Heaven Forbid

Portland Devils, Book 7

By: Rosalind James

Narrated by: Emma Wilder

If we were meant to be, nobody knew it but us.

So: I was a German princess sailing across the Atlantic to join my American-GI husband. My Jewish GI husband. And I was Catholic. And eighteen years old. And an independent woman.

In 1947.

And his parents didn’t know yet.

What could possibly go wrong?

Note: This book follows Hell to Pay (Portland Devils Book 6), in which Marguerite and Joe meet—in Nazi Germany. You could say that obstacles have always abounded. This story can also be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2025 Rosalind James (P)2025 Rosalind James

My absolute favorite of Rosalind James

I found Rosalind James in 2014 reading Welcome to Paradise. It was my first audiobook of hers as well. I have followed her since then because I absolutely love her books. I own them all. I have to say that Hell to Pay (Portland Devils Book 6), and Heaven Forbid
(Portland Devils, Book 7) are my absolute favorites of her books thus far. And that is saying something. When I finished the audiobook, I sat there and took a deep breath, wishing all books I picked up were this satisfying. Joe and Marguerite were imperfectly perfect. Book 6 was about their meeting and falling in love, book 7 about their early marriage. In this book I laughed and teared up. I didn't want to pause the audiobook.

Emma Wilder is an excellent narrator! She narrated the male and female voices equally well. She brought the characters to life that had me loving these books more than when I read them myself. That doesn't happen very often. This was perfection.

Joe and Marguerite

After reading the story, I listened to the audible recording. While I enjoyed the read, the audible brought so much more to the story! Emma Wilder did a wonderful job with all of the characters, bringing their voices and their personalities to light. My original review follows. And one last thing, don’t listen to the ending while driving. It could very well bring tears to your eyes!

My original review from reading: A continuation of Hell to Pay, this is the story of Joe and Marguerite after WWII. The challenges they faced and the courage they showed felt real even though they are fictional. Author Rosalind James has a way of writing that connects so well with readers. I’m not usually a fan of historical romance, yet I enjoyed the visuals of Marguerite cooking, driving, and so many more. And who made it through without chuckling at the chicken story?!

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Excellent continuation of Daisy & Joes historical fiction story!

Loved the exciting adventures of adjusting to a new life in America as a WWII war bride.

Emma Wilder's narration is spot on

Heaven Forbid by Rosalind James is a tender historical romance set just after World War II, following Marguerite, a sharp-witted and resilient German woman, and Joe, an American Jewish GI, as they begin married life after a wartime romance. When Marguerite travels to the United States to join Joe, the couple must navigate cultural differences, family expectations, and the emotional aftershocks of the war, testing their bond in quiet but meaningful ways. Marguerite’s humor and independence pair well with Joe’s steady loyalty and patience, and James’s rich period detail and character-driven storytelling create a thoughtful, emotionally satisfying exploration of love, identity, and building a shared future in an uncertain world. Emma Wilder's narration is an additional character in this book -- she is just a delight. Although this may be read as a standalone book, it is truly helpful to read the earlier books to help with context.

Captivating story!

I'm so pleased to see the insight of how wars affect citizens from all backgrounds, economic levels and a variety of cultures. Even more pleased to see the author move away from so much erotica to multigenerational sagas. I must say that I also enjoyed the Escape to New Zealand series along with the other series by Rosalind James. I often thought that much of the sexual content was gratuitous in it's frequency. She's a good writer and develops her characters and story lines extremely well, which enables her to keep readers engaged from cover to cover, without explicit sexual encounters.