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Southern Comfort #2
Forbidden
Special Agent Clay Copeland lives his job. As a behavioral specialist with the FBI’s Investigative Support Unit, his days are spent traveling the country assisting other law enforcement agencies with their most disturbing and difficult cases. Clay excels at his work, maintaining an easygoing affability and sense of humor despite his frequently gruesome job. Until one case goes terribly wrong…
Shaken by the loss of a young child whose death he lays at his own feet, Clay seeks refuge in the sandy beaches and plentiful feminine distractions to be found along the South Carolina coast. And no female has ever distracted him quite as much as local innkeeper Tate Hennessey.
A woman with her own ghosts, Tate is a single mother to five-year-old Max. Against her better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the charming and handsome agent. When an outing to a traveling carnival ends with another family’s tragedy, Tate and Clay are sucked into the resultant investigation into the abduction of a young teen.And neither of them can be prepared for what their chance encounter eventually uncovers.
Shaken by the loss of a young child whose death he lays at his own feet, Clay seeks refuge in the sandy beaches and plentiful feminine distractions to be found along the South Carolina coast. And no female has ever distracted him quite as much as local innkeeper Tate Hennessey.
A woman with her own ghosts, Tate is a single mother to five-year-old Max. Against her better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the charming and handsome agent. When an outing to a traveling carnival ends with another family’s tragedy, Tate and Clay are sucked into the resultant investigation into the abduction of a young teen.And neither of them can be prepared for what their chance encounter eventually uncovers.
410 pages, ebook
First published January 31, 2013
191 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Clark O'Neill
23 books247 followersOne fine day in the not-too-distant past, Lisa Clark O’Neill left Wittenberg University with a BA in English, which she promptly neglected. After working as an interior designer, decorative artist, and Montessori art teacher (there may have been a BA in art as well,) she finally settled into the role of mother to two very fine children. However, two years of doing the stay-at-home-mom brain cell melt drove her to pull out a pen and one of her old college notebooks. That turned into six manuscripts. Lisa spent subsequent years avoiding housework by burying her nose in just about every romance novel she could get her hands on, after completely falling in love with the genre. Her own work falls into the romantic suspense sub-genre, with strong comedic undertones. Two of Lisa's recent novels, Circumstantial Evidence and Malice, were chosen as Best Reads of 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 21, 2014
Quick summary
FBI profiler Clay Copeland was ordered to take a week of vacation following the tragic ending to his last case. The serial dater decides to spend the time outside of Charleston at his best friend's beachfront home. When he spots Tate Hennessy sunning on the beach, he makes the move of a lifetime.
The romance
Clay is one of the most appealing fictional characters I've read. He's bright, handsome, good at what he does and has a wicked wit and sense of humor. He isn't perfect but his honesty and directness more than over compensated for his flaws. Tate was a perfect match as she "got" this man and had a strong sense of self. She's a single mother raising a 5-year old son and is cautious without being overly so. There was a perfect balance in this relationship with him being commitment shy and she being burned in the past but neither too damaged by their pasts. I liked both of them individually and loved them as a couple. It's a really well-designed romance.
The mystery and suspense
It was inevitable that Clay would be drawn into some work-related issue while on vacation but what was unpredictable was Tate being a part of the situations. While they were out on a date, they inadvertently witnessed the man who was suspected of abducting a 14-year old girl at the base of a Ferris wheel. Things take a dramatic turn when it appears they've stumbled upon a much larger set of circumstances. The points of view of the victims and villains, along with that of law enforcement, helped create a web of intrigue, tension and suspense as all eventually converge to a chilling climax. It was expertly conceived and executed.
One more thing...
Tate's son Max was one of the many highlights of the story, creating opportunities for comic relief and sweet, tender moments. And, Tate comes from a big Irish extended family who were important here and hopefully in books to come. They enriched the story in substantive ways. Bring on the Murphys!
The bottom line
I LOVED this book. Period. Finished it in one day. Everything worked...the romance, character development, mystery, suspense, emotional connection. The villains were frightening and cold blooded, creating excitement and wrecking my nerves.
The Murphys provide a fertile foundation for some very interesting stories to come. I was already happy with the Wellington brothers from the first book and am now thrilled at the prospect of future stories about Rogan, Declan and Kathleen. This series is now on my top ten list to finish or get up to date.
FBI profiler Clay Copeland was ordered to take a week of vacation following the tragic ending to his last case. The serial dater decides to spend the time outside of Charleston at his best friend's beachfront home. When he spots Tate Hennessy sunning on the beach, he makes the move of a lifetime.
The romance
Clay is one of the most appealing fictional characters I've read. He's bright, handsome, good at what he does and has a wicked wit and sense of humor. He isn't perfect but his honesty and directness more than over compensated for his flaws. Tate was a perfect match as she "got" this man and had a strong sense of self. She's a single mother raising a 5-year old son and is cautious without being overly so. There was a perfect balance in this relationship with him being commitment shy and she being burned in the past but neither too damaged by their pasts. I liked both of them individually and loved them as a couple. It's a really well-designed romance.
The mystery and suspense
It was inevitable that Clay would be drawn into some work-related issue while on vacation but what was unpredictable was Tate being a part of the situations. While they were out on a date, they inadvertently witnessed the man who was suspected of abducting a 14-year old girl at the base of a Ferris wheel. Things take a dramatic turn when it appears they've stumbled upon a much larger set of circumstances. The points of view of the victims and villains, along with that of law enforcement, helped create a web of intrigue, tension and suspense as all eventually converge to a chilling climax. It was expertly conceived and executed.
