Forbidden

by Bridget Nicole

Vanessa Sullivan is not accustomed to rejection. Not from anyone. Certainly not from her fated mate.

When Vanessa discovers that her brother Ethan’s hated adversary, Anthony Moretti, is her fated mate, she knows she’s facing an uphill battle to happiness.

Still holding a resentful grudge against Anthony for attempting to take Olivia for himself, Ethan is enraged and refuses to accept him into his family or pack, but Vanessa refuses to take no for an answer.

Under the control of a mate bond suppressant, Anthony has no idea he and Vanessa are fated to be together, but that won’t deter Vanessa from trying to claim the man destined to be hers.

Embracing her instincts, Vanessa opens her heart to Anthony, but her confession will only serve to complicate things further, leaving her devastated.

Anthony has his reasons for suppressing his natural instincts, preferring to live on his own terms out from under the thumb of his controlling Alpha father. And while his father would love to see Anthony and Vanessa as a mated pair, his support is driven by his own corrupt objectives.

Will Vanessa and Anthony’s forbidden love endure?

ebook

First published October 2, 2024

Reviews

[Stephanie Buenviaje · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d like to thank the author for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my fourth book in her series, and I’ve been hooked from the start. BUT, I was pissed off for almost the entirety of this book. Everyone was making mistakes, but I was getting EXTRA pissed at Ethan. Like, get over yourself. Consistently throughout all four books of this series, so far, I am never a fan of Ethan. However, I love that Olivia is standing up to him on behalf of Vanessa and telling Ethan he can’t order her around.

Carlo’s also extremely infuriating. He reminds me of Hiram Lodge in Riverdale.

I seriously hope that Vanessa and Anthony just leave and make a life for themselves, even if they have to build from the ground up.

And the ending.. just UGHHHH.

[Trescina Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!

I love the explosive chemistry between Anthony and Vanessa. They had a rough start but ended up exactly where they needed to be. If course he dad has to throw a curve ball in their relationship. I can’t wait for the next book to see what’s going to happen next. My new favorite series.

[Lauren Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibes: Werewolves in our modern world but with some twists 👀 . Love love love that Vanessa got her own book! She knows what (who) she wants and goes after it (him), but can also accept and adapt when things don’t go how she planned. As a recovering people-pleaser, her character is inspiring to me.
And Anthony…what an interesting morally gray guy. I liked getting more details about his family and insight into why he is the way he is. He is a surgeon and genuinely does it because he loves to help people, but then he doesn’t really want to acknowledge the help he received to get there. I think his situation can resonate with a lot of people in some way.
I also loved getting to see snippets of Ethan and Olivia and how their life together has evolved since books 1 and 2. Chloe and Nick make several appearances too 🙌, their backstory is in book 3. I love how the books are focused on different couples but all tie in together.
I am fully 💯 invested in this series and these characters, and genuinely looking forward to the next book.

Fav tropes:
Fated mates ❤️
Mate bond 🔥
Touch her and ☠️
Feisty FMC 💪
Werewolves 🐺
Spicy 🌶️
Pack politics ⚖️
Morally gray MMC 🩶
Mafia vibes 💰
Controlling parents ⛓️

Fav quote:
“It’s you and me”

Thank you Bridget Nicole for letting me read and review this book. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Yvette Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden by Bridget Nicole is book four in the Pinewood Pack series. If you like fates mates, werewolves, feisty FMC, touch her and die, spicy, morally gray MMC books then you will love this series.

I’m so glad to be back in Pinewood to get Vanessa and Anthony’s story. Vanessa is Ethan’s sister. She knows what she wants and she goes after it. Anthony wants to be a doctor, doesn’t do relationships, and takes a serum to keep his wolf side controlled. When Vanessa sees Anthony she knows there are mates, but because he takes the shot Anthony doesn’t feel it. After two rejections Vanessa is left heartbroken, and makes the decision to move on. Until Anthony’s dad learns what’s going on and makes Anthony get off the shot and go after his bond to Vanessa.

