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The Forbidden #2
Roxy's verhaal
Het tweede en laatste boek in de Roxy-serie
In Verlaten zusje lazen we hoe Emmie er na het vertrek van haar zus Roxy alleen voor stond, tot ze haar jaren later weer terugvond in Manhattan. Maar hoe kwam Roxy ertoe om zo jong uit huis te gaan? En welke gebeurtenissen leidden ertoe dat ze zich als escortdame ging verhuren? Je leest het in Roxy’s verhaal.
In Verlaten zusje lazen we hoe Emmie er na het vertrek van haar zus Roxy alleen voor stond, tot ze haar jaren later weer terugvond in Manhattan. Maar hoe kwam Roxy ertoe om zo jong uit huis te gaan? En welke gebeurtenissen leidden ertoe dat ze zich als escortdame ging verhuren? Je leest het in Roxy’s verhaal.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2013
101 people are currently reading
2596 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,089 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 3, 2018
My Original Post
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD!
I have read and reread everything that VCA has put out. Both the works she wrote herself and that written by ghostwriter Andrew Niederman. It's certainly true that even the real VCA wrote trash, but I have to say that slowly, each book has managed to outrank the last with it's absolute awfulness (If that is even a word. If it's not, I am making it one).
Since I have restricted myself to only reading books that I have never read before and now allowing myself any rereads for all of 2014, I decided to get a hold of all the VCA books that I have been behind on; starting with Daughter of Light (the sequel to Daughter of Darkness). The Forbidden series did not disappoint me because I went into it expecting nothing but desperation and randomness with a splash of garbage thrown in.
I wanted this series to be good. I really did. But it just failed on so many levels.
Starting out with the story of a girl who has been raised as an only child (despite having an older sister), I felt like I could relate to our main character and narrator Emmie. She tells her story of a overbearing father who threw out said older sister because she was a wild child who broke the rules, failed at every subject in school, got arrested for shoplifting and had a lot of premarital sex. I was taken back to the mid to late 90's when teenage boot camps were all the rage for parent's looking to punish their unruly teens with a does of "tough love".
As Emmie tells us of how she has no friends, lives like a grunt in a boot camp (but with nicer clothes, a loving french mother and access to a lot of wine), and wonders daily about her mysterious older sister, I waited for the "big secret" to be revealed. Maybe this secret sister was actually Emmie's mother and she had been raped. Maybe her father had raped his own daughter and Emmie was the result. Or maybe there would be some other really fun "OMG!" moment. That moment never came.
Instead both of Emmie's parents die and her secret sister steps up to the plate and decides to take on the responsibility of raising her teenage sister in her hotel/apartment. Meanwhile, this forbidden sister reveals that she is a high class call girl and will be making Emmie leave and stay hidden when she has "clients" over to their apartment to entertain.
When I finally got to Roxy's Story, I was just as unimpressed, still expecting major plot secrets to be revealed. Maybe the evil father wanted her out because he had been molesting her. Maybe she would be raped by some random street rat. Instead I got a story of a teenage girl who got a lucky break when an aging madame takes her on and improves her so she can become said high class call girl. Oh, and she doesn't have to have sex with her clients unless she wants to. Talk about softening the blow.
I can't even comment on the - in my opinion - unfinished work that is The Forbidden Heart.
VCA had no problems being politically incorrect and I think that is why people adored Flowers in the Attic along with the rest of her work. After she died, a few decent series came out with family secrets galore. Somewhere down the lie, Andrew lost the spark that made him fall in love with VCA and decided that secrets weren't worth reading.
Take this series as you wold the last few: with a grain of salt and a large glass of wine,. You'll need the salt to give flavor where there is none and the wine to forget everything you just read.
Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD!
I have read and reread everything that VCA has put out. Both the works she wrote herself and that written by ghostwriter Andrew Niederman. It's certainly true that even the real VCA wrote trash, but I have to say that slowly, each book has managed to outrank the last with it's absolute awfulness (If that is even a word. If it's not, I am making it one).
