A good story is essential to the success of a book. Everything Forbidden has a storyline that is intriguing and titillating. Despite some flaws in the overall presentation of the novel, Jess Michaels is a good erotic writer.

After Miranda Albright’s father died, her family fell into poverty and, with three younger sisters and a selfish, spendthrift mother, she knows the only way to keep their family off the streets is for her sisters to make advantageous marriages. However, without the money for a Season, that will be impossible. Out of desperation, she turns to her neighbor, Ethan, Earl of Rothschild.

Ethan has, for years, entertained his mistresses on his country estate. A rake and philanderer to the core, what he does not know is that his outdoor promiscuity has had an audience. For years, Miranda has watched him with his mistresses on his lawn, fantasizing about being in the woman’s place. Meanwhile, in the far more proper settings of balls, Ethan has noticed Miranda, but since he knows that the only way he could get to her is with a wedding band, he has stayed away. But when she comes to him, asking for financial help, he, ever the contrarian, offers a bargain: Three months with her as his mistress, for three seasons for her sisters. What he doesn’t expect is for her to accept.

And so the arrangement is made: Ethan gets 24 hours with her a week for three months to do as he pleases. However, as the summer goes on, their relationship begins to change.

I liked the plot of this book. A voyeuristic country girl becomes the mistress to a devilish earl for the sake of her family? It’s a pretty hot story line for this type of book. And the erotic aspect of this book is good; it’s generally well written and is certainly sensual.

However, one part of this book that falls a bit flat is the “romance” part of this “erotic romance.” While sex is a major part of the relationships in erotica, I didn’t believe that Miranda and Ethan fell in love as their relationship seems just too based on sex. I wanted a bit more conversation and more emotions beyond lust and desire.

The timing of this book was also a bit strange. Awkward pacing didn’t allow for much character development. When nearly all the scenes take place on Fridays – the day designated for Ethan and Miranda’s trysts – it makes the timing of the story disproportionate. Of course, I understand why Fridays were the center of the plot, but the way it played out made the story seem a little jumpy.

This story may not have been perfect, but it was a good erotic story. Jess Michaels is a name I’ll pick up again.