{Review & Teasers} Sempre: Redemption by J.M. Darhower

Title: Sempre: Redemption

Author: J.M. Darhower

Synopsis:

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.

Buy this Book:

AMAZON -- iBooks -- Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Carmine sat in his usual chair in the library, casually strumming his guitar. A sliver of light filtered in from the large window, illuminating his somber expression in the darkness. She called his name but he remained still, continuing to pluck at the strings almost as if he hadn’t heard her. She took a step toward him and was about to say his name again when he let out a long, deep sigh. “I had a dream.”

“Another nightmare?” she asked, walking over to him. He glanced up at her as his fingers stilled, the music stopping, but Haven barely noticed. She couldn’t focus on anything but the green eyes boring into her. Once so alive with passion, she saw nothing but deep sadness marring the bright color.

Carmine set the guitar aside and moved his legs to make room, motioning for her to join him. She climbed into his lap and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Not a nightmare this time,” he said. “It was a good dream.”

“What was it about?”

“You,” he said quietly. “You made a painting—some abstract shit, I don’t know—but it was so good they hung it in a museum and raved about how talented you were. It was like you were the next fucking Picasso, tesoro.”

She laughed. “I don’t even know how to paint, Carmine.”

“You could learn,” he said. “Would you want to?”

“Maybe, but I don’t know how good I’d be.”

“Oh, you’d be good,” he said confidently. “You shouldn’t doubt yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

“Except for play the piano,” she said playfully. “Or the guitar.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, for the sake of everyone’s ears, we ought to leave music to me, but the rest is all you. You can probably do all of that, you know. Draw, paint, sculpt shit into weird shapes and tell people it’s something it doesn’t look anything like. That takes talent.”

She smiled. “And you think I have that kind of talent?”

“Of course,” he said. “There’s gonna be no stopping you once you get started.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, a swell of emotion surging through her at his words. “It means a lot that you believe in me.”

“I’d be an idiot not to,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

5 STAR REVIEW!!

Where do I even begin?

First off, Sempre is my favorite book....... EVER. I was completely drawn into Haven and Carmine's story from the first words. I waited and waited, and waited for the sequel to come out, just so I could have a little bit more of Haven Antonelli & Carmine DeMarco's story. Their story in the first book was a true love story. They are your modern day Romeo and Juliet. 

Even with all the obstacles that stood in the way, their love prevailed. 

Sempre Redemption was a bit of a different tune. It was heart breaking and raw. It was so real. I fell more in love with Haven & Carmine in this book, more than I believed I could. I suffered with them on the pages of Sempre Redemption. I cried more in this book than I did in the first book. This book tore my heart open. It made me see the strength in Haven that didn't show as much in the first book. And it made me love Carmine for being so strong and walking away from the one thing that made him whole. 

"You're so busy trying to stop history from repeating itself that you're completely ignoring what's right in front of you!" "And what's that?" "FATE!" 

I fell hard into the pages of Haven's journey alone and Carmine's journey to stay whole. I fell in love with more characters along the way in this book as well, Corrado was the man you LOVED to hate! He made you so mad, he showed his true colors, and he showed that loyalty & your word to your family is the one thing that is most important to your life. He took on a father like feel to Haven when she was on her own, he made sure she had everything she needed. He even made sure Carmine was ok, which I think he did for his benefit as much as hers. 

The story loses one amazing pivotal character, and let me tell you, when he's gone, my heart completely broke. The tears were flowing and the snot was running. It turns the tables in the book though, and everything seems to start to fall into place.

"You came into my life because you were meant to be in my life. It wasn't an accident. SO don't push me away because I fucking love you Carmine Demarco and you're just hurting yourself doing it."

Haven & Carmine get their happily ever after. They get there Sempre. Forever. It isn't pretty, and it isn't easy but it's amazing, heart breaking, and real. It shows you true love isn't always pretty but it's so worth it in the end. This book was so well written that it is hard not to feel all emotions on the pages of this book. J.M. Darhower is a genius with a "pen", metaphorically of course because I'm sure it was written on a computer. She is by far one of my favorite authors for giving me Haven & Carmine. This is a couple that will stay with me forever. A story that will stay with me forever. A five star read that I would recommend to everyone. Thank you so so much J.M. Darhower for giving me my favorite book. Thank you for giving me, for giving us the world, this story because without it... just without it, the writing world would be seriously lacking with out Carmine DeMarco & Haven Antonelli and their Sempre.

"Despite everything she trusted him. She believed in him. She loved him. And he loved her..... more than anything in the world."

About the Author:

JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn't writing (or fangirling about books) she's usually ranting about those things.

Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can usually always find her there.

Contacting the Author:

TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ WEBSITE