Forbidden Hearts

Alisha Rai

A decade after fleeing under a cloud of accusation, Jackson Kane returns to the town he left behind—only to find that the life he tried to outrun has been rebuilt in his absence. Sadia, a Pakistani bartender and widowed single mother, has learned to survive on her own terms, even as her feelings for Jackson complicate everything she thought she knew about love and loyalty. As their friends-to-lovers connection deepens, long-buried secrets and painful truths surface, forcing them to confront the past without letting it define their future. Blending sizzling romance with themes of identity, family, and second chances, this story delivers Alisha Rai’s signature emotional intensity and sharp, character-driven storytelling.

Alisha Rai

Heiress Evangeline Chandler has mastered the art of appearing proper while keeping her deepest truths locked away. When Gabriel Hunter—charming, guarded, and haunted by his past—finds himself drawn to his friend’s sheltered little sister, attraction collides with the careful rules Eve has built her life around. As secrets surface and old wounds resurface, their connection forces both of them to confront what they’ve been avoiding: love, vulnerability, and the cost of pretending you’re fine. Blending romantic tension with emotional depth, this story explores desire versus restraint, the power of honesty, and the ways healing can begin when you finally stop running.