Feel the drama and passion in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series!Next stop, paradise—With the man of her forbidden fantasies?Giving in to desire with her brother’s best friend… elder brother’s best friend has always been off-limits…and Zane is determined to keep it that way. But when a storm strands them together, neither can hold back. Everything Allison dreamed of is finally in reach…until unwelcome revelations threaten a rude awakening!
Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.
One man’s betrayal can destroy generations. Fifteen years ago, a hedge-fund hotshot vanished with billions, leaving the high-powered families of Falling Brook changed forever. Now seven heirs, shaped by his betrayal, must reckon with the sins of the past. Passion may be their only path to redemption. Experience all Seven Sins!
DYNASTIES: SEVEN SINS
Book 1: Ruthless Pride by Naima Simone
This CEO’s pride led him to give up his dreams for his family. Now he’s drawn to the woman who threatens everything…
Book 2: Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth
He’s always resisted his lust for his best friend’s sister—until they’re stranded together in paradise…
Book 3: Insatiable Hunger by Yahrah St. John
His unbridled appetite for his closest friend is unleashed when he believes she’s fallen for the wrong man…
Book 4: Hidden Ambition by Jules Bennett
Ambition has taken him far, but revenge could cost him his one chance at love…
Book 5: Reckless Envy by Joss Wood
When this shark in the boardroom meets the one woman he can’t have, envy takes over…
Book 6: Untamed Passion by Cat Schield
Will this black sheep’s self-destructive wrath flame out when he’s expecting an heir of his own?
Book 7: Slow Burn by Janice Maynard
If he’s really the idle playboy his family claims, will his inaction threaten a reunion with the woman who got away?
more
This book was so good. I couldn’t put it down. Karen Booth writes strong, sensual characters and stories that deliver the happy ending I’m looking for. Don’t miss this one.
Karen Booth has once again proven why she’s one of my favorite authors. Forbidden Lust is the second book in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series. It is a completely stand-alone read. However, the true background of the series is in the first book, Ruthless Pride written by Naima Simone. In that story, you find out what happened with Vernon Lowell and Black Crescent Investment over a decade ago.
Fifteen years ago, Zane Patterson met Allison Randall just as his whole world crumbled around him. Zane’s parents were among the victims of Vernon Lowell’s embezzlement from Black Crescent. Overnight, Zane went from being rich, popular, and going to private school to being broke and picked on in public school. His saving grace was Scott Randall, Allison’s older brother. Scott didn’t care about Zane’s past. He just offered him his friendship, a listening ear, and a place to escape the warzone Zane’s home had become.
Zane feels that he owes everything to Scott. That means that he can’t make a move on Allison, even if she is the one who makes the first move. “I can’t do it. I can’t betray my best friend.” In a surprise twist of fate, Allison and Zane find themselves at Rose Cove, a boutique resort in the Caribbean owned by Scott and Allison’s aunt and uncle. Within two days of their arrival, the two find themselves all alone and stranded on the island as a tropical storm bears down on it. Thinking they’re going to die, they give in to their passion, only to be rescued far too soon. Reality crashes in when doubts, omitted truths, and trust issues surface.
I love Forbidden Lust because it combines a couple of my favorite tropes, best friend/sibling, and forced proximity. I really like the characters of Zane and Allison. They were fun and playful. You get a sense of their passion and know that they truly care about each other. My heart went out to Zane for all that he’s been through and it ached for him when people said he needed to get over the past. I didn’t like that Allison wouldn’t take no for an answer and kept pursuing Zane, trying to get with him especially in light of the fact that she knew she was doing something that was going to hurt him.
My biggest issue with the book/series isn’t author related. My issue is more of what I thought this series was going to be. I’ve read a couple of Harlequin’s continuity series before. So far, this series doesn’t seem to live up to the past ones I’ve read. I didn’t think the first book cemented the mystery or driving scandal of the series. Yes, it’s been established that this series will deal with the fallout of what happened fifteen years ago and that we as readers will see how the lives of the victims’ heirs have been affected. The issue of paternity has been brought up but nothing has really come of it. This book mentions a paternity test but that’s it. If this is the mystery of the series, it wasn’t advanced and that’s disappointing.
