The Forbidden Man by Karina Halle

Nov 24, 2019 Christy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: beta-read, 2019-five-stars

5 stars!

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The bigger the love, the greater the risk.

Wow. This was so good. Emotional, sensual, forbidden, beautifully written, and one of the best age gap romances I've read in a long time. It gave me the same kind of feels of my all time favorite Karina Halle romances (The Play, Love in English, etc) and I loved it so much!

Thalia is a forty year old recent divorcee looking to get away from her current life drama, so she takes a job in another country. She is a physical therapist and 5 stars!

The bigger the love, the greater the risk.

Wow. This was so good. Emotional, sensual, forbidden, beautifully written, and one of the best age gap romances I've read in a long time. It gave me the same kind of feels of my all time favorite Karina Halle romances (The Play, Love in English, etc) and I loved it so much!

Thalia is a forty year old recent divorcee looking to get away from her current life drama, so she takes a job in another country. She is a physical therapist and changes teams, from Manchester to Madrid. Madrid is different than Manchester in many ways and she's changing and growing with this move. Everything is going good for her until the unexpected happens. Alejo Albarado.

Alejo is a popular player for Madrid and when he hurts his knee, he spends a lot of time with Thalia. Alejo and Thalia have this beautiful and real connection from the very start. Their chemistry is palpable and even though it could cost her her job, Thalia finds it hard to stay away. He's forbidden to her in every way (did I mention he's twenty three?) but Alejo is something special.

“What you feel from your heart, what you feel from your soul, it always comes first.”

My goodness, I loved these two characters together so much. I felt their bond, their connection, and I wanted them to defy the odds so badly. I knew things wouldn't be easy for either one of them, but they brought out the best in each other and were truly meant to be. Thalia was such a great character. She was strong, independent, and learning how to be on her own and come into her own. Alejo may have been young, but he was mature for his age and part of that was due to how he grew up. I completely adored him and his family.

For all the lovers of 'Love in English', you're in for a real treat. Alejo's coach is none other than Mateo. Mateo and Vera play a rather big part in this story and I couldn't have been happier! There were also some great side characters in this story aside from those two, and I hope Karina writes more from this world. I could use a Luciano book!

This book was amazing. It gave me all the feels, had the perfect amount of angst, heartbreak, and romance. It was steamy, gorgeous, and oh so passionate. I couldn't have loved it more. A must read for sure!

She’s like the sun. El sol de mi corazon. The sun of my heart, but a sun that’s always rising, always beautiful.

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...more

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Nov 17, 2019 Karina Halle added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

NOTE: there has been a title change for The Younger Man. Alejo and Thalia's romance is now called THE FORBIDDEN MAN, which more accurately reflects their epic love story. As a result, you may see the book referred to as either title on Goodreads or elsewhere :)

You can read a few excerpts of The Forbidden Man below:

**Excerpt is exclusive for you guys and totally unedited and unproofed and subject to change**

I walk over to him, conjuring up the confidence. I played softball and tennis as a young ...more

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Dec 10, 2019 Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I AM STILL TRYING TO CATCH MY BREATH. Whew baby, Karina Halle BRINGS IT with The Forbidden Man! This book absolutely wrecked me. It was angsty and sexy and decadent and forbidden and heartfelt and beautiful and romantic and dreamy anddddddddd ... I could keep going on and on for days. I'm IN AWE of Alejo and Thalia. These characters are so special. They are MORE THAN memorable. They are the kinds of characters that leave a mark on you and I'm not sure how I will get over them.

I mean, my word! I AM STILL TRYING TO CATCH MY BREATH. Whew baby, Karina Halle BRINGS IT with The Forbidden Man! This book absolutely wrecked me. It was angsty and sexy and decadent and forbidden and heartfelt and beautiful and romantic and dreamy anddddddddd ... I could keep going on and on for days. I'm IN AWE of Alejo and Thalia. These characters are so special. They are MORE THAN memorable. They are the kinds of characters that leave a mark on you and I'm not sure how I will get over them.

