Book Synopsis:
In this thrilling and sexy follow-up to Sempre, two young
lovers struggle to keep their relationship intact after they become deeply
enmeshed in the dangerous mafia-run crime ring they once tried to overthrow.
Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco have been through a lot. Haven was taken in by Carmine’s father, and with his family’s help, she escaped a gruesome fate. However, saving Haven from the dark intentions of a mafia family cost Carmine a steep price: he was forced to swear loyalty to them.
Now, still passionately in love, Carmine and Haven must face the fall-out of Carmine’s forced service, as Haven discovers terrifying secrets about the family that enslaved both her and her mother—and why she matters so much in this intricate web of lies.
Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco have been through a lot. Haven was taken in by Carmine’s father, and with his family’s help, she escaped a gruesome fate. However, saving Haven from the dark intentions of a mafia family cost Carmine a steep price: he was forced to swear loyalty to them.
Now, still passionately in love, Carmine and Haven must face the fall-out of Carmine’s forced service, as Haven discovers terrifying secrets about the family that enslaved both her and her mother—and why she matters so much in this intricate web of lies.
About the Author:
JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems,
most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North
Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She
has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and
when she isn't writing (or fangirling about books) she's usually ranting about
those things.
Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a
Twitter addiction. You can usually always find her there.
Author's Links:
Purchase Links:
Excerpt
Carefully,
so not to wake Haven, he slipped from underneath her and climbed out of bed. He
tiptoed across the room to the window and pulled some slats of the blinds apart
to look out into the night. It was nearing three in the morning, the sky pitch
black and the city quiet. Carmine surveyed the street, looking for any sign of
trouble, and tensed when his eyes fell upon a car out front.
A
vaguely familiar looking dark Chevy Camaro.
He
stepped back from the window and gave Haven a quick glance before heading out
of the room. Instinct took over, every move calm and calculating. He found his
pants and pulled them on before grabbing his gun downstairs. He made sure it
was loaded as he quietly slipped out the back door. He headed around the house
and came up behind the Camaro, eyeing the license plate.
The
moment he saw the letters JK, his adrenaline kicked into overdrive.
Staying
in the shadows, he watched the car for a bit. The man was alone with the
driver’s side window down, his attention focused away from Carmine’s house.
Every time headlights flashed nearby he would watch them like a hawk until they
passed. He was waiting for something, but Carmine wasn’t sure what until a set
of headlights shined their way. The man ducked as a black Mercedes sped by them
before swinging into a driveway about a block away.
Corrado.
Carmine
wasn’t sure what to do, torn between reacting and alerting Corrado, but he
didn’t get much time to consider his options. The driver’s side door swung open
and the guy climbed out, keeping his head down as he started down the block.
Without even thinking Carmine followed him, dodging streetlights while trying
to keep up with his pace. The man slowed when he neared Corrado’s house,
staring at it peculiarly like he was trying to assess how to get inside. The
living room light was on and Carmine could see shadows, Celia’s laughter
faintly filtering out of a cracked window.
The man
ducked beside Corrado’s house and Carmine hesitated, taking a deep breath and
clutching his gun before darting behind him. The invader had almost made it to
their backyard when he heard Carmine’s footsteps. He swung around, alarmed by the
presence, but it was already too late.
Carmine
slammed him into the side of the house, shoving his gun against his temple. “If
you move, I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
He
cursed and shook as Carmine patted him down, frantically pulling everything out
of the guy’s pockets. He found a gun in his coat and made sure the safety was
on before sticking it in his waistband.
Grabbing
the man’s wallet, Carmine flipped it open and yanked out his driver’s license.
“Oisin Quinn. What kinda name is that?”
“Don’t
hurt me,” he begged. “I’m not looking for trouble!”
“Bullshit,”
Carmine spat. “You don’t lurk around this neighborhood with a gun if you aren’t
looking for trouble.”
“I
swear it’s a mistake!”
“What
is?”
“This!”
“What
the fuck is this?” Carmine asked, pulling him away from the house and shoving
him into the backyard. He stumbled but caught himself before he fell, and
hesitated for a second before he took off sprinting through the yard.
For a
brief moment, Carmine remained frozen in utter disbelief. He had just let go of
the guy. How fucking stupid could he be?
Adrenaline
kicked in again. Carmine aimed with his finger on the trigger, a hair away from
pulling it, but lowered the gun and took off after him instead. Carmine managed
to catch him, tackling him in the grass at the edge of the yard. Panicked, the
man swung, trying to fight Carmine off, and his fist connected with the right
side of his jaw. Pain ripped through his cheek, sending him over the edge.
If he
wanted a fight, Carmine was going to give him one.
He
pulled his arm back that clutched the gun, slamming him straight in the face
with it. A lifetime worth of aggression came pounding from his fists,
disappointment and anger, shame and heartbreak. Carmine didn’t know the man,
but that mattered not—he took his pain out on him, battering him with pent up
hostility he needed to let go of.
After
he was beat down, Carmine pulled him across the yard and forced him on his
knees right outside Corrado’s back door.
“Stay
there, motherfucker,” he spat, giving him a swift kick in the side out of
frustration. His jaw ached and he was out of breath, blood splattered on his
hands.
“I’m
certainly glad you decided not to shoot him.”
The
voice caught Carmine off guard. He looked up, seeing Corrado standing
motionless at the back door, watching them. “Fuck, how long have you been
there?”
“Long
enough.”
“And
you couldn’t help me?” he spat, annoyed he had just watched.
“You
seemed to have it handled,” he said. “Besides, it was quite entertaining.”
Carmine
glared at him. “Entertaining? There’s nothing entertaining about this!”
“I
disagree.”
“Well,
you’re wrong,” Carmine said, reaching into his waistband for the guy’s gun. He
cursed yet again when he came up empty-handed and glanced around, realizing it
had fallen out during their scuffle. He found it a few feet away and picked it
up, handing it to Corrado when he stepped outside. “He could’ve killed me.”
Corrado
laughed dryly. “You’re exaggerating. You had him, no problem.”
“You
couldn’t have fucking known that.”
“Yes, I
could. He didn’t do his homework if he parked in front of your house.”
“How do
you . . . ?” Carmine stopped, narrowing his eyes when it struck him. “Wait, you
knew he was there?”
“Of
course I did,” he replied. “He wasn’t sly, Carmine. Even you noticed
him.”
“Son of
a bitch,” he grumbled, aggravated. “I did all of that for nothing?”
“I
wouldn’t say it was for nothing,” Corrado replied, smiling with amusement.
“Like I said, it was entertaining.”
Source: eARC for Honest Review from Simon and Schuster via Edelweiss
Genre: Romance Contemporary
My Review...
I don't know why I thought this book was going to be rainbows and unicorns and nothing but happiness but nope it sure was not.
This story is so much more than a love story. It is about the angst, the
drama and redemption of one's self. It is the journey of Corrado,
Vincent and Carmine and Haven.
In the beginning I had a smile from ear to ear with the love that oozes out of Carmine and Haven and then at about 12 % my heart breaks when Carmine has to live with his choices and sacrifices he made to save Haven.
A life away from all of this bullshit, where you can just be Haven. Go be you and not what people tried to make you. You have to go show those motherfuckers what they've been missing be not knowing you. Show them they can't hold my girl down.
Then the next 60% of the book is them apart.
I know, I know the title is about redemption but Ugh! my heart could barely take this. However, as much it gutted me it was also necessary as the two of them needed to grow on their own as individuals to give into how deep their connection is.
I know, I know the title is about redemption but Ugh! my heart could barely take this. However, as much it gutted me it was also necessary as the two of them needed to grow on their own as individuals to give into how deep their connection is.
During this separation we get to see the growth of Haven.
Then....
Where we also get to see the destruction of Carmine and the behind the scenes of his dangerous world.
With the truth comes consequences and more sacrifices. Vincent and Corrado risk everything to make things right the only way they know how. But we these choices it finally brings Haven back home where she belongs.
This story is such a beautiful journey from beginning to end even though J.M. Darhower may have ripped out my heart for a part of it.
J.M Darhower is a genius capturing the beauty of rightness in a ugly world of wrong.
Loved this book!
5 Redeeming Thumbs up!
Lauren
J.M Darhower is a genius capturing the beauty of rightness in a ugly world of wrong.
Loved this book!
5 Redeeming Thumbs up!
Lauren
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