Since I have restricted myself to only reading books that I have never read before and now allowing myself any rereads for all of 2014, I decided to get a hold of all the VCA books that I have been behind on; starting with Daughter of Light (the sequel to Daughter of Darkness). The Forbidden series did not disappoint me because I went into it expecting nothing but desperation and randomness with a splash of garbage thrown in.
I wanted this series to be good. I really did. But it just failed on so many levels.
Starting out with the story of a girl who has been raised as an only child (despite having an older sister), I felt like I could relate to our main character and narrator Emmie. She tells her story of a overbearing father who threw out said older sister because she was a wild child who broke the rules, failed at every subject in school, got arrested for shoplifting and had a lot of premarital sex. I was taken back to the mid to late 90's when teenage boot camps were all the rage for parent's looking to punish their unruly teens with a does of "tough love".
As Emmie tells us of how she has no friends, lives like a grunt in a boot camp (but with nicer clothes, a loving french mother and access to a lot of wine), and wonders daily about her mysterious older sister, I waited for the "big secret" to be revealed. Maybe this secret sister was actually Emmie's mother and she had been raped. Maybe her father had raped his own daughter and Emmie was the result. Or maybe there would be some other really fun "OMG!" moment. That moment never came.
Instead both of Emmie's parents die and her secret sister steps up to the plate and decides to take on the responsibility of raising her teenage sister in her hotel/apartment. Meanwhile, this forbidden sister reveals that she is a high class call girl and will be making Emmie leave and stay hidden when she has "clients" over to their apartment to entertain.
When I finally got to Roxy's Story, I was just as unimpressed, still expecting major plot secrets to be revealed. Maybe the evil father wanted her out because he had been molesting her. Maybe she would be raped by some random street rat. Instead I got a story of a teenage girl who got a lucky break when an aging madame takes her on and improves her so she can become said high class call girl. Oh, and she doesn't have to have sex with her clients unless she wants to. Talk about softening the blow.
I can't even comment on the - in my opinion - unfinished work that is The Forbidden Heart.
VCA had no problems being politically incorrect and I think that is why people adored Flowers in the Attic along with the rest of her work. After she died, a few decent series came out with family secrets galore. Somewhere down the lie, Andrew lost the spark that made him fall in love with VCA and decided that secrets weren't worth reading.
Take this series as you wold the last few: with a grain of salt and a large glass of wine,. You'll need the salt to give flavor where there is none and the wine to forget everything you just read.
June 23, 2019
thought this book was okay it wasn't as good as VC Andrews other books
March 20, 2015
I was a huge fan of VC Andrews back in the day and I've read most of her stuff (even though I knew it was a ghostwriter) over the years. Each one gets worse and worse yet I still keep reading them. This one was beyond awful.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series but I don't think I will bother with reading the first one. If the writing is any indication of what I will expect I will pass as I can't get back the 2 hours I spent reading this book. If you can call it reading as I skimmed through most of it.
Maybe I'm just getting old but the teenage angst storylines are wearing thin.
Usually the VC Andrews books have a wicked mother but this one has a wicked dad who kicks her out. And she deserved to be kicked out, IMO. She became an escort which I'm guessing is supposed to be shocking but to me really wasn't. Perhaps if the writing was a little better (has the ghostwriter gotten a ghostwriter?) it might've pulled me in more and I would've skimmed less.
I would've given more of a review if I could remember any highlights. Unfortunately, there were none.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series but I don't think I will bother with reading the first one. If the writing is any indication of what I will expect I will pass as I can't get back the 2 hours I spent reading this book. If you can call it reading as I skimmed through most of it.
Maybe I'm just getting old but the teenage angst storylines are wearing thin.
Usually the VC Andrews books have a wicked mother but this one has a wicked dad who kicks her out. And she deserved to be kicked out, IMO. She became an escort which I'm guessing is supposed to be shocking but to me really wasn't. Perhaps if the writing was a little better (has the ghostwriter gotten a ghostwriter?) it might've pulled me in more and I would've skimmed less.
I would've given more of a review if I could remember any highlights. Unfortunately, there were none.
