What do you think?
Rate this book
A Forbidden Love
THE MOST SCANDALOUS MAN IN ENGLAND ...
Sinfully decadent Anthony Kennington, Viscount Hastings, lives for pleasure --- and he rues the day when he must wed and produce an heir. But he is not a man who runs from danger, and when he chances upon an enchanting gypsy maiden in the woods hounded by bandits, he leaps to her defense. Now, surely, there is but one place for the injured and unconscious lovely to properly recuperate: in his bed.
Sabrina is shocked when she awakens in an opulent bedchamber, nursed in every way by a dashing gentleman. She knows she must leave the haven of Anthony's home at once, even though her life is still in grave danger --- though a different kind of peril awaits her in the viscount's arms. If Sabrina surrenders to this handsome rogue, she will be an outcast. Yet does she dare ignore the future that's written on his palm --- the promise of a shared lifetime of love and ecstasy?
Sinfully decadent Anthony Kennington, Viscount Hastings, lives for pleasure --- and he rues the day when he must wed and produce an heir. But he is not a man who runs from danger, and when he chances upon an enchanting gypsy maiden in the woods hounded by bandits, he leaps to her defense. Now, surely, there is but one place for the injured and unconscious lovely to properly recuperate: in his bed.
Sabrina is shocked when she awakens in an opulent bedchamber, nursed in every way by a dashing gentleman. She knows she must leave the haven of Anthony's home at once, even though her life is still in grave danger --- though a different kind of peril awaits her in the viscount's arms. If Sabrina surrenders to this handsome rogue, she will be an outcast. Yet does she dare ignore the future that's written on his palm --- the promise of a shared lifetime of love and ecstasy?
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 27, 2005
5 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Benedict
22 books163 followersALEXANDRA BENEDICT is the author of several historical romance novels published by Avon Books. She also writes fiction as an Indie Author. Her work has received critical acclaim from Booklist and a rare and coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly. Romantic Times awarded her a "Top Pick" review and raved: "There is nothing quite as exciting as finding a fresh, vibrant new voice, and Benedict has it!" All of Alexandra's books are translated into various languages. To learn more, visit her website at www.AlexandraBenedict.ca. Alexandra retired from writing in 2022.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 30, 2020
“Society is the disgrace - but I can’t change society.”
Picked this up because I was intrigued by reviews that said that they liked the realistic depiction of love between gentile and Romani. It was enjoyable but there were some things left to be desired. I wanted something more from A Forbidden Love than I got. It’s not that I felt cheated out of emotional scenes but it felt much more clean and tidy than I was expecting it would be.
Despite the ending where Anthony is, in effect, a social leper, we don’t get to see Anthony’s conflict play out. Anthony never once thought to marry Sabrina. He had some vague notion of installing her in a cottage and visiting her for the rest of his life but it wasn’t until he was forced to marry her - to protect England, no less - that he did it. He had no qualms at the time but when he realizes he has to pay the piper… he is in a bit of a mood before Sabrina confronts him, he comes to his senses and then it’s HEA. That’s it? Given the realistic-ish ending, I thought Anthony would undergo a more profound epiphany on his part. Even though he realizes he loves her blah blah blah, I got the impression that he was being practical by accepting his life and making the most of it more than anything else.
I wish Sabrina was fleshed out - other than read a palm and share the right ingredients for healing remedies, how did being a Romani define Sabrina’s character? She was frail, racked by self-doubt, acutely aware of her status as a Rom. I wish she was more animated but she is stuck in Anthony’s room for most of the book, tries to leave but returns to his room (?!). She’s indoors for almost the whole book - it would have been fun to get more POV on the cultural differences between living indoors vs outdoors - really, anything so that we could have learned more about how Sabrina's worldview is informed by the way of life she grew up in. At the end of the novel, when she decides to leave Anthony once again, she is immediately captured and thrown into Bedlam, waiting to be rescued. I thought that there'd be more of a fight to Sabrina but we don't get it.
