Strictly Forbidden (Zebra Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

As soon as Kira arrives at Norfield Park, she clashes with her fiancée's stern cousin and refuses to give in to his demands to call off the marriage. But she is aware of Gavin's striking good looks and is vulnerable to the attention the handsome Duke turns on her. Gavin swears to do anything to stop the scandal this marriage will bring to the family. His plan of seduction changes his life, and what he has believed to be a curse in his hot blood laying dormant for years.

Ohhhh, I loved this book!! Set in the London ton, I enjoyed it as much as I did ONE WICKED NIGHT, also by Shelley Bradley. STRICTLY FORBIDDEN is an intriguing story, perfectly plotted with steamy satisfying ... scenes and an absorbing romance that I never wanted to end. I am an insatiable reader and I want more from this talented writer. This was a truly wonderful book which I would give many stars!!

Kira is a noble, graceful, and open-hearted woman, who is perhaps too naive and too willing to endure insults based on her mixed heritage. It is her loving nature that eventually cracks open Gavin's heart. But she does from time to time stand up for herself, eventually refusing to allow others to think poorly of her and refusing to think so of herself.

The story remains interesting throughtout, the characters are thoroughly developed, and the multilayered plot is finely drawn. The reader is also treated to a renewal of acquaintance with Brock and Maddie from Strictly Seduction (which I didn't like as well as this one), who actually fare almost better in this story. The love scenes here, indeed the entire romance, are much better, and more genuine, more loving.

The previous reviewer has done a really good job of encapsulating the basic plot premise, so I won't bore you with another recap. But basically the story revolves around the engagement of an unfortunately notorious young lady (Kira Melbourne) of mixed parentage to a young clergymen of a noble family (James Howland) , and his family's efforts (his mother and his cousin, Gavin Daggett, the Duke of Cropthorne) to separate the two. From the very first moment Kira appeared on the scene, she engaged both my interest and sympathies -- Shelley Bradley did a fantastic job of 'fleshing out' this character, showing us all facets of her character and personality. Ms Bradley also did a really good job in depicting the kinds of difficulties a person of mixed parentage would face -- the easy manner in which people are quick to assume the worse and to condemn just because someone is slightly different.

However, on the negative side, I have to admit that I really hated the duke for much of the novel. Much of his behaviour was deplorable and (at times) really appalling. But I will own that Ms Bradley did a really good job of depicting the conflict that he feels about his attraction for Kira and his determination to end Kira's engagement to James, no matter the pain he may cause; and the confusion he feels as he tries to make his mind if Kira is a heartless wanton or a severely wronged young lady.

Ultimately however, what I really liked about this novel was not the 'romance' that develops between the duke and Kira (the duke tends to rhapsodize too much about Kira's body and mouth and not enough on her character and personality for me to believe that he was truly in love with her and not in 'lust' with her), but the fact that this was the story of a young woman who had the courage and heart to face down her detractors, who armed with only prejudice, rumour and innuendo thought nothing to destroying her reputation and making her life quite hellish. Kira behaves throughout the novel with a kind of grace and dignity that is completely admirable -- rooting for Kira to attain all that she desired was not a problem at all! At the same time she is no doormat -- I really enjoyed the scenes where she tells the duke off! Another aspect of the novel that I rather liked was that Ms Bradley provided Kira with a younger brother (probably the hero of the next 'Strictly' installation, though I wouldn't at all mind reading a future 'Strictly' book that featured James as the romantic hero) who cared enough to fight for her honour and to clear her name. The last couple of chapters when the duke finally comes to his senses made for satisfying reading as well, though I would have preferred it if there had been a lot more groveling on his part. Kira was too softhearted! But than she was a woman in love, who had finally attained her heart's desire.

All in all, in spite of my frustration at the duke's shoddy behaviour, I have to admit that "Strictly Forbidden" was an enthralling and captivating read, not to be missed.