I mean, my word! The Forbidden Man is simply a GUARANTEED BOOK HANGOVER . From start to finish, it’s impossible to put down. It more than holds your attention, it demands it. The characters have charismatic personalities that charm you through and through. And there's not a chance you won't FALL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE with every aspect of this story.

From the gut wrenching prologue to the melt-your-heart epilogue, this is a romance that packs a punch. The age gap is significant, Alejo 23 and Thalia 40, but you barely notice it as these two are kindred spirits, connecting on a soul deep level.

Karina Halle not only delivers a stunning romance but one that pushes boundaries, makes you squirm, and has your pulse pounding like crazy. The way Thalia and Alejo's relationship is set up is out of this world intoxicating. Thalia has just moved to Madrid and has been hired as the head physical therapist for Real Madrid. She's there for a fresh start, having just come off a divorce. Alejo is NOT in her plans. But who could ever plan for someone like Alejo (the star football player of the team)! He's a force of nature, a sexy-as-sin, sweet-talking, gorgeous and passionate man that makes you want want want.

The relationship is forbidden. In Thalia's contract it states she can have NO sexual contact with a player. But when Alejo is hurt and they're forced to work closely together, things burn and they get swept up in an inferno that rages out of control.

And you guys, it's EVERYTHING. You truly can’t catch your breath. The storyline is so heady and sultry and sensual. It heats you up inside and out! On top of that, there’s a depth and realness to these character, a sweet-tenderness to their love story that just RUINS you. I truly can't say enough good things. I was completely romanced, carried away by Alejo and Thalia's love. It's so immersive, so visceral, so BEYOND any words. You need to read it. Undoubtedly one of my most FAVORITE STANDALONE READS of 2019! I. JUST. LOVE. IT. ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 Bibi rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: older-woman-younger-man, dnf, boring, could-not-finish

I'm at the scene where Luciano is accepting an award and our hero and heroine are in the coat closet having sex. Is this woman 40 or 18? Also, just because the Hs have loads of sex doesn't mean they have any sexual chemistry.

In addition, the author clearly took creative licence with the info on European football clubs or maybe she just didn't do enough research..but, whatever, it's fiction. Ultimately, it was the boredom that got to me and I think I sleep-read majority of the book. Oh, well.

If

...more

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Jun 19, 2019 Pavlina Read more sleep less blog❤❤ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, favorite-boys, best-cover, beta-read

5 STARS

I loved it so much, so nice to be back in Mateo and Vera’s world but this time with Thalia and Alejo who where fantastic! I loved their romance so much!

Super hot, sensual, emotional ,sweet and it has the perfect amount of drama! I fall in love with each character and it felt like I was a part of their story! I swoon and melt with these two! They make me feel warm!

This has everything I wanted and even more.I loved how the relationship between Alejo and Thalia developed and I liked the ...more

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Sep 18, 2019 Dilek VT rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: boring, dnf, zero-chemistry

I was looking forward to this book so much. I always love younger man/older woman trope. I also like Karina Halle's writing. But this book is such a huge disappointment. I am so very upset :(

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First of all, it is boring as hell. I waited and waited for it to get interesting or captivating but nope, it doesn't. It is boring in the extreme!

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Secondly, the hero and heroine has ZERO chemistry. Zero, zip, zilch, ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 Jennifer Kyle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

5 Stars

description

Karina Halle’s spin on a soccer player’s fall for a female staff member was EXCELLENT! I adored the manner in which the hero the “younger man” was written. Alejo Albarado is the twenty-three year old soccer star who was so refreshing and uniquely portrayed. He spoke from the heart, acted impulsively at times, and was so genuine, not to mention sexy as hell. On the other hand, our heroine Thalia, is a forty year old newly divorced woman whose career and reputation could be destroyed if ...more

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Jan 01, 2020 chan ☆ added it · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf, 2020

dnf @ 5%

life's too short to read stuff that bores you. this didn't start off horribly and in fact the premise is pretty original. older woman is head physical therapist for soccer team in madrid. falls for one of the players.

i can tell this is the kind of angsty emotional story that a lot of y'all will like. i'm just not real big into older woman/younger man stories and soccer is the one sport i reallllllly don't give a shit about.