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“The scars you get as a young person are always the ones that feel the deepest. It’s just the way life is.”
“When you’ve lost everything, it’s just easier to play it safe. Don’t risk a thing. Don’t put anything of importance on the line. Friendship. Your heart.”
**Received a copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Rating: 4.5
This book is part of the Harlequin Desire Deadly 7 Sins and the storyline is based on lust. Imagine being a younger girl who has a crush on her older teenage brother’s best friend. Now that Allison has reach adult age she comes home for a visit and hopes to get the Black Crescent account as a client for her company. While staying at her brother’s Scott house his best friend Zane comes over for dinner and Allison still feels that she wants Zane as more than a friend and she lets him know with a kiss.
Allison and Zane wind up being on the same Caribbean Island resort that is owned by Allison’s aunt and uncle.. Now Allison feels she get to show and tell Zane just how much she wants him, which is more than being friends.
Will Zane reveal that he is attractive to Allison too or will he not let her know because he doesn’t want to break the best friend bro code and not date Scott’s sister. You will have to read for yourself because I don’t want to give any spoilers.
The characters were well developed and the storyline shows lust in a different situation, not only in wanting someone so bad physically and also lusting to get revenge on someone’s family member most of your life because of what that person family member caused pain for Zane and his family.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series which can be read as standalones written by various author’s.
Cassandra H.
I received this ARC of this book from Netgalley and this review is of my own honest opinion and review.
#HarelequinDesire #ForbiddenLust #KarenBooth #Steamy #Romance #
This book was like a breath of fresh air for me. I’ve been trapped in another romance genre and I needed a break. I’ve read several of Karen’s books for the Desire line and I’ve enjoyed each one and this one was no different.
Allison and Zane’s story was a light read, with just about enough spice and drama to leave me satisfied.
File this under Friends to Lovers and brother’s BFF. Allison’s brother Sean and Zane have been friends for ages and there is rule that Zane shouldn’t put the moves on his friend’s sister. It is a shame these two have very different ideas.
Both need a vacation and they end up on Allison’s aunt’s resort in the Bahamas. Things get a little spicy when they get there, but it takes a lot of time to get to that point, because Zane has a hard time getting past his promise to Sean. A hurricane gives them the perfect opportunity to get close.
There’s a lot of tension between the two as Zane needs to work through his promise to his friend and Allison has a secret about her job that she knows will anger Zane.
The story read like an episode of your favorite soap opera. (Well if there were many of those to watch these days)
If you are looking for a great quick read, this is definitely it.
Zane and Allison are in for one intense journey. Both have lustful feelings towards each other but secrets have made it impossible for Allison to get at Zane. When those secrets reveal will they be able to overcome them and come up together. This storyline kept me on the edge of my seat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Four and a half stars
Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth is the second in the Dynasties: Seven Sins continuity, and is an excellent brother’s best friend romance. Allison Randall has longed for Zane Patterson for years. He’s been her brother Scott’s best friend for ages, ever since the local hedge fund managed by Black Crescent imploded, destroying the dreams of many families, including the Pattersons. Zane treasures his friendship with the Randalls, and while he’s definitely noticed Allison is all grown up, he could never consider jeopardizing the bond he has with Scott and the family.
Karen Booth’s story is an exciting and emotional one. Allison’s long-held feelings have simmered for such a long time that when they finally are released, it’s impossible for her to put them back in that mental strongbox. It’s easy to understand her frustration and disappointment with Zane’s refusal to consider any possibility with her because of the repercussions to his longest and most important friendship, just as it is easy to understand Zane’s loyalty to Scott and his ongoing bitterness toward the company and family that he sees as having destroyed his own.
Ms Booth writes their feelings ably, and readers get to experience the swooping highs of their mutual attraction as well as the heart wrenching moments of loss. Looking forward to more of Ms Booth’s writing as well as to the next in the Seven Sins series!
I’ve read several books written by Karen Booth; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Karen writes a magnificent story of forbidden attraction!
Allison has had fantasies of Zane in the leading role since high school. Zane lives by the bro code and won’t think about Allison as one of his revolving women. But when they both get away for a Caribbean island vacation, Allison hopes all bets are off! Yet Allison is hiding a secret about her work from Zane that could blow the whole thing up! Will Zane allow his hatred for the reason behind his parents divorce and their change in fortune to destroy his chance of happiness? You have to read to find out and will enjoy their island adventure!
We met Zane Patterson in book # 1. He’s the one that feed reporter Sophie Armstrong information about Joshua Lowell who is the new CEO of Black Crecsent. Joshua became CEO of BC after his father Vernon Lowell embezzled the funds and ran off with the money. No one knows where he is or if he’s dead or alive.
Zane became best friends with Scott after his family lost all of their money with BC and Scott’s family became his new family after he is forced to attend public school.
Allison is Scott’s younger sister of Scott. She has a company with her BFF Kianna that finds suitable prospects for jobs. Allison’s company has been hired BC Zane’s rival. Allison has had a crush on Zane since the day he and Scott met. Scott has a very successful career, but he still can’t shake the bad feels he still harbors against the Lowell family even though Joshua has made restitution to the families that the money was taken from.
Allison is just getting out of a relationship and finds out that Zane is going to be on her aunt’s island in the Caribbean Rose Cove and decides to surprise him on the island. She informs Zane that she wants to sleep with him and Zane informs her that that can’t happen because he and Scott are best friends. There is a rain storm on the island and Zane and Allison can’t get off the island and everyone has left so they find shelter at the marriage cottage on Mako Island. Scott gives in and he and Allison have their night between the sheets.
Allison and Scott are rescued from the island and head back to the states and Allison is trying to figure out how to inform Scott that she is now working for his rival’s company Joshua CEO of BC. While Allison and Scott had another moment between the sheets, Allison informs Scott that she is working for Joshua and he is upset and tells her to leave his house. Allison informs him that he needs to get over his self and let it go and move on just as his mom has informed him. Zane realizes that he is about to lose out on the love of his life and talks to Scott and makes amends with Allison and we have a HEA.
Can’t wait for book # 3. This is a great series. Hopefully we will find out what happen with Vernon Lowell Joshua’s father.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth was a wonderfully written love story. It was a story of unrequited love and lust. Allison was a woman hell bent on getting the man she wanted to be with her. Zane is Allison brother’s best friend and has tried to stay away from the temptation that is Allison. The chemistry between these two was palpable. Will Zane give into his feelings and will Allison finally get the man she wants, read Forbidden Lust to find out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Entertaining and interesting characters within a story of romance and passion. Good read following the character’s journey through their issues to love. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the 2nd book in the dynasties seven sins series. this is Allison and zanes story. it has drama mystery secrets and suspense.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The second book in the dynasties Seven Sins series a well written story with a very good storyline. Zane Patterson can not let go of the past, he gets marooned with Allison Randall his best friend Scott’s sister on Mako Island. They will finally get to be together atleast for one night, can Zane get over his past, in order to move forward with his life? I want to read the rest of the books in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book has all the drama and angst of the best stories about falling in love with a sibling’s best friend. Where do their loyalties lie? With her brother, his best friend, or with their own hearts? The tropical storm that strands them alone together in paradise for the night brings all those tensions to a head. I loved everything about the book up to the end of this point. Once they’re back on “dry land”, things got a little wonky for me. Judging by the blurbs of the other books in this series, I can see that some of this was setting the stage for those books yet to come. But it also disconnected me a little from the immediacy of the emotions between Zane and Allison. And while I understand all it really took was a shift in Zane’s perception, I felt a little like the ending came about too easily. I read this book outside of the series, and I can safely say that it reads well as a stand alone. However, I can also tell that there’s some context that I’m missing that most likely is in the previous book, so I’m liable to be investing in the rest of the series.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
This is my first book by this author and also the first in this series. I was hooked. The intrigue and history between the characters hooked me. Zane and Allison find themselves stranded together and as much as Zane tries to resist, he gives in the lust. Their chemistry is undeniable but Zane also has a past he needs to be comes to terms with, which adds to the appeal of the story. I can’t wait to read the others now and more books by Karen Booth.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was quite an enjoyable story to read. I loved how each had emotional challenges to overcome. The family relationships are interwoven well into the story. Sometimes love happens at an early age and those feelings need to be validated. It was refreshing to see the feelings grow through out the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Enjoyed this “brother’s best friend” romance with Zane and Allison. She has crushed on him for years but he has never looked her way or so she thinks. Zane has to honor the “bro code” therefore making Allison totally off limits. Zane is a known playboy so when he and Allison end up at the same resort it is only reasonable that they may end up together. Enjoyed their story no matter how much he tried to resist.
