For Fallon

Chicago Syndicate #1

by Soraya Naomi

We all have a façade, a concealed mask we wear to portray ourselves to the world.

Fallon’s mask is real, what you see is what you get. Growing up with two loving parents in Chicago, graduating in Chicago, and now working a job she loves, she enjoys her life.

Her untarnished world is shaken when Luca crosses her path.

Luca’s mask is tightly controlled. Distrust, rivalry, and violence rule his life.

When confronted with insecurities, when the one you love wears his mask perfectly, when your life unravels and you don’t know why, do you keep trusting the person you love?

Everyone has a façade. Everyone has an ulterior motive.


A Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense in dual point of view.

*Contains violence and sex not suitable for minors.

Genres: Romance, Mafia Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Crime, New Adult

260 pages, ebook

First published July 26, 2014

About the author

Soraya Naomi is the author of the Chicago Syndicate mafia series. She writes provocative novels with a sinfully seductive blend of romance, suspense & men who love hard and at all costs. The Chicago Syndicate series - #1 Amazon Organized Crime series - has been translated into several languages.

Soraya has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Arts & Culture from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Apart from writing and indulging in chocolate pastries much too often, Soraya Naomi is also an avid reader. She has a passionate obsession with the written word and reads many genres but favors intense stories where the male character loves fiercely, without remorse or boundaries. She adores Historical Romances, New Adult, Dark Romances, Romantic Suspense, and PNR. And she welcomes all recommendations!

Her debut novel For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate, #1) was released on July 26, 2014. She's honored that For Fallon won “Best Breakout Novel 2014” in the Novel Grounds Semi Annual Literary Awards.

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WEBSITE – www.sorayanaomi.com
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AMAZON AUTHOR – amazon.com/author/soraya.naomi

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 Stars!

Perfect love does not exist. Love is one big imperfection.

What I love about the romantic thriller/romantic suspense genre is it’s not just a lovey-dovey romance. There’s always some action, mystery, suspense and plenty of heat. I like sweet, but I need some drama, some excitement and some grit. For Fallon had that. It was a love story, but it was also a story full of secrets, lies and betrayal.

Fallon lives with her best friend in Chicago. She works for a charity as a copyeditor and loves to read. One night, she’s out with her friend at a club. And she sees him. Fallon can’t take her eyes off this guy. They have a few interactions, then go their separate ways. That is until they coincidentally bump into one another the next day. Fallon learns mystery man’s name is Luca.

Luca is intrigued by Fallon, but he has a purpose for watching her in that club. For meeting her after. In his line of work, he often does this. But he’s supposed to stay out of sight. For some reason, with Fallon, he can’t. There is something about this girl that draws him in, and even though it isn’t the best idea, he asks her out.



Fallon and Luca hit it off. With Fallon’s best friend moving for a job, she finds her self more alone and spending most of her free time with Luca. The first half of the story is a slow build. Getting to know the two main characters, what they're about, and watching their relationship develop.

The second half of the story was a whirl wind of excitement, action and suspense. It kept me fully invested and on the edge of my seat. Luca’s job and lies start to catch up with him, but Fallon may not be as innocent as suspected either.

Even with the dual pov of both Luca and Fallon, there were things that still came out towards the end that had me going ‘OMG I can’t believe I missed that!’ I love when that happens in a story. I don’t like to be able to predict every little thing that happens, and that certainly wasn’t an issue here.

Redemption is not meant for men like me. Only a constant stream of retribution is what lies in my future.

Luca is my favorite type of hero. Possessive, protective, alpha, and has just a little bit of dark to him. He has it bad for Fallon. Even though he knows he shouldn’t go there, that he can’t have her, he doesn’t care. He is a man obsessed and consumed by his woman. He’ll do anything for her and I love that about him.

I’m breaking rule after rule. I’m taking too many chances. Everything I do is for her. For Fallon.

What I really liked about Fallon is her strength. Even in this crazy situation, she didn’t cower or back down. She did whatever was necessary and best for her. She was also very relatable. With all that happens between Luca and Fallon, one thing is for certain. Things between them will never be the same.

In this vital moment, we stare at each other, both realizing our entire relationship has changed forever. Never will be go back to just being Luca and Fallon.



As I said before, there was lots of suspense and some action, but there was some love. And a good amount of steam.

He whispers dirty words in Italian as he takes me hard.


Mmmm. Yes please. Don’t get me wrong, I love lots of sexy times in my books, but this had a great balance. It didn’t overtake the story. I rated this a 4-4.5 instead of a 5 only because the beginning started off a little slow for me. Otherwise, I had no issues. It was a fantastic story!

For Fallon is a wonderfully written debut novel. If you like romantic thrillers, mafia type stories, action, mystery and steam- I would highly recommend. I enjoyed reading and I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!

I’m not deserving of her love, but I need it. I want it. I will not give up on us.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live...

AMAZON - http://www.amazon.com/Fallon-Chicago-...
KOBO - http://store.kobobooks.com/Search/Que...

4 ~ 4.5 Dolcezza Stars

"Never will we go back to just being Luca and Fallon."



I have been following Soraya Naomi here on Goodreads simply because she loves the same types of stories I do. She goes for the heartbreak, the dark and twisted stories and doesn’t dabble too much in the fluff. I knew that she would deliver something that I could wrap myself up in and get my heart pounding. Well my friends she definitely delivered!

To be honest, the first half of the story was a tad on the slow side while Luca and Fallon’s relationship slowly builds. On an interesting note, we are privy to secret background on all the goings on within Luca’s Chicago Calderone Syndicate. Once a reader hits the fifty percent mark you will be frantically reading, hoping your phone/doorbell/family doesn’t interrupt because she administered one hell of an adrenaline rush.

Fallon meets Luca at a club, they are instantly attracted to one another but Luca unlike other leading men in stories plays it cool. You see, he actually is watching her for work reasons and personally he just can’t stay away from her. He’s practically everywhere she is. The hot guy with the smile who slowly leads Fallon into dating and having a real relationship.

”We don’t need her, she has nothing of importance. You think you can build a relationship with her? How many lies have you already told?”

Love, Lies, trusts and betrayals all come to a head when things go very wrong for Luca and Fallon. You will be GLUED to the story.



Just when your heart can’t take anymore, Soraya Naomi delivers the cliffhanger ending.



I am highly anticipating book two which is due for release this fall.

*Arc generously provided by Soraya Naomi in exchange for an honest review.*

[Baba]

No rating b/c I only read the sample. Review edited July 29, 2014



A friend told me she would like to read an impartial review and asked me to read and review For Fallon. I didn't want to burn my fingers, so I decided to download the sample first. Unfortunately I must disappoint you, my friend, I can't read the entire book because it's a disaster in waiting. Let's avoid another one of those, shall we?

The sample starts off with a prologue, pondering what love is all about, what love can provoke. I quote:

How can such a simple word have so much supremacy over the human mind and heart?

As it was, the prologue did nothing to ease the reader into the story.

Then the story opens with Fallon and her friend Teagan getting drunk at a club. She also meets the hero, Luca, for the first time while he rescues her from an intrusive guy. The day after, she happens to see him again at her favorite café. Of course Luca made that move deliberately because he needs information. Plot-wise there's not much more to say about the sample.

My thoughts
I know a sample is not very informative and there is no guarantee that I wouldn't end up liking the entire book. However, I can usually bank on my gut instinct and I have a strong feeling I wouldn't enjoy For Fallon, mainly due to the florid writing.

My nose shrivels up at her repulsive behavior.

I look over to my friend, and my nose shrivels up in distaste.

Only a dead person's nose would shrivel up. Fallon seemed to be quite alive, though. A better word would be 'my nose scrunches' or 'my nose wrinkles'.



My eyes are glued to this man, and my mouth quirks up in a smile as he shows me an enthralling sidelong grin.

"I'll help you into a cab," he pronounces…

Again very formal. It did sound more like an order and the tone of his voice brooked no argument. Maybe use 'states'.

A huge smile lights my being because I think that was a good move.

A smile that lights up her being? That must have been quite a religious experience.

His legs entrap mine, making me heatedly aware of the point of contact.

'Entrap' is too formal. Better use 'trap'.

I lean in closer just to have our lower bodies touch more and feel his warmth seeping through his clothes.

'Seeping' -- again wrong word, really only used for fluids.

I shift in my seat to let my legs brush against his, and while my entire body is slowly igniting, he doesn't flinch or recoil.

I don't think that Luca is the type of guy who would flinch or recoil in such a situation.

Blood is rushing to my face from our simple touch. The intimacy isn't registering with him. Either that or he's highly smooth because I can't identify his expression.

Every movement of his body is presented in such a controlled manner that has me hypnotized.

I close my hand, sealing his kiss in my palm. His chivalrous behavior is setting the butterflies loose in my stomach. For the third time, I'm stunned by him.


Plus, let's analyze the blurb a little bit.

We all have a façade, a concealed mask we wear to portray ourselves to the world.

Fallon’s mask is real, what you see is what you get. Growing up with two loving parents in Chicago, graduating in Chicago, and now working a job she loves, she enjoys her life.

Her untarnished world is shaken when Luca crosses her path.

Luca’s mask is tightly controlled. Distrust, rivalry, and violence rule his life.

When confronted with insecurities, when the one you love wears his mask perfectly, when your life unravels and you don’t know why, do you keep trusting the person you love?

Everyone has a façade. Everyone has an ulterior motive.


We all have a façade, a concealed mask …it simply doesn't make sense. A façade is an outer veneer, it isn't concealed. By it's very definition you can see it, and therefore it's not concealed.

Next line…. Fallon's mask is real, what you see is what you get. …okay then, she doesn't have a mask!

It ends with… Everyone has a façade. …not true, because Fallon (supposedly) doesn't have one…her 'mask' is real.


Again, my main issue was the writing which didn't resonate well with me at all. It's not that the words are exactly wrong, but they're very formal, giving the narrative a stilted feel that doesn't come across as natural. After reading the sample, it's quite obvious that For Fallon needs a professional editor whose mother tongue is English. I also got the impression that facial expressions, especially the overuse of smiles etc. absorbed the actual dialogue. It was irritating. And, to be honest, I neither cared about the characters nor could I really connect with them. And when I'm done with a sample and aren't hooked in the least, then it might be best to cut my losses early. Reading the entire book would lead me nowhere.


Update July 29, 2014

Someone who read the book but didn't want to post a review sent me these "quotes". I think they are self-explanatory.

“I don’t even get to say goodbye before he hurries out of the deli. I’m pleased he left because his distressed mood was annoying me. This gives me time to read a few pages, so I get my e-reader out of my bag and am engrossed in an astonishingly emotional historical romance that I’ve already added to my ‘favorite’ shelf on Goodreads, before I’ve finished the trilogy. “Oh Shura, don’t you dare go in there!” Every so often, I talk to my book characters. It helps me cope with my feelings, and at the moment, I’m pissed off at the male lead.”

*****

“I finish my salad and order another tea. My tea arrives. “Thank you.” I don’t want to stop reading for a second, so I don’t even look up to the waitress.”


“I decide all I need are my friends and my books. By friends, I mean my book friends. I power on my laptop on my desk in the living room and pull my hair up into a messy bun. First thing I do is sign in to Goodreads - my online book club - to check what all my book friends are currently reading. Usually, I love my user profile, but today it tells me I’m two books behind on my yearly book challenge. I wanted to read one hundred fifty books this year, and I’m already behind schedule in the spring. Not good. Seriously, that can give a girl stress. Need. To. Read. Faster. I close my laptop.”

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freebie (until May 17):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

Second edition reread.

You know that feeling when you start reading a book and you know it's going to be good by the first chapter?


Yep, this book was like this for me. So much, that I feel asleep with my iPad on me and hated the fact I had to earn a living so I can't stay home and read.



Then it went like this...



On to the story-
Since this book is not yet released and I don't want to be a pooper and give out spoilers so I'm going to be very vague on what I'm going to say.

The main character Fallon- I liked her a lot. She is a strong person and not whiney and needy and throughout the book. So often in the books I read that one of the main characters irritate the hell out of me. Glad this isn't the case.


Fallon is sexy and Luca is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Perhaps it's her red lips? Or is it that he knows she should be off limits?



Luca Luca.... This scrumptious man is irresistible.



I don't blame him or Fallon for what happened. As much as Luca tried to stay away... It was meant to be regardless of the plan.



Love isn't perfect, people are not perfect. It's all about loving the imperfect person perfectly...

All I can say is that I got thrown for a loop a few times which I didn't expect and loved!
It made me devour this book more.

"One more chapter" :D
That's the line we use...

Expect the unexpected- and everything is not as it seems....



Sex, lust, lies and betrayal. All the things we love to read about is in here.



What lengths would someone go to to protect those they love? Is it worthwhile?



The hardest things to get is usually worth the risk if both are willing to take the leap! I guess we will find out soon enough!



I cannot wait for the next installment!

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 STARS



First of all I would like to congratulate Soraya for her first book and also to thank her for giving me an ARC!!This book was really good!I was captivated from the prologue...I wanted to read more and more!I loved the writing style!What I liked a lot in this book was that there was action!Also I like her characters and the story, how it was developed!!I can't wait for the next book!!


The story begins with Fallon who is in a club with her friend and she meets a mystery man,Luca and imidiately they will be attracted to each other.. (my only complaint was that their relationship progress was very soon,for me I need to know more the characters and then to happen something.But this wasn't a big problem because I liked the writing.)



But who exactly is Luca????
And what he wants from Fallon???
Lucas was mysterious and so hot!!At the beginning I wasn't sure what he was exactly!!But lucky for us we have his POV too so you can see what he is exactly!!!
He has his secrets...but can he keep all his secrets far from Fallon...

But what happens when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time?
After an incident that occured to them everything will change between them...

As for Fallon I liked her,the fact that she was reading a lot and has a goodreads account lol :)) I thought she was me!!Her character was real!!

I loved that we have both POV because I really wanted to know what they thought and what they were doing!!!So for me Lucas POV was a plus :))
Like I said in the beginning I loved this book !!!Amazing job Soraya!!Well done!!Can't wait for the next book!!!

*Arc generously provided by Soraya Naomi in exchange for an honest review.*

IT'S LIVE:AMAZON - http://www.amazon.com/Fallon-Chicago-...
KOBO http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/For-Fa...

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4 Stars!

"Love must not suffocate, but breathe on its own."

For Fallon by Soraya Naomi was exactly the kind of story I was hoping it to be, and more! It was a fast-paced, suspenseful, steamy and action-packed read that kept me hooked from start to finish. From shootings and kidnappings to romance and flowers, this book has it all and it combined all the perfect elements to make for a intriguing and memorable romantic maffia suspense, but from a well know lover of the dark romance genre like author Soraya Naomi we wouldn't expect anything less. ;)

"You never know what truly goes on behind someone's façade."

For Fallon is the story of Fallon Michaels, a 26 year old copy-writer living in Chicago, and Luca Demiliano, a 29 year old Maffia underboss and criminal to the extreme. When they meet though, Fallon has no idea that the mysteriously handsome man who comes to rescue her on a club night out, has such a dark and dangerous background. For reasons, which I will not specify here, Luca keeps his mobster life carefully hidden from Fallon, the one woman who manages to evoke deeper feelings inside him and who makes him want more in life than just his career and close friends and colleagues.

"I will do anything to keep her. I'm prepared to do anything to protect her."

Fallon and Luca's connection and deeper feelings for each other hit both of them fast and unrelentlessly. But as their relationship evolves, the secrets between them also become bigger and harder to overlook. Luca's many "business trips" and mystery phone calls make it harder for Fallon to trust them. And in the end, when too much secrets come between them, will they still be able to make it work? Or will the countless lies be their undoing?

"I’m breaking rule after rule. I’m taking too many chances. Everything I do is for her. For Fallon."

The not knowing what was going to happen next and the fact that I was rooting for Luca and Fallon to get their well deserved happy ending, kept me glued to the pages until I reached the final words. And even though the story ended with kind of a cliffhanger, it didn't diminish the fact that I really enjoyed Luca and Fallon's story. In fact, the ending made me even more curious to find out what will happend next in their whirlwind roller coaster ride of a story and I'm already highly anticipating the release of book 2!

"I'm not deserving of her love, but I need it. I want it. I will not give up on us."

**ARC kindly provided by lovely author Soraya Naomi in exchange for an honest review**

[Soraya Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Fallon Alternate cover is on SALE for 99 cents for a limited time - https://amzn.to/3QJNfqP

FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED - https://amzn.to/3qDeUPn

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Fallon is live !!!! You don't want to miss this book !!! I loved it !! It's passionate and action packed !!





BEAUTIFUL COVER of " For Fallon " by Soraya Naomi



4.5 stars ! I loved it !!! I love mafia love stories ❤️

[Lucinda - I JUST LOVE TO READ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review now posted

And it's LIVE: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M4QD...

ALSO LIVE ON KOBO, BARNES AND NOBLE AND ITUNES:

KOBO - http://store.kobobooks.com/Search/Que...

iTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id90...

B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-f...

- GIVEAWAY IS OVER, BOOKS HAVE BEEN GIFTED. I’m gifting 2 kindle copies of For Fallon over at the Authors Page: Here is the Authors page: https://www.facebook.com/sorayanaomi....

Go find my post (My name is Lucinda Groenewald) and you could win a copy of For Fallon by Soraya Naomi. (Please take note that the author is not gifting this book I���m gifting it myself) – All the info is on the page.

Thank you very much to Soraya for this ARC. I was really looking forward to reading this book and to get a ARC copy really made my day.

STARS: 4.5 STARS
GENRE: Romance
STANDALONE / PART OF A SERIES: Yes (Thank god there is more to come ☺ )
POV: DUAL
HEA: Not Yet

This book was seriously HOT Luca can come knock on my door any time ☹

This is my Fallon:



Fallon is 26 years old. She is strong, loves her job and her best friend Teagan.

This is my Luca:




Luca is 29years old. He is a ‘bad’ man and you don’t mess with him. But then he falls in love with Fallon. But Luca is living a double life. He is sooo sweet with Fallon and they fall in love. But there are so many lies that Luca is trying to protect Fallon from. But will the lies get too much or will Luca be able to cover up and live with him self.

Everything I do I do FOR FALLON

This book has so many twist and turns… There was a shocking moment that I didn’t expect. You just wait and read it, trust me you won’t expect it.

I don’t want to give too much away, because I think everybody must experience this book.

My favourite quote in the book:

“Moral wounds have this peculiarity – they may be hidden but they never close; always painful, always ready to bleed when touched, they remain freash and open in the heart” – Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

I seriously cannot wait for the second book

For a debut Novel, I would have to say. Well done Soraya. I really enjoyed this book



***********************************
Check this AWESOME teaser by the Author.

For Fallon comes out on the 26th of July 2014 (Very excited to read this)





ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did my second read on the beta reading for For Fallon, and I have to say that this will be an awesome debut for our Soraya Naomi!!! I do think of her as "OURS!"...Review to Come!!!

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really was a great read that I enjoyed immensely.
Ive been meaning to get around to this one for a while as I have read the catch-up story "For the love of Luca" which I absolutely adored.

My review for that one is here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I know I know, I have a naughty habit of reading books completely out of sync sigh.
In this instance, it turned out great luckily for me: but I still really wanted to see where this all began: the roots and foundations being laid if you will: their personal rocky journey to where they arrived at in For the love of Luca.
So I am not sure why it took me so long to pick this up but boy am I glad I did it was an explosive addictive ride throughout.
The first half almost lulling you into a false sense of security until BAM!!! everything around starts to disintegrate and implode.



Not surprising considering the basic foundation of there relationship: even down to how they originally met is built on a bed of deceit, secrets and lies.
Everything that Luca is juggling in an attempt to keep separate and away from Fallon collides in a dramatic implosion.
His relationship with Fallon now stained and tainted: deception by omission: is this the end.
But there is also more bubbling beneath the surface here and Luca isn't the only one withholding information.
So this was a fabulous read and I was so invested my only minuses were I felt the first half of this was a trifle slow but when things did start to heat up they went from zero to hundred so god damn fast I got whiplash.
Also, I found Fallon's behaviour when Luca was trying to protect her so annoying and idiotic:
She also made really stupid idiotic decisions.



she may want to be far far away from him but at the moment he is the only thing keeping her safe.
So deal with it: you can go off and lick your wounds and play the blame game when its safe.
The message this ultimately imparted to me was how deception can distance you from the people you care about destroying the foundations of a budding relationship before it has even got started: eroding the structure before its even erected and off the ground.
Without honesty, there's just no key to the door.
I felt so deeply for both Luca and Fallon as the walls of there relationship came tumbling down around there ears.
Looking forward to the next chapter of this tale.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate, #1).
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****
(ARC Kindly Provided by Author in Exchange for an Honest Review)
{BR with my GORGEOUS BESTIE BOO}





Fallon Michaels is a 25 year old copy editor, living with her best friend in Chicago. She works for a charity events foundation and is an avid reader of romance novels. She loves her books and going on Goodreads to chat with all her book friends. Her life is pretty simple and uneventful.
This all changes the night she meets Luca DeMiliano at a night club.
She is instantly attracted to Luca and has an embarrassing encounter with him on the dance floor.
She ends up seeing him again, the next day at her neighborhood cafe.
This is no coincidence. Neither is the fact that he was at the night club the previous evening.


