“By far my favorite mafia series!” –USA Today bestselling author SE RoseStuck in an elevator with the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen—Who thought that kind of thing actually happened?This man wasn’t just attractive; he was animal magnetism personified. He was every crush and craving—each desire and fantasy—all rolled into one. The problem? There was something sinister lurking beneath that …
There was something sinister lurking beneath that tempting façade.
Something dark and ruthless.
Luca Romano locked his sights on me the moment those elevator doors closed.
I couldn’t escape him, no matter how hard I tried.
There was a mutinous side of me that didn’t want to run.
As if I ever had a choice…
“WOW! Just WOW…From beginning to end I was hooked on this unique spin on Mafia Romance. HOLY PLOT TWIST! Did not see that coming…SOGOOD!” – Megan, Megan’s Scandalous Book Blog
FOREVER LIES is a full-length mafia romance complete with HEA. The book is a dark romance that contains adult themes and content that may not be suitable for sensitive audiences.
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Great transition by the author from fantasy to contemporary romance. Hot and steamy.and great flow in the plot.
Never did Alissa know when she met Luca..how much her life would change. She couldn’t resist this tall gorgeous , confident man with dark eyes and impeccable dress. His demeanor illuminated sex, danger, and excitement. When he first saw Alissa , he saw a confident sexy naive, woman who he wanted to make her his. Was it a chance meeting him in the elevator? or did he have an ulterior motive. Was she in danger? but from whom? Was he the person he said he was? or someone else? Why did he say he would always protect her? This story is one of love, danger, who to trust and hidden secrets. Hidden secrets that would change Alissa’s life forever.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, I loved the authors writing about Alissa indecisiveness concerning Luca, and a surprising twist in the story. I receive an ARC for my honest review.
4 stars!! I do love a good mafia story but even more a great alpha man!!
This is book one of the “Five Families”. I believe this can be read as a stand alone but the end leaves some things in the air. And now I am freaking out because I need book number two ASAP!!
Ok so I have read my fair share of mafia books and I feel like everyone has a different twist. This one is all about the secrets. There are a few twists that I did enjoy quite a bit. I will say that I felt the book could use something, what I am not sure but there were parts that just didn’t hold my interest. I think there were exciting parts where it would have been beneficial to go into more detail and maybe make it bigger, but they were sort of skimmed over. With that said, I am in love with Luca. He made this book. He is exquisite!! Sexy, alpha, domineering, protective, and honest. What more can a girl want?!?!!!
I think Luca and Alessia made a good couple. Mr Criminal and Ms Straight Laced. I think the chemistry was amazing and the sex, yummy!! Even though she could be naive at times I enjoyed her character in this. I definitely thought all the secondary characters were interesting and can not wait for their stories. But I’m scared none of them will top Luca. I, also, fell a little for Enzo. I don’t know where it came from because early on I wanted to smack him but I grew to love that shit.
So if you love a good mafia story with a incredibly sexy alpha male then this is it!!
**I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.**
Forever Lies by Jill Ramsower is the First book in The Five Families Series. This is the story of Luca Romano and Alessia Genovese.
Alessia is fresh out of college and is out to prove to her family that she deserves a top position at their company. So she is set to work her way up through the ranks just like everyone else. Alessia has even been dealing with a boss that hits on her but she is determine to do this. Alessia ends up meeting Luca and their is a immediate attraction. They start going out but Luca has some secrets that Alessia won’t like but one thing Luca knows is that he wants Alessia and he always gets what he wants.
This is the first book I have read by Jill Ramsower and it won’t be the last.
Luca and Alessia’s story is not your typical mafia tale. The story twists and turns until almost the end and kept me, the reader, captivated and eager for more.
Great story and I loved the acknowledgement at the end. It gives you insight into Jill as an author and a person.