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Dec 22, 2019 EmBibliophile rated it it was ok · review of another edition

2.5 stars

This was...Boring?

I really wanted to like this book. I’ve discovered Karina Halle’s books last month, and I binge read her Royal romance series. They were so fun and enjoyable to read. So I was kind of excited to read this book, but oh man this was so boring!! It’s such a big book where nothing is really happening. I was just so freakin uninterested in the story/plot. It was just so boring!! And I hated that I had to push myself to finish it! I was Indifferent towards the characters. ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: highly-anticipated, favorite-authors, forbidden, 2019, arcs-2019, age-gap

Karina Halle delivered a soul crushing romance that was forbidden, sexy, passionate and full of love. I had no idea what I was going to get with a forbidden sports romance with the leading female being older, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this one.

Coming off of a heartbreaking divorce, Thalia is trying to pick up the pieces of her life and start over. With a new job in the works and the chance to re establish her career, things are starting to look a little bit better for this newly ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 ☽ jodi bibliophile ♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I don’t even have the right words to express how I’m feeling right now.

Karina has literally FLAWED ME!

The second I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. I found myself thinking about it before bed and waking up feeling so giddy AF to jump back in.

I LIVED for this story and these characters.

Most of you know how picky I am and when a book consumes me as much as this book did, can only means it was BEYOND AMAZING. Like it was fucking incredible and I don’t throw that word around often.

...more

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Dec 09, 2019 warhawke rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-love, athlete-artiste, arc-netgalley-request

Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Contemporary (Sports) Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:

A messy divorce forced Thalia Blackwood to completely overhaul her life. Moving to Madrid was supposed to be the fresh start she desperately needed. However, falling for Alejo Albarado’s impossible to resist charm was the last thing she ever expected and it became a complication neither of them was willing to face.

I love the older woman/younger man dynamic because it’s not very common for an ...more

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Jan 15, 2020 Samantha Young rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Phwar! Steamy, angsty, emotional, and filled with amazing tension! Thalia and Alejo will pull you deep into their stunning romance and leave you with a guaranteed book hangover.

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Dec 17, 2019 Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, boo-yah-straight-butter-baby, may-dec

This started off like gangbusters!

My first Halle and I was thinking to myself, 'self, you're a dumbass for not reading her writes before now'. I'm kind of a sucker for the sekrit lub stories so I was kind of dancing a jig.

Thalia and Alejo had fantastic chemistry going on that turned hotter than a forrest fire when the sexy times started.

I was not mad at it.

Both of the characters and their emotions read realistic to me. I didn't want to put it down. Really, things were going swimmingly. I mean, ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Betül rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, arc, reviewed, taboo-forbidden, 2019

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
description

The Younger Man is a very sensual, and straight to the point contemporary (a little bit taboo) romance. I loved that there was a big age difference (17 years) between Thalia and Alejo. What I also really liked was that you could sometimes really feel that there was an age difference. Even though Alejo is a young football player, he has been through a lot and had to mature earlier than most people. I think that was the main reason why he and Thalia **ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
description

The Younger Man is a very sensual, and straight to the point contemporary (a little bit taboo) romance. I loved that there was a big age difference (17 years) between Thalia and Alejo. What I also really liked was that you could sometimes really feel that there was an age difference. Even though Alejo is a young football player, he has been through a lot and had to mature earlier than most people. I think that was the main reason why he and Thalia connected so greatly. He was so passionate and didn't play games. I admired and fell in love with his personality and heart. It took me a bit longer to warm up to Thalia, but I understood her reservations about the relationship. She just started her new job and getting involved with a much younger player is definitely frowned upon (and not allowed). But it was just hard for her to resist Alejo's charms. And he definitely didn't let anything stop him from pursuing her.

"You mean everything to me. You are the world. More than the world, you are the sun, Thalia. El Sol. And the sun doesn't worry about being too bright for the moon or the stars, it just burns and shines. Just like you. You shine. You're el sol de mi corazon."

