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MacKendimen #2
Once Forbidden
Healing Love
Anice MacNab has just wed her betrothed, the heir to the clan MacKendimen--a family powerful in both name and arms. In the years she has waited for this day, Anice has dreamed of becoming the lady of the clan and its castle, and of finding love with her handsome betrothed. But her dreams of love are brutally shattered on her wedding night.
Robert Mathieson never expected he would be called back after he had been driven away years ago. But at the request of Laird MacKendimen, Robert reluctantly takes over the duties of the steward of Dunnedin, home of the MacKendimens. His presence, however, is welcomed by few, and Anice, especially, keeps her distance. Despite her reserve, Robert is intrigued by Anice and by the flashes of vulnerability beneath her coolness. Although he knows that Anice is forbidden to him, an unexpected passion blossoms between them--a passion which threatens to uncover long-buried secrets and irrevocably alter the future of the clan forever....
Anice MacNab has just wed her betrothed, the heir to the clan MacKendimen--a family powerful in both name and arms. In the years she has waited for this day, Anice has dreamed of becoming the lady of the clan and its castle, and of finding love with her handsome betrothed. But her dreams of love are brutally shattered on her wedding night.
Robert Mathieson never expected he would be called back after he had been driven away years ago. But at the request of Laird MacKendimen, Robert reluctantly takes over the duties of the steward of Dunnedin, home of the MacKendimens. His presence, however, is welcomed by few, and Anice, especially, keeps her distance. Despite her reserve, Robert is intrigued by Anice and by the flashes of vulnerability beneath her coolness. Although he knows that Anice is forbidden to him, an unexpected passion blossoms between them--a passion which threatens to uncover long-buried secrets and irrevocably alter the future of the clan forever....
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2002
72 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Terri Brisbin
215 books552 followersTerri Brisbin is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of more than 50 historical, paranormal and fantasy romances and her books have been released in more than 20 languages and 25 countries around the world since 1998. Her current and upcoming releases will be with Harlequin Historicals and self-published, too.
When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a mom of 3, a grammy of 4 and a dental hygienist. And she's always plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland .
For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .
When not living the glamorous life of a romance author in the southern NJ suburbs, Terri spends her time being a mom of 3, a grammy of 4 and a dental hygienist. And she's always plotting and planning future stories and trips to Scotland .
For more info (more than you could possibly want or need to know) visit her website – www.terribrisbin.com .
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 14, 2009
Anice MacNab came to Dunnedin for her wedding to Sandy the heir of MacKendimen clan. On her wedding night Sandy beats and rapes her. Sandy is sent away to England for what he has done to Anice. She is with child.
Robert Mathieson has made a life for himself at Dunbarton as castellan. Struan Laird of the MacKendimen clan had him fostered out. Now he is called back to Dunnedin. When he arrives he finds out that Dougal the man who raised him is near death. Struan has called him back to take over his fathers job of steward. That is how he meets Anice.
Dougal and Struan are cousins. Dougal had married Glynnis. And Stuan was married to Edana and they had Sandy. Glynnis died giving birth to Robert. Dougal grieved. He raised Robert on his own. In an argument one night between Edana and Struan a secret is revealed and a young boy is sent from his home. One mans dreams are crushed as he turns his back. On Edana's death bed she ask that the boy not be named heir over her son. Struan gives his word.
Word comes that Sandy is on his way home. Anice is terrified and this sends her into labor. Robert helps her to deliver her child and he starts to dream of things forbidden to him. Anice gets word that Sandy is dead. One arrrow to the back is all it takes. Anice is free or is she?
Anice and Robert's friendship blooms. That is until Struan tells her that he and her father have decided to marry her off to the MacLaren heir. Anice runs. She runs to Robert who she thinks can help her. He is on his way home. Robert offers marriage to keep her safe or so he tells himself. He loves her.
Struan years ago had given his promise twice. That a little boy will not be named an heir. With the death of Sandy who will be named heir?
And what of the boy who left the keep all those years ago? What happened to him? That you will have to find out for yourself. Because that is the rest of the story.
Robert Mathieson has made a life for himself at Dunbarton as castellan. Struan Laird of the MacKendimen clan had him fostered out. Now he is called back to Dunnedin. When he arrives he finds out that Dougal the man who raised him is near death. Struan has called him back to take over his fathers job of steward. That is how he meets Anice.
