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Forbidden: An Anthology

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12 characters. 5 short stories. 1 book.

Joelle Victors and her husband Cameron Victors have an unconventional marriage. Everyone is dying to know the secret behind their strong bond and why they stay so happy but are these same people willing to do what Jo and Cam do to remain together? Every Halloween night they attend a special event that helps keep the spark alive in their marriage. But at this year’s special event, the night will differ greatly from the others. Joelle is strict about following rules. But after a chance encounter, she’ll finally meet the one person to make her break them all. Will she take the bait?

After a shocking car accident, Genesis Garner must deal with the reality of possibly losing her soulmate. As her husband, Tai, clings to life in an ICU, she learns about his secret life and her grief turns to hurt, confusion, and feelings of betrayal. Thankfully, his best friend, August Hall, is around to comfort her the best way he knows how while grieving his own personal loss. But there might be something else he can offer besides comfort. Will they both be willing to ignore the obvious… that they’re still off-limits to one another?

Joi Friday is a broke black actress living in New York City with rent due the next day. She’s dated the dope boys with the deep pockets but she’s looking for more stability and class and not just a flashy lifestyle. While on a temp assignment at a law firm she meets a man, Malik Clark, who she swears has a spot in her future. But how far will she be willing to go to secure that future with him after discovering his truth?

Ayanna Dale is a young college undergrad who is officially sick and tired of being sick and tired of her boyfriend, Dominick Roque. They’ve been together for almost one year and she’s been less than happy since the start. In the year they’ve been dating, Dominick’s taken advantage of Ayanna’s trust and naivety by entertaining other females, sometimes right up and under Ayanna’s nose. And she refuses to tolerate it any longer. After his latest stunt, she devises a plan to pay him back. The only issue with her plan is it will disrupt a happy home. How cold is she willing to be to carry out her plan and to cross that line?

Romello “Mello” St. Claire from the No Fraternizing series returns but he’s taking us back to where his love of women started, his youth. When he was a teenager, he had a crush on Antoinette “Toni” White… a woman he shouldn’t have even been looking at. But when she gave him access to her, this changed his life and his perspective on how to romance the opposite sex. After leaving Harlem years ago, Toni returned but only for one night and only to see him. Can Mello convince Toni to see him as more than what he can offer her, making her look past the obvious reason they can’t be together?

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2017

99 people are currently reading
48 people want to read

About the author

Brookelyn Mosley

63 books191 followers
Brookelyn wrote her first short story when she was a sophomore in high school. Back then she discovered how using her experience as a teen living in Brooklyn to create romantic shorts was just as exciting to her as retail shopping and going on dates. After starting her first semester of college two years later, Brookelyn’s creative writing became more of a hobby and something to do to escape the stress of midterms and finals. Now in her 30s as a freelance writer, penning short stories and novellas is her everything. While her experience with writing has evolved for the better, her undying love for creating fiction remains unchanged. Brookelyn's focus is on creating contemporary women's fiction with characters based in urban settings. Her stories chronicles the emotional journeys and erotic experiences of women today through her characters and the scenarios they're thrown into.

The motivation behind her brand of writing has a lot to do with what she discovered storytelling provided for her - an escape. Her goal with her work is to create characters and urban worlds that offer a great escape for fiction readers looking for a break from the daily grind of adulting and who prefer to relax with good books and short stories. When she’s not freelancing, doing yoga, or showing her husband and toddler lots of love, she can be found sitting at her computer desk, with her legs folded, and a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine) at arm’s reach as she types or edits her latest short or novella.

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5 stars
69 (63%)
4 stars
30 (27%)
3 stars
8 (7%)
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1 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Toya  Davis-Stokley.
2,565 reviews100 followers
June 19, 2024
Miss Brookelyn, those shorts were fire honey! I can’t wait to go back and see which ones have full length books that follow.

1- Joelle and Jordan are going to be trouble. The best trouble tho. 😂 2- Genesis and August, my heart went out to their situations, but they should have been together anyway. 🤷🏾‍♀️ 3- Joi, girl… 👀
4- Yaya is my girl, can’t wait to find out how this played out. 5- Mello, whew….. 😍
Profile Image for Carissa G.
223 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2025
Hot and Spicy Short Stories

I’m not usually a fan of an anthology books because they leave me wanting more, however, this was done correctly! The stories were short but complete and I truly appreciate that!
Profile Image for Qiana.
350 reviews63 followers
April 18, 2022
5 short and freaky tales with enough story line to feel like you're not reading porn.
Profile Image for Erin Rae.
373 reviews25 followers
March 21, 2025
5 collections of short stories. Can read them on your lunch time. Not your typical stories. Very taboo (cheating) mostly but not done in a bad way. I enjoyed them. My favorite one was 2.Karma Coated, 4. A Delectable No-No, & 5. Divinely Illicit! Some of these couples got their own books which I am looking forward to reading.
Profile Image for MARQUETTA.
1,194 reviews140 followers
November 21, 2017
Review originally posted on Reading Romance in Color

*Note – All of the short stories involve cheating and do not end with your typical HEA*


Most anthologies don’t work for me. Sometimes they’re too long and the quality of the stories are not that great. This isn’t the case with Forbidden. The subjects addressed in the short stories are taboo. Some of them involve cheating. I wouldn’t necessarily call any of the stories “romance” in the typical everyone gets an HEA that we expect. But the characters and their actions were interesting enough and well-written where I didn’t mind that this wasn’t an anthology where everyone gets their HEA.

