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One Week #1
One Week
A new forbidden arrangement standalone novel from Roya Carmen.
A troubled marriage. A one week hall pass.
Gabriella Moore has it all; a beautiful husband, two adorable children, and a dream home. Yet, when, by chance, she befriends Eli online, she falls fast. And hard.
She knows she must let him go, and saying goodbye is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, but she resolves to move on and forget about her beautiful stranger.
But then… she makes an unexpected discovery, and it shakes her perfect world to its core. Rules don’t apply anymore. An arrangement is made, and her husband gives her just one week with Eli.
The rules are One week. Sex only. No contact thereafter. Seems simple enough, but it’s never simple when it comes to love.
Author's contains sexual scenes and some coarse language.
A troubled marriage. A one week hall pass.
Gabriella Moore has it all; a beautiful husband, two adorable children, and a dream home. Yet, when, by chance, she befriends Eli online, she falls fast. And hard.
She knows she must let him go, and saying goodbye is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, but she resolves to move on and forget about her beautiful stranger.
But then… she makes an unexpected discovery, and it shakes her perfect world to its core. Rules don’t apply anymore. An arrangement is made, and her husband gives her just one week with Eli.
The rules are One week. Sex only. No contact thereafter. Seems simple enough, but it’s never simple when it comes to love.
Author's contains sexual scenes and some coarse language.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2018
116 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Roya Carmen
37 books502 followersBusy mom, romance writer, artist & designer, book-aholic, nature lover, and hopeless romantic.
Author of The Ground Rules trilogy, and the Riverstone series.
For all the latest updates, friend me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Twitter: @royacarmen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royacarmen/
Wattpad: @royastories
Author of The Ground Rules trilogy, and the Riverstone series.
For all the latest updates, friend me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Twitter: @royacarmen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royacarmen/
Wattpad: @royastories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 30, 2018
3 stars out of 2,5
Let me begin by saying that this book deals with a topic that is dangerous, taboo & forbidden and therefore, it is not for everyone.
This is not a pure romance book. It is not about an ideal relationship - on the contrary, it is so far from it.
It is about falling out of love and falling in love with someone else while in a committed relationship.
The plot:
Gabrielle is married with children. On the outside, she has everything, a gorgeous and famous husband, two awesome kids, a luxurious life with a big house and a nice car etc. However, lately, she has been feeling alone in her marriage because her husband is constantly on (work-related!!) trips.
Gabrielle quit her job a few years ago to look after her children and now she paints at home and she is successful at her art. She has a few friends but she doesn't have much of a social life.
***
Gabrielle follows some people on instagram whose art she likes. One day, she starts messaging with another artist on instagram, both of them praising each other's work. Gabriellee thinks it is a woman because of the name of the account but then a few days later, she learns it's a man. However, they keep messaging and then, one day they start video chatting. There is no sexting or anything else but they develop a deep connection in a short time as they are kindred souls and they have a lot in common. The more she feels attached to him, the more Gabriella feels guilty and then, one day she believes it is going somewhere dangerous although he lives in another continent so she sends one last message to him, ending the friendship. She gives him the true reasons and he respects her wish and never contacts her again.
***
Then, some time later, a few days before The Valentine's Day, Gabriella learns that her husband has been cheating on her for 5 months. John, her husband, apologizes to her, says he is very sorry and promises it will never happen again but meanwhile, he confesses that it was more than sex with her and she was still under his skin. But he says to Gabrielle that she is still the love of his life and he wants to save the marriage.
***
Gabrielle is devastated and angry but she doesn't want to give up her marriage either as she thinks she owes it to their children etc. She says she will consider staying together in this marriage only if he gives her a week with someone she is attracted to or she will always resent him. He doesn't want to accept it but Gabriella tells her husband all about Eli, how attracted she was to him but she ended the long-distance chatting before it went too far and now she wants to spend a week with him as he already spent 5 months cheating on her. John finally agrees to the idea but they promise each other that after that one week, they will block those people from all their accounts and look to the future, forgetting it all.
Eli, is a good man. He is an emotional artist. He was already hurt by another woman in the past and although he is extremely attracted to Gabrielle, he doesn't want to accept her proposal at first. He thinks this will hurt him because he has feelings for her. However, he later agrees to have whatever he can even though it is only one week with her.
***
Gabrielle spends this one-week Hall Pass with Eli in Copenhagen, where he lives. They click easily and they spend a week in which they fall in love with each other hard. At the end of that one week, Gabrielle goes back to America, where her home and family is and we read about the repercussions of that one week in Copenhagen, the struggle of the couple to still save their marriage etc.
Does she end up with her husband or with her one-week lover?
Well, I will give no spoilers about that but I can say that I am happy about the way it ended and who she ended up with or otherwise, my rating would be 1 star only!
The characters:
I didn't hate the characters but I didn't love them either. They felt kind of flat (one-dimensional). I just couldn't connect with them but if I had to choose, Eli is the best and most innocent of them all...
Why I didn't love the book enough:
I have read many books that deal with taboo subjects or forbidden affairs. Those topics are dangerous and risky to deal with. It requires great effort to make the reader accept that taboo/forbidden affair. We, as readers, need to be able to relate to / connect to the characters with all their flaws so that we can root for their happiness no matter how wrong it seems what they are doing.
I read Ground Rules (Rule Breakers Trilogy) by this very same writer and although it deals with couple swapping, I find all 3 books in the series "legendary".
I read Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, a book about incest, and I rooted for their happiness no matter what because it is one of those books that deals with a taboo topic in the most successful way ever! It makes you feel it and accept it.
***
What I am trying to say is that this is also one of those books that deals with a very delicate issue and a taboo affair, and it needed the same talented writing like the books I mentioned above. Unfortunately, this book didn't feel like that. I couldn't relate to the characters and I couldn't root for their happiness. What I did was just to read and see what happens with an average amount of interest in it. The whole thing felt "meh" to me!
***
Let me clarify: I am NOT against what they did or how they did it. I am not the moral police here or I would never start reading this book in the first place. My "3-star" rating doesn't have anything to do with the moral aspect of the affair. I don't have a problem with it. I just couldn't relate to the characters because of the writing style. Roya Carmen didn't make me feel it this time and I am so sorry about it. I didn't feel their love and passion.
And I believe this is because of the following reasons:
I love Copenhagen, it is one of my favorite cities, too but their one week in Copenhagen felt more like a tour guide around the city than a forbidden sweet affair with a guy you are allowed to spend your time with in your troubled marriage.
I think the writer was trying to make it seem more like an affair based on friendship, common interests and being kindred souls or something like that, trying to make us accept the relationship despite its forbidden aspect.
Big mistake!
Readers who are sensitive about cheating and infidelity in marriage will never read this book, anyway. So the writer should have targeted the readers who would read about it and she should have written it as boldly as she did in Rule Breakers Trilogy.
This was a cowardly way of telling their story, with little or no focus on their physical relationship.
All love-making scenes are summarized in two or three sentences with no detail. It was as if the forbidden part of it or the taboo part of it would be ignored by the readers if she focused more on their time together going around the city, eating, shopping, having fun etc.
Well, because the writer focused on the city tour than their time in bed or in each others' arms, I didn't feel their so-called attraction. Nope, this lots of talk about art and stuff, families and friends etc just bored the hell out of me and also it made it feel like a less passionate and and less necessary affair. I said to myself, "Well, they could have stayed just as friends, there is nothing special about their physical attraction or there is no strong chemistry..."
***
The worst of all, there is no difference between her lovemaking with Eli & the one with the husband. Yeap, the writer makes us read Gabriella have sex with her husband (before & after Eli) and when compared, neither felt more special than the other. Both were boring and short...
All in all, the book lacked passion and in a forbidden-affair book, you need to convey "passion & strong chemistry" to make us see why they cannot resist it. I didn't see why here...
***********************************************
All these are my personal feelings about the book. My disappointment may be because I might have expected more from Roya Carmen as her Rule Breakers Trilogy is and will always be one of my favorite books ever. Or it has nothing to do with it and this book is really a disappointment if you are a reader in search of a taboo-read since the affair is written in a "passionless" way that will disappoint all readers who want to read a forbidden love affair book.
Well, you need to read and decide for yourselves or just trust my judgement :))))))))))
***
Towards the end of the book, I understood why the book focused so much on her friends because there will be a book about her friends soon and this book, despite being a stand-alone, is the first one in the "One Week" series. I myself have no intention of reading the next one as I fear it will feel like this one. Some of my trusted friends must read it first and encourage me to give it a chance for me to change my mind or I will assume it will be similar to this one and pass!
***********************************************
QUOTES FROM THE BOOK
“I don’t love her like I love you,” he explains. “You’re the love of my life, Gabbie. We’ve been together forever. You’re the mother of my children. You’re everything to me. But her…”
“But her, what?!”
