FULL REVIEW ON FRESH FICTION
FORBIDDEN LUST by Karen Booth is an enjoyable, escapist romance. Zane Patterson appeared in book one of the Dynasties: Seven Sins series, Ruthless Pride by Naima Simone, and in this book, readers will understand some of his questionable actions in that book. Zane has a lot of pent up angst because of how his family was swindled at the hands of the former CEO of Black Crescent, and he spends much of the book trying to get over these feelings. Allison Randall is a determined and vivacious heroine, who is ready to be taken seriously both in her place of work and by her family. Once Zane and Alison get over their initial hang-ups, they are able to have some fun before a tropical storm hits the Bahamas, and while secluded they reveal their true feelings. This contemporary romance is easy and breezy, hitting all of the beats expected in a frothy romance. Nothing unexpected takes place, but it’s an entertaining novel nonetheless. More characters are introduced, who will more than likely be featured in the rest of the Dynastes: Seven Sins series, but FORBIDDEN LUST can be read on its own.

I downloaded this series because I thought it sounded interesting. I’ve since realized this series isn’t for me and I won’t be reading or reviewing. Thank you for the opportunity.

4 Stars / 2.5 Steam Fans

The second book in the Seven Sins Dynasty series shows how the Black Cresent Scandal affected Zane and Allison. Zane and Allison are on vacation when a storm hits, and Zane and Allison explore their feelings.

Video review available in Week 46: Nov 8 – Nov 14 weekly book reviews.

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This was an ok story. The plot was a fairly basic trope. The characters were ok. I hadn’t read this author before, so there weren’t any expectations.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I've have half a dozen read to review books on backlog from NetGalley that I'm gonna try and get through. I started with an easy one. Forbidden Lust isn't a long book and it reads so fast that I finished it in two hours. So if you're looking for a steamy quick read, this is for you!

I'm a little saddened by this series because it was not what I was hoping it would be. I was thinking of a 'grown up' version of the TV show Dynasty . This just felt like any other Harlequin Desire book. So that was a real let down for me. I have one more in the series to review so hopefully it's more like I was hoping it would be.

That's not saying this book is awful. That's not true! It's a good book. An average book. You'll enjoy it while reading but forget about it not long after you're finished. I hate to say that but it's true. But it does provide a nice escape from the world we're currently living in and that is worth its weight in gold.

Will go live on my blog: 9/30/20

This book is part of the Harlequin Desire Deadly 7 Sins and the storyline is based on lust. Imagine being a younger girl who has a crush on her older teenage brother’s best friend. Now that Allison has reach adult age she comes home for a visit and hopes to get the Black Crescent account as a client for her company. While staying at her brother’s Scott house his best friend Zane comes over for dinner and Allison still feels that she wants Zane as more than a friend and she lets him know with a kiss.
Allison and Zane wind up being on the same Caribbean Island resort that is owned by Allison’s aunt and uncle.. Now Allison feels she get to show and tell Zane just how much she wants him, which is more than being friends.
Will Zane reveal that he is attractive to Allison too or will he not let her know because he doesn’t want to break the best friend bro code and not date Scott’s sister. You will have to read for yourself because I don’t want to give any spoilers.
The characters were well developed and the storyline shows lust in a different situation, not only in wanting someone so bad physically and also lusting to get revenge on someone’s family member most of your life because of what that person family member caused pain for Zane and his family.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series which can be read as standalones written by various author’s.
Cassandra H.

I received this ARC of this book from Netgalley and this review is of my own honest opinion and review.

#HarelequinDesire #ForbiddenLust #KarenBooth #Steamy #Romance #

This one was better than the first...seems the series might be catching its groove. My hope is they continue to improve as the stories progress.

The loose ends in book one were explained a little more in this one, focusing on Zane Patterson and Allison Randall. A classic fall for your best friend’s sister romance, I enjoyed the elements of suspense in this story.

Light in comparison to some of the heavier books I’ve read, but I’m definitely not discounting the creative liberty to the second deadly sin: lust.

This book had it...but, honestly, that’s where it felt softest. True to its publisher’s fashion, we get our HEA (or HFN) and the trope is wrapped in a cute little bow to tie up any loose ends. Lust doesn’t always turn to love, but I’m happy to see when it does.

An enjoyable but not memorable read. I do look forward to the next book.

