When all that you want, is all that’s forbidden… wife.
Max isn’t mine to have, but I want him all the same.
And I haven’t survived all that I have to not go after what I want.
Her story is a tragedy, mine’s a publicity disaster.
Just when I needed her most, she walked back into my life, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
With a newborn baby, a divorce, an album to record, and a world tour to plan, I don’t need the distraction.
She’s off limits.
She’s my best friend’s little sister.
She’s my nanny.
Billie’s a golden drop of sexy sun on a grey autumn day, tempting me into the light and a life full of possibilities.
A life not meant for us.
more
Leslie Jones is a very talented author who knows how to captivate me with her words from beginning to end.
I saw the word Forbidden in the title and I knew that I had to read it. Anything that has any sort of taboo reference will totally capture me and I will make sure I get my hands on it.
The love that radiated from these characters was unfathomable. I loved the pace and slow burn that this book had. I was just so immersed in the characters and so invested in this story.
Ms. Jones has done one heck of a job with this book and I can’t wait to get more from her. She always seems to surprise me because we don’t get many books from her, it’s rare when we do hear that she’s coming out with something and I make sure I snag it and read it because I know I’m going to love it.
Read this book over the weekend, I couldn’t put it down. I loved this book and the little twists made me want to jump in and punch certain characters.
MAX YOUNG.
MY HEART
MY EMOTIONS
MY OVARIES
PAGE ONE…it was over for me, sold sucked in. I KNEW I would love this. I was WHAT THE ?!!?!?! by the end of the first chapter.
After Each chapter I was dropping my jaw a bit more. Feeling’s I didn’t want to feel, emotions that just surface. This was all happening. I LOVED EVERY SECOND couldn’t wait for more. Each turn of the page my love for this story my love for what I wanted to happen just grew stronger.
You know what I am saying that moment when you want something so bad to happen in a story. I think what I love even more is how one moment I am tossing my kindle, the next sentence I am laughing.
Max and Billie this Story , this life their journey it’s so great. It’s only made better by how it all happens. The side characters I am so in love with them. They make this story . Max’s Mom , Karen oh I love her. Jake may be my favorite (hot little crush I have on him too) . Just read it you’ll see YOU WILL SEE!
All The Forbidden Things is the newest book from Lesley Jones, and while many of the characters have ties to her Carnage series, it can be read as a standalone.
“Our us involves all of the forbidden things, but if we can overcome even a few of them, our us might just end up being all of the most magnificent things.”
This book has a bit of everything, rockstar romance, single dad, age gap, brother’s little sister. All tropes I love to read and had the potential to be an incredible story. Unfortunately, in my opinion, there were just so many different things going on with that none really shone through. I wanted to love this book, but I didn’t. The drama was way over the top, and while I was rooting for Max & Billie I felt there wasn’t really a chance for me to love them between all the drama.
While this story wasn’t for me, the writing was great and had me pushing through. This was my first book by this author, and I definitely want to read some of her previous work.
I love Leslie’s style of writing. All the British slang and humor is so fun. I was a huge fan of the Carnage series and this book was in the same world but without having your heart ripped out of your chest and shredded (I actually stole that line from the book, thank you very much). Max is just to die for and thanks for putting Stu Reardon on the cover. He’s perfect to have in my head as Max. Billie is a sweet, sassy, lovable girl who has had it rough, but hasn’t lost herself despite it all. I loved this book and am so glad Leslie stuck with it because it’s a 5 star read.
All I can say is that this is one of my all time favorite books. Lesley knocked it out of the park with her character development. Page turn from page one. Can’t wait for the second book.
Loved this read from start to finish. It captures you, holds you and never lets you go. As with all og Lesley Jones books, I have no doubt this story will stay with me.
This book was everything.
Lesley Jones did it again. Max and Billie will make you fall in love with that new love feeling. An emotional ride full of excitement wondering how it will all play out. Couldnt put this book down. I wanted another 600 pages at least to get more of their love.
This is a fabulous return to writing for Lesley Jones, two years since her last book, and this one blew me away – beautifully written, heartfelt, full of heartstopping drama, very emotionally and wonderfully English!!
Lesley has created another rockstar family here with, Young Wild and Rong, being managed by the infamous Carnage family. Max Young is the lead singer, with a new massive responsibility on his hands, his new baby daughter. His wife has led him a merry dance and done the most reprehensible thing on him. He is distraught, cut up, angry, but determined to step up for his baby girl. He has his problems and his demons, alcohol and drugs being a rockstar’s best friend, but he is determined to put this in his past. He needs a nanny, and quick.
Billie is Cal’s sister, part of his Carnage management, and his best friend. He has known her since she was a baby. Billie has had a rough time of it lately, and just come back from America to be with her family. She’s always had a crush on Max, her brother’s best friend and all, he was always around, but she was always just a girl. That girl has grown into a stunning young woman, who is more than willing and capable of helping Max out with his nanny position. But as they meet for the first time in several years, Max is all too aware that Billie is not a little girl any more, the sparks between them flying from their first glance at each other, their chemistry undeniable…..