“She’s under my skin,” he says. He might as well have reached into my chest cavity, and ripped my heart out. I know exactly what he means… he’s crazy about her. I know because I’ve felt it myself. With Eli.
***
My escape is Eli — he’s the only thing I’m holding on to. He’s my life raft. I’m desperately trying to hold on for the sake of the kids, but betrayal feels almost impossible to survive. Maybe if Eli helps me, I can come out of this alive. My family has always been my first priority, and that hasn’t changed.
***
I read the messages from John, and my stomach drops.
"Please don’t do this. You can’t do this."
I’m suddenly filled with anger - it comes on so fast, it takes me for a loop. How dare he? He’s trying to manipulate me, trying to make me feel guilty. I know this must be hard for him. I know this is crazy. But so was his affair.
"You certainly had no trouble doing it yourself", I reply, and turn off my phone.
***
He’s speechless. He closes his eyes and presses both his hands on the small table separating us. He draws a slow breath and opens his eyes again. His gaze is cold. He’s not the man I know. “You had no right,” he says. “You had no right to do this.” I don’t know what to say. “You had no right to bring me into this, and not even tell me the truth,” he goes on. “Don’t you think I deserve the truth?” Before I have a chance to answer, he barrels on. “If I’d known the full consequences of this week, I would have never agreed. I would never have wanted to say goodbye to you, Gabriella.”
***
“It was never about them. It was always about us.”
Let me begin by saying that this book deals with a topic that is dangerous, taboo & forbidden and therefore, it is not for everyone.
This is not a pure romance book. It is not about an ideal relationship - on the contrary, it is so far from it.
It is about falling out of love and falling in love with someone else while in a committed relationship.
The plot:
Gabrielle is married with children. On the outside, she has everything, a gorgeous and famous husband, two awesome kids, a luxurious life with a big house and a nice car etc. However, lately, she has been feeling alone in her marriage because her husband is constantly on (work-related!!) trips.
Gabrielle quit her job a few years ago to look after her children and now she paints at home and she is successful at her art. She has a few friends but she doesn't have much of a social life.
***
Gabrielle follows some people on instagram whose art she likes. One day, she starts messaging with another artist on instagram, both of them praising each other's work. Gabriellee thinks it is a woman because of the name of the account but then a few days later, she learns it's a man. However, they keep messaging and then, one day they start video chatting. There is no sexting or anything else but they develop a deep connection in a short time as they are kindred souls and they have a lot in common. The more she feels attached to him, the more Gabriella feels guilty and then, one day she believes it is going somewhere dangerous although he lives in another continent so she sends one last message to him, ending the friendship. She gives him the true reasons and he respects her wish and never contacts her again.
***
Then, some time later, a few days before The Valentine's Day, Gabriella learns that her husband has been cheating on her for 5 months. John, her husband, apologizes to her, says he is very sorry and promises it will never happen again but meanwhile, he confesses that it was more than sex with her and she was still under his skin. But he says to Gabrielle that she is still the love of his life and he wants to save the marriage.
***
Gabrielle is devastated and angry but she doesn't want to give up her marriage either as she thinks she owes it to their children etc. She says she will consider staying together in this marriage only if he gives her a week with someone she is attracted to or she will always resent him. He doesn't want to accept it but Gabriella tells her husband all about Eli, how attracted she was to him but she ended the long-distance chatting before it went too far and now she wants to spend a week with him as he already spent 5 months cheating on her. John finally agrees to the idea but they promise each other that after that one week, they will block those people from all their accounts and look to the future, forgetting it all.
Eli, is a good man. He is an emotional artist. He was already hurt by another woman in the past and although he is extremely attracted to Gabrielle, he doesn't want to accept her proposal at first. He thinks this will hurt him because he has feelings for her. However, he later agrees to have whatever he can even though it is only one week with her.
***
Gabrielle spends this one-week Hall Pass with Eli in Copenhagen, where he lives. They click easily and they spend a week in which they fall in love with each other hard. At the end of that one week, Gabrielle goes back to America, where her home and family is and we read about the repercussions of that one week in Copenhagen, the struggle of the couple to still save their marriage etc.
Does she end up with her husband or with her one-week lover?
Well, I will give no spoilers about that but I can say that I am happy about the way it ended and who she ended up with or otherwise, my rating would be 1 star only!
The characters:
I didn't hate the characters but I didn't love them either. They felt kind of flat (one-dimensional). I just couldn't connect with them but if I had to choose, Eli is the best and most innocent of them all...
Why I didn't love the book enough:
I have read many books that deal with taboo subjects or forbidden affairs. Those topics are dangerous and risky to deal with. It requires great effort to make the reader accept that taboo/forbidden affair. We, as readers, need to be able to relate to / connect to the characters with all their flaws so that we can root for their happiness no matter how wrong it seems what they are doing.
I read Ground Rules (Rule Breakers Trilogy) by this very same writer and although it deals with couple swapping, I find all 3 books in the series "legendary".
I read Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, a book about incest, and I rooted for their happiness no matter what because it is one of those books that deals with a taboo topic in the most successful way ever! It makes you feel it and accept it.
***
What I am trying to say is that this is also one of those books that deals with a very delicate issue and a taboo affair, and it needed the same talented writing like the books I mentioned above. Unfortunately, this book didn't feel like that. I couldn't relate to the characters and I couldn't root for their happiness. What I did was just to read and see what happens with an average amount of interest in it. The whole thing felt "meh" to me!
***
Let me clarify: I am NOT against what they did or how they did it. I am not the moral police here or I would never start reading this book in the first place. My "3-star" rating doesn't have anything to do with the moral aspect of the affair. I don't have a problem with it. I just couldn't relate to the characters because of the writing style. Roya Carmen didn't make me feel it this time and I am so sorry about it. I didn't feel their love and passion.
And I believe this is because of the following reasons:
I love Copenhagen, it is one of my favorite cities, too but their one week in Copenhagen felt more like a tour guide around the city than a forbidden sweet affair with a guy you are allowed to spend your time with in your troubled marriage.
I think the writer was trying to make it seem more like an affair based on friendship, common interests and being kindred souls or something like that, trying to make us accept the relationship despite its forbidden aspect.
Big mistake!
Readers who are sensitive about cheating and infidelity in marriage will never read this book, anyway. So the writer should have targeted the readers who would read about it and she should have written it as boldly as she did in Rule Breakers Trilogy.
This was a cowardly way of telling their story, with little or no focus on their physical relationship.
All love-making scenes are summarized in two or three sentences with no detail. It was as if the forbidden part of it or the taboo part of it would be ignored by the readers if she focused more on their time together going around the city, eating, shopping, having fun etc.
Well, because the writer focused on the city tour than their time in bed or in each others' arms, I didn't feel their so-called attraction. Nope, this lots of talk about art and stuff, families and friends etc just bored the hell out of me and also it made it feel like a less passionate and and less necessary affair. I said to myself, "Well, they could have stayed just as friends, there is nothing special about their physical attraction or there is no strong chemistry..."
***
The worst of all, there is no difference between her lovemaking with Eli & the one with the husband. Yeap, the writer makes us read Gabriella have sex with her husband (before & after Eli) and when compared, neither felt more special than the other. Both were boring and short...
All in all, the book lacked passion and in a forbidden-affair book, you need to convey "passion & strong chemistry" to make us see why they cannot resist it. I didn't see why here...
***********************************************
All these are my personal feelings about the book. My disappointment may be because I might have expected more from Roya Carmen as her Rule Breakers Trilogy is and will always be one of my favorite books ever. Or it has nothing to do with it and this book is really a disappointment if you are a reader in search of a taboo-read since the affair is written in a "passionless" way that will disappoint all readers who want to read a forbidden love affair book.
Well, you need to read and decide for yourselves or just trust my judgement :))))))))))
***
Towards the end of the book, I understood why the book focused so much on her friends because there will be a book about her friends soon and this book, despite being a stand-alone, is the first one in the "One Week" series. I myself have no intention of reading the next one as I fear it will feel like this one. Some of my trusted friends must read it first and encourage me to give it a chance for me to change my mind or I will assume it will be similar to this one and pass!
***********************************************
QUOTES FROM THE BOOK
“I don’t love her like I love you,” he explains. “You’re the love of my life, Gabbie. We’ve been together forever. You’re the mother of my children. You’re everything to me. But her…”
“But her, what?!”
“She’s under my skin,” he says. He might as well have reached into my chest cavity, and ripped my heart out. I know exactly what he means… he’s crazy about her. I know because I’ve felt it myself. With Eli.
***
My escape is Eli — he’s the only thing I’m holding on to. He’s my life raft. I’m desperately trying to hold on for the sake of the kids, but betrayal feels almost impossible to survive. Maybe if Eli helps me, I can come out of this alive. My family has always been my first priority, and that hasn’t changed.
***
I read the messages from John, and my stomach drops.
"Please don’t do this. You can’t do this."
