Dante Galante has evaded death a few times in his life, but held captive in a sweltering basement, he’s certain that death has finally caught up to him. Bloody and barely breathing, he tries to stay strong, but there’s only so much a man can endure before darkness takes over. As a critical care nurse, Gabriella Russo witnesses suffering often. Thick-skinned, forever cautious, she doesn’t take … doesn’t take her work home with her… until Dante Galante lands himself in her hospital. Recklessly grieving the sister he believes he’ll never see again, Dante needs a friend. Just a friend. That’s all it’s supposed to be.
But life has other plans for them, just as it had for Matteo Barsanti and Genevieve Galante. Away from the chaos, building a life of their own, there’s only one thing that could ever bring them back to New York: Dante.
Rules get broken and boundaries are crossed as the fight between rival families continues on, drawing them all deeper into a war they want far away from… for good reason.
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In J.M. Darhower’s magnetizing sequel to By Any Other Name, which must be read after as it’s not a standalone, we learn what happens after the end of book one. So much goes down in the first book and we’re left wondering how these characters will clean up their inherited and unfortunate messes. All questions are answered in Sweetest Sorrow while the introduction of new conflicts and characters give the book extra captivating material.
Matty and Genna are still in major flux with their lives thanks to less than desirable family circumstances yet still their sense of passion, witty banter, and love is wholly preserved. I loved taking their journey with them in this book. Additionally, Genna’s brother Dante is in a world of trouble. Straddling a gray area between of loyalty and instinct Dante’s world begins imploding the only bright spot a sweet, confident nurse in Gabriella. The journey readers embark on with these two simultaneously with Matty and Genna’s was captivating to read.
Full of love, understanding, betrayal, violence, and humor – Sweetest Sorrow makes an excellent reading escape. Much happens in book two. Relationships grow. Unlikely friendships are forged in steel. Characters new and old make appearances. And all the while Darhower’s writing and plot structure remains as energizing to read as in the first book. Her story telling leaves readers satisfied and hopeful for more. She’s created characters I thought about long past the end, my imagination going off in tangents to preserve their memories in my reading brain. I really enjoyed these two books immensely and fell in love with all the characters. I look forward to reading this author’s Sempre series and whatever she publishes in the future.
This book was everything I loved all wrapped up into one. There was romance, mafia, and the Romeo & Juliet theme. There is nothing that I didn’t love about Sweetest Sorrow.
“I like to think what defines a man aren’t his circumstances or his mistakes. What defines him are his intentions.”
Matty and Genna on the run, Dante suffering from the loss of his sister, their fathers still at war. This book had a lot going on. The story flow was great and the action kept coming. I think Gabby was a great person to help Dante recover from being taken by the Barsanti family. Those two are great together and I am a big fan of hers. She never tried to change him and I loved that. Oh! That thing..that wonderful amazing thing he did when he met her outside the hospital. OMG! I died. I loved him before but THAT…wow. He got me there.
The sins of their fathers have effected all of their lives and they are dealing it with in the best way they can. Matty and Genna trying to start over, Dante trying to put his life together and turning to the one person that makes him feel something. I haven’t forgotten Gavin, oh how I loved him. I liked him in BAON but in this one he stole a piece of my heart.
“They’re stories. That’s what scars are. Some are full of self-depreciating humor. Some are medical dramas….. But something I’ve come to realize, working where I do, is that having scars means you survived. Scars means your alive.”
J.M. Darhower can write anything and I’ll read it, but I will jump for the chance to read one of her mafia stories. I love these books and this one right here is her at her best. The humor, the romance, the heartache, this book had everything and then some. I really recommend her books to you. This one and By Any Other Name are a must read