The chemistry between them was so hot, and the sex scenes were phenomenal. I loved that this book was long, because it gave me time to really connect to the characters. It also gave the charters time to grow as individuals, and deal with some personal things. I didn't feel rushed and the author really took the time to set an atmosphere for the story. I also loved how she described all the beautiful places the characters visited. It felt like I was there with the characters. I loved Alejo's team players, and I especially was intrigued by the team captain Luciano and the womanizer Rene. This was also the first time I was introduced to Matteo and Vera, who are the main characters in Love, in English. I really look forward to read their story and how they managed to get their HEA. The Younger Man is a great contemporary romance, that I think readers would enjoy a lot. The taboo aspect was great, and it added another layer to the story. ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: emotional-angsty-books, read-in-2020

4 's

“I can be your someone.”

This is an older woman/younger man forbidden romance and I just love when the younger man knows exactly what he wants.

Thalia has been through a rough divorce with her cheating husband and since they both worked for Manchester United she quits and gets a job with Real Madrid. That's where she meets Alejo.

Alejo is taken with her right away but there is a no fraternization policy and he is seventeen years younger than Thalia...not that it bothers him at all!

Thalia ...more

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Dec 21, 2019 Curlyhairlass19 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-top-reads

6 Hala Madrid stars!

I am completely swept away right now by this book! Thalia & Alejo will be a couple that is written in the history books, as far as the book world goes. This book was extremely well written, and hit every single place in my heart. So much raw emotion, angst, passion, romance, and lust! I truly don’t want to leave this world. I love forbidden romances, and this one is my favorite!!

“So this is Alejo Albarado. Number 28.”

Hello top book boyfriend for 2019, and top 5 of all ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 AJ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic, omg-romantic, steamy, drama, arc, feeeeels, sports-star, pb-i-own, forbidden

5 passionate, swoony, epically romantic stars!

Oh, my heart! I’ve been through it all with this book, and I’m absolutely in love with this chemistry-filled, epic love story. An older woman/younger man romance with an angst-inducing forbidden twist, this book held me captivated for 500+ pages of sexual tension, chemistry, passion, angst, drama and soul-deep love, and I loved it so much.

And with a book like this, I couldn’t help but highlight my way through the book, so beware my quote-whorey ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Vanessa (nessreads) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am completely and utterly speechless. Feels upon feels upon feel. My heart feels so full. Karina has floored me and I was beyond consumed with the story that she so eloquently and beautifully penned.

From the second I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Every other thought I had was about this book, this story and these characters. I tried to pace myself from finishing reading in one-sitting, but the more I read the more I was sucked in and I couldn’t stop. I lived for this story and I am completely and utterly speechless. Feels upon feels upon feel. My heart feels so full. Karina has floored me and I was beyond consumed with the story that she so eloquently and beautifully penned.

From the second I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Every other thought I had was about this book, this story and these characters. I tried to pace myself from finishing reading in one-sitting, but the more I read the more I was sucked in and I couldn’t stop. I lived for this story and for Alejo and Thalia.

There is a specific level where I place the characters I read in books. They have to make me feel some type of way in order to be placed at the very top. And as far as Heroes goes, Alejo Albarado is one at the top of that pedestal. Santa maría, madre de dios this man was everything. I loved everything about him, but what I loved the most was his passion. Passion for life, passion for fútbol and his intense passion for love. Dios mio, the way that he loves is so magnetic and ferocious. There’s a Mexican saying—chuparse los dedos, which translates to “suck ones fingers” basically meaning “finger licking good” and in my eyes that’s definitely one way to describe Alejo.

Thalia, Thalia, Thalia—oh how I adored her! She’s ambitious, hardworking and a go-getter. There were many qualities that I admired in Thalia and I liked how she wasn’t impulsive and really and truly thought things through. I was rooting so hard for her and her happiness because she well deserved it and much more.

Thalia and Alejo’s chemistry was scorching. They burned volcanic hot. And honest to goodness they were meant to be together. Their heart called to the other and it was inevitable that they’d both fall. Age is just a number. And yes, Thalia is much older than Alejo, but love doesn’t know of age or any difference. And both were true in Thalia and Alejo’s story. There were challenges and it wasn’t easy, but in the end love always wins.