Dougal and Struan are cousins. Dougal had married Glynnis. And Stuan was married to Edana and they had Sandy. Glynnis died giving birth to Robert. Dougal grieved. He raised Robert on his own. In an argument one night between Edana and Struan a secret is revealed and a young boy is sent from his home. One mans dreams are crushed as he turns his back. On Edana's death bed she ask that the boy not be named heir over her son. Struan gives his word.
Word comes that Sandy is on his way home. Anice is terrified and this sends her into labor. Robert helps her to deliver her child and he starts to dream of things forbidden to him. Anice gets word that Sandy is dead. One arrrow to the back is all it takes. Anice is free or is she?
Anice and Robert's friendship blooms. That is until Struan tells her that he and her father have decided to marry her off to the MacLaren heir. Anice runs. She runs to Robert who she thinks can help her. He is on his way home. Robert offers marriage to keep her safe or so he tells himself. He loves her.
Struan years ago had given his promise twice. That a little boy will not be named an heir. With the death of Sandy who will be named heir?
And what of the boy who left the keep all those years ago? What happened to him? That you will have to find out for yourself. Because that is the rest of the story.
January 14, 2026
Once Forbidden is a tender and emotionally charged historical romance that focuses as much on healing as it does on love. Terri Brisbin handles difficult subject matter with sensitivity, allowing the story to unfold at a thoughtful, unhurried pace.
Anice is a compelling heroine whose early trauma shapes every interaction that follows. Her emotional distance feels believable rather than frustrating, and her struggle to reconcile duty, fear, and desire is handled with care. Rather than rushing her healing, the novel allows her strength to develop gradually, which makes her growth feel earned.
Robert Mathieson is a quietly honorable hero, patient, observant, and deeply respectful of Anice’s boundaries. Their relationship builds slowly, grounded in trust and understanding instead of instant passion. The forbidden nature of their connection adds tension, but it’s the emotional intimacy that truly drives the story.
The Scottish setting is richly drawn, with clan politics and long buried secrets adding depth without overwhelming the central romance. Brisbin balances external conflict with internal struggle, making the stakes feel personal rather than purely dramatic.
This is not a light or flashy romance, but a thoughtful one that explores resilience, compassion, and the power of love to mend what has been broken. Readers who appreciate character driven historical romances with emotional depth will find Once Forbidden deeply satisfying.
Anice is a compelling heroine whose early trauma shapes every interaction that follows. Her emotional distance feels believable rather than frustrating, and her struggle to reconcile duty, fear, and desire is handled with care. Rather than rushing her healing, the novel allows her strength to develop gradually, which makes her growth feel earned.
Robert Mathieson is a quietly honorable hero, patient, observant, and deeply respectful of Anice’s boundaries. Their relationship builds slowly, grounded in trust and understanding instead of instant passion. The forbidden nature of their connection adds tension, but it’s the emotional intimacy that truly drives the story.
The Scottish setting is richly drawn, with clan politics and long buried secrets adding depth without overwhelming the central romance. Brisbin balances external conflict with internal struggle, making the stakes feel personal rather than purely dramatic.
This is not a light or flashy romance, but a thoughtful one that explores resilience, compassion, and the power of love to mend what has been broken. Readers who appreciate character driven historical romances with emotional depth will find Once Forbidden deeply satisfying.
May 25, 2018
I love Terri Brisbin's stories. This one is full of a lot of grief and sadness caused mostly by the violent nature of men. The brutality of Anice's supposed husband, on her wedding night, leaves her shattered and unable to enjoy the touch of another human being. Robert on the other hand is always looking for that approval from the man he knows is his father, but who never claims him. So he covets everything his brother has, including his wife. The machinations of the early church hindered life in this time period. Women were thought to be owned by their husbands and subject to their whims. The church preached that was God's will. There was no such thing as equality among the sexes. And apparently love between in-laws was also forbidden, even if those in-laws were now widowed. Although a happy ending was finally achieved it was not before a lot of sadness and tears. Maybe the story is really about learning to love those who love you back and not listening to naysayers. I don't know but I enjoyed this and it is definitely a read again story.
September 21, 2024
So…this was a DNF for me. Nothing against the writing or the plot itself, the author is skilled and this book could 100% be someone else’s bag. However, within the first 20% of the book we see the MMC be physically intimate (naked hug + also passionately kiss) with two separate women that weren’t the FMC, one taking place after the two leads had been introduced. This may not be a deal breaker for some—I’ve read and enjoyed books in the past which show intimacy with others—but the way it was handled in this book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t like feeling anxious that a similar act may occur again, and I was uninterested in continuing.
But props to the author for her detailed and immersive writing.
But props to the author for her detailed and immersive writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2017
Anice is very brutally beaten and raped by her husband on her wedding night and is very much afraid of men or even being touched ever since.
Because she has to heal and cannot function in her role als chatelaine, Robert ( who is the half-brother of Anice's husband) comes back to the village to help out.
He likes and wants her and helps her heel although he knows he can never have her.
Because she has to heal and cannot function in her role als chatelaine, Robert ( who is the half-brother of Anice's husband) comes back to the village to help out.
He likes and wants her and helps her heel although he knows he can never have her.
June 16, 2024
Another excellent book in this series!
Ms. Brisbin has a way of capturing the attention of her readers through the intricate situations and circumstances she puts her characters into. The reader is drawn in by the story plots, twists and turns. I look forward to her next book installation in this series.
Ms. Brisbin has a way of capturing the attention of her readers through the intricate situations and circumstances she puts her characters into. The reader is drawn in by the story plots, twists and turns. I look forward to her next book installation in this series.
July 12, 2024
Enjoyable read
I enjoyed this book. At times it seemed long only to find the next sentence found more romance and enjoyment.
I hope all who read this book find the same sense of enjoyment.
I enjoyed this book. At times it seemed long only to find the next sentence found more romance and enjoyment.
I hope all who read this book find the same sense of enjoyment.
December 7, 2021
Love stories
This book is for those
That love a good love story
I had a hard time putting it down and I have read other books from the author
This book is for those
That love a good love story
I had a hard time putting it down and I have read other books from the author
February 14, 2022
Exceptional
I really enjoyed reading this story. The author knows how to weave a fabulous story. A truly wonderful read, loved
I really enjoyed reading this story. The author knows how to weave a fabulous story. A truly wonderful read, loved
August 15, 2022
Kuddos
Personally I liked this on much better than the first one! I said I would read a sequel not knowing there was one, sort of. I am glad I did!
Personally I liked this on much better than the first one! I said I would read a sequel not knowing there was one, sort of. I am glad I did!
March 21, 2023
Good historical love story
This was a good book. Anice had a hard time getting over her marriage to Sandy. Robert had a hard time not being recognized. It worked out in the end.
This was a good book. Anice had a hard time getting over her marriage to Sandy. Robert had a hard time not being recognized. It worked out in the end.
August 28, 2025
I was expecting a time travel novel as I thought this was a series. A bit disappointed there wasn’t even a hint of it. Still, pretty good story anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2010
I'm a huge fan of Terri Brisbin's Scottish romances and this is one of her novels that I really enjoyed. It really deserves 4 1/2 stars, and I've even considered giving it 5 stars.
"Once Forbidden" is unlike any highland romance I have read before Set in one of my favourite time periods, the early 1300's, Anice McNab has just wed her betrothed, the heir to the clan MacKendimen, Alesander —a family powerful in both name and arms. In the years she has waited for this day, Anice has dreamed of becoming the lady of the clan and its castle, and of finding love with her handsome betrothed. But her dreams of love are brutally shattered on her wedding night when she is brutally raped and beaten by her husband. The Laird of the MacKendimen's and father to Alesander sends his son away to the King in order to protect Anice and the baby she conceived on her wedding night.
The Laird then requests the return of his illegitimate son Robert, a son that he has not accepted publicly to the clan, to take care of Anice's duties whilst she awaits the birth of her baby.
Robert is still struggling to deal with the fact that he has not been acknowledged by his father and his rightful place within the clan. He also finds himself falling in love with Anice, who is fighting her own demons in dealing with the brutal way in which her marriage commenced.
I loved Robert for the way in which he respected Anice and was prepared to do anything he could to gain her trust and make her feel comfortable in their relationship.
Just in case you are wondering there is not a detailed description of the wedding night but throughout the book we get glimpses of what may have happened so that the reader can understand Anice's terrible fear of even coming into contact with the men in the clan. I'm not the sort of reader that likes too much detail when it comes to things such as rape. There's quite a bit of humour in this book too.
This is actually book 2 in a series and I would love to read the other books from the series, but quite a few of Terri's older novels are very hard to come by. I managed to find this one on the Australian Borders website as an ebook. So far no luck in finding the other two.
If you love a good Highland romance then I recommend you have a read of "Once Forbidden".
"Once Forbidden" is unlike any highland romance I have read before Set in one of my favourite time periods, the early 1300's, Anice McNab has just wed her betrothed, the heir to the clan MacKendimen, Alesander —a family powerful in both name and arms. In the years she has waited for this day, Anice has dreamed of becoming the lady of the clan and its castle, and of finding love with her handsome betrothed. But her dreams of love are brutally shattered on her wedding night when she is brutally raped and beaten by her husband. The Laird of the MacKendimen's and father to Alesander sends his son away to the King in order to protect Anice and the baby she conceived on her wedding night.
The Laird then requests the return of his illegitimate son Robert, a son that he has not accepted publicly to the clan, to take care of Anice's duties whilst she awaits the birth of her baby.
Robert is still struggling to deal with the fact that he has not been acknowledged by his father and his rightful place within the clan. He also finds himself falling in love with Anice, who is fighting her own demons in dealing with the brutal way in which her marriage commenced.
I loved Robert for the way in which he respected Anice and was prepared to do anything he could to gain her trust and make her feel comfortable in their relationship.
Just in case you are wondering there is not a detailed description of the wedding night but throughout the book we get glimpses of what may have happened so that the reader can understand Anice's terrible fear of even coming into contact with the men in the clan. I'm not the sort of reader that likes too much detail when it comes to things such as rape. There's quite a bit of humour in this book too.
This is actually book 2 in a series and I would love to read the other books from the series, but quite a few of Terri's older novels are very hard to come by. I managed to find this one on the Australian Borders website as an ebook. So far no luck in finding the other two.
If you love a good Highland romance then I recommend you have a read of "Once Forbidden".
April 17, 2023
Having been so impressed with the first of this series I looked forward to more of the same in book 2. However, while it is tagged as time travel romance, there is no element of time travel whosoever. Once that was clear I was disappointed but still had enough interest in the characters to read on.
My biggest issue with this book is the age of the lead female, Anice, and resulting age gap wjth the male lead, Robert. In book 1, Anice is 15 and about to be married to Sandy, the spoiled psychopath heir to Clan Chieftain, Struan. Book 2 picks up shortly after the wedding, at which time Anice is pregnant. Logically, she is now 16. Robert is older than the absent husband, Sandy. This is stated more than once, specifically as he is the first born, albeit illegitimate son. Sandy's age is not mentioned but since he and Alex (time traveler in book 1) are as alike as twins and even Struan took Alex to be his son - we can assume he is the same age as Alex. Alex is an accountant, having been in the profession for yrs and about to become parrner at his firm. Logically, he must be near 30, at best late 20s. So, yeah, 16 yr old heroine and nearly 30 yr old hero... I just pretended she was older.
A lot of what happened in this story defied belief, and most of the troubles stemmed from people simply not sharing information they should have shared. Finally, there were a few grammatical errors.
All in all, rated a 3 which is really 2.5 rounded up.
My biggest issue with this book is the age of the lead female, Anice, and resulting age gap wjth the male lead, Robert. In book 1, Anice is 15 and about to be married to Sandy, the spoiled psychopath heir to Clan Chieftain, Struan. Book 2 picks up shortly after the wedding, at which time Anice is pregnant. Logically, she is now 16. Robert is older than the absent husband, Sandy. This is stated more than once, specifically as he is the first born, albeit illegitimate son. Sandy's age is not mentioned but since he and Alex (time traveler in book 1) are as alike as twins and even Struan took Alex to be his son - we can assume he is the same age as Alex. Alex is an accountant, having been in the profession for yrs and about to become parrner at his firm. Logically, he must be near 30, at best late 20s. So, yeah, 16 yr old heroine and nearly 30 yr old hero... I just pretended she was older.
A lot of what happened in this story defied belief, and most of the troubles stemmed from people simply not sharing information they should have shared. Finally, there were a few grammatical errors.
All in all, rated a 3 which is really 2.5 rounded up.
November 11, 2017
I first read this book in paperback back in 2012. I really love the story of Anice and Rob. She has been so abused her whole life and tortured by her new husband. So many lies, secrets and dysfunction in the family. The true love and sacrifices that Rob makes to love and protect her touched my heart. This author writes some of my favorite historical romances and many of her books are automatically put on my read again list.
June 29, 2011
Once Forbidden is on my keeper shelf and is one of the books I take out
and read each year just to enjoy again and again. Terri Brisbin is one of my favorite authors because her books are so well written and thoughtful. This one touches the heart.
and read each year just to enjoy again and again. Terri Brisbin is one of my favorite authors because her books are so well written and thoughtful. This one touches the heart.
January 7, 2012
more like 3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews