Forbidden Love

The story revolves around an affair between a 17 year old girl and her 36 year old guardian who has been unhappily married for 15 years. On the surface, this plot line could have provided the basis for a very good book(i.e. a similar story written by Anita Shreve in which the young girl is very precocious and mature beyond her years). Sadly, the girl in this novel is so immature (for example, she doesn't know what a penis is) and unrealistic that it is hard to believe the guardian could feel more for her than lust. The guardian himself has a bad temper, is very controlling, and is so self-centered he appears downright clueless sometimes. Most of the book is full of self-recrimination, angst, anger, and misunderstanding. The resolution toward the end leaves one feeling like "hell, why didn't the guardian do this a long time ago." The narrator is unpleasant and difficult to listen to. This is not a terrible book, but it is not one I would recommend.

Let me first say that I do not usually do reviews on books that I have yet to finish, but I made the exception this time because I don't think I will be able to stomach it much longer.

I don't mind an age difference in a romance, my spouse is 15 years older than me, BUT when the age difference is 20 years AND he is her guardian AND he is MARRIED to another woman... I am having a hard time seeing the "romance" in this!

** He put her over his knee and spanked her, yet 20 minutes later, he is kissing her?!?

** Then he spends half his time reprimanding himself that she is his ward and he should have "fatherly" affection towards her, YET he doesn't do much to remove her from his temptation.

**Did I mention that he was already MARRIED?

Honestly this book makes me think it was written for a pedophile. It shows a man who is 36 years old, married and is the guardian of a 17 year old girl. He totally abuses his power and takes advantage (IMHO) of someone in his care. He is cheating on his marriage vows (even if it is a distant marriage, it IS STILL A MARRIAGE!) so he is cheating on his wife. Were this turned around, the man would be an outraged cockhold seeking revenge on the field of honor.

*** This book seriously is making me ill and I don't think that I will EVER seek out this author again. Abuse is NOT romance and if we teach young girls that it is, we are only extending the normalcy of abuse and making it seem right. Not for me! I can't believe that this was published OR that someone could read it out loud and still label it as "Romance"

It was kind of weird to get over the fact he used to be her gaurdian. I know the age difference isn't that big of a deal but it would have been better if he was just slightly younger. Ha! At least from a young girls perspective!