Twisted Promises

Messina Crime Family, Book 3

By: Lilian Harris

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Ramona Master

Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

I hate everything about him. I hate his smile. I hate his laugh, and most of all, I hate how he makes me feel—so completely alive with every forbidden kiss.

Gio is the son of the Italian Mafia and I’m an Irish Mob princess. An assassin who swore her life to the cause.

We were never meant to find each other.

But one night changed everything. I was about to end his life, while he was about to end mine.

Instead, we found ourselves in bed hashing out a lot more than our differences.

I disappeared after that. I couldn’t let him get close. I couldn’t let him figure out my secrets.

But he found me and refuses to let me go, reminding me why I crave him.

The only problem is, he’s set to marry my sister.

©2023 Lilian Harris (P)2024 Lilian Harris

Gio is swoon worthy!

Twisted Promises by Lillian Harris

I jumped on the chance to hear this book. I’m new to this author and this series. I had no problem following the story without having read or heard any of the other books. Which is a sign of great writing that I could enjoy this book as a standalone in a series.

Iseult is a fierce beauty with a heartbreaking past who catches Gio’s eye at a charity auction where it turns out they’re both there for revenge against the same person. Who will get to get their revenge first?

The two of them are like fire when they get together. Both are the enforcers of their respective families unbeknownst to the other and seemingly are made for one another.

A year has past since Gio has seen his “Red”, the woman he fell for when both were trying to kill the same foe. And where he finally finds her was in her family home😳. But he’s been promised to none other than Izzy’s sister in an arranged marriage.

Neither Gio or his intended want the arrangement. Gio was smitten by Izzy and hasn’t stopped looking for her since she slipped away from him.

The way Gio is steadfast in his pursuit of Izzy was so damn swoon worthy and had the heat pumping throughout this book.

Izzy was such an enigma with her push and pull to her attraction to Gio until we found out more of her past and how she’s protected herself from it as she fights to find the one person who destroyed her at such a young age.

The action is none stop in this book. There were twists and turns that were typical and also surprising in mafia families that created an impressive story that captured my attention. But that ending when it’s revealed who was responsible for such an eye opening deceit blew me away.

Loved how these two finally get their HEA together as they really were perfectly matched.

The glimpse at the next book to come had me thinking of getting the prior books and anxiously needed to hear the next book as well.

Hearing this book on audio. Created a movie like experience. Ramona Master has a perfect voice for Izzy in expressing all her feelings and emotions. And her ability with all of the accents was amazing. And having Jason Clarke as Gio made it even more swoony hearing his non stop pursuit in having Izzy as his wife.

Reading has NOTHING on this audiobook!!

THIS STORY CAME TO LIFE!

"You are just asking to die, aren't you?." Her breaths grow nosier. "Bambina, I've got you trapped beneath me. What the hell can you do right now, except look good with those thighs spread wide, with me in between them?"

I have been patiently waiting for this audio book for what feels like forever Lol! Lilian Harris wrote an amazing series, but this book is my #1 obsession! If you loved this book then you will love the audio even more. The audio narrators killed this book! Jason Clarke and Ramona Master narrated this book with absolute perfection. Gio and Iseult will always be my favorite in this whole series.

Jason voicing Gio was everything I could have imagined and then so much more. This man made me giggle, blush and every time that man growled and said "good girl" to Iseult had me swooning constantly. It's as if Gio has come to life with this audio and I can't get enough. I am currently, as I write this review, listening to this audio book for a second time! The dirty mouth Gio has will have you so pleasantly uncomfortable. Jason Clarke was the perfect person for this character!

Ramona surprised me with the way she spoke other languages and narrated Iseult perfectly. Ramona brought all of Iseult's pain, strength, longing and badassness in this narration with such an ease. I loved how much shit Iseult gave Gio. She loved to threaten him, but forgets that her threats turn him on and make him work that much harder to win her over.

If you want some spicy romance with action then this is the book for you! Gio is the morally grey MMC we all love! Iseult is the sexy, independent, badass FMC we all root for EVERY,SINGLE.TIME!

Audio is the way to go with book! This book is perfection, but this audio is a master piece!

Don't forget to check your trigger warnings!

Love this story & the narrators performance!

***Original review on ebook after audiobook review***

5/5 stars

Narrated by Jason Clarke and Ramona Master

OMG this story just CAME. TO. LIFE.
The narrators did an amazing job with bringing the characters' personalities alive. I loved how each character had a distinct voice that made it all the more entertaining to hear. From my previous review, you know I already love the story. So this is basically a review on how well the narrators did. This will not be the last time I pick an audiobook narrated by them.

