Pink Heart Reviews
A FORBIDDEN LOVE
By Alexandra Benedict
AVON Jan 2006, 384 pages
ISBN#0-06-084793-X
Historical Romance-Regency
$5.99 US, $7.99 CAN
Reviewed by Amanda
November 2005
The year is 1817 when Anthony Kennington, a Viscount, stumbles across a beautiful gypsy and rescues her from two thugs. He hides her away in his room to recover from the attack, which starts all of the troubles for the characters in the book. Anthony and the gypsy Sabrina are from two different worlds, neither of which is accepting of the other. Anthony is extremely attracted to Sabrina while she is in his care, but out of his sense of honour and respect, refrains from acting on it. Eventually Sabrina is well enough to leave, and returns home to her people.
Anthony has a hard time forgetting his beautiful gypsy though, and when he discovers why she was attacked by thugs that fateful day they met, realizes that she is still very much in danger and that he must warn her. His attempts to enter her camp unnoticed fail, and when they are caught alone together; Sabrina is labelled a disgrace and disowned. Having nowhere else to go, Anthony takes her to his home once again to hide in his room.
Anthony and Sabrina make love, and Sabrina comes to realize that she loves Anthony. But how could a Viscount ever love a gypsy? Society could never accept them. Her family has already thrown her to the wayside…. would Anthony be willing to let his family do the same? Her doubt about Anthony’s heart eats at her until she decides that she just cannot stay any longer. Her decision to go it alone could cost her her life…. unless Anthony is willing to forsake all that he knows for all that he loves.
While A FORBIDDEN LOVE wasn’t a keeper for me, in no way was it a bad or boring read. I loved that the heroine was a gypsy, and found that very fresh and original. At the heart of the book was the separation of classes in society, which is something that is relatable in any society in any time period. I felt equal sympathy for the hero and heroine and pondered some questions of my own. What are we willing to do for the ones we love? Why do we follow the rules of society that don’t make a whole lot of sense? And I really appreciated that while Anthony and Sabrina got a happy ending, it wasn’t all happy. It made for a richer, more realistic ending.
I think Avon was smart to sign on Alexandra Benedict, and I feel she has a lot of great stories waiting to be told. As I was reading this book, I felt emotion and suspense building that was held back, and I can't help but think that this new author is testing the waters.... for now. I believe her subsequent books will become bolder and more flavourful as she finds her voice in the sea of romance authors. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