The Younger Man is one of the best age gap romances I’ve read in a long time. It was emotional, but at the same time had me laughing. It was sensual, sexy and beautiful. I loved the Spanish that was interwoven in the story. And the setting of this story in Europe was just magical. I was so invested in Thalia and Alejo’s story—I felt them deep in my bones. They took me on an emotional ride but it was well worth it. And though I never wanted Thalia and Alejo’s story to end, I’m content in knowing that I’ll never forget them or their incredible love story.

A 2019 favorite

Definitely recommend

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book* ...more

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Dec 16, 2019 Lacey (Booklovers For Life) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, contemporary-romance, dual-multi-pov, review-copy, arc, tbr-2019, age-gap

4.5-5!! I’m in loveeee!!! Alejo was literally the absolute sweetest. I adored him and Thalia so so much! Gah, the tension and angst was perfect. So happy I loved this one, and loved seeing Mateo and Vera again!

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Dec 09, 2019 Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: really-good, sports-romance, forbiddenromance, angst, read-in-2019, age-gap

Rate: 5 / 5 stars

It's always so refreshing to read an age gap romance where the heroine is the older part of the equation because I think most of this trope is always the other way around so whenever I see an age gap romance where the woman is the older one I always want to read it.

This book wasn't just refreshing for me because of what I just said but also for many other reasons: first, I feel like I haven't read practically any soccer sports romances (it always feels weird for me to say ➳ Rate: 5 / 5 stars

It's always so refreshing to read an age gap romance where the heroine is the older part of the equation because I think most of this trope is always the other way around so whenever I see an age gap romance where the woman is the older one I always want to read it.

This book wasn't just refreshing for me because of what I just said but also for many other reasons: first, I feel like I haven't read practically any soccer sports romances (it always feels weird for me to say soccer instead of football ugh) so I really enjoyed to read about this sport even though I don't particularly care for it IRL; second, I loved the Europe setting, well mainly Madrid, and all the spanish and even portuguese in it; third, it was pretty awesome to see even just a little bit of my own country and language in this book (Karina, thank you for giving me Luciano ahah).

Alejo was pure fire since Thalia first laid eyes on him - his eyes hypnotized me too and I wasn't even looking at them like she was. He was so sexy and fun and gave me so many emotions, my heart hurt for him while he couldn't play and help his team win games but then again if it weren't for that he and Thalia wouldn't have grown so close together. Things happen for a reason and these two were definitely destined to be together. They were like two pieces of a puzzle that fit together, no matter how forbidden it was.

I loved Thalia too. She was incredible and I loved reading about her journey in a new country and of finding herself again after her divorce. She was in an such a crappy position.. and to be falling in love with someone from the team again, only this time it wasn't allowed and he was much younger... it was so emotional to read her struggles revolving her situation and relationship with Alejo and my heart really hurt for him too when she wanted to end things.

The Forbidden Man exceeded all my expectations; it was quite possibly one of my fav age gap romances. Everything about it was amazing, from both the hero and heroine as individuals to their incredibly beautiful connection and chemistry to the setting of the book and all the angst and emotions it pulled from me. I loved it!

➳ARC kindly provided by author and Social Butterfly PR, in exchange for an honest review.

➳ Order at: Amazon UK ⁕ Amazon US

➳ Follow me on: Blog ⁕ Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter ...more

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Dec 08, 2019 ~Dawn~TUG rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Okay...where to start with this review. First I am going to tell you a little truth about myself. When I go into reading a book that I have seen a lot of hype about...I think I enter with a chip on my shoulder. What does this mean? It means this...I open the kindle with a need for the words and story to prove their worth to me. Hype can sometimes lead to hope and hoping a story will be what it is to everyone else is a tough thing to battle. This one succeeded. Alejo and Thalia were electric. ...more

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Dec 16, 2019 Phuong ✯ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars-love-it-to-the-moon, books-read-in-2019, sports-romance, rare20-edinburgh, office-romance, age-gap, cheaters-dont-deserve-rights

“My heart,” he murmurs, “it beats for you, Thalia. Now and always. I love you. Te amo. And this love burns like the sun.”

