Ever since Lily’s last brother was murdered and she was nearly kidnapped from the rival mob family, her life has been a prison. No one can know the mob princess lives so they keep her trapped inside and the worse part is, her main captive is the man she once loved, Kieran. Kieran and Lily were meant to run away from it all but the fear of someone hurting Lily has made Kieran the infamous killer and near right hand man for Lily’s father who she detests. Lily has a secret though, every Monday she manages to escape to meet s friend for lunch, but this is also where she meets a man she has never spoken to but feels an undeniable bond with. Little does she know that the man she sees, is none other than Dare, the new leader of the rival mob and both of their lives are about to be thrown into one hell of a dangerous rollercoaster ride that one or both of them might not survive. 

“Because he loved me, and my heart ached for the love we’d had, but he was a warrior through and through. And ever since that night Aric died, those instincts had slowly enveloped Kieran’s love for me, until they were all he knew. Save Lily. Protect Lily. Hide Lily. Cage Lily.”

I LOVED the story of Lily and Dare! It was intoxicating, captivating, intense, beautiful and heartbreaking. Not only did I love Lily and Dare, I also loved Kieran (even if I wasn’t meant to) and my heart broke for him. All of their stories were so heartbreakingly beautiful and I literally devoured this book in one sitting. 

“That girl. Something about those eyes promised every truth wrapped in the sweetest deceit. Flames ignited in my veins every time I was near her, my blood roaring with the need to uncover every one of those hidden truths.”

Lily was a trapped, lonely and heartbroken young woman. I really felt for her and my heart broke when her love for Kieran started to disappear because he couldn’t stop his obsession with keeping her safe. Lily just wanted to run away from her family and the house that had now been her prison and despite my love for Kieran, I wanted Lily to escape because you could feel how much she was suffocating. Dare was the knight in shining armour in this story. Despite being head of his family, you knew he hates his position and I admired his bravery for wanting to end the illegal side of it all. The way he wanted to protect and care for Lily, even going against long time friends to do so, made me fall in love with him and made me want Lily and Dare to end up together- they were perfect for each other. 

“You’re such a complication,” I whispered against his lips, and felt him smile in response. “You’re a dream inside a living nightmare, and I’m a bastard for pulling you in.”

I was kept on my toes throughout the whole story wondering what was going to happen. Not only with Kieran, Lily and Dare but also with the whole families, when all the lies and secrets would come out, and who would survive the fall out. I could not put the book down and I didn’t want to. The love stories were beautiful and heartbreaking, the drama was intense and full of twists and suspense and the story just flowed effortlessly. I love that the ending has left it open for us to have Kieran’s story which I am absolutely on pins and needles for! Overall this has been one of my favourite reads of 2017!  

“For every lie and betrayal, and for the life we would never have . . . my heart broke open and tears rolled, fat and heavy down my cheeks.”

BETHANY