One more thing...
Tate's son Max was one of the many highlights of the story, creating opportunities for comic relief and sweet, tender moments. And, Tate comes from a big Irish extended family who were important here and hopefully in books to come. They enriched the story in substantive ways. Bring on the Murphys!
The bottom line
I LOVED this book. Period. Finished it in one day. Everything worked...the romance, character development, mystery, suspense, emotional connection. The villains were frightening and cold blooded, creating excitement and wrecking my nerves.
The Murphys provide a fertile foundation for some very interesting stories to come. I was already happy with the Wellington brothers from the first book and am now thrilled at the prospect of future stories about Rogan, Declan and Kathleen. This series is now on my top ten list to finish or get up to date.
July 1, 2019
Well, it is an okay book. An okay book up until the last three chapters that are totally absurd and ridiculous.
Let’s start with some good things. The characters didn’t annoy me. They are not extreme memorable. Tate, the heroine, is a bit bland. I don’t think there much about her except for her being Max’s mother. Clay is more interesting and thankfully the story focuses on him. I don’t think I will remember him either, but he is generally okay.
The whole story has some good moments. The plotline is quite interesting without being overly innovative. There are also some pretty good dialogues with I really, really enjoyed. And like I said I generally liked the story, although it dragged on a bit from time to time. The romance part is mostly love at the first sight but well-created and in general believable.
I was waiting for the story to finally came into the conclusion expecting no surprises on this part when everything went totally mad.
Because the last three chapters happened and let me say that they are just ridiculous. If not for this ending, I would enjoy this book much more.
I have some other books by this author on my tbr pile. I seriously hope they have less maddening endings.
Let’s start with some good things. The characters didn’t annoy me. They are not extreme memorable. Tate, the heroine, is a bit bland. I don’t think there much about her except for her being Max’s mother. Clay is more interesting and thankfully the story focuses on him. I don’t think I will remember him either, but he is generally okay.
The whole story has some good moments. The plotline is quite interesting without being overly innovative. There are also some pretty good dialogues with I really, really enjoyed. And like I said I generally liked the story, although it dragged on a bit from time to time. The romance part is mostly love at the first sight but well-created and in general believable.
I was waiting for the story to finally came into the conclusion expecting no surprises on this part when everything went totally mad.
Because the last three chapters happened and let me say that they are just ridiculous. If not for this ending, I would enjoy this book much more.
I have some other books by this author on my tbr pile. I seriously hope they have less maddening endings.
June 21, 2015
Overall rating: 4 stars!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Sensitive subject matter:
HEA:
My review:
Clay Copeland needs to get away. He works for the FBI as a trained psychologist who specializes in negotiating. After his last case ends up in death and disaster, he is having trouble dealing with the guilt. He feels 100% responsible for the deaths of the mother and her son. So he goes to the beach to stay with his best friend's brother, Justin - a doctor in a small town. There he hopes to lose himself in the beach, drinking and loose women. He is definitely hoping for a nice vacation fling. He doesn't count on meeting Tate and her adorable 5 year old son right away.
The moment he sees her, he can't stay away. He keeps telling himself he cannot do commitments because of his job, but Tate shows him that she would be the perfect match for him and his job/life style. Clay doesn't want to be the sort of man to let his family down by always putting work first. He uses this as a huge excuse as to why he doesn't do commitment. But meeting the right woman, Tate, helps him see that commitment to her and her son is just what he needs. The scenes between Clay and her little boy, Max, were so adorable. That kid was the cutest.
I really enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more by this author.
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
Sensitive subject matter:
HEA:
My review:
Clay Copeland needs to get away. He works for the FBI as a trained psychologist who specializes in negotiating. After his last case ends up in death and disaster, he is having trouble dealing with the guilt. He feels 100% responsible for the deaths of the mother and her son. So he goes to the beach to stay with his best friend's brother, Justin - a doctor in a small town. There he hopes to lose himself in the beach, drinking and loose women. He is definitely hoping for a nice vacation fling. He doesn't count on meeting Tate and her adorable 5 year old son right away.
The moment he sees her, he can't stay away. He keeps telling himself he cannot do commitments because of his job, but Tate shows him that she would be the perfect match for him and his job/life style. Clay doesn't want to be the sort of man to let his family down by always putting work first. He uses this as a huge excuse as to why he doesn't do commitment. But meeting the right woman, Tate, helps him see that commitment to her and her son is just what he needs. The scenes between Clay and her little boy, Max, were so adorable. That kid was the cutest.
I really enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more by this author.
October 7, 2014
This was like a really swoony episode of Criminal Minds!
I love everything this woman writes. Seriously. But I was quite wary going into this one because I'm not a fan of commitment phobic heroes. Turns out I had nothing to worry about!
Clay spends a lot of this book going on about the fact the he doesn't do commitment. Ha! Every time he said it, I was like, who do you think you are kidding honey? He was so completely hooked on Tate from the very beginning. It was actually adorable hearing him try to convince himself otherwise.
Tate was a really great heroine. She was hesitant to start anything with Clay in the beginning, for good reasons but that wasn't dragged out. I really liked that she took a chance on him. She was exactly what Clay needed. She was also a great mum.