I'm really shocked at how much I liked this book. This is my 4th book by Karina Halle and I haven't enjoyed any of her books so far. I only picked up this book because I haven't read forbidden romance and younger man - older woman for a while and the blurb sounded interesting enough. I expected to find it mediocre at best, but woah ~ I was positively surprised.

My man Toni ...more

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Dec 11, 2019 Alba and Her Secrets..♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, contemporary-romance, erotica, alpha-male, 5-stars, reviewed, favorite-author, best-relationship, familiar, emotional

5 'El sol de mi corazón' Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.

And that is how a gripping age-gap romance is written! Karina Halle surely knows how to end this year with a bang because The Younger Man was simply an unputdownable read from start to finish. Trust me when I say you’ll want to meet Alejo and read his and Thalia’s journey to fall in love for each other. It’s oh-so-worth-it!

So, The Younger Man is Karina’s newest standalone release and it focuses ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 Weronika - Little Steamy Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

„Does your heart make sense of us?”

Oh Lord… Karina Halle slayed me with this book. The Forbidden Man is simply amazing- full of tension, sinfully forbidden, heartbreakingly beautiful and deliciously steamy. I was so hypnotized by this story that the real world didn’t exist for me. Only Alejo, Thalia and their taboo romance mattered. Karina took the risk with these characters, because for some they can be controversial, but the story she described is totally worth it. My heart alternately broke „Does your heart make sense of us?”

Oh Lord… Karina Halle slayed me with this book. The Forbidden Man is simply amazing- full of tension, sinfully forbidden, heartbreakingly beautiful and deliciously steamy. I was so hypnotized by this story that the real world didn’t exist for me. Only Alejo, Thalia and their taboo romance mattered. Karina took the risk with these characters, because for some they can be controversial, but the story she described is totally worth it. My heart alternately broke and filled to the brim with emotions. Every now and then I had tears in my eyes, and then I swooned and laughed and I was sitting with the biggest grin on my face. There are no words to describe this brilliance.

Thalia has my undying admiration. Despite the unpleasant and heartbreaking experiences, she is a strong, independent, brave, smart and level-headed woman. She draws conclusions from her mistakes and tries to be reasonable. She is a good woman and it would be an honor to have her among your friends.

Alejo has his own baggage of soul-crushing experiences, but despite that he’s a young man who is full of life and optimism. He’s the perfect combination of youthful cockiness and sensual maturity. This man is wild, passionate, caring and possessive. But he has also vulnerability in him that makes him such a swoon-worthy character. He's just perfect- a passionate lover, fierce protector, caring and supportive partner... Okay, that's enough, because I'll have to divorce my husband if I continue to praise another man like that, lol.

Perhaps according to generally accepted morality their relationship is not typical, but that doesn’t mean that it’s inappropriate. I have not encountered such a level of fervour and such electrifying chemistry in a book in a long time. Alejo and Thalia are combustible. The heat their relationship is packing is ice-melting! Particular scenes dripped with such sensuality that I had to pause reading for a moment and take a calming breath.

The Forbidden Man is the most outstanding and magnificent sports romance I've ever read. It's sinfully sexy, angsty and raw. It’s also deeply emotional and touching. I love how Karina showed that love is worth every risk. And I adore that she once again shared her travel experiences, because the way she presented beautiful Madrid made me want to pack my suitcase and move to sunny Spain. Everything in this book was perfect - the main characters, storyline, sports environment , scenery descriptions, secondary characters, every plot twist. And in combination with Karina's excellent writing style it resulted in masterpiece. I can't recommend this book enough. ...more

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Dec 05, 2019 Manoela rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, contemporary-romances, forbidden-love, 2019, five-stars

5 Stars

I have been following Karina Halle's books for a few years and I am always impressed by her versatility in writing about different styles and yet doing a solid and catchy job, but my favorite books from hers are romances. With this book with she did me a fantastic job once again making me fall in love with her writing and characters.