Stunning!!! I loved the characters and the story line!! Max was an absolute darling – hot and sexy rockstar, a struggling newbie dad showing his vulnerabilities, unable to deny the pull of a girl he has known all his life, the age gap being quite a significant one, but he is such a sweetie and kind and caring. Billie has been through hell, but she is full of life and attitude, willing to stand up and fight for what she wants, she’s an absolute diamond!
The story line was completely immersive, showing how fab it can be to be rich and famous, coupled with the horrible reality that is today’s press and their invasive nature. It really was an outstanding read, compelling and emotional. I can’t wait to read more like this from Lesley. Highly recommended reading.
Max and Billie are everything in this story. Max is a rock star, new dad, and divorcing his cheating wife. Billie has had a recent trauma to deal with as well as the death of her parents when she was young. I love a man that can be strong and not be afraid to show his feelings at the same time. The age gap is about sixteen years between them but Billie has been through so much she has an old soul. She agrees to become a nanny for Layla, Max’s newborn daughter. Max can’t believe he’s attracted to his best friend’s younger sister. The two have intense chemistry and whew the steam is rolling off them. I loved this story it has all the feels, pick it up if you like angsty good reads.
I wanted to love this story. However, the plot focused too much on the single parent trope, and the child was the center of the attention. Having a child in romance books can be sweet, but it also stops the protagonists from attaching on to each other since the author focuses more on connecting the characters with the babies. The male protagonist is depressing to read. He’s a Debbie Downer. His wife left him for another guy and admitted she only married him because the other guy is was in rehab and she was pregnant by the male protagonist. The book lost me in chapter 15 when the male protagonists is still fussing about being a single father. Instead of embracing fatherhood, he used fatherhood for an excuse not to live life. Whilst changing diapers, holding babies, feeding babies, is adorable, it’s not romantic when it stops the male prognosis from existing and finding love. I didn’t particularly appreciate how the male protagonist couldn’t move forward with his life and compared his wife to the female protagonist. The book is too long, and it stopped the characters from developing.
I shake my head. “I’ve got a baby to take care of.”
“I get all of that, Max, but you’ve gotta take a bit of time for you. You’re taking on a lot, doing this all by yourself.”
“I have no problem accepting help, my mum’s here most days of the week. What I won’t entertain is Whitney having custody of my daughter while I tour, and I won’t accept a tug on a joint that might lead to me not gaining full custody of my daughter. What if there’s an emergency later, what if I need to drive her somewhere?”
She’s twenty-two. Just twenty-two! Only twenty-two! And yet, I’m finding her more interesting, more engaging, than most of the women over thirty I’ve come into contact with in recent years, including my wife.
All the Forbidden Things is a book that grabs you by your coattails and pulls you into everything Max Young, his band and his life. I can assure you it’s an addictive story and once you start it’s very difficult to put it down.
Max Young might be a rockstar but he is also a son, friend, partner and father. Right from the very first page readers start to get to know him and yes he stuffs up at times but who doesn’t? I liked his honesty with others but especially with himself, loyalty to his friends, and deep love to his family, blood related or not. I simply liked him!
Billie Wild has spunk that I love and even though life has at times given her lemons, she’s made lemonade with a determination that is admirable. As her character develops in the story so too does the chemistry between Max and herself.
Amusing banter between characters makes for some laugh out loud moments. The humour in the story is at times sarcastic fun and at other moments there are times where you can’t help but giggle. It balances the more serious elements beautifully. Lots of drama brings out all of the emotions and I mean every single one. This very emotive story and there are times when my heart just about shattered and times when I felt fantastic as well.
The descriptions and expressions used by this author are on point and it’s extremely easy to visualise every scene, the whole book ran through my head like a movie reel- sensational stuff. And I want to go to a hair salon like the one Billie goes to- just saying!
I thoroughly recommend this amazing story to everyone.
This was an absolute joy to read and yet heartbreaking at the same time. My heart broke for Max right off the bat. He has his hands full in this one.. A cheating, crazy son to be ex wife, a beautiful baby and his music career. Enter Billie, she’s Cal’s little sister and has grown into a beautiful, caring woman. She goes thru a very traumatic experience. She has her family to support including Max. She turns into his nanny while he’s trying to get control of his life. This book will pull at your heartstrings and you’ll love the characters!
No words to describe how this book made me feel… this story right off the bat grabs you by the throat and does not let go! Max Young has been through a lot, but when he’s blindsided in the worst possible way he’s forced to rethink everything! Billie Wild, wow what can you say about this absolute fire cracker of a character, in her young life she has seen and been through more tragedy than one person should.. but this doesn’t hold her back from going out and living and loving life to the fullest. A fabulously told love story like no other.. Lesley has totally outdone herself with this awe inspiring story of what it means to love someone so absolutely, you have no sense of right and wrong you are just totally consumed by the person. A swoon worthy story with a twist in the tail… Absolutely in love with all these new characters and all the old Carnage characters that popped into this book. This story is set to stay with me for a very long time to come!!!
Awesomeballs!!
Despite what the blurb says, this is not your typical “forbidden” romance. There is much more to make Max and Billie’s story so worth reading.
Are you willing to take the risk for something considered “forbidden”?
That issue is beautifully explored in this thought provoking, smart and clever story. The result is an emotional and heart wrenching story about love, friendship and second chances in life.
Intense, super emotional, and sprinkled with snarky Lesley Jones humor which I adore, I was swept up by this story from beginning to end.
When 2 people who’ve known each other forever reconnect and decide to help each other out. Max needed a nanny and Billie needed a job.
Well paced, as the plot developed and unfolded I loved how the scenes didn’t drag on.
The author flawlessly set up the scenes and got to the point. Both characters were so imperfect they made so many mistakes that it made them more relatable and likable. Even the secondary characters which happen to be alumni from Carnage added to the story.
Loved. Every. Word!!
4.5 stars!
***4.5 ‘Bamm & Wilma’ Stars***
I knew things would be intense, but I didn’t expect things to go into craycray mode right off the bat. It had me going “Whoa…ok. She ain’t playing” and I’ll admit I didn’t know if I’d be able to deal with all that uber angsty-ness…but then things started to even out and I got quite comfortable in the rabbit hole I’d been pushed down and absolutely ate up the crazy, sweet, swoonworthy and smexy journey that Max, Billie and Layla were on.
I adored Billie and Max. Billie is sweet, sassy, compassionate and has a light inside of her that makes it hard not to take notice of her. She’s been through a lot in her young life, and though the ghosts still haunt her, she doesn’t allow them to keep her down. Instead she rises above them and lives her best life. Max, I hurt for the guy. I mean the saying “When it rains, it pours” is soo apt here, it’s insane. He’s a good guy trying to be the man his daughter needs him to be, but he is just a man that just had the rug pulled out from under him, so he’s a bit emotional. But I loved his honesty and how, with the help of his friends and family, he did get through it and became so much more.
As for their journey to their HEA. This baby is chock full of reasons why these two shouldn’t be together, so let’s list them: 1) age gap 2) the nanny issue 3) the whole brother’s bestie thing 4) the marriage issue. With all of those, it would seem like Max and Billie shouldn’t be together ~ or even attracted to each other ~ but if there were ever two people who SHOULD be together it’s these two. They flowed so well together. The chemistry between them was intense in every way and they brought out the best in each other and I loved every moment of watching them become each others.
This is my first read by the author and I loved it. There were a couple of places where it did drag for me, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The characters were all well written, even the ones I wanted to gut with a spoon, and though it’s hard to pick a favorite amongst the ones I liked I adored Wendy and will definitely be looking out for what’s in store for Kenzie and Jake. There are some triggers, but they all added depth to the story and the characters growth, and were handled well.
~ Copy provided by Wildfire Marketing Solutions & voluntarily reviewed ~
Oh my goodness!! Lesley Jones has done it again! This woman creates the best and worst characters and makes me feel all the freaking things about them. I devoured this book and just could not put it down.
From page one, I was hooked and had a mad crush on Max Young. The way he cared for his baby girl had me swooning and my heart broke for this man with everything his wife put him through. He’s strong yet vulnerable. And now enter Billie. Billie has been through a lot in her life is now back to pick up the pieces that is her life. She is Max’s best friends little sister and is 100% off limits! But as soon as they meet again, all bets are off. The sizzle just poured from the pages.
I adored most of the characters in this book. LOL I say most because well, in true Lesley Jones style, she has those one or two characters that you want to pull out of the book and knock them around. But other than those, I loved the others! Max’s bandmates were top notch and I pray we get a spinoff for one particular character.
Okay, that’s enough of me gushing that this book and the characters are awesome. Go, one-click now! You won’t be disappointed!!
This book was all the great things!!!!! Steamy, full of angst, and a hot, bad boy rocker that melted my heart. I loved it. Lesley has made her come back her bitch! This story y’all…it’s amazing. I loved the characters and the flow was freakin’ brilliant. Just when I thought things were about to level out, she had another idea and led me down that forbidden rabbit hole. I was completely sucked into this story. Addictive as hell and I devoured every single word. Definitely not one to miss!
“Before Andy Garcia, before Marley Layton or Doctor Kovač, there was you. You were my first crush, it’s always been you, Max Young—”
When Lesley said she was writing a new book and he was in a band I was thinking “I know what happened last time I read a book of yours with a band in and the first book made me ugly cry” lol. But then she said it’s an age gap book and I was sold. Haha I can’t help it I love them.
I fell in love with Max on the very first page and I loved Billie too. Max goes through something at the beginning of the book and I just wanted to hug him so bad. Then Billie endures something and I wanted to give her a hug too.
When you read this you’ll want to cut a bitch with a certain character… she was so bloody evil. If I could’ve reached into my kindle I would’ve choked her haha. She was such a damn bitch!!!
The book was so damn amazing from start to finish. I was laughing out loud, swooning and giggling all the damn time. There’s a few hand on your heart moments too. I shed a few sad and happy tears too. But thats me with every book I read lol.
Well done Lesley Max & Billie’s story was fantastic xx