From the minute I ran, I knew my life was over.EmilyI left my family and everything I knew.Hid myself away where no one would find me.I thought I was safe. Untraceable.I was wrong.Now, there’s only one thing I can do if I want to stay alive.Run.TamirI like to think I help balance the scales of good and evil, one payday at a time. No messy red tape. No long, drawn out legal proceedings. Just me, … payday at a time.
No messy red tape.
No long, drawn out legal proceedings.
Just me, my mark, and a mountain of sins.
Some might ask who I was to play judge and jury about another man’s worth.
I would say, piss off. No one asked you.
Most of my targets are just another day’s work, but her? She’s different.
I feel an unrelenting need to lay my eyes on all of her coveted secrets.
To learn the extent of her corruption and see how it compares to my own.
She thinks she can escape me.
I’ll never let her go.
Where Loyalties Lie is a complete standalone novel with characters taken from book 3 of The Five Families Series. It’s a mafia/military/assassin dark romance, complete with an HEA and no cliffhangers.
more
This is a new to me author and one I’ve been eager to try since reading the amazing blurb. I knew I was right on being excited from just the preface alone.
With books like these every single little detail is crucial and spoilerish to the bigger picture so I’ll keep this short and sweet.
I was hooked from cover to cover, unable to look away, let alone think straight. It was everything I love in a book. Will definitely be going back and reading The Five Families series asap.
Definitely a must click!!!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! I really enjoyed how it was a side story of the Five Families series, but can be read as a standalone. With just the right amount of suspense, Tamir and Emily will draw you in until you can’t put it down.
5 STARS for Where Loyalties Lie by Jill Ramsower
ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way .
ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK ! If I was able to rate more stars I would certainly do so ! Netgalley introduced me to this author in her book Blood Always ( The Five Families ) & WOW am I a new fan.
Where Loyalties Lie has it all for me …
Engaging & very well written story line
Suspense
Amazing characters in Tamir & Emily
Sizzling attraction
HEA that will leave you wanting more. ( always for me a sign of an awesome book )
Tamir is a Krav Maga instructor when Emily starts taking his class he notices & is attracted to her right away but is pretty sure she is hiding something. Emily trusts no one & has been on the run – the problem is that she doesn’t know Tamir suspects something and is on to her.
There is also somewhat of a moral dilemma for Emily when she finds out that Tamir was in Israel’s Special Forces ( Kidon Unit ) & had become one of their top trained assassins. What would you do if you found out the person you are falling in love with kills people ( although selectively ) for a living ?
I would describe Tamir as dangerous ,lethal, helpful , protective , loyal & loving – he does love Emily but hasn’t been upfront with her – just as she hasn’t been with him. They find themselves on the run & she needs to learn to trust him in order to put all her negative “baggage “ behind her.
I read this book in one sitting – could not put it down !
Highly recommend this book & author !
Great read !!
I loved this read. I was taken on an adventure with this author. All the details of a history and a culture that I knew nothing about. I found it all so intriguing. Everything flowed perfectly and consumed me.
Tamir is gorgeous, deadly, and intoxicating. I was drawn to his mystery. Emily has secrets of her own and is much stronger than she feels about herself. These two are immediately drawn to each other but it’s a slow burn. When their together its like a match being lit and thrown into gasoline.
I am a big fan of this author and she did not disappoint. A definite must read that you’ll devour and want more of. I can’t wait for her next book!
WOW! I read this in one sitting because the minute I started reading, I got SUCKED in! Seriously a page-turner and I couldn’t wait to read what happened next. It did take a while to really figure out Tamir’s feelings but once you did—SWOON!
Where Loyalties Lies captured my attention immediately with these complex, mysterious, dark characters. Tamir and Emily are magnetic and their chemistry was off the charts.
It is an intense, suspenseful, emotional and mysterious read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. And when you least expected it, Jill takes your breath away with those twists and turns.
You will be amazed by Jill’s flawless writing that envelops you in this dark and enticing world
This story took me a bit to get into. Emily and Tamir each had their secrets and were running and hiding. The danger was still there, and I liked how they plotted to get themselves free. The heat between them was hot, and I enjoyed the ending.
I received a copy of this story through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
Jill Ramsover, Where Loyalties Lie novel caught me off guard. The only thing I really saw when I was reviewing the blurb for it, was Israeli Special Forces and I knew I had to read it. What I did not expect was the twists and turns. This is a suspenseful book with romance for sure. There were some surprises for me.
