A new forbidden arrangement STANDALONE novel from Roya Carmen, author of The Ground Rules Trilogy. A troubled marriage. A one week hall pass.Gabriella Moore has it all; a beautiful husband, two adorable children, and a dream home. Yet, when, by chance, she befriends Eli online, she falls fast. And hard.She knows she must let him go, and saying goodbye is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, … saying goodbye is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, but she resolves to move on and forget about her beautiful stranger.
But then… she makes an unexpected discovery, and it shakes her perfect world to its core. Rules don’t apply anymore. An arrangement is made, and her husband gives her just one week with Eli.
The rules are clear: One week. Sex only. No contact thereafter. Seems simple enough, but it’s never simple when it comes to love.
Author’s note: contains sexual scenes and some coarse language. For adult audiences only.
ONE WEEK is the first in a series of standalone books. It can be enjoyed as a standalone.
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This book is definitely not for everyone and it was a slow start for me. I had mixed feelings about this when I first started and once I got through the first few chapters I couldn’t put it down.
Watching Gabbie’s relationship with Eli grow over the course of the story was beautiful. Seeing her struggle with real emotions about her family and her current failing relationship with her husband.
I loved reading all about Gabbie’s experiences in Denmark made me want to travel there instantly. I felt like I was there.
Despite the taboo subject matter I still loved this story and would recommend it anyone.
You get what this book is about when you read the description and while it was really straight forward it was a very beautiful story. I liked all the characters and love that while people were hurt there was not hateful words, no horrible fighting…. it was just an overall beautiful read with a HEA. That ending opens it up for a book about one of the secondary characters and I will be on the look out. 4 stars #2OCCJD
ONE WEEK: is a full-length standalone, forbidden romance novel, by author Roya Carmen. Gabriella seems to have the perfect life- perfect successful husband, two lovely children, a gorgeous home, and great friends. Gabriella herself is an artist, a painter. Thru her art she meets a deliciously sexy man named Eli. There was immediate and steamy chemistry between them. Yet Gabriella didn’t go down that forbidden road and ruin her marriage for the intense attraction that flared between here and Eli. Until a big event” changed the course of her marriage and changed at how she looked at everything. Gabbie’s and John’s marriage is facing one of these moments – the make or break kind – after something HUGE occurred so Gabbie told her husband John there would be a way to propel them towards reconciliation- a hall pass sort of speak.
This story deals with marriage, infidelity, forbidden romance, divorce—it really is an awakening and a change against the norm. At first I didn’t like Gabriella but she grew on me and the romance between her and Eli…outstanding. There is so many things that take place in this story for me to talk about except to say you have to read this forbidden romance, to read all that takes place and what happens to the people involved. There is a lot of angst, tension, drama, anger, bitterness, pain but at the same time there is love, passion, chemistry and a believable HEA at the end. Does Gabbie stay with her husband or does she end up with Eli. Only way to find out is to read this fabulous story.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
This was one great story that will have you in complete shambles.
I found myself completely glued to my device from beginning to end!
What do you do when you have the perfect marriage, beautiful children and a spouse you are madly and truly in love with, or at least you think you still are!
Gabriella has a great marriage, she loves her husband he loves her too. But she’s starting to realize that he doesn’t have time for his family anymore. When he’s not away at book signings, he’s locked up in his home office working on his next book. Gabriella feels neglected, she feels like her husband has disconnected himself from her.
Gabriella now makes a friend through Instagram. At first she thinks it’s a woman, but quickly comes to realize that it’s a man, but they have so much in common through their virtual friendship. When Gabriella discovers that her husband has been having an affair, she compromises with him and suggests that she go to see Eli for a week. Nothing is set in stone and she doesn’t know what will happen between them. She had already cut all ties with Eli before she discovered her husband’s infidelity.
Gabriella’s idea is just to go and see him and spend one glorious week with him, hoping to find herself and see if she truly does love her husband and if they should work things out once she returns from her trip. But to be honest, all sparks have fizzled between her and her husband, it’s just a matter of finding that out for sure.
Gabriella has a wonderful time with Eli that week, they explore the city and they are getting to know each other. She’s experiencing things with Eli that she hasn’t had with her husband in a long time. She is actually feeling loved by a man and even though it’s not by her husband, she can’t help herself. Will Gabriella be able to leave Eli behind after falling in love with him this one week or will she be able to let him go and start fresh with her husband.
This book was everything I wanted it to be. Sometimes it’s easy to just say “yeah, good for him that she cheated or that he cheated” because the other person was a real jerk. But in this case, I actually felt bad that their marriage was falling apart without either one knowing it. They both fell out of love for each other but felt like they needed to stay together especially because of the kids. But one should never stay in a relationship just because of kids because that makes it harder and it can turn sour between the couple.
Gabriella and her husband would be great friends if they decided to go their separate ways. But it took Gabriella that One Week away to realize what she really wanted and what she needed to do with her marriage and with Eli.
Absolutely a stunning story with an epic ending!
Gabriella has the life, most would dream of. She is happily married, has two beautiful children and spends her days living the life of luxury. Appearances are often deceiving though, and despite how it looks to the outside world, her marriage is in trouble and she is discontent with her life and sometimes feels trapped. The only thing she is truly passionate about is her art that she dabbles in. Her artistic passion leads her to a chance encounter on Instagram with Eli takes her life in an unexpected direction. The more they talk online, the more she wishes for things she does not have and is tempted to break the vows she holds dearly. When she is given the chance to have a one week hall pass, she jumps at the chance. It seems simple enough. One week, only sex, no emotions and no contact afterwards. It gives Gabbie a chance to live out a fantasy and have some adventure. The weeks, however changes her in ways she did not expect and forces her to reevaluate her life and decide if she is content to keep going through the motions of a life she should adore, but does not.
I was really excited for this story. No one does complicated forbidden love triangles/cheating/unique relationships quite like Roya Carmen. This had the same kind of magic I was expected after reading the Ground Rules Trilogy. If you enjoy a complicated romance with cheating and/or love triangles this will be an interesting and fulfilling read. Like is usually the case with Roya Carmen books, I highly recommend One Week.
Once I read the blurb for One Week I knew I had to get my hands on this book ASAP! Forbidden romances are my favorite trope, so I was super excited to start this one!
Once I started, I was glued to the pages! I was dying to see how the story would play out so I had to keep reading. I felt so many emotions while reading, which is probably why forbidden romances are my favorite. They rip your heart out, but they eventually glue you back together. That’s exactly how I felt reading One Week.
I fell hard for Eli. I mean who couldn’t? He’s perfect in every single way. I kind of saw the ending coming before it happened, but I was so happy with how it ended. I really enjoyed this story and definitely recommend it!
I discovered Roya Carmen when I read The Ground Rules, which is part of The Rule Breaker series, which is one of my top favorite forbidden stories and one that nearly destroyed me. So, when I heard she was doing another forbidden story, a standalone, I knew you could not keep me away.
In One Week we get Gabriella Moore’s story. Gabbie thought she had the perfect life. A loving husband, two kids, a beautiful house and the opportunity to dabble in her art. Everything seemed perfect on the outside. She was happy, even if at times she was lonely. She loved her husband, but as a successful best-selling author, he travelled and worked a lot.
So, when Gabbie started talking to another artist online and one that lived in another country, a man, Eli, she did not think much about it. But when things started to go into the grey areas, she knew she had to let Eli go. Even if the thought almost destroyed her. She did the right thing. But when she realizes her marriage is not as perfect as she believed, she decides this is her one chance. Right?
She demands a one-week pass from her husband. Sexy only. Then she will let Eli go and they will work on their marriage. I know this story will not be for everyone. Though I do not agree on how Gabbie got her one-week pass, I understand how it worked within this story. If you give One Week a chance, you will see how sometimes, things work out as they should.
Gabbie loved her husband. She did, but sometimes things change, even as you do not realize it. Meeting Eli was chance, but the week they spend together changes everything. I do not want to spoil anything, except to say, you just need to experience this story.
One Week by Roya Carmen is an emotional story about love, loss, and second chances. Gabbie is not perfect, but none of us are. It will challenge the things you believe in, but at the core of it, it is a story about love.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
The moment I read the blurb on this book, I knew I had to have it. I adored the Ground Rules Trilogy and love forbidden romance. This story does an interesting job of outlining something that could easily happen in any marriage these days. You meet people online and it may just be an innocent conversation about some common interest that lights the spark. That’s how things develop with Gabbie and Eli. They are both artists and have been fans of each other’s works on IG. I will tell you this. I want an Eli of my own. He was just the perfect book boyfriend. It’s no wonder that Gabbie fell for him. What happens when she gets a ONE week hall pass from her husband to spend with Eli? Well, I’m not going to tell you…. but I was thoroughly engrossed by the story. Just read it straight through. Their adventures are sexy, fun and a bit emotional. If you are a forbidden romance fan, then I highly recommend this.The Ground Rules (Book 1) (The Rule Breakers Series)