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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
[a:Lilian Harris|19163712|Lilian Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1648227565p2/19163712.jpg] truly knocked this out of the park. I absolutely love Mafia Romances. I had a single go-to author when it came to reading Mafia Romances. Then I found Lilian!
[b:Cruel Lies|60864185|Cruel Lies (Messina Crime Family #2)|Lilian Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676301914l/60864185._SY75_.jpg|95991306] is book 2 in the Messina Crime Family Series. It follows Raph, the oldest brother in the Messina Family and his much younger sister-in-law Nicolette. If you have not read Book 1 [b:Sinful Vows|60856468|Sinful Vows (Messina Crime Family #1)|Lilian Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1667361762l/60856468._SY75_.jpg|95976863], I highly recommend it. These can be read as standalones, but why not just read them all.
In this book, we learn how Raph met his future wife and her family. (We briefly met Nicolette and her sister in book 1) We also see how Nicolette quickly falls for Raph, while he is dating her sister, and in secret she swoons over him for years. (Nicolette and Raph first meet when she is 15 and he is 32. Raph was dating her older sister (21) and were together for a few years prior to getting married)
This book is a slow fiery burn, but it was sooo good. Now at 21, Nicolette is forced to go into hiding because she witnessed her sister's death. She eventually gets saved and ends up hiding out with Raph, in his cozy one bedroom cabin in the woods.
"Just because I won't let myself have you, little one, doesn't mean I want anyone else to."
Nicolette was treated like garbage by her family and Raph was the only person to truly "see" her. Nicolette was clearly the perfect match for Raph, but of course, her evil bitchy sister just had to get everything she ever wants. Raph and Nicolette, become rather close and develop a bond. Even though there was a huge age gap between them (I love a good age gap Raph had to continuously fight against himself to stay away from her. Nicolette has loved Raph from afar all of her life. He is the only person who has ever cared about her and she wants him more than she needs air to breath.
I found their love story so beautiful. I know you will absolutely enjoy this book. Their friendship and their banter is only strengthened by the love that they have for each other. (Even when one doesn't want to admit it to themself) This story is filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, but also friendship, love and loyalty.
Some of the plot from the first book rolls over into this one when it comes to dealing with Raph and why he is laying low in the first place. (There father is a complete asshat) Raph and his father never got along. There was nothing but hatred between the two men.
Happy Reading!!
ARC was provided by the author.
simply.shannon
[b:Cruel Lies|60864185|Cruel Lies (Messina Crime Family #2)|Lilian Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1676301914l/60864185._SY75_.jpg|95991306] is book 2 in the Messina Crime Family Series. It follows Raph, the oldest brother in the Messina Family and his much younger sister-in-law Nicolette. If you have not read Book 1 [b:Sinful Vows|60856468|Sinful Vows (Messina Crime Family #1)|Lilian Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1667361762l/60856468._SY75_.jpg|95976863], I highly recommend it. These can be read as standalones, but why not just read them all.
In this book, we learn how Raph met his future wife and her family. (We briefly met Nicolette and her sister in book 1) We also see how Nicolette quickly falls for Raph, while he is dating her sister, and in secret she swoons over him for years. (Nicolette and Raph first meet when she is 15 and he is 32. Raph was dating her older sister (21) and were together for a few years prior to getting married)
This book is a slow fiery burn, but it was sooo good. Now at 21, Nicolette is forced to go into hiding because she witnessed her sister's death. She eventually gets saved and ends up hiding out with Raph, in his cozy one bedroom cabin in the woods.
"Just because I won't let myself have you, little one, doesn't mean I want anyone else to."
Nicolette was treated like garbage by her family and Raph was the only person to truly "see" her. Nicolette was clearly the perfect match for Raph, but of course, her evil bitchy sister just had to get everything she ever wants. Raph and Nicolette, become rather close and develop a bond. Even though there was a huge age gap between them (I love a good age gap Raph had to continuously fight against himself to stay away from her. Nicolette has loved Raph from afar all of her life. He is the only person who has ever cared about her and she wants him more than she needs air to breath.
I found their love story so beautiful. I know you will absolutely enjoy this book. Their friendship and their banter is only strengthened by the love that they have for each other. (Even when one doesn't want to admit it to themself) This story is filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, but also friendship, love and loyalty.
Some of the plot from the first book rolls over into this one when it comes to dealing with Raph and why he is laying low in the first place. (There father is a complete asshat) Raph and his father never got along. There was nothing but hatred between the two men.
Happy Reading!!