“With him, I wasn’t just enough– I was everything. He accepted me just as I was, and I owed him nothing less,”
WOW! Just WOW…this was my first read from Jill Ramsower but it most definitely won’t be my last. From beginning to end I was hooked on this unique spin on Mafia Romance. I don’t want to give too much away but Forever Lies was just different in all the best possible ways.
Alessia and Luca’s story is full of secrets & lies, all the mafia goodness and some seriously chemistry… I do want to mention that Alessia..well..at some points your gonna want to slap her ; too stubborn for her own good, having me yell at my kindle GET OVER IT kind of stubborn! But I get it .. She goes through A LOT ya’ll. However, the one thing she cannot deny is her connection with Luca (insert all the heart eyes here)
“He was in my veins, with me always.”
But seriously, I could not put this book down and that ending…HOLY PLOT TWIST! Did not see that coming…SO GOOD! I honestly cannot recommend this book enough & I’m super excited to read what’s next in this new series.
***ARC Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review/ Megan Scandalous Book Blog***
Alessia works for her father’s company, and while she might be the boss’s daughter, she doesn’t use that to her advantage as she’s starting off at the bottom. True she has a sleazy boss that shouldn’t be around females, ever, but she’s got him handled, at least, she thinks she does. Enter Luca, there’s an instant attraction to him. There’s something about him that makes her want to get to know him. But when she finds out he’s in the mafia, she goes running, trying to forget the feelings that have settled into her heart. But forgetting a good man isn’t easy to do.
When I signed up to review this I told Jill that I wasn’t a huge fan of mafia romances but wouldn’t hold my bias in my review. I think the problem was I just wasn’t reading the right mafia romances because I loved Forever Lies! I think what I love about this is while the mafia is at play, the other aspects take up more of the book. There are so many things going on, it’s a great balance of the two.
I’m a fan of Ramsower because she writes incredibly well-written, well-edited books with multi-dimensional characters. I liked that she included sexual harassment because it’s a huge problem in the world that needs to be addressed. The chemistry between Alessia and Luca is intense, as Alessia says it “…I could feel parts of me going molten and fusing to Luca, welding us together.” *super steamy*. I’m definitely keeping my eye out for future books in this series, very well done!
I liked the story. I really liked Luca. He was true to his word. Yes his initial intentions were not great but mostly to investigate the problem. Alessia I’m not sold on. She was wishy washy. I like Luca, I don’t like Luca. I’m leaving Luca now I’m not. Then she never makes any attempt to protect herself at work. Yes I get it. I’m not shaming a victim. But come on it was never going to stop if she didn’t do something. It annoyed me that after finding out the truth about Her life why she wouldn’t talk to Luca when she knew loved him. Like what makes him worse or not compared to her family. Can’t wait for next story.
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
This is my second five families book, and yes I read book four first. I really liked this book though. I did get a little frustrated with Alessia though. She is sexually harassed for a year and doesn’t report it. And yes, I understand stand somewhat why she doesn’t, but I feel like she should have told someone other than Giada. And what can I say about Luca…..!! The way he treats her and takes care of her. And as for the “revelation” about the Mafia….. Anyways, this was a good Mafia book and I can’t wait to read more!
A good introduction to a mafia world. Not quite as dark or angsty as I prefer, but a good read. Great story line and lots of chemistry!
3.5 “Secrets”
This was my first read (audiobook) by this author and I liked it. Forever Lies wasn’t as dark as I was expecting for a mafia romance and took a little while to take flight plotwise, hence my rating. Otherwise, I enjoyed Alessia and Luca’s relationship. Luca is dark and mysterious, holding secrets. He’s so protective of Alessia, sometimes overbearing, nonetheless irresistible. The young woman is instantly intrigued by the man, but also cautious of the dominant aura he oozes. They have a certain chemistry that only evolves through the story into a deeper relationship involving steamy encounters. The narration of the audiobook was so great and kept me invested in the story. I’m intrigued about the next book, so hopefully I’ll find some time soon to read Never Truth.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, first, I literally did a happy dance when I found out Jill had another series coming out. Did I think this series would be better than the Fae Games? Honestly, no because I LOVE supernatural books. Was I wrong? Yes, yes, 100% YES. Forever Lies honestly threw me for a loop. I had no idea I would be sucked in so quickly, but Jill scooped me up from my boring life in Texas and dropped me straight into the heart of New York City and I enjoyed every minute of it.
