Happy August Bookworms!
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About Book #1: Forbidden Bonds
Series: Forbidden Love #1
Author: Rose Fresquez
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: July 22, 2024
Genre: YA Clean Romance
He plays by the rules. She thinks rules are made to be broken.
Lucy Sanyu's arrival stirs up everything in our village—there's trouble brewing around her that I can't seem to avoid. Bound by tradition, my path is simple: work the farm, marry a local girl, and keep up the family legacy. But Lucy? She’s different—free-spirited, daring and full of life. Straight out of boarding school, her dreams are too big for our small village. We're worlds apart.
Our families have been enemies for ages, and Lucy’s bold, unconventional ways quickly stir up old feuds and set village tongues wagging. She's definitely off-limits. I try to keep my distance, but working for her family means seeing her every day, and the pull between us gets stronger and harder to ignore.
Her kindness breaks through my defenses, her beauty stops me in my tracks, and her rebellious streak lights something inside me. In our stolen moments, Lucy challenges the norms I’ve always lived by, making me question everything and pushing me to envision possibilities beyond our village.
With her time running out and our connection deepening, our future remains uncertain. Can our love overcome the traditional expectations or are we just setting ourselves up for heartache?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
About Book #2: Forbidden Dreams
Series: Forbidden Love #2
Author: Rose Fresquez
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: July 28, 2025
Genre: YA Clean Romance
Education is my dream. Lucy is my heart. And my father is determined I can’t have either.
I’ve clawed my way back to school with one goal—university. But when my exam results fall short and my sponsorship slips away, everything I’ve worked for crumbles before my eyes.
My failure is my father’s triumph. His ultimatum? Marry my late brother’s widow or lose my inheritance.
But choosing that life means losing Lucy—the one person who sees me. Her fierce love and creativity fuel my determination as I save every coin and push through each setback.
Just when the finish line comes into view, it’s ripped away in a single, brutal moment.
How do I become the man Lucy deserves when my future keeps slipping through my fingers?
In a game where someone always loses, will love be enough to win? Or is this the moment everything finally breaks?
Forbidden Dreams is book 2 in the series. It's recomended you read book 1 before you get to book 2.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
My Review of 'Forbidden Bonds'
“You’re engraved deep in my heart for life.” Though this was a line spoken between lovers, this right here sums up how I felt after reading Forbidden Bonds.
There is a definite Romeo and Juliet feel as both Fred and Lucy’s families have been feuding for quite a long time. Yet the young star-crossed lovers cannot fight their growing admiration for one another no matter the insurmountable obstacles that are constantly fighting to keep them apart. Poor Fred feels like he has no choice but to follow the traditions of his culture, but his heart is clearly speaking to him and leading him in another direction thanks to Lucy’s refreshing independence and overall zest for life, showing him that it is okay to dream bigger and to reach for the impossible.
This novel is a refreshing change of pace from what I’ve been recently reading, and it’s obvious this novel was written from a place of passion and heart. The flow is perfection, and I practically read this in one sitting. Like the unseen force that draws Fred and Lucy together, there is something magnetizing about this novel that drew me in.
Uganda is a place I’ve never had the opportunity to visit, but Rose brought it to life with her detailed and passionate descriptions of the landscape and scenery, making me wish this was a place I could see for myself while almost feeling like I had. I immediately started the next book in the series, Forbidden Dreams, after finishing this novel, which picks up right where this novel leaves off, and to say that I am hooked is an understatement. I am enjoying this series so much and am so pleased that Fred and Lucy’s story continues on.
My Rating: ★★★★★
My Review of 'Forbidden Dreams'
I picked up Forbidden Dreams moments after finishing the first book in the series, as I was not ready to say goodbye to Fred and Lucy just yet. This novel picks up six months after Forbidden Bonds, and though Fred and Lucy are physically apart, it’s clear that they both are still fueled by their love for one another as they continue to dream and fight for their future.
It is highly recommended that you read the first novel in the series, as this novel builds on the first book. I enjoyed seeing Lucy grow in her faith while witnessing how the couple tackles growing pains and obstacles that show that life and young love is not always smooth sailing.
One thing I really admire about Lucy is how she is humble about her blessings in life and how she encourages Fred when he is feeling hopeless and discouraged, reminding him that nothing is impossible. I also appreciate Fred’s determination to not settle for the societal norm and to fight to be better, not only for himself but for Lucy as well. It’s evident he wants to be a better man in every way possible, and I commend his tenacity.
I am honestly surprised with how much I have fallen in love with this series. I think it’s because I can feel Rose’s heart on these pages. It’s clear that this world means something to her, and that is apparent in the writing. I appreciate that while this is a clean romance, it goes so much deeper than the love that is shared between Fred and Lucy. They both are hungry for better and are willing to fight and believe for what seems impossible, and their story, while fictional, is quite inspiring.
About the Author
Rose Fresquez is a stay-at-home mom, with a husband and four kids. In her free time, she likes to spend time outdoors with the family, sing gospel music and plotting her next writing project. Rose's writing projects include both Christian non-fiction and Christian fiction.
Connect with Rose by visiting rosefresquez.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
*I have voluntarily reviewed copies of these books which I read through Kindle Unlimited.
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