Forbidden Love

by Stormy Glenn, H.C. Brown, Anna O'Neill

My Outlaw, by Stormy Glenn
After getting injured and losing his horse during a cattle drive, Daniel Branson is ordered to ride the stagecoach back home. Little does he realize that it will put him in the hands of the notorious outlaw, Black Bart. And the handsome outlaw has plans for Daniel that don't involve holding him for ransom.

Forbidden, by H.C. Brown
England 1075-Sir Renoir Danier finds himself in an intolerable situation when he is ordered by King William to marry an elderly Spanish countess. Five years earlier, he met the great love of his life, Sir Sebastian. This deeply sensual dark angel taught him all that a man could give to another. Renoir became a slave to his erotic punishment. After a month of bliss, Sebastian sailed to Spain. Will he return or leave Renoir with a shattered heart?

Poisoned Heart, by Anna O'Neill
The ultimate betrayal . . . .
In Edo-period Japan, a prominent family might choose to foster a son from another clan in order to encourage peaceful political relations. When Raiden's family invites twenty-three year old Masashi into their lives, their gesture has the opposite effect: Masashi kills Raiden's parents. Now years later Raiden is studying with a master of magic who allows Raiden the chance to go back in time to kill Masashi before Masashi can lift a finger against his family. But when Raiden is faced with his guest-brother once again, much to his horror he finds that his old feelings for Masashi return. With the weight of the future bearing down on Raiden's shoulders, can he overcome these troublesome emotions, or will his new weakness destroy everything?

Deliverance, by Aleksandr Voinov
William Raven of Kent joined the Knights Templar to do penance for his sins. Formerly a professional tournament fighter and mercenary, William is brought face-to-face with a past he'd thought he had escaped.

Genres: M M Romance, Anthologies, Historical, Romance, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Erotica

87 pages, ebook

First published February 14, 2009

About the author

About Me
I believes the only thing sexier than a man in cowboy boots is two, or three men in cowboy boots. I also believes in love at first sight, soul mates, true love, and happy endings.

I live in the great Northwest region of the USA, with my gorgeous husband and soul mate, two boxer/collie puppies, one old biddy cats, and three fish. When I'm not being a mother to my six teenagers or cleaning up after my two 70 pound lap puppies, you can usually find me cuddled in bed with a book in my hand and a puppy in my lap. Or on my laptop, creating the next sexy man for one of my stories.

I welcomes comments from readers, so drop me a line. stormyglenn@hotmail.com

What do I do ?
I'm a writer of erotic, paranormal, werewolf, futuristic, contemporary, gay, and Ménage a Trois romances. I'm currently published with Siren Publishing, Torquere Press, and Noble Ellora's Cave.

Reviews

[Darien · Rating 4 out of 5]

^^ VERY GOOD!!^^

Forbidden Love is an anthology containing four very short stories. The theme here is historical, and the tone is very angst orientated, what rings true is that the time in which all the stories are told, love between men would have been very forbidden. Yet I find this reason makes the stories even more pleasurable to read.

My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn
This story takes place in 1880s, Texas. The lead character Daniel is a cattle rancher on his way home after being injured. While traveling in a coach he begins a conversation with a woman travelling alone, and then begins to explain life on the rough terrain. He mentions in pass about bandits, and names a bandit called Black Bart (yep I was thinking the same thing about the name) who is quite notorious in the area. We all know how this is going to go down, Black Bart makes an appearance, and the ending might surprise you.

This was actually my favourite story in the entire book; I found it quite amusing and very sensual. In addition, I really liked Black Bart, and Daniel is presented clearly as being homosexual. It becomes quite clear that there is something more between Black Bart and Daniel, this story is not meant to be taken seriously and should be read for its smuttiness. I can say the only thing historical about this entire setting, is the date. Yet it provides a slight D/s relationship, just enough to make you squirm.

Forbidden by H.C Brown
Forbidden, takes place in 1075 medieval England, and young nobleman Renoir is being forced to marry by his father and the king. Evidently, this leaves no room for objection; the marriage is being implemented because they know of Renoir’s sexual orientation, which is referred to as an affliction. Renoir hates the idea that he has to marry, and it is to an older woman, adding insult to injury, the marriage has to be consummated in front of a priest and another witness. Years before Renoir met and had an affair with a Spanish knight called Sebastian D’lergo and his heart and body still longs for this man after five years of being without him.

In order to survive the marriage he wants no part of, he comes up with a ruse that will keep his wife satisfied and him away from her bed.

