Forbidden

Rating:
Summary: Good news
Review: According to Jo Beverly's website, this great book will be reissued in December 2003.

I own this book and I just think it is wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: Actually 4 1/2 stars.
Review: Finally! A Rogue's book that is a real page-turner! And is ironic that it is the story of the Rogue that less impressed me of all when I first met him in "An Arranged Marriage". I have to admit that back then I didn't think Francis was hero material. I liked him a lot, but since in that book he is always described as very sensitive, poetic and of slight build, I found him a little too "delicate". After reading this book I'm happy to say that my preconceptions about him were totally wrong. Yes, he is sensitive, caring and kind, which makes him adorable, but he also has a backbone and it is every bit a Rogue, ready to take action if it is necessary and as formidable as his more dazzling friends Nicholas and Lucien.

Serena was very likeable too. I really felt for her. She really had a terrible life and very traumatic experiences in her first marriage and just when she thought that she would find some peace after her husband's death, her despicable brothers steal her money and plan to sell her again into an unwanted and even more terrible marriage. She and Francis make a lovely couple, he is just the type of man she needs to make her get over the traumas of her first marriage.

Their interaction was believable and mature. As it is logical in their circumstamces, there were doubts and distrust on both parts at the beginning, but they always try to please each other and make the best of their situation.

The race scene was hilarious, and the plot was well thought and engaging. There is a lot of sensuality in this book and also the wickedness that characterizes Beverley's Malloren series. My only complain, and the reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that the last love scene, which is the most important of the book was kind of rushed and skimpily written.

The presence of the other Rogues is always a nice addition. They are all fantastic, I couldn't pick my favorite, since all have characteristics that are extremely appealing. I wish we would see more of Leander. Nicholas and Lucien we have seen in all of the Rogues books, but Leander was out of the country when An Arranged Marriage and An Unwilling Bride took place, and later on, on Con's story (The Dragon Bride) he doesn't appear either. It appears that Beverley does have her favorite Rogues (Nick and Luce) Also, I think it is time to bring the other Rogue we haven't heard much about-Simon St.Bride- from Canada, so that we get to know him a little before we read his story.

All in all, I can say that I enjoyed this book immensely. So far it is definitively my favorite of the Rogue's series. Of course, I haven't read Miles' story (Dangerous Joy) yet, since it is out of print, but I will a soon as it is re-issued, which fortunately will be soon.

Well done this time, Jo Beverly!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best in the Company of Rogues series
Review: For me, FORBIDDEN ties with its immediate predecessor CHRISTMAS ANGEL for the position of second best book in the Company of Rogues series (my very favourite is AN UNWILLING BRIDE). Like all the Rogues novels, it's extremely original. The hero--Francis Haile, Lord Middlethorpe--is a virgin...highly unusual for a young Regency blood. The heroine, Serena Riverton, on the other hand, is only too experienced. She had been married--her husband died shortly before the beginning of the story--but she's no ordinary widow. She was married off at a young age to the depraved Sir Matthew "Randy" Riverton; over the eight years of their marriage she was essentially her husband's sex slave, or as he put it, his "well-trained wife" (by the way, I once read a description of FORBIDDEN which cautioned that some readers might be disturbed by the references to Serena's abusive first marriage. However, though Riverton _was_ a monster, there's nothing gratuitous about these references--unlike in some romances, where the heroines' sexual abuse by the villains _is_ presented in a titillating manner). Then, just months after widowhood frees Serena from the nightmare that was her first marriage, she learns that her loathsome brothers plan to sell her into marriage to a man like her late husband (or, if she refuses to cooperate, to sell her into a brothel). Her only option is to flee.

She and Francis are thrown together when he stops to offer her a ride after overtaking her on a lonely country road as a violent storm is about to break. They're forced to take refuge in a farmhouse for the night-- posing as husband and wife, since their host is a religious zealot--and in desperation, Serena seduces Francis early the next morning while he's still half-asleep, hoping that he'll make her his mistress: she's despaired of finding any respectable sanctuary, and has concluded that her best hope lies in becoming a high-priced courtesan.

Francis _is_ bewitched by her. But, he's also deeply suspicious of her. Moreover, he had been on the verge of proposing to a respectable young lady out of a sense of duty to marry suitably and carry on the family line; now those plans have been thrown into turmoil (incidentally, I really take exception the publisher's description of Anne Peckworth--the woman Francis was about to become betrothed to when he met Serena--as "dull". Though quiet and proper, she was actually a very nice young lady, and there was a genuine poignancy about her unrequited feelings for Francis. I think it's greatly to Jo Beverley's credit that she _didn't_ make Anne an insipid bore who Francis would feel no compunction over dropping--or who Serena would feel no guilt over supplanting). The story of how Serena and Francis' relationship develops from these inauspicious beginnings is a captivating one.

Rating:
Summary: Actually 4 and 1/2 stars... excellent but not my favorite
Review: Francis is wonderful. There's no place else to start. No other man could have been what the heroine, Serena, needed. He is kind, gentle, and patient, and a world removed from most heroes in the love & morality department. He is also very honorable, which creates a difficult situation for him that ends in the love of his life.

