This is one of the best books that I've read in 2017. It's a smart, intriguing mystery, and I could not put this book down until I finished it.

Forbidden, Elisabeth Naughton

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Mystery and Thrillers, Romance

Well, this was quite a dark read, told in alternating viewpoints from Natalie and Luc. It was uncomfortable reading in parts, though I'm OK with BDSM in stories, in this book it takes a much sharper edge, with the liberal use of alcohol and drugs, and the possibility of not all sex being consensual.
In fact that's almost certainly where Natalie's friend Elena met her end. She supposedly died from a drug overdose but Natalie doesn't believe that and is on a quest for the truth.
I fond myself struggling with this story, it wasn't the writing but the story itself. I just found so much of it hard to believe, and for me I need that reality. I kept putting this aside and picking it up later.
I found it hard to believe in Elena and Natalie, they'd been friends since young kids, but for the last four years they haven't met, just corresponded. Yet now she's dead Natalie can take off as much time as she likes in her quest. If they really were best friends surely they'd have made time to meet up somehow?
Natalie has a kind of naiveness about her and yet is very astute in others. She very determined and yet falls for some rookie mistakes, one of which brings her into real danger, that she escapes from only by the fact that Luc suspects what's happening. Surely the “don't drink unless you see it poured from the bottle” is a mantra for everyone when with strangers? It was things like that which irritated me.
It ends on a massive cliffhanger, and I hate those, really, really hate them. Its a well written story, its just that it didn't hook me in. Though there were parts of the story I really enjoyed I don't think I'll be continuing with the trilogy. I just find parts of it difficult to believe in and when I'm reading I need to be convinced everything could happen.

 Stars: Two and a half, a story I struggled to believe in, didn't feel real to me.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

It was okay for me. I have never read any of this authors other books. Luc has some issues and Natalie has good intentions. Gio for me was sketchy. Even being a innocent girl from Idaho should know better. It was just okay for me. The fact that Natalie doesn't make the right decisions just shows she really has no idea what she is up against. I am not sure if I will read the second book of this series. Something was just lacking and I can't tell you what it was exactly. Hmmm...Not sure.

I received this ARC from the publisher via Net Galley for my honest opinion at my request. Thank you Net Galley!!

A truly captivating book ! I could not put this down even while I was at work ! I would sneak in readings every chance I got !! It was that good !!! The twist and turns and the major question ! What is Luc’s family is really involved in ?! I cannot wait to continue the series because the ending will drive you crazy screaming NOOO but don’t worry the series continues !!

This is a very good story with some twists -- one of which is that I didn't realize it would end with a cliffhanger! Looking forward to the next two stories. My point of frustration is that Natalie is a bit whiny and her behavior is a bit annoying. The plot advances based on her foolishness -- and I had hoped that wouldn't be the case.

Wow!

Amazing story!

I was totally hooked on this book and couldn’t read the pages quick enough. I knew Gio was trouble from the beginning, but I just thought Luc was an jerk. Then we see his softer side, the side that wants to protect and save everyone that he can.

I liked Natalie and the strength that she had to try to find out what happened to her best friend. She knows her friend would never overdose, so she has to get close to the people at Covet to see what she could find out.

She ends up catching Luc’s Eye and he knows that she is in over her head, so he takes it upon himself to try to protect her from his family. Then the trip happens and I really start stressing over his family and the danger that Natalie was in BUT it turns out that I was blindsided by whom she should have truly been afraid of.

This is a must read book and I can’t wait for the next book to be released to see what happens next.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Woah, now this is one hot, steamy romance! Full of intrigue! It’s dark and sexy! It was so hard to put down!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All right, let's all acknowledge that first impressions matter. This cover makes one heck of a first impression. I felt like I was about to knock on the lions' den or something. It was so imposing but welcoming at the same time.

Sometimes you read a book that shakes you to your core. Forbidden is one of those, and that's why I've been watching funny cat videos for the last half hour.  I read most of it, thinking this is kind of sweet then I got to about the 80% point and all I thought was cazzo.

Props to the author for pulling it off. There were hints, but never did I for a second suspect that. So, now I'm sitting here trying to wrap my head around everything that happened at the end of the book. I loved the ending, but I guess I should rewind a little, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm going to be careful not to give anything away here because, the shock is part of the fun and I think it's important to go into this book with an open mind.

In this book we meet Luc, the reluctant CEO of a fashion magazine, and Natalie a strong, independent young lady in New York hoping to find out what happened to her best friend. This book is written in alternating perspectives (my favorite) so we get to know Luc and Natalie both well. At first, I thought Luc was an a**hole, I didn't like him at all. Then I got to know him and I fell in love fast and hard, just like Natalie. I loved Natalie too, obviously. I love anyone who isn't afraid to say no and stand up for themselves, something she has no problem doing. 

Throughout the story we see Luc who is used to being in control surrender little by little to Natalie. We watch as Natalie challenges him and he tries his best to seem unaffected. We get a front row seat to his emotional turmoil over his desire for her and we get to see when that desire wins. He does so many little things to show he cares about her and that's what drew me in. He's dark and brooding, his family is powerful with plenty of secrets. Not to mention his controlling tendencies. Luc is forbidden.  But I couldn't help myself, I totally fell for him. 

This is one heck of a sexy book. Luc and Natalie have amazing passion and chemistry, every time they come together is intense.  The author did an amazing job of capturing both the emotions and actions in those moments which made them wonderful to read. 

I'd recommend this book for anyone looking to read something on the darker side. This book will not leave you with a smile on your face and warm fuzzy feelings, so be prepared for that. It's a well-written, engaging, and beautifully formatted read that left me shocked and itching to read the sequel.

Welcome to the “Forbidden” world. Forbidden is the first book of a three part series, The House of Sin series. The book opens with Natalie, a midwestern businesswoman, being in New York, scrambling about on her own, looking for clues as to what really happened to her lifelong friend and college roommate, Elane . She stays in Elane’s apartment and applies for work at Elane’s place of employment where she encounters people who are friendly, some not so friendly, some helpful, and some openly hostile, just like anywhere else in the world.

Natalie quickly discovers though, like the little bird that falls from the nest, just because someone dishes out crap, does not necessarily mean they wish you harm. Then Natalie begins to suspect that the fox that is digging her out of the mess, may actually be trying to devour her.

Ms Naughton’s characters are usually fully fleshed out and well developed in her novels, in part, so that the reader can relate to their motivations and trepidations. However in this book, especially initially, we don’t see that as much because these characters are evolving, learning and adapting on the fly as they face new things and new revelations. As the novel continues, the characters find themselves becoming persons other than who they believed they were.

Ms Naughton also pens very intense sexual encounters in her novels. This book is no exception there, but those scenes in this novel are not restricted to the protagonists lovemaking. That will be a bit different for Naughton readers.

The suspense of Natalie’s search for clues to what happened to her friend, and the things that Natalie accidentally discovers ramp up to an exhilarating point where the second novel in the series will take over. Forbidden is different from Ms Naughton’s previous novels, but a change of diet can sharpen the appetite. I highly recommend Forbidden for your reading list. I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.