This review is for the audiobook version.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Alessia is a hard working woman who doesn’t feel what she gets the appreciation she deserves by the one person she wants praise from. Luca is a man who is a man of mystery. He’s there when Alessia needs him the most. His job could become an issue. There are moments where you might want to hold your breath.
Yes this is a mafia romance but it’s also about looking beyond a word, a title, or the connotation and sometimes we really have to look deep inside and find out what’s in their heart. We live in a world where not everyone is good and where not everyone is bad. Not everyone has a great job and some have jobs that we may not like very much. There may be times where you work with people that you really don’t like and don’t appreciate how they treat you.
The author has made this story seem so believable. She did a great job at helping me picture the scenes as they play out. Two other people that helped with those pictures were Ms. Cartwright and Mr. Hamilton. Yes, I came to expect them to have an Italian accent but then that shows the assumptions we have on how a person in the mafia will talk. Our voice actors did a good job in trying to get across if they were portraying a male or female character. They knew how to change the tone of their voice so the reader could make that distinction.
When the ending came I was left hanging by my fingernails because one of the secondary characters has left me wondering. Since this is part of a series there’s no way that I can stop at book one. I have to see what the author has planned for her readers in book two. Plus now that I’ve listened to book one, when I get to book two it will have to be in audio form as well. I want to see how the next two voice actors are going to handle the characters, the storyline, and the world she has taken the time to create.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
3.5*
I’ve read this series all out of order but I’ve finally gotten to the first one. I’m a sucker for when Luca is obsessed with Alessia and that really bumped this up for me. Overall I really enjoyed the writing and the characters and I think I’ve said this for every book in this series, but I wouldn’t mind reading more in this world. I received a complimentary copy of this on audio and I volunteered to leave an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Fantastic Story & Listen Captivating & Heartfelt!
Forever Lies
The Five Families
By: Jill Ramsower
Narrated by: Mackenzie Cartwright, Teddy Hamilton
I enjoyed this book immensely, it grabbed my attention right from the start and held it straight to the end. This is my second book written by Jill Ramsower and it is clear that she is a gifted author, I enjoy her writing style and the interesting and original storylines she creates. I am loving the mafia world and family dynamics she is building for this series. The characters are complex and well developed, they are realistic and easy to relate to. This book is Luca and Alessia’s story, Luca is a made man, he is trying to find out who is head of one of the Five Families. Alessia works in her father’s company but she is on her own to work her way up, he does not extend any favoritism her way. She is good at her job her only problem is her immediate boss who makes her feel uncomfortable with his innuendoes and advances. She has put up with it because she does not want to make waves. Luca had his eye on Alessia and when she spots him there is an instant attraction. The chemistry between them was undeniable but Luca’s alphatude almost scares her away and then when she finds out who he really is she tries to get away. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the story is cleverly plotted with plenty of drama, angst, twists and turns, thrilling and suspenseful moments, some heartfelt and emotional moments and some hot romance. Jill Ramsower, thank you for another great story.
I listened to the Audible edition, Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton are terrific narrators and voice artists. They bring the characters to life, giving each their own voice and personality, as well as heart and attitude. They did a great job portraying the characters, capturing all their emotions and projecting them into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this great listen
I am a sucker for mafia romances and this one didn’t disappoint!
Alessia is naïve yet so smart it doesn’t take long for everything to click into place for her. When she meets Luca it’s like he barges into her life and she doesn’t have a choice but to accept it, her heart is too far gone from the start.
