What do you think?
Rate this book
His Forbidden Bride
This is one occasion in Andreas Stephanos's life when he cannot have what he really wants.Better not let Zoe Lambert know that he's really the heir to a shipping fortune, or allow the intense physical desire between them to be indulged. There is a compelling reason the Greek tycoon can never bed or wed Zoe....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published June 1, 2004
About the author
Sara Craven
504 books270 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 14, 2016
Heavy on the subplot, light on the romance.
Sara Craven does angst and longing well, but I felt the romance took a major backseat to the mystery surrounding Zoe's deceased mother.
Zoe's character is fully developed, but she and Andreas didn't spend enough quality time together in terms of actual pages for their romance to be convincing or romantic. The slow start and abrupt ending didn't help either.
Sara Craven does angst and longing well, but I felt the romance took a major backseat to the mystery surrounding Zoe's deceased mother.
Zoe's character is fully developed, but she and Andreas didn't spend enough quality time together in terms of actual pages for their romance to be convincing or romantic. The slow start and abrupt ending didn't help either.
August 4, 2022
If you want to be transported to summer on a Greek island (and who doesn't) then SC can really give you that experience. In this story the h is called Zoe. Her mother dies. Evil aunt kicks her out of their cottage. She discovers papers behind a picture her mother painted of a view from a Greek villa showing the mother owns this villa, together with a photo of a man. She heads to the island to see her inheritance (please, please can someone leave me a secret Greek villa inheritance). Cue meeting Greek hunk who goes along with her thinking he's the gardener. They fall madly in love- spoiler ahead-
He declares he wants to marry her then takes off. She discovers they are siblings as her mother had affair with his father. All is eventually explained and they are legally free to marry after all. Readable but not a reread.
He declares he wants to marry her then takes off. She discovers they are siblings as her mother had affair with his father. All is eventually explained and they are legally free to marry after all. Readable but not a reread.
November 9, 2022
I'd forgotten how messed up Old Skool romances can get and this one certainly got very irksome with a whole lotta gaslighting yuckiness.
Yet even the irksome romance can still be read.
Yet even the irksome romance can still be read.
August 21, 2011
Woman discovers her recently deceased mother owned a Greek villa, and goes to the island to find out more about the situation. She meets the handsome Andreas, and over time the truth about him and about her past is revealed.
The story has a little bit of a Gothic tone, with elements like mysteriously glaring old men, and the empty house featuring prominently. The main character and the romance are developed satisfyingly; while it's never in doubt that the reason for the relationship being "forbidden" is going to turn out to be false (I mean, this is a Harlequin romance - it's not like a happy ending is in question), the plot and characters are enough to keep you willing to go along with it.
The story has a little bit of a Gothic tone, with elements like mysteriously glaring old men, and the empty house featuring prominently. The main character and the romance are developed satisfyingly; while it's never in doubt that the reason for the relationship being "forbidden" is going to turn out to be false (I mean, this is a Harlequin romance - it's not like a happy ending is in question), the plot and characters are enough to keep you willing to go along with it.
November 14, 2017
After they fall for each other they are mistakenly led to believe they are related and therefore forbidden. This is one occasion in Andreas Stephanos's life when he cannot have what he really wants. Better not let Zoe Lambert know that he's really the heir to a shipping fortune,or allow the intense physical desire between them to be indulged. There is a compelling reason the Greek tycoon can never bed or wed Zoe.
August 10, 2022
Hero and heroine fall in love in a very dreamy way. She has had a very sad few years. Had to compromise on dreams. Mother died. Aunt hates her and hated her mother.
She discovers she has been left a Greek villa. By mother. Not through lawyer. But from behind a painting.
Heroine goes to Greece to see villa. Finds a handsome man dead heading roses I think. She thinks he’s the gardener. He flirts. She tries to get rid of him.
He’s everywhere she goes. Draws her under his spell. She gets inklings he might not be a gardener.
He asks to marry her. Almost.
Then an old man on island informs his father. Hero disappears.
She is called by his father. Hero is suddenly distant. Cold. Seems he is going to get engaged to an heiress.
Heroines ex turns up. Lots of heartburn. And languishing looks between hero and heroine.
