Forbidden [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Johnson (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Fanfare; Reprint edition (August 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553291254
• ISBN-13: 978-0553291254
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.3 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( J )

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best, January 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Forbidden (Mass Market Paperback)

Susan Johnson, as another reviewer elegantly phrased it, is truly a gem. Her intelligent reparté and delicious tension are certainly at their strongest in this novel, and the few weaknesses in her other books are all but invisible here. The heroine has as a truly believable depth, and while she eventually (of course) capitulates to Etienne, she says more than "No" and "I really shouldn't" to stave them off. Etienne actually agrees to discuss the realities of their relationship several times, instead of brushing off difficulties as SJ's other male characters have a tendacy to do.

That said, the plot is also much more believable than usual, but the reality and history do not intrude on the escapist nature of the book. SJ also manages to find a rare balance between erotic and tender. I guarentee you'll read this book more than once for its deep characters and poignant realism!

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden, like all of Susan Johnson's books, is a keeper!, November 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Forbidden (Mass Market Paperback)

It is a wonderfully intellectual erotic read. Susan has a way of capturing the subtle nuances of her characters personalities that takes them that extra step that leads to total engrossment. She also has found a hard-to-achieve balance of appealing to the contempory reader but still holding to the style of the period. At times her men especially are not, shall we say "politically correct" by today standards but they are correct for the 18th and 19th centuries - they are all rogues, libertines and bad boys that we would want to tame and love! And most definitely be loved by (in all those wonderfully wild and wicked ways)! She simply achieves a very appealing balance of love, history, and lots of hot sex! In the erotica department Susan's imagination knows no limits. And Susan's command of vocabulary is daunting! You had better have a dictionary nearby if you want to read one of her books. She never belittles the readers intelligence and that in itself makes her a rare jewel indeed.

46 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Average Read with Some High Points, May 13, 2001

By 

Pearl of Wisdom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbidden (Mass Market Paperback)

I have significant criticisms for this novel. First of all, Johnson is much too wordy; the novel could've easily been cut down by at least one-fourth (125 pages or so, of small print). Johnson's wordiness really slows down the pace of the novel, and if it weren't for the scattered, passionate love scenes, the reader would quickly lose interest. The plot drags on endlessly and only starts to pick up after the first 250 pages (halfway into the book); it truly grabs your attention only towards the end.

I also think Johnson's characterization of her heroine (Daisy) grows very weak as the novel progresses; she becomes a very fuzzy, inconsistent character. This is annoying because Daisy starts out with some admirable qualities that aren't often found in romantic heroines. With her initial independence and outspokenness, I expected her arguments to be stronger, and I expected her arguments to actually OCCUR, instead of every conflict being "resolved" by a silencing kiss from the hero (Etienne).

Thirdly, there is a "religious" domination sex scene between two secondary characters that I find incredibly offensive and perverted. I won't elaborate on this scene, except to say that it makes the plot even less appealing.

The positive aspects of this book are that the hero is well characterized throughout, the primary love scenes are VERY sensual and erotic, and some of the writing is quite beautiful. There is actual love and romance between the hero and heroine, and some poignant scenes elicit a genuine emotional response in the reader.

However, because this novel's flaws unfortunately equal its virtues, "Forbidden" ends up being an average read.