I read this book pretty fast, as it grabs your attention and you want to soak it all in. Taking place in NYC and a couple little towns, Jill Ramsover takes you on a journey full of lies, lust, loyalty, and love. I connected with the characters and their feelings, yet I did not know who was more deceitful. When I was towards the middle of the book, is when I was shocked by the revelations of both Tamir and Emily, and even then, their revelations weren’t finished.
Jill Ramsover also addresses a particularly important issue facing not only the United States, but people from around the world. Though she lightly and respectfully touched on this topic, the awareness is there. I really do not want to give it away because you really need to go get this book now!!! This was my first Jill Ramsover read and let me say I am pleasantly surprised!! As a fellow Texan Jill, I will cheers you with Dr. Pepper and a Sweet and Spacy Bacon burger! Now, I will go stalk her social media and I encourage you to do the same!!!!
Full review here published on July 18th 2020 https://christinashuffle.com/?p=303
I received an ARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jill Ramsower is quickly becoming one of my favorite one-click authors. Whatever kind of book she is putting out, I immediately want it. This newest book is no different.
Emily is on the run from someone or something. She was finally starting to let her guard down in NYC, but she isn’t sure anymore after a recent attack. Having to look behind her and never genuinely feeling free is starting to weigh on her. Thankfully she has had Tamir and his teaching of Krav Maga to help her learn to defend herself.
“Betrayal was a hard pill to swallow. It left the bitter aftertaste of pain and regret swirling around on my tongue. I wanted to hate him. It would have been easier to hand myself over to the emotion than to wallow in the alternative”
Tamir has been teaching Krav Maga, and one of his favorite students is Emily. Being able to steal secret glances at her without her knowledge is something he loves. After coming across something that has the potential to turn his world upside down, he is wondering who the real Emily is.
“Tamir wasn’t the type of man you had a crush on, dated, and married. A relationship with him would be life itself. He would become the air I breathed and my reason for waking each morning. That type of power was terrifying.”
Will Tamir be able to help Emily escape, or will he bring her to her doom? Will Emily be able to survive the possibility of losing Tamir forever or the possibility of loving him forever?
“Words and feelings can be manipulated, but actions paint a perfect picture.”
You guys! OMG! I can’t tell you how much I loved this book. It was a slower burn but had the perfect pull and push I love. There was the perfect amount of suspense and whose good or evil. It was everything I needed to read! I loved Emily and Tamir, and I also loved Tamir’s friends. I wouldn’t mind some other books with his friends I was able to relate with Emily about his dislike in owls. I am with Emily about scary owls, not so much about the witches’ part *you have to read that part .* Owls can swoop low and grab things and fly away. Plus, they are masters in staring contests! There is a scene where Emily steals Tamir’s car, and the way Tamir stealthy appears in the back seat was bonkers! I loved it and could imagine Emily freaking out. However, she handled it way better than I would have. I probably would have wrecked the car!
All you need to know is that this book is fantastic. You don’t have to read any other book before this, but if you want a little more backstory in Maria and Tamir’s friendship, you could read her book. However, I HIGHLY recommend this book and any other that Jill is putting out!
Emily is running from her past and take weekly Krav Maga classes taught by the mysterious Tamir. These two are attracted to each other, and are both burdened with many secrets, but when Tamir who is an assassin recognized a picture Of Emily with a bounty on her head he needs to come up with a plan to protect and keep her safe. This is a well written tale which is a journey of survival, and is filled with action, secrets, suspense, emotions, twists, and love. I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend for all.
Copy received from The Next Step PR and I am reviewing it voluntarily and objectively.
This book is considered a standalone but it features a character from her series.
While this novel isn’t my favourite of Jill’s, it is a strong contender. Emily has a past but we don’t learn about it till later. She goes to classes with Tamir as her instructor. He too has a past-as an assassin. Circumstances occur where they’re thrown together and he takes her away to a cabin.
This story does not move fast. It’s very much a slow burn romance with no “romance” happening till later on. The attraction between them is definitely there though.
The coy plot is another thing this book has it going for it too. She places all trust in him, he has an agenda…
I really liked the characters in this one. Despite everything, Tamir is a genuine guy. He takes the situation and does what he wants with it. Emily is definitely a strong female character. In her past, she didn’t roll over for her family. In the present, she works on defending herself, and takes nothing from Tamir. She comes first and I really respect that about her.
Overall good standalone but I’m definitely looking forward to getting back to the series.
Phenomenal story telling.
The first chapter sets the tone that something horrible affected one of the characters. The build up, the intensity. Emily and Tamir meet in a self defense class. Yet the class is only part of the reason why they’re there. There’s an undeniable, organic connection between these 2 characters. Without actually knowing they know that they each hold deep dark secrets and a painful past. It’s a passing look, it’s the the facial expressions and a hitch in their breath.
