Annie has never experienced the ‘spark’ with a guy-that instant chemistry that renders you weak in the knees. That is, until a night out brings her face to face with the dangerously sexy and mysterious Jack. It’s not just a spark that ignites between them. It’s an explosion. Jack promises to consume Annie, and he fully delivers on that promise.

Overwhelmed by the intensity of their one night together, Annie slips out of their hotel room. She is certain that a man who’s had such a powerful impact on her must be dangerous. She has no idea that he belongs to another. That he’s forbidden.

The Before and After of The Forbidden by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Actually this is the first time I am doing something like this. And maybe I will crumble this electronical paper into a ball and dispose it later on to start a normal review but for now this is the way it is going to be.

The Before ….

As you can never “unsee” / “unhear” or “unknow” anything I have to start writing now .. while it is still “before”. When a book is titled “The forbidden” – the Blurb tells you it is “forbidden” and the author opens the book with a warning well then there is actually only a few “excuses” to read on … one being the obvious, which is curiosity and the other is the love for the writing of a specific author.

I was fangirling when I saw this author has a new book coming out – I was sure I wanted to read the book. Then I saw the blurb and I was starting to get intrigued … I mean who doesn’t like a most probably (knowing the author) well written book.

So when you are offered to read the book early who is going to say NO – well not me obviously. But then you open the book and you see this warning and well lets say now right this moment I am scared. I love this author so I will read the book but I was thinking what if my oppinon changes once I know “IT” … ?

That is when I decided this is going to be a before and after review

I started reading and I have to admit the writing is as solid and developed as I expected no surprises here. And I loved the way the book opens to introduce us to the leads (well at least I assume they are the leads) …

My mind starts to swirl on what could be forbidden … thoughts pop up and already disappear as I mentally check them as “not that is not the reason” … and the list is getting shorter and shorter…

I get the attraction the leads have for each other and Ms. Malpas is doing great in getting that across to the reader – so whatever happens next well – for now I get what is going on.

During my lunchbreak I had the chance to read a little further –

Ms. Malpas describes the connection between the leads in a way that I can almost feel myself what those characters describe as their chemistry – it feels of the charts. I really do get it and I also get the reason why the female lead acts the way she does. What I don’t get are her tears at a certain moment – they make no sense as they look to others as if something happened that she did not want …

But back to my list of reasons to be forbidden – it  is very short now and that is why I started writing here … Maybe it is something totally different. Something that has not crossed my mind yet.

And if it is not – there are many ways to maneuver in a dangerous territory but still I admit to being scared because whatever happens next might cross the line of triggers I have … Will I be able to read on ? Will I like it ?

Anyway the inevitable is coming closer I can sense it – I read a line that indicated a revelation is nearing

So any minute now I might enter the line of “after” – and it is no joke or game for me – there are already reviews that I could have read to find out what happens but I didn’t do that – I am maneuvering blind…. Let’s head for

The After…

I am there – to be precise I am at 75 % probably heading for the finale … so I thought I’d drop a line here again …

What I am thinking – well … actually Ms. Malpas brought it down to one line and it was like

“Cause our Symptom” ….

As I did not read any reviews that are already out there I have no idea how much of the story has been disclosed – so I will stay true to my ways and try not to spoiler.

What I am feeling though is simply two things that could not be further apart from each other if they wanted.

Yes it was one of the triggers I feared but actually I get it … I am not going to disclose on the reasons of WHY I get it – because for one they would be of a private nature. Secondly, Ms. Malpas writes them in a way that almost everyone that is not ice-cold (or has a stick where it should not be) should be able to relate to the situation.  

My reasons for this situation being a trigger will never change because it simply is one …but as always in life there are two sides. And for every black and white there is also a gray and I think this trigger is a sort of gray. Gosh I never thought I would ever say this but there might actually be a situation when this gray is acceptable. But only as long as the leading characters are looking for a solution. And I am not moving from this PoV … this kind of Gray can never be the grand finale …

I have some ideas what the last 25 % will bring and I assure you my thoughts are not pretty lets see how you get this mess sorted out Ms. Malpas – shall we ?

The End

There are many things I could tell you now but all of them would either spoiler to much of the story or would hit to close to the home of my trigger. So I will stay with this being the most emotional book from Ms. Malpas for me since the “grand finale” of the “this man” trilogy.

I am pretty sure Lovers of her writing style will not be disappointed as she remains true to herself. But I am also pretty sure that there will be a bunch of people that will have a problem with the plotline and its triggers and will therefore not like the book. But if you like the writing style up to the moment when the trigger occurs I can only ask those people to remain open and try to feel for the leading characters. Place yourself in their position …. try to answer yourself one question … if you would be in that position could you continue your original path – the path before you met – knowing it was not the right one – for the rest of your life ? knowing you have only ONE LIFE …. Being human means making mistakes – but why does it have to be the new decision that is the mistake – couldn’t it also be the old one ?