I’ve read a few Romani couplings and this is the first story that I've read where the author makes a point to be realistic about how Roms were treated by the English gentry. It’s also interesting that this is the first time I've read where the woman is the Romani. Many Rom heroes turn out to be long-lost bastards of aristocrats or have already crossed cultural divides by becoming connected or associated with English society in some way, but they have a lot of power and confidence in who they are.
I think I was expecting that from Sabrina - proudness with an independent streak to her. However, Sabrina has been insulated within her own culture before meeting Anthony (and one can say the same thing for Anthony too). Perhaps this is why Sabrina is more passive and unsure of herself. It could also be to make her more sympathetic to the reader, and therefore more relatable. It would have been nice if Sabrina had more of an identity and backbone.
Overall, fun and sweet. Hero and heroine might be too passive for my liking. In this regard, it's similar to how I felt about Her Ladyships's Companion by Evangeline Collins.
Picked this up because I was intrigued by reviews that said that they liked the realistic depiction of love between gentile and Romani. It was enjoyable but there were some things left to be desired. I wanted something more from A Forbidden Love than I got. It’s not that I felt cheated out of emotional scenes but it felt much more clean and tidy than I was expecting it would be.
Despite the ending where Anthony is, in effect, a social leper, we don’t get to see Anthony’s conflict play out. Anthony never once thought to marry Sabrina. He had some vague notion of installing her in a cottage and visiting her for the rest of his life but it wasn’t until he was forced to marry her - to protect England, no less - that he did it. He had no qualms at the time but when he realizes he has to pay the piper… he is in a bit of a mood before Sabrina confronts him, he comes to his senses and then it’s HEA. That’s it? Given the realistic-ish ending, I thought Anthony would undergo a more profound epiphany on his part. Even though he realizes he loves her blah blah blah, I got the impression that he was being practical by accepting his life and making the most of it more than anything else.
I wish Sabrina was fleshed out - other than read a palm and share the right ingredients for healing remedies, how did being a Romani define Sabrina’s character? She was frail, racked by self-doubt, acutely aware of her status as a Rom. I wish she was more animated but she is stuck in Anthony’s room for most of the book, tries to leave but returns to his room (?!). She’s indoors for almost the whole book - it would have been fun to get more POV on the cultural differences between living indoors vs outdoors - really, anything so that we could have learned more about how Sabrina's worldview is informed by the way of life she grew up in. At the end of the novel, when she decides to leave Anthony once again, she is immediately captured and thrown into Bedlam, waiting to be rescued. I thought that there'd be more of a fight to Sabrina but we don't get it.
I’ve read a few Romani couplings and this is the first story that I've read where the author makes a point to be realistic about how Roms were treated by the English gentry. It’s also interesting that this is the first time I've read where the woman is the Romani. Many Rom heroes turn out to be long-lost bastards of aristocrats or have already crossed cultural divides by becoming connected or associated with English society in some way, but they have a lot of power and confidence in who they are.
I think I was expecting that from Sabrina - proudness with an independent streak to her. However, Sabrina has been insulated within her own culture before meeting Anthony (and one can say the same thing for Anthony too). Perhaps this is why Sabrina is more passive and unsure of herself. It could also be to make her more sympathetic to the reader, and therefore more relatable. It would have been nice if Sabrina had more of an identity and backbone.
Overall, fun and sweet. Hero and heroine might be too passive for my liking. In this regard, it's similar to how I felt about Her Ladyships's Companion by Evangeline Collins.
September 25, 2015
Full marks for trying to be realistic about the 19th c. 'gypsy' and still writing a passionate romance! I loved the fact that the heroine cannot read and write (as most poor women, let alone 'gypsies', would not have been able to, for they were not given an education) and the family of the hero does not open to her. Alexandra Benedict should be given a medal for writing in the fluffy genre and rising above it. To those readers who cannot allow the challenge to play out, you should question your own readerly abilities. This is still a wonderful, sexy romance that somehow manages to show the difficulties the hero and the heroine would have met with. Their love shines even brighter because of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2018
Decent start & ending, but the middle was a mash of repetitive feels + uneven pace. Not awful, I guess, so far as New Breed Avon regencies are concerned... just not to my taste. I did like the families' brutal response to their romance; not many Avons explore the permanent social repercussions of such a union (not without Disney'ing the end with last-minute acceptance & rainbows), so props for that much.