Told in dual POV, the twists and turns that happen create an exciting and thrilling ride.
As their slow burn relationship develops, secrets are beginning to be revealed.
The simmering slow burn chemistry actually gives their story extra sexiness!!
This standalone is a story of bravery and survival.
4.5 stars!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I read the Preface and then wished I hadn’t. I didn’t want to read the story assuming that a shoe dropping was going to be around every corner. Please don’t feel the same way because as each scene goes by you’re wonder “is this when it’s going to happen?” I know that wasn’t the author’s intent but my mind wasn’t listening.
Emily knew she needed to make changes in her life. She mentions a movie that if you want a good laugh, check it out. There may be some that may have already watched it but now’s a good chance to watch it again. The author could have gone two ways with this character and I was happy with her choice.
Tamir has a side job that makes him a man of mystery. He has the persona that he lets people see and then there’s the side i don’t think you would like to meet. But just like a good movie, it may scare you a little bit but you have no choice but to keep going back for more. Our author made it hard to like him but he begins to grow on you.
It seems our two main characters just may have something in common and it’s at that moment you’ll want to learn more. It’s also the time where you can’t seem to stop turning the page – forget getting anything else done. Think of this as a puzzle and each chapter is just a piece of the puzzle and only the author knows where the piece goes. Just becareful because some of the heat she creates may just singe the edges as the pieces come together. It grabbed my attention almost from the beginning and left me wondering what else this author has created.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
4.4 stars
This story was good. From the opening foreshadowing prologue, I was very invested in what was going to happen and how that scene came to happen. It was riveting. However, it read more like a fictional suspense story than romantic suspense.
There was a slow build in the characters as the story unfolds, letting glimpses show here and there that there was an interest in the other but nothing more than that until almost 70% of the book. Then when it did happen it wasn’t detailed like is generally there. I am not saying that was bad, as it did work. I just wasn’t prepared for that after such a slow build. The storyline was good, but again, it felt more like just a great fictional story. I did like the attention to detail in regards to Krav Maga and the reason that it is important.
Jill Ramsower’s Where Loyalties Lie (a standalone in the five families world) is laden with tropes that I can’t get enough of- age gap, damsel in distress, military intrigue, a suspenseful mystery, and secret identities. This book is easily described by one word; SECRETS. SO many secrets.
Our story begins with a heavy air of mystery- which sets the tone for this book: SECRETS, SECRETS, SECRETS. Even though we have dual POV and are in our characters heads, we’re not privy to the secrets- some of which are so dark and dangerous that our characters treat them like Voldermort- they never speak of or even think them. As we open, new NYC resident Emily is taking her weekly Krav Maga class, something she does with great diligence because of…well…secrets. We just know she has reasons to want to protect herself. Her instruct is the distracting and yummy Tamir, who also has secrets. The two are both drawn to each other out of attraction about also out of familiarity- they both recognize the tells of a secret keeper, they recognize in the other the art of hiding in plain sight, since both are doing just that. When Emily’s past starts to catch up to her, Tamir intervenes- who, not surprisingly, is so much more than a sexy instructor. From there
What I really appreciated about this narrative approach was how insular it is. The majority of the book is one-on-one with Tamir and Emily- so a very intimate construction. We move quickly to hiding/forced cohabitation situation because of looming danger- but the danger takes a back seat to the character dynamics and the secrets they hold- and intense focus on these two exploring their distrust of one another- because both knows the other is hiding something, and neither is ready to put the truth on the table just because they are stuck together. That creates for some interesting dynamics as we see their paranoia, their theories, as they distrust their attraction and even their safety. The mystery isn’t just what the secrets are but why they are so hesitant to share them, and the plot approach allows for the suspense to really build since we really are only focusing on the parallels of secret unpacking and character chemistry- and how that shifts our characters loyalties and motivations.
Our characters are interesting with complex histories- and I loved that we have multicultural identities. I loved the dynamic about how their chemistry initially came from the fact that they recognized the secret traits in one another- the little actions and dynamics that you only notice if you yourself are masking something. Emily just wants to keep herself hidden, and Tamir becomes obsessed with unraveling her secrets. I definitely was intrigued, and what kept me quickly turning pages was wanting to know the truths- the MYSTERY is what drove me. Their characters individually and their relationship and chemistry, however, I felt less connected to. When characters hold secrets I’m not privy to, sometimes it makes a wall between me and the character- and I felt that with Emily, I couldn’t really connect to her emotionally and didn’t fear for her- in part because it took so long for me to understand why she was fearful. And Tamir is indeed sexy- but I felt like I didn’t fully know parts of him. Does their connection and emotional tie supersede this situation? I wasn’t sure. The burn was REALLY slow- and when we did get them being physical (late in the book and very limited times) it was lower on the heat spectrum and a bit anticlimactic- I just didn’t feel the passion or fully feel their feelings/connection.
