We are the Rossetti’s.The exiled “sixth family” of the New York mafia. We’re the good guys.People don’t fear us…much. They respect us.The five of us? We’re the Brooklyn Brothers.And we protect what’s ours.Jasmine Kingston should run from me. I mean, she should literally pick up her dress, toss away her heels, and haul ass in the complete opposite direction. Because for the last few months that … the last few months that she’s been in New York and taking the fashion world by storm, I’ve been watching her. From my ivory tower, from the shadows. Wherever she’s been, I’ve been only feet away, and she hasn’t even realized it.
Until now.
I can’t stay away and watch one more man take his shot with her. She needs to know what she’s doing to me. Especially since things are heating up with my family’s enemies. I just pray those enemies don’t discover my only weakness.
Maybe it was the wrong way to go. Maybe I should never have touched her. Never treated myself to her addictive taste. But I can’t alleviate this obsession I have with her any more than I can put a bullet between my own eyes.
She’s mine to protect now.
I’ll burn my entire fortune to the ground and take ten of those bullets before I let anything happen to her.
I just hope she doesn’t find out what I’ve done.
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Ms. Munton was a new author to me last year when I read The Divorce Attorney and fell in love with her writing. Fast foward and I’ve read the entire Southern Hearts Club series, as well as Book #3 of the Brooklyn Brothers Series, Booze and Bullets. Well, needless to say, I was 100% hooked and I had to go back and purchase the first 2 books in this series to read how it all began and what a beginning it was! Holy smokes, Cristiano Rossetti, is a force to be reckoned with! And Jaz/Jasmine couldn’t have been a better partner/soulmate to his alpha/dominant personality. This book flows so effortlessly due to Ms. Munton’s ability to pull you into the storyline from page 1. Her writing allows you to connect with the characters immediately and become invested in their lives and let me tell you, they live some exciting, dangerous lives! If you love mafia romances and the romance suspense genre, look no further and start reading the Brooklyn Brothers Series! Another 5+ star read.
This is a great start to a new series. Cris and his family have connections to the mafia but when he sees Jasmine, sparks fly. His family’s enemies are getting closer and what will happen if they learn his weakness. Fast-paced read with lots of drama and plenty of steam. The chemistry is steamy, and the story is entertaining. A good read.
This was the first time in coming across this author with the story content blip I read tempting me to venture in. The Brooklyn Brothers I fear are going to own me by the time I am done with this one with having to get my hands on the others when they come out. When something becomes a obsession you go for it sooner or later. Cris will be the one out for Jasmine then it really took over you are helpless until you see how this unfolds. His mindset is a bit like you think for his background. She is the one that really carries you along. I think I adored her personality. Things will escalate with us being dragged leaving skid marks. The ups and downs and all arounds gives a good read. This author did just as I feared and now will want to see how the others will fare.
In true Melanie Munton fashion, she creates a delightful and sexy contemporary romance with a bit of suspense between two very strong, independent and unsuspecting characters.
A very hot, sexy and wealthy financial tycoon has plans for an up-and-coming fashion designer who is unaware of just how far he will go to win her over.
The Rosettis are the exiled and respected sixth family of the New York mafia, and the rich and powerful Christiano “Cris” Rosetti has got it bad. The moment he sees Jasmine Kingston at Sam and Kade’s wedding in Atlanta, he falls hard and fast and swears to make her fall for him, too. However, to Cris’ frustration, Jasmine is too busy for a relationship and wants an honest, on-call sex partner instead. Well, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Will Cris be able to admit his secret to Jasmine before it’s too late?
Jasmine Kingston has just had her first successful fashion show in New York and she needs to relieve some stress. When Cris Rosetti rescues her during a dress malfunction at her after-party, he is her first choice as a stress-reliever. However, his persistence and charm are wearing her down and her feelings are changing. Better late than never. Will his past put her in danger?
I love the interaction between Cris and Jasmine. Cris’ insecurities in wooing Jasmine is so adorable coming from a normally cocky and well-known ladies’ man. At first, Jasmine seems like a cool businesswoman, but when she makes the deal with Cris to become lovers, her fun sassiness comes out to play. The Rosetti family is introduced as well and I enjoyed the family competitiveness and warm family atmosphere.
I am a big fan of Ms. Munton and book 1 of the Brooklyn Brothers series is a fun and sassy start to what appears to be a wonderful kick-off to the 5 Rosetti brothers. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Recommend highly!
Thank you to Ms. Munton for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Lace and Lies by Melanie Munton is book One in the Brooklyn Brothers Series. This is the story of Cristiano ‘Cris’ and Jasmine. This series starts the stories of the Brooklyn Bothers who just by this book I can’t wait to read more of the brother’s stories with their large Italian family that happens to have connections with the mafia. Cris happens to see Jasmine at a wedding and of course he is taken with her and starts to lightly stalk her while working to get involved with her life and her career choice. Unknown to Jasmine of course so this is just one of the secrets he is keeping from her. Then when they do meet sparks fly but Jasmine is so consumed with her career she doesn’t have time for a true relationship but they agree to encounters but of courser that isn’t what last long. This does have some action scene since there is mafia/bad guys involved so it keeps you turning pages. Can’t wait to read more for this series.
Romantic suspense
New to me author
Mafia ties
Set in my city
Sign me up! Lace and Lies ticks the boxes of all the things I like to read and I was into it from the start.
I won’t lie. It took me a hot minute to warm up to Cris. It almost seemed as if he was into Jasmine for less than pure reasons, but it didn’t take long for that notion to go out the window. I loved the way he was with her. Patient and generous while still pushing her for more. More of her time, more of her heart.
Jasmine was no slouch either. I loved her work ethic. Her drive. Her friendships. How she gave so much of herself to the things were close to her heart. What she didn’t have time for was distractions, i.e., Cris. But it didn’t take long for his charm to wear her down and worm his way into her heart.
I loved the romance. How they didn’t try to change each other but made time for one another. Embraced the chaos that was their hectic lives. The stolen moments, the lunches, the check-ins all made me swoon and root for them. But when an enemy comes knocking it sets off a chain of events that changes everything.
Lace and Lies kept me glued to my kindle. Cris and Jasmine’s love story was full of twists and turns, but also humor and heat. While I did want a little more fallout from what happened when Cris’ biggest secret was revealed, I’m still content with the way this ended. AND! I can’t wait to see what Melanie Munton has in store next for this connected but not really family.
Munton brought a whole new twist to “no longer mafia” mafia romance
It’s not as complicated as it sounds, promise.
I was trying to figure out what exactly Cris had done that he was so afraid of Jasmine discovering.
When it was revealed… Yeah, he had every reason to be concerned. Stalker much?
Cris is a bit blind(?) to the realities of proper world etiquette. A nice way of saying he takes what he wants and does not think about the consequences of his action or how the affected party might feel. Not in a malicious sense more an entitlement way – he wants to help those less fortunate – I do not think he even realizes his mindset.
Jasmine what do I say about her but “High five”. Her character had spunk and tenacity. She climbed up the ladder of success with sheer perspiration and she has no qualms with pushing herself to achieve her goals.
The push and pull between these two was intense and at times a bit humorous.
I also enjoyed that for once it was the alpha he man who was floating unaided in the waters of love while the female floated on completely oblivious to the storm brewing
So the story in a no spoiler nutshell :
The Rosetti clan is an old Italian family that had chosen in the beginning to break from the original mafia families –
They are the protectors
Cris wants Jasmine
Jasmine wants a bit of stress relief – the no strings attached kind
Cris has secrets
Jasmine wants to earn her way up in the world of fashion and not the easy way either
Cris is building his own doghouse
Jasmine is finally happy success and what she believes is love is within her grasp
Cris’s secrets are about to be exposed
Jasmine blows a gasket
All he ll proceeds to break loose
Don’t worry it ends on a HEA, for now
I am excited to see where this goes next –
Strong secondary characters that easily grab your heartstrings and latch on ..and the twins Oh heavens
The story was easy to follow, at times I felt it went a bit into the far fetched realm of fiction but it always kept me engaged and entertained
Holy this was an intense read! This is my first time reading from this author and there is no way it’ll be my last. I LOVED every page, this book had it all, mystery, love, steamy sexy times, and a hint of danger lurking. Jasmin was one tough girl, and Cristiano was holy one super hot alpha. This book pulled me right into the story on the first chapter, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Can’t wait for more!
A promising start to the Brooklyn Brothers, Lace and Lies is an exciting read. A new to me author, Melanie Munton has delivered an engaging story with dynamic characters and interaction. I will be looking to read more of the Brooklyn Brothers and more by this author.
Cris is all things alpha. Dirty talking, domineering and loves with all he has. When he first sees Jasmine, he is all in. He is insanely jealous and a little bit of a stalker.She has no idea, the lengths he will go through to make her happy and his. He will agree to a just benefits relationship just to spend time with her. Cris is holding many secrets. As each one is revealed, Jasmine learns things she is not sure she can deal with. Secrets, lies, mafia ties and danger surround this couple. Jasmine and Cris have a lot to overcome. Great start to the series. Two independent and strong willed individuals trying to make a relationship. The chemisty is off the charts and the scenes are very hot.
I loved Lace and Lies. The Brooklyn Brothers is an amazing series. Plenty of action in love and war. I love the premise of the series. The Mafia’s exiled sixth family the Rossetti’s are an interesting bunch, I’m looking forward to getting to know more about them. This story featured Cristiano Rossetti, swoon. I enjoyed Jasmine, Cris’s love interest. My favorite part was the explosive ending and I cant wait to read book #2 Scars and Sins.
I give Lace and Lies 5 stars for its exciting read.
I would recommend this book to Romance Fans.
Really enjoyed the introduction to the Brooklyn Brothers series and can’t wait to see what lies ahead for the Rossetti family!
This was a great introduction to this series and it had me intrigued. This family isn’t in the mafia but they aren’t scared to do what it takes against the mafia to protect their family and the innocent. They are a wonderful family and highly entertaining.
Jasmine’s life is suddenly going where she wants it and she has no time for anything outside of her fashion line but Cris isn’t about to let that get in the way. Cris is a powerful man that goes after what he wants and he wants Jasmine. The more time he spends with her the more he wants but he has to convince her of that. The problem??? He has secrets, secrets that could ruin all the future they could have. Not only does the secrets put their happy ending in jeopardy but danger is coming for Cris and it is coming in strong.
This didn’t have as much action or suspense as I was necessarily expecting but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good because it was. We still get the possessive, alpha man and the feisty female that keeps him on his toes. Not only that but you have the highly entertaining brothers/family and you have a great read! I would definitely recommend this book and I am eager to see what lies ahead.
Lace and Lies
By Melanie Munton
Main Characters: Jasmine and Cristiano
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
4 out of 5 stars
I really liked this book. I do not usually read mafia-type books but this story was more about the relationship between Jasmine and Chris. Chris was a pretty macho, alpha character. I would love to read more by this author. This was a contemporary romance with a HEA ending.