The romance in this was so swoony! They were so perfect for each other. She was everything he needed. She understood his job, and really helped him work through the issues he had due to his work. He protected her, loved her and was great with her son. He was exactly what she needed in return. They were totally made for each other.
The suspense part was really good. It covered several serious topics but they were handled very well. I'm not really a fan of victim POVs because they are quite difficult to read, but in this book, while still difficult to read, made you really root for the victim to have a happy ending.
This was just such an amazing book!
I love everything this woman writes. Seriously. But I was quite wary going into this one because I'm not a fan of commitment phobic heroes. Turns out I had nothing to worry about!
Clay spends a lot of this book going on about the fact the he doesn't do commitment. Ha! Every time he said it, I was like, who do you think you are kidding honey? He was so completely hooked on Tate from the very beginning. It was actually adorable hearing him try to convince himself otherwise.
Tate was a really great heroine. She was hesitant to start anything with Clay in the beginning, for good reasons but that wasn't dragged out. I really liked that she took a chance on him. She was exactly what Clay needed. She was also a great mum.
The romance in this was so swoony! They were so perfect for each other. She was everything he needed. She understood his job, and really helped him work through the issues he had due to his work. He protected her, loved her and was great with her son. He was exactly what she needed in return. They were totally made for each other.
The suspense part was really good. It covered several serious topics but they were handled very well. I'm not really a fan of victim POVs because they are quite difficult to read, but in this book, while still difficult to read, made you really root for the victim to have a happy ending.
This was just such an amazing book!
March 14, 2019
Forbidden
4 Stars
On leave from the FBI Investigative Support Unit, Special Agent Clay Copeland wants nothing more than to rest and relax on the beach. But then he spies young single-mother Tate Hennessey sunning herself and all bets are off. A fun outing to the local carnival ends in tragedy with the disappearance of a young girl, and Clay finds himself drawn into an investigation with surprising connections to Tate's past.
Clay and Tate are a likeable pairing and it entertaining to watch as Clay gives up his determined bachelor ways as he falls in love with Tate and her adorable son, Max.
The suspense plot revolving around a ring of human traffickers has its hair-raising moments. Even though it is possible to guess who the culprit is and how he is related to Tate's past, the show-down at the end is tense and exciting.
Overall, a solid sequel to O'Neill's debut novel and I really don't know why I put off reading it for so long. This will not happen with the next book.
4 Stars
On leave from the FBI Investigative Support Unit, Special Agent Clay Copeland wants nothing more than to rest and relax on the beach. But then he spies young single-mother Tate Hennessey sunning herself and all bets are off. A fun outing to the local carnival ends in tragedy with the disappearance of a young girl, and Clay finds himself drawn into an investigation with surprising connections to Tate's past.
Clay and Tate are a likeable pairing and it entertaining to watch as Clay gives up his determined bachelor ways as he falls in love with Tate and her adorable son, Max.
The suspense plot revolving around a ring of human traffickers has its hair-raising moments. Even though it is possible to guess who the culprit is and how he is related to Tate's past, the show-down at the end is tense and exciting.
Overall, a solid sequel to O'Neill's debut novel and I really don't know why I put off reading it for so long. This will not happen with the next book.
August 31, 2014
★★★★½ Loving this series.
December 11, 2017
I picked this book after someone rated it 4 stars and it appeared on my update feed. Thank God a friend of mine owned the whole series and I borrowed them in exchange for dinner. Okay, I enjoy watching cop/FBI dramas and the hero, he was an FBI Agent+ profiler 😍😍.
Anyway, the hero was on vacation after solving a bad case, he met a beautiful woman at the beach, approached her,asked her out[denied], met her adorable 5 year old son. It was agreed that nothing good will come out from their insta attraction as he was just a tourist and she was a local+with a son.
However, fate[cheesy much] had other plans with these two. They kept on meeting and one thing turned into another, they got their
I was frustrated with Clay in the beginning, he was conflicted. He wanted Tate sexually that's for sure but he wasn't sure whether he could committ for more than sex with her. Those parts were a bit tiresome.
As for Tate, that woman was awesome. She was independent, unclingly, and a great mum.
Now, the crime/thriller plot.
Well written, interesting, intriguing, heart stopping. I absolute love the villain, he was a master in disguise. Tate was never on his target list but after committing a crime in which Tate was the witness,it opened up an old wound which only Tate can heal..
Fantastic read guy and gals.
Anyway, the hero was on vacation after solving a bad case, he met a beautiful woman at the beach, approached her,asked her out[denied], met her adorable 5 year old son. It was agreed that nothing good will come out from their insta attraction as he was just a tourist and she was a local+with a son.
However, fate[cheesy much] had other plans with these two. They kept on meeting and one thing turned into another, they got their
I was frustrated with Clay in the beginning, he was conflicted. He wanted Tate sexually that's for sure but he wasn't sure whether he could committ for more than sex with her. Those parts were a bit tiresome.
As for Tate, that woman was awesome. She was independent, unclingly, and a great mum.
Now, the crime/thriller plot.
Well written, interesting, intriguing, heart stopping. I absolute love the villain, he was a master in disguise. Tate was never on his target list but after committing a crime in which Tate was the witness,it opened up an old wound which only Tate can heal..
Fantastic read guy and gals.
October 9, 2017
3.5-4.0 RATING- I wavered a little bit on my rating for this one. I thought the beginning was a little slow. I can be a pretty impatient reader and can get distracted easily so it may have just been a "me" thing instead of any issue with the story. The story eventually did pick up and I had no problems with the rest of the pacing. There's also a little push and pull between the two characters but nothing manufactured (or ridiculous). The thought process of both characters seemed both grounded and reasonable for who these people were. Things actually develop pretty quickly between these two. I loved how the hero struggled with his attraction to the heroine and his affection for her son. Nothings better than seeing a playboy type lead fall head over heels for his lady. The basis of the suspense part of the story is dependent on a pretty big coincidence but the whole story was so well told and the writing so solid, in the end I didn't mind. A little over the top suspense in a quality story is something that's easy to overlook for me.
This is the second book I've read by this author and both were strong romantic suspense stories. I plan to continue on with this series. While this is book two, it works fine as a stand-alone.
March 4, 2013
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In Forbidden you will be reintroduced to Clay Copeland, who was the best friend to Jordan in Serendipity (Southern Comfort #1). I always really enjoyed Clay and in Forbidden he won me over. I loved how laid back his character was and his interactions with Max I found adorable and sweet.
Clay decides to get away from work and life and go on vacation to South Carolina. While taking it easy on the beach Clay meets Tate, a beautiful young mother to an adorable five year-old Max. I really loved the scenes with Max; he was the star in every scene he was in! Clay is first had no intentions of dating a single mother but he couldn’t help the pull Tate has on him and the two begin a friendship that turns into more. The chemistry of Clay and Tate sizzles the pages and I really found their relationship realistic and tender.
It took me a little bit to get into Forbidden, I started out really enjoying but at about 15% in I felt the book became a little slow. At about the 50% mark the book really picked up and I couldn’t put it down. I felt like I was reading a crime show/romance which is a perfect mix for me because I love both genres. Also the book has many different POV and goes back and forth between scenes and people. It took me a little bit to keep up and follow along but once I did I enjoyed being able to know everything that was going on, especially with the crime aspect of the book.
I enjoyed Forbidden tremendously. I preferred Clay and Tate over Jordan and Ava from Serendipity. Forbidden is a fun mix of crime, romance, humor, and mystery. This is the second book I have read from Lisa Clark O’Neill and it won’t be my last. She has a special touch to her stories and I feel like I am not just reading but I am watching the book take place. With such details and strong characters her books are sure to entertain.
I give Forbidden 4 Stars.
*I received a copy of Forbidden from the author in exchange for an honest review*
In Forbidden you will be reintroduced to Clay Copeland, who was the best friend to Jordan in Serendipity (Southern Comfort #1). I always really enjoyed Clay and in Forbidden he won me over. I loved how laid back his character was and his interactions with Max I found adorable and sweet.
Clay decides to get away from work and life and go on vacation to South Carolina. While taking it easy on the beach Clay meets Tate, a beautiful young mother to an adorable five year-old Max. I really loved the scenes with Max; he was the star in every scene he was in! Clay is first had no intentions of dating a single mother but he couldn’t help the pull Tate has on him and the two begin a friendship that turns into more. The chemistry of Clay and Tate sizzles the pages and I really found their relationship realistic and tender.
It took me a little bit to get into Forbidden, I started out really enjoying but at about 15% in I felt the book became a little slow. At about the 50% mark the book really picked up and I couldn’t put it down. I felt like I was reading a crime show/romance which is a perfect mix for me because I love both genres. Also the book has many different POV and goes back and forth between scenes and people. It took me a little bit to keep up and follow along but once I did I enjoyed being able to know everything that was going on, especially with the crime aspect of the book.
I enjoyed Forbidden tremendously. I preferred Clay and Tate over Jordan and Ava from Serendipity. Forbidden is a fun mix of crime, romance, humor, and mystery. This is the second book I have read from Lisa Clark O’Neill and it won’t be my last. She has a special touch to her stories and I feel like I am not just reading but I am watching the book take place. With such details and strong characters her books are sure to entertain.
I give Forbidden 4 Stars.
*I received a copy of Forbidden from the author in exchange for an honest review*
July 19, 2014
С детективной линией, имхо, немножко бардак (слабо верится, что агенты ФБР могут вот так без всяких формальностпей включаться тут же в расследование), но всё остальное - чудесно.
Очень забавно было читать "наоборот" про характер Деклана: здесь даётся только крохотный намёк, что они с Роганом разные, и что именно Деклан - "тёмная" сторона.
Очень забавно было читать "наоборот" про характер Деклана: здесь даётся только крохотный намёк, что они с Роганом разные, и что именно Деклан - "тёмная" сторона.
Want to read
November 27, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (11/27/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Special Agent Clay Copeland lives his job. As a behavioral specialist with the FBI’s Investigative Support Unit, his days are spent traveling the country assisting other law enforcement agencies with their most disturbing and difficult cases. Clay excels at his work, maintaining an easygoing affability and sense of humor despite his frequently gruesome job. Until one case goes terribly wrong…
Shaken by the loss of a young child whose death he lays at his own feet, Clay seeks refuge in the sandy beaches and plentiful feminine distractions to be found along the South Carolina coast. And no female has ever distracted him quite as much as local innkeeper Tate Hennessey.
A woman with her own ghosts, Tate is a single mother to five-year-old Max. Against her better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the charming and handsome agent. When an outing to a traveling carnival ends with another family’s tragedy, Tate and Clay are sucked into the resultant investigation into the abduction of a young teen.And neither of them can be prepared for what their chance encounter eventually uncovers.
Blurb:
Special Agent Clay Copeland lives his job. As a behavioral specialist with the FBI’s Investigative Support Unit, his days are spent traveling the country assisting other law enforcement agencies with their most disturbing and difficult cases. Clay excels at his work, maintaining an easygoing affability and sense of humor despite his frequently gruesome job. Until one case goes terribly wrong…
Shaken by the loss of a young child whose death he lays at his own feet, Clay seeks refuge in the sandy beaches and plentiful feminine distractions to be found along the South Carolina coast. And no female has ever distracted him quite as much as local innkeeper Tate Hennessey.
A woman with her own ghosts, Tate is a single mother to five-year-old Max. Against her better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the charming and handsome agent. When an outing to a traveling carnival ends with another family’s tragedy, Tate and Clay are sucked into the resultant investigation into the abduction of a young teen.And neither of them can be prepared for what their chance encounter eventually uncovers.
February 25, 2017
4.5 stars
Second book in the Southern Comfort series and I thought it was done better than the first. While there's still a big focus on the relationship aspect, the author also developed the suspense plot of the story more in this one.
We met Clay Copeland in the first book as friend to the Wellington brothers. He's also an FBI agent specializing in psychology and behaviors. After a hostage situation gone wrong, Clay decided to take a vacation, staying with Justin in South Carolina near a beach, to clear his head. (Justin is brother to Jordan in the first book).
Tate Hennessey is a single mother, working hard in her family business to raise her 5 year old son. Her idea of relaxing these days include laying on a beach without getting sunburned. And that's how our H/h meet.
I enjoyed the budding relationship between these two. The chemistry is sizzling. There's also great and funny banter. As they progress, Clay must decide if he has enough to offer this little family. Before he decides to step away, an abduction pulls him in and both of them get deeper into the case.
As the plot moves along, we learn there's a connection to Tate. I can't say much without spoiling things. The last few chapters are jam packed with action. I had to finish it all before I could sleep.
Scenes stealer: 5 year old Max. The scene of him sneaking into Clay's room and the events following was slap-your-knee funny. He's precocious and super cute but the dialogue sometimes make Max sound like he's 10 instead of 5. Maybe he just has an old soul.
There's a variety of POVs in this story, which I thought kept it refreshing. We also get introduced to a couple of characters who will be featured as the heroes and heroine in the later books. I'm looking forward to all their stories.
I enjoyed Ms. O'Neill's writing although I thought some of it was too flowery for my liking (reason why I marked it down). It gets a bit redundant reading two paragraphs to describe someone was shot.
Overall, great page turning story with very likeable characters.
Second book in the Southern Comfort series and I thought it was done better than the first. While there's still a big focus on the relationship aspect, the author also developed the suspense plot of the story more in this one.
We met Clay Copeland in the first book as friend to the Wellington brothers. He's also an FBI agent specializing in psychology and behaviors. After a hostage situation gone wrong, Clay decided to take a vacation, staying with Justin in South Carolina near a beach, to clear his head. (Justin is brother to Jordan in the first book).
Tate Hennessey is a single mother, working hard in her family business to raise her 5 year old son. Her idea of relaxing these days include laying on a beach without getting sunburned. And that's how our H/h meet.
I enjoyed the budding relationship between these two. The chemistry is sizzling. There's also great and funny banter. As they progress, Clay must decide if he has enough to offer this little family. Before he decides to step away, an abduction pulls him in and both of them get deeper into the case.
As the plot moves along, we learn there's a connection to Tate. I can't say much without spoiling things. The last few chapters are jam packed with action. I had to finish it all before I could sleep.
Scenes stealer: 5 year old Max. The scene of him sneaking into Clay's room and the events following was slap-your-knee funny. He's precocious and super cute but the dialogue sometimes make Max sound like he's 10 instead of 5. Maybe he just has an old soul.
There's a variety of POVs in this story, which I thought kept it refreshing. We also get introduced to a couple of characters who will be featured as the heroes and heroine in the later books. I'm looking forward to all their stories.
I enjoyed Ms. O'Neill's writing although I thought some of it was too flowery for my liking (reason why I marked it down). It gets a bit redundant reading two paragraphs to describe someone was shot.
Overall, great page turning story with very likeable characters.
May 12, 2014
I absolutely LOOOVE this book! What an edge-of-your-seat roller coaster ride. It was chock full of adrenaline & heat. I could barely put it down & I lost way too much sleep over it.
IMHO, this book was even better than Serendipity, the 1st book of this series & that's really saying something. I really loved that book, as well! I promise that I will read everything that Lisa Clark O'Neill writes!
The characters were so great! I really cared about them. I'd already loved Clay from Serendipity. His sense of humor was great. I am also fascinated by & love the whole concept & intelligence of psychological profiling.
The dialogue that Lisa Clark O'Neill writes is so wonderful. It feels so natural and it's funny, sarcastic, intelligent & evoked bth thought & feeling. There was depth that I love. This book was absolutely brilliant!
I must admit that when I saw where things were going when I began this book, I kind of freaked out & had to pause to weigh if I really wanted to read a book about a topic as hideous as trafficking teens! I have a tough time swallowing that degree of abuse. However, although there was suspense & tension galore, and a few rough spots, the author never pushed me past what I could handle. Amen.
There were so many twists and turns & unexpected things happened. What a ride! I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers, romantic suspense lovers & people who love great books!
