Customer Reviews

Once Forbidden (Highland Fling)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

after just finishing a romance that was a bit too "fluff", I chose Once Forbidden as it looked to be more serious in tone. After reading this novel, serious is an understatement.

While Once Forbidden was overall well written, the pervasive dark mood and serious storyline of abuse, rape, sexual fear and depressing, though historically accurate rendering of the heroines "property" status to her family and her husband's was very hard to get through. As this is a Historical Romance, and therefore in my opinion a "entertainment" novel-I felt that this storyline, while interesting, would have been better served by addressing these issues the first half and allowing more growth, positivity and love to appear in the second half of the story. Unfortunately this disturbing storyline, especially the heroine's sexual dysfunction, continue throughout the storyline, almost up till the end of the book. Which makes for one dark and depressing reading experience.

Another "bump" in the storyline that made it hard to travel was the author's pervasive use of her imagining of how thick Scottish brogues would be written. For example-the author wrote HAVE as hiv and KNOWN as no'. There were many sentences that I had to literally reread just to understand what the author was trying to say. Trying for historical accuracy is one thing, but recreation to the point of non readability is not.

This was my first book by this author and it was good enough that I'll try more of her books, but I wouldn't recommend Once Forbidden to any but the most diehard Scottish Historical romance fan.
3 stars.

I ordered this book because I've heard a lot about Brisbin as a historical romance author, and it was only after I ordered that I read a rather long excerpt of it on Brisbin's website. Good lord! The effect of her colorful use of colloquial speech was completely shot when she would make her characters say things such as "I got caught up in taking an inventory of the supply rooms," and "Did I pass out?" Somehow I can't imagine a lairdess of medieval Scotland talking like a modern sales clerk...anyway, I still have yet to receive the book and I'm hoping that the plot and character development will help me overlook some of the little bumblings such as the ones I mentioned. I am optimistic!

Pain, angst, hidden secrets and a plot that kept me going right up until the last page, you couldn't ask for a better or more satisfying read. Terri Brisbin's ONCE FORBIDDEN delivers everything I hoped for and a bit more. Robert is a wonderful hero. And Anice is beautifully developed. Definitely a book of the heart.

The ending left me in tears, despite the fact that there were other people in the room. Well Done, Miss Terri!

I can not believe only two people have reviewed this book. This book is the sequel to (A Love Through Time)and (A Matter of Time) I was so happy to find out what happened to Anice MacNab after Maggie and Alex returned to the future. I could not put this book down.

In 1351 Dunnedin, Scotland, Lady Anice MacNab, after a long wait for the return of her betrothed from his exile in England, marries Alesandra "Sandy" McKendimen. On their wedding night her dream turns into a nightmare when her spouse badly beats her. Fearing retaliation from her father and his clan, and appalled by his son's dastardly deed, Laird Straun McKendimen beats his son, disinherits him, and sends him to live with his English friends.

Straun chooses his illegitimate son Robert Mathieson as the new heir in spite of their spat eight years ago over the sire not acknowledging the lad as his. A reluctant Robert returns to Dunnedin only to find most of the keep opposes him as the heir. Worse yet, he finds himself attracted to Anice, who avoids him like the plague until she accepts him as her friend. However, to Robert that is not enough, as he loves the keep's lady even if she is married to and carrying the child of his half-brother.

Though not for everyone due to the thick Scottish brogue, historical romance fans will fully enjoy ONCE FORBIDDEN. The lead couple is a delightful pair as both warily step towards one another, but the barriers of the past keeps them tentatively walking quite slowly. Though Sandy is depicted as a totally evil wastrel (as are most of the English), the secondary characters especially the occupants of Dunnedin provide insight to the two stars. Scottish historical romance readers wanting a strong tale with authentic sounding dialogue will enjoy Terri Brisbin's powerful relationship drama.

Harriet Klausner