards to the pace of the story, the House of Sin serial is off to a great start as I was completely caught up in the events taking place and getting to know the characters, so I am definitley looking forward to reading the rest of the story, luckily the release schedule means I don’t have to wait too long in between the three parts, so until next time….

not exactly my jam, unfortunately. this is my first book by this author, i'd heard good things so when i saw it on netgalley i requested it. i definitely expected it to be more BDSM/dark than the books i normally read, but i ended up skimming a good portion of those scenes because they got boring. natalie was infuriating, i liked luc at first, especially his POV but then in her POV he annoyed me and then towards the end he really annoyed me. i knew it ended on a cliffhanger and i didn't mind because i figured i'd just read the second when it came out, but i don't think i will now. maybe it would have done better as one book rather than a trilogy, for me anyway. but overall, sorry, just not my jam. if you're into books like these, perhaps you will like it. the writing was good, but the story and characters just didn't click for me.

Natalie is off to New York to find out what happened to her friend Laney, she was told it was a drug overdose but Natalie doesn’t believe it. Luc is the acting CEO of covet and only doing it because of his father. Laney worked at Covet and Natalie thinks the answers she is looking for are there with Luc and his brother Gio. Will she discover the truth or regret staying? This is a fast-paced read and quite the roller coaster ride. I was hooked from beginning to end. The story has loads of suspense and drama and the chemistry between Natalie and Luc is intense and steamy. I loved it and so looking forward to more!

This review can be found on the Wickedcoolflight Blog at :https://wickedcoolflight.net/2018/04/25/congratulations-to-elisabeth-naughton-on-her-new-series-house-of-sin-forbidden-released-today-and-fly-girl-has-a-first-review/

WOW, not sure what to say after that word.  This book was moving.  I haven't been this moved since Infraction by Rachel Van Dyken.  This book made me rethink a few things about sexual relationships that up to now I'd never considered.  I think based on all my other reviews most people know I'm not a role playing, BDSM, or even a Dom/Sub fan.  So this book attracted me by the mystery and it is Elisabeth Naughton, which I've read several of her books, all prior to writing for WCF, and loved.

A few notes up front about her writing.  She writes very intense characters and her mystery always builds until the last 25% of the book.  So this one was no different on those two topics.  I'm not going to give any spoilers, so keep reading.  It will be worth it.  The difference in this book is that the mystery focuses around a sexual cult and Dominant-Submissive relationships.  I mean complete compliance by the women in the relationship.  

I'm glad I didn't realize this was the main theme when I decided to read it because I probably would have passed.  Natalie and Luc's relationship starts out with him trying to dominate her and turn her into a sub, but as the story progresses, they end up changing one another's minds to the relationship constraints.  But the interesting part is how Elisabeth develops this with the inner dialogue of each character.  It is so intense and revealing, that I may not be so adverse to the dom/sub relationship between partners.  She breaks it down to the basic level and describes how each behavior actually strengthens and conveys the love in the relationship without it being spoken.  Also, the dom position she describes isn't used to bring pain and satisfy only one side, it really is about enhancing the sexual tension to create a higher-high, if you will. 

Ok, too deep.  Just read it, you might change your mind too.  OH, I almost forgot the mystery element.  The mystery is also very good.  I simply can't wait until the next book is out.  Please let me get to read it before it releases.  I'm dying to know what happens.  So I'm obviously giving this 5 of 5 propellers.  This one will stay with me for a very long time.  Elisabeth, thank you so much for letting me read this and I am in awe of your prose.  Please keep them coming, we'd be happy to read them any day any time.

Forbidden (House of Sin, #1) by Elisabeth Naughton is a romantic mystery/thriller that is the first of a three part series. The author went with a little bit darker and edgier storyline. I give it a 3.5 star rating. The story is intriguing but not consuming. The writing, as always with this author, is fabulous as the story continues along at a steady pace. Natalie, the main female character, comes off as impetuous more than innocent. I'm not sure if that is the author's intent. I didn't really catch her age other than she is young. I liked Luc's character more so, mainly because he offers the element of mystery. I can say I've read dark and edgy stories before and this one didn't draw me in enough. Since it is the first of a three part series, it provided more of a foundation for the following books. Thank you to Netgalley and Season Publishing for providing a copy to review. Look for Deceived (House of Sin,#2) releasing next month. If you like this author's Stolen Series or Eternal Guardians Series, give this one a try.

From New York Times Bestselling and RITA Award-winning author Elisabeth Naughton, the first book in the House of Sin Series.

She has no idea what lurks behind the forbidden doors of the House of Sin...

He is temptation. Forbidden fruit. A craving I can’t seem to resist.

I went after him in search of answers, certain he had blood on his hands. Now I’ve fallen prey to his seductive looks and commanding charisma.

I know he is a threat. He's entwined in a dangerous world I don't understand. But even that doesn’t stop me from aching for his touch, for the taste of his wicked lips.

Before I can truly surrender to the fire smoldering between us, I need to know more. I have to see behind the doors he keeps firmly locked.

I need to discover what he's hiding in the shadowy world known as the House of Sin...

Review:
First, this ends in a cliffhanger because book two in the trilogy comes out in two weeks. Just wanted to let others know because I know it bugs some people.

Second, I cannot wait for part two, Deceived.

Now to the story. I do not want to give away all the plot points so this might be kind of vague. Natalie is out to find out who killed the sister of her heart, so she travels to New York City to get into the world of high fashion to find the killer and get justice for her friend. When she gets there everything and everyone is not what they seem. She meets Luc, (who comes off as a world class jerk) who is the head of the fashion house Natalie's friend worked at. A chain of events lead to Natalie being Luc's personal assistant and that is where things really start getting interesting. Again, the Author does a great job of being mysterious with the characters and plot. The story is very dark, sexy and had me on edge throughout. That's it, that is all you get because you really need to read it without me giving away things.

I am very excited to read the next installment, come on May 15th.

4.5Stars
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the Publisher.*

Wow !!! Totally unlike anything the author has written before ! Dark , captivating , heart stopping.... I can hardly find the words to describe this book. Dominance and submission and BDSM has never been of interest to me , but those are definite themes in Forbidden. That being said, I couldn’t stop reading this book. The characters and story grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Even knowing this was only book one and would end in a cliffhanger,which I usually hate! , I was captivated by it. Elisabeth Naughton is a master , and I’ve loved reading her for years. Forbidden is on that list , even though it’s not my usual! Can’t wait for the next one !