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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Cruel Lies - Messina Crime Family #2 - Review
Couple: Nicolette & Raph
Author: Lilian Harris
Tropes: age-gap romance, mafia romance, dark romance, suspenseful romance, found family
Review: A taboo, age-gap romance that continues to unravel all the Messina family secrets! This story is dual POV and is about the older Messina brother.
This book was a little too taboo for me but I appreciated how it fit into the storyline. I takes place before, during and after book 1. I thought the way it incorporated past events and then current ones really allowed for the mystery to unfold. I enjoyed Nicolette the most and thought she had an older soul than everyone assumed.
Nicolette is Raph’s ex-fiancé’s younger sister and has crushed on him for years. I loved her character. She was my favoirte in this book and I enjoyed all her spunk and wit. I also enjoyed how she became a true mafia Princess in this book through growth.
Raph on the other hand is a grumpy, broody MMC and refuses to give in to his feelings at first. I felt like the push-pull he had allowed readers to draw into his character and made you want to understand him. As we learn more about his first fiancé and Nicolette’s sister, we begin to see how far he was back ed into a corner.
The book is full of lust and angst but is not focused on the spice. I actually thought this was better since both MCs have so much to overcome. I really enjoyed how Raph grew a lot and began to open up in this book, especially in regard to his ex-fiancé and father.
The best paasts of this book was getting to see the other couple and the Messina brothers in action.
Rating: 4/5, spicy and sinful!
Couple: Nicolette & Raph
Author: Lilian Harris
Tropes: age-gap romance, mafia romance, dark romance, suspenseful romance, found family
Review: A taboo, age-gap romance that continues to unravel all the Messina family secrets! This story is dual POV and is about the older Messina brother.
This book was a little too taboo for me but I appreciated how it fit into the storyline. I takes place before, during and after book 1. I thought the way it incorporated past events and then current ones really allowed for the mystery to unfold. I enjoyed Nicolette the most and thought she had an older soul than everyone assumed.
Nicolette is Raph’s ex-fiancé’s younger sister and has crushed on him for years. I loved her character. She was my favoirte in this book and I enjoyed all her spunk and wit. I also enjoyed how she became a true mafia Princess in this book through growth.
Raph on the other hand is a grumpy, broody MMC and refuses to give in to his feelings at first. I felt like the push-pull he had allowed readers to draw into his character and made you want to understand him. As we learn more about his first fiancé and Nicolette’s sister, we begin to see how far he was back ed into a corner.
The book is full of lust and angst but is not focused on the spice. I actually thought this was better since both MCs have so much to overcome. I really enjoyed how Raph grew a lot and began to open up in this book, especially in regard to his ex-fiancé and father.
The best paasts of this book was getting to see the other couple and the Messina brothers in action.
Rating: 4/5, spicy and sinful!
I don't have adequate words for this one. Every few books I read, I find one that truly blows me out of the water but this one takes the cake. There was not a moment in this book where I was not on edge, whether that be from waiting for Raph and Nicolette to finally stop holding back and hiding from each other to the threats of the outside world and all of the other stuff that came in between.
This is the 2nd book in the Messina Crime Family series and follows Raph, Michael's older brother and Nicolette, Bianca's sister, who was married to Raph, which you find out in the first book in the series. This book starts before the major events of Sinful Vows start. Nicolette has been on the run for the better part of a year trying to stay alive after witnessing her sister's murder at the hand of her father-in-law, Raph's father. Despite everything she has done to keep herself safe and alive, she is being chased by one of the men sent to make sure she never talks. After being rescue by Michael, she is forced to hide out in a safe house with Raph, the man she has had a crush on for years and who broke her heart when he said her feelings were reciprocated.
Raph has been searching for Nicolette for the past year. When he is forced into a safe house to protect her, he as the worst time being around her. Despite what he told her, he really fell for her rather than he sister, but her age and the fact that he was married to her sister prevents him from acting on any feelings that he may have towards her and thus starts his will he won't he journey in terms of whether he will throw all caution to the wind and finally take what he has wanted for some time now.
This book was perfect. The slow burn will they won't they between Raph and Nicolette was perfectly drawn out and not overdone that by the time you got there, you wished it had already happened. The flash back to their former lives was perfectly woven into the story and really helped you understand the complexity and depth of their feelings towards each other, even if both were too shy to admit them or even acknowledge them at the time. What really hooked me about this book though was all of the plot twists. There were so many moments that were completely unexpected and so many secrets were spilled that kept me on the edge of my seat, needing to know more. They were so beautifully woven into the story that it didn't seem like it was too much and they were introduced at the right time that it really helped advance the story and give another side to this family that was still hidden at the end of Sinful Vows. When I finished, I wanted to go back and read this again for the first time because it was that good!