Loved everything about it. The characters were amazing & the storyline was so good I just couldn’t put it down.
4.5 Stars
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. As I’ve said before, I always give honest reviews whether people appreciate them or not.
This story begins with Zane Patterson playing basketball with his best friend Scott Randall. They’ve been best bros for at least fifteen years. A part of that friendship is the so called ‘Bro Code’ where little sisters are to be respected and untouched. Yes, I’m smirking and kind of rolling my eyes at that. Anyway, it turns out that Zane is part of another trope, the ‘Man in Pain’ one where he can’t get over whatever happened in his past. Well, when he was a youth, his parents had been victims of one of those investment schemes like Bernie Madoff was convicted of doing in maybe 2008. The company in question was Black Crescent (BC) and his family completely fell apart. He was suddenly forced to attend…public school! That is where he met Scott and the Randall family. Just so you know, the head of BC was Vernon Lowell, and he disappeared and now his son Joshua is the CEO.
Basically, despite how many years that have passed, Zane just can’t get over what happened. It didn’t help that his parent’s marriage fell apart when their money left with Vernon and frankly, Zane just hasn’t been able to forgive the Lowell family. Meanwhile, Scott’s younger sister Allison is living across the country in Los Angeles running a Head Hunter company with her BFF Kianna. They are barely in the black financially and really have to prove themselves with their current client…Black Crescent! They have three candidates ready for interviewing but she’s pretty stressed. Kianna suggests she take a short vacation in the Bahamas at her Aunt and Uncle’s resort. Unbeknownst to her, Scott just took care of sending Zane to the resort so he can actually relax.
What we learn during the first few chapters is that Allison has always had at least a crush on Zane, and he has always pretty much tried to ignore her because of his loyalty to Scott. I have to say that with the descriptions of the Bahamas and the resort I too need to take a short vacation in the islands. In case you didn’t realize it, this book is part of the Dynasties: Seven Sins series from Harlequin. Each book in the series is written by a different author so don’t make the same mistake I did by searching for the previous or the following book in this series by Ms. Booth. With that said, I really enjoyed this story! Ms. Booth kept me glued to the (digital) pages wondering if they would or wouldn’t carry on and have a HEA. Somehow, Ms. Booth’s books always make me want to take a trip; New York City at Christmas (The Eden Empire Series), my high school Pop star crush/obsession (Bring Me Back from the Forever Series) and now the Bahamas in this book! What a great author and great read!
4 1/2 STARS!
Deliciously forbidden! With the second book in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series Karen Booth delights us with a tempting brother’s best friend story. The characters were super easy to connect with and watching their passion for each other stew until they were ready to give in was exhilarating!
Allison Randall is a doll. She speaks her mind and goes for what she wants in life, and she’s being given the chance to redeem her former nervous teenage self who was too scared to admit her crush on her big brother’s best friend.
Zane Patterson will be familiar to anyone who read the first book in the the series and you will already know a bit of his background. He’s a complex character who in the first book seemed like a bit of a hothead, but as we get to know him better shows his true self. He’s loyal and true, so considering starting something with Allison behind his BFF’s back isn’t sitting well with him.
I highly recommend this book as well as the previous one in the series to anyone who enjoys a fast paced story filled with passion, deceit and drama rich connections. I’m really enjoying the series and looking forward to more to come.