August 6, 2019
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Review also found here. (*1.5 stars) Although the second book in The Forbidden series, a prequel leading into the end of Forbidden Sister's central plot-line, is immensely better than its (highly dull) predecessor it is still a deeply flawed and sloppy attempt at a novel. Roxy is far more fascinating to read about than Emmie, this much is true, tripping over itself on multiple occasions. I had a lot of problems about it--the pacing, the lack of actual development, the shortage of anything remotely campy beyond the escort plot.
Needless to say, I wasn't a fan. Another problem I had with this book was its excessive use of 'what-ever' which, I have no actual problem with such a mundane phrase and say it frequently myself. It just felt like it was constantly thrown about in the conversations and not just characters who were younger. I wouldn't think twice if it was merely Roxy consistently tossing it about but it was literally every character, including the professional ones who were apparently meant to be much more eloquent than they were. But, if you were wondering, this was irrelevant to the central points of the story and are neither here nor there at the end of the day.
That being said, I can't stress enough how bland this era of V.C. Andrews* is. I'm not going to stop saying things like, hey, maybe we should stop using her name as a property when she is long dead. I don't have the energy to continue saying this. There were times in Roxy's Story that felt all too familiar and generic; there were times when it felt like a classic spin on V.C. Andrews' lush and creepy, campy dramatics, but for the most part this was one of the worst novels I've read this year. I had moments where I was truly invested in it (Roxy's training, her relationship/friendship with Mrs. Brittany and her ill granddaughter) but for the most part it was utterly forgettable and not only lacked any coherency, it was just pointless.
If you're going to flesh out a character--the only one from the series who has even the smallest bit of intrigue to them--you shouldn't half-ass it. Ultimately, that's all Roxy's Story was: a half ass attempt at an origin story.
Review also found here. (*1.5 stars) Although the second book in The Forbidden series, a prequel leading into the end of Forbidden Sister's central plot-line, is immensely better than its (highly dull) predecessor it is still a deeply flawed and sloppy attempt at a novel. Roxy is far more fascinating to read about than Emmie, this much is true, tripping over itself on multiple occasions. I had a lot of problems about it--the pacing, the lack of actual development, the shortage of anything remotely campy beyond the escort plot.
Needless to say, I wasn't a fan. Another problem I had with this book was its excessive use of 'what-ever' which, I have no actual problem with such a mundane phrase and say it frequently myself. It just felt like it was constantly thrown about in the conversations and not just characters who were younger. I wouldn't think twice if it was merely Roxy consistently tossing it about but it was literally every character, including the professional ones who were apparently meant to be much more eloquent than they were. But, if you were wondering, this was irrelevant to the central points of the story and are neither here nor there at the end of the day.
That being said, I can't stress enough how bland this era of V.C. Andrews* is. I'm not going to stop saying things like, hey, maybe we should stop using her name as a property when she is long dead. I don't have the energy to continue saying this. There were times in Roxy's Story that felt all too familiar and generic; there were times when it felt like a classic spin on V.C. Andrews' lush and creepy, campy dramatics, but for the most part this was one of the worst novels I've read this year. I had moments where I was truly invested in it (Roxy's training, her relationship/friendship with Mrs. Brittany and her ill granddaughter) but for the most part it was utterly forgettable and not only lacked any coherency, it was just pointless.
If you're going to flesh out a character--the only one from the series who has even the smallest bit of intrigue to them--you shouldn't half-ass it. Ultimately, that's all Roxy's Story was: a half ass attempt at an origin story.
March 4, 2014
This book was disappointing-totally unbelievable storyline. Finished only because I felt the need to see the authors conclusion- won't be reading any more of the current V. C. Andrews books.
December 25, 2018
Possible Spoilers Ahead
I LISTENED TO THE AUDIOBOOK AND THE NARRATOR WAS INCREDIBLE
I am a huge fan of VC Andrews' books. I even read all the ghostwriter's and most are pretty good if not great. But I find this one to be a little ridiculous. Of course none of them are overly realistic, as they are fiction, but this one is just so off that it was annoying. I felt like I was rolling my eyes through every chapter. Here are my thoughts:
Roxy is only 17 when the story starts and a typical cynical brat. She is still in HS committing silly crimes, mouthing off to teachers, and sleeping around. She gets kicked out by her (broodingly handsome * domineering) Father due to all of this. She then ends up at Madam Brittany's High Class Escort Service due to being discovered for her beauty and potential.
