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Sempre (Forever Series #1)

by J.M. Darhower (Goodreads Author)

4.34 of 5 stars 4.34 · rating details · 7,801 ratings · 1,167 reviews

Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco had vastly different childhoods. Haven, a second-generation slave, grew up isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege, never having to answer for anything he did. Both now seventeen, a twist of fate causes their worlds to coll...more

Paperback, 530 pages

Published January 29th 2012 by CreateSpace

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May 13, 2013 Naomi Soraya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Shelves: romance-too-hot, drama, favourites

Some things in life only happen once, the memories of them lasting forever. They’re moments that alter you, turning you into a person you never thought you’d become, but someone you were always destined to be.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5+++++++ EXHILARATING, HEARTFELT, TOUCHING, INTENSE AND MAGNIFICENT STARS

An exquisite mafia story about redemption,

“Il tempo guarisce tutti i mali,” “Time heals all wounds.”

family,

This business, la famiglia, is in that boy’s blood. And that’s everything, you know. Blood.

...more

74 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Vika S - ♔ of GIF according to Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: short-list, loanable, bad-boy, badass-antihero, dark, favorites, messed-up-past, mind-screw, oooh-so-cute, panty-dropper-swoon-worthy-hot-male, touch-of-murder-or-violance, ya-na, h, mafia

❤❦ 5+++ Cannolis Rating ❤❦

SEMPRE

Grabbing her hand, he pressed it gently to his chest. His skin was warm to the touch, and she could slightly feel his pulse pounding against her palm. “Do you feel that? I’m not going anywhere, Haven. This is yours.”

My Carmine

This book blew my mind! Wow... I have no words that will do justice to it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Colpo di fulmine. The thunderbolt, as Italians call it. When love strikes someone like lightning, so powerful an

...more

53 likes · like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Brittni rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

WOW!!!!!! So Amazing!!!!!!! Loved It!!!!!!

5 Spectacular Stars!!!!

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"Some things in life only happen once, the memories of them lasting forever. they're moments that alter you, turning you into a person you never thought you'd become, but someone you were always destined to be."

This book was soooo good!! After reading the first chapter I was hooked. I freaking loved it!!! It’s an intense gut wrenching story that will leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next.

I fel...more

50 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2012 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Karla by: Kristen

Shelves: angst-filled, bad-boy, emotional, family-drama, harsh, intense, pain, passionate, second-chance, strong-willed-heroine, sweet-romance, thought-provoking, tortured-souls, tragic-death, violence, mafia-family, slavery, sensless-killing

4.5 Stars Riveting!
I had a love/hate relationship with this book, this story, and these characters. What I mean is that the life they live and the things they do, I would never condone, but in their world, the mafia famiglia, it is the norm and the story is based on that. I constantly questioned their actions, but as the story unfolds you come to understand, and past history, why they react so severely to certain situations and need to have total control.

Haven is the teenage slave that Dr. Vinc...more 4.5 Stars Riveting!
I had a love/hate relationship with this book, this story, and these characters. What I mean is that the life they live and the things they do, I would never condone, but in their world, the mafia famiglia, it is the norm and the story is based on that. I constantly questioned their actions, but as the story unfolds you come to understand, and past history, why they react so severely to certain situations and need to have total control.

Haven is the teenage slave that Dr. Vincent DeMarco “rescues” and I use that term loosely, because although her surroundings have improved, his hate for her is quite evident. I was not taken with Vincent, I found him to be lacking as a father, and his total disregard for Haven really put me out, but as the story progresses my heart feels for him and all that he has endured. He has two sons Dominic and Carmine, they live with him far from the world that all too often calls him back to Chicago. Dominic is sweet, easy going and embraces Haven as part of the family. Carmine is a hot-head, reckless and his abrasive personality has Haven running in the opposite direction. As they spend more time together she learns to relax around him and he becomes nurturing and protective of her. He’s still reckless, but is trying hard to be a better person for Haven. Theirs is a unique and unconventional love story. They are so young, and Vincent seems to look the other way when it comes to their close proximity, particularly their sleeping arrangements. Although for the most part of the book it is innocent, as much as it can be for two teens, it then progresses in sexual nature. I don’t know too many parents that would allow this, but again, this is not the “All American” family. You feel that Carmine and Haven are meant to be together, and the love they have for each other is undeniable.

