Forbidden, by Kimberley Griffiths Little

This first book in the Forbidden series is a dangerous book. Why is it dangerous? Because once you start reading you are going to want to continue reading to find out what happens, but you are going to have to wait for the next installment of the series. But that doesn't mean you should put off reading this first book.

Kimberley Griffiths Little does a fantastic job with this first book. She brings you back in time to early Mesopotamia and the Nomad Tribes that wandered the desert areas. These tribes with their families and flocks of camels made it their livelihood to travel from desert to mountain to desert. They were always in search of food, water and safety. But life was not always safe. Each tribe had their enemies and they needed to work hard to avoid them and to build alliances with others.

Jayden is a young teen girl who is part of a tribe that is struggling to survive in these harsh times. As part of the alliance of their tribe her father has made a contract with the leader of the tribe to marry her off to his son. This marriage will eventually bring her into the position of Queen of the tribe, a very coveted position.

The only problem is that to get this position she has to marry Horeb, and Horeb is a horrible person. He is young, egotistical, maniacal, and vulgar. He has no sense of loyalty or honor. He even has been involved with the death of his order brother which has put him in line to become the next King of the tribe.

Jayden doesn't want to marry Horeb, but she has no choice. BUT, then young Kadesh comes into her life. A young man who has been wounded by bandits and walks into her fathers camp needing help. They give him medical attention as well as provide protection and food.

While with the family Jayden and Kadesh start to develop feelings for each other. But she can not have Kadesh, he is a stranger and doesn't belong to their tribe. Besides because of family honor she must marry Horeb.

The story will weave around this plot line of which to follow, love or duty. Thus the title Forbidden, because Kadesh is not someone Jayden should fall in love with.

The book is well written, easy to dive into yet complicated enough to make you think while reading. The true life adventures of this "Tent Girl" who is part of a Nomad tribe is well researched, documented and then woven into a story that will captivate young and old alike.

I believe that teenagers will enjoy the story as much as adults. It is evident that Kimberley Griffiths Little is an accomplished writer who knows her audience and her subject well.

Enjoy!