This story I found quite amusing, Renoirs sarcasm is to be admired. He is described as looking effeminate, but he is 100% man. He is very submissive by nature and Sebastian is the Dom to his sub, together they are explosive. You are left with the feeling of how will this marriage work between Renoir and his wife, and Renoir and his male lover, one thing is for sure the love between Sebastian and Renoir will forever remain true.

Poisoned Heart by Anna O’Neill
Set in Japan during the Endo period, it tells of Raiden a man deeply angered by the murder of his parents. He lives with the hate and guilt because he loved and worshipped the very person who committed the murders. Raiden is man of magic and has learnt how to travel time, to stop Masashi once his foster brother from murdering his parents.

This story deserved to be longer, it is the most unusual in the entire anthology, and it was so condensed the storyline that it needed a little more time for it to make complete sense. Here is a person hell bent on revenge, and is going back in time to stop the murders of his parents thus changing history. During his journey, he comes to understand the whys and the whos of the people behind the murder. I just felt a little more time was needed for us to completely understand Masashi, and to delve a little deeper into the personalities of Raiden and Masashi. The end was so abrupt, that I have yet to know if there was a conclusion, and is everyone happy.

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov
Set during the crusade era, this story tells about William one of the Knights of Templar. Trying to cleanse himself of his previous sins, this happens to be a homosexual relationship with a nobleman. The knights happen to meet a young man, and later on challenge said man to a joust. William being known for being undefeated, it comes with surprise when this pilgrim defeats him. Later on, the man reveals his identity, which causes William to fear him and yet want him with his entire being.

I really enjoyed this story; it was so vivid Williams struggle with wanting another man. His loyalty to god is strong, yet he has no power to deny the very basis of his nature. He desires another man, and in the eyes of his beliefs, this desire is very much wrong. I loved how this very strong man, known for his strength, was cut down to a rubble of a man, because of his love for another man. Voinov was able to capture the time so beautifully, knights fighting for the greater good, the love of their lands and for their god. With religion loving a man is considered wrong, yet we fail to remember that god is love, and he would never deny anyone happiness. The ending of this story is bittersweet, I hope for the very best for William, but his heart is conflicting.

I tend not to read anthologies because sometimes the stories can be rushed and leave you a bit unsatisfied. This book is very heavy hitting on the content yet it was written very well. The ability to capture so much information with so little pages was superb. That being said here is my favourites in order. My Outlaw, Deliverance, Forbidden and Poisoned Heart.

Happy Reading.

[Aleksandr Voinov]

"Deliverance" has been re-issued in a corrected and expanded version.

[Arzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do not know if it is okay to rate a book, if you've only read 1 story, namely Aleksander Voinov's Deliverance what the only reason for me was to buy the book. I will probably read also the other stories some time in the future, but not now.

It is incredible how accurate Mr Voinov describes the crusade era without having the feeling to be in history classes and that within limited amount of pages. The forbidden love story is written in such an intimate way that enchants the reader. These 2 fierce men who try to find solace in their pelgrimage to the Holy Land. You have the feeling you've crawled inside the character and you are the character with all the contradicting feelings and thoughts.

I think it is typical for Mr Voinov to write about strong complex characters who battle for their love and that in the most terrible circumstances. Why? Maybe to see how far the characters are willing to go, to give up for their love. What will you find when there is nothing more to hide ...

At the end, I finished the book with a smile and hope to read more about William and Guy.

[ElaineY]

I'm not going to rate this anthology as I've only read Aleksandr Voinov's Deliverance and won't be reading the others, not even Stormy Glenn's, which I had planned to.

Reason? I was so starved for another Vashtan book that I caved in and bought Forbidden, willing to pay for the other stories just to read Voinov's. Many of you enjoy historicals but not only is it not a genre I read anymore, back even in the days when I did read them, I wouldn't touch one set in the Middle Ages.

Well, what can I say? Voinov's contribution is so beautiful, I wish it weren't set in a period I avoid like The Plague. I won't bother to repeat the synopsis. Suffice that Voinov manages to infuse in this short tale, a lightheartedness that is at odds with the times and the place and, even odder still, in a situation that's anything but lighthearted. Guilt. Penance. Sin. All the reasons I avoid this period of history. Deliverance has all that but more than all - it has a very special touch that I am finding difficulty in describing.

