A review by bookishnerdyandcurious
Forbidden by Karla Sorensen

5.0

I'm so glad that I did the read of the series before getting to this one - not that it's necessary; it would be a great standalone book (but I am nothing if not about the overkill, heh). When Isabel's boss sells the gym to a former fighter that she crushed on as a teenager, the change throws her into a bit of a tailspin. Aiden, her new boss, doesn't seem to quite know what to make of her, just that she intrigues him. And is good with his daughter. And quite possibly loves the gym more than he does. He's trying to get a fresh start after his wife's death a few years before and Isabel is tempting. Isabel is a character that I found hard to like in the previous books, but now that I know her story, I understand her reactions in the previous books. She is a mama bear when it comes to her family - if she loves you, she loves you fiercely and will protect you against the world. I related so damn hard to Isabel's initial reaction to meeting Aiden, because I would do the same thing. I loved seeing Aiden learning to trust in others and in his own instincts when it comes to his daughter and to love. Showing up like he did? *swoon* I really don't want to leave this world, but the stories have been told and I can only hope that Karla finds more tales to tell in this world!