Book Review: Sempre: Redemption by J.M. Darhower


Author: J.M. Darhower
Published: December 16, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult,  Suspense, Romance
Sempre: Redemption (Forever, #2) || Amazon


     In this thrilling and sexy follow-up to Sempre, two young lovers struggle to keep their relationship intact after they become deeply enmeshed in the dangerous mafia-run crime ring they once tried to overthrow.

    Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco have been through a lot. Haven was taken in by Carmine’s father, and with his family’s help, she escaped a gruesome fate. However, saving Haven from the dark intentions of a mafia family cost Carmine a steep price: he was forced to swear loyalty to them.

     Now, still passionately in love, Carmine and Haven must face the fall-out of Carmine’s forced service, as Haven discovers terrifying secrets about the family that enslaved both her and her mother—and why she matters so much in this intricate web of lies.

*Image and synopsis from Goodreads




“Your heart,” she whispered. “It’s racing.”
“You feel it?” He asked “You hear it?”
“Yes”
“What’s it saying?”
She smiled, her eyes fluttering closed. “It’s saying you love me.”
“I do,” he said. “No matter what. Sempre”

           People always say, “Everything will be okay in the end, if it's not okay, it's not yet the end,” and I assure you that Sempre (Forever #1) is not yet the end of Haven and Carmine’s epic love story. And if you haven’t read the first book, you just missed half of your life. ;)
            I’ve been highly anticipating this book ever since I’ve read Sempre (Forever #1), because I fell in love with its plot and characters (most especially Carmine DeMarco). I mean, hello, who will not fall for an Italian bad boy who will eat thousands of bullets for the love of his life? I love Carmine. Whenever “la mia bella ragazza comes out of Carmine’s dirty mouth, oh god, I can’t help but swoon! I love that he’s not so perfect, he’s reckless, makes the wrong decisions, drinks his ass out, trusts the wrong people, curses a lot (I mean, a lot, really), but you know what? He’ll do anything for Haven even if it means letting her go.
            The “Principessa della Mafia,” Haven Antonelli learns to make her own choices as she finally find her place in the world.  I love that she never loses hope that someday, she and Carmine will get their happy ever after.
            Sempre: Redemption (Forever #2) points out a new phase in the characters life now that Carmine DeMarco is part of the La Cosa Nostra. The pain, grief, vengeance and hatred took control in the most part of the story that the young lovers needed to spend time apart which is I guess, the story kind of died there, but hell, it was definitely necessary and worth it.
            The love between Carmine and Haven is beautiful, true and real. They are so in love that even though they came from two worlds they formed a new kind of chemistry. (I’m freaking jealous! Jealous as in like I want a Carmine-like-boyfriend right now.) The twists and turns of the story give me feelings I can't put into words. I laugh, I cried, I got angry, heartbroken, hopeless, and I died over and over again because I continue to love the story even more.
            Sempre is not just a simple love story. It is not an average feel-good tale that could not only make you tear apart, but also it is a completely crazy love story that will absolutely make you crave for more. It is a passionate gut wrenching piece that will surely leave you on the edge of your seat, wondering what is going to happen next. 
            It is a story about vengeance and sacrifice on how the families involved fought against the pains of their past. Second chances, when the characters went through different kinds of transformation and personal growth that changed their lives for good. Forgiveness and freedom, when Haven and Carmine let go of the hatred that is stopping them to be together. Hope and redemption, that as they start a new chapter in their lives, everything they’ve been through will help them to be strong enough to overcome the future obstacles. Most of all it is a story of love, a young and sincere true love. A love that is willing to conquer everything and put their lives in danger just to be together. A love that is willing to give up everything and let go of the past. Above all, it is a story about love that no one has ever felt before and will surely last Sempre (forever).

He was her home. He always had been.








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