Forbidden

by Liliana Rhodes

“He was everything I wanted, but the one I couldn't have.”
Shane Ventana was hot, popular, and the ultimate bad boy back in high school. I was crazy about him, but he didn’t even know I was alive. Then one day the impossible happened and he moved into my house. Sounds perfect, right?
Wrong. He blamed everything on me, but I fell in love with him anyway. I know, you’re wondering how I fell for such a jerk, but really, I couldn’t help myself. And just my luck, when things were finally perfect between us, he left.
It took me years to get over him. I didn’t think I could ever love anyone again. Then one day I heard the words that made my heart start beating all over again--“Shane is coming.”

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2019

About the author

Liliana Rhodes is a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author who writes romance with fun, engaging characters. Blessed with an overactive imagination, she is always writing and plotting her next stories. She enjoys movies, reading, photography, and listening to music. After growing up on the east coast, Liliana now lives in California with her husband, son, two dogs who are treated better than some people, and two parrots who plan to take over the world.

Reviews

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book that I have read from this author and I thought it was a good read. This is a second chance romance and it was a quick read. Not a fan of flashbacks in a story but it didn’t change how I felt about the story. The story flowed and the characters were great. Great chemistry between Shane and Rosalie.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is a beautiful story . They say you don't forget your first love Shane ventane is rosaline 's he her first crush, her first lover , first heartbreak , and he will be her everything . I loved these two characters.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Shane & Rosalie's story. Good characters. Lots of chemistry. I could relate so much to Rosalie. This was a fun read. And a new author for me. I received a free copy of the book. And am leaving my honest review.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Grabbed My attention and focus so strong I could not put it down. A word of advice when you get your copy. Grab a snack, a comfy seat, kick back and relax. You will not be moving until you finish this bad boy here. Remarkable job. Thanks for sharing.

[Book Ninja · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could be much more, but the characters are undeveloped, weak and I couldn't connect with them at all. Furthermore, there is no chemistry between them. It seemed like they were following their own agenda but the reader never gets to know what. So many decisions that made no sense and had no background it felt like they had to do something just to fill the plot of the story and it came out forced and dull. There is potential to flourish the plot with all the relationship and other characters involved but we are left in blank. The writing was easy and it could use some improvement and imagination.
We follow Shane and Rosalie through their sort of romance, but there is no real heat. They seem immature. The story is just jumping from past to future without giving us much. There are hints of abuse but we don't get enough detail to know. I am sorry to say I was quite disappointed with all package.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome read. The characters are well developed and engaging and the storyline flowed smoothly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[shadiedaze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie and Shane meet while attending the same high school. Rosalie has a serious crush on Shane, the local bad boy that does good. She even stalks him in the hallways of their school. Then their lives change as several incidents happen quickly and separate them, several times before they find their happily ever after.

I have had this eBook downloaded for a few months and decided due to the Memorial Day 3-day weekend, I would read it. I was not disappointed. The rollercoaster ride of Shane and Rosalie’s relationship was heart wrenching, tear jerking and magnificent. I could not stop reading this novel and was super tired for work the next day. It was well worth it to experience their love as it evolved over time.

[anni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stuff your Kindle pickup!

This had lots of potential but it was very rushed and too many gaps in the plot to make me connect or super interested in the characters. Seemed to be a lot of topics and back story that the author wanted to delve deeper in but then decided not to, not sure for what reason. Big time gaps!

The connection between Shane and Rosalie felt immature (granted part takes place in highschool) and we didn’t see any real growth in their persons until the last third of the book and once they reconnected it’s like they reverted back to that same mentality and actions.

Definitely skim-read the last half bc I didn’t want to DNF but the lack of interest was booming.

[Mary Fazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

Shane and Rosalie aren't very different just came from different parts. Shane was a bad boy but not really bad just needed some positive role models in his life. Rosalie was a good girl but her mom and step dad weren't but at least she still gather dad. Shane was one of those that you wish but can't have until you can't. It was a good book but a lot of pages were blank so parts of the story were missing.

[Tar-Isilmë · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last book of 2023, and it doesn't meet the expectations you have with the first chapters. There are moments when you get the impression that the author ran out of space to develop the plot and you feel like things are being thrown in your face and they don't let you process the previous situations.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

A freebie I picked up in the stuff your kindle sale.

This story had potential but I felt it spent too much time with Rosalie’s horrid mother, don’t get me started on her step father.