I’m suddenly filled with anger - it comes on so fast, it takes me for a loop. How dare he? He’s trying to manipulate me, trying to make me feel guilty. I know this must be hard for him. I know this is crazy. But so was his affair.
"You certainly had no trouble doing it yourself", I reply, and turn off my phone.
***
He’s speechless. He closes his eyes and presses both his hands on the small table separating us. He draws a slow breath and opens his eyes again. His gaze is cold. He’s not the man I know. “You had no right,” he says. “You had no right to do this.” I don’t know what to say. “You had no right to bring me into this, and not even tell me the truth,” he goes on. “Don’t you think I deserve the truth?” Before I have a chance to answer, he barrels on. “If I’d known the full consequences of this week, I would have never agreed. I would never have wanted to say goodbye to you, Gabriella.”
***
“It was never about them. It was always about us.”
June 15, 2018
MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
ONE WEEK: is a full-length standalone, forbidden romance novel, by new to me author ‘Roya Carmen.’
Gabriella Moore aka Gabbie has been happily married to her husband who is a thriving bestseller author, or so it seems, she has two beautiful children she adores wholeheartedly, and a life some could only dream about, it seems like she has it all. She also dabbles in mostly still life portraits where her passion lies..
BUT sometimes she feels trapped behind her white picket fence
It started out innocently enough, a connection made on instagram both like minded artists, liking each others work, and an innocent comment on a painting opened up those waves of communication between the two. Then it became daily conversations, facetime, talking on mobiles, to flirting, to wanting to meet, lines were crossed into taboo territory.
Not sure how to write this review up, but here goes a lot of rambling, some parts gave me all the fuzzy fluffies, others gave me hives, sadly I didn't really connect with Gabbie, I couldn't get my head behind her reasoning of wanting to sleep with Eli, stepping out of her marriage for a week, with a hall pass from her husband, to sleep with another guy whilst her husband and two children were a continent away would make most of us fight for what could be salvaged of the marriage, but that isn't how the story goes.
It just didn't come across as believable, I didn't connect with the story emotionally, I didn't connect with Gabbie, a poor bored little housewife, who had everything from the white picket fence, to stability, to 2 gorgeous children. Her reasoning why she wanted to step out of her marriage for one week and given a hall pass to do so from her husband didn't ring true. Her reasoning was it would fix her marriage, came across tic for tac and the author lost me at that stage.
I love, love triangles, cheating books, but they have to be believable, they have to pull on my heartstrings, they have to get my heart and head at war with each other, sadly this lost the mark with me. So many readers, and bloggers before me LOVED this, but that wee conversation she had with her husband could've been removed from the whole story, and we just see her connecting with Eli then this for me would've been a 5 star read for me. But yet again that's not how this story went.
Most really loved this but I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Maybe I'm overthinking this book and not going with the fact that it's just a fictional story, but that right from wrong screamed at me from the get go.
Give this a chance as I said many have rated this highly, it just didn't work for me, and sadly this type of genre is one of my all time favourites.
Obviously the angst is there, the emotional heart strings were tugged at by Eli, I loved his character, the man in the middle, the man who was free and single to sleep with whomever he wanted to, sadly he wanted to sleep with Gabbie just as much as she wanted to with him, but for him it was so much more than f*cking, and it just took Gabbi a wee bit longer to realise that what they had was more.
June 11, 2018
FIVE AMAZING STARS *****
Wow! It's going to be hard reviewing this book because all I have are positive adjectives to describe this story. One Week is a sexy, exhilarating, all-consuming, raw, romance story. It felt so real, so close to my heart, my skin, my entire being. This book is possibly the best book I’ve read all year. So good!
Gabriella, it seems has the perfect life. A handsome, successful husband, two beautiful children, a gorgeous home, and great friends. It's easy for her to get lost in her everyday life. Her husband travels a lot for work, and she stays inside her million dollar home, caring for her children. Gabriella is an artist, a painter. She’s also passionate about life, and as much as she loves her life and her family, something or someone will come and bring new life, new color into her world.
All it takes is one little incident to put in motion a series of events that will turn her world inside out.
One week away, the opportunity to be someone else, free and careless. Then after the week is over all goes back to normal, or does it?
I’m trying really hard to be vague about what this book is about because I think everyone who reads it, needs to go in blind and with an open mind. This book is about something that is all too real, that happens every day, to many people. Roya Carmen wrote this story in an exquisite way. Delicious Temptation, taboo, and amazing characters that will leave an everlasting impression in your heart. I can’t wait to read more books in this series. Simply fantastic!
Wow! It's going to be hard reviewing this book because all I have are positive adjectives to describe this story. One Week is a sexy, exhilarating, all-consuming, raw, romance story. It felt so real, so close to my heart, my skin, my entire being. This book is possibly the best book I’ve read all year. So good!
Gabriella, it seems has the perfect life. A handsome, successful husband, two beautiful children, a gorgeous home, and great friends. It's easy for her to get lost in her everyday life. Her husband travels a lot for work, and she stays inside her million dollar home, caring for her children. Gabriella is an artist, a painter. She’s also passionate about life, and as much as she loves her life and her family, something or someone will come and bring new life, new color into her world.
All it takes is one little incident to put in motion a series of events that will turn her world inside out.
One week away, the opportunity to be someone else, free and careless. Then after the week is over all goes back to normal, or does it?
I’m trying really hard to be vague about what this book is about because I think everyone who reads it, needs to go in blind and with an open mind. This book is about something that is all too real, that happens every day, to many people. Roya Carmen wrote this story in an exquisite way. Delicious Temptation, taboo, and amazing characters that will leave an everlasting impression in your heart. I can’t wait to read more books in this series. Simply fantastic!
June 28, 2018
Well, well, well. One Week. As soon as I started seeing teasers and heard murmurings about this book I immediately hit the preorder one-click on Amazon...and also clicked it on NetGalley. Lucky me is now the owner of both copies, haha! Thanks NetGalley and my happy one-click preorder finger! I remember sitting at my keyboard when I was writing my reviews for Ms. Carmen's series The Ground Rules. Actually, maybe I can't... because I could barely pry myself away from my kindle long enough to do anything else but read. There's a testament for you... this author is a professional, she stirred enough interest in me that just hearing she was releasing another book was enough to get my business again.
What I can tell you, since you all should know if you follow my reviews, you already know that I don't do spoilers... is that I liked this book. It was a fast paced, easy read. It flowed well, the writing itself was stellar. Reading the blurb, I was snagged as soon as my eyes latched onto the words forbidden... troubled marriage.... hall pass. Eeep, check, check, check... It was obviously catnip for me, I live to read books like this, but this read almost like a lighter version of The Ground Rules for me... like a lighter, less angsty version... almost a fade to black during the sexy times adaptation. Not really, I mean, Ms. Carmen does go there... boy does she go there... humina humina... but, it just didn't click all of the boxes for me. The pacing seemed a bit off and it was a little predictable for me. Obviously, this is just one reader's opinion, and like I stated I did like it and the writing was just so smooth, flawless, really. 4 stars.
What I can tell you, since you all should know if you follow my reviews, you already know that I don't do spoilers... is that I liked this book. It was a fast paced, easy read. It flowed well, the writing itself was stellar. Reading the blurb, I was snagged as soon as my eyes latched onto the words forbidden... troubled marriage.... hall pass. Eeep, check, check, check... It was obviously catnip for me, I live to read books like this, but this read almost like a lighter version of The Ground Rules for me... like a lighter, less angsty version... almost a fade to black during the sexy times adaptation. Not really, I mean, Ms. Carmen does go there... boy does she go there... humina humina... but, it just didn't click all of the boxes for me. The pacing seemed a bit off and it was a little predictable for me. Obviously, this is just one reader's opinion, and like I stated I did like it and the writing was just so smooth, flawless, really. 4 stars.
June 6, 2018
Favorite in trope
Favorite of the year
Endless stars
One Week by Author Roya Carmen is a contemporary romance, love affair novel.
“Life goes on, no matter how you feel inside. You put on a brave face for those around you.”
Gabbie married her husband, had two beautiful children she adored, and a life most would call a dream. For her it wasn’t. For her, it became a numb routine she followed day after day. However, hidden in that path to nowhere was a man, Eli, and he made her world come to life.
“...that’s the exact moment I turn down that forbidden road, the one with all the warning signs I refuse to pay attention to. I’m speeding along, to god knows where.”
Some people in life are just meant to be. Right or wrong. It is. They are. I knew. I felt this deep in my bones. I cried because of it. Fat, ugly tears ran down my face and a wound opened in my heart. But, I felt their truth. I felt their need for each other. Their desperation to be seen in each other’s eyes.
“I wonder if we were meant to meet, if Eli and I are more than chance, if we are destiny.”
