About “Prohibited” by Donnee Patrese::
“Maxine Marshall wasn’t looking for love. Love was a crazy and complex emotion that she wanted no part of. After a stint with an abusive boyfriend that left her vulnerable and low, all she wanted was–sex. Lots of SEX!
Though, sex with her best friend’s father was not what she had in mind, she knew sometimes amazing sex has a way of clouding judgment.
Michael Salvatore wasn’t a saint. He didn’t mind giving Maxine what she wanted. She wasn’t the first woman he had an affair with after all. He was prepared to make her feel things she had never felt before. But through all the sex, he was still looking. Looking for what his wife would not give him, hot steamy sex, intimacy and—love. Sex was easy. He could find sex, but love was another story…until he met Maxine.
Maxine knew Michael was different. He was not like any other man she had ever met. He was all man, rich, successful, attractive and…white. Maxine had never been with a white man. She was intrigued.
Michael made her yearn for things she had never wanted before and deep down she knew the affair should end. She was never supposed to lose her heart to him, but once Michael confessed his love and his intentions to leave his wife; her first reaction was to run away, but his sophistication and charm swept her off her feet and had her running in the opposite direction…right into his arms.”
There was a depth to this story that I did not anticipate. I thought it was pretty straight-forward: a woman who had sworn off love after an abusive relationship falls for, unfortunately, a man already married. However, the author makes use of one of my own preferred writing styles of switching first person point-of-view between the main characters, adding a powerful intimacy with each of their personal struggles not only with current events, but their pasts as well.
The majority of people, such as myself, believe that adultery is wrong and generally speaking, immediately write-off cheaters as the ‘bad guy’ in the scenario. While acknowledging this, “Prohibited” gives new perspectives on the situation that offer explainable, though not excusable, reasons why even such a cut-and-dry moral failing may not be so cut-and-dry after all. Being able to read directly from the minds of not only those in the affair, but the wife being cheated on makes the story an excellent one to debate complex ethical issues and human emotional weaknesses.
Despite what appears to be a cliche scenario, the book contains numerous emotional scenes as Maxine, Michael, and Maria share their histories, battling with their pain, feelings, and societal/familial obligations while trying to find their own happiness. There are even a few surprises that I’m doing my best not to speak on, lest I spoil it for new readers.
I’ve noticed that a lot of authors find a hard time properly describing sexual encounters without sounding too awkward or too crude, but Donnee Patrese writes with a balance which makes the atmosphere classy, steamy, and not overdone. Also, I feel I’d be amiss not to mention that the relationships and sex are not solely left to heterosexuality though the setting is hetereonormative.
I haven’t been hooked on a drama like this one in years. I had to immediately buy the sequel and can’t wait until I can get started. When I reached the end of the first book, I knew I had to find out what happens next as soon as possible because I’m that invested these characters now.
You can purchase the ebook here: https://amzn.to/2Dj1m3A
or the paperback here: https://amzn.to/2Pf1khI
Also find Donnee Patrese’s other work and follow her profile to receive email notifications when she publishes new stories here: https://amzn.to/2ICq3LH
Donnee Patrese can also be found on:
Twitter: @Donnee_Patrese
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonneePatrese/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DonneePatreseSpeaks
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~Sahreth ‘Baphy’ Bowden
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