Cruel Lies

Messina Crime Family, Book 2

By: Lilian Harris

Narrated by: Troy Duran, Brooke Daniels

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

She’s forbidden. Untouchable. My late wife's little sister. And my kryptonite. Now I'm forced to protect her in a cabin with only one bed.

When Nicolette was 17, she kissed me. And I did the only thing I could do—I pushed her away, even when it was the last thing I wanted.

I’m the son of a crime boss. Too old for her—and much too dangerous.

I only married her sister because I had to, not because I loved her. But Nicolette hates me for it.

She's 21 now, and no longer the girl I remember. She's all woman, right down to her curves. But she's still too innocent for a man like me.

When her life’s in danger, my brother brings her to me for protection.

But when I see her again, protecting her isn’t the only thing on my mind.

©2023 Lilian Harris (P)2023 Lilian Harris

10/10 highly recommended

I absolutely enjoyed every bit of this books and this is one you definitely don’t want to sleep on!
Age Gap, Mafia, possessive, forbidden (EXsister-in-law), slow-burn. This is book two in the Messina Crime Family and it is absolutely amazing! The narration by Brooke Daniels and Troy Duran made me feel like I was reading the book again for the very first time. I loved this book narration team, they did it so well, that I listened to this book twice!

The narrator’s are Perfect!

I have loved this book for a good while, but this audio! Putting a voice to Raphael was genius! Troy Duran really brought him to life! Troy voicing Raphael was a perfect match! Plus that man was able to voice the other males voices in this book with absolute perfection! The Irish voice to Patrick was spot on and caught me surprise! Hearing Troy voice Raphael gave me goosebumps! Both voice actors did an amazing job! Brooke Daniels was a perfect match for how I'd think Nicolette's voice would sound like! Her voicing Bianca was spot on how I'd imagine. Bianca is just so evil, vile and disgusting, Brooke Daniels voiced her perfectly. Troy and Brooke gavea 5 star performance!

Very good…

This is a pretty solid listen for a second book in a series. It keeps the momentum going and offers an alternate perspective to the big events from book one.

Really Enjoyable !

I really enjoyed this one , it was filled with angst and so many emotions. I liked how as a reader we get a backstory into how they first met. I enjoyed Raph being protective of Nicolette and how you get to know more about his feelings towards Nicolette. Their story is explosive and chaotic. There are so many surprising reveals that leave you shocked. It was truly an amazing story.

I got to listen to the audio for this one as well and it was really good. The narrators were really interesting and fun to listen to. Nicolette and Raph were so adorable together and I really liked their pairing. The audiobook made the characters more appealing. The ending was so satisfying.

Troy and Brooke are PERFECT!!!!

I listened to an ALC of this book and holy crap!!! Go buy this baby right now!!!!!

Cruel Lies is book #2 in the Messina Crime family series. The audio is narrated by the amazing @duran.troy and Brooke Daniels and can I just say....they are absolutely PHENOMENAL!!!!!!

Rafael and Nicolette have my heart. I think they might be my favorite couple (just pretend I don't say that about every book of @lilianharrisauthor 🤣🤣

This one is a must read and a must listen!!! I am OBSESSED and I can't wait for the rest of the series in audio!!!

Soooo much angst

(Audiobook review with original ebook review attached)

OMG, the narrators did soooo well with this book. I really love this series, so I was super excited to get them on audio. This was my first time hearing Troy Duran & Brooke Daniels narrating but it won't be my last time.

Raph & Nicolette were always meant to be. Hearing their story come alive was a treat and added that extra bit of angst that the author always gives us in her stories.

If you're a dark romance reader who enjoys the spice & a great plot, you HAVE to check out the Messina Crime Family series. The first 3 books are available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

(Ebook review)
5/5 stars
4/5 spice

Good Lord, the tension and angst in this book could set you on fire, it was so hot.

Tropes:
Forbidden romance
Secret pining
Age gap (17 years)
Forced proximity
Mafia romance
Virgin FMC
Widower MMC
Dual POV

"I loved him in silence then, and I continue to love him in silence now. Love doesn’t simply cease to exist just because we want it to."

Raph and Nicolette are my new favorite book couple. The angst and pining these two had for each other was so heart breaking to watch. I was right there with Nicolette wondering if it was all real when they finally gave in to their attraction.

The plot was slow in this one compared to everything that happened in the first book. But once it hit the plot twist it was an avalanche of "OMG moments" and things unraveled quickly. I actually loved how the majority of the book centered around the growing relationship with Raph and Nicolette. You got to see how much they meant to each other from the very beginning, and neither one of them knew... uuuugh the pining.

Overall, this was a sexy, romantic, love story that was full of emotions and twists. I highly recommend for fans of forbidden romance and age gap.

I received an ARC by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Violence, murder, blood, fighting, emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, bullying, mentions infertility, cheating, adultery, death, graphic sexual content, explicit language

5 stars!!!

omg the audible version is insane! The characters are hot and intense in the book but 1000x better on audible!

Damn addicting!!!! This age gap mafia romance at its best!!! I couldn’t put the book down and omg the insane spice! Wow! Am incredible read!!!

It brought the story to life!

I read the story prior to th audiobook coming out. But listening to the story was so much better! Both voice actors were perfect for their roles! I loved this book reading it and I love it listening to it!

Great Narration!

The two narrators Duran Troy and Brooke Daniels did a phenomenal job bringing Raphael and Nicolette to life! I could not put this down once I started listening to it. I felt completely engaged in the story and they were able to really bring a wide range of emotions.

I felt everything from fear and anger to desire and love. Troy's version of Raph give me chills and he did a great job with the other male characters too. I especially liked Patrick's accent. Brooke's Nicolette really captured both her innocence and also has strong she was. Listening to young Nicolette be taunted by her family was truly heartbreaking. I loved hearing her really come into her own and grow as a character. And well, those spicy scenes were quite steamy!!

This story has so many great twists and turns it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. There are so many secrets that are revealed throughout the story. I really liked how it was told between two different timelines.

We really get to understand exactly how Raph ended up married to Nicolette's sister Bianca and how difficult Nicolette's childhood was. Bianca was the absolute worst. Raph started out caring for Nicolette in a very platonic way but as she got older that is when he started having feelings for her.

I read Cruel Lies on KU earlier this year and loved the story but it was so much more intense listening to it the second time around!

Definitely give this one a listen!

Forbidden romance that took my breath away!!

Cruel Lies, an Audiobook by Lilian Harris is the lovely story of Raphael and Nicolette. She’s always been in the shadow of her perfect sister…who married Raph…and is now deceased. When they are unexpectedly thrown together, things get crazy! Completely off limits and unattainable, they both wade through the muddy waters of regret, mistakes, forbidden feelings, danger, and so much more. This story tore my heart to pieces, put it back together again…then started the process all over!! Touching, tender, frustrating, endearing, illusory read that kept me pinned to the Audiobook…Excellent story!! Satisfying, shocking, unexpected ending!!!!

This Audiobook was beautifully narrated by Troy Duran and Brooke Daniels, who seamlessly and deftly managed to perform this story perfectly!! Capturing Nicolette, who is torn by guilt, shame, and wanting what she’s always desired….and Raph, who has internal conflicts of his own that he struggles with…. Absolutely fabulous!!