Forbidden by Rachel Madbury

When I finished the first book in this series, I was blow away. It had gotten under my skin and left a book hangover that took a while to shake. Jumping back into Graciella and Alexander’s story was a like lining myself up for a slap, I knew it was going to hurt but did it anyway because I just had to get another fix from this pair.

And boy did they deliver – they pack a punch!

Now that Graciella knows the secrets that Alexander tried so desperately to keep from her, there is nothing that will stand in her way from protecting not only him but what they have together. It is her mission to ensure that his past is confined, exorcised to the furthest recesses of their existence but is it?

And more to the point is that all they have to worry about?...I think not!

My heart went out to the pair of them, their lives were blighted by events that are beyond their control but when things begin to get a little too close for comfort it is Alexander that takes the bull by the horns and puts everything he can into not only keeping the love of his life out of harm’s way but also trying to work out what the heck is going on and what happened to Graciella’s mother.

The story wore it’s mystery and danger like mist lingering on the moors, it shrouded them almost permanently, only occasionally lifting to reveal tantalising glimpses of what they seem to be battling to keep…a love that was so busy facing its demons head on that it seemed to be constantly blindsided by forces that seem to thrive living in the shadows.

Graciella and Alexander were strong characters and because of that their story was able to spring off the page. They were engaging and realistic but they weren’t perfect, they had their flaws. But this is the story of a journey, a voyage of intimacy, to discover the truth about themselves and what they can have together, it was all about two damaged souls learning that together they can heal, they can love and they can live. It was about giving their hearts the opportunity to breath and watching their story take shape.

The ending was not what I had thought it was going to be and that is not a bad thing, it just means that I am now itching to get my hands on the next book.

If asked to recommend a new author Rachel would be one that would easily find her way to the tip of my tongue, this may only be her second novel but she has an artistry and flair that will keep you completely captivated.