IMHO, this book was even better than Serendipity, the 1st book of this series & that's really saying something. I really loved that book, as well! I promise that I will read everything that Lisa Clark O'Neill writes!
The characters were so great! I really cared about them. I'd already loved Clay from Serendipity. His sense of humor was great. I am also fascinated by & love the whole concept & intelligence of psychological profiling.
The dialogue that Lisa Clark O'Neill writes is so wonderful. It feels so natural and it's funny, sarcastic, intelligent & evoked bth thought & feeling. There was depth that I love. This book was absolutely brilliant!
I must admit that when I saw where things were going when I began this book, I kind of freaked out & had to pause to weigh if I really wanted to read a book about a topic as hideous as trafficking teens! I have a tough time swallowing that degree of abuse. However, although there was suspense & tension galore, and a few rough spots, the author never pushed me past what I could handle. Amen.
There were so many twists and turns & unexpected things happened. What a ride! I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers, romantic suspense lovers & people who love great books!
December 16, 2022
4/5; 4 stars; A-
After meeting Clay in book 1 of the series it was a treat to read his story. This was a good romantic suspense with lots of characters a person could love.
After meeting Clay in book 1 of the series it was a treat to read his story. This was a good romantic suspense with lots of characters a person could love.
February 6, 2019
I'm not a person who likes mysteries (they are usually about murder) or crime stories. When you have lost a lot of faith in your fellow humans in society of late, these themes don't help. I AM a fan of a series of just about anything as I love watching characters grow and plots thickening.
Since I picked up the first of this series for free I grabbed the next two to keep a story going. The first was a little too much for me as was this one. Yet with both books the budding romances with people who seemed to be real enough to enjoy, the suspense was bearable. This one was harder for me with kidnapping involved. Both books made sleep nearly impossible after reading. Just a warning.
STILL, I have book 3 ready to start tonight. What am I in for now?
Oh, I guess I should mention, I felt the author had done a lot of research on crime and the law as it all sounded plausible to me. It kept me on the edge of my nerves hoping for the safety of the characters. The author wrote very well in an ever engaging way. If you like crime and mystery, this may be a good series for you.
Since I picked up the first of this series for free I grabbed the next two to keep a story going. The first was a little too much for me as was this one. Yet with both books the budding romances with people who seemed to be real enough to enjoy, the suspense was bearable. This one was harder for me with kidnapping involved. Both books made sleep nearly impossible after reading. Just a warning.
STILL, I have book 3 ready to start tonight. What am I in for now?
Oh, I guess I should mention, I felt the author had done a lot of research on crime and the law as it all sounded plausible to me. It kept me on the edge of my nerves hoping for the safety of the characters. The author wrote very well in an ever engaging way. If you like crime and mystery, this may be a good series for you.
June 23, 2018
There are no words to describe the feelings I had while reading this amazing book! I was on the edge of my seat reading it and a few times I had to put the book down and calm myself because I was so nervous about what was going to happen next. If you need a summer read that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions READ THIS BOOK!!!! Thanks Lisa for another great thriller!!
March 17, 2013
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 5 out of 5 Stars and a Recommended Read:
An intriguing mixture of romance, true crime and suspense, Forbidden by Lisa Clark O'Neill tackles the difficult subject of good, evil, psychological burnout and human trafficking. With well developed characters, good dialogue, plenty of emotional and psychological angst, and a nice dose of romance, Ms. O'Neill drew me into her world and never let go. If you're a fan of the romantic suspense/romantic thriller, this is a book you'll want to add to your list.
FBI Special Agent Clay Copeland is used to seeing the worst humanity has to offer. A psychologist and profiler, he's desperately in need of a break from his job. Taking a vacation to visit a friend in South Carolina, Clay plans to be a beach bum for at least a week and maybe even go out on a date. He never planned on being attracted to a single mom with a small son or on getting drawn into a local missing teen case that quickly turns into something much, much darker.
Single mom Tate Hennessey is busy running her families B&B and doesn't have time for romance. Against her better judgement she finds herself attracted to Clay Copeland, a man who's made it clear he's only on a short vacation. Agreeing to a date at the fair with Clay and Max, her five year old son, Tate doesn't expect to find herself drawn into what becomes a police investigation.
The scenes between Tate and Clay are fun, well written, and have just the right amount of sexual attraction. Smart, independent and reluctant to get deeply involved, Tate and Clay only think in terms of a temporary relationship. As the situation around them changes, they find themselves realizing they have the potential to be much more. Ms. O'Neill does a good job letting us get to know both Tate and Clay as individuals and then as people who begin to fall in love. I found it easy to connect with both characters and I liked how Ms. O'Neill allowed us to get to know Tate's son Max, and with the role he played with Clay and Tate.
The secondary characters in the story are also well done and make good contributions to the story. I especially liked Tate's family, and Clay's friend Justin. The villains were also well done and it's clear Ms. O'Neill did plenty of research when it came to the human trafficking part of this book. With just enough details to move the story along, Ms. O'Neill reminds us of the horrors law enforcement officials face when dealing with the victims of these dreadful crimes. With just enough action, the story's pace also moves right along.
Will Tate and Clay's blossoming romance help or get in the way of the missing teen's investigation? And will they be able to handle everything they uncover while trying to solve the case? You'll have to read Forbidden to find out. While a part of the Southern Comfort series, this is a book you can read on its own. I plan to read the first book in the series, Serendipity, next.