Karen Booth has penned a sexy summer sizzler set on a sultry Bahamian island in her latest page-tuner for Harlequin Desire: Forbidden Lust.

Allison Randall has had a rough couple of months. She dumped her boyfriend Neil after discovering that he
had been cheating on her, is super stressed at work and to top it all off, she has just shared a sizzling kiss with the guy she has had a crush on for years who then proceeded to tell her that a relationship between the two of them was out of the question. Allison is desperate for a vacation and encouraged by her best friend and business partner, Kianna, she decided to heed her advice and book a last-minute trip to stay at her aunt’s luxurious resort in the Bahamas, which just so happens to be where her brother’s best friend Zane Patterson is staying…the guy with whom she had the steamiest kiss of her life!

Zane Patterson owes a lot to the Randall family. He has never forgotten their kindness and generosity in
welcoming him in when his family had lost everything and his friendship with their son, Scott means everything to him. Scott is more like a brother than a best friend – which is why his sister Allison is off limits to Zane, even though he is absolutely crazy about her. Scott’s friendship means far too much for Zane to ruin it by seducing his sister, but when they find themselves staying at the same Bahamian resort as one another, giving into temptation quickly proves inevitable…

United by a passion that simply cannot be denied, attraction soon gives way to something far deeper than either one of them ever imagined. Everything Allison has always wanted is finally within reach, but is a future with Zane possible? Or is she merely setting herself up for heartbreak and disappointment?

Karen Booth’s Forbidden Lust is a witty, sensuous and passionate tale readers will not be able to resist. A red-hot page turner that sparkles with heat, humor and heart, Forbidden Lust features an intelligent and confident heroine and a charismatic and swoon-worthy hero readers will fall in love with.

A fabulous summer escape that will keep readers absolutely riveted to the page, Karen Booth’s Forbidden Lust is a delectable romantic read that should not be missed.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and Harlequin Desire for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Have I ever told you that lust is one of my favorite seven deadly sins? Oh, wait no I don’t mean in real life. I mean in shows like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and stuff like that. See gif above.

But when I found out that I had the opportunity to read a book that was part of a series that dealt with the seven deadly sins, all from different authors, and was a Harlequin romance series? I may or may not have jumped on that opportunity real quick. Come on now, you think I’m going to pass up on that opportunity to indulge on a little fun like that? Please.

Not only is this a story of lust, but it’s a story of forbidden lust and romance, as our main character Allison is finding herself in the middle of trying to get into a romantic relationship – or at least a little sexual healing – with her elder brother’s best friend. While this is supposed to be a sort of taboo relationship because Zane does not want to infringe on his friendship by making any moves on Allison, she has no such qualms. It certainly doesn’t help that the setting of this novel takes place on a secluded island resort.


Although it seems like when Allison and Zane are stranded together on this romantic little resort, Zane’s feelings that he was holding back start to come to the surface… maybe the bro code wasn’t that strong after all? Or maybe he should have had this conversation with his best friend a little earlier? Hint hint, Zane! Sometimes friends can understand that you can’t help who you have feelings for, as long as you aren’t taking advantage of his little sister.

I had a lot of fun with this one, and I think it’s because it may or may not have been slightly reminiscent of a little forbidden romance of my own with a certain best friend’s older brother in my life. It may not have been this intense or steamy by all means, but a girl can dream, can’t she? It definitely makes me want to read the first book – which is on Pride – and possibly read the rest of the series to see how the authors come together and make this series cohesive enough to make it all work together.

First, that cover! Seriously, that cover is terrific. All of it, from that gorgeous dress to the looks on their faces, practically screams 'Read Me!' So, I did, and what I found was pretty good. Maybe not quite to the level of build-up from looking at that cover, but still pretty darn good. I did struggle with Allison for a while. She really really wants Zane, and she comes off as a little desperate. Nevertheless, she did grow on me, and these two do have good chemistry once Zane gets out of his own way and sees what's right in front of him. Of course, there's some drama before the happy ever after, but it's a Harlequin Desire, so that happy ending is kind of expected. The drama just makes it that happy ending that much sweeter when it gets there. To sum it up, Forbidden Lust is an entertaining brother's best friend, forbidden, island romance, and as such, it's great for diving in and escaping the crazy of this world.

Forbidden Lust is an older brother’s best friend romance, which is part of where the forbidden aspect comes from and it picks up just after Naima Simone’s first book in the series, Ruthless Pride. It’s really interesting to see Zane despise the hero (Joshua) in book one so much. It sets up such an interesting dichotomy in terms of romance conventions,

In terms of whether this book lives up to the Seven Sins concept, I actually felt like this book was more about wrestling with pride than lust. But I didn’t mind that.

The premise itself is that our couple winds up on vacation on an island in the Bahamas at the same time and Allison is determined that now is the time and she’s going to make it happen. But Zane has a lot of guilt about going for Allison because of Scott, his bff and Allison’s brother. Fortunately, they fall in love anyway.</p>

This book has a compressed timeline and so it just moved a bit quick for my personal taste. But it wasn’t bad, just not the perfect book for me.

I just devoured this book. This is a quick read that makes me think of a soap opera. I did enjoy this book very much and I do recommend it.

Allison is a go getter. She knew what path he wanted to take in life and she went for it. Despite her early problems in life, or perhaps in spit of them, she realized her dreams...almost fully. She always had a thing for her brother's best friend. He was slightly older than her, easy on the eyes, and with such a kind heart, what wasn't to love? Thing was, he (Zane) had had everything taken away from him at a young age,so he wasn't looking to cross any lines, or fracture any friendships...not to mention the HUGE chip on his shoulder that followed him into adulthood. Don't get me wrong, I get where it came from, but at some point in life with the support he built for himself, you'd have thought he'd have let some of that go. Yeah...not so much...and it kept him from realizing his own fantasies comes true too...at least, until now. Add in one fated trip away from the rat race of life, an unexpected neighbor in their VERY secluded island escape, and the unstable personality of Mother Nature (aka a BIG-A**-HURRICANE!), and boom...you've either got the recipe for disaster or possibly a rather smexy version of Castaway about to play out. I'll let you guess which way this one goes...

In the end, I loved both characters, even if Zane was a bit thick in the head. The connections they had felt real, the times they shared created their own waves, and the troubles they navigated suited them in both issue and solution. Definitely some blush worthy times, but we'd probably be disappointed in the series with a name like SEVEN SINS if it didn't, right?

Recommended read for adult Contemporary Romance fans and forbidden love trope readers!

Allison Randall has always had a crush on Zane Patterson. Zane is her brothers best friend and consider Allison off limit. Allison has other idea after a lifetime of waiting she has decide to make her move. When Allison finds out Zane is going to their family secluded island resort she decide to make her move. The chemistry between them was explosive and I give Zane a lot of credit for holding out. I would have given this book 4 star but I have an issue and its has to do with the hurricane growing up with my grandparent on an Caribbean island the scenes dealing with the hurricane was not realistic there is no way that the storm could have trapped then and they not know the storm was coming also the water would have been crazy to swim in and town people or the boat police would have come to the island to make sure everyone was safe.

Forbidden Lust is like a breathe fresh life into the "your brother is my best friend and he'll kill me" storyline. A story that is full of lust and love with sexy romance that pulls you in and leaves you wanting more. The drama and the banter between the characters is breathtaking. I look forward to reading more from the author.

As a teenager Zane’s family endured a life changing event that destroyed life as he knew it but the one constant he had in his life was his best friend Scott and he would never do anything to endanger that relationship. When he and Scott’s sister Zane wind up at the same resort he is determined to keep his distance but a storm and the chemistry between them upended that plan.

Allison has been attracted to Zane since she was a teenager so when she finds out that Zane is going to be at the same place that she is and her brother will be a plane ride away she is determined to gauge his feelings and hopefully have what she always dreamed of or try to move on with her life. Her plan worked to perfection until reality intruded and everything came crashing down.

Not only do we have the complications of Zane being her brother’s best friend but the fact that her career is on a collision course. Their journey wasn’t without its obstacles but both Zane and Allison learn some important lessons along the way.

4.5 stars

Karen Booth has once again proven why she's one of my favorite authors. Forbidden Lust is the second book in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series. It is a completely stand-alone read. However, the true background of the series is in the first book, Ruthless Pride written by Naima Simone. In that story, you find out what happened with Vernon Lowell and Black Crescent Investment over a decade ago.

Fifteen years ago, Zane Patterson met Allison Randall just as his whole world crumbled around him. Zane's parents were among the victims of Vernon Lowell's embezzlement from Black Crescent. Overnight, Zane went from being rich, popular, and going to private school to being broke and picked on in public school. His saving grace was Scott Randall, Allison's older brother. Scott didn't care about Zane’s past. He just offered him his friendship, a listening ear, and a place to escape the warzone Zane’s home had become.