Then, in a matter of days, she is revered by the toughest French woman on the Planet. She hasn't even graduated High School yet and is expecting her first upper-class Frenchman John to propose. Even though she makes childish sarcastic statements left and right (Odd that he even liked her as much as he did). Why is she even of thinking of marriage in 12th grade? Especially after stating that she faked it for all the boys she slept with because she just didn't care. And she did not want to turn out like her submissive mother. So yes, let's go for an older Sugar Daddy type to avoid that future. Especially when your job requirement is to sit down, shut up, and listen. Sure, we can all be swept off of our feet. But it is a very rare for even an old fashioned type girl to want to be married to an older man while still a High School Senior. They may fantasize about it for their future goals but not then and there at such a young age. Especially a girl who is verging on Feminist.
My mind kept drifting (just like in this review :) during the entire book. I found myself going off on tangents every time Roxy praised herself. Her cooing about all the awe she inspired from every character she came across.
And of course there always has to be a physically handicapped beauty in the Andrews' books. And again another oddity that this innocent (or not so innocent) girl chooses this beyotchy girl to latch onto and admire. Out of ALL the other escorts.
Had Roxy been more likable and humble I may have liked it more. Just being beautiful and raised wealthy by an elegant French Woman does not make the world infatuated with you. But a man wrote this so who knows? Maybe they have a different take on what a woman requires to be considered incredible. I just don't buy that Madame Brittany would think so. Once she started to bow at Roxy's feet I lost respect for her.
I think her getting kicked out (I was partially on the father's side on this one) due to being an immature, disrespectful, spoiled, teenager was unnecessary. Had she ran away (or graduated and moved out) due to her overbearing father and been naive and "Sweet Audrina-ish" it would have been more believable to me. Perhaps if he threatened to disown her and she just wanted to try it on her own. Instead it was like Megan Fox (In Jennifer's Body) turning into a tame, vulnerable, elegant, sophisticated woman. It was just too hard for me to swallow. You may feel differently and if so this could be your book.
To me the entire thing is not in line with even the Ghostwriters' books. But I gave it a 3 because I still finished it and it held my interest.
Wah Wah
February 17, 2020
Boring as batshit. You'd think a novel about a professional escort to the rich & famous would at least be entertaining (because let's be honest: nobody reads VCA to wallow in finely crafted feasts of language), but nope. This was so fucking dull.
The Ghostwriter had a legit chance to harken back to Quality VCA like Heaven, Dawn, or Ruby with sexual politics & mid-20s heroines, but nope. Instead Roxy spends the entire book 17 years old, sitting around at a beautification/elocution bootcamp run by an aging madam, & makes friends with a crippled girl. Then, somewhere around pg 250/370, she meets the love of her life, & they sit around in France until pg 330/370, at which point Roxy summarizes her career & the entire plot of Emmie's book before devoting 3 pages (literally) to close her tale & reunite with her Twu Wuv. 🙄 WTF IS THIS? I couldn't even figure why Roxy needed to be tutored; everything she said, did, & knew was highly praised by every instructor as proof of the innately superior being her French mother's blood created. Puh-lease.
This whole Forbidden Sister duo has been sadly disappointing. The idea was a great one, but the new-style Ghostwriter books (read: generic YA crap about whiny teenagers & kissing) are totally insufficient to carry the type of plots long-time VCA readers expect. The Ghostwriter's age & lazy story-crafting have totally ruined the amusing soapy legacy of the VCA brand, & I won't be reading any more of the ones that were published after they retired the 5-book format. Out of the 7 (I think?) new-breed VCAs I've read, I've given only one 4 stars, & that was because I rounded up. It's just not worth the effort.
The Ghostwriter had a legit chance to harken back to Quality VCA like Heaven, Dawn, or Ruby with sexual politics & mid-20s heroines, but nope. Instead Roxy spends the entire book 17 years old, sitting around at a beautification/elocution bootcamp run by an aging madam, & makes friends with a crippled girl. Then, somewhere around pg 250/370, she meets the love of her life, & they sit around in France until pg 330/370, at which point Roxy summarizes her career & the entire plot of Emmie's book before devoting 3 pages (literally) to close her tale & reunite with her Twu Wuv. 🙄 WTF IS THIS? I couldn't even figure why Roxy needed to be tutored; everything she said, did, & knew was highly praised by every instructor as proof of the innately superior being her French mother's blood created. Puh-lease.
