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simply_shannon 's review for:
Cruel Lies
by Lilian Harris
[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