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thebritishbibliophile 's review for:
Twisted Promises
by Lilian Harris
'They say promises are made to be broken, but here in this novel, you'll know just how twisted those promises--and the people who made them--can get. The brilliance of Lilian Harris strikes again! - The British Bibliophile
Thank you to Lilian Harris for sending me an ebook Advanced Reader Copy for me to read and leave an honest review as part of her ARC/Promo team.
Twisted Promises is book three in Lilian Harris' Messina Crime Family series. A series which debuted firstly with Sinful Vows then Cruel Lies , diving ever deeper into the dark and dangerous with every new read added to it. Although each book can be read as a standalone, I personally would recommend starting right from the beginning with book one. You're going to want to see just what blew me away with the debut book in the series. It's a book I've yet to forget about even three books into the series.
To quickly recap, here are the couples for each book included this new release of book three:
-Sinful Vows: Michael & Elsie
-Cruel Lies: Raph & Nicolette
-Twisted Promises: Gio & Iseult (pronounced 'Ee-salt')
Since Twisted Promises contains both Irish, Italian and Russian phrases, Lilian has been ever so thoughtful to her beloved readers and before you even begin the story, she's included a glossary of names and phrases and how to say them. Touches like these are always very appreciated by readers, especially when there's an inevitable debate on how to say a word or name. You can go through the book knowing how to say each word in your head, or go back for a refresher if necessary.
If you've followed the series from the beginning, you'll know how we've been eagerly anticipating and waiting for Geo & Iseult's story. We were teased with bits and pieces of them in Cruel Lies , but we're teased no longer as this is now the chance for their own story to be told and journey to unfold. And what a journey it was! I think this is the first read in a very long time that actually had me talking, yelling, screaming and gasping out loud as I read along. Now I'm not new to dark/mafia romance, but damn if this read didn't have me impressed in every meaning of the word. The sass, the steam, the banter and oh so much more just rocked my bookish world and brains out! It's very, very clear that Lilian put her all into this, and the fruits of her labours have definitely paid off.
Meeting under less than ideal or expected circumstances, Iseult and Gio are complete strangers to one another. Neither realises that their independent circles in which they run are more similar than they could ever think of. She 'hates' everything about him, and he finds himself transfixed by the fearless, fiery and foul-mouthed female with flame-read hair. As someone who doesn't think about women in a certain way other than pleasure, Gio finds himself enamoured and obsessed with making the one woman who doesn't want to be kept, his. If only he was actually able to keep tabs on her, that is.
Reunited not too long into the future under even more unexpected circumstances than once they first met, their identities--and as such their roles within their underworld--are revealed to one another. Only now, Iseult is no longer the mystery women she once was. She is now the fruit that is forbidden to Gio which only makes his desire and want for and of her all the more desirable. Delicious. Staying true to her family and their wishes no matter how much it pains her, Iseult is determined to stick to her path and her decisions in a heavily male-dominated world. There's only one way--and one man--she wants to be dominated by, but if she can't have him, she's going to go for anything and everything that she can have as after all, she's more than put in the hard work and years for what she currently has.
Twisted Promises ultimately is the true definition of 'to hell with the consequences' for Gio and Iseult. Eventually. Once both parties realise that the other is worth fighting for, breaking rules and contracts, there's no stopping them. Especially Gio. Refusing to let Iseult go even when it looked like at several points that he'd have no choice but to do that, he's not scared of the consequences of his actions when standing resolute in obtaining the only thing he's ever been certain about his whole life. He's essentially been only thinking of himself, whereas Iseult has only ever thought about others first and herself second. They're two sides to the same coin and once flipped, it's a fifty-fifty chances of coming up with their heads held high or their tails between their legs.
I honestly didn't think I could love each successive book more than the last in this series but as I've come to expect and love about Lilian, she'll happily prove me wrong an I'm here living for all that she's serving up to us readers. I loved book one. I adored book two. But book three has my heart and is willingly holding it captive. And it's a wonderful place to be.
With much pride, I am very pleased and proud to have found my next top and must read of 2023. Lilian, you slayed, girl!