ARC was provided by the author.
simply.shannon
Cruel Lies is the second book in the Messina Crime Family series. This can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading from the first book,
*Mafia
*Age Gap
*Interconnected series
*Forced proximity
*MF
*Found Family
*Touch Her &
*Mafia
*Age Gap
*Interconnected series
*Forced proximity
*MF
*Found Family
*Touch Her &
Raphael Marino the love of my life, the hottest book boyfriend, ever, and all around my idea of perfection stole my heart the first time I met him. Raph is flawed and has been put through the wringer his whole life by his father and most recently his wife. Raph always tried to do what was right for his family even if it meant compromising his own happiness, he knew the things he truly wanted were things he could never truly have, like Nicolette. Nicolette and Raph are similar yet different from the treatment by their families to craving the forbidden, yet their special bond creates a friendship they both lived for. With all the events in book one happening Raph and Nicolette’s story is also taking place so the story flows seamlessly to mesh together then throw its own mix of twists in there. Nicolette has loved Raph from day one while knowing her sister never deserved a single thing from him and she stood on the sidelines pining, daydreaming if things were different, yet always knowing things could never be. The story has so many twists you are glued from start to finish. These two are hiding together and the tension bleeds off the pages while your heart bleeds for Nicolette’s pain and Raph’s internal struggles. I honestly feel that I have known these characters for years and their world is a dangerous but one I have loved diving into every single time. A touch of the forbidden, an undeniable love, struggles from inside and outside forces, brotherhood bonds that are unbreakable, possessive incredible bleeding heart that is Raph, and the love that defies it all this story packs one hell of a punch leaving you craving more.
“I imagine.. What if? What if she were mine? What if I were a man worthy of her?..”
“I loved him in silence then, and I continue to love him in silence now. Love doesn’t simply cease to exist just because we want it to.”
“It’s a brutal existence to live in a world with someone you can’t have.”
I also had a chance to get this on AUDIO and holy WOW!!! It’s no lie that these Messina boys really have my heart,so when I had the chance to hear my favorite (so far) come to life I jumped all over that. Let me say the narrator’s are phenomenal, but hearing Troy Duran do Raph’s voice???? OMG I totally swooned hard and fell in love with is voice, there’s just something about that deep raspy timber that got me and I LOVED every second of hearing it.
“I imagine.. What if? What if she were mine? What if I were a man worthy of her?..”
“I loved him in silence then, and I continue to love him in silence now. Love doesn’t simply cease to exist just because we want it to.”
“It’s a brutal existence to live in a world with someone you can’t have.”
I also had a chance to get this on AUDIO and holy WOW!!! It’s no lie that these Messina boys really have my heart,so when I had the chance to hear my favorite (so far) come to life I jumped all over that. Let me say the narrator’s are phenomenal, but hearing Troy Duran do Raph’s voice???? OMG I totally swooned hard and fell in love with is voice, there’s just something about that deep raspy timber that got me and I LOVED every second of hearing it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (ARC)
''She's my earthquake while I'm quicksand''
Safety warnings:
- H 38 / h 21
- No cheating (between MC's)
- No OM drama
- OW drama
- Kidnapping
- Violence/torture/d*ath
- HEA
Enjoyed this more than book 1! If you are going to read this I suggest you go in blind but also if you have not read book 1, I strongly suggest you do since it would be an amazing way to truly get the full picture of this plot. This book takes place during the same timeline but focuses on two different characters: The eldest brother in the Messina family and his much younger sister-in-law.
The story is told in two different timelines, one is set in the past and how Raph met his future wife and her family, we also see how Nicolette eventually falls for her brother-in-law in secret and pines over him for years to come. Please note that there is a 17-year age difference, and they met when she was 15-years old, and he was 32. Raph started dating Nicolette’s older sister (21) and were together for a few years until they got married.
You find out a lot about their relationship and marriage. I honestly don't particularly like brother/sister-in-law romance as it's diminished by the fact that he was married to her sister first but let’s just say the sister? Evil incarnate. Not just in general but to everyone around her. We also find out more about what happened that led to Nicolette running away.
This book was a definite slow burn, but I wouldn't want it any other way. The push Raph was constantly giving Nicolette had nothing to do with his feelings but had a deeper reason and you will understand when you get inside his head but once these two get together it's just explosive and insane. Their chemistry is off the charts.
These two have gone through so much in the hands of the ones that were suppose to love and protect them. It's heartbreaking, I felt so much for Nicolette and Raph whenever we find out more and more about the deceit and pain they endured.