In Deliverance, Voinov presented me with the consummation of a love affair that began six years ago, and while way too short for me, it nevertheless that left me with a smile. A somewhat peeved one, if there's such a thing, but that was how I felt. Happy but irritated, too. In a nice way. And that's saying a lot since on top of detesting anything set in this period, I also Do Not Buy Or Read Anthologies. Voinov, however, has a way of telling this love story that was almost lyrical and which drew me into the spell cast by the forbidden love between these two men. Like Vashtan's & Marquesate's Special Forces, William and Guy are men all the way but unlike SF, there is an elegance in the writing here that I found missing in SF. I know it's not fair to compare a mega-novel like SF with a short story like Deliverance but I couldn't help it. Same author, even if the half of SF is missing here.

So yes, I loved Deliverance even though I shouldn't. And this Voinov guy just has to get off his butt and write a contemporary romance!

[Indie Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden Love is a historical anthology edited by Jill Noble featuring four short stories by authors (in order of appearance) Stormy Glenn, H. C. Brown, Anna O'Neill and Aleksandr Voinov.

My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn:
After getting injured and losing his horse during a cattle drive, Daniel Branson is ordered to ride the stagecoach back to his home ranch just outside of Brownsville, Texas. Little does he realize that it will put him in the hands of notorious outlaw Black Bart and his posse who take Daniel for ransom. While Daniel should be afraid for his life, all he can think about is getting naked with this handsome outlaw and Black Bart has plans for Daniel that don’t involve holding him for ransom!

Forbidden by H.C. Brown:
It is England in the year 1075 and Sir Renoir Danier finds himself in an intolerable situation when he is ordered by King William to marry an elderly Spanish countess Lady Isabella d’Coutier. Five years earlier, he met the great love of his life, Sir Sebastian. This deeply sensual dark angel taught him all that a man could give to another. Renoir became a slave to his erotic punishment. After a month of bliss, Sebastian sailed to Spain leaving Renoir with a shattered heart. A wedding gift from El Cid sees the return of Sebastian to England and the possibility for a second chance for Renoir and his dark angel.

Poisoned Heart by Anna O’Neill:
In Edo-period Japan, a prominent family might choose to foster a son from another clan in order to encourage peaceful political relations. When Raiden's family invites twenty-three year old Masashi into their lives, their gesture has the opposite effect: Masashi kills Raiden's parents. Now years later Raiden is studying with a master of magic who allows Raiden the chance to go back in time to kill Masashi before Masashi can lift a finger against his family. But when Raiden is faced with his guest-brother once again, much to his horror he finds that his old feelings for Masashi return. With the weight of the future bearing down on Raiden's shoulders, can he overcome these troublesome emotions, or will his new weakness destroy everything?

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov:
Deliverance takes us on a journey to Jerusalem during the time of the Crusades. Former professional tournament fighter and mercenary William Raven of Kent has joined the Knights Templar to do penance for his sins. He has pledged his life to God and to the defense of the Christian heartlands. One evening during prayers, the Templars are summonsed to battle in defense of Christian pilgrims who are under attack. As the fighting ensues, William takes notice of a pilgrim who is fighting along side displaying “knightly” skills. It is Guy de Metz his former lover and one true love. Their unexpected reunion brings William face-to-face with a past he thought he’d escaped and one that now threatens to shatter the life he has vowed to God.

As an anthology, Forbidden Love offers up an eclectic mix of historical shorts from different periods, geographic locations and cultures, with “Poisoned Heart” adding a touch of time travel paranormal to the mix. All four stories are about twenty or so pages in length and each is well developed, with some reading as novellas or fuller length stories. They come together under one roof offering the reader a variety of story settings, characters and moods. Their unifying theme is love that is forbidden but cannot be denied. Because they are all so different, the stories can be read in sequence by order of appearance or at random without detracting from the overall theme of the anthology. While I found each of the stories in this compilation to be erotic in its own right, overall, there were some that I enjoyed more than others.

Some light bondage and outlaw-captive Dom/sub play make My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn an altogether sizzling cowboy tale, and since all is not as it appears, with some interesting twists and surprising turns along the way. The dialogue between Daniel and Bart at times slipped into twenty-first century colloquial expression, in particular during their sex scenes (“I love it when you beg, cowboy. It makes me hot.”), which I felt was out of place in respect of 1880 Texas-speak. However, I was able to overlook this because quite frankly the sex was hot. My Outlaw is one scorching hot cowboy ride with a surprise ending that is quite tender and sweet. A warning though, you may require a cold shower or maybe even a good hosing down of the garden variety after you’ve finished reading. Rating - 3.5 Stars