------------------
Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) Review: 19/02/24
'Another Lilian Harris story elevated through the talented voices that bring her story from the page to our ears and imagination in full, vivid colour and detail' - The British Bibliophile
I always look forward to a Lilian Harris read for quite a few reasons. Two of them being that I get to read more of her work and sit in awe of her amazing skills, and that those self-same reasons are brought to new and equally as amazing heights by the audiobook adaptation that shortly follows each book's release. Both are their own amazing entity, and this audiobook in particular is one that I have been looking forward to for a short while now.
Spearheading this audiobook adaptation sees the return of a favourite narrator of mine, Jason Clarke as Gio, and new-to-me narrator Ramona Masters as Iseult. I've only had the pleasure of listening to Jason a small handful of times here and there, but he's a cemented firm favourite and I'm glad with this audiobook I can expand upon his work. Ramona, being new to me, was someone I was looking forward to listening for the first time as I do with any narrator I have yet to listen to. Time to see how this pair gets on.
If you're already familiar with the story as I am, you'll now what exactly is coming your way. That said, it is always an expectedly unexpected moment when the story you know is knocked out of the park by the narrators that give it audible life. Lilian's work is outstanding in its own right within its genre, and it's complimented here by the brilliant job that these two narrators have done. I had to pause it quite a few times not because I had trouble or issues listening, but because it was THAT good and a certain part of me blushed SO hard I needed a moment to calm. Powerful performances from both for 'those' parts that we readers love so much.
Compliments to Jason Clarke for embodying everything that I thought Gio could be audibly. His voice and tones are an exact match as to how I heard this character in my head as I read the book, and he brought his own uniqueness to the part. I even listened to quite a few parts of his chapters several times because, well, this girl really enjoyed those parts. You won't blame me when you get to them and you'll know which parts I mean, because you'll be off-the-charts blushing along with me.
Ramona was a welcome addition to this audio adventure, joining Jason in bringing Gio & Iseult's story to life through our ears. I've never found a character match or co-narration pairing to be anything less than spot on for Lilian's books, and Ramona fit in perfectly. Iseult character was a fiery, fierce, equal match to Gio and Ramona couldn't have nailed it any more if she tried. I'm ears-over-headphones in love with her performance and I would love to have her back in a future Lilian Harris audiobook.
Thirteen hours just flew by with a duo that delivered and kept on delivering from the first till the last word. I truly didn't want it to end. From Lilian's writing, to the narration and production value, everything about this can only be described as 'flawless'.
Thank you to all involved for an audiobook that should be in everybody's library!
Thank you to Lilian Harris for sending me an ebook Advanced Reader Copy for me to read and leave an honest review as part of her ARC/Promo team.
Twisted Promises is book three in Lilian Harris' Messina Crime Family series. A series which debuted firstly with Sinful Vows then Cruel Lies , diving ever deeper into the dark and dangerous with every new read added to it. Although each book can be read as a standalone, I personally would recommend starting right from the beginning with book one. You're going to want to see just what blew me away with the debut book in the series. It's a book I've yet to forget about even three books into the series.
To quickly recap, here are the couples for each book included this new release of book three:
-Sinful Vows: Michael & Elsie
-Cruel Lies: Raph & Nicolette
-Twisted Promises: Gio & Iseult (pronounced 'Ee-salt')
Since Twisted Promises contains both Irish, Italian and Russian phrases, Lilian has been ever so thoughtful to her beloved readers and before you even begin the story, she's included a glossary of names and phrases and how to say them. Touches like these are always very appreciated by readers, especially when there's an inevitable debate on how to say a word or name. You can go through the book knowing how to say each word in your head, or go back for a refresher if necessary.
If you've followed the series from the beginning, you'll know how we've been eagerly anticipating and waiting for Geo & Iseult's story. We were teased with bits and pieces of them in Cruel Lies , but we're teased no longer as this is now the chance for their own story to be told and journey to unfold. And what a journey it was! I think this is the first read in a very long time that actually had me talking, yelling, screaming and gasping out loud as I read along. Now I'm not new to dark/mafia romance, but damn if this read didn't have me impressed in every meaning of the word. The sass, the steam, the banter and oh so much more just rocked my bookish world and brains out! It's very, very clear that Lilian put her all into this, and the fruits of her labours have definitely paid off.
Meeting under less than ideal or expected circumstances, Iseult and Gio are complete strangers to one another. Neither realises that their independent circles in which they run are more similar than they could ever think of. She 'hates' everything about him, and he finds himself transfixed by the fearless, fiery and foul-mouthed female with flame-read hair. As someone who doesn't think about women in a certain way other than pleasure, Gio finds himself enamoured and obsessed with making the one woman who doesn't want to be kept, his. If only he was actually able to keep tabs on her, that is.