Then we meet Corrado, Vincent’s brother-in-law and Celia, Vincent's sister, mafia wife. I loved them. Corrado pulled the trigger without blinking an eye, human life disposable to him, but if it protected the famiglia he saw it as nothing more than necessary measure…and again I will reiterate that I loved him. Celia is all too aware of what her family is and what they do, but her love for her husband, brother and nephews, even Haven, is so evident that I could not help but love her.

Halfway thru the books, the unveiling begins and that’s when I had trouble keeping up, because when you think you knew the answer or predict the outcome…no, no, no…it was not to be. I would get to the end of a chapter, tell myself to walk away, do something else, but I couldn’t. I was in it for the long haul. Talk about emotional overload…EXHAUSTING!! I hated the things that these people did, but yet I was rooting for them. Why?! The writing. You have now connected to these characters and you overlook the bad, and hope for the good…what is good for them! There is violence, there is death, and I cried. I never saw it coming, and it was like someone ripped my heart out of my chest. My predictions were for the most part unfounded and the author would then pull me in another direction, and again I assumed, and again I was wrong.

These characters, this story, stayed with me, disrupted my life, had me lost in thought for hours, and I loved it. I did take issue with a few things, one being Haven’s swift recovery. She adjusted rather quickly and for someone who was sheltered from society, she seemed to be more knowledgeable than I would have expected. The other was the ending, way too abrupt and too much left to the imagination. I wanted closure, I needed closure, I wanted the end to be wrapped up with a pretty little bow. I didn’t get that. I hung in there for the whole book, a long book, when through the emotional wringer and I felt cheated, and those are my reasons for removing a half a star.

Thank you Kristen for recommending this phenomenal read, it was everything you said it was!

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55 likes · like · see review

Dec 12, 2012 Kris (KC) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, new-adult-ya

Sempre is not your average feel-good love story. It is a gritty portrayal of various harsh realities and agonizing circumstances. Although my heart broke for the majority of this story, I enjoyed it immensely and found it both inspirational and humbling. I also found a new respect for individuals born into dreadful conditions beyond their control.

Haven was born into slavery...and one could say that Carmine was born a slave to the pressures and expectations of following in his father's footsteps...more

46 likes · like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Aestas Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

BREAKING NEWS!!!! SEMPRE JUST GOT A MOVIE DEAL!!!!! I'm so excited I can barely type this! **SQUEEEEEEE**

5 stars!!

"Could someone do bad things, but not be a bad person? "

I loved this book!! It was a beautiful, yet quietly powerful read.

It did a fantastic job of blurring the lines between good and bad. So many times when reading it I felt conflicted. Everything about some of the situations was so wrong but at the same time, I was liking, maybe even loving, the characters who were doing evil a...more

95 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2013 Karolina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: broken-soul, conteporary, kindle-schmidle, roma-roma-mance, ya, loved-it

Welcome to La Cosa Nostra

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La famiglia with a bond stronger than blood

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Where secrets are well hidden...

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and mistakes never forgotten...

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So it happens that in this brutal environment Colpo di fulmine strikes

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So powerful and intense it can't be denied. It's beautiful and messy, cracking a chest open spilling their soul out for the world to see. Once the thunderbolt hits them, Carmin and Haven's lives are irrevocably changed.

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They found each other for a reason, he was drowning and she saved him. He reall...more

39 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2012 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, angsty-emotional, tear-jerker, 5-star, violent, suspense-mystery, endearing-heroine, family-dynamic, bad-boy, thought-provoking, tortured-souls, fabulous-characters, foul-mouthed-hero, authentic-and-realistic, self-published

5 stars

Fantastic and very emotional book. These character will haunt me and be with me forever!

33 likes · like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Liттlє Lαмв rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Liттlє Lαмв by: Lou

Shelves: kidnapped-or-forced, favourites, young-adult, highschool-romance

This was the sweetest yet most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching story I have read in such a long time, that I was actually having trouble believing my eyes. It’s almost like the author got a hold of my collection on GR and took bits and pieces from some of my favorite books and brought them together. That is how good it was. So I honestly can't even begin to describe HOW amazing this book was. (But I will try!) Being entirely engrossed in a way that had me still thinking about these characters in...more

29 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2011 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I simply started to read the fan fiction version for fun. To say that it's an amazing story is an understatement. I fell in love with the story, characters, and purpose of the story. Darhower nailed all the details of both the Mafia and Human-Trafficking life; it was well researched. It shed light on a subject that is unknown to many. You can just tell that Darhower's passion of both subjects is strong. The story speaks for itself it isn't just a measly love story. I left with so much more; I au...more

22 likes · like · see review

Jun 05, 2012 Eunice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, cool-covers, damn-gorgeous-males, death-tragedy-suicide, favourites, multiple-pov, obsessed-with, out-2012, realistic-fiction, taught-me-lessons, tear-jerking, ya-romance, young-adult

This was a very compelling and captivating book and I was very much stunned by it. After reading this I know I'll have a hell of a time writing a review for this one. This book went very much deeper that I had expected. And I was definitely astounded by how much it stirred up intense emotions from me and brought so many thought provoking issues on my mind. This was the kind of book that will haunt you for days and will forever be ingrained in your mind. Reading this was such a very wonderful exp...more This was a very compelling and captivating book and I was very much stunned by it. After reading this I know I'll have a hell of a time writing a review for this one. This book went very much deeper that I had expected. And I was definitely astounded by how much it stirred up intense emotions from me and brought so many thought provoking issues on my mind. This was the kind of book that will haunt you for days and will forever be ingrained in your mind. Reading this was such a very wonderful experience for me, I was touched, enthralled, thrilled and amazed beyond words.

Sempre was an exceptionally written book that tells the story of people who lived beyond the worlds of human-trafficking and the Mafia. It was a story of sacrifice, acceptance, choices and love. Haven and Carmine were two people who grew up in complete opposite worlds but thrown together to find freedom, love and meaning in their life through each other.

Haven was a very remarkable character. She was innocent and vulnerable but even with all those awful things she experienced in her life she remained to be a very kind, understanding and warm person. And this girl just touched me and moved me to the highest level in so so many ways. I can't even imagine all those things she had to endure but I was greatly impressed by this girl. She was strong and intelligent in her own way, she maybe innocent when it comes to the basic things about life but she had deeper and greater perspective than anyone else when it comes to life and death. She had ugly scars physically and emotionally but despite all that she was a very glowing character, her raw beauty was pouring imposingly that you wouldn't be able to help but love and appreciate her character.

Carmine was, well, simply said he was a jerk. Until he met Haven. Seeing someone important to you die right under your nose in such a very young age would definitely make you a mess and that's what had happened to Carmine. I may not be a fan of his jerky side but I can totally understand it. Despite living privileged life, he was just a broken kid, haunted and consumed by the guilt and remorse from the death of her mother. But when he met Haven he started taking and seeing things a lot differently. They found a connection from each other that helped them share their feelings, regrets and griefs. I was awed by how his character grew and changed upon meeting Haven. He wasn't your perfect guy, he made mistakes and was definitely flawed in many ways but you can see the honesty and the realness of his character especially when it comes to his feelings for Haven.

I love how this two find each other and was able to give that very thing they had long needed to be in their lives. Their relationship wasn't easy and was forced with obstacle from being in a family of a Mafia. They were forced to make decisions and sacrifices to save one another. Sacrifices that may take away their choices in life or will put them into something they have been eagerly avoiding. But what this book was saying was that real love makes every sacrifices worth it.

I was impressed by how J.M. Darhower made this book so purposeful, not just to provide entertainment from readers but also to enlighten them about the subject of slavery/human-trafficking in our society. Reading this had my eyes opened on such subject where I didn't realize was still happening in our world. This book provide awareness for everyone about things that were usually unknown to us and things that should have taken some actions.

I had so many conflicted emotions while reading this and at some point I find myself even loving those people who were on the 'bad' side. Which just proved how compelling and striking this book was but I was glad that the author remained very realistic when it comes to the outcome of the actions taken in the story. I was also impressed that Darhower was never afraid to kill her characters! Although most of them were just minor but boy, almost all her characters were pretty striking so when they die it was just as striking too.

I have so many thing I still wanted to say about this book but if I don't stop now this might become a novella. So to conclude, this was very superb and powerful novel. I cannot fathom how much this book has stunned me and saying this was an amazing read was just an understatement. But I tell you, this book is a must read and I really wanted you guys to have the same wonderful experience I had from reading this. I highly recommend this! :DD

This review is also posted at Book Overdose (less)

22 likes · like · see review

Apr 27, 2013 Amy (Foxy) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: buddy-reads, lendable, 2013-books-i-ve-read, march-2013

WOW! That was a very entertaining book. The beginning of the book was a little awkward/weird but as the secrets started to be revealed the story was hard to put down. Even though this book was over 500 pages it held my attention the whole time.

'But then she happened. The girl who had never been able to call her life her own taught a boy who had a world at his fingertips exactly what it meant to live. He wasn't alone anymore.'

The Unnamed Sequel is being released on my birthday!!! Yay!

16 likes · like · see review

Mar 03, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one. It's former fanfic.

Shelves: angst-and-drama, rewritten-fanfiction, review-requested, contemporary, reviewed-on-blog

ETA:

3/25/13 - I read this book at a time when my opinion on P2P fanfics was not yet formed to the point it is now. I do not support authors who pull their fanfics and publish them.

I'm not changing the rating of this book bc at the time i read it, I did enjoy it.

============================================

It's taking me most of today to figure out what I want to say about this book but I'll give it my best shot.

First off, yes - I am aware that once upon a time there was a Twilight fanfiction n...more

14 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2012 Debra Anastasia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sempre was fantastic. It is a real reader's book. Knowing this book was self published explains a lot. It is a raw story, straight from the author's imagination and heart. It shows. Sempre was a treat for me, after I had completed the day's tasks, I'd get to read until my eyes gave up. Carmine and Haven became alive. You want everything good for them. There is action, romance, and a great plot. There's also a much bigger purpose for the book. It shines an unflinching spotlight on modern day slav...more

55 likes · like · see review

Apr 22, 2013 Jessica **The Good Witch** rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-absolute-favorites

This is one of my most favorite books ever! Everyone should read this and see the awesomeness of this book! I can't wait for Book 2!

So I was looking through my books and I realized I never wrote a review for Sempre before...There are not enough words to describe how I feel about this book and if you have not read it, you should! Read it now! Stop what you are doing this very second and read this book!

The storyline is great, the characters are great and its just overall a kickass book!

My feelings...more

19 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Wendy by: Elizabeth - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews

Shelves: kindle, contemporary-romance, favorites

WOW!

Haven is no ordinary 16 year old girl, she is born into slavery. She has been broken and beaten for other people's mistakes. One day she is taken from the only life she has ever known by Vincent DeMarco. Vincent shows her a another side of life she has never known existed. Anxiety is high, as she adjusts and settles into the DeMarco's lives. She finds friendships in Vincent DeMarco's sons, who in the end give her comfort and solace.

The youngest brother Carmine DeMarco is young, carefree an...more

21 likes · like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 AJ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: actiony, romantic, drama

"Colpo di fulmine. The thunderbolt, as Italians call it. When love strikes someone like lightning, so powerful and intense it can’t be denied. It’s beautiful and messy, cracking a chest open and spilling their soul out for the world to see. It turns a person inside out, and there’s no going back from it. Once the thunderbolt hits, your life is irrevocably changed."

OMG WHAT AN INCREDIBLE BOOK!!!

I delayed reading this book for so long because I’m not really a fan of anything mafia-related, but I...more

10 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2012 Sylvia (Heinzypop) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bad-boys-for-the-red-room, favourite-ebooks, left-me-crying, male-pov, na-contemporary-romance, favourites, favourite-na-books, best-standalone, books-that-make-me-rawr, devastated, new-adult

I AM SPEECHLESS! I really don't know where to begin with this review so I might just saw that J.M. Darhower you really know how to draw someone into your story and live, breathe and feel it. I was captivated, enthralled, utterly amazed and blown away at the sheer beauty and tragedy of Sempre. You also have shed light on a very dark and disturbing subject of trafficking and modern day slavery. It really is very sad and upsetting to know that this is actually going on as I type this. Young girls a...more I AM SPEECHLESS! I really don't know where to begin with this review so I might just saw that J.M. Darhower you really know how to draw someone into your story and live, breathe and feel it. I was captivated, enthralled, utterly amazed and blown away at the sheer beauty and tragedy of Sempre. You also have shed light on a very dark and disturbing subject of trafficking and modern day slavery. It really is very sad and upsetting to know that this is actually going on as I type this. Young girls and boys are stolen and born into slavery and you have taken a chance in writing your story and for the world to be aware of. I thank and commend you.

Sempre took my breathe away. I am floored at how raw and real; how beautiful and poetic; how disturbing and sad; and how unnerving and honest it is. It's not just a story about a boy and girl who fall in love. But it's a story about sacrifice, loyalty, passion, love, forgiveness, torment, brutality, hardship, friendship, companionship, acceptance, and most of all it's about family and freedom. We throw the word freedom around quite a bit but what would we ever do if our ability to live and make our own decisions was taken away from us. That, what we think or do does not matter and that we would succumb to the will of others and be abused for it. Well this is what the story is about. Throw the Mafia in the mix and we have one hell of a ride. I'm talking full blown, hold your breath, can't believe this is happening, oh my God kind of ride. My head is still spinning, my heart is still pounding and my hands are still shaking.

I AM IN LOVE and two names come to mind when I think this. Carmine and Haven. Haven is the teenage girl, the product of rape and born to a slave. All her life she was brutally battered, beaten and starved for no reason at all but for breathing. Until one day, she is sold to Dr Vincent DeMarco, who's agenda for buying her is a whole different story that you will discover when you read the book. He might seem like the Evil Man living the Mafia lifestyle in this, and don't get me wrong I thought he was too, but there is so much pain and suffering going on in the DeMarco family it really is difficult to explain without giving the story away. Well, one of the members of this family that is suffering is Carmine, the youngest son of Dr DeMarco. He is such a tormented soul, who sleeps around, has a smart mouth, gets into fights, tells it like it is, and cusses like the sun don't shine kind of guy. He's life is spiralling out of control and he's on the path of self-destruction, until Haven walks into his life.

Haven's life has been nothing but torturous and my heart aches and breaks for her. She is a hummingbird who is finally discovering who she is and learning what it's like to live. I mean I felt every bit of her pain and suffering and discovered alongside of her all the wonder and beauty of a world she never thought she would be a part of, and that we take for granted. This is how Carmine felt while he was falling in love with her. He never thought he ever would find himself in love, but there he was scared out of his mind for the second time in his life (first time will not be revealed by me) and all he could do was follow his heart that led him straight to Haven, his Hummingbird. I love him. I seriously am in love with him and you will be too when you read this. There is nothing he wouldn't do for Haven and his love for her is unwavering. I mean this guy will literally give up the world and lay down his life so she can be free and live. No matter what the cost. He promised her Sempre (Always and Forever) and that's what he was going to give her. *sniff sniff*

Anyway, SO much goes down in this book and it is really hard to reveal any of it without spoiling the story. So all I can say is that you all need to pick this rare gem up. It will totally tear your life apart but in the best way possible because I seriously can say that Carmine and Haven's story rivals the great ones like Romeo and Juliet. I'm telling you all that you need to get a copy of this and start reading it ASAP. Utterly brilliant and totally mesmerising. You will not be disappointed.

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13 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2012 Adrienne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Absolutely loved every minute.

8 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2013 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

5 Beautiful, Amazing Stars!! This is a book about learning to live again and learning to survive through difficulties

Haven was born into a life as slavery she was fathered by her master, she has known only a life of neglect and slavery. One day her mama tells her to run and seek help and try and find a happy life for herself she gets so far but then falls over and ends up being brought by Dr Vincent DeMarco who is part for the Mafia, she is taken back to the DeMarco's home to live with him and...more

8 likes · like · see review

Sep 08, 2012 Georgana (AKA Mrs. Knight Sebring) rated it 5 of 5 stars

There's no magical rewind button in life, no take backs or do-over's to fix things you wish you could change. Life's a struggle, and it would be so easy if it came with an eraser, but it doesn't. These are a few lines from Sempre....lines to remember...lines to live by....

Sempre was a great story about love and forgiveness and sacrifice. I was truly drawn into this book from the beginning and each page held me captive. All of the characters brought something to this story...Dom, Tess, Dia, Nicho...more

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 20, 2013 Erica Faye rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, ya-na-romance

**5 could not put this book down and you better hope you didn't interrupt me while I was reading this STARS**

Sempre was everything I love in a book. It was honest, sweet, intense and impossible to put down. I came to love all the characters in the book. This was a very well written character built story. Haven & Carmine stole my heart. I came to even love some of the characters with rougher edges. In fact, I felt pretty conflicted because even though these rough characters did awful things I...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Marika rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT.
No negative comments about this book.
She has a way with words that makes you want to turn your life around. I wish I'll get to experience the love that Carmine and Haven had, and have the courage to seize it. Can't explain how grateful I am that Vincent didn't die.

12 likes · like · see review

Mar 13, 2013 Chiqui **~Bo0k B0YfRiEnD StEaLER~** marked it as to-read · review of another edition

TEARS OF JOY!!!! YES!!!! CARMINE!!!!

8 likes · like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 kLςW♥ - ┼ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: defs-read-aagain, favorites, youngadult, readonkindle, mystery-crime, contemporary, new-adult

One of the BESTEST books i've ever read

This book gives you a whirlwind of emotions.

Truly amazingly written :)

9 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Farah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Il tempo guarisce tutti i mali . Time heals all wounds."