This whole Forbidden Sister duo has been sadly disappointing. The idea was a great one, but the new-style Ghostwriter books (read: generic YA crap about whiny teenagers & kissing) are totally insufficient to carry the type of plots long-time VCA readers expect. The Ghostwriter's age & lazy story-crafting have totally ruined the amusing soapy legacy of the VCA brand, & I won't be reading any more of the ones that were published after they retired the 5-book format. Out of the 7 (I think?) new-breed VCAs I've read, I've given only one 4 stars, & that was because I rounded up. It's just not worth the effort.
October 26, 2013
Very typical VC Andrews fluff, but much better than the last few I've read. I find that I don't have high expectations of these books after 25 years of reading them, but I cannot stop myself from buying them when I see a new paperback in a CVS or a grocery store. And then I devour them in a day or so. I do think whomever the ghost writer for this book is did a much better job than most of the others in the last four years or so. Roxy's world is described w/ typical opulence enough so that it keeps you reading. I was actually surprised that there wasn't more viciousness anywhere in this story. Her father's is an unlikable jerk, but usually there are more sinister characters in a VC Andrews story, and considering the scenario of a modern-day geisha/high priced escort service, there seems like there should have been a lot more opportunity for true conflict/ horror elements to the plot. So, "it was ok", and two stars is a very on-the-mark rating for this novel.
August 21, 2014
I really loved this book. After reading "Forbidden Sister" and "Forbidden Heart" it was nice to read Roxys side of the story so to speak.
*Spoiler Alert*
Roxy Wilcox gets kicked out by her strict father and ends up being 'scouted' by Mr Bob and taken to be trained as a high class escort for Mrs Brittany. Eventually finding her happy ending.
After coming across as cold and uncaring in Forbidden Sister it was nice to see a softer side to her in this book. To see what went on in her world and how she saw things.
I know a lot of people don't like the ghost writer but I think he captures Virginia Andrews style well and if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have such a variety of Virginia Andrews books. Admittedly some of them I dislike but no one gets it right all the time.
*Spoiler Alert*
Roxy Wilcox gets kicked out by her strict father and ends up being 'scouted' by Mr Bob and taken to be trained as a high class escort for Mrs Brittany. Eventually finding her happy ending.
After coming across as cold and uncaring in Forbidden Sister it was nice to see a softer side to her in this book. To see what went on in her world and how she saw things.
I know a lot of people don't like the ghost writer but I think he captures Virginia Andrews style well and if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have such a variety of Virginia Andrews books. Admittedly some of them I dislike but no one gets it right all the time.
April 25, 2018
Dang it!!!! I had written a review. Where did it go? 😠😠😠
I wanted to give this book a 4 star rating but I was just too disappointed. I thought it was going to be about her life as an escort not mostly about her being groomed for it. The actual escort parts were quickly summed near the end.
I was expecting a much better love. I didn't like him much. They both seemed shallow as in it was just the looks or animal lust that they think is love. Perhaps I am wrong. I do see them having fun together so I guess they'll be happy for a while. At least until real problems arise. Ha! Maybe she didn't want her sister with her when she pursued him fearing her sis may woo him away. Lol When she thought he was going to propose on the yacht, I thought was funny/her being ridiculous. She's smarter than that. One they just met. Two he's been saying how he has to marry this other lady. Never vowing love for her or hints he was going to change his plans. But romance makes people very stupid.
As for the she referred to. It was not what I thought. Now she said she died basically because she trusted someone. How is that? Yes her mom ignored her issues so she lost her leg to cancer. But that didn't kill her. They found out it was back during a regular follow up.