2.5 stars.
2.5 stars.
March 14, 2020
I don't remember much about the book - other than the heroine having blue eyes I think - and that this old cover made me think that the hero was very uncomfortable throughout the embrace. Ah well!
July 30, 2009
I rolled my eyes so often while I was reading this book it gave me a headache. I was able to finish it, but I ended up skimming through nearly half of the book.
The mystery plot was okay, but I thought the rest of the story was terrible. The heroine who I think was supposed to be considered a strong person, was just TSTL, and I had a hard time suspending disbelief about pretty much the rest of the story. I see it has gotten decent reviews though so I'm obviously in the minority, but I would not recommend it to anyone else.
The mystery plot was okay, but I thought the rest of the story was terrible. The heroine who I think was supposed to be considered a strong person, was just TSTL, and I had a hard time suspending disbelief about pretty much the rest of the story. I see it has gotten decent reviews though so I'm obviously in the minority, but I would not recommend it to anyone else.
August 23, 2013
The author left me wanting more out of the story line. I would of wanted for both her father and his family to come to some type of recociliation with them but everything was left hanging. Sabrina, new that Anthony's father and her father knew each other, Anthony told sabrina about the story behind there wedding but did not tell his father about it. i feel there where too many holes in the story.
January 9, 2024
Sou fã de livros com ciganos, mas o que me irrita um pouco é que em quase todos os históricos com ciganos há algum tipo de parentesco com a nobreza. Neste a personagem é 100% cigana e sofre ao se apaixonar por um nobre. Os dois pagam um alto preço. Apesar de ter achado o final um pouco triste, eu gostei porque ficou verossímel.
March 23, 2018
I loved being kept on my toes for the book
May 5, 2023
A Forbidden Love by writing98 on Wattpad
May 1, 2016
Notorious Rake Viscount Anthony Kennington comes upon a nymph bathing in a river but when she sees him she flees leaving her possessions behind. Anthony pursues in order to return her items and when he catches up with her she is attacked by men who claim she stole a locket she wears. Anthony defends her and chases them off but in the fray she is injured so naturally he takes her home and hides her in his bedroom.
Gypsy Healer Sabrina Kallos doesn't know why these men are relentlessly pursuing her for her locket but now she has more pressing things to worry about like what to do when you wake up in a Viscounts bed with a head wound. She wants to go back to her families camp but the world is spinning so she must stay and recover.
Unfortunately this is the family home with everyone in residence for Anthony's little sisters debut into society so not only is Sabrina being hidden from the family and staff, she will also need to be kept hidden from about 300 party guests. And this is only to beginning for them. Their journey takes them from the county to the gypsy camp to London and more. Also don't forget about the locket that will put all their lives in jeopardy and their forbidden love that will tear their worlds apart.
Gypsy Healer Sabrina Kallos doesn't know why these men are relentlessly pursuing her for her locket but now she has more pressing things to worry about like what to do when you wake up in a Viscounts bed with a head wound. She wants to go back to her families camp but the world is spinning so she must stay and recover.
Unfortunately this is the family home with everyone in residence for Anthony's little sisters debut into society so not only is Sabrina being hidden from the family and staff, she will also need to be kept hidden from about 300 party guests. And this is only to beginning for them. Their journey takes them from the county to the gypsy camp to London and more. Also don't forget about the locket that will put all their lives in jeopardy and their forbidden love that will tear their worlds apart.
August 13, 2012
it was ok, but not that good. it would have been better if both families of sabrina and anthony have at least compromised or at least be civil with each other. the plot was ok from star to middle, but the ending was not that justifiable.
September 25, 2009
Regency
January 15, 2012
Rated 3.5
September 1, 2016
The ending was rushed and I only enjoyed the first part of the book. Too bad as initially I really enjoyed reading it.
June 20, 2010
Something rubbed me the wrong way.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews