The writing itself was overall good, for the most part. I appreciated the cultural aspects of the writing. But romance of this sort is not really my cup of tea, as I later discovered. Maybe this book would've been more enjoyable had my tastes been different.

I couldn't finish it in the end, but if you feel like this is a book for you, go for it! ( )

Plot:
Bita is a successful dentist and she’s pretty content with her life. But her family – above all her mother – can’t accept that Bita is single. When Bita decides that it is time to get her own house, she finds an old family friend as the real estate agent – Ramtin. Ramtin is incredibly charming, divorced and 15 years her senior, but sparks fly between them. Their age gap shouldn’t be a problem – or at least that’s what Bita thinks at first.

Forbidden by Time is a generally nice read and I liked that it was set in the Iranian-American community, but it definitely would have needed some more editing. I enjoyed it for the most part anyway.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2019/08/30/forbidden-by-time-negeen-papehn/ ( )

A special thank you to the author, Negeen Papehn, for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Bita is a strong, modern woman who is successful in her professional life—she's a dentist—and is a no-nonsense kind of gal. In her personal life, she is single, which to her pushy Iranian mother (and the rest of her family), is concerning.

Determined to be self-sufficient and to stand on her own two feet, Bita purchases her first home. An unexpected spark with the handsome, older real estate agent leads to more than just a business transaction.

The relationship has its challenges with their fifteen-year age gap, his ex-wife and daughters, and Bita's overbearing family. Despite all that is working against them, it is Ramtin who she wants to be with. But then something unexpected happens and Bita must decide if Ramtin is worth the ultimate sacrifice she will have to make.

Although this is the third and final installment in the Forbidden series, it can read as a standalone novel. There is enough information provided for those that didn't read Forbidden by Faith or Forbidden by Destiny, yet isn't repetitive.

Bita is the strong-willed, older sister of Maziar from Forbidden by Faith. She was a stand-out character in that book, so I was quite happy that Papehn chose her to be the main character for this story. She is a dynamic, strong, and multi-faceted character that many women will be able to relate to.

What I enjoy most about this series is that it is a modern/cultural take on the forbidden love/Romeo and Juliet trope. Each of the main characters must overcome familial obligations and expectations, as well as experience growth, for there to even be a chance at love and ultimately, they must decide if the relationship is worth the fall-out that could occur as a result.

Papehn writes with intense feeling and purpose—she injects her contemporary love stories with the emotions of all of the characters. She also infuses the novels with her own experiences and voice, bringing her Iranian heritage into each book in this series as the basis of the narrative. These types of stories are important to tell because they represent so many, yet are not widely read or written about.

Congratulations, Negeen, on another fabulous achievement. I can't wait to see what you do next! ( )

Arc provided by Library Thing Early Reviewers for an honest review

There are times when you read a book and know from the very first chapter what your rating will be. Then there are times when you’re completely thrown off kilter and your prediction is waaaaay off. This was definitely a case of the latter. In a good way!

Forbidden by Time was a surprisingly enchanting and enigmatic read that had me up until the early hours of the morning. What started out as cultural-based story of a woman seeking independence merged in to a romance that not only captured my heart but left me feeling giddy. There’s something about the age-gap distance trope that I find appealing, regardless of how well it’s written. In the case of this book I was whole-heartedly hoping that despite the obstacles the main characters faced, they would end up getting the happily ever after that they deserved.

“Somewhere in a past life, Ramtin was mine and I was his. There’s no other way to explain this instant connection I feel. And in this life, I’m sure that there’s nothing more I want than to repeat history.”

The story follows a young woman named Bita, the eldest sibling of an Iranian family, who has achieved higher education and seeks her own independence from the marital expectations set for her by family and culture. While in search of her own space, a home for her to build a life in, she meets Ramtin – the man she has been searching for without even knowing it.

“All this time, I thought I was so focused on getting my own life together that I had no time to invest in relationships and setting roots with someone. But I’m slowly starting to realise that time was never the issue. I just hadn’t met anyone who spoke to my soul.”

Despite their connection, the budding relationship between Bita and Ramtin is met with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. From family disapproval, age difference and the prospect of children with a man who already has his own, Forbidden by Time highlights how love is not the only factor in order for a relationship to survive. The desperate and heart-touching story of a couple’s fight for love and the potential losses incurred with its gain was eye-opening.

“I can’t help but wonder if all I stand to lose, all I must give up in order to be with him, is worth the weight of my possible regret?”

What captured my attention and approval the most in this book was Papehn’s honesty and approach to the situations the characters faced. Written well, Papehn successfully created flawed characters who did not easily choose between family or love. While honest, the story was at times painful to read – which is always a success in my book. I genuinely cared about the characters which came as a surprise. I had not anticipated that the book would affect me as it did. What was initially (first chapter) judged as a three star turned in to a five by the end of the book. I eagerly await the next book Papehn has to offer! ( )