Thalia and Alejo are characters that I fell in love with early on and while they are great as individuals it was the connection between them that captivated ...more

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Dec 08, 2019 Brittany from Can’t Quit Books rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow...I’m seriously at a loss for words to describe how amazing this book was. The love, drama, and angst were all present in perfect doses. Their journey wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

Thalia was such a strong character. Her ability to rationalize, stand up for herself, and make sacrifices for others showed that she was a wonderful person.

Alejo was such a fun hero. His cockiness, ability to make jokes, and the fact that he never wavered in his decision made me root for this romance that ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 ⏃ : ✦ villainous_reads ⏃ : ✦ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, favorites, emotional, must-read, forbidden, favorites-of-2019, sports-romance

*** 5 Forbidden Stars ***

From the beautiful, enchanting city of Madrid brings a love story with no bounds. The story of Alejo & Thalia was so real and powerful.I was engrossed in their love affair from start to finish. Simply enchanting.

At the top of his career, Alejo has it all. Yet nothing is as it seems. Behind his facade lies a broken young man. Finding ways to cope with his emotions. His whole world resolves around football. He's worked hard to get where he is today, and ...more

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Dec 10, 2019 ABookLover73 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019, new-adult, age-gap, arc

FIVE SPANISH STARS for Thalia and Alejo !!!

This is the second book that I've read by Karina Halle and I really loved it so much!

The first book "SMUT" that I read two years ago it was so funny and an amazing read.

I didn't know what I supposed to expect from "The Younger Man" because from the blurb I was sure that this one wouldn't be the same as "SMUT".

Karina didn't disappoint.

I love age-gap books but this one was totally something different from the books with the same trope that I've read ...more

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Dec 08, 2019 Amy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

FINALLY! If any author were going to write a scorching hot romance between a 40-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, Karina Halle is the one to do it. Yes, age is an issue between Thalia and Alejo, but as Halle beautifully shows, the true conflict is doubt.

Thalia comes to Madrid divorced, disillusioned, and deflated. She anticipates regaining her professional footing as a sports physio and figuring out who she is now. She decidedly does not expect Alejo, the talented, gorgeous, alluring FINALLY! If any author were going to write a scorching hot romance between a 40-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, Karina Halle is the one to do it. Yes, age is an issue between Thalia and Alejo, but as Halle beautifully shows, the true conflict is doubt.

Thalia comes to Madrid divorced, disillusioned, and deflated. She anticipates regaining her professional footing as a sports physio and figuring out who she is now. She decidedly does not expect Alejo, the talented, gorgeous, alluring footballer who sees straight through the armor she erected. Aljeo doesn't see age or divorce or disappointment; he sees a woman ready to love and be loved, something Thalia herself isn't aware of.

As Karina Halle builds the romance, she also develops Alejo and Thalia. Alejo begins to lose some of his brashness and impetuousness, becoming more grounded, while Thalia finds her home. Part of her process involves a friend whose actual friendship comes with conditions and stipulations. You will find yourself screaming at Thalia to let go of this person, yet Halle shows you why Thalia is reluctant. Her loneliness keeps her tethered to this "friend," a lesson Thalia has to learn.

And then, dear readers, there are the sexy times. Alejo was made to love a woman, and you might find yourself wishing it was you. You know how there are those scenes in romance novels where you're told the hero worships the heroine? Karina Halle shows you exactly what that looks like, and it is DELICIOUS.

You know that there will come a nadir, and when it hits, you will be as devastated as Thalia and Alejo. Karina Halle makes a particular choice in that chapter, putting you in the perspective of the character who feels the fracture most intensely and externally at the time. Reader, I wept.

I adored so much about this book. Alejo and Thalia are the sorts of characters you love spending time with, and I miss them. I miss the supporting cast as well: Alejo's teammates, coach, and his coach's wife. I appreciate, though, how well Karina Halle tells this story. She approaches it with respect for her characters and her readers, giving us the book we both want and need.

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