This book is sooo much more than I ever expected and I thank all you ladies who pressurized me into reading this! ;)

This book is more than an average love story. It's a story about suffering...survival...happiness...Love...Pain

Haven is a girl who has lived a life that no one supposed to live... A child slave who is abused..a child's who has seen things no child should see..

She is rescued from the wretched place she lived; by Dr DeMarco.. A...more

22 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Katherine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

All I can say is WOW...frickin' WOW! I would give it 10 stars if I could. I am cataloging Sempre, as one of my all-time favorites. It is full of love, suspense and intrigue. My heart raced through so much of this book. Haven and Carmine stole my heart. Their love is unparalleled. Two broken kids were able to find their missing half. Loved that even though Carmine changes tremendously, he doesn't become an angel. I cannot describe how deeply I fell in love with Carmine. OH MY GOD the italian made...more

6 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2012 Rachael Wade rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crack-books

Sempre. No matter what happened next, or what went on tomorrow, nothing would ever take that away. Their love existed, despite everything else, and it was that love that would go on forever. The moment was etched in time, transcending the constraints put on them by life.For even after they were gone, when life continued to go on, a part of them would always exist in everything--and everyone--they ever touched.

I cannot begin to describe the range of emotions I experienced reading this. This was a...more
Sempre. No matter what happened next, or what went on tomorrow, nothing would ever take that away. Their love existed, despite everything else, and it was that love that would go on forever. The moment was etched in time, transcending the constraints put on them by life.For even after they were gone, when life continued to go on, a part of them would always exist in everything--and everyone--they ever touched.

I cannot begin to describe the range of emotions I experienced reading this. This was a beautiful story. I have never felt so conflicted about a book before. It was raw, sad, and intense...all of the things I love in a story. It's not a shallow romance, either. It's about redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice...well, the book synopsis says it all, so there's no reason for me to rehash it.

I was immediately drawn in from page one and fell head over heels in love with Carmine and Haven and their relationship and how it progressed. Carmine's rough-around-the-edges exterior made him endearing, and his humor had me cracking up. There aren't words for how much I loved the main characters.

The Heartbreak

Somewhere around 60% in, my crazy-in-love feelings for this book shifted to something else. And that really drove me crazy because I was so, so, HOOKED on these characters, so enamored by their story. But as the mafia stuff got more and more outrageous, I found it all very hard to believe. And then as the story dragged on and on, it became apparent that (view spoiler) And this resolution happened very quickly.

I'm talking about what I didn't like, but I gave this 4 stars because I really did like it--hence my conflicted feelings. I was so emotionally invested in it and so engaged in the journey. If a story can take hold of me that strongly, even if the plot turns made me angry and upset, then in my eyes, it did its job. It provoked a strong response in me that I'll never forget. This is one of those books that I loved in the beginning, wanted to keep on loving until the end, but then it went and broke my heart and ran my emotions through a blender. (view spoiler)

This is not your typical romance story. It's highly emotional, intense, heart breaking, and beautiful in more ways than one. It's not for the faint of heart and I'm thankful that it found me during a time in my life when I desperately needed to hear its final message. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves dramatic, intense love stories with themes of redemption, acceptance, and unconditional love. This is one book I won't forget. Ever.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 HILLZ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

ABSOLUTE MUST READ
I am not sure why I haven't read this book before now. This has a firm place in my top 10!!
Thank you to my GR book ~~pimps~~ pushers - Chiqui and Nicole - for HIGHLY recommending I read it right away!

The story of Carmine and Haven was just what I needed. It was a beautifully told - aching journey all the way through.

OH EM GEE when he would speak Italian to her!! SWOON!!

“Sogni dóro, mia bella ragazza,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. "Sweet dreams my beautiful girl.”

description

13 likes · like · see review

Feb 10, 2012 Shelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cannot wait for this book. I'm sure it is going to be fantastic and I highly recommend it!

Updated:
Absolutely loved the book! Heartbreak, love, action, etc... this book made me feel every emotion. I love her writing and will read anything she puts out there!

11 likes · like · see review

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Quotes from Sempre

“Colpo di fulmine. The thunderbolt, as Italians call it. When love strikes someone like lightning, so powerful and intense it can’t be denied. It’s beautiful and messy,
cracking a chest open and spilling their soul out for the world to see. It turns a person inside out, and there’s no going back from it. Once the thunderbolt hits, your life is
irrevocably changed.” — 307 people liked it

“Go for it, while you can. I know you have it in you. And I can't promise you'll get everything you want, but I can promise nothing will change if you don't try.” — 172 people liked it

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Sempre (Forever Series #1)

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