When heroine is informed hero is her half brother she faints.
So on. Very high on emotions.
Ultimately she finds out on going back. Mother did get pregnant with hero’s sibling.
But she herself is not that child. That child was never born.
They can live happily ever after.
The hero’s father conveniently dies. The aunt who was besotted with that man has a meltdown and is taken away by men in white coats.
I can reread this one after a few years gap. Maybe.
She discovers she has been left a Greek villa. By mother. Not through lawyer. But from behind a painting.
Heroine goes to Greece to see villa. Finds a handsome man dead heading roses I think. She thinks he’s the gardener. He flirts. She tries to get rid of him.
He’s everywhere she goes. Draws her under his spell. She gets inklings he might not be a gardener.
He asks to marry her. Almost.
Then an old man on island informs his father. Hero disappears.
She is called by his father. Hero is suddenly distant. Cold. Seems he is going to get engaged to an heiress.
Heroines ex turns up. Lots of heartburn. And languishing looks between hero and heroine.
When heroine is informed hero is her half brother she faints.
So on. Very high on emotions.
Ultimately she finds out on going back. Mother did get pregnant with hero’s sibling.
But she herself is not that child. That child was never born.
They can live happily ever after.
The hero’s father conveniently dies. The aunt who was besotted with that man has a meltdown and is taken away by men in white coats.
I can reread this one after a few years gap. Maybe.
November 18, 2017
RIP Sara Craven...15 Nov 2017
I'm afraid I did not like this messy plot at all. The setting of the Greek island was very lovely, not touristy at all and the mysterious Andreas was perfect summer holiday fling material, or so Zoe thought.
But the mystery of Zoe's mother and the villa Danaë overshadowed all the romance...
SPOILERS
THE icky factor of Andreas and Zoe being half siblings was too much for me...the writer was cruel as I really felt the hopelessness of their situation. In real life this would have been terribly devastating and gross.
BUT it was almost till the end that Zoe's horrible aunt revealed her terrible lies that ruined three lives! That woman was a real psycho!
That love scene right at the end was so out of the blue I went WTH?! But at least we had proper closure.
Not my fave book of this author.
I'm afraid I did not like this messy plot at all. The setting of the Greek island was very lovely, not touristy at all and the mysterious Andreas was perfect summer holiday fling material, or so Zoe thought.
But the mystery of Zoe's mother and the villa Danaë overshadowed all the romance...
SPOILERS
THE icky factor of Andreas and Zoe being half siblings was too much for me...the writer was cruel as I really felt the hopelessness of their situation. In real life this would have been terribly devastating and gross.
BUT it was almost till the end that Zoe's horrible aunt revealed her terrible lies that ruined three lives! That woman was a real psycho!
That love scene right at the end was so out of the blue I went WTH?! But at least we had proper closure.
Not my fave book of this author.
January 27, 2015
A good read.
Beautifully written location scenes made me feel like I was right there on that wonderful island.
The instant attraction that draws Andreas and Zoe together is hot but forbidden. You can just feel their connection simmering and waiting to burst out taking control. But Andreas reminds in control and wants to do their relationship right, finally convincing Zoe he is serious only to disappear, breaking her heart. Finding out why he left and an old secret smashs the remaining pieces of their hearts.
Such sadness for broken dreams and lost love........a real tear jerker.
Beautifully written location scenes made me feel like I was right there on that wonderful island.
The instant attraction that draws Andreas and Zoe together is hot but forbidden. You can just feel their connection simmering and waiting to burst out taking control. But Andreas reminds in control and wants to do their relationship right, finally convincing Zoe he is serious only to disappear, breaking her heart. Finding out why he left and an old secret smashs the remaining pieces of their hearts.
Such sadness for broken dreams and lost love........a real tear jerker.
May 30, 2012
it is a said story in a way... but it is definitely worth reading.... the ending was wonderful...
May 16, 2026
His Forbidden Bride (2004) is the story of Zoe and Andreas. It has a touch of the Gothic to it and if you enjoy it on that level rather than for the underwhelming romance, it's not bad. The story involves a British h (Zoe) who comes to a remote Greek island to investigate a mysterious legacy. Her late mother deeded a beautiful abandoned villa to her. Once on the island, there is an equally beautiful and mysterious Greek man (Andreas) whose identity and role in the whole story remain obscured until the last few chapters.