Tasteful Taboo
Joelle and Cameron don’t have the perfect marriage. They currently go to counseling and their counselor suggested that 1 night a year, the couple can swing. They go to a specific event, hosted by the marriage counselor, and the husband and wife have to agree on which couple they are going to swing with. The only rule is that you can’t swing with a couple that you’ve hooked up with before and it can’t be anyone that you know.

Swinging is not the way to go to save your marriage and what kind of marriage counselor even suggests this?? Anyway, The story was a slow build, providing information about Joelle’s marriage and her husband’s past infidelities. He looks forward to these once a year events more than Joelle does but she goes along with it because she thinks it makes their marriage better. [insert eye roll] Once I finished reading this short story, I wanted more. The plot was just really getting good and then, poof, end of story. I enjoyed it. I hated Cameron. Joelle deserves more than her cheating ass husband.

Rating: B

Karma Coated
This story deals with the aftermath of when you find out your best friend and your husband were having an affair. Genesis is sticking by her husband’s side while he’s fighting for his life. Her best friend is gone. Should she give in to her anger?

Karma Coated was the most emotional out of the 5 short stories. Can you put aside the anger and pray for someone that you love survival? I don’t know if I could. As a reader there’s no way that you can feel that what Genesis gave into was a bad thing. Genesis and August were both betrayed by people they love. People that were their friends respectively. I would probably be on some get back my damn self. I would say this was also the least sexiest story as well only due to the subject matter.

Rating – C

Decadent Contradictions
I’m going to start off by saying this was my least favorite. Joi Friday was annoying as hell and I know women like her in real life and I try my best to stay away from them. She walks around as if gold shoots out her p*ssy and is pissed when a man doesn’t pay her any attention. I was not mad with the ending of this story because it’s exactly what she deserves. She wasn’t trying to change. Joi just wanted another come up without having to work for shit.

Rating: D

Delectable No-No
Ayanna has had it with her cheating boyfriend so she decides it’s time to give him a taste of his own medicine. Except she chooses someone who’s little too close to home to exact her revenge. This story was okay. I didn’t like the way Ayanna used this person strictly for revenge. This person was really nice and actually liked Ayanna. To take advantage of that in the name of revenge was kind of cruel. This story is all about cheating but the characters are college-aged so I wouldn’t expect anything different.

Rating: C

Divinely Illicit
This story is about Mello and his introduction to sex thanks to his mom’s BFF, Toni. This was probably the sexiest story out of the bunch. Mello is a playa and put those sex skills to good use. Seems like he be having the girls feigning. What I found cute is that he still has a hard-on for Toni. Toni is older but still sexy and good-looking. And Mello still wants to tap that. I really enjoyed the story and this was another one that I wasn’t ready for it to end. According to the author’s website, Mello’s story may become a full-length novel. Cool.

Rating: B

I enjoyed this anthology. For the stories that I really liked, I felt that they were too short. The anthology is only 115 pages. The first and last short stories I really want made into full-length novels. I especially want to know what happened with Joelle and [redacted}.

Overall rating : C
Profile Image for Salene Whyte (thee_book_connoisseur_).
419 reviews4 followers
January 6, 2023
Spicy

This book has a lot of kick to it. I love all the spice. Tai trifling for sure. I thoroughly enjoyed this. These characters are amazing. This entire book is perfection 🤌🏻🤌🏻
Profile Image for Rhonda.
492 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2020
Forbidden

An enjoyable short of shorts. One of my favs of the shorts was Tasteful Taboo- For One Night Only. Imagine Joelle had been fantasizing about this "Adonis" stranger everyday at the cafe where they both came for coffee, only for them to come face to face with their significant others at a "Black Tie Orgy" and discover that he will do the things her husband won't do? Would love to see what happens beyond that one night for both couples, especially since Jordan, the Adonis, and his wife don't believe in monogamy but Joelle and her husband do believe in monogamy; Jordan has slipped his phone number to Joelle and she eventually dials it.
My other fav short is Divinely Illicit - Her Best Friend Taught Me. Remember Romello from the No Fraternizing series? It was interesting to see where Mello got his sexual prowess - with Toni, his mom's best friend, which began when he was 15. Toni left New York after their last encounter, when Mello was 21, to get married. It will be interesting to see where Mello ends up since he left New York, leaving Lilah well satisfied in the No Fraternizing Series, using those skills he learned from Toni, his mom's best friend.
Profile Image for J..
Author 16 books103 followers
January 23, 2019
1. Tasteful Taboo: One Night Only:
Joelle and Jordan: *fans self while trying to pick myself up off the floor* I was NOT ready for Jordan at all! Man he blew Joelle (as well as mine) mind chile. I need a cold shower now.