An intriguing mixture of romance, true crime and suspense, Forbidden by Lisa Clark O'Neill tackles the difficult subject of good, evil, psychological burnout and human trafficking. With well developed characters, good dialogue, plenty of emotional and psychological angst, and a nice dose of romance, Ms. O'Neill drew me into her world and never let go. If you're a fan of the romantic suspense/romantic thriller, this is a book you'll want to add to your list.
FBI Special Agent Clay Copeland is used to seeing the worst humanity has to offer. A psychologist and profiler, he's desperately in need of a break from his job. Taking a vacation to visit a friend in South Carolina, Clay plans to be a beach bum for at least a week and maybe even go out on a date. He never planned on being attracted to a single mom with a small son or on getting drawn into a local missing teen case that quickly turns into something much, much darker.
Single mom Tate Hennessey is busy running her families B&B and doesn't have time for romance. Against her better judgement she finds herself attracted to Clay Copeland, a man who's made it clear he's only on a short vacation. Agreeing to a date at the fair with Clay and Max, her five year old son, Tate doesn't expect to find herself drawn into what becomes a police investigation.
The scenes between Tate and Clay are fun, well written, and have just the right amount of sexual attraction. Smart, independent and reluctant to get deeply involved, Tate and Clay only think in terms of a temporary relationship. As the situation around them changes, they find themselves realizing they have the potential to be much more. Ms. O'Neill does a good job letting us get to know both Tate and Clay as individuals and then as people who begin to fall in love. I found it easy to connect with both characters and I liked how Ms. O'Neill allowed us to get to know Tate's son Max, and with the role he played with Clay and Tate.
The secondary characters in the story are also well done and make good contributions to the story. I especially liked Tate's family, and Clay's friend Justin. The villains were also well done and it's clear Ms. O'Neill did plenty of research when it came to the human trafficking part of this book. With just enough details to move the story along, Ms. O'Neill reminds us of the horrors law enforcement officials face when dealing with the victims of these dreadful crimes. With just enough action, the story's pace also moves right along.
Will Tate and Clay's blossoming romance help or get in the way of the missing teen's investigation? And will they be able to handle everything they uncover while trying to solve the case? You'll have to read Forbidden to find out. While a part of the Southern Comfort series, this is a book you can read on its own. I plan to read the first book in the series, Serendipity, next.
June 4, 2013
“Forbidden” is the second book in the “Southern Comfort” series, and like the first, “Serendipity,” I absolutely loved it. Do you have to read the first novel before reading this one? Actually, you don’t have to, but I suggest you do as it’s a terrific novel.
Combining all the elements of suspense, intrigue, mystery, and romance, Lisa Clark “O’Neill (“O’Neill”) delivers an amazing and well-thought out thriller that includes a mix of colourful and interesting characters. Clay and Tate are at the heart of the story; two very likeable and quite realistic characters; with sexual attraction between the two that’s quite palpable. To make the story even more intriguing, the author does a brilliant job at including and utilizing all the secondary characters, bringing them and their contribution to the forefront, showing their importance, instead of leaving them in the background. This is something I wish more authors would do. A book about good vs. evil, the author presents the reader with insight as to who the villain really is; what makes him become this monster; and even more interestingly, what makes one monster differ from another and how they view one another.
What I really love about O’Neill’s protagonists is that even though they both have issues, the author doesn’t go overboard with monotonous descriptive passages about it, nor does she let her characters dwell too long where it stops them from moving on; or too many details of their upbringing – all of which in turn keeps her readers from becoming frustrated and/or bored. Though her characters are strong and intelligent, she also shows their vulnerability that makes them come across more realistic.
One thing I do wish to mention is that with the Kindle version, had there been an extra paragraph or lines or stars across, it would have made it easier to figure out whose POV I was reading. Instead, it switches from one to the other without a break or introduction. One more thing, with respect to the whole matter of “I love you” and “let’s get married” within days of meeting one another – you know my thoughts on this – NOT a fan.
So like her first novel, I highly recommend “Forbidden” as it does not disappoint. If you think you have to wait a long time to read the third book in the series, “Deception,” you won’t have to as it’s now available.
Combining all the elements of suspense, intrigue, mystery, and romance, Lisa Clark “O’Neill (“O’Neill”) delivers an amazing and well-thought out thriller that includes a mix of colourful and interesting characters. Clay and Tate are at the heart of the story; two very likeable and quite realistic characters; with sexual attraction between the two that’s quite palpable. To make the story even more intriguing, the author does a brilliant job at including and utilizing all the secondary characters, bringing them and their contribution to the forefront, showing their importance, instead of leaving them in the background. This is something I wish more authors would do. A book about good vs. evil, the author presents the reader with insight as to who the villain really is; what makes him become this monster; and even more interestingly, what makes one monster differ from another and how they view one another.
What I really love about O’Neill’s protagonists is that even though they both have issues, the author doesn’t go overboard with monotonous descriptive passages about it, nor does she let her characters dwell too long where it stops them from moving on; or too many details of their upbringing – all of which in turn keeps her readers from becoming frustrated and/or bored. Though her characters are strong and intelligent, she also shows their vulnerability that makes them come across more realistic.
One thing I do wish to mention is that with the Kindle version, had there been an extra paragraph or lines or stars across, it would have made it easier to figure out whose POV I was reading. Instead, it switches from one to the other without a break or introduction. One more thing, with respect to the whole matter of “I love you” and “let’s get married” within days of meeting one another – you know my thoughts on this – NOT a fan.