There is a slow and lengthy lead up to the main action. H and h don't spend much time together, and for some of that time, h seems unsettled and suspicious of H's motives, which means that the dramatic Romeo and Juliet forbidden romance does not have much build up; to me, this was pretty detrimental to the story. The H's refusal to do more than engage in a single kiss prior to the big reveal cuts down on the potential ick factor ... but it's also a little hard to believe if he's as in love as he says.
The h does not come across as a doormat; she is educated, holds a responsible job, and has lived a normal life complete with live-in boyfriend prior to her Greek adventure. The H is kind, dashing, sexy and modern in his thinking. When the h says she isn't a virgin, his response is "so what, neither am I," which made me laugh a lot considering how the HP trope of slut-shaming is so rampant. The Greek island is well described- I could feel the heat, the sandy beaches, the mysterious and beautiful villa. The food descriptions were wonderful.
If this book had indeed been written as a Gothic mystery, there's definitely a premise here. I don't think this would have been a very original or impactful Gothic, but worth a read. All the elements are present, including an insane villain and a group of Cassandra-like villagers warning our h off (they all but tell her to stay off the moors, despite this being set in Greece instead of England, ha ha. Having the H turn into an evil werewolf would have been hilarious). But insisting on presenting it as a straightforward romance... meh. 3 stars.
There is a slow and lengthy lead up to the main action. H and h don't spend much time together, and for some of that time, h seems unsettled and suspicious of H's motives, which means that the dramatic Romeo and Juliet forbidden romance does not have much build up; to me, this was pretty detrimental to the story. The H's refusal to do more than engage in a single kiss prior to the big reveal cuts down on the potential ick factor ... but it's also a little hard to believe if he's as in love as he says.
The h does not come across as a doormat; she is educated, holds a responsible job, and has lived a normal life complete with live-in boyfriend prior to her Greek adventure. The H is kind, dashing, sexy and modern in his thinking. When the h says she isn't a virgin, his response is "so what, neither am I," which made me laugh a lot considering how the HP trope of slut-shaming is so rampant. The Greek island is well described- I could feel the heat, the sandy beaches, the mysterious and beautiful villa. The food descriptions were wonderful.
If this book had indeed been written as a Gothic mystery, there's definitely a premise here. I don't think this would have been a very original or impactful Gothic, but worth a read. All the elements are present, including an insane villain and a group of Cassandra-like villagers warning our h off (they all but tell her to stay off the moors, despite this being set in Greece instead of England, ha ha. Having the H turn into an evil werewolf would have been hilarious). But insisting on presenting it as a straightforward romance... meh. 3 stars.
June 14, 2021
Normally Sara Craven is an automatic 4 or 5 star read for me, but this book misses on so many levels. First the romance feels real but there isn't a lot of it as the characters don't spend too much time together. Second there is a huge plot hole.
Spoiler
Seriously, would you not know when your parents were married and be able to do basic math to decide whether your dad was in fact your father???? Our school teacher heroine simply took her wanna-be father's word for it and didn't ask any pertinent questions or even stop to think about when she was born vis a vis her folks' wedding. Duh.
The scenery is lovely, minor character and sort of other man George is great and villainess aunt are great. The would-be other woman is typical Sara Craven token icky female.
Our heroine lives in her head and we hear her thoughts, mostly about the great financial and social disparity between Andreas and her. It got tedious
Book just misses for me. It took me several months to read this because I'd get another 50 pages in or so and then get annoyed with the endless introspection.
Spoiler
Seriously, would you not know when your parents were married and be able to do basic math to decide whether your dad was in fact your father???? Our school teacher heroine simply took her wanna-be father's word for it and didn't ask any pertinent questions or even stop to think about when she was born vis a vis her folks' wedding. Duh.
The scenery is lovely, minor character and sort of other man George is great and villainess aunt are great. The would-be other woman is typical Sara Craven token icky female.
