Synopsis
This is a story about sacrifice... death... love... freedom. This is a story about forever.Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco had vastly different childhoods. Haven, a second-generation slave, grew up isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege, never having to answer for anything he did. Both now seventeen, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide, making them question everything they ever believed.
Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that while different on the surface, they have more in common than anyone would think. In a world full of chaos, where money and power rule, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free, but a string of events that started before either were born threatens to destroy them instead. Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price — especially not freedom.
How much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And, most of all, what does it mean to be free? Not everything is as it seems, and no one can possibly come out unscathed, but maybe, just maybe, it’ll be worth it in the end.
My Thoughts
It took me almost a week to get through Sempre by J.M. Darhower, but that doesn't mean that I didn't like it. In fact, it was the exact opposite. I LOVED it! Then why did it take me so long to read? Well it's been one of those weeks. You know, the types of days/weeks where life seems to interfere with your reading? In this case, it was my kids. They were terrors this week, demanding my undivided attention, all the time! Oh well.
Sempre centers on Haven and Carmine, two teenagers from different ends of the Mafia world, that find love in one another and form a deep connection. But the world they are part of doesn't make life easy for them.
Haven is a slave. That is until Dr DeMarco, Carmine's father, rescues her from her personal hell. Haven goes to live at the DeMarco house, and while life is so much better there and she has a little more freedom, she isn't completely free.
Carmine has had an upbringing that Haven could only ever dream about. He's never wanted for anything. And although he has a tough guy exterior, inside he is hurting deeply. Haven is the only person that understands him completely.
As there relationship progresses, Haven is given small tastes of freedom. Although she isn't blind to her situation and social standing, Carmine gives Haven something that she had previously never had - hope.
As I said earlier, I absolutely loved Sempre. It wasn't an easy read though. It was heavy with it's subject matter and very detailed with it's accounts of the Mafia world. It was realistic and believable and I felt like I had been completely absorbed into Haven and Carmine's world.
The characters were very well developed. It was easy to connect with all of them. J.M's writing style transports you into a completely different world. Again, although it took me a while to read, I loved every minute of it. I can't wait to read the second installment in the Forever series to find out what happens next.
I received and ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating
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