Gabbie was so many women we know. She wore the “mom” cap, the “wife” cap, the “best friend” cap, but had no cap of her own that truly defined her. Her loneliness was one I could reach out and touch, like a well-defined object with corners and angles. In spite of this, I loved that she was a fabulous mom and wife, and knew when to draw the line. The enigmatic Eli definitely caught my attention. He was a healing salve, a fresh wind after too long in the heat. I adored this man. And his description, wow! Not only was he the most kind and caring soul, he was the pure definition of sexy.
“She’s under my skin.”
Some words are game-changers. This sentence was it for me. It made me have the longest pause.....beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Everything shifted after this. The anger. The sadness. The incredulity. It flooded in and my emotions flew to another planet. The story took on a new rhythm, one that was not easily defined or always apparent to comprehend. I was lost to the tornado of emotions, tangled up in knots, having no idea how the torrent would calm, but knowing a change was necessary.
“You were not just a distraction,” I tell him. “You were everything.”
One Week was so much more than an affair. It was an awakening in the universe, coming alive with the knowledge that life is for living and loving, not just existing . I didn’t want this story to end. It is one of my favorite novels in this trope and one of my favorite reads of the year. If you are not a fan of love affairs, don’t let that detour you from this novel. Inside you will find a profound and beautiful love that is absolute perfection, with an ending that will make your heart burst wide open with pure joy.
Favorite of the year
Endless stars
One Week by Author Roya Carmen is a contemporary romance, love affair novel.
“Life goes on, no matter how you feel inside. You put on a brave face for those around you.”
Gabbie married her husband, had two beautiful children she adored, and a life most would call a dream. For her it wasn’t. For her, it became a numb routine she followed day after day. However, hidden in that path to nowhere was a man, Eli, and he made her world come to life.
“...that’s the exact moment I turn down that forbidden road, the one with all the warning signs I refuse to pay attention to. I’m speeding along, to god knows where.”
Some people in life are just meant to be. Right or wrong. It is. They are. I knew. I felt this deep in my bones. I cried because of it. Fat, ugly tears ran down my face and a wound opened in my heart. But, I felt their truth. I felt their need for each other. Their desperation to be seen in each other’s eyes.
“I wonder if we were meant to meet, if Eli and I are more than chance, if we are destiny.”
Gabbie was so many women we know. She wore the “mom” cap, the “wife” cap, the “best friend” cap, but had no cap of her own that truly defined her. Her loneliness was one I could reach out and touch, like a well-defined object with corners and angles. In spite of this, I loved that she was a fabulous mom and wife, and knew when to draw the line. The enigmatic Eli definitely caught my attention. He was a healing salve, a fresh wind after too long in the heat. I adored this man. And his description, wow! Not only was he the most kind and caring soul, he was the pure definition of sexy.
“She’s under my skin.”
Some words are game-changers. This sentence was it for me. It made me have the longest pause.....beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. Everything shifted after this. The anger. The sadness. The incredulity. It flooded in and my emotions flew to another planet. The story took on a new rhythm, one that was not easily defined or always apparent to comprehend. I was lost to the tornado of emotions, tangled up in knots, having no idea how the torrent would calm, but knowing a change was necessary.
“You were not just a distraction,” I tell him. “You were everything.”
One Week was so much more than an affair. It was an awakening in the universe, coming alive with the knowledge that life is for living and loving, not just existing . I didn’t want this story to end. It is one of my favorite novels in this trope and one of my favorite reads of the year. If you are not a fan of love affairs, don’t let that detour you from this novel. Inside you will find a profound and beautiful love that is absolute perfection, with an ending that will make your heart burst wide open with pure joy.
June 20, 2018
Here's the thing with Roya Carmen - none of her books are remotely alike, no matter if they belong to the same series or not. The first time i read one of her books was her Rule Breakers series and it was fascinating. I mean, i rarely meet an author that will tackle the subject of swingers and how their relationship works for them. From there, my like for this author has increased tenfold. Then Roya Carmen delivers One Week.
There will be readers who will have a problem with this book. Why? Because here we have a married woman who starts speaking with a man halfway across the world and she fantasizes about him. After a while, when things get too personal, she makes the decision to not speak to this man. That is, until she finds out about her husband's affair with another author and she makes the decision that if he can spend 5 months with another woman, she can spend a week with another man, and then maybe, their marriage can heal and move on. That's where many will have a problem. Personally, i had no such qualms.
This woman is relatable. She's a stay at home mom and her husband, while he's not actively disrespecting her or makes excuses not to be with the family, forgets the small things and makes her feel alone. I get that. I get the pain, and sorrow and the decisions to quit working and spend more time with the children. I connected with Gabriella in more ways than one. This was an emotional book. It was an eye opening story that makes you realize that things can break long before the crack swallows you whole. It's also about making decisions that are for your best interest and that of your family.
This author delivers this story with beauty and passion and with dignity - affairs can be messy, and they can be judgemental. But the way this story was written makes you realize that not everything is black and white and that there are some gray areas that you need to pay more attention to before you can judge. I commend Roya Carmen for how and what she wrote and i truly look forward to reading more from her in the future.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books
Contact Us Today: smallgirlandherbooks@gmail.com
June 29, 2018
3.5 stars
Sometimes I like the idea of a twisted married couples, three-in-the-marriage kind of book and when I do, Roya Carmen is one of the authors that springs to mind. ONE WEEK did have a familiarity in terms of reminiscence of The Ground Rules, but there were differences.
Gabriella starts an online connection with another artist on Instagram and feelings connect. Gabi is married to a very selfish man, John. I couldn’t stand John, his self-centredness, arrogance and I wasn’t surprised by the revealing of his character. Eli, the artist on Instagram was a nice guy, but I couldn’t fathom his pursuit of Gabi, knowing her circumstances. Gabi was a bit insipid for my taste.
The story is fairly absorbing, a twisted ride of betrayal but I did have problems connecting to any of the main charcters. I’m not sure what I wanted from the culmination of the story but I felt conflicted and I also found the ending abrupt.
Roya Carmen sure knows how to twist you up into a knot, question your own personal ethics and cause wringing of hands. This is a fairly angsty tale. I know what I’m getting when I read her books and no doubt I’ll be back for more.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
Sometimes I like the idea of a twisted married couples, three-in-the-marriage kind of book and when I do, Roya Carmen is one of the authors that springs to mind. ONE WEEK did have a familiarity in terms of reminiscence of The Ground Rules, but there were differences.
Gabriella starts an online connection with another artist on Instagram and feelings connect. Gabi is married to a very selfish man, John. I couldn’t stand John, his self-centredness, arrogance and I wasn’t surprised by the revealing of his character. Eli, the artist on Instagram was a nice guy, but I couldn’t fathom his pursuit of Gabi, knowing her circumstances. Gabi was a bit insipid for my taste.
The story is fairly absorbing, a twisted ride of betrayal but I did have problems connecting to any of the main charcters. I’m not sure what I wanted from the culmination of the story but I felt conflicted and I also found the ending abrupt.
Roya Carmen sure knows how to twist you up into a knot, question your own personal ethics and cause wringing of hands. This is a fairly angsty tale. I know what I’m getting when I read her books and no doubt I’ll be back for more.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
June 26, 2018
I had some mixed feelings while reading this book. Absolutely loved Eli, and I thought Gabriella was so very selfish in how she handled things. So let's get to it. Gabriella is married to John. Their marriage is fine, if a bit lonely, stale and lackluster. But they love each other. Because she is lonely, Gabriella finds herself with a bit of a crush with artist, Eli, who she meets via the Interwebs. He is an artist that lives on the other side of the world. They have a lot in common, and their friendship turns to a bit more, and Gabby feels guilt and realizes that she is cheating emotionally, so she breaks things off. Then, she finds out her husband is having an affair. She demands a one week hall pass from her husband - and that's where it went a bit off the rails for me. Commence the eye rolling, because I'm not sure how she things a one week chance to indulge her "no strings attached sexcapade" with Eli is going to save her marriage, but it's what she opts for and her husband allows. And I'll leave it there.
April 8, 2019
Seriously? A married couple both dishonest, although one much more than the other. Should have realised they were in a rut, tried a holiday or some counselling to see if there was anything to save, and if not divorce and move on. But no they both cheat, and realise the hard way they should break up, but don’t worry it’s all very friendly! Ha as if! Waste of time.
Want to read
October 12, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (10/12/18)!💝
Blurb:
A troubled marriage. A one week hall pass.
Gabriella Moore has it all; a beautiful husband, two adorable children, and a dream home. Yet, when, by chance, she befriends Eli online, she falls fast. And hard.
She knows she must let him go, and saying goodbye is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, but she resolves to move on and forget about her beautiful stranger.
But then… she makes an unexpected discovery, and it shakes her perfect world to its core. Rules don’t apply anymore. An arrangement is made, and her husband gives her just one week with Eli.
The rules are clear: One week. Sex only. No contact thereafter. Seems simple enough, but it’s never simple when it comes to love.
Blurb:
A troubled marriage. A one week hall pass.
Gabriella Moore has it all; a beautiful husband, two adorable children, and a dream home. Yet, when, by chance, she befriends Eli online, she falls fast. And hard.
She knows she must let him go, and saying goodbye is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, but she resolves to move on and forget about her beautiful stranger.
But then… she makes an unexpected discovery, and it shakes her perfect world to its core. Rules don’t apply anymore. An arrangement is made, and her husband gives her just one week with Eli.
The rules are clear: One week. Sex only. No contact thereafter. Seems simple enough, but it’s never simple when it comes to love.
June 18, 2018
3-3.5 stars
I loved The Ground Rules trilogy overall so I was excited to read this new book that sounded angsty and taboo. While there were some things I really liked (hello, Eli!) there were others that made me cringe (ugh, Gabriella.)
I had a lot of difficulty connecting with the main character, Gabriella. On one hand I understood where she was coming from...seemingly perfect life with a great house, husband, and kids, but yet seems lonely and empty. I think she had lost herself a long the way; lost her sense of importance and purpose. Enter Eli...the IG artist she's stalking, who she initially thinks is female, but quickly realizes is not. Their online relationship seems innocent until it isn't. This is where I started to lose respect for Gabriella...she's flirting with danger but then she reels it in, realizes what she's doing is wrong and walks away...sort of. She physically ends it but mentally and emotionally it already seems too late.
Then the proverbial "poo-poo" really hits the fan and the story gets interesting but also really hurtful in my opinion. As part of a revenge plot or a "you had your fun now I'm gonna have mine" she gets her husband to agree to let her spend one week with Eli in Copenhagen at his home to get it out of her system, promising she'll be 100% committed to working on her marriage afterward and severing all contact with Eli at the end of the week. There are so many glaring things wrong with this starting with, hello, Eli??? He's a person with feelings, not some play toy! I hate this selfish side of her that comes out all of a sudden and I get it, I do, but wow, it's so unrealistic to think this is going to work. Thankfully after some soul searching Gabriella and her husband make the most mature decision in the book and she gained a few points with me for her honesty, but by then I was already pretty disgusted with her, lol. I did enjoy the ending, but man, the middle was rough to get through because I just wanted to slap her around. I am curious about Maeve's story so will look forward to the next standalone in this series.
I loved The Ground Rules trilogy overall so I was excited to read this new book that sounded angsty and taboo. While there were some things I really liked (hello, Eli!) there were others that made me cringe (ugh, Gabriella.)
I had a lot of difficulty connecting with the main character, Gabriella. On one hand I understood where she was coming from...seemingly perfect life with a great house, husband, and kids, but yet seems lonely and empty. I think she had lost herself a long the way; lost her sense of importance and purpose. Enter Eli...the IG artist she's stalking, who she initially thinks is female, but quickly realizes is not. Their online relationship seems innocent until it isn't. This is where I started to lose respect for Gabriella...she's flirting with danger but then she reels it in, realizes what she's doing is wrong and walks away...sort of. She physically ends it but mentally and emotionally it already seems too late.
Then the proverbial "poo-poo" really hits the fan and the story gets interesting but also really hurtful in my opinion. As part of a revenge plot or a "you had your fun now I'm gonna have mine" she gets her husband to agree to let her spend one week with Eli in Copenhagen at his home to get it out of her system, promising she'll be 100% committed to working on her marriage afterward and severing all contact with Eli at the end of the week. There are so many glaring things wrong with this starting with, hello, Eli??? He's a person with feelings, not some play toy! I hate this selfish side of her that comes out all of a sudden and I get it, I do, but wow, it's so unrealistic to think this is going to work. Thankfully after some soul searching Gabriella and her husband make the most mature decision in the book and she gained a few points with me for her honesty, but by then I was already pretty disgusted with her, lol. I did enjoy the ending, but man, the middle was rough to get through because I just wanted to slap her around. I am curious about Maeve's story so will look forward to the next standalone in this series.
June 5, 2018
All the stars! How intense and emotionally heartbreaking. I could feel every single crack in Gabriella's heart...not to mention Eli's. This was just raw, gritty and the realness of life and marriage and how some grow closer and mature and some drift apart. I actually cried reading some parts of their story because sometimes it's not about what's fair or what's smart and that just sucks. John, Gabriella and Eli pulled me into their lives and I could not put this story down. I read and read and devoured every emotion, every passionate display and every single tear. This series is going to epic. I can just tell.
June 22, 2018
2.5* Well, I hate when I don't quite get the connection to the MC's. The idea of the story had me excited and anxious however, for me, I didn't feel the angst with the whole situation. And I think that is what engages me in this type of story.
October 23, 2019
Just wanted to say one thing....to everyone who is worried that the hero is a disgusting cheater, I just want to clarify that this is not true
June 28, 2018
One Week by Roya Carmen
3.5 stars!!!
This author always crosses lines, so going into this one I knew there would be cheating of some sort, whether it be complicit or not, and as ever, Roya Carmen didn’t disappoint. Cheating does not bother me at all, I’m not fazed by it in books, unfortunately it is a part of life for some and I love a real romance. Real relationships with real issues and Roya Carmen certainly puts her own spin on this one.
Some parts of this book I loved, it was ticking every box. I had the warm and fuzzies at times and in others blasts of hot anger, but this is nothing new with a Roya Carmen read. Any emotion evoked from a reader is a good one and means that the author has done her job and done it well. The emotional side was definitely on point, the moral side…questionable. The one-week hall pass was my biggest peeve in this book, it was the way it was manipulated, used as a weapon and only caused more misery. I felt the torment and the agony and whether the person deserved it or not, the method of revenge could have been done with a lot more grace and finesse. However, it did make for entertaining reading.
Both the husband and wife in this relationship make ridiculous choices when the foundation to their marriage has already been knocked a few times with a ten-tonne wrecking ball. A tenuous connection to each other is effectively destroyed by the end and only showed the fragility of their marriage in the first place.
However, this was a book I couldn’t put down, certain parts didn’t flow as well as others hence the 3.5 stars, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I lapped up the angst, the chemistry and the wrong choices and while I was screaming at my kindle at times, I knew it would be worth it in the end. I loved the setting of Copenhagen for some of this book and after reading this, is a place I would love to visit.
www.theromancecover.com
3.5 stars!!!
“One week is not enough.”
This author always crosses lines, so going into this one I knew there would be cheating of some sort, whether it be complicit or not, and as ever, Roya Carmen didn’t disappoint. Cheating does not bother me at all, I’m not fazed by it in books, unfortunately it is a part of life for some and I love a real romance. Real relationships with real issues and Roya Carmen certainly puts her own spin on this one.
“The only flawed part of a perfect moment is its ending.”
Some parts of this book I loved, it was ticking every box. I had the warm and fuzzies at times and in others blasts of hot anger, but this is nothing new with a Roya Carmen read. Any emotion evoked from a reader is a good one and means that the author has done her job and done it well. The emotional side was definitely on point, the moral side…questionable. The one-week hall pass was my biggest peeve in this book, it was the way it was manipulated, used as a weapon and only caused more misery. I felt the torment and the agony and whether the person deserved it or not, the method of revenge could have been done with a lot more grace and finesse. However, it did make for entertaining reading.
“I’ve only ever loved two women in my life. The first one broke my heart, but the second one mended it, made me feel like I could put myself out there again, made me think that I could give myself to someone else again… And then she destroyed me too. She was even crueler than the first.”
Both the husband and wife in this relationship make ridiculous choices when the foundation to their marriage has already been knocked a few times with a ten-tonne wrecking ball. A tenuous connection to each other is effectively destroyed by the end and only showed the fragility of their marriage in the first place.
“In a perfect world, I’d never have to say goodbye…”
However, this was a book I couldn’t put down, certain parts didn’t flow as well as others hence the 3.5 stars, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I lapped up the angst, the chemistry and the wrong choices and while I was screaming at my kindle at times, I knew it would be worth it in the end. I loved the setting of Copenhagen for some of this book and after reading this, is a place I would love to visit.
“A real man with a heart of gold.”
www.theromancecover.com
June 13, 2018
I’ll admit I was hesitant going into this read. I’ve not let myself Roya Carmen Ground Rules series for fear I’d throw my kindle against the wall. But after reading One Week, I may think I've steeled myself for it. I'm not a stranger to HIGH ANGST, but there was something making me anxious – good and bad anxiety that is. I've read another book by RC and I liked the story I simply never warmed up to the heroine Loving Amber. With One Week, I had a mixed reaction.
The situation is bad for sure, the blurb hinting at a “big event” that will change the course of a marriage. I love that the story shows us that everyone has flaws, and that self-preservation motivates us through some of the larger life issues. You know, the top ones that cause the most stress, marriage, children, divorce, etc….good or bad. Gabbie’s and John’s marriage is facing one of these moments – the make or break kind, and when Gabbie proposes a way to propel them towards reconciliation, the writing is on the wall.