2. Karma Coated: Hypocritis Anonymous:
Genesis and August: the level of betrayal! I don't feel bad for either Tai or Jazmine. They were triflin! Here for Gigi and August's happiness.

3. Decadent Contradictions: Sponsor for Hire:
Joi and Malik: I KNOW YOU LYIN! Mannnnnnnnnnn... I have No words lol

4. A Delectable No-No: Brotherly Love:
Ayanna and Dallas: yooooooooo YaYa a straight SAVAGE! She was really on that. Dallas played loyal too long.

5. Divinely Illicit: Her Best Friend Taught Me:
Mello and Toni: Laaaawwwwwdddd Mello ain't play no games lol

I need them all to have their own stories lol
My favorites in order would be: 1. One Night Only 2. Her Best Friend Taught Me 3. Brotherly Love 4. Hypocritis Anonymous 5. Sponsor for Hire
Profile Image for Critiques Corner.
125 reviews12 followers
November 25, 2017
Reviewed by CRABBIE 

Forbidden: An Anthology is a collection of short stories about the trails and tribulations of marriage, love, and dating. Every story was written well and held my interest. The storylines for each story were different and no one story was similar to the next. 'Tasteful Taboo' was my favorite short story out of the five, and left me wanting to find out more. I have not read anything yet from Brookelyn Mosley that has disappointed me and she is now on my list of authors to look out for. 
Profile Image for Tracy - loves to read .
1,014 reviews
June 13, 2022
forbidden but so good!

A delectable no-no was my fav because Karma is a biotch and Dominick had it coming for him x2!
I enjoyed all of the stories even though Joi’s story was a cold piece.
Very well written even though they weren’t that long. I was only left wanting to know what happened afterwards and that is a sign of good writing, keeps us wanting more especially Romello!
Excellent read!
Profile Image for BetweentheCoversLiterary .
1,511 reviews32 followers
January 17, 2019
Great Anthology Book

I loved each and every story all the characters were equally intriguing...I loved Mello’s story the most and can’t wait to read his book and see if he finds his own happy ending..Also I would love to see some of the other characters return and get their updates... Definitely an 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read worth diving into and won’t be disappointed
84 reviews
March 31, 2021
Whew🔥🔥🔥🔥

Kill me for loving all the stories....I hope each couple gets their own story but specifically GiGi and August...that was some messed up BS that their spouses put them through...it would be exciting to view how their families and friends and outsiders view their new connection...these were sexy stories and I’m here 🙋🏽‍♀️for all of them!
883 reviews8 followers
March 22, 2022
Not the usual!

The stories in this anthology were definitely outside the norm and the taboo aspect made them all the more intriguing! And while I didn't necessarily agree with some of the characters decision making, I understood why they made the choices that they ultimately decided on. Can't wait to continue on with the individual stories!
2 reviews
November 7, 2017
Hot hot hot!!!

These stories leave you wanting more. From Gigi and August's sweet story of heartbreak and love to Mello heating up the page! I can't choose a favorite cause they are all so great!!
Profile Image for Fatima Fleming.
21 reviews
November 24, 2017
Delicious

I was intrigued throughout the whole book. I w should love to see all the stories finished but mainly one night only. I liked the vivid description and the way you create space for them to grow into more.
17 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2018
Hot and steamy read

This book was amazing. I was hooked on every single story in the book. I will definitely be reading this author's other books and I really hope that the story "One Night Only" gets its own book
Profile Image for Donna D Smalls.
323 reviews
October 22, 2019
A Delectable No-No

I would for Ayanna & Dallas to have a HEA. Let Dominick Miserable cheating behind watch His brother love and treat Ayanna right. Ohhhh I can't wait this would be juicy.
375 reviews2 followers
July 26, 2021
Great short stories!

Liked them all , the One Night Only story is one that I would like a full story. They were all good and probably could all be entertaining as full stories though!
727 reviews15 followers
April 19, 2022
🔥

Oh my this short sexy stories had me crossing my legs. I mean the lines that were crossed maybe questionable but the heated attraction were not. Im so looking for more. This was my first but definitely not last read by Brookelyn. May i also say each story was well written.
705 reviews3 followers
November 22, 2020
Forbidden

I must say I enjoyed reading all the short stories and would like to hear more from all couples or should I say people involved.
Profile Image for Latrice Levingston.
11 reviews
October 13, 2023
My kind of nasty😏

Love it. Just the right amount of everything. It kept my attention. This was a lunchtime read for the crew.
Profile Image for Geri.
1,203 reviews6 followers
October 17, 2023
Super hot read!

One Night Only was definitely my favorite story in this anthology. It was just something about the fire burning between Joelle and Jordan.
Profile Image for Vonetta Evans.
345 reviews14 followers
April 25, 2024
This was a nice anthology of 5 short stories each filled with forbidden acts. There is an element of cheating in every story and there is no HEA but then again they are not romance books so one shouldn't be expected. Go into this with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. Also, each shorty story has a full length related book so you may want to check out the whole series if you want more😉.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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