Synopsis
Jude and Haven share a secret.
One he willingly hides and she tries to forget, but it regardless, it has tied them together.
It’s not until their relationship is discovered that Haven has a choice to make.
She can pine for the man who walked away or choose a new path.
But secrets have a way of showing themselves, making it difficult for Haven to let go… And when she does, can Jude live with the consequences?
Goodreads link- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20442180-forbidden-love
Buy the Book
Amazon US: http://tiny.cc/Forbidden-Love
Amazon UK: http://tiny.cc/Forbidden-Love-UK
Review
I loved the first two books in Lola Stark’s Needle’s Kiss series, and I was anxiously anticipating Haven and Jude’s story because I knew there would be a lot of angst embedded into this forbidden love affair, but what I wasn’t ready for and what was hard to get past was Jude’s cowardice throughout most of the story and a third party entering the dynamics of Haven and Jude’s relationship and upending every aspect of their lives for a good portion of the text.
I feel like the text was telling two different stories at the same time, illustrating how Haven and Jude were dealing with Jude cutting Haven out of his life separately, and they didn’t weave together until the end, and while I’m glad that they both understood what they meant to each other, I wanted that to happen throughout the text in discourse and internal musings that left the story centered around their relationship and the steps they took to push through the bullshit and fight for each other.
Don’t get me wrong. I still enjoyed the story because Lola Stark is a great storyteller, and she has the ability to make readers feel everything her characters are going through whether due to their own actions or the actions of others, and, on some level, I get that Jude needed a wakeup call in order to get him to see what was standing right in front of him, but the complications that ensued due to Jude not stepping up took the spotlight off who the story was truly about and prevented the readers from building a solid connection to Jude and Haven as a couple.
How everything played out was truly heartbreaking for all those involved, and Jude missed out on a lot of time with the woman he loved because he couldn’t grow a pair and claim the woman who’s always been his, and while I don’t begrudge Haven moving on and her relationship with Dylan definitely changed her for the better, I guess I just wanted the focus to remain on the Needle’s Kiss family and illustrate, just like with the previous two couples, that anything worth having is worth putting one’s heart on the line and damning the consequences if anyone disapproves.
If you’re a reader who has been with the Needle’s Kiss series since the beginning, you definitely need to read Jude and Haven’s story and see how it all plays out because even though it might not have been a top read for me, it still brings a great series to a close and you get to catch up with the whole family and learn valuable lessons in the process.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
3/3.5 poison apples
Series Information
Playlist
Excerpt
Chapter Two
Jude
I walked back into the garage and punched one of the big metal tool cabinets on my way past. I sucked up the pain like a drug I couldn’t cope without. Why was she here? There was something about her that was just so alluring. I couldn’t see her without wanting to fall to my goddamn knees and worship her like she was a queen amongst peasants.
Suck it up, you pussy! When did you acquire feelings?
Pushing away from the doorframe at the back of the shop, I trudged outside in my heavy boots, kicking rocks as I went. I cut off my emotions as soon as I was able. I struggled to handle these kinds of feelings; they messed with my head and left me making bad decisions. Decisions that screwed with friendships, families and futures. I couldn’t have a future with her; it just wouldn’t be good for anyone.
Sitting at the bar stool, I pulled Haven between my legs and moved my hands to run up her silky legs, stopping at the bottom of her tight black skirt. Her arms came up and circled my neck as her head came down to my face. My fingers teased the skin at the edge of her skirt as she pulled my bottom lip into her mouth and sucked, tearing a growl from my throat. My fingers stopped their progress and dug into the skin of her legs, pulling her tighter to me and deepening the torturous kiss.
In response, her hands dropped to my shoulders, her nails close to breaking the skin through my t-shirt while my fingertips ghosted over the curve where her legs met her luscious ass. The tightly wound restraint I had been keeping snapped, and I swiftly stood, picking her up. Her legs instantly wrapped around my waist and I took a few long strides to the edge of my workbench where I set her down, then pressed hard against her core and ground my hips. Haven’s hands tugged at my shirt ripping it over my head as I ran my rough hands higher and higher up her soft thighs until I hit the sweet spot. She moaned just as my mouth came down, devouring her like the starving man I was. She was my drug of choice. Her taste, touch and smell I just couldn’t get enough of it. I couldn’t get enough of her, and I didn’t need it either. Haven would always be exactly what I craved.
“Dude, snap out of it.” The voice broke me out of my reverie and yanked me back to the present. Goddamn it, I did it again. I’d been slipping into memories of Haven for weeks. I just couldn’t get her out of my head. It was fucked up, messy and it left me in a piss-ass mood for the rest of the day.
Why’d I have to fall for a girl I can’t have? That’s how it always worked though, right? The guy loved the girl he couldn’t have. Then the poor bastard pined for her for all eternity and was unable love anyone like he loved her. He’d end up miserable and alone, simply because a relationship would be selfish and do more harm than good to the people they both loved. Scrubbing my hand down my face in an effort to wipe her from my thoughts, I knew something had to give. I didn’t know how much more I could take.
About the Author
What to say ? Errrr…
Lola hates all things sultanas.
Lola is a little strange and unusual.
Lola has no brain-to-mouth filter
(this may or may not have gotten Lola into trouble – repeatedly).
Lola is keeping Coca-cola in business one 2lt bottle at a time.
Apparently, Lola likes to talk in the third person about herself.
This here is what my profile says everywhere: Lola Stark lives in Australia, Is an at-home mummy with no filter, raising a hoard of minions. Lola has loved to read for as long as she can remember. When not wrangling the children, she can be found sitting at her computer, writing, facebooking or just generally messing around. I know, I know third person again.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLolaStark
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlolastark
Email: authorlolastark@gmail.com
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