The part of the story I was interested in felt rushed and not all there.

[Lauren Krepp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this story, it had all the structure ready to make it an awesome read... but. It felt rushed and there was a whole story line missing. I was really disappointed in this once because I felt it good have been amazing!

[shar · Rating 2 out of 5]

loved the trope and forbidden side of it. however time jumps were kinda annoying and description lacks in some areas. epilogue was good and loved to see how the future was only time jump i really enjoyed.
i liked it but didn’t love felt more like an wattpad fanfiction.

[Baxygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

kismet

This was beautifully written, brilliantly plotted and them smexy moments… they were drool worthy.

We need to go through the darkness, to see the light.

I married mine.

[Ingrid Garnemark · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

[Madison Vermillion · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was a hard read but I’m trying my best not to dnf but I was very close

[Kayla Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to follow

Was a decent read for getting backing into reading. Was not a huge fan of it being like two books in one.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalie Deleo couldn’t get her mind off of Shane Ventana, blonde hair, green eyes, tattooed, mysterious, an honor roll student, and captain of the basketball team. What more could you want? He’s the guy every girl is hoping to date. But Rosalie felt invisible to him. She has such a big high school crush on him but it felt like he never even saw her or acknowledged that she existed.

After a few years, Rosalie’s father and Joanna got secretly married. They invited Rosalie and Joanna’s ex-boyfriend’s son, whom she kind of felt responsible for, to dinner to tell them their news. Dennis and Rosalie waited in the restaurant while Joanna went to pick the young man up and meet them there. Rosalie was stunned when Shane and Joanna walked in and joined them! Shane was evidently angry. He had missed a game he was playing in, and he stormed out of the restaurant and had a friend pick him up.

On Sunday, Rosalie and Shane were invited to look at a house Dennis and Joanne were hoping to buy. Rosalie drove over with them, and they showed her a bedroom for her in case she wanted to move in or visit them. Shane wasn’t with them but he showed up at the house! They also made sure there was a room for him, but he snapped at Joanna about being happier if he wasn’t around and went outside. Rosalie followed and tried to talk to him, but he argued because she didn’t remember him. This could get complicated! Would the two of them come to live with Dennis and Joanna? Rosalie was unhappy with her stepdad and this could be the answer for her.

There were so many ups and downs with this book. It added strong emotions to difficult situations and presented a sad picture of relationships that fell apart. Is there any hope for happiness? Or will there be much more heartache before things get better? When Shane finally comes back into her life, will she feel the same for him? Will they try for another chance? Grab your copy and find out if this will ever be worked out.

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I...did not like it. This felt pretty juvenile and amateurish to me. The characters aren’t all that likeable so it’s difficult to feel the chemistry between them. I think that there’s supposed to be plenty of angst in this second chance-style romance, but it fell flat for me.

The story follows Rosalie and Shane throughout the years. It opens with the two in high school, with Rosalie crushing on bad boy Shane. He’s a player who gets all the girls and doesn’t seem to notice her. Fast forward two years, and they wind up living together because of their parents’ relationship. It’s somewhat forbidden, but it becomes clear that Shane harbors deeper feelings for Rosalie than he’s let on.

The writing is easy to read but I just couldn’t connect to the story. It sort of lost me from the first page and never got me back. It’s not overtly terrible but I just didn’t enjoy reading it. There is a little heat but it’s certainly not overwhelming, and there are elements of a solid story in the plot that never really reached its full potential.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is the first time I’ve read from this author and I was quite excited to start this. I like my forbidden romances. Anyway we meet Rosalie a nice girl, who lives with her mom & stepdad. Her relationship with them is strained. Her stepdad is creepy and her mom doesn’t really seem to care. She has a good relationship with her father after he’s finally allowed back in her life. Rosalie is infatuated with the schools bad boy Shane.
One night at dinner with her dad and her stepmom she’s introduced to her stepmoms stepson. Who happens to be Shane.
The story then jumps forward 2 years and I’ll admit I couldn’t read that first chapter after the jump because it just really annoyed me. Thankfully Rosalie grows a spine and leaves her awful situation, I honestly have no idea why she waited so long but meh.
Once Shane re-enters her life things take a turn. And it’s obvious Rosalie has meant more to Shane than she realised.
I enjoyed this book but sometimes the characters did kinda frustrate me which is why I’m giving 3 stars and not 4. I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Yvette89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This story was ok. It has the potential to be better. There are a few threads in the story that could/should have been developed. Rosalie and Shane didn’t have much chemistry. They are supposed to be fated lovers. No matter what life threw at them they somehow found the way back to each other at the perfect time. Rosalie has a crush on Shane. She pretty much stalked him during school. She finds out he is connected to her dad’s girlfriend. One minute Shane is rude and mean the next thing is he can’t live without her. We get glimpses into Shane’s background. Rosalie’s issues are hinted at most of the book. We can assume what happened after she has a run in with her mother. The time spent together seems brief. There are multiple separations but eventually a HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE INCREDIBLE RIDE!!!
OMG! Liliana brought out the big guns with this sizzling delight along with all the steaming chemistry you can handle. And then some. A whirlwind with a myriad of spiraling emotions bursting forward into play. The drama, angst, uncertainty and intrigue fuse all the pieces together for one wild ride. An incredibly intense storyline and gripping plot kicks the baby up a few levels. A coiling eddy of unpredictable activities and daunting array of events that keep you flipping page after page. The characters are realistic with personalities and depth that draw you in. The scenes are so graphically descriptive and detailed it bursts with every color on the spectrum. Amazing job Liliana, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.

[lf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent but not for me

*** 3 1/2 Stars ***

This is the first book I have read by Liliana Rhodes so I was not sure what to expect. But the books description looked interesting so I decided to take a chance. I cannot say that I was really impressed with this one but it was definitely not the worst story I have read by a "new to me" author. I guess I just could not really connect with the book in a way that would have liked.
While I may not have been enamored of it I am sure that other people will really like it. I will say that I will read the next book by this author before making up my mind more about whether we may be a good reading fit or not.
I

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about an awkward teen named Rosalie who falls for the schools bad boy. She soon discovers that her dad has married his long time girlfriend Joanne. When bad boy Shane shows up at dinner and is announced as Joanne’s ex’s son Rosalie doesn’t know what to do. This book is about a high school girls crash from being a teenager to adulthood. Rosalie has a difficult childhood living with her self obsessed mother and creepy stepfather. The book was well written. Unfortunately I found the book boring and kind of a teenage drama story like you find in any high school in the country. Not the best book I’ve read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie is in high school and has a crush on what was once her school's popular, bad boy, Shane. As far as she knew he had no idea she existed. Not an unheard of situation for some folks. But what happens when you find your Dad is remarrying and Shane is moving in.......ugh, awkward! How quickly things change but are they for the better? This was a fast paced read with a really good story that kept the pages turning. The characters had some depth to them as well which made the story an entertaining read. Enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful contemporary romance that spans high school into the couple's mid 20's. Shane went to high school and all the girls wanted him including Rosalee. Shane had a dysfunctional childhood where he and his father were involved with drugs from his early years. Rosalee attended the same high school and had a crush on him. Ms. Rhodes did a great job of developing both the characters and the storyline. It's entertaining, tragic, and hard to see Shane and Rosalee's lives so unhappy and destructive. I received a complementary copy of this book via Booksprout and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Rhodes.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bitter-Sweet second chance love story. I liked the flow of this story, not a fan of flashbacks, Rosalie’s tale begins in High School, but moves along at a good pace. Shane’s backstory and true nature is slow to be revealed, but worth the wait. With just enough angst for emotions to bloom and sweet sexy moments aplenty this is an entrancing read, I couldn’t put it down. In the end you just have to smile and sigh.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Rosalie her first crush was on the bad boy in school, who didnt even know she was alive. Until the day he took the fall for her being naive. The first time she fell in love, she has to break his heart to save him. Life is never easy but can be worth it. The story is incredible and characters are so amazing. The emotional turmoil really pulls you into the story. Just loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic and brilliantly written with a storyline that is flawless, witty, and very interesting. The story flows smoothly, is consistent, and moves along at a brisk pace. Likeable characters; the chemistry between them is undeniable. This book met all of my expectations and then some! A really enjoyable read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosalie grew up with an abusive stepfather while Shane grew up with his addict father looked after mainly by his grandmother. Rosalie crushed on Shane at school and then they were thrown together when they both moved in with Rosalie's father and Shane's stepmother. Rosalie sent Shane away so he could get a fresh start elsewhere. However, this eventually proved too difficult for both of them. A moving story thoroughly enjoyed. Read an ARC for an honest review.