Luca DeMiliano is the current Underboss of the Chicago Calderone Syndicate, and he has been following Fallon to see if she will lead him to their currently MIA computer hacker, who is also Fallon's ex boyfriend.
He figures out quickly that she hasn't been in contact with Danny and that she will not be any help in locating him, but, he's already taken with her.


The attraction between the two will grow pretty quick and becomes intense. The sex is definitely steamy!


I fell in love with Luca.
He was lush, and so incredibly alpha, but he also knew how to deliver the "woo" factor.


"When you compare the sorrows of real life to the pleasures of the imaginary one, you will never want to live again, only to dream forever."



The problem is that Luca hides his life as a Mafia Underboss from Fallon.
She will soon question, his many business trips away and odd behavior.
This causes tension between the two.
Fallon knows Luca is hiding something big and she wonders if maybe she should try to distance herself before she gets in too deep.






Fallon ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time which will force the truth to come out.
Luca is desperate to keep her safe but also to hold on to what he has with her, but can Fallon live the life of someone tied to the Syndicate?


Towards the end there was so much action and suspense, I felt like I was watching a Martin Scorsese flick!


We learn that Fallon had a secret that she was keeping from Luca, and it nearly gutted him. I, for one, did not ever see that coming!


The future for these two seems pretty bleak by the end and it does end on a cliffy. I only hope that Luca and Fallon will be able to handle the next obstacle that life throws them and they end up with an HEA they both deserve.


In this vital moment, we stare at each other, both realizing our entire relationship has changed forever. Never will we go back to just being Luca and Fallon.

[La-Lionne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very apprehensive to read and, even more so, to review this book. Anyone who had been my friend, here on GR for a while, could guess why and probably be right :). But then I thought, where else would I talk about a book I read? I’m sure as hell can’t tell my RL friends about it. They are too busy having a life, watching telly in their spare time :-D.

*A little side note: f*cks and sh*ts are thrown in simply to express my frustration, not to be mean.

* * * SPOILERS * * *

At first, I was exited to read it. Then the blurb was published and I thought "Oh dear". Then reviews started popping out on GR and I though "Maybe it's not that bad after all, people seem to enjoy it."
Few days after the book went live, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a shot.

I'm sorry to say, but the blurb is a very fair representation of the book. Or for those who liked the blurb - the book is just as good :).

The preachy prologue about what love is, didn't help the case or hooked me in either.

Before I go any further, I will say that I didn't finish the book. I barely made it to 50%.
I saw a lot of reviewers praising author's writing and English. However, for me, those were the reasons why I struggled to connect to the story, characters, and why I decided to eventually give up on it.
I was never known for giving out trophies just for showing up, and this book won’t be an exception either.

My biggest problem with the story was the writing. The most suiting words I can think of, that could describe it, would be «clinical» and «confusing». The more I read, the more aggravated I became, because of the weird synonyms author chose. The sentences didn't flow as they should've. It was just awkward.
I’ll come back to that.

Characters:
I couldn’t stand Fallon. I found her to be a complete bore. I love reading myself, but there is nothing more boring to me, than reading a book about others reading. Not even discussing a book, just constantly reading.

I finish my salad and order another tea. My tea arrives. «Thank you.» I don’t want to stop reading, so I don’t even look up at the waitress.
***
«Fallon, always with your face in the book. Do you know how sexy that is?»

Not only she’s being rude by not acknowledging the waitress, I don’t find her sexy by always having her face in the book.
Luca is supposed to be a mafioso, not a book nerd, with some weird book fetish, who would get a boner from watching someone read. Therefor, I found it highly unlikely, that someone like him, would find that sexually exiting. To watch an attractive person read can be appealing, since reading is often considered as a sign of intelligence, which in itself is an attractive quality. But to call it sexy is a bit of an overkill.
From about 7% til 27% there wasn’t much else but Fallon either reading, talking about reading, about her love for her e-reader, purchasing paperbacks of her favorite books, Luca watching her read, Fallon signing into GoodReads (Which author called an online book club. It’s a social book cataloging website, not a «book club»!)
Don’t even get me started on the scene were she showed up at his place unannounced, and her excuse was:

I want in that apartment because my instinct is screaming to check it out. «I’ll just grab a bottle of water, and I’ll be on my way.»

Forget the fact that this happened not even 30% into the story, the chick was in the neighborhood and was thirsty, that automatically gave her the right to barge in without calling him first.

Luca wasn’t any better. The scenes where he was away from Fallon had some potential, but then they meet up, he would ogle at her reading, and everything would go to sh*t again.
Then we have the fact that he is in the mafia, which automatically implies that he should know how to keep his mouth shut, because it come with the job, right? Wrong. He goes on and on yapping about how much he cares for Fallon, to any of his buddies who would listen. Barely 30% in you get to read his confession to his friend/partner in crime:

»I crave her presence after I leave our fucked up world at the end of the day. She’s given me back some of my humanity, but I’m also conflicted sometimes - conflicted between being Luca, her ‘normal’ boyfriend, and Luca the underboss. How long can this go on? Whit her I can just be.» I lay my white towel on the bench lying on it.

Ah, so emotional and so dramatic.
There was a scene, 4 pages or so long, with Luca teaching Fallon how to cook. Which I found utterly ridiculous. Hey, I love a man who knows his way around the kitchen as much as the next girl, but it's a mafia book (or at least it said so in the description). Why not take her to a field and teach her how to shoot instead? I sh*t you not, they went into every little detail of how to make that damn dish.

»I bash the dough continually, which is fun. This could be a good anger control. When you’re angry, just bash some dough. I laugh at my own thought.»

Look at her thinking she’s a funny smart-ass.
I understand that the author was trying to make them seem like an average couple, doing their thing, being normal, cooking, and being sexy while doing it. Unfortunately, it didn’t translate that way.

I’m trained to notice everything unusual.

It sounds like he wants a pat on a back for that.

I wore my sunglasses to prevent her from seeing the alarm in my eyes.

First of all, she walked by the place by a complete accident, so there was no way he could’ve been prepared to see her. That’s why him saying that he wore his sunglasses to prevent her from seeing the alarm in his eyes is a complete and utter bullish*t. Plus, he lied to her about his whereabouts that day.

My gun was in the inner pocket of my suit jacket, and I aimed it at father Eli, giving him two weeks to report back.

Suits are usually made out of a pretty thin material, and the pockets are in the upper left or right side of the suit jacket. I can only imagine how weird he looked, pointing a gun from that angle. Unless the suit is custom made, then the inner pocked could have been somewhere around his waist. But even then, he would have looked like he was having a boner while talking to a priest, because the gun is not a small object to carry around.
The whole church scene wasn’t very well thought out and sounded more like a bad attempt at describing a movie scene, than anything else. It made Luca seem like a rookie mafioso wannabe.

The writing:
It was my biggest issue with the book. The fact that it wasn’t written by a native English speaker, was written all over this story. The style of writing that was chosen (intentionally or not), was more suited for writing some sort of public announcements, rather than a novel. You can’t possibly expect me to connect to characters who say things like:

«I’ll help you into a cab,» he pronounces,»
***
»Luca provides me a bored look.»
***
«I close in on him standing next to the kitchen island.»

