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lmrivas54's review
5.0
Siobhan Davis wrote an epic forbidden love story in the Mafia world! The forbidden love story is angsty, frustrating, anguishing until it turns victorious. The Mafia world she draws for us is gritty and gory, dangerous and suspenseful. And the characters! I think these have been among the best characters she’s developed. Natalia and Leo are so compelling in the love for each other and the sacrifices they’re willing to make.
Natalia starts as an innocent teenager, full of hopes and dreams, hopelessly in love with Leo, her brother’s best friend. She’s the daughter of the most powerful Dom of the New York families, and according to their traditions, she can only marry a Dom or his heir. As such, she’s been promised to the heir of the Greco family, and he’s a monster. She rallies against her fate, but no one can help her because it’s the way of their society.
It’s frustrating to read about a woman with so many talents and possibilities be traded for power as is done in the Mafia. We see Natalia deal with her situation as best she can and emerge strong and wise. We fall in love with Leo, who is strong and loyal, and so in love with Natalia. The respect for his famiglia, the Dom, his best friend Mateo, make him accept the rules but rebel against Natalia’s unhappiness.
The story is epic, covers several years, and gives us a passionate story of a love that won’t yield to societal limitations. As expected from Siobhan Davis, there are many plot twists, heartbreaking moments, and cute moments. One of the best moments for me was when Natalia met Ben and promised to be a good sister to him.
This story happens in the same world as Condemned To Love, and it brings back characters that already appeared in CTL. It’s not a continuation, since CTL happens during a part of this story where there’s a ten year gap. I had to go back and re-read CTL to remember the timeline of events. I love how the author seamlessly tied one story to another. I loved Ben in CTL and loved reading his whole story in FTL.
This author’s stories are so compelling you can’t put down the book. The drama and the richness of the story draw you into the world and make you feel the anger and the happiness and the sadness that the characters feel. In this book, the mood was more somber, because Natalia’s and Leo’s journey was so impossible, which made the HEA all the sweeter. Another home run for Siobhan Davis!
Natalia starts as an innocent teenager, full of hopes and dreams, hopelessly in love with Leo, her brother’s best friend. She’s the daughter of the most powerful Dom of the New York families, and according to their traditions, she can only marry a Dom or his heir. As such, she’s been promised to the heir of the Greco family, and he’s a monster. She rallies against her fate, but no one can help her because it’s the way of their society.
It’s frustrating to read about a woman with so many talents and possibilities be traded for power as is done in the Mafia. We see Natalia deal with her situation as best she can and emerge strong and wise. We fall in love with Leo, who is strong and loyal, and so in love with Natalia. The respect for his famiglia, the Dom, his best friend Mateo, make him accept the rules but rebel against Natalia’s unhappiness.
The story is epic, covers several years, and gives us a passionate story of a love that won’t yield to societal limitations. As expected from Siobhan Davis, there are many plot twists, heartbreaking moments, and cute moments. One of the best moments for me was when Natalia met Ben and promised to be a good sister to him.
This story happens in the same world as Condemned To Love, and it brings back characters that already appeared in CTL. It’s not a continuation, since CTL happens during a part of this story where there’s a ten year gap. I had to go back and re-read CTL to remember the timeline of events. I love how the author seamlessly tied one story to another. I loved Ben in CTL and loved reading his whole story in FTL.
This author’s stories are so compelling you can’t put down the book. The drama and the richness of the story draw you into the world and make you feel the anger and the happiness and the sadness that the characters feel. In this book, the mood was more somber, because Natalia’s and Leo’s journey was so impossible, which made the HEA all the sweeter. Another home run for Siobhan Davis!
taniamg's review
5.0
The ups and downs, the good and bad, the trauma Leo and Natalia went thru to be together was just wow. Natalia has always loved Leo since she was a little girl. Leo was her brother’s best friend and what she didn’t know was that he also always has feelings for her. But they’re lifestyle made it impossible for them to actually be together. They were so many events that happened and it only strengthened Leo’s desire to keep her safe at all times. There was tragedy after another and they were there for each other. Things went left but years later after again several ups and downs and loving each other from far they were finally able to be together. But of course that didn’t come easy and Natalia also proves she wasn’t a weakling like how everyone thought she was. Amazing story and I can’t wait to read more on the other characters!! Loved Natalia and Ben relationship and how immediately they bonded and had each other’s back.
