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myloveoflit's review
3.0
Arranged marriage, forbidden romance, and a NOLA mafia family is what pulled me into this story. I was hooked from the first couple chapters. Really good writing and a quick enjoyable read. But enjoyable is where it peaks.
I love a slow burn when it comes to romance and steam, but the MC’s in this one wasted no time. In fact it seemed too quick and not convincing. I didn’t feel the connection good enough between Lana and Naz. It fell flat in that department and a little rushed. However, the story kept going and had some great parts until the end. It left me feeling a little cheated. Not really much of a suspenseful ending, but a HEA none the less.
This is not meant to be a bad review, because I did enjoy it. I just expected a little more depth. What I really liked is the setup for the series and introduction to the Costello family. Each Sinners of New Orleans book will be written from a different family member POV and they seem to be in chronological order. Their drama mixed with their mafia ties and corruption is fascinating. I will say this; the second book in this series is FANTASTIC!
I love a slow burn when it comes to romance and steam, but the MC’s in this one wasted no time. In fact it seemed too quick and not convincing. I didn’t feel the connection good enough between Lana and Naz. It fell flat in that department and a little rushed. However, the story kept going and had some great parts until the end. It left me feeling a little cheated. Not really much of a suspenseful ending, but a HEA none the less.
This is not meant to be a bad review, because I did enjoy it. I just expected a little more depth. What I really liked is the setup for the series and introduction to the Costello family. Each Sinners of New Orleans book will be written from a different family member POV and they seem to be in chronological order. Their drama mixed with their mafia ties and corruption is fascinating. I will say this; the second book in this series is FANTASTIC!
tj_darkreads's review
4.0
I very much enjoyed this book. It starts off with a bang from page 1 and doesn't let up with the drama from the fmc family, man were they something else. Greedy much. Lana knows she's to be married off after her grandfather dies to form an alliance with another family as that's what is required in the Famiglia, so she doesnt have any choice. Then she meets Naz who's a soldier for her uncle and they are attracted to each other, and even if it's forbidden, it won't stop them. This is dark so read the trigger warnings.
natyzeereads's review
4.0
Ya know it wasn't enough to give it a 5 but it wasn't a 3 because now I want to know what happens. Logistically, I didn't fully understand how the characters were sneaking off to see one another when she was under strict watch. However, after the last chapter of the book and the last line, I am intrigued and would most definitely read the next book.
serial_london's review
4.0
My first Mafia romance
This is the first true Mafia romance I've read and honestly, I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. It was very heavy so check your warnings before starting. I wouldnt say super dark but definitely heavy and had dark elements. I really enjoyed the power dynamics within the family, especially with the characters I know we will be seeing more of later in the series. The writing was solid and engaging. The spice level was vanilla but very hot. I also LOVED Lana's growth in this story. Highly recommend.
This is the first true Mafia romance I've read and honestly, I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. It was very heavy so check your warnings before starting. I wouldnt say super dark but definitely heavy and had dark elements. I really enjoyed the power dynamics within the family, especially with the characters I know we will be seeing more of later in the series. The writing was solid and engaging. The spice level was vanilla but very hot. I also LOVED Lana's growth in this story. Highly recommend.
jamsu's review
2.0
I decided to request Alliance when I decided to give few mafia books a try.
Lana has been through a lot and has lost a lot of people. Her family, especially her parents made me want to just give her a hug. People in her family, even in her town saw women as objects to own.
Naz grew up poor and he just wanted to take care of his family, no matter what they thought about his job. I didn't see him as a bad boy despite his so called sins. Naz didn't really do much to help Lana but he really couldn't. I wish he had made more effort but on other hand I have to hand it to him that he took everything really well.
All in all Alliance wasn't bad. It just wasn't a book for me. I have read angsty book and really enjoyed them but I didn't really get invested on the relationship in this one. I didn't really mind the depression of the main character but I don't get why Lily and Lana had to be depressed for the same reason and still their parents just cared about themselves.
Lana has been through a lot and has lost a lot of people. Her family, especially her parents made me want to just give her a hug. People in her family, even in her town saw women as objects to own.
Naz grew up poor and he just wanted to take care of his family, no matter what they thought about his job. I didn't see him as a bad boy despite his so called sins. Naz didn't really do much to help Lana but he really couldn't. I wish he had made more effort but on other hand I have to hand it to him that he took everything really well.
All in all Alliance wasn't bad. It just wasn't a book for me. I have read angsty book and really enjoyed them but I didn't really get invested on the relationship in this one. I didn't really mind the depression of the main character but I don't get why Lily and Lana had to be depressed for the same reason and still their parents just cared about themselves.
gemmasmithwrites's review
4.0
I really enjoyed Alliance by Natalia Lourose. My heart broke for both the main characters and the things they had endured in their lives. I can’t wait to see where the story takes us in the next book!
ebazilereads's review
1.0
Update 7/7/2021: I am sorry but this was SUCH a boring book that I'm downgrading it to 1 star. It feels unfair to other books I've rated 2 stars not to do so.
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I had never heard of the genre "mafia romance" before reading Alliance and picked this up on a whim after seeing one of the author's reels on instagram. Unfortunately, I don't think that this genre is for me. This book was fairly simple, with lots of insta-lust and easily solved problems. I skimmed a good deal of it.
Two stars - it was okay.
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I had never heard of the genre "mafia romance" before reading Alliance and picked this up on a whim after seeing one of the author's reels on instagram. Unfortunately, I don't think that this genre is for me. This book was fairly simple, with lots of insta-lust and easily solved problems. I skimmed a good deal of it.
Two stars - it was okay.
drizzydre's review
2.0
I decided to give this book a chance after constantly seeing the author's reels on my instagram. The excerpts she posted caught my attention, but after reading it, I think I've realized that this type of story just isn't for me.
I need the slow burn romance with all of the sexual tension that comes with it. This insta-lust thing just isn't for me and wasn't nearly as satisfying to read. The sex scenes were written well, but they just didn't feel like the characters earned them lmao.
This isn't a dig on the author herself, but I don't think I'll be reading another one of her books or any other in this kind of insta-lust genre.
I need the slow burn romance with all of the sexual tension that comes with it. This insta-lust thing just isn't for me and wasn't nearly as satisfying to read. The sex scenes were written well, but they just didn't feel like the characters earned them lmao.
This isn't a dig on the author herself, but I don't think I'll be reading another one of her books or any other in this kind of insta-lust genre.
booksandbrunette's review against another edition
1.0
Maybe this author doesn't do it for me?
Disappointing is all I can say. The main character is a sad mess that just kicks my own anxiety and depression. I hate damsels in distress and she is the queen of all the damsels. I'm literally holding my head while typing this because I'm so frustrated that I read it. What's sad is that the ending was kinda cliff-hangerish so I am probably going to pick its sequel and be even more disappointed. No character build, no plot building just two horny main characters either having sex or monologuing about their sad and depressing lives, and boom, my the last 100 or so pages they're madly in love.
I feel sad for myself who has to read this. This review is also filled of the word "sad" use more than anything else. Bye.
Disappointing is all I can say. The main character is a sad mess that just kicks my own anxiety and depression. I hate damsels in distress and she is the queen of all the damsels. I'm literally holding my head while typing this because I'm so frustrated that I read it. What's sad is that the ending was kinda cliff-hangerish so I am probably going to pick its sequel and be even more disappointed. No character build, no plot building just two horny main characters either having sex or monologuing about their sad and depressing lives, and boom, my the last 100 or so pages they're madly in love.
I feel sad for myself who has to read this. This review is also filled of the word "sad" use more than anything else. Bye.