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Forbidden Embrace
Despite her devotion to the Union cause, Serena Calvert surrenders to a forbidden passion with Wesley, a Confederate soldier, but the turmoil of the Civil War threatens to divide them forever. Original.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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About the author
Cassie Edwards
163 books419 followersEdwards began writing romances in 1982 and released her 100th novel, Savage Skies, on August 28, 2007. Although her earlier books were classic historical romances, the vast majority of her novels involve Native American tribes. Edwards's grandmother was a full-blooded Cheyenne. Her first 99 books sold a combined 10 million copies as of August 2007, with her more recent novels averaging sales of 250,000–350,000 copies.
Edwards has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, as well as being named one of Affaire de Coeur's top ten favorite romance writers. Edwards has a reputation for meticulously researching the proper anthropological backgrounds of each tribe she writes about.
Edwards and her husband Charles, a retired high school biology teacher, have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Charles and Brian, and three grandchildren. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri for over thirty years, but now reside in Mattoon, Illinois.
Edwards has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, as well as being named one of Affaire de Coeur's top ten favorite romance writers. Edwards has a reputation for meticulously researching the proper anthropological backgrounds of each tribe she writes about.
Edwards and her husband Charles, a retired high school biology teacher, have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Charles and Brian, and three grandchildren. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri for over thirty years, but now reside in Mattoon, Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2018
This review is of “Forbidden Embrace” by Cassie Edwards.
The book begins in Mattoon, Illinois in 1864. It is here that Serena Calvert, 18, the heroine of the book, lives with her father, Hiram, a doctor, and her younger sister, Priscilla, 16. (Hiram’s wife and the girls’ mother, Julita Kate, passed recently). Serena works as a nurse, helping her father tend the soldiers, both Union and Confederate, that come to their home-which doubles as a hospital-during the Civil War. Hiram is also trying to push Serena to marry a man, Edward Carlson, whom she does not love (and loves even less after he rapes her),
One day, in the performance of her nursing duties, Serena meets Wesley Wyndham, 25, a Confederate Colonel and the hero of the book, who has been wounded. They are immediately attracted to each other, and become lovers. However, Wesley shuns Serena upon finding out that she isn’t a virgin. However, this shunning doesn’t last long.
After an argument with Hiram, Serena decides to leave home to be with Wesley, who has been taken to jail. Serena breaks him out, and together, they head to his home in South Carolina. Both on the trip and after arriving in South Carolina, there are problems for the couple. Serena is raped again and nearly raped another time, both by deserting Union soldiers; they are all killed. Wesley, meanwhile, continues his affair with his former mistress, Kiawah Indian woman Halona, which has deadly consequences. Serena also meets Wesley’s surviving family: his sister, Dorlisa May, welcomes Serena. His mother, Lona Gale, and his brother, Truman Firman...not so much.
Later, Priscilla and Edward-who are now married-arrive in South Carolina. Edward tries to rape Serena again, and it is revealed that Wesley had sex with Priscilla. However, Serena forgives Wesley for his indiscretions, they become parents to a son and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: I finished the book. That’s all I’ve got.
Downside: I didn’t find either Serena or Wesley to be likeable characters. After Edward rapes Serena, what does she do? Report him to the authorities? To her father? No! She pushes Priscilla-her own sister-to begin a relationship with him in order to save herself!
Wesley is no better. He is a horndog, a bigot,a liar, and a hypocrite. And those are his good points!
Sex: The sex scenes are fairly mild, which is quite different from most of Mrs. Edwards’ books.
Violence: In addition to the violence stated above, there is one killing by Wesley of an Kiawah Indian who tried to kill him. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Forbidden Embrace” is total garbage.
The book begins in Mattoon, Illinois in 1864. It is here that Serena Calvert, 18, the heroine of the book, lives with her father, Hiram, a doctor, and her younger sister, Priscilla, 16. (Hiram’s wife and the girls’ mother, Julita Kate, passed recently). Serena works as a nurse, helping her father tend the soldiers, both Union and Confederate, that come to their home-which doubles as a hospital-during the Civil War. Hiram is also trying to push Serena to marry a man, Edward Carlson, whom she does not love (and loves even less after he rapes her),
One day, in the performance of her nursing duties, Serena meets Wesley Wyndham, 25, a Confederate Colonel and the hero of the book, who has been wounded. They are immediately attracted to each other, and become lovers. However, Wesley shuns Serena upon finding out that she isn’t a virgin. However, this shunning doesn’t last long.
After an argument with Hiram, Serena decides to leave home to be with Wesley, who has been taken to jail. Serena breaks him out, and together, they head to his home in South Carolina. Both on the trip and after arriving in South Carolina, there are problems for the couple. Serena is raped again and nearly raped another time, both by deserting Union soldiers; they are all killed. Wesley, meanwhile, continues his affair with his former mistress, Kiawah Indian woman Halona, which has deadly consequences. Serena also meets Wesley’s surviving family: his sister, Dorlisa May, welcomes Serena. His mother, Lona Gale, and his brother, Truman Firman...not so much.
Later, Priscilla and Edward-who are now married-arrive in South Carolina. Edward tries to rape Serena again, and it is revealed that Wesley had sex with Priscilla. However, Serena forgives Wesley for his indiscretions, they become parents to a son and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: I finished the book. That’s all I’ve got.
Downside: I didn’t find either Serena or Wesley to be likeable characters. After Edward rapes Serena, what does she do? Report him to the authorities? To her father? No! She pushes Priscilla-her own sister-to begin a relationship with him in order to save herself!
Wesley is no better. He is a horndog, a bigot,a liar, and a hypocrite. And those are his good points!
Sex: The sex scenes are fairly mild, which is quite different from most of Mrs. Edwards’ books.
Violence: In addition to the violence stated above, there is one killing by Wesley of an Kiawah Indian who tried to kill him. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Forbidden Embrace” is total garbage.
September 20, 2018
Great steamy romance. Oh wow
March 28, 2021
It was really good!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews