The Forbidden Heart

I love reading V.C. Andrews. There seems to always be a dark side to her trilogies, starting with "Flowers in the Attic." I am into book 2 of this series and I read whenever I can. My Kindle always goes with me when I leave the house . I am anxious to get to book 3.

DID NOT LIKE THE CONDENSED VERSION. SPENT LESS TIME READING ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN AND MORE OF WHAT WAS IN THE PASS. FELT LIKE SHE COULD HAVE DONE THIS STORY ALL IN ONE BOOK INSTEAD OF HAVING ME WAIT MONTHS FOR THE SECOND HALF.

This might of been a short book, but it explained a few things. You need to read Forbidden Sisters to understand why. Can't wait till the next Roxy book comes out soon. I have never missed a V.C. Andrews book.

There's nothing really wrong with this book. V.C. Andrews, as usual, writes extremely detailed prose that conjures up vivid imagery of France. I could see how Emmie gets enamored with the place and its people, and I'd definitely want to explore France as well. I think that Andrews also does a good job explaining the relationships between characters.

But, I never really got to know the characters. I'm not sure if it's because I haven't read this book series or what, but I never really felt attached or learned too much about any given character.

I felt like this story was over all boring. I didn't really gain anything from it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really good either. It was a mediocre read that if you get a chance to read it, great, but if not, you're not missing anything.

I will say though, this novella did make me want to read the rest of the series. I'd recommend this to die-hard fans of V.C. Andrews, and perhaps to those familiar with The Forbidden series. But if you're unfamiliar like me, I'd pass this one by.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for my copy.

It was free, okay? Auto-approved on Edelweiss, and I did love reading this author as a teen. Now an old lady in my mid-to-late-twenties, I just don't know - have these books always been this bad, or are they worsening? I'm thinking the latter.

Emmie is an American teen living in Paris with her gay uncle and his partner. She befriends a waitress, and gets into the pants of her (the waitress') cousin. A seemingly inoffensive story...

WRONG!

Cultural stereotypes ahoy: supposedly the French are big on food and wine, and Americans are prudes. Seriously? But believe it or not, these stereotypes aren't the worst.

The constant and ever-present fat-shaming. EVERY CHAPTER. Almost every page. Denise is a fat waitress who's overeaten all her life because she's miserable, and she fancies her ridiculously good-looking cousin. (Because fat chicks are into incest?) Emmie, meanwhile, is a fabulously slim and beautiful American who offers Denise diet and exercise help. Because losing weight will cheer her, and make her cousin fancy her? What the hell? With this constant fat-shaming, it's no surprise that someone attempts suicide...

But it's not Denise - it's her mother. Emmie blames Denise for blaming her mother for all her problems. Crikey, with an attitude like that, it wouldn't shock anyone if she tried to kill herself because her daughter's fat...

And thus I really would not recommend this novella. Offensive on so many levels. And just plain dodgy storytelling overall.

Obviously if you're reading the series you just have to read this story but I was disappointed with the length. This story could and should have been made into a full length novel. The story line was there, I don't understand why it was so short. I knew when I purchased it that it was only 80 pages but they went by too quickly for my liking. Now I really want to know more about Emmie and Vincent's romance if there even was one...I guess on to Roxys story. Overall, I am enjoying the series.

I ordered them from the store and all the books seem to rewritten since I have had the originals since they come out. Why did this happen and how they are similar but not close to the same.I probably have 40 or more and I want to know before i read them if they are all going to written again? Please respond here so I and others can find out if they ever read both series;