Impossible Odds - Jill Ramsower

Impossible Odds by Jill Ramsower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Impossible Odds is the fourth book in the Five Families, this time it focuses on one of the cousins of the three sisters from the first three books. Giada is a feisty, strong woman and a lot of fun to read about. She needs someone who can match her strength without trying to stifle her. Primo is her ideal match and the chemistry between them makes for a fiery match.
Primo and Giada first meet when she steals a lighter off him and this sets the pace for their relationship from there on in. I like strong female leads and Giada is that with some to spare. Due to Primo's position in the cartel and Giada's family, there is plenty for each of them to overcome so that they can be together.
This is another great addition to the five families series. I think that all of the characters have been quite different so far and I'm enjoying seeing each of their stories amuse. In some ways, I did feel that this story wasn't quite done when we reached the end. That's not to say that we're left on any kind of cliffhanger or that Giada and Primo's story doesn't reach a happy conclusion, because there's no cliffhanger and in terms of their relationship all ends as it should. There is clearly more to go with the cartel and Giada's family, but I suppose I'm just going to have to wait and see if that's the case and how it might play out. Either way, I can't wait to read the final two books in this series next year.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Where Loyalties Lie - Jill Ramsower

Where Loyalties Lie by Jill Ramsower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think that one of the things that I'm enjoying the most about these five families stories from Jill Ramsower is the way that the lines between good and evil blur. While this story isn't directly about members of the five families, it deals with Tamir, who we met in the last book Blood Always. He is a Krav Maga instructor and in the previous book, it was in this role that we saw him, working with prickly Maria. Now he gets his own story when he is thrown into the path of Emily, a woman with a price on her head.
Tamir and Emily both have secrets and I think it is possibly partially this that makes them work so well together. Neither of them is all bad and they are certainly both far from all good. I liked the way that they learn who each other really is and how that affects their feelings towards one another. There is obviously a huge amount of chemistry between them right from the beginning and they need to find their way past that to find out how they really feel about one another.
As I mentioned the lines between good and bad are blurred here. I think that it's testament to what an enjoyable and well-written series this is that you can't help but like and find yourself championing characters that in other circumstances you might see as the bad guys.
This is a great story connected to a great series. I'm looking forward to reading what's next from the five families.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Never Truth - Jill Ramsower

Never Truth by Jill Ramsower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Five Families series. Each one works well as a stand-alone novel, but I think reading each one gives a better idea of who all the players are. This time we focus on the youngest daughter of mafia boss Enzo, Sofia. As a child and teenager, she was best friends and then in love with Nico. From out of the blue he one day betrayed her and vanished from her life. Now, he's suddenly back in her life and all of their secrets are about to come out in the open.
I do enjoy second chance romances, as long as the reason that they broke up in the first place either isn't too awful or too silly. I enjoyed the romance between them as they rediscovered each other. As much of the book is about the past as it is the present and that worked really well. They have both changed in the time that they have been apart, but the connection between them is still very obvious and believable.
What I really like about this series so far is that it isn't about the characters suddenly seeing the error of their ways and turning from crime. If anything, they all just accept that it is part of their life and that's the way that things are. It seems more realistic than some other similar books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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