This is the 2nd book in the Messina Crime Family series and follows Raph, Michael's older brother and Nicolette, Bianca's sister, who was married to Raph, which you find out in the first book in the series. This book starts before the major events of Sinful Vows start. Nicolette has been on the run for the better part of a year trying to stay alive after witnessing her sister's murder at the hand of her father-in-law, Raph's father. Despite everything she has done to keep herself safe and alive, she is being chased by one of the men sent to make sure she never talks. After being rescue by Michael, she is forced to hide out in a safe house with Raph, the man she has had a crush on for years and who broke her heart when he said her feelings were reciprocated.
Raph has been searching for Nicolette for the past year. When he is forced into a safe house to protect her, he as the worst time being around her. Despite what he told her, he really fell for her rather than he sister, but her age and the fact that he was married to her sister prevents him from acting on any feelings that he may have towards her and thus starts his will he won't he journey in terms of whether he will throw all caution to the wind and finally take what he has wanted for some time now.
This book was perfect. The slow burn will they won't they between Raph and Nicolette was perfectly drawn out and not overdone that by the time you got there, you wished it had already happened. The flash back to their former lives was perfectly woven into the story and really helped you understand the complexity and depth of their feelings towards each other, even if both were too shy to admit them or even acknowledge them at the time. What really hooked me about this book though was all of the plot twists. There were so many moments that were completely unexpected and so many secrets were spilled that kept me on the edge of my seat, needing to know more. They were so beautifully woven into the story that it didn't seem like it was too much and they were introduced at the right time that it really helped advance the story and give another side to this family that was still hidden at the end of Sinful Vows. When I finished, I wanted to go back and read this again for the first time because it was that good!
When 21-year-old Nicolette Ricci witnesses the death of her sister, she’s forced to go on the run.
Erstwhile, Raph Marino is likewise laying low. Sharing a cozy cabin in the woods keeps them both safe and off-grid. It also brings all of their buried feelings to the surface as the proximity leaves no room for secrets.
This angsty and emotional read is the second installment of the Messina Crime Family series. I enjoyed getting to know them both and seeing them get their hard-won happily ever after.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn:
Erstwhile, Raph Marino is likewise laying low. Sharing a cozy cabin in the woods keeps them both safe and off-grid. It also brings all of their buried feelings to the surface as the proximity leaves no room for secrets.
This angsty and emotional read is the second installment of the Messina Crime Family series. I enjoyed getting to know them both and seeing them get their hard-won happily ever after.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn:
3 stars. The spice did not disappoint. But there was a lot going on in this book... and most of it felt crammed into the last 25%. Full review to come.
“I love on her mouth like she’s the fire keeping me warm. Like a man lost who’s found his compass. Because that’s what she is. She’s always been pointing me home. But I was too stubborn to believe. Too afraid to live my life for myself.”
I wasn’t to be ready for the Messina brother stories but finally getting to Ralph’s story just proves how much I love these guys. Each brother has proved to be the tough, alpha, badass guy these books play them to be. But with the women they fall for they show their soft, loving, possessive side.
Nicolette was someone Ralph shouldn’t want with their age difference and her being his sister-in-law to his late wife. But after being on the run for a year Nicolette finds herself under Ralph’s protection. These two had the perfect banter and tough act they tried to play. But when their feelings proved too strong and they gave it they made me love them.
Their love was tested with the perfect twist in this book and man did it make me love Nicolette so much more for Ralph. This story continues from Michael's story and gives you glimpses of Gio’s so it’s best to read the series in order. Now I need to patiently wait for book four to come out.
I wasn’t to be ready for the Messina brother stories but finally getting to Ralph’s story just proves how much I love these guys. Each brother has proved to be the tough, alpha, badass guy these books play them to be. But with the women they fall for they show their soft, loving, possessive side.
Nicolette was someone Ralph shouldn’t want with their age difference and her being his sister-in-law to his late wife. But after being on the run for a year Nicolette finds herself under Ralph’s protection. These two had the perfect banter and tough act they tried to play. But when their feelings proved too strong and they gave it they made me love them.
Their love was tested with the perfect twist in this book and man did it make me love Nicolette so much more for Ralph. This story continues from Michael's story and gives you glimpses of Gio’s so it’s best to read the series in order. Now I need to patiently wait for book four to come out.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The chemistry in this one was through the roof. Also, I enjoyed the plot a little better in this one over the first, and I am defiantly excited for the third.
The twists just keep on coming!
The incredible follow up to Sinful Vows, Cruel Lies by Lilian Harris is a forbidden love romance with more twists then a barrel full of pretzels.
The first half of the book has a lot of flashbacks, showing how love built between Raph and Nicolette, but why neither of them could follow their hearts. So many outside influences and societal expectations. The friendship is a true meeting of souls and is so sweet and genuine.
Harris very cleverly draws parallels between the characters childhoods and their need for affection. The flashbacks are also used to give contexts to current events of foreshadow future twists - masterful writing.
There are times when you want to bang the characters heads together! Overthinking is an underlying theme, though it makes sense with the characters progression.
A good amount spice in this story, tempered by a deeply loving and accepting romance. Can’t wait to read book 3.
The incredible follow up to Sinful Vows, Cruel Lies by Lilian Harris is a forbidden love romance with more twists then a barrel full of pretzels.
The first half of the book has a lot of flashbacks, showing how love built between Raph and Nicolette, but why neither of them could follow their hearts. So many outside influences and societal expectations. The friendship is a true meeting of souls and is so sweet and genuine.
Harris very cleverly draws parallels between the characters childhoods and their need for affection. The flashbacks are also used to give contexts to current events of foreshadow future twists - masterful writing.
There are times when you want to bang the characters heads together! Overthinking is an underlying theme, though it makes sense with the characters progression.
A good amount spice in this story, tempered by a deeply loving and accepting romance. Can’t wait to read book 3.
If the previous book in this series was great then this is truly beyond that. Damn... Who has the heart to jate Nicollette? I'm a person who uses to skip long paragraphs sometimes but then in this book I didn't skip a word. Credits to the author for making me a read book in one stretch.
Nicolette - I learnt from her how to truly love a person. She indeed was trying to be happy for Raph when. He married her sister. This woman is too precious and not once I found her week. She fought for love and I'm proud she did it.
Raph - 'You deserve better man' that's what I would tell him. The way he was always in love with Nicollette but his loyalty to Bianca made him live a life he didn't wish for. He always made sure to be there for his little one. God! I'm so in love with him when he cooks so amazing in her parents kitchen. Always a big fan of him when he cooks together with his treasure.
Bianca - Seriously!!! I don't know why but I did feel sorry for her in the first book when she was introduced. I mean in this book I loathed her a lot. I never that she'll be this worse. Given a chance I'm killing her with my own hands.
"Raph belongs only to Nicollette, Bianca. You got it?"
Raph and Nicollette made me live in their love story. I didn't expect they had this much feelings hidden for each other. This is the best Mafia story and I completely lost my heart to the couple.
MUST READ...
Nicolette - I learnt from her how to truly love a person. She indeed was trying to be happy for Raph when. He married her sister. This woman is too precious and not once I found her week. She fought for love and I'm proud she did it.
Raph - 'You deserve better man' that's what I would tell him. The way he was always in love with Nicollette but his loyalty to Bianca made him live a life he didn't wish for. He always made sure to be there for his little one. God! I'm so in love with him when he cooks so amazing in her parents kitchen. Always a big fan of him when he cooks together with his treasure.
Bianca - Seriously!!! I don't know why but I did feel sorry for her in the first book when she was introduced. I mean in this book I loathed her a lot. I never that she'll be this worse. Given a chance I'm killing her with my own hands.
"Raph belongs only to Nicollette, Bianca. You got it?"
Raph and Nicollette made me live in their love story. I didn't expect they had this much feelings hidden for each other. This is the best Mafia story and I completely lost my heart to the couple.
MUST READ...
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I am still loving mafia romances, and this one is the second book in the Messina Crime Family series that can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading in order.
Like the first book, this one has spice and a plot! It is more of a slow burn so less spice than book 1. But HOLY PLOT TWISTS/LIES! Lilian had me thinking that I knew what was going to happen, but then things took a completely different direction!
There were some more characters introduced in Cruel Lies with the Irish Mafia, and that confused me a bit, but I am terrible with multiple characters/etc. The book is set up perfectly for book 3 which comes out next month, and I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT!