This is my first Jodi Elen Malpas novel and while I have never read her famous This Man trilogy,  I have honestly pushed it up as she has impressed me immensely. Her writing style was absolutely amazing and her attention to detail impeccable. While I am NOT a fan of spoilers in any reviews, I will say this novel is definitely taboo and not for everyone. Despite knowing this though, I implore everyone to take a chance on Annie and Jack as their passion was combustible and so SIZZLING HOT. I could not get enough!

Annie has never experienced the 'spark' with a guy until a night out brings her face to face with the dangerously sexy and mysterious Jack. Their explosive chemistry was off the walls fiery and consuming. You could feel the intensity between them and how "right" their connection felt. But alas, what happens when Annie finds out that the man who delivered on all his carnal promises was forbidden and belongs to another?

In all honesty, I usually avoid stories like this but I went in blind and I'm actually very glad that I did. It was hard seeing the back and forth and the angsty moments where I felt ALLL the emotions: elation, sadness frustration, etc. There were even times I wanted to pull my own hair out. But in a way I loved it because the author successfully made me FEEL. I could not stop hoping for the best and loving (and hating) them.

All in all this was superbly written and a great introduction to this author for me. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula

I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Outstanding book from start to finish.
The story is very taboo and not everyone will agree with the premises of the story but I urge everyone to push that aside and take a chance on the book because there is meanings behind every thing in life and you can't judge someone's life choices if you don't walk a day in their shoes.
It maybe taboo and wrong but once you understood the characters and experience the unbelievably intense chemistry they share you will see instantly that it doesn't matter how much you fight things life, if it's meant to be its meant to be. You can't change destiny or fate.
The author wrote both characters brilliantly. She made you feel the intensity between the characters from the tips of your fingers down to your toes. I can honestly say there's nothing I'd change about this whole book and after finishing it I wanted to 're read it again straight away.
6 Stars

3.5 stars!

The Forbidden by Jodi Ellen Malpas reeled me in with the forbidden/taboo aspect. I just had to know what it was and what was going to happen. This story definitely delivers an intense read, although this story may have a deal breaker for some.

Annie’s on a night on the town when she meets someone. The chemistry between them ignites, but what happens when the man you want is forbidden?

I really liked Annie. She’s a hardworking, successful architect and she recently buys a house. The world’s kind of her oyster and she has no room for a man. And isn’t it just like life to find one when you least expect it? There were a lot of laughs, and enough steam to keep me reading.

When I found out the forbidden aspect, I will say that I hesitated to continue. The author has a good acknowledgement page before the story begins, however, and I really recommend reading it. I kept it in the back of my mind as I read, and it really helped me continue. By that point, I felt the story line did become a bit predictable. The pacing slowed as a result, but there’s another twist that definitely caught me by surprise.

This is my first book by this author, and it was definitely well-written with fun and intriguing characters.

We briefly met Annie in “All I Am – Drew’s Story”….Who knew she would have her own story!
Annie is super focused on her career; relationships and love are not a priority for her until she comes across Jack in the bar where she’s partying with her friends. The attraction between the two is undeniable but Annie doesn’t take the bait. Jack let her go but promises that should they meet again, letting her go will not be an option and true to his word, when their paths cross again Jack doesn’t let go. After one wild night together Annie disappears on Jack. The night remains burned in her memory and when she comes across Jack again she learns that, that is all that night can be, is a memory because Jack is most definitely not for her, he’s actually forbidden.
Kudos to Jodi for broaching the taboo topic of infidelity; let’s face it, not all romances or love stories start “on a good note” sometimes, good people do bad things.. Although Jack’s marriage isn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, he’s still married. As he and Annie are forced to work together, they have to fight their attraction to one another. Eventually they give into temptation and must deal with the consequences of their decision.
I wasn’t so much a fan of this storyline (and not because it dealt with infidelity), as I was the way it was told. Truthfully, I thought this was one of the most realistic storylines I’ve read in a really long time. It wasn’t the typical “knight in shining amour” or “damsel in distress”, although I felt the situation with Stephanie, Jack’s wife, was a bit much; the overall concept of being trapped in a loveless marriage is very realistic Jack and Annie didn’t just decide to be together and things just worked out for them. There were definite struggles endured by the two. The reactions from their friends were totally genuine. How many times has a friend done something that you didn’t totally agree with but because of their passion you completely understood why they did what they did and tried to be as supportive of them as possible. That’s how Ava’s friends came through for her. Even reading, you want the two of them to be together but in the back of your mind you’re still saying to yourself “but damn-it, he’s married!”
A pretty good “testing your moral composition” type read!

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.

I am a big fan of Jodi Ellen Malpas- so I was excited for a new book from her. Forbidden is definitely not your typical romance and parts of it I had a hard time with. I felt like he made some bad choices, when he could have wrapped things up with one relationship before getting into things with her.
I also felt like the ending was a little rushed and had a bit of unnecessary drama
I did love aspects of this books and the chemistry between the two of them was definitely there!!

She is strong, independent, successful and single. No man has ever made her wish for more in a relationship, until now. Sure, she was a little drunk, a little flirty and he was the best looking man she has ever seen. He also neglected to tell her he was forbidden fruit, until she took that one bite that had her addicted to his charms. Now Annie is the worst thing she can imagine, the other woman and through it all, she never realizes that just maybe the mysterious Jack isn’t the perfect man she thought him to be.

THE FORBIDDEN by Jodi Ellen Malpas is dark romance, intense and passionate, a tell-all about one of the most taboo relationships anyone can have. From stolen moments to the mind-scorching sex, Annie and Jack’s attraction is instant, all-consuming and a dirty little secret, because Jack is forbidden and the “timing is never right” for them to come out of the closet, or bedroom or where ever they melt the pages with their sex.

Ms. Malpas has done a remarkable job of creating her tale with realism, using realistic circumstances and almost making her characters less than the cheaters they are. Yep, I have issues with otherwise intelligent people putting their lives on hold for another as Annie has done. Throughout each time it happened, I just wanted to shake that woman, but she felt the guilt, the wrongness but couldn’t help herself. Is it because she/they have truly found true love?

People make mistakes, both in their marriage partners and their reasons for marrying, but does it justify putting the cart before the horse? Follow Annie and Jack as they struggle with their feelings, their guilt and their undeniable attraction...

There is no doubting the talent of Ms. Malpas, she knows how to keep her readers turning, page after page and I give her credit for tackling an extremely touchy topic, knowing she will be pushing someone’s buttons, and that is the mark of a very good author!

I received an ARC edition from Forever in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: Forever (August 8, 2017)
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Genre: Urban Life | Contemporary
Paperback: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

4,5 Stars

Whoa Jodi Ellen Malpas has done it again! I didn’t think she could make me love a character more than Jesse Ward from This Man but she sure as hell has gone and done it. I might even like Jack a tad bit more than Jesse.....maybe!

Now, Jodi starts this book off with a little bit of a warning for those readers who are sensitive on some subject matters but if you’re like me any book that comes with a warning (even a little one) I just have to have. The warning just makes me want to read it more..lol So I was rubbing my hands together feeling giddy as I was diving into this one.

Annie & Jack meet by chance one night and their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. I mean fog up your kindle and grab yourself a fan off the charts. Their attraction to one another is palpable. They both feel it right away and I as a reader felt it, but neither one is interested in acting on it, in fact it is forbidden for either of them to act upon it. Now, you know anything that is forbidden just makes you want it more right?

“He is just to f**king handsome for his own good. And, Undoubtedly, my good, too.”

This story will have you questioning your morals and asking yourself could this really happen? Is there really that one soulmate out there for everyone? What would you do to be with the one you love? What are you willing to give up to be with the one you love? Those are all valid questions for this story.

Your emotions will be all over the place. (mine certainly were) BUT my heart was always in one place right from the start.

Forbidden has humor, sex, great characters, drama and love. All the things that make a great story. Jodi did not hold anything back writing this one, she brought out all of the feelings and conflict and it was nice to read a story where nothing was sugarcoated.

Phenomenal love story and definitely one of my favorites!

When your hard limit becomes your addiction...

Jodi Ellen Malpas blew my mind and forced me to consider something that most everyone consideres to be FORBIDDEN. She was sneaky about it. She put me inside the head of the character and took me on her journey. Allowing me to experience it from her perspective.

Annie is a workaholic that loves her career as an architect. She's blessed with a job she loves, a supportive family, and close friends. When she has time to let loose, she hangs out with her friends. She's not looking for love, she's too busy. Actually, she's never been struck by that spark that everyone talks about. That instant chemistry that knocks you on your ass. That magnetic connection that scrambles your brain and makes you forget all of your resolutions. Well, at least not until him. What he did to her was beyond brain scrambling, it was permanent. Etched into her memory bank and unwilling to give her any peace. Replaying over and over and over again. She didn't know anything about her one-night-stand other than his first name. She didn't plan to ever see him again, but she wanted to. But it was too late. She got scared and ran off without sharing any contact information. Isn't that just her luck to finally find the one that makes her forget her own name and she doesn't have any way of contacting him? She will later wish he had stayed stuck in her mind rather than showing up at her apartment.

The Forbidden will make you reconsider what you thought you knew about yourself. It might turn your black/white into gray without asking your permission. You might fall, in spite of your determination to stand. You might fall in love with this book, just like I did. Since all of her books are best sellers, I've come to the conclusion that the author just doesn't know how to write anything else. The line forms here...

I have LOVED everything Jodi Ellen Malpas has ever written, but unfortunately The Forbidden is not my cup of tea. I have not given a star and will not be posting a review. I look forward to reading more from Jodi Ellen Malpas in the future. I wish Ms. Malpas great success with the release of The Forbidden.

Fans of romance with a high levels of angst and drama will be delighted with Jodi Ellen Malpas' new book.