5/5 stars
3/5 spice

"She stares down at me. A cold, calculating grin slithers to both corners of her mouth as she settles on top of me, lowering a blade against my Adam’s apple. I think I’m in love."

Tropes:
Frenemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
Sister's fiancée
Obsessed hero
Assassin heroine
Mental health rep
Touch her and die
He falls first
Dual POV

I knew this one was going to be fiery and full of amazing banter... and it did NOT disappoint. Even though this is the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Gio and Iseult, aka Red, are a perfect match for each other in wits, passion, and skill. I loved how every time Iseult would threaten Gio, he would counter with how much he liked it. It was the best... *chefs kiss*

I also really liked how mental health was represented. As tough and independent as Iseult was, she had vulnerability when she suffered her panic attacks. And I loved how supportive and protective Gio was with her so she could start to heal. I was so happy to see her start to accept herself, scars and all, so she could allow herself to be happy and fall in love.

If you love spice, then this book has just the right amount. You get spicy scene early on, and it's all angry and full of power play but super fun. Their passion is explosive, and it was nice seeing the progression of their intimacy turn into love...

There are some dark themes in this book, so please check trigger warnings before starting to read. Stay safe!

Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of dark mafia romances with lots of tension, banter, and an amazing plot twist.

Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Violence, kidnapping, abuse, fire injury, death of parent, explicit sexual content and language, PTSD, panic attacks, murder, torture

Shooketh

5/5⭐️ 3.5/5🌶️ 5/5🎧
SHOOKETH. I. AM. SHOOKETH. This book was so damn good 👏 When the MCs love language is her threatening his life and him pining so hard after her, I’m a goner. Iseult has to be one of my favorite FMCs I’ve ever read. She is feisty, strong, resilient, and murderous. Gio was so freaking swoonworthy omg. And he calls her bambina 🫠🫠🫠 I did not want this book to end. I kept pausing to process the MULTIPLE plot twists and just because I wasn’t ready to stop listening. Now I’m here shooketh and pondering what life is. Man, that was a damn good book.

Jason Clarke and Ramona Master KILLED this audio performance 👏 It was so spicy. With the filthy words from Jason along with an expression-filled Ramona, these two made me feel the chemistry between the characters. These two burned for each other and I couldn’t get enough!

Mafia Romance 🔥

4.5 stars. This book was filled with action and romance. I read the first book, Sinful Vows, but skipped the second one. I had no problem following the strong FMC, Iseult, and MMC, Gio’s story. Iseult built walls to protect herself, and Gio’s persistence broke them down. He loved her so much! I laughed when she gave him a fake number and location. The Audiobook is worth a listen.

Sooo loved this

Sooo loved this in audio!! Just when I thought the book was amazing - the audio pushed it over the top! Amazing!

Isuelt and Gio

Wow these two weee dynamite! From the moment they met . There were many action scenes and a whole bunch of steam with these two. I was caught unawares by the betrayal of Isolde’s best friend. Her past coming to her was traumatic. The constant nightmares everything she endured as a child share her into the woman she was. Gio definitely had his hands full. The ending was so bittersweet with letters for both her and Gio from her mother. This book and the narration was amazing!
The narrators did an excellent job with these characters and bringing their strong personalities to life.

fantastic audio -mafia romance

This was an audio reread for me and I have to say it's still one of my favorite Mafia books. Gio, oh Gio 🥵, yes please. The mouth on this man 🤤. He knows what he wants and he isn't afraid to speak his mind. They say this is reverse grumpy/sunshine.... I think Gio is better described as a grumpy cinnamon roll. Iseult also fills that grumpy roll well. Total bad ass strong FMC. 

The audio is fantastic and both narrators really nailed each role! 

Second time listening to this😍

THIS. AUDIOBOOK. I have already loved this book when I read it as a physical copy, but hearing the narrators being some of my favorite characters to life was everything.

I enjoyed this story and Lilian’s writing never fails to disappoint me. I can’t wait for her future books and audiobooks that are to come 💗

BLUSHING!

I love the Messina Crime Family series and with each book just gets better and I don’t know how. And then I listened to this audio and it’s just an experience on another level. Jason and Ramona did an exceptional job. It was so spicy and the dirty words from Jason is absolutely delicious. 🤤

This story was so hot, intense and absolute perfection. And a must for everyone. 👌🏻