So to be honest I thought she had a love affair with another escort. Later this lover of hers gets beaten to death by a client. Don't know why but her love seemed like an Evan to me. The name. Though I think that was the boy in the first book. Not him though. But he'd be some dude she met. Maybe he didn't know she was an escort. Maybe he did but didn't approve. I also thought he was going to be from New York. Not a guy in France how she had to hurry and fly home at the end of the last book. I don't know. I think my version is much more exciting. Oh and I had expected there to be more from her perspective as a child. Not boom you're kicked out. 😕
I also thought it would come up how that boys father from the first book was going to be a client. Like how Mrs Brittnay could talk to him about his son crank calling them. But nope! Never came up. I thought it would be a nice tidbit of hypocrisy. Oh well! We got this very subpar version instead of the book.
I hated her hooker name. Roxy is a better name but maybe it would be seen as a low class prostitute name.
Is Brittnay actually her last name? It does not seem threatening enough as a name.
Boo!!!! That's my feeling of this book in a nutshell. Lol
I wanted to give this book a 4 star rating but I was just too disappointed. I thought it was going to be about her life as an escort not mostly about her being groomed for it. The actual escort parts were quickly summed near the end.
I was expecting a much better love. I didn't like him much. They both seemed shallow as in it was just the looks or animal lust that they think is love. Perhaps I am wrong. I do see them having fun together so I guess they'll be happy for a while. At least until real problems arise. Ha! Maybe she didn't want her sister with her when she pursued him fearing her sis may woo him away. Lol When she thought he was going to propose on the yacht, I thought was funny/her being ridiculous. She's smarter than that. One they just met. Two he's been saying how he has to marry this other lady. Never vowing love for her or hints he was going to change his plans. But romance makes people very stupid.
As for the she referred to. It was not what I thought. Now she said she died basically because she trusted someone. How is that? Yes her mom ignored her issues so she lost her leg to cancer. But that didn't kill her. They found out it was back during a regular follow up.
So to be honest I thought she had a love affair with another escort. Later this lover of hers gets beaten to death by a client. Don't know why but her love seemed like an Evan to me. The name. Though I think that was the boy in the first book. Not him though. But he'd be some dude she met. Maybe he didn't know she was an escort. Maybe he did but didn't approve. I also thought he was going to be from New York. Not a guy in France how she had to hurry and fly home at the end of the last book. I don't know. I think my version is much more exciting. Oh and I had expected there to be more from her perspective as a child. Not boom you're kicked out. 😕
I also thought it would come up how that boys father from the first book was going to be a client. Like how Mrs Brittnay could talk to him about his son crank calling them. But nope! Never came up. I thought it would be a nice tidbit of hypocrisy. Oh well! We got this very subpar version instead of the book.
I hated her hooker name. Roxy is a better name but maybe it would be seen as a low class prostitute name.
Is Brittnay actually her last name? It does not seem threatening enough as a name.
Boo!!!! That's my feeling of this book in a nutshell. Lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
[🎧 Luisterboek]
Roxy’s verhaal sluit goed aan op het eerste deel: Verlaten Zusje, maar heeft wel een heel andere sfeer. Waar het eerste deel meer melancholisch en rustig was, voelt dit tweede deel een stuk rauwer en directer.
Maar daarom vind ik het personage van Roxy juist zo interessant. Ze is eigenzinnig, maar ook beschadigd. Ik vind het goed en fijn om "haar kant" van het verhaal te horen, waardoor je beter begrijpt waarom ze bepaalde keuzes maakt.
Wat ik verder sterk vond aan dit boek is het emotionele stuk: de worsteling met schuld, familie en identiteit. Thema's die ik zelf ook erg interessant vind. Daardoor vond ik dit verhaal net iets meer gelaagd en minder oppervlakkig.
Al met al een mooi vervolg dat ook meer diepgang geeft aan het eerste deel.
Roxy’s verhaal sluit goed aan op het eerste deel: Verlaten Zusje, maar heeft wel een heel andere sfeer. Waar het eerste deel meer melancholisch en rustig was, voelt dit tweede deel een stuk rauwer en directer.
Maar daarom vind ik het personage van Roxy juist zo interessant. Ze is eigenzinnig, maar ook beschadigd. Ik vind het goed en fijn om "haar kant" van het verhaal te horen, waardoor je beter begrijpt waarom ze bepaalde keuzes maakt.
Wat ik verder sterk vond aan dit boek is het emotionele stuk: de worsteling met schuld, familie en identiteit. Thema's die ik zelf ook erg interessant vind. Daardoor vond ik dit verhaal net iets meer gelaagd en minder oppervlakkig.
Al met al een mooi vervolg dat ook meer diepgang geeft aan het eerste deel.
November 21, 2023
Maybe I should have read book one or maybe it would have been just as boring? I really tried to like this book but halfway through it I was bored. The story centers around poor little rich girl Roxy who grows up in a military household and when her father gets tired of her troublemaking ways throws her out. She is soon spotted by a shady guy who introduces her to a wealthy woman who trains young girls to be high end escorts to wealthy men. So we basically get told what all Roxy has to do to be an escort and what happens when her sister finds her. Honestly I was bored.
March 21, 2019
When Roxy feels like she can't do anything right in her life she rebels'. Roxy is defiant at 16 where as her younger sister is the opposite of her and can't do no wrong in her parents eyes. So when their father has had enough of Roxy he throws he out of the house. So when she is out on the street and she comes across a stranger and he offers her a new life she agrees. In her new life she will become a high class escorts, will she be able to handle this life and is it what she really wants?
August 1, 2019
I quite enjoyed the story and think it's worth the read, but there was a lot of things that were glossed over, a lot of scenes that were told about it a few sentences instead of living vicariously through the characters in the moment. All in all still a decent read - but don't go into it thinking you'll be reading some hot sex scenes, there is actually very little about the escort part of the story, most of it is leading up to the event :)
February 8, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. The storyline is great and showcases how confidence is showcased.
This book might not be for all as it talks about high class escorts and how they are trained.
A young beautiful girl thrown out of her house is introduced to the life of an escort. This book covers the training needed to be a successful escort.
As with all Virginia Andrews books we are introduced to a character who is neglected by het mum.
Living under a soldier type rule under
This book might not be for all as it talks about high class escorts and how they are trained.
A young beautiful girl thrown out of her house is introduced to the life of an escort. This book covers the training needed to be a successful escort.
As with all Virginia Andrews books we are introduced to a character who is neglected by het mum.
Living under a soldier type rule under
July 29, 2023
This book completes the Forbidden series, which was notably above average for the late 2000s/early 2010s V.C. Andrews books. Interestingly, this 2nd book covered the same timeline of events as the 1st book and the intermediate e-book - just from the other sister's perspective. I liked this book a bit better than the 1st - 3.5 star read.
This book fulfilled the 2023 PopSugar prompts #16 - A book where the main character's name is in the title and #48 - A book that features two languages.
This book fulfilled the 2023 PopSugar prompts #16 - A book where the main character's name is in the title and #48 - A book that features two languages.
March 31, 2018
I had high hopes for this book - it was interesting and a Roxy is a strong protagonist. But then things became rushed towards the end, running through what should have been poignant plot points to get to the last few chapters, which were essentially repeating chapters straight out of Forbidden Sister. Disappointing.
June 18, 2019
This doesn't come close to the original series but this isn't the worst of V.C. Andrews either. I look forward to eventually reading the remainder of this series sometime in my future but I am in no rush.
July 5, 2017
The second instalment in this two part series is the weaker and trashier of the two. When Roxy is kicked out of home by her strict and abusive father, she finds work as a high end prostitute.
December 26, 2017
Read a few of these books years ago this is a good one.
January 26, 2018
interesting read, kept me wanting to know what happens next...
March 29, 2018
Loved this book! So enjoyed it and felt like it had soul to it!
September 11, 2018
Pretty Good book but a bit slow going. They end so abruptly when you finish you can't help but think "Thats it???"
January 2, 2019
Great Book. Look forward to reading the last one in this series.
September 12, 2019
A lot of repetition
October 8, 2019
Super😍
April 18, 2021
Fantastic story
I love learning about Roxy and her lover Paul
I love learning about Roxy and her lover Paul
September 25, 2021
brilliant
January 24, 2022
It’s just the same story, but I didn’t care about roxy enough the first time around let alone a 300+ page book about her.
January 6, 2024
So fair it's not looking good for vc Andrew's
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