I have become a huge fan of this series and have loved all of the books. Bridget does such a great job with this storyline and plot. She wrote these characters so well that you feel like you’ve bonded with them. I love that Vanessa and Anthony were like “it’s you and me,” no matter what they faced. I cannot believe that I was left on a cliffhanger and have to wait to find out what happens. Thank you to Bridget Nicole for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Jen Sizzling Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! Each book I read becomes my new favorite and I fall more in love with the storyine and characters. Is it time for book 5 yet? Soon? I NEEEEED to know what happens next!

I’m a big fan of a 1st person, multiple POV book. It was an added bonus for me to get inside Ethan’s head. I liked seeing his growth as a pack leader and … I can’t say more, just in case you haven’t read the first 3 books. Some more returning favorites also made an appearance in Anthony and Vanessa’s story.

Let’s talk about the state of anxiety this book had me feeling all the way through…but like, in a good way. There was HOT🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ chemistry and spice. The author is brilliant at writing the kind of men that women wannnntttt 🥵. Anthony was deliciously morally grey. I wasn’t his biggest fan in book 3, but I’m now fully into him. Our FMC, Vanessa, knows what she wants, how she wants it, and makes a plan to get it. There were some incredibly frustrating complex family drama these two had/have to deal with, and I loved the dark mafia-like undertones of this plot.

If you’re a fan of 🐺 fated mates, 🌶️spicy chemistry, 💪 a strong FMC, 💀 a morally grey touch-her-and- d!e MMC, and a roller coaster 🎢 of family drama, you will love this book.

Desperately waiting for what comes next…

[Sarina Arntsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the anxiety this book gave me. Ahhhh!! I couldn’t stop reading though because I had to find out what would happen between Anthony and Vanessa. I’m glad Anthony got a bit of a redemption arc and that we got to learn a bit more about Vanessa.

Their relationship is complicated and dangerous. But I love it! Something about that forbidden love trope captures my attention every time.

I think this might be her best one yet in the series! I love Olivia and Ethan’s love story, but I love Anthony and Vanessa just as much!

Also can we talk about the cliffhanger?!? I need the next book ASAP!!

Overall, I devoured this book and am so excited to see what else Bridget brings to this series!

[Brianna Tednes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Vanessa since she came into the series when it was just Ethan and Olivia’s story. She is still one of my favorite characters and i love that she got her own story! Getting to experience things from Vanessa’s point of view truly brought the character to life outside just being Ethan’s sister. It brought a insight to how her mind works and how she views what is important to her. Her finding her mate, who that mate is, the troubles they have and will go through to be together even after they are together. I need more about them! I am sucked into their story as much as i was Ethan and Olivia’s!

[Rikka Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole knows how to make the action continue and happen fast. Book 4 in the Pinewood Pack may focus on new main characters and their story, but we do not lose Olivia and Ethan into the background. In fact, I appreciate that we continue to get Ethan's POV in this story as he is just as entwined in the story of his sister Vanessa and Anthony.

This book gives us a different feel to fated mates than the first two books, with also integrating the politics of Alpha fathers and expectations of family legacies. It did not disappoint, and Vanessa is an FMC to root for. She is strong and spunky and an Alpha personality in her own right. Definitely a recommended read.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanessa and Anthony have a love story with a tumultuous beginning and family drama so chaotic it leaves them wondering where their lives will lead them.

This series has me sucked in. I love the soap opera drama that surrounds the Pinewood Pack series and I have enjoyed getting to know Vanessa and Anthony better in this book. In their world, the only true thing they can know and cling to is each other.

“It’s you and me.”
“Just us.”

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel ALL the emotions. Im glad i got to read from ethans view and get glimpses of his life with olivia. I absolutely love how driven vanessa is but I cant get over that ending.. so now i wait for the next book impatiently. Absolutely great edition to the pinewood pack.

[Mia Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review
Thank you for the opportunity to read your book I can’t believe this is the fourth book in the series you been having me hooked since the first book and I can’t wait for the next one.