There are so many reveals in this book along with secrets that you just need to hold on to something during this roller coaster of a ride.
Did the villains get their justice at the end? Yes but I did want them to suffer more.
I'm really looking forward to the next book where we are definitely going to be getting a wild plot line. We did get a sneak peek at the end about the next couple and it's already steamy as hell!
''She's my earthquake while I'm quicksand''
Safety warnings:
- H 38 / h 21
- No cheating (between MC's)
- No OM drama
- OW drama
- Kidnapping
- Violence/torture/d*ath
- HEA
Enjoyed this more than book 1! If you are going to read this I suggest you go in blind but also if you have not read book 1, I strongly suggest you do since it would be an amazing way to truly get the full picture of this plot. This book takes place during the same timeline but focuses on two different characters: The eldest brother in the Messina family and his much younger sister-in-law.
The story is told in two different timelines, one is set in the past and how Raph met his future wife and her family, we also see how Nicolette eventually falls for her brother-in-law in secret and pines over him for years to come. Please note that there is a 17-year age difference, and they met when she was 15-years old, and he was 32. Raph started dating Nicolette’s older sister (21) and were together for a few years until they got married.
You find out a lot about their relationship and marriage. I honestly don't particularly like brother/sister-in-law romance as it's diminished by the fact that he was married to her sister first but let’s just say the sister? Evil incarnate. Not just in general but to everyone around her. We also find out more about what happened that led to Nicolette running away.
This book was a definite slow burn, but I wouldn't want it any other way. The push Raph was constantly giving Nicolette had nothing to do with his feelings but had a deeper reason and you will understand when you get inside his head but once these two get together it's just explosive and insane. Their chemistry is off the charts.
These two have gone through so much in the hands of the ones that were suppose to love and protect them. It's heartbreaking, I felt so much for Nicolette and Raph whenever we find out more and more about the deceit and pain they endured.
There are so many reveals in this book along with secrets that you just need to hold on to something during this roller coaster of a ride.
Did the villains get their justice at the end? Yes but I did want them to suffer more.
I'm really looking forward to the next book where we are definitely going to be getting a wild plot line. We did get a sneak peek at the end about the next couple and it's already steamy as hell!
⭐️ 4.5/5
A big big thanks to Lilian Harris for the ARC and giving me a chance to read this ahead of time. The book is out now so run and go check it out! This is book two in the series and while it is a stand alone, it is happening at the same time as book one!
Where do I start, I have so many thoughts on this book because I just loved it!
A big big thanks to Lilian Harris for the ARC and giving me a chance to read this ahead of time. The book is out now so run and go check it out! This is book two in the series and while it is a stand alone, it is happening at the same time as book one!
Where do I start, I have so many thoughts on this book because I just loved it!
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A web of betrayals
Not sure why I sat on this after reading the first book in the series, but since the next one is about to be released I knew I had to read it. This book overlaps the timeline in the first book, and parts even predate the first book. While it’s not a dealbreaker that you have read the first book, I highly recommend it.
Betrayal. This seems to be the pivotal theme. And it comes from all directions over and over. I was drawn in and had to read this straight through just to see how it played out. What a wild ride! These two are
Not sure why I sat on this after reading the first book in the series, but since the next one is about to be released I knew I had to read it. This book overlaps the timeline in the first book, and parts even predate the first book. While it’s not a dealbreaker that you have read the first book, I highly recommend it.
Betrayal. This seems to be the pivotal theme. And it comes from all directions over and over. I was drawn in and had to read this straight through just to see how it played out. What a wild ride! These two are
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of the best written lilian harris books. i am so in love with the characters and with this world. i definitely loved this a lot more than the first one bc the first one was way too dark for me.
the chemistry between our main characters is splendid and the forbidden nature tension was spectacular. the angst was delicious as always. im so excited for the next books of this series.
the chemistry between our main characters is splendid and the forbidden nature tension was spectacular. the angst was delicious as always. im so excited for the next books of this series.
Honestly, this book was everything. As soon as I started, I could not stop. Raph and Nicolette’s story just might be my favorite. The push and pull between them was so strong, along with their chemistry. The way Nicolette had been treated her whole life, made my heart break. Of course, Raph was always kind to her and really saw her. Who wouldn’t fall in love? Only problem? He was married to her sister. When Nicolette ends up in danger from something she witnessed, they are once again thrown together. Raph swears to always be there for her and protect her. She’s not so sure if she can believe him. Will they give up and give in? Can they be more? Throw in a few twists I did not see coming, and it’s the perfect second chance. Can’t wait for Gio’s story!