Forbidden by H.C. Brown is an erotic tale of knights errant, bondage and submission, lust and love. The plot is well developed and it reads more like a novella rather than a short story. However, some liberties have been taken with historical facts in this story. For example, El Cid is presented as a Spanish monarch, which he never was. Despite this, Renoir and Sebastian’s coming together is deliciously erotic with an equally delicious dark edge and their sex scenes were the best part of the story for me. Also, I found the high jinks quite humorous and amusing, and very reminiscent of les liaisons dangereuse as Renoir enlists the help of his former lover Sir James and young groomsman David in a game of musical bedchambers in order to foil the King’s demand that the consummation of his marriage to Lady Isabella be witnessed. For those who seek out historical accuracy in period pieces, there was some license taken with this one. However, those who are more interested in the historical mood the story sets with a focus on the characters and their relationship will enjoy Forbidden. Rating - 3 Stars

Poisoned Heart by Anna O'Neill is well written with an equally well-developed plot and a balanced mix of historical, time travel and paranormal elements. I felt that the writing captured the essence of the Edo-culture, way of life and social nomenclature during this period in Japanese history. What I found most interesting and enjoyed in this story is Raiden’s rich point of view, in particular his inner turmoil with on the one hand, his insistent hatred of Masashi and thirst for revenge for the murder of his parents, and on the other, his lust and love for his guest-brother. The coming together of Raidan and Masashi happens at the end of the story, and the manner in which the story itself ends took me completely by surprise but in a good way. While some readers may wish for a different turn of events, I thought it was quite daring and very clever of the author to end the story as she did. Rating - 4 Stars

Aleksandr Voinov's Deliverance is by far the most developed of the stories in terms of both plot and characterization. It is also the best researched and written. I found this story and its characters most compelling and it is my favorite in this anthology. The historical events are accurate and the beliefs, customs, dress and manner of speak of the Knights Templar are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story to the point that the transfer of historical information is accomplished almost through nuance, never breaking the story’s rhythm or flow. For those who are familiar with Voinov’s previous works (he also writes under the pen name of Vashtan) you will recognize this penchant for historical accuracy sans “information dump” as a personal standard of this author, regardless of the nature or length of the story, its setting, characters or time period in which it takes place. Another staple of Voinov’s style is his ability to write characters that are so multidimensional and complex that they blur the lines between fiction and reality. The author achieves this mainly through the writing of personal introspection that is so intimate the reader often feels that they have crawled inside the character’s head and dialogue in which one word or phrase carries with it volumes in meaning. Voinov achieves all of this in his writing of the story of William and Guy, who are fierce characters that live and love very hard. In this sense, Deliverance screams of the possibility of a future epic novel and love story. I hope Voinov will write about these two compelling characters again as their full story is just begging to be told. Rating - 4.5 Stars

NOTE: This review was originally published online by Rainbow Reviews on October 11, 2009.

[Bryl Tyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden Love, an Historical M/M Anthology from Noble Romance, packs a lot of heat.

My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn is about a cowboy, Daniel Branson and his erotic encounter with an outlaw, Black Bart. Set in late Nineteenth Century Texas, this story by Ms. Glenn is indicative of the times. With a healthy dose of hot cowboy sex, like only Stormy Glenn can write, this story offers a surprising twist that will leave you with a huge smile.

Forbidden by H. C. Brown leads the reader into the life of an English Lord in the year, 1075, where he finds himself at odds when ordered, by his father, to marry. Sir Renoir Danier is torn between fulfilling duty and maintaining family honor, while madly longing for the love of his life, Sir Sebastian. Ms. Brown does a great job building a pre-medieval world full of hot men and steamier loving.

Poisoned Heart by Anna O'Neill is set in Edo-period Japan, where a family's choice of foster son leads to their death at his hands. Set on avenging his parent's murder, Raiden, with the aid of his Master, travels back in time, to before the murders, intent on taking out Masashi before the man can harm Raiden's family. Only one obstacle stands in Raiden's way, his love for Masashi. Ms. O'Neill is a new to me author, but one to keep an eye on. The torment and longing she puts into the erotic encounter between Raiden and Masashi will drive you wild.

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov takes the reader along on a compelling quest with William Raven of Kent. I will start off by admitting, this was my favorite in the anthology. Mr. Voinov's Deliverance is one story I will read again and again. Joining the Knights Templar to do penance for his sins, William never imagined he'd make a journey, full-circle, to find himself once again in the arms of the love of his life, Guy de Metz, a man William had done all he could to forget. Mr. Voinov's world-building and character development made this story real to me; and his sexually-charged encounters between the two men were written to my fancy. Direct and often fraught with the heat of the fight, William and Guy inevitably come to the only plausible conclusion...their undeniable love is their fortress.

