Title: Everything Forbidden
Author: Jess Michaels
First published October 30, 2007
262 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780061283949 (ISBN10: 0061283940)
Rating: 3.78
Overview
For years, Lady Amelia has secretly desired the handsome Earl of Sterling, but society’s expectations have kept them apart. Now, with her family facing financial ruin, Amelia must make a daring proposition: spend one night with the earl in exchange for his financial support.
To her surprise, the earl agrees, but with one condition: she must submit to his every desire for the next three months. As Amelia explores the depths of her own sensuality, she discovers that the earl’s domination is more than just a game.
Will she be able to resist his seduction and protect her heart, or will she surrender completely to the forbidden passion between them?
About the Author
Jess Michaels is a USA Today Bestselling author who has a love for all things geeky, Vanilla Coke Zero, coconut, cheese, and of course, cats and dogs. She is grateful to be married to her favorite person in the world and resides in the heart of Dallas.
When she isn’t busy tracking her steps on Fitbit or experimenting with different Greek yogurt flavors, Jess writes steamy historical romances featuring irresistible heroes and feisty heroines who refuse to wait for what they desire. Her work has been published by several companies, but now she is a proud independent author who relishes every moment of her creative journey (well, almost every moment).
Editoral Review
Jess Michaels Everything Forbidden is a historical romance novel that will take readers on a journey of love, lust, and passion. First published on October 30, 2007, the book is the author’s second romance novel and is set in 19th century England.
The plot of Everything Forbidden revolves around the life of Lady Amelia, who is married to a man she does not love. She longs for the affection of her estranged husband’s cousin, Lord Harding.
The story unfolds through a series of clandestine and steamy encounters between Amelia and Harding, which leads to increasing guilt and conflict. Michaels writing style is graceful and polished, and she transports readers into a world of high society, passion, and restraint.
The historical context of the book adds an extra layer of depth to the story, including the strict societal norms and moral restrictions that governed the behavior of women during that era. The characters in Everything Forbidden are well-crafted, particularly Lady Amelia and Lord Harding.
Michaels skillful character development builds tension and anticipation around their continued acts of forbidden love. The pacing of the book is excellent, with action-packed scenes that flow smoothly from one to another.
Michaels delves deep into themes of love, passion, and morality in Everything Forbidden, and she does so in a way that does not feel overly politicized or preachy. Some readers may criticize the book for its focus on the traditional gender roles of the past, but the story is a reflection of the cultural and historical context of the time it is set in.
One of the books strengths is Michaels strong prose, which is evocative and sensual without being gratuitous. The scenes between Amelia and Harding are particularly well-crafted, with rich emotional descriptions that bring the characters and their love to life.
While there are no major flaws with Everything Forbidden, some readers may find the ending unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, the book is a well-written historical romance novel that will be enjoyed by those who appreciate the genre.
Overall, Everything Forbidden is an engaging and well-crafted historical romance novel that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance, historical fiction, and steamy love scenes.
On a rating scale of one to five, I would rate Everything Forbidden a solid four stars.