After being compromised five years ago and disowned by her family, Clarissa Onslowe went to live with her uncle. But after her uncle’s death, her cousin Josiah accepted a job on her behalf so now Clarissa is on a ship that is sailing to the Caribbean where she will be a governess and if her luck holds she will also be a courtesan to be protected and provided for.

Allen Pendale is traveling to his father’s plantation in the Caribbean and thinks that the long trip will be boring until he literally runs into Clarissa. When Clarissa explains to him that even though she has had a previous encounter with a man, she knows nothing about sex. Allen agrees to teach her all she needs to know during their long voyage.

When Clarissa and Allen part ways, they are both taken with each other but don’t admit to any of their feelings and then Clarissa starts to implement her plan to be a courtesan to March Lemarchand.

Forbidden Shores an interesting book to say the least. I picked up this story expecting a historical with some erotic elements throughout and was surprised to find that it was more of an erotic tale with some historical elements.

I really liked the premise of a tropical island setting for this book and it made a great contrast to the bareness of the ship, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I felt that Clarissa put Allen out of her mind awfully quickly to offer herself completely to March, which to me made her seem a bit flighty.

Ms. Lockwood also completely surprised me with the link between Allen and March. I won’t give it away here, so if you want to know you will have to pick up a copy of Forbidden Shores.

Reviewed by: Tammy