Luca is the perfect bad boy, he is hot as sin and so strong and demanding. It was exactly what I would expect from him. His job is unconventional to say the least but the connection to Alessia is too strong to ignore.
When the plot thickened I couldn’t turn away, I couldn’t even think about anything other than finding out what happened next! I couldn’t believe the turn of events, the way things played out. I loved it!
Again, I’m a total sucker for mafia romances but this one is worth reading. It has everything I wanted from a mafia romance- angst, heat, fear, blood, and secrets.. so many secrets! The reveal is jaw dropping. It is amazing how secretive the mafia is and I revel in it!
Wow, what an exciting, emotional, and sexy romance! Alessia is working her way up in her father’s company. She loves her job but is having some problems and wants to deal with them on her own, to hopefully earn her fathers respect. Luca Romano has a chance meeting with Alessia and is intrigued by her innocence and fire. Alessia is drawn to Luca’s dominant, and sexy alpha presence, but his certain air of danger scares her. But she can’t stay away from him no matter how many warnings she receives. As secrets come to light and dangerous events happen to her, Luca becomes her savior or maybe just another devil in her world. This romance was suspenseful, raw, and sexy and the thrilling story surrounding them was a nail biter! Narrators Mackenzie Cartwright, and Teddy Hamilton were amazing as they brought this story to life. Cartwright nailed Laura’s determined, loving and naive character with an unheralded strength perfectly. Hamilton’s voice was perfect for the powerful, dangerous, yet vulnerable Luca. I loved listening to them both as they drew me in and made this story even more exciting. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in this Five Families series!
This was a really great book. I was really surprised by the little twist thrown in there. There were a few errors and repetitive phrases that were pretty annoying, but other than that really good writing. Similes and metaphors to die for. I liked the characters. I would have liked more chapters from Luca’s POV. Still, really great stuff.
5 Stars for Forever Lies : A Mafia Romance ( The Five Families Book 1 )
Audible edition of this book received from author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way.
This author is new for me & I will be adding Jill Ramsower to my TBR “read” author list. Mafia Romance is becoming a genre I really enjoy & this author does an excellent job with this story !! LOVED IT !!
One thing that got my attention right away is the absolute perfection of the cover – spot on for Luca.
This story is based on a series of lies & how difficult it can be to tell the truth when faced with hurting someone you love.
Alissa has a chance meeting with Luca at Titan Industries in an elevator. Nothing for this couple however is a chance – it’s a manipulation by Luca to get his “in” on one of the most powerful mafia families in New York. I liked that Alissa is such a strong character but she has been kept in the dark regarding her families true purpose …
Here are just a few things I really liked about this story :
Awesome characters / secondary characters as well
Edge of your seat storyline
Modern day issues of sexual harassment in the work force
Great sizzling chemistry
HEA
True sense of family & what is most important to them – protecting the ones you love
Highly recommend this book & I will be diving into the remaining books in this series by this author.
LOVED THIS STORY !!!
I received an ARC of this book through The Next Step PR.
The synopsis of this book first jumped out at me for its mafia trope. In the end, this book was good, but fell a little short. I found Luca’s background didn’t really play much of a part in this novel. Maybe if it was a little longer, we could see how he and Alessia handle life and his job. When she discovers who he is, the book seems to fly through the rest: her family and the reason Luca found her. There wasn’t much emphasis on the trope until the very end, when she is taken. Even that though, I found to be more convenient for the plot than anything. The author presented a reason for his appearance in her life so the author needed to follow through with it. Only it felt rushed and half-baked.
I give this book 3.5 stars officially, but will rate as 4 as I did enjoy reading it. Other than the mafia aspect, the characters and their romance was well-developed. I enjoyed how nothing was rushed between them two. The author took her time to build them before bringing more into the plot and I do appreciate that. The chemistry between them sizzles with electricity.
While I do have my problems with this one, I would be interested in checking out future books of the series.