Our heroine lives in her head and we hear her thoughts, mostly about the great financial and social disparity between Andreas and her. It got tedious
Book just misses for me. It took me several months to read this because I'd get another 50 pages in or so and then get annoyed with the endless introspection.
February 25, 2018
I didn't care for the main characters, they treated each other badly. The shocking revelation near the end, I suspected, but I wondered at their complete acceptance of the "truth". I did like the ending though.
April 1, 2023
I got introduced to the romance world reading the graphic novel of this book and went into the actual book itself eventually. I was originally just into young adult and popular fictional reads, but this was an opening to a door that has now led me to the romance reader I am.
October 13, 2019
Fake incest trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2013
Kitabın türkçe adı Yasak Gelin. Gerçekten ilginç bir kitaptı. Andreas'ın Zoe'yi ilk görüşte evleneceği kadın seçmesi..Diyor ki Tamam bu evleneceğim kadın. Ve Gerçekten saygılı. öpüştü falan ama birlikte olmadı.Bu çok hoş bir davranış. Ama Salak kız(HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) Gitti bikinisinin üstünü çözüyor Andreas'a aklını çelmeye çalışıyor fdbadfgadghf bu çok küçük düşürücü bir davranış hele de Andreas karşılık vermeyince :D
Ve yanlış anlamalar sonucu kardeş zannedilmeleri şok ediciydi.Ve Steve Dragos Zoe'ye çok iyi davrandı.Annesine gerçekten aşık olmalı demekki.Ne güzel kaç yıl geçiyor ve tatil süresince gördüğünüz insana aşkınız ömür boyu sürüyor...
Ve yanlış anlamalar sonucu kardeş zannedilmeleri şok ediciydi.Ve Steve Dragos Zoe'ye çok iyi davrandı.Annesine gerçekten aşık olmalı demekki.Ne güzel kaç yıl geçiyor ve tatil süresince gördüğünüz insana aşkınız ömür boyu sürüyor...
Read
July 1, 2013الماضي السجين
سارة كريفن
كم جميل أن ترث زو لامبرت تلك الفيلا الفخمة على الجزيرة اليونانية ! إنها في الحقيقة فرصة لتعيد بناء حياتها بيتها الجديد رائع ... وكذلك البستاني المثير الذي يعتني بالحديقة ... يا له من وضع غريب ... فما هذا الانجذاب التلقائي العجيب بينهما ...
لكن أسرارا كثيرة تتكشف حين تعلم زو أن أندريس ليس بستانيا متواضعا بل صاحب شركة نقل بحري فاحش الثراء هوية أندريس الجديدة تجعله بعيد المنال إلا إذا استطاع التخلص من سلاسل الماضي التي تقيده ليطالب بزو عروسا له
سارة كريفن
كم جميل أن ترث زو لامبرت تلك الفيلا الفخمة على الجزيرة اليونانية ! إنها في الحقيقة فرصة لتعيد بناء حياتها بيتها الجديد رائع ... وكذلك البستاني المثير الذي يعتني بالحديقة ... يا له من وضع غريب ... فما هذا الانجذاب التلقائي العجيب بينهما ...
لكن أسرارا كثيرة تتكشف حين تعلم زو أن أندريس ليس بستانيا متواضعا بل صاحب شركة نقل بحري فاحش الثراء هوية أندريس الجديدة تجعله بعيد المنال إلا إذا استطاع التخلص من سلاسل الماضي التي تقيده ليطالب بزو عروسا له
August 30, 2012
I thought the book was a good read and the angst was there to make it even better but when the hero and heroine thought they were brother and sister I was thrown off. The story got a bit ludicrous and boring.
February 8, 2013
i really didnt expect the same father card to be drawn when i was trying to work out even if thir parents had a history why the hell should their relationship be forbidden... and i think the ending is a little bit rushed.i feel sorry for all the miserable parties. such a waste.
Want to Read
October 30, 2008The whole forbidden thing is why I haven't read this yet.
January 11, 2014
This was pretty good, for a "romance." The characters were predictable, but the plot had a twist that was much more interesting than most in the genre. I liked it.
April 11, 2014
Pathetic.
January 6, 2013
Highly boring.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews