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Shanora Williams
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The Man I Can't Have (Ward Duet Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Shanora Williams (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,288 ratings
It started as a simple search for a landscape designer...

I wanted a beautiful backyard for my new home and my neighbors suggested I look into Ward Landscaping & Design.
The owner had no pictures of himself on his website, just a portfolio of nice outdoor sitting areas, pools, and vibrant gardens that I'd always dreamed of having.
Of course I hired him.
I expected to meet an average guy, but Mr. Marcel Ward is far from your average man. He's handsome, and well-built, and his smile--though a rare feat--is truly infectious.
He's every woman's dream--a handsome, older man who doesn't mind getting down and dirty to create something beautiful all because of his passion for it. Unfortunately that lucky woman can't be me.
Although Mr. Ward tests my limits, quickens my breath, and makes my heart skip a beat when he's around, I've made a promise to devote myself to my husband.

So why am I falling for a man I know I can't have?
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Ward Duet
  2. Print length
    412 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    May 4, 2019
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Ms. Williams crafted a forbidden romance that I can easily claim as one of the best I've read in years." - Auden Dar, bestselling author

"For those of you, like myself, who have zero triggers and love a good taboo read containing this certain theme--GO IN BLIND. Stop reading reviews, including mine, and GO. IN. BLIND. Leave all judgements at the door." - Dee Garcia, bestselling author


"Brilliant, captivating and addictive! This story is down right BOLD! Packed to the brim with angst and love, you're bound to fall head over heels as Shanora Williams brings the heat with another taboo treat!" - Dani, Hot KU Romance


"No one knows how to craft a forbidden romance quite like Shanora Williams! And here we are once more with a taboo love story that is all kinds of angsty. All kinds of intense. And all kinds of sexy." - MJ, Goodreads Reviewer

"This is a slow burn of a different order. Shanora builds an angsty romantic world where you feel like you're inside the love story and then twists and twists until you're wrung out and clutching your kindle." - KC, Aphrodites Reading Alphas

"Dear LORD this book BURIED me. It buried me so deep in my emotions that I cant even claw my way out. No sense in trying to prepare yourself, just brace for the impact. Shanora is not playing any games and will ruin you..." - Chele', For The Love Of Books

"The author really nailed it. There's absolutely nothing more I could have wanted from this book. I'm well and truly satisfied." - Literary Temptations

"My honest advise to go in to this book completely blind! Stay away from reviews and just dive in!" -Rhonda, Goodreads Reviewer

"This story had me completely hooked from the first few pages. I already knew from the blurb that this novel is a forbidden romance with cheating, but this story is truly so much more than that." - BookManiacForever


"I'm a huge fan of Shanora Williams and have been for years and this book is definitely my favourite from her." - Vickie, Goodreads Reviewer

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RGGDY8R
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shanora Williams (May 4, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 412 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,288 ratings

About the author

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Shanora Williams

Shanora Williams

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Shanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty romance and diverse suspense novels.

She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and three boys and is a sister to eleven.

When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,288 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book engaging and easy to read, with a captivating and intense plot that includes drama and heartache. The characters are well-developed, and customers particularly appreciate the undeniable chemistry between Gabby and Marcel. Customers describe the book as hot and steamy.

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28 customers mention "Readability"25 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as amazing and a must-read, with one customer noting it's thoroughly entertaining.

"Omg, this book is so good! I read it in one day, and now I can't wait to read part 2! This author is amazing!" Read more

"...I’m sure that prior to making the conscious decision to read this amazing book in the first place...u read the summary...which clearly allows us to..." Read more

"This was great until the end...." Read more

"...It gave me all the feels and one heck of a book hangover! I loved the undeniable chemistry between Gabby and Marcel...." Read more

27 customers mention "Story quality"24 positive3 negative

Customers find the story captivating with a decent plotline and drama, with one customer noting it feels like real life.

"...I loved the storyline of Gabby & Marcel, their stories are both electrifying and full of sexual chemistry, yes their is a beautiful sadness to it too..." Read more

"...Reasons I enjoyed this book: Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters" Read more

"...Because she has interesting storyline ideas, I hope she puts some work into improving her writing skill because she clearly has a great imagination..." Read more

"...just read it cuz she got on my nerves... besides that, I truly enjoyed the story. Ready for book two!" Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"11 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it easy to read, with one customer specifically noting it as a well-written love story.

"...I read it in one day, and now I can't wait to read part 2! This author is amazing!" Read more

"...in this whole book, it loved and it cried through some of the best written parts I have ever read...." Read more

"...This was an isolated situation. The author is very talented and works magic with her words...." Read more

"...matter of a limited vocabulary or what, but Shanora's writing is just not very sophisticated...." Read more

10 customers mention "Emotional content"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, describing it as passionate and filled with heartache, with one customer noting its beautiful drama.

"...This book is intense! It is steamy, emotional, has drama and gives me all the different feels...." Read more

"...So many feels and emotions in this one....Shanora you are amazing! All the feels in this book!" Read more

"What an emotional journey this book was. Marcel and Gabby have so much natural chemistry together...." Read more

"...It’s breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I cannot wait for the second book...." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one mentioning they instantly attached to them.

"...I enjoy this cast of complicated characters very much...." Read more

"...after Book you can’t help but be consumed by her words and her brilliant characters...." Read more

"...and Marcel hit it off from day one, the chemistry and complex characters had me turning pages. This book is intense!..." Read more

"...She writes story that may be taboo to some but the characters are so real. Gabby is married but is unhappy 😡with her marriage...." Read more

7 customers mention "Heat level"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's heat level, describing it as hot and steamy.

"...Reasons I enjoyed this book: Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters" Read more

"...Gabby and Marcell.... dang y’all!!!! Heat off the charts and the connection on a whole other level...." Read more

"Wow! Absolute hotness! I’m writing this review for the duet as one story because I read them so fast I don’t know where this amazing story cut off...." Read more

"I love Gabby and Marcel together! Their chemistry is hot!!!! I thought from the beginning of the book something was off with Kyle...." Read more

3 customers mention "Chemistry"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the chemistry between Gabby and Marcel in the book.

"...I loved the undeniable chemistry between Gabby and Marcel...." Read more

"Just wow. The chemistry between Marcel and Gabby was incredible. You could really feel it between those two. I liked every second with them...." Read more

"...Marcel and Gabby have so much natural chemistry together. In they way they bicker and shyly notice each other. Kyle is didn't like his at all...." Read more

I AM IN LOVE
5 out of 5 stars
I AM IN LOVE
“You’re everything I never knew I wanted.” He shudders a breath, pressing his forehead to mine. Our eyes connect. “It’s just my luck that the woman I really want is already taken by someone else.” I did not read this book - I swallowed it !!! Although the end left me breathless, I felt that the author was trying to justify the actions of the characters... yet, it did not destroy my reading experience - I am curious and thirsty for more, until the second part of the duet will come out! "She had it wrong when she said I would be her ruin. If anything, I’m almost certain she will become mine." So if you want to experience the whole spectrum of emotions - passion and anxiety, pain and love, laughter and regret ... you must read this duet !!! “You have me right now,” I tell him through a moan. “I don’t just want right now. I want you forever.”
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Whitney Gregory
    5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Omg, this book is so good! I read it in one day, and now I can't wait to read part 2! This author is amazing!
    Helpful
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  • Amberisalwaysreading86
    4.0 out of 5 stars I just wanna make sure the dog is ok 😂
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    After reading this a second time, I find I've picked up on more subtle nuances than the first.
    I enjoy this cast of complicated characters very much. Sometimes people put themselves in impossible situations, and at others, the circumstances one is born into means their decisions are made out of necessity. These characters careened full force into the hand of fate,no matter how you look at their backgrounds. I hope the second installment ends with their futures decidedly happy.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Brenda Travers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Shanora Nailed it again
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Let’s all just Bow Down to Queen of The Feels Shanora Williams. Book after Book you can’t help but be consumed by her words and her brilliant characters. The Man I Can’t Have did exactly that, it consumed me straight at the start.

    I loved the storyline of Gabby & Marcel, their stories are both electrifying and full of sexual chemistry, yes their is a beautiful sadness to it too. It is for each of these reasons my heart was in this whole book, it loved and it cried through some of the best written parts I have ever read. Let’s not talk about that cliffy and me never wanting the book to end. Shanora once again you Nailed it, I was right there on every page hanging on every word. Thoroughly cannot recommend this book enough.
    Bring on Book 2 The Man I Need.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Shaez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Romantic fiction read so far
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I first saw the cover and title and said I want to read that! Then I read the blurb I and really wanted to read it like yesterday! I have never heard of the author Shanora Williams but man this introduction to her work was more than I could ask for. Gabby and Marcel hit it off from day one, the chemistry and complex characters had me turning pages. This book is intense! It is steamy, emotional, has drama and gives me all the different feels. The revelations in the last chapter about Kyle and the cliff-hanging ending have me on the edge of my seat for book 2!

    Reasons I enjoyed this book:

    Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters
    Helpful
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  • Grich1day
    5.0 out of 5 stars I just can’t!!!! I LOVED IT!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Now look, prior to reading this story I cheated a little and read some of the reviews. I was quite taken a back with the negative comments left about cheating during a marriage and how could she, that is immoral and b/c of that I’m leaving a bad review....
    PAUSE 🛑.....
    I’m sure that prior to making the conscious decision to read this amazing book in the first place...u read the summary...which clearly allows us to understand that this novel is about someone who has an affair.....
    PAUSE .... u should have moved on to the next book....
    instead you read it anyway and slam an author and her book that was an incredible read that left us on pins and needles with each chapter...
    Folks, ignore the negative chatter.... This book, although it involves a wife cheating on her husband who was a dirt bag anyway, was simply GREAT!!!
    Unlike others, I would not steer you wrong!!!!
    If I could, I would give her 10 stars ⭐️ For having the courage to write about stories that push you out of your comfort zone...
    Signed.....
    A Happy Newlywed!!!!!!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mellie_998
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good premise poor execution
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Unlike the Venom series, this story was actually a good one but, sadly, was poorly executed. I don't know if it's a matter of a limited vocabulary or what, but Shanora's writing is just not very sophisticated. The dialogue in her books (in all fairness, this is only the second series by her I've tried to read. I only made it halfway through book 2 in the Venom series before I had to put it on my dnf shelf. This one I hope to finish book 2 because, as I said, it has a decent plotline, but it truly depends on how cheesy the dialogue gets) tend to be very basic, immature, and sometimes unbelievably cheesy. I don't know where this series falls in her writing career, but the writing is marginally better than the Venom series, but still isn't great. Because she has interesting storyline ideas, I hope she puts some work into improving her writing skill because she clearly has a great imagination and a desire to share her stories.
    Helpful
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  • Beck
    4.0 out of 5 stars ❤️❤️🔥🔥
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I Love the story. But I made the mistake of buying the audio together with the book only for the male’s voice (panty melting voice) but I was so disappointed with the the female voice! Ugh! She was NOT Gabby! I had to skip all of Gabby’s audio and just read it cuz she got on my nerves... besides that, I truly enjoyed the story. Ready for book two!
    Helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Marcel and Gabby
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was great until the end. I knew Gabby’s husband Kyle was an abusive man by the way he spoke to her and kept her away from her family and friends. He wanted to be the only person in her life. When he grabs her by the throat I thought “there’s Kyle”. She should have made plans to leave him alone at that moment! No marriage is worth the violence, isolation, verbal abuse, and passionless sex! Vows have to be broken when these factors come into play! Definitely worth the read.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Marian Chawner
    5.0 out of 5 stars All is not what it seems
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book you shouldn’t read if you’ve got a weak disposition. OrSHOULD. Well Shanona certainly has a fantastic way with words and a story. Yes indirectly this story may appear to be about a cheating wife called Gabbie, a husband called Kyle and a man hunk called Marcel. However believe me all is most definitely not what it seems. The cliffhanger is to die for, and the 13 th June cannot come quick enough. We have a newly married couple, we have a wealthy man, we have a loving family, with many secrets. We have a great BBF. We have trust mistrust, dual standards, and sorrow, but most of all we need to read the book, and watch how the mystery unfurls. We also have very cherished and intimate moments that make your toes curl and your lips tingle, from the delightful descriptions. Finally we have an adorable puppy, that may have given all the secrets away. As ever a fabulous book, by an ingenious author. For some the thought of anyone cheating in a relationship is a no go area, but define cheating or falling in love .Being controlling and controlled. Being informed or being deceived. Be truthful or dishonest. Having double standards or just being an over bearing bully. Domestic issues abound and violence is used, which may not suit all.
    Report
  • Carmen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing chemistry
    Reviewed in Spain on July 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved the book. Loved the chemistry between Marcel and Gabby and how they work through their own emotions. The cliffhanger, though... mean, so mean.
    Report
  • Chook74
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mind-blowing anticipation
    Reviewed in Australia on February 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I fell hard, fast and completely for this story and the couple that came to life in enchanted bliss in every chapter. A slow burn tightrope of apprehension, thrills and intense emotions. To become one with a story and be totally immersed to the point of being oblivious to anything else, is extremely rare. The author has a way of spinning words and creating a world where you are enthralled, moved beyond comprehension, and never wanting to lose the intense feelings this story invokes. These bewitching characters and their captivating story are hard to recover from. It's hard to let go and move on from a book that is so well written and leaves such an incredible impression. It ruins you for all other stories that are not able to match the caliber of writing that this author delivers.

    The story unfolds and with it comes a rollercoaster of occurrences that will stun, anger and confound you. The endurance and tenacity that was at times not blatantly evident in the leading lady, was impressive and humbling. To be a witness to the evolution of her true character shining through was an unforgettable experience. The leading man's patience, understanding and fierce devotion is something that all little girls wish for when dreaming about their soulmate. Life certainly threw everything at this couple, and it's unclear if their ending will be a happy one (epic cliffhanger alert). But this author just has this knack for keeping you wholeheartedly captivated, that no matter what unfolds, you are100% invested until the very last word.

    I hope this feeling will last forever, as the memories of this story will be some of the strongest and most profound I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. I cannot wait for the continuation of this remarkable saga. 5 stars.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Such a great,emotional story
    Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    What a great story.I feel so sorry for Gabby. This book is full of emotions.I am so anxious to read the second part.I hope she will end with Marcell.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    All I'm going to say is...get this book and read it! Absolutely wow! Can't wait for her second book to come out!
    Report

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