Reunited not too long into the future under even more unexpected circumstances than once they first met, their identities--and as such their roles within their underworld--are revealed to one another. Only now, Iseult is no longer the mystery women she once was. She is now the fruit that is forbidden to Gio which only makes his desire and want for and of her all the more desirable. Delicious. Staying true to her family and their wishes no matter how much it pains her, Iseult is determined to stick to her path and her decisions in a heavily male-dominated world. There's only one way--and one man--she wants to be dominated by, but if she can't have him, she's going to go for anything and everything that she can have as after all, she's more than put in the hard work and years for what she currently has.
Twisted Promises ultimately is the true definition of 'to hell with the consequences' for Gio and Iseult. Eventually. Once both parties realise that the other is worth fighting for, breaking rules and contracts, there's no stopping them. Especially Gio. Refusing to let Iseult go even when it looked like at several points that he'd have no choice but to do that, he's not scared of the consequences of his actions when standing resolute in obtaining the only thing he's ever been certain about his whole life. He's essentially been only thinking of himself, whereas Iseult has only ever thought about others first and herself second. They're two sides to the same coin and once flipped, it's a fifty-fifty chances of coming up with their heads held high or their tails between their legs.
I honestly didn't think I could love each successive book more than the last in this series but as I've come to expect and love about Lilian, she'll happily prove me wrong an I'm here living for all that she's serving up to us readers. I loved book one. I adored book two. But book three has my heart and is willingly holding it captive. And it's a wonderful place to be.
With much pride, I am very pleased and proud to have found my next top and must read of 2023. Lilian, you slayed, girl!
------------------
Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) Review: 19/02/24
'Another Lilian Harris story elevated through the talented voices that bring her story from the page to our ears and imagination in full, vivid colour and detail' - The British Bibliophile
I always look forward to a Lilian Harris read for quite a few reasons. Two of them being that I get to read more of her work and sit in awe of her amazing skills, and that those self-same reasons are brought to new and equally as amazing heights by the audiobook adaptation that shortly follows each book's release. Both are their own amazing entity, and this audiobook in particular is one that I have been looking forward to for a short while now.
Spearheading this audiobook adaptation sees the return of a favourite narrator of mine, Jason Clarke as Gio, and new-to-me narrator Ramona Masters as Iseult. I've only had the pleasure of listening to Jason a small handful of times here and there, but he's a cemented firm favourite and I'm glad with this audiobook I can expand upon his work. Ramona, being new to me, was someone I was looking forward to listening for the first time as I do with any narrator I have yet to listen to. Time to see how this pair gets on.
If you're already familiar with the story as I am, you'll now what exactly is coming your way. That said, it is always an expectedly unexpected moment when the story you know is knocked out of the park by the narrators that give it audible life. Lilian's work is outstanding in its own right within its genre, and it's complimented here by the brilliant job that these two narrators have done. I had to pause it quite a few times not because I had trouble or issues listening, but because it was THAT good and a certain part of me blushed SO hard I needed a moment to calm. Powerful performances from both for 'those' parts that we readers love so much.
Compliments to Jason Clarke for embodying everything that I thought Gio could be audibly. His voice and tones are an exact match as to how I heard this character in my head as I read the book, and he brought his own uniqueness to the part. I even listened to quite a few parts of his chapters several times because, well, this girl really enjoyed those parts. You won't blame me when you get to them and you'll know which parts I mean, because you'll be off-the-charts blushing along with me.
Ramona was a welcome addition to this audio adventure, joining Jason in bringing Gio & Iseult's story to life through our ears. I've never found a character match or co-narration pairing to be anything less than spot on for Lilian's books, and Ramona fit in perfectly. Iseult character was a fiery, fierce, equal match to Gio and Ramona couldn't have nailed it any more if she tried. I'm ears-over-headphones in love with her performance and I would love to have her back in a future Lilian Harris audiobook.
Thirteen hours just flew by with a duo that delivered and kept on delivering from the first till the last word. I truly didn't want it to end. From Lilian's writing, to the narration and production value, everything about this can only be described as 'flawless'.
Thank you to all involved for an audiobook that should be in everybody's library!