Here is the thing, she is not trying to kill him, she simply walks to where he stands.

He lifts his head and looks down his nose to stare at me, shocked and amused.»

She just came out of the bathroom wearing a towel. I was trying to visualize and then understand why his reaction was so cartoonishly dramatic. Did she had mascara running down her face and one of her legs was shaved, the other one hairy? I didn’t get it. That’s not a reaction I would want to get after walking into a room half naked.

»Our dance has blown away the tension in his body.»

***

»He has a scar on his right eyebrow - find out who he is.»
«I will do it today,» Adriano confirms."

Since Adriano doesn’t know who the dude is, he can’t really confirm it, now can he? Reply or answer maybe.

»Fallon gets up quickly and bolts to the bedroom, almost tripping in the hall while she grabs the doorframe to turn towards her room.»

I re-read this sentence twice before I understood that she wasn’t trying to hulk-turn the doorframe. And one other thing: her room? They are in her apartment, she lives alone. Wtf «her room» is all about? The whole place is her’s!

»She wets her lips and flicks her thumbs over her rosy nipples. «This is about us.» She pouts her lips,(…)She moans noisily(…). My little screamer.»

You can’t get more pornish description than this. And how does one moan noisily and scream at the same time anyway?

»Fallon swallows and groans loudly.»
***
«I love you.» she mentions the three words I’ve wanted to hear as she slides down easily.»

Mentions?? This is the first time she tells him she loves him! Try and make a little bit bigger deal than that.

»My eyes penetrating tantalizingly deep,»

How does he know that his eyes are «penetrating tantalizingly deep»? Isn’t that for her to decide?

»I point to my nipples, making sure he notice my sideway grin. (…) He smirks as his right hand cups my left breast underneath the dress, and he groans. «It makes me hard in a split second when you don’t wear a bra.» (…) «After I lay our towels, I remove my dress to reveal my bikini underneath(…).

Number one: she points at her nipples, but wants him to notice her grin? Second: bikini top is not a bra, but the scene in the car implied that she wasn’t wearing anything under her dress. So wtf?

My head snaps up. «People are going to see.» I look around suspiciously, but nobody is within a few feet of us.
«No, relax. I’m blocking you with my body. I would never allow anyone to see you come.»

Does author knows how far away «within a few feet» is? People are practically hovering over them in a public beach!

Adriano accompanies me to the car.»

Here is the thing: they aren’t on a f*cking date! Luca just beat a dude to a pulp and his fellow mafioso is simply following him back to his car.

»Will you be gone the entire day?»
«Probebly.»
Luca’s considering his reply. After another silence, he asks in a severe manner, «What do you have planned?»

They seemed to be having a good day and a pleasant conversation. There was no information provided that would give him a reason to react severely to anything she said. Disappointed, maybe. I’m guessing author was fishing for a fancier synonym and ended up not making much sense.

Characters couldn't simply say something or reply. They always had to freaking announce.

Returning to her seat, she announces excitedly, "You definitely had a wet dream about him." She leans in closer and continues conspiratorially.

***

Looking back at me confidently, he announces, "I'm calling myself." And he holds my phone up again suggestively.
***
"Have some fun, Luca. I'm going to enjoy Camilla," Adriano announces (...).
***
"I'm taking you to my place. Pack some clothes," he announces seductively.
***
"I want to use the pasta machine," I announce while rinsing my hands.

I swear to god there were so many scenes where I expected a red carpet to roll out and hear the trumpets fanfaring. What the goddamn... Jesus!

Then you have scenes where author threats readers like they’re stupid.

»You know what I mean. Don’t play coy with me now. How well do you know her?» I’m asking if he slept with her.

Sex scenes:
Aside from being mediocre, they were confusing as hell.

He slows his pumping. «Look at me, or I slow down.» Luca hoarsely demands.
My eyes snap open to look up at him as he’s pumping furiously into me, changing his angle.»

Wait, what? You can’t threaten her with slowing down if you have slowed down already. I imagined her snapping her eyes open happened fairly quickly, when did he picked up the pace? Or did he ever? What do these two consider as a slow pumping :)?

The descriptions:

I have a suspicion that Chicago was chosen simply for mafia bit to sound somewhat more realistic. But here is the thing - that was back in the f*cking 30’s and 40’s! For Fallon is set in 21th century!
But forget about that. The story is fictional, right? Author could’ve made today’s Chicago into a wasp’s nest of mafia, if she wanted to. I didn’t even see her attempting that.
The descriptions of the city, and places in general, was either non existing, or very generic and barely there. Characters moved from place to place without telling anything about their surroundings. This story could’ve happened anywhere, and I mean in any city in the world. That’s how lacking the descriptions were.
Some examples:

Luca and I slept in the Grand Suite at the ideally-located Peninsula, and we have to check out at noon.»
***
We eat Spanish tapas in a small dining room near our hotel,»
***
The park is fairly busy, so I run to a more secluded area and pass by several churches where I decided to take a break.
***
Meat me at the park, all the way in the back.

Author had a perfect opportunity, use the park to create some suspense. Unfortunately, all I got was the next sentence where:

Adriano joins me on the bench (…)»

No descriptions of him getting there, or how the place looked like.

Not only the descriptions of the city are lousy, here is how Fallon measures the distance:

I caught Luca twenty minutes from here at the church,
***
A few streets further down the club,
***
I give Luca an unplanned visit after I’ve had a meeting with a client three streets from his penthouse.»
***
I was going to meet a friend two streets from here,»

And that supposed to give me a picture of Chicago?

Italian bits:
We have Luca, who is half italian. Fallon however, is not. Nowhere in a whole damn book (well, in those 50+ presents I read) is an explanation of how she understood what he said to her in italian! It was never mentioned that she learned italian in school, from her friends, or from somewhere else. Luca himself didn't bother explaining or translating it to her either. It is translated to the reader,but not in the dialogue between them, because the translation always comes after the quotation mark.
He keeps babbling sweet nothings in Italian, and she keeps wetting her panties.
Author went overboard with useless details of them cooking together, GR visits, talks about books and reading, and Fallon trimming Lucas beard (which, btw, went on for almost two f*cking pages). The only word he explained to her was «Dolcezza». After that, all of a sudden, she seemed to understand everything.

As for the highly praised suspense:

I found it vague that he isn’t on Facebook.

Fuck me sideways. That’s what made her suspicious?

Those 50+ presents I read left me shaking my head. Sure, English was good, for a chat on GR. But for an author of a novel, it's barely mediocre. But hey, don’t mind my babble, I only read half of the book. I hear the second half is fantastic, so run and get a copy, I'm announcing ;-P.

[Georgia ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First.... GO get this book!!
AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/Fallon-Chicago-...


KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/Search/Que...
And now, please allow me to tell you why...


4.5 "We live with the choices we make" Stars



Luca, chose to join the Syndicate. To devote his loyalty and life to the Underworld. To fall in love with a girl and throw caution to the wind. To reveal everything and risk it all.

Fallon, chose to surrender herself to a green-eyed Italian devil. To start believing in the romance novels she adores. To make a decision that surprised. And at the end to follow what her mind and logic screamed at her.

Two people. One love. And all the criminal underworld in an upheaval.



In almost alternate POVs, Luca and Fallon, fall in love and deconstruct each other, piece by piece. Hearts and minds laying bear and vulnerable to the whims of logic and Capi, distrust and stupid decisions.

"Based on a lie, love will never have a chance to survive. Based on a lie love dies before it can ever blossom."



Holy freaking hell.... I know Soraya and I was expecting an emotional, angst-y read, but her debut novel surpassed all my expectations. Sexy, thrilling, and with unexpected twists it kept me glued to the pages. Consistent, multi-layered, interesting characters, excellent depiction of a criminal famiglia and Thank God a girl that had a realistic reaction when her boyfriend reveals that he is a mafioso! HOORAAAY! I absolutely loved the references to my all time favourite Bronze Horseman and I can't wait for the next installment in the series this Fall.



Soraya, babe, please write fast!


I was waiting for my ARC...


A contemporary romance/ romantic thriller in dual point of view. Contains sexual content and violence.




ARC courtesy of the author, my gorgeous friend Soraya Naomi, in exchange for an honest review.

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to beta read for Soraya Naomi

[Kelli C · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 LYING STARS!

First I would like to congratulate Soraya Naomi on her debut novel! She delivered a good romantic tale with suspense, action and thrills with every turn of the page.

I will start by saying that Luca DeMiliano is one of my fave male characters to date.

He is sexy in every way from his hair to his crisp suit wearing self! While oozing heat and sex appeal he has a coolness to his demeanor...very calm and smooth in his actions. He is a man on a mission, after all he is "in the family"...you know? Ah and please, let me just say this man's sweet Italian whisperings and talk will drop you panties like they caught on fire!

Along comes Fallon Michaels...an those sweet words have an ear to be whispered to!

This intended "target" has gotten under that button up! Her carefree swagger and her light attitude beckon him to her for more that just information. She looks at him with pure desire but she keeps her distance and acts the lady at every interaction. This is not the type of woman Luca is used to and he is drawn to her like no other. The game of seduction is amazing foreplay for when the control breaks..."He kisses me on my lips but I feel his all over my skin. Our bodies melt together."

This tale steps out the box from the typical good girl and bad boy romance. Luca is who he is and he never takes a step toward changing. His only ray of light, his only normalcy, is the time he spends with Fallon. Unfortunately for him, Fallon is a smart girl!

She can no longer ignore his push-pull attitude, his out of connection business trips, his double cell phones, or his on edge demeanor. Fallon has fallen in love...she feels it from Luca and she knows it to be true, but for once a female character has backbone and realizes that sometimes it is not enough!

Oh I was ready for angst...for heartbreak...for a "I'm bad but "I'll be better for you" moment. But No! This author kicked up the action, the suspense, the violence! Fallon is literally smacked in the face with Luca's lifestyle. She must learn to trust the man who has been lying to her for her own safety, but she is not one to sit back! Can she understand all Luca is doing for her?...As he is walking the line...I will do anything for her. I'm prepared to do anything to protect her. For Fallon...this may not be enough...

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Luca and Fallon! I can see the path back to one another is not so clear.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: For Fallon
Series: Chicago Syndicate #1
Author: Soraya Naomi
Release Date: 26th July, 2014
Rating: 4 "Trust Me" Stars
Cliffhanger: Yes







I have to admit Luca was the main highlight of my read, I liked him as a character. He’s the quiet, deadly type; Loyal and protective. He has an air of mystery that’s attractive, yet dangerous. He's not the showy Alpha, it's innate; he commands and demands respect.

What appears to be an innocent meeting in a nightclub is in actual fact recon for Luca's line of business. However when they "meet" for both of them it's instant. The physical attraction and the desire for more. They eventually after much agonising from Luca start a relationship and it's intensity is undeniable; although it's marred by the fact that Luca is holding back from her.



To some degree I underestimated Fallon, she's lead a straight forward life, she has happily married parents she's close too, a job she enjoys and a stable social life with best friend Teagan. As her suspicions rise and she can no longer ignore the darker side of Luca; there's a tenacity in her for the truth which is also later amplified as situations spiral out of her control.

"Redemption is not meant for men like me. Only a constant stream of retribution is what lies in my future."

The build up and momentum of the story is rather slow and I don't mean that negatively. As readers we are already in the knowledge of Luca's dealings rather early in the story, and observe the unfolding of Fallon trying to discover her suspicions no matter how much she initially tries to ignore them. And although we as readers are privy to information Fallon does not have, it's by no means predictable - in fact the action and drama is further accelerated.



I'm keen to discover where the story will go from here. As much as I would like to think it's a case of a simple apology, the damage that has been done is on a far larger scale that can be rectified with dinner and some flowers.

And so, I wait.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

[Dee Montoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 4 Delicious Luca Stars****
(Arc kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
(BR with my bestie Patty)

Questo libro me e' piaciuto moltissimo, " I really enjoyed this book!!

I was very impress by Soraya Naomi and her debut novel, For Fallon was a well written, passion packed story that delivered one extremely hot hero, Luca DeMiliano.

Fallon and Luca meet at a club one night and the attraction was instant, they talked and flirted but nothing more. Days later they runt into each other and Luca can stop himself from asking her out. The fact that they run into each other is no coincidence he's there for reason and as things heat up between them the lies start to grow as big as their feelings. The passion between these two is scorching hot, since Fallon's roommate and best friend had to move away to London, she has the apartment all to herself and the sexual encounters are full of passion and sweet Italian words that nobody else can deliver like Luca. As the relationship grows, Fallon becomes suspicios of Luca's constant trips, she knows he's hiding something but she doesn't have any concrete proof. As much love as these two feel for one another their worlds are just two different. He lives a life of power and danger and she is just a simple girl who loves to read. Will their love be enough or will the lies that both carry deep within them destroy their future?



First I gotta say that the prologue in this book is one of the most beautiful, I've probably ever read. Very romantic and poetic which provided a strong premise of what Luca and Fallon's relationship would be like. Having said that, the first 40% of the book was a little slow paced for me, being a Mob theme book I guess I expected more action but once the plot picked up it was one seriously wild ride, ending on a heartwrenchin cliffhanger. Two thumbs up to SN, I can't imagine what she has planned for the next book but she better hurry because I need my Luca fix pronto!!!

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 "I love Luca" stars!!

I don't know where the heck I've been to not have read this author, but I'm so glad I crawled out from under that rock!

So obviously I have never read anything from this author and I'm pissed about it. This book was just so raw and so real. I lived in every moment of this book. I'm not quite sure what about it consumed me, but it did. Both Fallon and Luca had me completely wrapped up in their story. From the beginning, although I was aware of Luca's deception, I was rooting for this couple. Did I want him to be honest? Of course, but the events leading up to revealing his truth and his connection to the Syndicate was incredibly exciting.

This book had it all:

Guns



kidnapping/abuse/torture



Lies



Love



And unfortunately heartbreak



The end of this book freaking broke my heart. However, I forgive the author because there is a part 2 in For Luca. Luca was so in love and devoted to Fallon (and she really loved him; not so much the devoted part) and I just want them to get past her issues with what his life is about. Get freaking over it already!! I know what I want isn't very realistic, but this is freaking fiction. It can so happen!

XO

[☆ Sammy ☆彡 · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Fallon by the debut author Soraya Naomi encompasses many of the characteristics that I have come to love and expect in a romantic suspense novel:

Well Written? ✔
Action? ✔
Suspense? ✔
Intrigue? ✔
Sexy & Mysterious Hero? ✔
Strong & Independent Heroine? ✔
Unexpected Plot Twists? ✔

In short, I was captivated by this story =)



Fallon Michaels is living the dream. She just finished college, landed her dream job as a copyright editor, and lives with her best friend in the big city of Chicago. What I loved about Fallon's character is that she is strong, independent, and isn't afraid to be herself. Basically, with Fallon, what you see is what you get.

During a girls night out with her best friend, Fallon finds herself drawn to a mysterious man by the name of Luca. While there is definitely chemistry between the two of them, Fallon never expects their encounter to go beyond the one night. Little does she know that Luca has other intentions. He plans to pursue Fallon for reasons that might not be entirely personal.

I was instantly intrigued by Luca. While he appears to be this smooth, confident, and charming businessman, you realize pretty quickly that there is so much more to him. He is hiding something pretty significant from Fallon and I couldn't wait to find out about all his dirty little secrets ;)

Can a relationship built on lies and deception work? When her life starts to unravel and she has no one to turn to, will Fallon be able to trust Luca when she needs him the most?



I definitely can't wait to see Fallon and Luca's story continued in For Luca!

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

99 cents sale today: http://amzn.to/2dA7b2z
-
I saw there's a box set. The couples stories have been bundled in:
Fallon & Luca - https://amzn.com/B01GBXO1JU (book 1 and 2)
Adriano & Cam -https://amzn.com/B01GBU2XSY (book 3 and 4)
-
I'd say that Adriano & Cam (book 3 and 4) are a little darker than the first two books. You can also skip book 1 and 2 and dive into book 3.

Still one of my faves. But not much changed. It just flows better. And I think paragraphs in the beginning got cut a little; the pace has picked up earlier in the storyline. Loved it.

Reading the second edition!!!

I'm addicted to Mafia stories and this one is my faves. The set up and characters and conflicts and angst. Crap, I want a Luca and loved it all.

[Nay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride! LOVE Luca and Fallon!

Now THIS is what a romantic suspense should be! "For Fallon" is the story of fun, loving, intelligent, yet naive, Fallon and dark, gritty and oh-so-sexy mafia kingpin, Luca and the fireworks that ensue when their two worlds collide.

Fallon Michaels is going about her normal life and, without even realizing it, is cast into a dark world that she never even thought about as existing. And by the time she realizes that nothing, NOTHING is as it seems, I was hooked, and from that point on, my guts were so tied up in knots, there was no way I could put it down!

Soraya Naomi weaves a tale that allows the reader to really get to know the characters so that whatever they are feeling, the reader feels just as passionately. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I will say that by the time Fallon realizes what she's gotten herself into (and by the time Luca realizes what he's brought her into), they're each in so deep that there doesn't seem to be any way that either of them can pull themselves out. And at this point, I was so captivated by both of them (especially Luca), I didn't really even want them to!

As Fallon was faced with one horrific dilemma after another, and her heart was twisted every which way until she didn't know which way was up, my heart was twisting right along with hers, and I couldn't wait to turn the page to see what Luca had in store for her next.

I LOVED this book! It's intelligently written with great character development and just enough build to reel you in and take you along for a wild ride, and it (and Luca) are so hot and sexy that I was fanning myself at times!

I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next book, "For Luca" to release in the fall. The title alone guarantees that--yes, MORE Luca, please!! Please write fast, Ms Naomi!

[aksana · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have Fallon who is working as copywriter for charity events. She loves good tea and even better books.



and probably also the rest of GR.

And we have Luca who is the underboss of the Chicago Syndicate.

At fist Fallon is only a job for Luca. He needs her to gather information about someone who betrayed the Syndicate. In the same time he is very intrigued with her and can't stay away.



Luca tries to avoid attachments of any kind. But it seems impossible for him to stay away from Fallon. So he starts talking to her and eventually dating her.

Luca is very protective about Fallon but in order to keep her safe he has to lie about his real job and his whereabouts. All these lies make their relationship more difficult and Fallon get suspicious.



I think this story shows in a realistic way what happens when two different worlds collide. I liked that the first half focused on the relationship whereas the 2nd brought the action and some little twists.
Of course im not ok with the ending because I



cliffhangers but in the same time I can understand Fallons actions and think she did the right things. So I think I will survive :D

There wasn't a bunch of unnecessary drama and little missunderstanding where solved qulicky.

I'm looking forward to the 2nd book and I hope that Fallon will get the chance to show a tougher side of her.
And I'm hoping that Adriano and Cam will get their one book some day.

Arc generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

[⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow beginning but it got better, hoping the next in the series are a bit more intense.

Review to come

[~♡AB♡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Mafia Stars


Fallon meets Luca in a club whilst out with her bff. It's lust at first sight for both of them but little does Fallon know that Luca has a reason for watching her that night.

Luca is mysterious and Fallon is intrigued by him so is pleased when she keeps bumping into him at her local coffee shop. He knows he needs her for his job and shouldn't get too close but he can't seem to stay away. She is the light in his dark world.

The first half of the book was about them getting to know each other and then we saw how much of a strain his secrets were affecting their perfect life and how Luca's protectiveness was putting a rift between them.

Things took more of an exciting turn in the second half of the book when Luca's enemies threaten the only thing he loves.

This is a book 1, I am assuming (hoping) there are only 2 in this series. I was expecting Luca to have a bit more of a bad side considering he is mafioso but he was pretty sweet and lovable, hopefully he will show his underboss qualities in the sequel.

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with a man I don’t know at all. I fell for what I thought he was. I’m in way over my head in a world I never realized existed so close to me, and he brought me into this dangerous world.

Yeah, well that 's a bummer for our heroine, Fallon...she falls deeply for Luca, a guy who is 'everything' she ever wanted until the circumstances push the truth out in the open...and now, she's in the middle of a world she has no place of being in...and that is hard to cope...

BUT

Even if that were the case, she wasn't quite the innocent one...but it was awkwardly presented, abruptly cutting into the whole chapter with the revelations of utmost significance for the further unraveling of the story, only put more 'guilable' reference to this 'cat & mouse' game...

In the end, I wasnt really sure, if I should feel sorry for Fallon and Luca's fall out or what?! It's like, I was confused in what I am supposed to feel about them or should I have believed more in them?!

*shrugs*

I'm not really sure if I care...

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited for my fellow GR friend, Soraya ever since she announced that she's working on her debut novel. She's such a super cool chick to be writing her own book.

For Fallon is not as dark as I thought it would be. When I hear dark, I think of deplorable hero and BDSM. This one gear more towards romantic suspense with a mafia plot. The story started off quite slow, not the kind that hooked me in from the get go. Initially, I was having problem connecting with Fallon because reading about her day to day life seemed mundane and inconsequential.

Fallon is a copywriter for a company that host charity events and during a night at the local bar, she met our hero, Luca. First glance, he looks like Mr. Nice Guy, albeit a hot one, acting all pleasant and gentleman-ly, but truthfully, he's kind of shady and reclusive about his work. Told from a dual POV, we knew Luca is an underboss of the Chicago Syndicate, in short he's with the mob.

They have this insta-attraction going on from the first meeting. After the short UST, it didn't take long for them to be together, with Fallon non the wiser of Luca's profession. I find their relationship progress a tad too quick, it happen even before I develop feelings for the characters. So not much rooting happening from my part, but damn, the sex was hot! Soraya definitely had a knack for writing some scorching hot scenes.

After the book hit 40%, this is when things got interesting. Finally, I see the big picture of where this story is heading and anticipating what's going to happen next. I knew things seems too good to be true for the happy couple. They basically built up an entire relationship based on lies. Of course is going to blow up in their face and things is going to be nasty.

Is all the lies going to break Fallon and Luca apart? And will Fallon be able to accept Luca for being who he is?

Towards the end, there were some pretty awesome angst thrown in and some violence/gore that satisfy my inner sadism and suspense that kept me flipping the pages just so I can know how it all turns out. Will Fallon and Luca achieve their HEA here? Then all of a sudden, I'm treated with a mid cliffhanger, which I find it still tolerable albeit making me itching for the next one.

*ARC provided by author for an honest review*

[❤️Court - Villains Do It Better❤️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 DNF Stars

Writing was bland and bleh. The characters were boring and I felt no connection with either of them. I did like how Fallon stood up for herself and didn't just let things slide, but she seemed a little emotionless to me. The hero I didn't care for, and I don't see what is so attractive about him. I looked at reviews for the next books to see if they get any better, but they just seem worse and I know i most likely won't like Luca any more than I do now, so no point in reading more.


Safety:

No virgins

No om drama

Ow drama- stripper that hero slept with causes some drama. He also almost sleeps with a stripper at their "headquarters" and is at the strip club a lot. He apparently almost sleeps with the stripper again in book 2 but his friend walked in on him so he stopped.

No cheating/sharing (altho he did almost sleep with a stripper in book 2, which is after they are together and are in love, but going through relationship issues due to his lies)

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title:For Fallon
Series:Chicago Syndicate #1
Author:Soraya Naomi
Release date: July 26, 2014
Rating:4
Cliffhanger:Yes
HEA: No





I was a little hesitant at first over my decision to read this book as I was undecided if it would be something for me. But I can happily say that Soraya hit all the right spots with her first novel. This is truly something that is worth your time. The story is so well planned out-it had me glued to the pages until the very end. There was not a predictable thing about it. I will say the first 25% or so I didn't immediately fall into it with ease, but It could have possibly been just me. I can't really pinpoint what it was that made the pace seem so slow. Once I did, I could NOT put this down. It got more tense by the minute-it just kept snowballing and snowballing. And it even shocked me more than one time toward the end with some very good plot twists.

When Fallon sees Luca at a club while she's out with her best friend, some flirting ensues and there is instant attraction on both parts. She doesn't expect to ever see this intense, green eyed, well dressed man again but Luca has other plans. He has a hidden agenda and he knows quite a lot already about her. He makes it his business to continue to run into her.

Fallon is starting to creep under my skin. She's igniting a sensation I'm unfamiliar with, beyond any sensation I've experienced before, and I am going to pursue her.

But are his motives innocent or sinister? You're led to believe they're less than innocent. But why? That's the question you keep asking for quite a while. I love books that keep the curiosity going and the mind spinning and this book did that very well. Information is revealed to you bit by bit and just when you think you've guessed the general idea, you're thrown another curveball.

Fallon and Luca quickly grow a bond and they balance each other out so well. Luca's lifestyle forces him to live on edge and on guard at all times and his time with Fallon allows him to feel peaceful and relaxed for the first time.

The constant worrying, arranging, and scheming tires me. Never can I just be. I will forever be on guard with everything I do."

On the other hand, he helps her get her head out of the clouds (and her books) and really experience life. For the first time, she's taking risks and being bold. You could see that Luca had a dark side pretty much right off the bat, but he has a soft spot for her and he was so completely devoted to her.



Her innocence, free spirit, and her character draw him in and he finds that even though he knows it's the worst thing he could possibly do, he can't stop himself from falling. Even though She's quiet and laid back, she's anything but a doormat and she isn't afraid to speak up when she feels something isn't right about his behavior. Because as time goes on they seem to be growing a wedge between them. He's acting secretive and less than honest. Her gut is telling her that something is seriously wrong but she's in so deep that her heart doesn't want to believe what her head is telling her. She's always so tender, loving, and protective of her. She can't fathom what could possibly be causing the distance.



Things unravel faster and faster and I was knew something big was going to happen. It was only a matter of time. And when it does, nothing will ever be the same for either of them. There's no going back-but is there any future at all for them? The suspense was stellar! I love books with a little intrigue and a story that's different from the average book and this one fit that bill. So why only 4 stars? Though the story was completely addictive, I had mixed emotions about the hero. He was a true anti-hero and though I was expecting that, the violence was more than I was expecting. Despite my indecision over Luca, the love story, the suspense, and the intrigue of the book really added quite a bit to my rating. This debut book is truly worth a shot.



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[* Meli Mel * · Rating 3 out of 5]

♥♥♥ 3.5 "Secretive" Stars ♥♥♥

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'I will do anything to keep her. I'm prepared to do anything to protect her.'

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The story is about Fallon, a young woman in Chicago living with her best friend. On a night out with her friend at a club, she notices a gorgeous man and definitely wants to attract him. Unfortunately, after they talk a few times they end up going home separately. That doesn't mean she doesn't stop thinking about him. And the next day, she bumps into this mysterious man named Luca. It seems that fate keeps bringing them together, but Fallon has no idea what is really going on.



I have to say, this book was not that bad for a debut novel. However, I will admit I did have some difficulty getting into this at first. The main issue I had were some of the words used during dialogues and descriptions, that to me personally, made no sense. That is why I was confused during the first part when I was reading. It felt like it didn't flow very well. I also had a bit of trouble connecting with the characters at first. I couldn't get a real sense of how these characters fell in love because it all went a little bit too fast. But, it did eventually get better as the book progressed.

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"Ti amo. Esisti solo tu per me." I love you. You're the only one for me.

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Luca had me quite intrigued. He was smoking hot and alpha as he should be, but he was also a bit hard to read at times. He was sweet and sexy which I very much liked. He was also suppose to stay away from Fallon, but ended up giving into his feelings for her instead. And, he is keeping a big secret from her. From the start, their relationship is based off lies. But, Fallon was keeping a few things as well.



Around 60% until the end, is when things became really interesting. This is when so much suspense and action took place that I couldn't stop reading. Because of everything going on, I was able to connect to the story and the characters at this point. I really enjoyed the fact that even though we had both of Fallon's and Luca's POV, I was surprised by the twists and turns.

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'I'm not deserving of her love, but I need it. I want it. I will not give up on us.'

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Overall, it was a good debut novel with a perfect amount of steam. It did start off slow, but it got a lot better towards the end. I'm glad that the story was able to get my interest in the end. I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment, especially after that cliffhanger ending.



~eBook kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. ~