I agreed to review this book because I enjoy reading M/M romances. Though Historicals are not my typical flavor, I was pleasantly surprised with this anthology. The world-building was complimentary, which was nice, since I usually find the typical Historical to be over-whelming with such magnificent worlds the romance is often overshadowed. And though each story was wrought with love and longing, I was pleased with most of the author's abilities to maintain the male perspective--virile and head-strong. Readers fond of both, Historical M/M and Erotic Romances, will thoroughly enjoy Forbidden Love.

[Elisa Rolle]

This is a historical anthology, with a bit of paranormal in one of the tales, and with plenty of different approaches on the same genre, the historical romance. With more or less 25 pages each, all the stories should be considered "shorts", but what struck me (positively) is than no one of them has the feeling to be rushed, all of them are well plotted and the characters have a good development, almost an impossible thing to achieve in a short story, and here we have 4 examples of that.

My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn: I was curios to read this short story, I'm used to a "futuristic" Stormy Glenn, with a push on the erotic side, and maybe with a bit of Alpha/omega play. How was it possible to shift all of it back in time, to the late nineteen century in the wild wild West? When Daniel is kidnapped by the notorious outlaw Black Bart, I didn't feel like he was so upset by his captive condition. From the first moment he sees the handsome outlaw, Daniel seems more than eager to play catch and go with the man, and even if he has a meaning behavior, Black Bart actually doesn't do anything to hurt the younger man. My Outlaw is a romp in the desert, with all the element I was used to find in other Glenn's books, and with a final twist that gives thuthfulness to all the tale.

Forbidden by H.C. Brown: set in the 1075, Middle Age and Norman conquest period, this would led the reader to believe that it was a savage romance, with the damsel (in this case male damsel) in distress who will be saved by his knight in shining armor, a big and strong, and maybe stranger man, more used to the battle field than the bedroom... right? Wrong! Our "damsel" in distress is Renoir, the younger son of a Norman baron; even if he looks like the right weak partner in a savage romance, blonde hair, fair skin, Renoir is not exactly an innocent. He is living in sin, and his father is tired of that, more King William himself wants for him to marry an older woman with plenty of lands but no man around. Instead of rebelling to the imposition, like every "damsel" in distress would do, maybe even run away, Renoir accepts to marry the woman and leave with his male lover to live in blissful isolation. And now another side of Renoir comes out: maybe he is so aloof and unromantic, since he has a broken heart? And his lost lover maybe is the knight in shining armor we were all expecting? As I said, this tale has a plot and characters development that is impressive for how short the story is. The overall approach on the story is that of a farce (word used not in a derogative way), it reminds me some old plays with the trick of the exchanged character; the story is more heavy in the plot twists than in the historical accuracy, but I think that was the aim of the author.

Poisoned Heart by Anna O’Neill: here is the slightly paranormal tale. In Edo-period Japan, Raiden is seeking vengeance against is guest-brother, a man his family welcomed and who killed Raiden's parents. Now Raiden has managed to learn the magic to travel back in time, and he wants to kill Masashi before the man could kill his parents. But even before starting his travel, Raiden seems unwell with the idea to kill an unarmed Masashi, it seems like he wants to give a chance to the man. I don't feel so much hate inside Raiden's heart, more betrayal, but not the betrayal of a guest-brother, more that of a lover. And so it's, when Raiden steps back in time, he can see the old Raiden, the fifteen years old who looks upon Masashi with starstrucked eyes. Only that now Raiden can see Masashi also with different eyes, those of an adult and not of a teenager. More Raiden has now the knowledge to understand that maybe Masashi was a victim like him.

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov: the last tale is setting during the Crusades and William is a medieval knight who wants to do penance for his sins, the sin to have loved a man. In the Templar order William suppressed all his secret desires, not only for men but for anything that is mundane. He thinks to be at peace, to have finally found his path. But William is in denyal, he is not repentant, he is only far from any temptation. As soon as he is faced with it, in the form of Guy, his past lover, all William's hidden desires are freed. I like Guy's approach to the problem: he didn't near William with a broken heart or recriminations, he didn't try to convince William that what he is doing is wrong, he simply states that William was not free to take a decision regarding both of them, he had obligations that prevented him to join the Templar. It's a very logic and effective way to face the problem.

3 out of 4 of these authors were new to me, and so I can't say if this work is better than any other previous work. I don't even know so well their background to understand if they are newbie or not... What I can say is that I think this is a good quality product. BTW, in no one of the short stories is played the card of the "blushing" virgin, so common in so many other historical gay romances... a coincidence or a choice?

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/80...

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slash Readers: This book was a mixed bag of tricks. Some of the story has nice qualities; however, they reminded me of nothing so much as fan fiction, written for the purposes of getting two character together and in bed. Second thing, the book contains a great deal of what I guess I would term 'consensual rape'. What I mean by that is one character is clearly dominate, and more or less forces the other character who is of course secretly willing and wanting. Of all the stories the first two were the best.

"My Outlaw", was great if you want to read hot sex and don't mind some coercion. What I liked most about this story was the twist at the end, which makes all comments above moot. There was a wonderfully humorous and rather touching end to this scene. My biggest complaint with it, was that the locations and settings were very sketchy and sometimes hard to follow. I think the story would have benefited greatly from being a little clearer.

"Forbidden", is a story about the chance meeting between an English Knight and a Spanish Knight and their instant attraction to each other. This work also contains some fairly mind bondage between the two, which started off right from the start. What I liked the most about this story was the way all the details came together at the end. Because of course things do not work out upon first meeting and the two are separated only to be brought back together by an interesting twist of fate in the end.

The other two stories were alright but I found the character in "Poisoned Heart", to be wishy washy. I also was somewhat disturbed by the way this work went, though the ending was touching. But the way the 'consensual rape' scene played out bothered me; though, I'm honestly not quiet sure why. I think mostly because I never really cared what happened to either character.

The last work and the second piece I've read concerning Sir William Raven (the first being, "The Lion of Kent".) While, this story I felt worked better then the last, I just can't get into William. Either way Knights Templar, semxing in the dark and such.

My last issue with this volume was formatting. The format was not well thought out for the Kindle, and needed some work. Author names and titles really should appear at the top of the page not the bottom of the previous page. Also the really fanfiction esque page/scene spacers ~**~ and such... just felt out of space.

[J'aime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most anthologies have one, maybe two string stories and the rest pale in comparison. This one was likewise uneven, but worth the price of admission anyway. All four stories have an historical setting, but each is very different in time and place. All share the theme that M/M is forbidden and even punishable.

My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn – Set in the Old West. This story was almost like the warm-up act. Black Bart, a notorious bandit, holds up a stagecoach and kidnaps Daniel to have his wicked way with him. The ending was fun, but predictable, and so was the sex. (3 stars)

Forbidden by HC Brown – Set in Medieval England. This was my favorite story of the anthology, and the longest. It had a lot of detail, and the main character was very well developed for a short story. Sir Renoir Danier is forced to marry an aging widow since his father and King suspect he is “deviant.” This unwelcome marriage could be the unexpected key to rediscovering his first love. Tight writing, explicit sex scenes and a likeable protagonist. I will definitely look for more by this author. (5 stars)

Poisoned Heart by Ann O’Neill – Set in medieval Japan. This story was very original, with some unexpected time travel and a surprising ending. A tale of betrayal and redemption that was my second favorite of the anthology. Very strong writing, and made me want to read more! (5 stars)

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov – Set during Templar times. This was my least favorite story simply because it had an abrupt ending with no resolution, and wasn’t very romantic either. A Templar knight comes face to face with the man he loved but abandoned, and a temptation too great to ignore. The main character was too wrapped up in self-doubt and guilt about sin for this to be enjoyable for me. (1 star)

Overall, this anthology had two excellent stories that make is stand out and worth buying.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology contains four short stories set in different times and locations. Overall the book was quite entertaining.

My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn: This sexy story is about a cowboy and the outlaw who takes him prisoner during a cattle drive. There's a bit of a twist to this kidnap fantasy tale. Solid writing, scorching hot sex and an interesting setting. Very nice. 3.5 stars

Forbidden by H.C. Brown: The setting is 1075 England and Sir Renoir has been ordered to marry an elderly Spanish noblewoman. Heartbroken since the man he loved, Sir Sebastian, had left him two years previously he's thrilled with his former lover's unexpected return. Now to figure out how to keep his King, his fiancee and his lover all happy. I liked this story especially at the end when the "master plan" is put into action. The author does a good job with the limited page count and presents an interesting story. 3 stars

Poisoned Heart by Anna O’Neill: Set in Japan during the Edo-period this story is a mix of historical, time travel and paranormal. This is a tale of betrayal, pain, forgiveness and of second chances. Not a light read despite the short length. Nicely done and quite interesting. 4 stars

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov: William has joined the Knights Templar to repent his past sins but during a siege his past catches up to him. Despite the passage of time and his wish to be lead a life devoted to God his heart may yet take him on a new path. Very well written with interesting characters and a storyline that captures the imagination. 4 stars

[Heidi Belleau]

The first story was just silly and unrealistic. It's been a couple of weeks and all I really remember is "No cowboy would ever act like this."

The second had me rolling my eyes nearly every paragraph. I kid you not, it included the line "they fell in love quickly". Oh, okay, good we got that established. The misogynistic "solution" to the conflict was stomach churning, and the lead character was the m/m romance version of the whiny prince from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. At least there was lots of sex, although that's really not saying much.

Just starting the third now, which is set in Japan, but I don't have high hopes. We'll see how Aleks Voinov manages to finish us off.

Basically, even though none of these time periods are my specific area of expertise and thus I can't speak to the exact quality of the research, there's an overall sense of inauthenticity to the stories. They don't feel historical to me. There's no love of history in them, no care for the nuances of the past. I never once felt challenged or transported. It's all lazily dashed together window dressing, and overall I have the sense that the editor of the anthology really has no interest or passion in history themselves.

This may well work for you if you're strictly an m/m fan looking for a little bit of a taste of a costume-drama past, but if you care about history, I'd skip it.

[Amara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov

I just loved this story. I was transported, brought back to the Crusades by vivid imagery and incredible historical accuracy that didn't bog the story down. Strong, intense, fierce characters. Raw emotion. I connected with this one immediately.

I loved watching, feeling, William as he struggled with his oaths, his perceived sins. The way Guy approaches the situation, logical, statement of fact. The struggle, the fight, the intense heat as William works through and comes to his conclusions, makes his decision.

Truthfully, all of these things are why I read and love Aleksandr Voinov's books. I’ve come to expect all of these things from a Voinov, it’s what he does and what he does best. But this one just seemed to have a bit… more. So vivid a picture he painted. And not being a big fan of short stories, I was amazed by the way he was able to do it all in so few pages.

5 stars from me for this one, I’d give it more, but 5 is as high as it goes.

I can’t wait to read more of William in Lion of Kent.

[Nerine Dorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as hot man-on-man action goes, very little gets as hot as this collection of short stories. I must admit Stormy Glenn's My Outlaw didn't do much for me as the premise felt a bit forced, but HC Brown's Forbidden pretty much knocked my socks off. Not only was the dialogue in this case witty, but the characterisations memorable. Anna O'Neill's Poisoned Heart played on the proximity of love and hate; while Aleksandr Voinov's Deliverance probably offered to me the most impassioned encounter between two men. If these sorts of heated encounters appeal to you, don't pass over the opportunity to indulge. This title is well worth it.

[Cherie Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aleksandr Voinov and Stormy Glenn (I actually bought the book for Stormy, because at the time I didn't know who any of the other authors were) could have carried this Anthology by themselves. That's not to say the other authors weren't good as well...I just mean that their stories (Aleksandr and Stormy's) captured my attention and held it hostage. Delightfully so. If you're looking for a quick pick me up, getting ready to travel and want to take along some good short reads, then this is the book for you.

[Zaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden Love is an anthology containing four books by four authors - Aleksandr Voinov, Stormy Glenn, Anna O'Neill and H.C. Brown.

first story start with My Outlaw by Stormy Glenn i give 4,5 stars
second with Forbidden by H.C. Brown, i vote 4 stars for this historical book.
three, Anna O'Neill's Poisoned Heart, its trully excellent story. i like it alot. i give 4 stars.
and the last is Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov, i always love Aleks style of writing in every his story. including this one (Deliverance). for that i cherish him with absolute 5 stars.

[Aija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hands down the best stories in this anthology are Poisoned Heart by Anna O’Neill and Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov. So fresh from reading them both I can't decide which one I liked more. :D Both have the perfect amount of plot, characterizations, world building and atmosphere. Just... totally captured me and won't let go. :) 5 stars to both of them.

The first two stories, though... left so much to wish for. Once I quite enjoyed stories like these, but now if I read a story, I want to see a good plot and for the sex scenes to be part of it, not just there for the smut value. 2.75 stars.

[Gwengwel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stories for 87 pages make that they are not really long.

1. Cute, sexy, funny.

(cowboy, light D/s)

2. The language's too modern for the story. The ending's unbelievable.

(knight, interracial, BDSM, wedding)

3. I'm not sure. I love it, but it's doesn't felt finished, wanted more.

(paranormal)

4. I love it, I'm just not sure how to read the ending...Wanted more

(religious, knight)

[Noor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked all the stoies however some where better than others i like the first two the best... I loved the whole cowboy and outlaw love angle =)


My Outlaw, By Stormy Glenn - 4 STARS
Forbidden, By H.C Brown - 3 STARS
Poisoned Heart, By Anna O’Neill - 2 STARS
Deliverance, By Aleksandr Voinov - 2 STARS

[Da'ad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of short stories usually, but this was very nice. Stormy Glenn's story (the first one) was all right, nothing special. The seconds was my favorite, with it's hot as hell kinkiness and romance. And the last two were interesting and enjoyable (weird, dark, but very good). And all of them were hot, hot , HOT! I liked this quite a lot.

[Barbara]

So far I've only had the chance to read Aleksandr Voinov's Deliverance and it is WONDERFUL.

[tizi · Rating 4 out of 5]

three 4 stars stories, one 3 stars... difficult to give points... but i really enjoyed the stories.

[LoriO. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Outlaw - mm, 3 stars
Forbidden - mm, virgin, bdsm, 3 stars
Poisoned Heart - mm, virgin, 2 stars
Deliverance - mm, 2 stars

[Marlobo ♥ epilogues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, 2,5 stars

My Outlaw, by Stormy Glenn - 4 stars

Forbidden by H.C. Brown - 2 stars

Poisoned Heart, by Anna O'Neill - 1 star

Deliverance by Aleksandr Voinov - 3 stars

[Emmie · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh. Only one story was good, the others were rushed, or poorly constructed.

[Rhianon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of m/m romance stories, ranging in intensity and quality. I would have given different ratings to each of the four stories included in the volume, but since that wasn't a viable option, I averaged it out.

Stormy Glenn's "My Outlaw" is a couple's playful, lighthearted romp through role-playing. The setting -- the old west -- struck me as totally extraneous, a prop best ignored in favor of the smut since it received as much attention as the female character in the opening scene.

H.C. Brown's "Forbidden" takes the theme of the anthology a little further, and its setting more seriously. This reader was slightly thrown off by the opening sequence of prose, and had to reread a few times to grasp the cast of characters, as they were introduced with little regard for easing the reader into the scene. In hindsight, it felt like being dumped into the middle of an argument with no point of reference as to who the players were or what the field looked like.

Brown, however, makes a commendable effort to engage the reader's sympathies to the lead's plight. The setting (Dark Ages period) plays a significant role in the development of the plot and the "forbidden" aspect of the lovers. The MC is a rather narcissistic, manipulative individual who has no qualms of using others like pawns to further his own interests, but that doesn't make him as ugly a character as it potentially could -- since the majority of individuals had to demonstrate such ruthlessness in order to survive.

Anna O'Neill's "Poisoned Heart" was a delightful deviation from the norm. I enjoyed the plot devices and twists she used to bring an older protagonist into contact with an antagonist from earlier in his life. And I enjoyed the journey he takes internally as he discovers the true heart of his antagonist, electing to permit the person the opportunity to alter his path instead of interfering more directly. The ending left me slightly confused, however, and I'm still not certain if the author intended to leave the outcome open to interpretation, or if the protagonist does actually commit suicide.

Aleksandr Voinov's "Deliverance" is by far the strongest in the anthology. Though very little of the plot occurs "on-stage", he does a beautiful job of demonstrating the history and connection of the two leads without dragging us down into the details. I enjoyed the turbulent emotional journey that the thread of the story focused on, loved the blend of lust and violence and the raw honesty that the men shared.

Equally as enjoyable was the significant contribution of the setting to the plot and Voinov's display of said setting's influence on the characters. In another place and time, these two men would have been friends, lovers, comrades, whatever, no problem. But the circumstances in which they find themselves eliminates that feasibility. And how they've addressed that, and the effect it's had on both individuals, makes a poignant interplay. Ethics and morality, oaths and honesty -- they are each as much characters in this story as the two lovers are. Beautifully done, and the gem of the anthology. It's a good thing it was placed last... because otherwise the reader would be immensely disappointed with whatever story followed it.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-stars for My Otlaw by Stormy Glenn and 3.5-stars for H.C. Brown's Forbidden.

[Miralinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Outlaw, by Stormy Glenn - 5*
Forbidden, by H.C. Brown - 4*
Poisoned Heart, by Anna O'Neill - 3*
Deliverance, by Aleksandr Voinov - 3*

[Koi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forbidden love 3 ***

Stormy Glenn 4 ****
HC Brown 2 **
Anna O'Neill 3 ***
Aleksandr Voinov 3 ***