I had a few problems with Gabbie and her reasoning skills. Gabbie is hurt, angry and bitter. I get that but I wasn’t her biggest fan in the first read through. I didn’t want to not like her so I tried again. I understand the circumstances, but she didn’t endear herself to me with her treatment of Eli. She inserts herself into his life expecting he’s good to be part of her plan to save her marriage. She wants one week to be with him and all the while she's thinking "this will save my marriage" - “I'll go back to my husband and all with be even”. But “even” does not make for well, for a good marriage. And while Eli "accepts the terms" she never really considers his feelings and she doesn’t seem to consider either one of them would ever feel more for each other. Huh? Even with the history they have, the connection through Instagram, the flirting, etc? She just doesn’t handle things well, returning home and resuming life with John and her kids and dreaming of another entirely different life.
My problem with Gabbie’s treatment of Eli aside, this is a sexy story. Their chemistry is pretty off the charts and they have much more in common with each other than Gabbie and John. One Week solidifies Roya Carmens’ ability to write a forbidden love story and appreciate that she doesn’t shy away from all the icky feelings that go with it. The conflict of wanting to see a character happy but not necessarily onboard with all that they do. Hmmm, just like real life.
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The situation is bad for sure, the blurb hinting at a “big event” that will change the course of a marriage. I love that the story shows us that everyone has flaws, and that self-preservation motivates us through some of the larger life issues. You know, the top ones that cause the most stress, marriage, children, divorce, etc….good or bad. Gabbie’s and John’s marriage is facing one of these moments – the make or break kind, and when Gabbie proposes a way to propel them towards reconciliation, the writing is on the wall.
I had a few problems with Gabbie and her reasoning skills. Gabbie is hurt, angry and bitter. I get that but I wasn’t her biggest fan in the first read through. I didn’t want to not like her so I tried again. I understand the circumstances, but she didn’t endear herself to me with her treatment of Eli. She inserts herself into his life expecting he’s good to be part of her plan to save her marriage. She wants one week to be with him and all the while she's thinking "this will save my marriage" - “I'll go back to my husband and all with be even”. But “even” does not make for well, for a good marriage. And while Eli "accepts the terms" she never really considers his feelings and she doesn’t seem to consider either one of them would ever feel more for each other. Huh? Even with the history they have, the connection through Instagram, the flirting, etc? She just doesn’t handle things well, returning home and resuming life with John and her kids and dreaming of another entirely different life.
My problem with Gabbie’s treatment of Eli aside, this is a sexy story. Their chemistry is pretty off the charts and they have much more in common with each other than Gabbie and John. One Week solidifies Roya Carmens’ ability to write a forbidden love story and appreciate that she doesn’t shy away from all the icky feelings that go with it. The conflict of wanting to see a character happy but not necessarily onboard with all that they do. Hmmm, just like real life.
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
June 24, 2018
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars! Forbidden romance. Was just meh for me.
Want to read
June 3, 2018
June 29, 2018
*** caution: mild spoilers! ***
This new book by Roya Carmen was so very realistic. November of last year, one of my best friends discovered her husband had an affair and the aftermath was a little like RC described it in "One week". Sure, the whole situation with the "hall pass" was a little weird but stranger things have happened...
However, the author's writing and her characters seemed a little too neutral here. I've read better, "The ground rules series" by her was much more intense somehow. I'd say that "One week" is the 'light' version of TGR-series.
Plus, I'd have loved to see a little more of an epilogue further into the future. I understand that this was just the beginning of a new series of standalone novels and we'll probably see more about Gabby and Eli in the future. But this was the couple's story and I needed more. The ending was too abrupt.
All in all, I enjoyed the unique feel to the book and the author's vivid descriptions of Copenhagen. But I've had my issues, too. So my rating is somewhere between 3,5 to 4 stars. I'll go with 4 in this scale, to be fair.
I'll definitely read the next book and I can recommend Roya Carmen.
This new book by Roya Carmen was so very realistic. November of last year, one of my best friends discovered her husband had an affair and the aftermath was a little like RC described it in "One week". Sure, the whole situation with the "hall pass" was a little weird but stranger things have happened...
However, the author's writing and her characters seemed a little too neutral here. I've read better, "The ground rules series" by her was much more intense somehow. I'd say that "One week" is the 'light' version of TGR-series.
Plus, I'd have loved to see a little more of an epilogue further into the future. I understand that this was just the beginning of a new series of standalone novels and we'll probably see more about Gabby and Eli in the future. But this was the couple's story and I needed more. The ending was too abrupt.
All in all, I enjoyed the unique feel to the book and the author's vivid descriptions of Copenhagen. But I've had my issues, too. So my rating is somewhere between 3,5 to 4 stars. I'll go with 4 in this scale, to be fair.
I'll definitely read the next book and I can recommend Roya Carmen.
June 24, 2018
I was totally glued to this book from beginning to end. I could not stop reading it. I was anxious and just wanted to get to the bottom of everything. Love it!
June 28, 2018
4.5 Little Mermaid Stars
I’m really not all that surprised, that I couldn’t put this book down; it’s different than most books I read. This book will not be for everybody. It’s what I would consider taboo/forbidden. However, if you’ve been married for a good number of years, you may just identify to the visceral, and the very human aspects of this story. I won’t re-summarize the blurb, or give any additional details away.
I’d have rated this a bit higher, but the ending could have been better, in my opinion. The next book in this series overshadowed it, a bit. Otherwise, it was a great read for me. SO glad Gabriella, went for the best man in the end!
I’m really not all that surprised, that I couldn’t put this book down; it’s different than most books I read. This book will not be for everybody. It’s what I would consider taboo/forbidden. However, if you’ve been married for a good number of years, you may just identify to the visceral, and the very human aspects of this story. I won’t re-summarize the blurb, or give any additional details away.
I’d have rated this a bit higher, but the ending could have been better, in my opinion. The next book in this series overshadowed it, a bit. Otherwise, it was a great read for me. SO glad Gabriella, went for the best man in the end!
June 9, 2018
One Week by Roya Carmen is a full length, standalone, forbidden romance novel.
Gabriella Moore lives the dream life, it seems. She´s happily married with two kids, she has a dream home and her husband is more than successful. When she discovers his secret everything crumbles down around her. To get even with him she wants a hall pass for one week and leavesn to be with Eli.
Eli is a artist, lives in Europe and has a crush on her. What both didn´t expected is, they fell in love with each other. But Gabrielloa´s life is somewhere else with someone else.
Back at home, nothing is right anymore and Gabriella and John have to make decisions.
One Week is a gripping, emotional read. I was hooked from the start and couldn´t put the book down.
One Week is well written and the story is unique. I give 4,5 stars.
Gabriella Moore lives the dream life, it seems. She´s happily married with two kids, she has a dream home and her husband is more than successful. When she discovers his secret everything crumbles down around her. To get even with him she wants a hall pass for one week and leavesn to be with Eli.
Eli is a artist, lives in Europe and has a crush on her. What both didn´t expected is, they fell in love with each other. But Gabrielloa´s life is somewhere else with someone else.
Back at home, nothing is right anymore and Gabriella and John have to make decisions.
One Week is a gripping, emotional read. I was hooked from the start and couldn´t put the book down.
One Week is well written and the story is unique. I give 4,5 stars.
April 3, 2022
*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*
*DNF*
1 Kiss
Ugggghhhhh…I know I say this every time but writing these kind of reviews is seriously the worst! I hate it…loathe it – and it never gets any easier. I always go into every book wishing and hoping for the best and One Week by Roya Carmen was no exception. I loooooove me a good taboo book and from the sounds of One Week, it sounded like my taboo dream come true – plus that cover! I was so ready to be sucked into this world with Gabbie and Eli. Sadly…the delivery was less than I had hoped for.
My first issue – and the number one reason why I DNF books was the absolute lack of emotional connection. In fact it was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for me because I did push through a lot of the other issues…including ignoring other instances where I was noticing a lack of the emotion…but when Gabbie and her husband were having this huge pivotal conversation that leads to the whole premise and reason for the book…and I was shaking my head because they were at a level 2 or 3 and I needed an eleventy billion. I was so disappointed because if there is ever an opportunity to take it to the max, that scene is the top 2 or 3 options and there was hardly anything – I wanted to see the passion, the anguish, the sadness, the hurt – give me all of it! That wasn’t the first time I was missing it but it was definitely the last.
Another issue I had was with the characters – they were completely flat and one-dimensional. This kind of plays into the emotional aspect as well because for me it all goes hand in hand but I mean I felt like Gabbie was so completely superficial. She had more to think/say about her best friends then she did about herself – it was like every time the girls got together she had more and more to say about them but when it came to Gabbie I knew the basics but very little about her. I needed so much more from her especially because we are in her POV the whole time.
There were a lot of other issues that were starting to mount up – the fact that I really didn’t feel like we got the chance to enjoy Eli and Gabbie’s friendship. Yes, there were a few chats that we saw and then we’re told about the rest but that wasn’t enough for me to establish any kind of connection with them – it was a good start, but there needed to be more…especially if she was going to fly to another country to be with him for a week. I had a lot of issues with the flow…aside from the chapters being broken up in a very odd and inexplicable way, there were quite a few times when I was unsure how much time had passed between occurrences – it wasn’t very well stated and it made for a very confusing and jumpy read.
I’m really sad too because out of all of the characters…I truly did like Eli and was excited to get more from him but given that I was almost at 50% of the book and I really had no connection or desire to see it through, I had to stop. It was getting to that point where I nit-pit and find all the little things that annoy me like repetitiveness (which there was quite a bit). I was getting to the point where reading felt forced and I really didn’t want to get to the point where I absolutely hated it, so I decided to stop. I’m very sad because I will always wonder what could have been with Eli and I will miss the opportunity to get to know him more.
*DNF*
1 Kiss
Ugggghhhhh…I know I say this every time but writing these kind of reviews is seriously the worst! I hate it…loathe it – and it never gets any easier. I always go into every book wishing and hoping for the best and One Week by Roya Carmen was no exception. I loooooove me a good taboo book and from the sounds of One Week, it sounded like my taboo dream come true – plus that cover! I was so ready to be sucked into this world with Gabbie and Eli. Sadly…the delivery was less than I had hoped for.
My first issue – and the number one reason why I DNF books was the absolute lack of emotional connection. In fact it was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for me because I did push through a lot of the other issues…including ignoring other instances where I was noticing a lack of the emotion…but when Gabbie and her husband were having this huge pivotal conversation that leads to the whole premise and reason for the book…and I was shaking my head because they were at a level 2 or 3 and I needed an eleventy billion. I was so disappointed because if there is ever an opportunity to take it to the max, that scene is the top 2 or 3 options and there was hardly anything – I wanted to see the passion, the anguish, the sadness, the hurt – give me all of it! That wasn’t the first time I was missing it but it was definitely the last.
Another issue I had was with the characters – they were completely flat and one-dimensional. This kind of plays into the emotional aspect as well because for me it all goes hand in hand but I mean I felt like Gabbie was so completely superficial. She had more to think/say about her best friends then she did about herself – it was like every time the girls got together she had more and more to say about them but when it came to Gabbie I knew the basics but very little about her. I needed so much more from her especially because we are in her POV the whole time.
There were a lot of other issues that were starting to mount up – the fact that I really didn’t feel like we got the chance to enjoy Eli and Gabbie’s friendship. Yes, there were a few chats that we saw and then we’re told about the rest but that wasn’t enough for me to establish any kind of connection with them – it was a good start, but there needed to be more…especially if she was going to fly to another country to be with him for a week. I had a lot of issues with the flow…aside from the chapters being broken up in a very odd and inexplicable way, there were quite a few times when I was unsure how much time had passed between occurrences – it wasn’t very well stated and it made for a very confusing and jumpy read.
I’m really sad too because out of all of the characters…I truly did like Eli and was excited to get more from him but given that I was almost at 50% of the book and I really had no connection or desire to see it through, I had to stop. It was getting to that point where I nit-pit and find all the little things that annoy me like repetitiveness (which there was quite a bit). I was getting to the point where reading felt forced and I really didn’t want to get to the point where I absolutely hated it, so I decided to stop. I’m very sad because I will always wonder what could have been with Eli and I will miss the opportunity to get to know him more.
October 24, 2018
Gabriella has the life, most would dream of. She is happily married, has two beautiful children and spends her days living the life of luxury. Appearances are often deceiving though, and despite how it looks to the outside world, her marriage is in trouble and she is discontent with her life and sometimes feels trapped. The only thing she is truly passionate about is her art that she dabbles in. Her artistic passion leads her to a chance encounter on Instagram with Eli takes her life in an unexpected direction. The more they talk online, the more she wishes for things she does not have and is tempted to break the vows she holds dearly. When she is given the chance to have a one week hall pass, she jumps at the chance. It seems simple enough. One week, only sex, no emotions and no contact afterwards. It gives Gabbie a chance to live out a fantasy and have some adventure. The weeks, however changes her in ways she did not expect and forces her to reevaluate her life and decide if she is content to keep going through the motions of a life she should adore, but does not.
I was really excited for this story. No one does complicated forbidden love triangles/cheating/unique relationships quite like Roya Carmen. This had the same kind of magic I was expected after reading the Ground Rules Trilogy. If you enjoy a complicated romance with cheating and/or love triangles this will be an interesting and fulfilling read. Like is usually the case with Roya Carmen books, I highly recommend One Week.
I was really excited for this story. No one does complicated forbidden love triangles/cheating/unique relationships quite like Roya Carmen. This had the same kind of magic I was expected after reading the Ground Rules Trilogy. If you enjoy a complicated romance with cheating and/or love triangles this will be an interesting and fulfilling read. Like is usually the case with Roya Carmen books, I highly recommend One Week.
November 28, 2018
I love this author and I knew that when I started this she had gone down a path I didn't like.
Roya Carmen's One Week explores the problems within a marriage and of course the need to have "betrayal/cheating" aspect. So in I went and boy I did not like it (there's a surprise)
As a reader I didn't like the choices that the male and female character made in this story and I honestly didn't think their marriage was strong enough to survive. One Week brought torment, agony, and the breakdown of a marriage right to the forefront of how shambolic their relationship really was.
I was shocked at some of the choices made by the characters in this book and the consequences these choices brought. So this was a nope from me and one I should have left alone but the temptation was just too strong.
Not a comfortable read.
Roya Carmen's One Week explores the problems within a marriage and of course the need to have "betrayal/cheating" aspect. So in I went and boy I did not like it (there's a surprise)
As a reader I didn't like the choices that the male and female character made in this story and I honestly didn't think their marriage was strong enough to survive. One Week brought torment, agony, and the breakdown of a marriage right to the forefront of how shambolic their relationship really was.
I was shocked at some of the choices made by the characters in this book and the consequences these choices brought. So this was a nope from me and one I should have left alone but the temptation was just too strong.
Not a comfortable read.
June 12, 2018
This was one great story that will have you in complete shambles.
I found myself completely glued to my device from beginning to end!
What do you do when you have the perfect marriage, beautiful children and a spouse you are madly and truly in love with, or at least you think you still are!
Gabriella has a great marriage, she loves her husband he loves her too. But she's starting to realize that he doesn't have time for his family anymore. When he's not away at book signings, he's locked up in his home office working on his next book. Gabriella feels neglected, she feels like her husband has disconnected himself from her.
Gabriella now makes a friend through Instagram. At first she thinks it's a woman, but quickly comes to realize that it's a man, but they have so much in common through their virtual friendship. When Gabriella discovers that her husband has been having an affair, she compromises with him and suggests that she go to see Eli for a week. Nothing is set in stone and she doesn't know what will happen between them. She had already cut all ties with Eli before she discovered her husband's infidelity.
Gabriella's idea is just to go and see him and spend one glorious week with him, hoping to find herself and see if she truly does love her husband and if they should work things out once she returns from her trip. But to be honest, all sparks have fizzled between her and her husband, it's just a matter of finding that out for sure.
Gabriella has a wonderful time with Eli that week, they explore the city and they are getting to know each other. She's experiencing things with Eli that she hasn't had with her husband in a long time. She is actually feeling loved by a man and even though it's not by her husband, she can't help herself. Will Gabriella be able to leave Eli behind after falling in love with him this one week or will she be able to let him go and start fresh with her husband.
This book was everything I wanted it to be. Sometimes it's easy to just say "yeah, good for him that she cheated or that he cheated" because the other person was a real jerk. But in this case, I actually felt bad that their marriage was falling apart without either one knowing it. They both fell out of love for each other but felt like they needed to stay together especially because of the kids. But one should never stay in a relationship just because of kids because that makes it harder and it can turn sour between the couple.
Gabriella and her husband would be great friends if they decided to go their separate ways. But it took Gabriella that One Week away to realize what she really wanted and what she needed to do with her marriage and with Eli.
Absolutely a stunning story with an epic ending!
5 One Week Stars!!
**Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
I found myself completely glued to my device from beginning to end!
What do you do when you have the perfect marriage, beautiful children and a spouse you are madly and truly in love with, or at least you think you still are!
Gabriella has a great marriage, she loves her husband he loves her too. But she's starting to realize that he doesn't have time for his family anymore. When he's not away at book signings, he's locked up in his home office working on his next book. Gabriella feels neglected, she feels like her husband has disconnected himself from her.
Gabriella now makes a friend through Instagram. At first she thinks it's a woman, but quickly comes to realize that it's a man, but they have so much in common through their virtual friendship. When Gabriella discovers that her husband has been having an affair, she compromises with him and suggests that she go to see Eli for a week. Nothing is set in stone and she doesn't know what will happen between them. She had already cut all ties with Eli before she discovered her husband's infidelity.
Gabriella's idea is just to go and see him and spend one glorious week with him, hoping to find herself and see if she truly does love her husband and if they should work things out once she returns from her trip. But to be honest, all sparks have fizzled between her and her husband, it's just a matter of finding that out for sure.
Gabriella has a wonderful time with Eli that week, they explore the city and they are getting to know each other. She's experiencing things with Eli that she hasn't had with her husband in a long time. She is actually feeling loved by a man and even though it's not by her husband, she can't help herself. Will Gabriella be able to leave Eli behind after falling in love with him this one week or will she be able to let him go and start fresh with her husband.
This book was everything I wanted it to be. Sometimes it's easy to just say "yeah, good for him that she cheated or that he cheated" because the other person was a real jerk. But in this case, I actually felt bad that their marriage was falling apart without either one knowing it. They both fell out of love for each other but felt like they needed to stay together especially because of the kids. But one should never stay in a relationship just because of kids because that makes it harder and it can turn sour between the couple.
Gabriella and her husband would be great friends if they decided to go their separate ways. But it took Gabriella that One Week away to realize what she really wanted and what she needed to do with her marriage and with Eli.
Absolutely a stunning story with an epic ending!
5 One Week Stars!!
**Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
June 20, 2018
Something about the blurb for One Week caught my interest right away. I mean, an essential “hall pass” for a woman married with two small children. It promised to be not only angsty emotional but I figured a bit naughty and alluring. It was all of the above!
Our heroine is a married mother of two. Her husband is a writer, often working from ho e in his study or away at signings. Wherever he is, Gabriella is lonely. She doesn’t even realize how lonely her life of motherhood and freelance art until she stumbles upon another fellow artist’s Instagram page. Her work is gorgeous and she can’t get enough. They start following each other, messages get sent...and she realizes she is actually a he.
Living in Copenhagen the past several years as a starving artist, American transplant Eli is also drawn to the beautiful artist back in the US. She’s not near as secretive in her social media pages so he can stalk her from afar. When the messages start and become gradually more personal, he finds himself painfully attracted to the woman he can never have... until he gets a call from her. Her husband has allowed her a one week “hall pass” to try to set his own marriage to rights after his own infidelity. It sounds selfish and messed up be he can’t resist the thought of her coming to Denmark. Friendship...or more.
Loved this. Emotional. Sexy. Loved getting to experience Copenhagen through the eyes of our heroine. I was really nervous now the book would end and I think the author played everything out perfectly. It wasn’t rushed nor overly dramatic. I wasn’t mad and I wasn’t sad. It was just an all-around a great read!
Our heroine is a married mother of two. Her husband is a writer, often working from ho e in his study or away at signings. Wherever he is, Gabriella is lonely. She doesn’t even realize how lonely her life of motherhood and freelance art until she stumbles upon another fellow artist’s Instagram page. Her work is gorgeous and she can’t get enough. They start following each other, messages get sent...and she realizes she is actually a he.
Living in Copenhagen the past several years as a starving artist, American transplant Eli is also drawn to the beautiful artist back in the US. She’s not near as secretive in her social media pages so he can stalk her from afar. When the messages start and become gradually more personal, he finds himself painfully attracted to the woman he can never have... until he gets a call from her. Her husband has allowed her a one week “hall pass” to try to set his own marriage to rights after his own infidelity. It sounds selfish and messed up be he can’t resist the thought of her coming to Denmark. Friendship...or more.
Loved this. Emotional. Sexy. Loved getting to experience Copenhagen through the eyes of our heroine. I was really nervous now the book would end and I think the author played everything out perfectly. It wasn’t rushed nor overly dramatic. I wasn’t mad and I wasn’t sad. It was just an all-around a great read!
July 8, 2018
2.5 stars
I have to say that I am pretty disappointed with this book. I was a big fan of Roya Carmen's Ground Rules series, so when I saw she had a new book releasing with a forbidden storyline, I was very excited. However, I'm sad to say that this one didn't live up to my expectations at all.
So let's start at the beginning here. At the start, this was very reminiscent of two other books I've read, it was a lot like Author Anonymous (which was fantastic) and a little like Frayed Silk (which was just ok). It was actually very believable in the beginning how the relationship between Gabriella and Eli began. But that's where the similarities end.
Something happened between Gabriella and her husband, a completely unconventional arrangement was made, and the story lost all credibility in my mind. It was just too far fetched. I honestly think I would have enjoyed it more if this arrangement wasn't made and Gabriella had continued down her path as she was. With this "twist" thrown in, it became less forbidden, less angsty, less exciting, just less of everything.
The story played out and the ending was underwhelming. Too clean, too easy. I finished it feeling like it could have been so much more.
And then there were some issues with the writing here that bothered me. Some things were repetitive, told to us more than once and I didn't understand why. There were scene changes with no breaks in paragraph or change of chapter which left me confused. There were a lot of details about Gabriella's friends which seemed to serve no purpose because we never really got into their lives. And I felt many times like the reader was being told things instead of letting details come about by being organically worked into the story.
So overall, I'm left feeling pretty indifferent about it. It just didn't have all the feels. In fact, it didn't really have any feels for me.
I have to say that I am pretty disappointed with this book. I was a big fan of Roya Carmen's Ground Rules series, so when I saw she had a new book releasing with a forbidden storyline, I was very excited. However, I'm sad to say that this one didn't live up to my expectations at all.
So let's start at the beginning here. At the start, this was very reminiscent of two other books I've read, it was a lot like Author Anonymous (which was fantastic) and a little like Frayed Silk (which was just ok). It was actually very believable in the beginning how the relationship between Gabriella and Eli began. But that's where the similarities end.
Something happened between Gabriella and her husband, a completely unconventional arrangement was made, and the story lost all credibility in my mind. It was just too far fetched. I honestly think I would have enjoyed it more if this arrangement wasn't made and Gabriella had continued down her path as she was. With this "twist" thrown in, it became less forbidden, less angsty, less exciting, just less of everything.
The story played out and the ending was underwhelming. Too clean, too easy. I finished it feeling like it could have been so much more.
And then there were some issues with the writing here that bothered me. Some things were repetitive, told to us more than once and I didn't understand why. There were scene changes with no breaks in paragraph or change of chapter which left me confused. There were a lot of details about Gabriella's friends which seemed to serve no purpose because we never really got into their lives. And I felt many times like the reader was being told things instead of letting details come about by being organically worked into the story.
So overall, I'm left feeling pretty indifferent about it. It just didn't have all the feels. In fact, it didn't really have any feels for me.
June 17, 2018
The moment I read the blurb on this book, I knew I had to have it. I adored the Ground Rules Trilogy and love forbidden romance. This story does an interesting job of outlining something that could easily happen in any marriage these days. You meet people online and it may just be an innocent conversation about some common interest that lights the spark. That's how things develop with Gabbie and Eli. They are both artists and have been fans of each other's works on IG. I will tell you this. I want an Eli of my own. He was just the perfect book boyfriend. It's no wonder that Gabbie fell for him. What happens when she gets a ONE week hall pass from her husband to spend with Eli? Well, I'm not going to tell you.... but I was thoroughly engrossed by the story. Just read it straight through. Their adventures are sexy, fun and a bit emotional. If you are a forbidden romance fan, then I highly recommend this.
June 12, 2018
As soon as I saw the blurb I knew I needed to read this book. It's not an easy read, it might shake you a little, but it's worth it.
Sometimes love ends. That's simple and true.
There's some little pointers in relationships that gives this away and get you thinking is it worth to stay with the same person forever?
Well Gabriela had those pointers. She didn't know at first, but they were there.
When someone gets in your life the way Eli did and you are not happy anymore, you start paying attention to the world around you. The "what ifs" start dancing in your head, its consuming and life changing. So, innocently Gabriela started a new friendship online with someone she didn't know at all. Seems innocent enough, but when you get more attention online than at home, everything changes.
I really loved Eli. Everything about him showed how a good man he truly is.
I also admired John, somehow. I wont get much into it tho.
One of the things I really enjoyed in this book was the way places were described. What a wonderful trip!
So, don't let the "hall pass" scare you away from this book, nothing really is what it seems!
Sometimes love ends. That's simple and true.
There's some little pointers in relationships that gives this away and get you thinking is it worth to stay with the same person forever?
Well Gabriela had those pointers. She didn't know at first, but they were there.
When someone gets in your life the way Eli did and you are not happy anymore, you start paying attention to the world around you. The "what ifs" start dancing in your head, its consuming and life changing. So, innocently Gabriela started a new friendship online with someone she didn't know at all. Seems innocent enough, but when you get more attention online than at home, everything changes.
I really loved Eli. Everything about him showed how a good man he truly is.
I also admired John, somehow. I wont get much into it tho.
One of the things I really enjoyed in this book was the way places were described. What a wonderful trip!
So, don't let the "hall pass" scare you away from this book, nothing really is what it seems!
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