But, the twists and turns were super interesting, and just when I’d think I knew what was up, another secret would come out. Jill nailed this aspect- so many players of plot complexity. I cared about knowing what really was going on, so I kept reading. The ending didn’t go where I thought I would, but the way Tamir approached this was oddly satisfying and very caring. Overall, an interesting read, just wanted a bit more character connection and a heavier dash of steam for personal preferences. Secret lovers will enjoy the slow and steady secret unveiling. When the secrets are all out in the open, where will loyalties lie?
“Just wow! My jaw kept dropping through out the story. Krav Maga was the first words that caught my attention cause being honest who doesn’t love it? Not at all what I expected it was way better than what I could’ve ever imagined.
Where Loyalties Lie is a romantic suspense story. From the very beginning until the end it had lots of suspenseful moments. Emily and Tamir’s story was different from my usual reads. The plot itself was full of secrets and deep emotions. Whom should you trust? That was the million dollar question!
Jill Ramsower did an amazing job with this romantic suspense story. It had drama, secrets, hotness, romance and… age gap. No more details. Enjoy the story. A must read!
” The truth can be the difference between life and death. ”
I’ve been anxiously awaiting Tamir’s book since Jill Ramsower announced it and let me tell you… Ya’ll she did NOT disappoint! A story so full of mystery, secrets, half truths & lies. Every detail matters! There are so many layers to Emily and Tamir and their journey… so many twists & turns… and just when you think you’ve got it figured out… yeah NOPE not even close! SO GOOD
I don’t want to risk spoiling anything so I will just say this…Read Where Loyalties Lie you will not be disappointed
***ARC Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review/Megan Scandalous Book Blog***
It is no secret that I am always on the hunt for a good romantic suspense. And after reading the blurb of Where Loyalties Lie, I knew that I wanted this to be my first book from Jill Ramsower. The opening gave me the big eyes and I had to know just what happened.
I liked that both Emily and Tamir had secrets. Ones they held close to the chest because of the devastation they could cause. With Emily fearful and on the run, it was all Tamir could do not to spill his deepest truths. But as the story unfolded and I got to know them, I admired them more and more. For their bravery. Courage in making the hard choices. How they sacrificed love and happiness for survival.
I have to say that I figured out what the twist would be before I hit the halfway mark. That being said, I still wanted to see how Tamir and Emily got to that point and what would come after. It was a twisty and bumpy ride and I was quite sure it was going to have a happy ending. Hats off to Jill Ramsower for keeping me guessing as the drama and danger unfolded. But it was the longing and love that Tamir and Emily couldn’t keep hidden (even when they tried to) despite everything happening, that kept me reading.
Where Loyalties Lie by Jill Ramsower is the story of Emily and Tamir. If you have read the ‘Five Family series’ especially the ‘Blood Always’ book then you will have already been introduced to Tamir. But, you don’t really have to have read them to enjoy this book…but they were some good reads. Emily has secrets that keep her looking over her shoulder knowing that someone is out there looking to get her. Emily ends up taking a Krav Maga class given by Tamir. Tamir with his own secrets is a ex special forces military personnel along with being a hired assassin, but for now he is a instructor in martial arts. Emily catches his eye in his class which leads them to dance around their attraction with just glances at each other at first before they start to actually talk. Then, Tamir happens to see that there is a hit on Emily which leads him to want to know more about what is going on with her. This starts their exciting romance adventure. I do recommend this book and this author’s writing.
What’s not to love about this book. Secrets, Secrets & More Secrets.
Emily Ramirez is a woman always having to look over her shoulder for a past she’s trying to escape but when she winds up in a Krav Maga class she doesn’t realize that she comes face to face with a man that she’s not only attracted to but a man with as many secrets as her own.
Tamir is a man who has lived a life unlike many, and makes no excuses for it but he knows that when he meets Emily there is something so much more to her than what he sees on the surface.
Emily doesn’t think she needs the help of Tamir, but the pull between the two of them is down right steamy and when she agrees to his help she is all in not with just his trust but I think the heart gets just as involved.
These two characters will have you sitting on the edge of your seat at times and they will also have you
cheering them on as you turn the pages but what you want them to find at the end is the trust and love that they can find in each other.