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Forbidden by Destiny (The Forbidden Love Novels Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Negeen Papehn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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The author of Forbidden by Faith delivers “a very touching story . . . [of] Iranian culture and family dynamics . . . completely relatable” (InD’tale Magazine).
 
When Leyla’s best friend Sara goes through a complicated breakup, Leyla reluctantly agrees to pick up Sara’s things from her boyfriend Ben’s home. She thinks she is doing what any good friend would do, until she finds Ben completely shattered. His pain speaks to Leyla’s heart, and she suddenly finds herself feeling what it’s like to fall in love for the first time ever.
 
An afternoon of an innocent lunch and a walk on the beach to cheer him up turns into fireworks—and Leyla can’t get Ben out of her head. Pushed to her limits, fighting for a love she’s always dreamed of, and against a demon she never knew existed, Leyla must ultimately make a choice. Her decision will come down to loyalty to her best friend, the expectations of her family, or the desires of her wanting heart . . .
 
Praise for the Forbidden Love series
 
“Forbidden by Faith shows how family, love, and faith can collide, even in this modern age.”—A. K. Leigh, author of See Her Run 
 
“A heartfelt immigrant love story.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Ms. Papehn is a wonderful storyteller! I was immediately caught up in the lives of her characters. In Forbidden by Destiny, the heroine, Leyla, might be of Iranian descent but her story belongs to all women.”—Carrie Nichols, author of the Small-town Sweethearts series
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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 3
    Forbidden Love
  2. Print length
    260 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    City Owl Press
  6. Publication date
    February 19, 2019
  7. File size
    4767 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ms. Papehn is a wonderful storyteller! I was immediately caught up in the lives of her characters. In Forbidden by Destiny, the heroine, Leyla, might be of Iranian descent but her story belongs to all women." - Carrie Nichols, Author of The Small-town Sweethearts series

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08GLC968X
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ City Owl Press (February 19, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 19, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4767 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

About the author

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Negeen Papehn

Negeen Papehn

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Negeen Papehn was born and raised in southern California, where she currently lives with her husband and two boys. She wasn’t always a writer. A graduate of USC dental school, Negeen spends half of her week with patients and the other half in front of her laptop. In the little time she finds in between, she loves to play with her boys, go wine tasting with her friends, throw parties, and relax with her family.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

M P
5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. And once again I enjoyed learning about the Iranian-American culture. Living in America lately it’s becoming all about ones happiness and ones happiness only even if it defies where you came from and your family. This isn’t so easy in Iranian culture which even in the big city and new country still has the close knit circle where everyone is in everyone’s business through the good and the bad... This is not just the love story between the couple, it’s a story about all different kinds of love and their struggles in family and friends and the hard balance to keep everyone happy at all costs...
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Kappa lady
5.0 out of 5 stars Love these books.
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
She did it again!! Negeen wrote another amazing book weaving culture, love, friendship, and life all into one. This book like her last, I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait for the third book in this series and hope she continues to write more.
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Fantalis
4.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary Own Voices series that makes you think...
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
In this unique #ownvoices contemporary series, you get true insight into the Persian-American community. These books are full of hard-working, deeply loving families with values constrained by tradition, and this author shows us the complexities of living as part of a traditional culture within modern US society. Her female characters in particular struggle with being modern women with career aspirations and sexual lives while living with parents who expect them to be -- at the same time -- successful but ready to give it all up for marriage and family. A break-up is devastating enough but how much more difficult when EVERYONE is judging you for it ("Oh, how could she let him get away? He was a good catch." "She'll never find a man like him again. She's getting too old.") Her characters are all deep and interconnected, and you feel like you're part of the family too.

*spoilers follow* *trigger warning*

In this second book, a shocking assault (attempted rape) traumatizes the heroine, and the act adds a whole other layer of depth to what could have been just another romance novel. You are forced, along with Leyla, to confront a survivor's emotions, including her sense of guilt -- am I to blame in some way? It was surprising and, I think in light of #metoo and our society's tendency to ignore things we don't want to talk about, important.

Leyla comes out on the other side safe and, with therapy and love, well. She takes charge of her life and defines what has happened, rather than letting others define it for her. This is not your typical romance novel. It will challenge you, but you'll be glad you read it.
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ACR
5.0 out of 5 stars All the feels!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Once again Papehn takes us over the top with all the feels as she gives voice to Ben's heartache and Leyla's anguish and the love they both try to deny. A must-read for fans of Forbidden by Faith.
Go Team Ben!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Best romance book I’ve ever read!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
I got my copy yesterday and haven’t been able to put it down. One can easily relate to this beautiful love story because it’s just so close to reality. So touching yet so powerful. I’m enjoying every page of this book.
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Ronald Shoemaker
5.0 out of 5 stars She does it again!
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
Paphen did it again! The author does not hold back in her second book with forbidden love and unimaginable foes. Hard topics but very well done. Can’t wait for the next book!
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Sage Wolfsong/Thrice Read Books
4.0 out of 5 stars A story that will leave you breathless!
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which follows:**

Negeen Papehn brings back the fantastic cast of her first book, FORBIDDEN BY FAITH, to continue the story of Ben (the almost-hero of book 1) and Leyla, best friend of Sara, the heroine of book 1, in her second release, FORBIDDEN BY DESTINY.

After Sara and Ben end their relationship for good, best friend Leyla is tasked with collecting Sara's things from the apartment the couple was moving into. Leyla liked Ben - they were friends while he and Sara were dating, but she's been friends with Sara since they were in diapers. So when Leyla realizes she's attracted to her best friend's ex, and that she's deeply bothered by how Sara ended the relationship, Leyla finds herself in the worst possible situation - she's in love with her best friend's ex.

Ben understands Leyla's predicament, but after two years of experience with Sara's Iranian family, their culture, and their judgment based on his heritage, he's not up for a repeat - and he pushes Leyla to stop hiding their love.

Turns out that doing so creates an avalanche of events that threaten to tear Leyla's world apart, distancing her from friends, family, and ultimately, Ben himself. And just as she's finding her feet again, her world is turned upside down by a single trauma that will alter her life forever.

I enjoyed book 1, and I was just tickled pink to see how much Ms. Papehn has grown as an author in book 2. The writing and plot are tighter. The narrative doesn't ramble at all. The emotional impact of this second book is so much deeper, that I found myself crying on more than one occasion, and I hadn't even gotten to the black moment!

FORBIDDEN BY DESTINY can be read as a standalone, easily. Any necessary backstory is handled efficiently and doesn't leave the reader lost. With that said, however, reading book 1, FORBIDDEN BY FAITH, will deepen the emotional impact of Layla and Ben's story. And... Spoiler alert: I am so happy that Ben got his happy ending - he's the kind of guy that mother's hope their daughters (and maybe sons) find to spend their lives with.

A full, easy four-star romance worth sitting down to.
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Az N
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019
Verified Purchase
I love the characters and the story. I really didn't want to stop reading it and was so bummed when the story ended. I wanted to keeping hearing more... Looking forward to book 3!
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Top reviews from other countries

Joanne Wilkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
Thoroughly enjoyed this second book. So well written - it keeps the reader wanting to turn the next page. The author has a way of bringing her characters to life in such a way that as the reader I can visualise them and 'know them' Can't wait for book number 3!
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