Zane feels that he owes everything to Scott. That means that he can't make a move on Allison, even if she is the one who makes the first move. “I can’t do it. I can’t betray my best friend.” In a surprise twist of fate, Allison and Zane find themselves at Rose Cove, a boutique resort in the Caribbean owned by Scott and Allison’s aunt and uncle. Within two days of their arrival, the two find themselves all alone and stranded on the island as a tropical storm bears down on it. Thinking they're going to die, they give in to their passion, only to be rescued far too soon. Reality crashes in when doubts, omitted truths, and trust issues surface.

I love Forbidden Lust because it combines a couple of my favorite tropes, best friend/sibling, and forced proximity. I really like the characters of Zane and Allison. They were fun and playful. You get a sense of their passion and know that they truly care about each other. My heart went out to Zane for all that he’s been through and it ached for him when people said he needed to get over the past. I didn't like that Allison wouldn't take no for an answer and kept pursuing Zane, trying to get with him especially in light of the fact that she knew she was doing something that was going to hurt him.

My biggest issue with the book/series isn't author related. My issue is more of what I thought this series was going to be. I've read a couple of Harlequin's continuity series before. So far, this series doesn't seem to live up to the past ones I've read. I didn't think the first book cemented the mystery or driving scandal of the series. Yes, it's been established that this series will deal with the fallout of what happened fifteen years ago and that we as readers will see how the lives of the victims’ heirs have been affected. The issue of paternity has been brought up but nothing has really come of it. This book mentions a paternity test but that's it. If this is the mystery of the series, it wasn't advanced and that’s disappointing.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“The scars you get as a young person are always the ones that feel the deepest. It’s just the way life is.”

“When you’ve lost everything, it’s just easier to play it safe. Don’t risk a thing. Don’t put anything of importance on the line. Friendship. Your heart.”

3.5 Stars

Forbidden Lust is book 2 in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series, a category romance in the Harlequin Desire line. The story is a forbidden love story between Allison Randall, and her brother’s best friend Zane Patterson. They’ve known each other for years, but only when they are stranded on a tropical island together do they explore their lingering feelings.

I love that a category is like watching a soap opera, you get a short story that fits into one larger world and it’s usually a bit crazy in the best possible way. It’s been years since a read a category romance, but I use to go through them voraciously in the 90’s. This book serves up a brother’s best friend trope with a dash of forced proximity and danger in a most satisfying way.

Allison and Zane end up at a resort owned by Allison’s family for separate reasons. Wouldn’t we all love to have family connections like that? After a day or so of enjoying the sun and sand together, a hurricane rolls in. For some rather convenient reasons they are the only two left on the island, and of course that means all that sexual tension that’s been brewing is going to come to a head.

Like many category reads the pacing of this book is pretty fast, only occurring over about a week. This quick pace worked pretty well for me since the two main characters had known each other for over fifteen years. Though, it did mean that there were a few points where the action felt put into hyper drive. Also, some of the conversation came off a bit stilted. For example, at one point in the story Allison sustains a mild injury and Zane says they “need to get ice on that, stat…”. It just seemed an odd phrasing for a scene that wasn’t happening in an emergency room.

There are three sex scene which were all at about a 2-3 on the heat level scale. The hero was apparently quite the playboy, but when they’re in bed together he seemed pretty tame and it left me a bit wanting. Some more athletic and intense sex is referenced in conversations, but never shown on page. I was expecting a bit more heat from a book named Forbidden Lust.

Aside from those minor issues I enjoyed reading this book. It was like cotton candy for the soul; sweet, fluffy, and exactly the sort of break I wanted after several more angst filled reads. Zane and Allison have good chemistry and the tropical setting was a nice change of pace for me. Overall, I’m giving this 3.5 stars and would recommend it for anyone looking for a quick escapist read.

~ Lindsey

Will post review the week of release

This book is sooo good! I love Allison and Zane's time on the island, and while I wanted to knock some sense into Zane once they got home, I loved both characters too! A great book (and that cover is stunning)!

This is a hot read, but the storyline is incredibly contrived and not at all realistic. Plus, the main male character is overly dramatic and unforgiving.