kiralillyy's review
5.0
Holy crap i didn't think I could love Siobhan any more than I did, but oh my damn! Leo and Nat are goals!!!! Legit true love! Not only did Siobhan bring her game with FTL she brought her a game! This story even though it started out slowish it ended with a bang! And like all her other books its a 10 star for me
deevarr's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This whole series is so captivating and interesting. I love all the characters and how much they love one another. I am looking forward to reading the remaining books of this mafia series
bookmaniacforever's review
4.0
⭐️ 4.5 Stars ⭐️
I was so intrigued about Natalia and Leo's backstory while reading Condemned to Love that I was excited when Siobhan Davis announced she was writing their own book. Forbidden to Love was so perfectly named as it made me hurt so badly from the impossibility of this couple's future.
It was clear for the start that Nat and Leo shared a tangible connection, but their respective situation in the mafia world made their love story dangerous and impossible. I enjoyed discovering the start of them in their teenager / young adult years where love developed before getting ripped from them.
I absolutely loved this novel, but felt the first part of the story describing their past was a bit too long. The story switched to the present at only aroung 60% of the book which made the resolution of their romance somewhat rushed. Otherwise, I was utterly captivated by this book that also gave me more of Sierra, Ben and little Rowan.
Siobhan Davis sure knows how to write addictive romances blanding emotion, suspense and steam! Forbidden to Love was a real page-turner! I'm now so eager to read Serena and Alesso's book!
I was so intrigued about Natalia and Leo's backstory while reading Condemned to Love that I was excited when Siobhan Davis announced she was writing their own book. Forbidden to Love was so perfectly named as it made me hurt so badly from the impossibility of this couple's future.
It was clear for the start that Nat and Leo shared a tangible connection, but their respective situation in the mafia world made their love story dangerous and impossible. I enjoyed discovering the start of them in their teenager / young adult years where love developed before getting ripped from them.
I absolutely loved this novel, but felt the first part of the story describing their past was a bit too long. The story switched to the present at only aroung 60% of the book which made the resolution of their romance somewhat rushed. Otherwise, I was utterly captivated by this book that also gave me more of Sierra, Ben and little Rowan.
Siobhan Davis sure knows how to write addictive romances blanding emotion, suspense and steam! Forbidden to Love was a real page-turner! I'm now so eager to read Serena and Alesso's book!
laer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
thujnker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
holly_hawk_reads_a_lot's review
5.0
Forbidden to Love is a standalone told from dual points of view from Leo and Natalia (Nat). Leo and Nat are friends, but Nat is promised to marry someone else. Leo and Nat have feelings for each other, but Leo doesn't want anything to do with her because of who her brother is.
Something happened between Leo and Natalia, and then her father set her up in an arranged marriage. Now years later Leo and Natalia have found each other again. Natalia is living with her new family, but life hasn't been how she had planned.
When Natalia finds things out about her husband, she's not sure what to do. Will Leo be there for her if she needs him? Will Natalia and Leo each get their happy ever after?
I loved this story so much. So much happened and we found out so many secrets. I loved getting to know Natalia and Leo.
Something happened between Leo and Natalia, and then her father set her up in an arranged marriage. Now years later Leo and Natalia have found each other again. Natalia is living with her new family, but life hasn't been how she had planned.
When Natalia finds things out about her husband, she's not sure what to do. Will Leo be there for her if she needs him? Will Natalia and Leo each get their happy ever after?
I loved this story so much. So much happened and we found out so many secrets. I loved getting to know Natalia and Leo.
jafnah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
daleyjel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Again... the epitome of mafia romance! Literally forbidden to love each other, we watch Leo and Nat go through life desperate for each other but constantly being told it's not allowed. So much emotion, so much pain and angst! Loved the entire cast of characters, the cameos from book 1, new characters, characters that still have stories to tell! Loved it all!