So like her first novel, I highly recommend “Forbidden” as it does not disappoint. If you think you have to wait a long time to read the third book in the series, “Deception,” you won’t have to as it’s now available.
May 14, 2013
Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
by: Lee
www.readyourwrites.blogspot.com
Forbidden was a very well written and easy read. The characters were relatable and the storyline moved with a consistent flow as if I were watching a trilogy on CSI. Forbidden has the perfect balance of romance and suspense so that it came off as being realistic and not as I had expected.
After a hostage negotiation ends horribly, FBI profiler, Clay Copeland takes some much needed time off in South Carolina. His plans are to soak up some sun and some scantily-clad women on the beach. No sooner than his beach front vacation begins, Clay stumbles into the lives of Tate Hennessey and her son, Max. What happens next, is a roller coaster ride that’s more heart-stopping than the rides at the carnival that becomes the center of the story.
Clay, Tate, and Tate’s entire family become enthralled in a case that involves murder, rape, kidnapping, and human trafficking. In addition, it all leads up to a twist that involves characters from Tate’s past. To make things even more complicated, Clay and Tate have to deal with their own animal attraction. Clay has to hold back a stream of emotions if he wants to have a happy ending.
Overall, this was an intriguing book. I would be very interested in reading other books by this author.
Source: Author
by: Lee
www.readyourwrites.blogspot.com
Forbidden was a very well written and easy read. The characters were relatable and the storyline moved with a consistent flow as if I were watching a trilogy on CSI. Forbidden has the perfect balance of romance and suspense so that it came off as being realistic and not as I had expected.
After a hostage negotiation ends horribly, FBI profiler, Clay Copeland takes some much needed time off in South Carolina. His plans are to soak up some sun and some scantily-clad women on the beach. No sooner than his beach front vacation begins, Clay stumbles into the lives of Tate Hennessey and her son, Max. What happens next, is a roller coaster ride that’s more heart-stopping than the rides at the carnival that becomes the center of the story.
Clay, Tate, and Tate’s entire family become enthralled in a case that involves murder, rape, kidnapping, and human trafficking. In addition, it all leads up to a twist that involves characters from Tate’s past. To make things even more complicated, Clay and Tate have to deal with their own animal attraction. Clay has to hold back a stream of emotions if he wants to have a happy ending.
Overall, this was an intriguing book. I would be very interested in reading other books by this author.
Source: Author
September 30, 2015
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Second book I've read by new to me author, Lisa Clark O'Neill. First one I read was "Serendipity" (if I had to pick between the books I would say I liked this one just a little more). The books are romantic/suspenseful stories where, at least in the first two, the Hero's are connected to law enforcement (Asst DA, FBI profiler) and the females are strong but in some kind of jeopardy. The stories grabbed my interest and kept it to the end of each book. In a very different move for me, as I've finished each book I've made sure to download the next one (each can be read as a standalone with just a few recurring characters) to read later.
February 25, 2013
Another great read! I already want number three in this series to come out. The pacing in this one was excellent, with all the clues coming together as the suspense built. I generally avoid books that are marked as "humorous" but this one had the right balance, where I smiled or laughed but did not feel forced into it or that it distracted from the plot or character development. The ending was one of the most exciting I have read without being over the top. I liked the peeks into Josh's mind too and am glad he will be getting a story in the next book.
March 13, 2013
"Forbidden Southern Comfort #2}" is the second book in the 'Southern Comfort' series. Lisa does it again with her creative writing and strongly developed characters. This book will grab you from the start with it's suspense and romance. I do strongly suggest reading the first book in the series "Serpendipity (Southern Comfort)" in order to get the background and meet the main characters. A must read for all.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
November 27, 2018
CLAY COPELAND
TATE HENNESSEY
Read: 13/10/14 | 4 stars
I really enjoyed Forbidden, it had a good balance of romance and suspense. Loved the relationship of Clay and Tate. I also loved Max, Tate's five year old son. He was sweet and funny. All in all a very good book. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series and from this author.
TATE HENNESSEY
Read: 13/10/14 | 4 stars
I really enjoyed Forbidden, it had a good balance of romance and suspense. Loved the relationship of Clay and Tate. I also loved Max, Tate's five year old son. He was sweet and funny. All in all a very good book. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series and from this author.
April 1, 2016
This is the third book of Lisa Clark O'Neill's that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. The characters are real and relatable, the storyline was easy to fall into, and the last quarter of the book left me chilled and nearly frantic to get to the end and see how it was resolved.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
June 28, 2013
And the stories and characters just keep getting better. I adored Clay in book 1 and fell in love with him in book 2 right alongside little Max!! On to Josh... Hope to see more from Lisa soon ;)
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
August 31, 2013
This was much, much better than the first effort in this trilogy (Serendipity). It is almost as though the books had been written by two different authors.
The characters were well developed and there was plenty of fast paced action with enough twists to keep the Reader guessing.
The characters were well developed and there was plenty of fast paced action with enough twists to keep the Reader guessing.
July 26, 2016
Ms. O'Neils books are awesome. You have a little bit of everything in them: suspense, drama, romance, family, quirky. I love them. I had 2 other friends reading them and finishing them before I did.
May 11, 2013
Another awesome novel! Can't wait til the next comes out in June!
June 14, 2013
Really love this authors style. This was an easy read that kept my interest. Can't wait to read Deception!!
June 26, 2013
I really liked this book. Just finished another in the series.
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