Serena is a slightly "tainted" heroine, though through no fault of her own. Her family, her brothers in particular, are vile creatures who ultimately get what they deserve. And, thanks to Francis and the Rogues, Serena gets the place in society and the love and security that she deserves. It's a beautiful tale.

As is typical with Beverley's novels, there's darkness present--this time in the form of the humiliations of Serena's first marriage and how that affects her relationship with Francis. But it's a case of all's well that ends well. This story is somewhat bittersweet, and a part of me wonders how much difficulty they'll have making it work in the long haul. But if anyone can, it's sweet but strong Francis.

As other writers have said, the race scene is hilarious (you'll meet it again in Dangerous Joy), and the secondary romance with Francis' mother is rather silly. But all told, a great read.

Rating:
Summary: I don't usually write reviews but...
Review: I don't usually write reviews but I just had to make a comment on this one. I read this book in 2 evenings. I couldn't put it down. The horse race had me laughing out loud at 2am in the morning, probably with the neighbors wondering what was going on. And the next day at work I was thinking about it and burst out laughing, and definitely had my coworking wondering what was wrong with me. Without giving much away, I thought it was a nice change of pase regarding the sexual state of Francis.

Rating:
Summary: I have to agree...
Review: I got this book for Christmas and finished it in a day and a half. Such an interesting story line - so out of the ordinary! I pulled for Serena and Francis with every turn of the page - this books does the job, I was entralled in the story!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderfuly brilliant
Review: I liked this book to begin with, what with how Serina's brothers were; she was left in a damsel in(total) distress situation. A heart-breaking one if that. And when I was first introduced to Francis it took me a while to get use to him. Most of the Englsih hero's I read were tall and had (LOL) had much sexual prowess around town. Some of the books I'd read in the past (by other author's) when speaking of the hero gave their titlle when speaking of them. But somehow, the idea of refering to Francis as "Middlethorpe" throughout the whole book seemed very blase. In fact, the name Francis was entirely more endearing to me--not to mention Francis himself. You've never encountered an Englishman quite like him. He's very unique...But I'm sort of getting of track. When Francis and Serina are thrown together under very daring circumstances it elicits a cornucopia of delight. Her firghtening past and Francis'endless mass of kindess is just the thing to make the story entirely interesting. It was one book that ACTUALLY had a VERY page-turning story-line. (And yes, I agree that some parts were exciting....watch out for Banshee...lol He's also another one in a million character!)So enjoy "Forbidden". It's a real page-turner. I simply adore Francis--and perhaps you will too!

Rating:
Summary: The story continues ......
Review: I must confess that I opened this book with a little trepidation for I wondered if Jo Beverley could keep the Rogue series going at the same pace and level as the first three books. I was not disappointed for this one was rather remarkable. She is to be congratulated for making each member of the Company of Rogues so very individual despite the collective adventures and settings in which she places them.

Serena Riverton is a most unusual heroine as others have described. The premise of using a slightly "soiled" yet very innocent woman as the partner for a man very sophisticated yet virginal was intriguing to say the least. Very few authors, in my view, could have carried it off so well. I do recall Mary Balogh's "Secret Pearl" as another example of the author taking a heroine somewhat outside the tight strictures of Regency society and letting her triumph through the love of an exceptional man.

I agree that the secondary romance was not well done; it sometimes smacked of French bedroom farce particularly when held up to Serena and Francis Middlethorpe's misunderstandings, angst and inability to communicate. However, the main story is so well done that it matters very little.

Great to meet the wonderful Lucien and Beth - my favourite Rogue couple - and Nicholas and his Eleanor once again. The author is to be congratulated for sustaining these characters from previous books so well and for showing them growing and developing in their happy marriages.

Incidentally, the scene where Francis visits Blanche Hardcastle was a little gem and revealed some tantalising details about Lucien's past.

Well, on to Dangerous Joy.The Dragon's Bride and The Devil's Heiress; I should be finished with them by the time Hazard lands on my doorstep... Wonderful series, exceptional characters and great satisfaction in the Rogue stories. Highly recommened!

Rating:
Summary: Best so far of this series!
Review: I would never ever suspected that Francis who almost seemed boring in Arranged Marriage would turn out to be such a compelling character. He really stirred my blood - although he was a tad ackward about knowing what he needed to do to conquer Serena's fears in the bedroom - my goodness talk about an opposite paring - Serena had been a used woman in her first marriage and Francis was a virgin! What a complete opposite twist in a romance. This story just shows so much emotion and such a great love is eventually formed between these two characters. The way Beverely brings the other Rouges into the story - once again is beautiful - I love them all! But I am not sure Francis might be my favorite! READ these books in order though - you will enjoy them so much more!!

Rating:
Summary: Very Confusing!!!!
Review: In Begining, the story drags alot. It's very confusing since it's jumping from one plot to the other. It's just doesn't fall into place till the middle of the story. This is the first book I read about The Rouges and it's captured my interest... Serena is well portrayed and Francis is very well protrayed also.
I recommend this book and to better understand this book you must read about the other Rouges also.