Never Say Never

Lost in New York #3

by Felice Stevens

One taste leaves them wanting more…
INGREDIENTS:
Francisco “Frisco” Martinelli. Hot and spicy. Beautiful on the outside, dark and damaged on the inside. Handle with extreme caution.
Salvatore “Torre” Rossi. Sweet with a kick of spice. Gentle at first, can become swiftly and irrevocably addictive to the heart.

A RECIPE FOR ROMANCE
One snobby food critic who doesn’t believe in love
One down-to-earth food blogger who does
Add a touch of suspicious brother
A heaping serving of best friend who’s been waiting for this to happen

Blend with secret identities, past hurts, and judgments.
Stir in equal portions of desperate longing, desire, fear, and snarky humor.
Set over open flame, step back, and wait for sparks to fly.
Serve as is for an explosive love story that will leave you with a full heart and a ridiculously happy smile at the end.

This is the third book in the Lost in New York series but can be read as a stand alone.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 21, 2020

About the author

Felice Stevens writes romance because what is better than people falling in love? Her favorite part of a romance novel is that first kiss…sigh. She loves creating stories of hopes and dreams and happily ever afters. Her stories are character-driven, rich with the sights, sounds and flavors of New York City and filled with men who are sometimes deeply flawed but always real.

Felice writes M/M romance because she believes that everyone deserves a happily ever after. Having traveled all over the world, she can safely say that the universal language that unites people is love. Felice has written in a variety of sub-genres, including contemporary, paranormal and has a mystery series as well.

Felice is a two-time Lambda Literary Award nominee and the Lambda award-winner for Best Gay Romance for her book, The Ghost and Charlie Muir, as well as the e-Lit gold medal winner in romance for Broken Silence.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING 4.5 STARS



Never Say Never is book three in the Lost in New York series by Felice Stevens. This is a M/M romance that can be read as a stand alone. But, Frisco is introduced in the first book in the series, Fool For Love, as Presley’s best friend. I started to fall in love with him in that book. So, this one would mean a lot more to you if you read book one first.



Francisco (Frisco) Martinelli, is a food critic for Ultimate NYC, a magazine for the uber rich who can afford the finest restaurants in New York. Frisco’s critiques are scathing. His comments can make or break a restaurant. He holds nothing back if he doesn’t like what he tastes. I was already in love with this man before I even started the book. He helped his best friend, Presley, and Presley’s fiancé, Nate, get together. But Frisco really doesn’t believe in love. He has secrets that no one knows, not even Presley. Things he’s kept buried deep for over twenty years. And because of this, he has a lover for only one night, never more. An hour or two and he’s out the door. Until he met Torre.

“Don’t wish for me. A wish is nothing but a disappointment that hasn’t happened yet. I gave up on wishes a long time ago.”



Salvatore (Torre) Rossi lives in Brooklyn and is a food blogger. He still lives in the down stairs apartment from his mother’s house because he doesn’t want her to be alone. And he helps his brother, Mike, out at the restaurant his brother owns, Mangia. His life is full, surrounded by the people he loves. Torre has also been hurt. But he still believes in love and hopes it will find him someday. But he’s not looking.



Torre and Frisco have never met, but have an online feud going on because Torre can’t stand the way Frisco treats the restaurants he reviews. Frisco is being forced by his employer to review smaller known restaurants outside of New York City. That is how he found himself sitting in Mangia staring at the most beautiful man he has ever seen. And so it began.

“Wanting to be with you was easy. What’s hard to come to terms with is you’ve become impossible to forget.”

Neither of these two men know who the other is. That they are enemies on line. But in real life, there is a chemistry between them that neither can deny. Frisco can’t understand his yearning to return to Torre. This isn’t what he does. He’s a one and done type of guy. But he just can’t seem to get enough. He can’t stay away.

“I might follow him anywhere if this was what happiness was like.”



I loved everything about this. Frisco and Torre together were amazing. But with hidden identities, feuds, and broken pasts, how can they ever make it work? Don’t even get me started with all the delicious cooking going on here. I spent the entire book hungry. Both of these men can cook, and I mean cook well! This really was a sexy, swoony, sweet book that I enjoyed so very much. I look forward to much more by this author.

“Anything can happen if you want it bad enough.”

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio 5 Stars
Story 2 Stars

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon US | CA | UK | AU



A pompous, snooty food critic and a food blogger's online rivalry shouldn't make for a hot relationship but it does when Frisco the critic and Torre the blogger meet. They may not realize at first they're speaking with their online rival, but the sparks are definitely there. But it's not about to be all hearts and love because both these men are damaged, especially Frisco, whose past is heartbreaking.



I love this story. It moved me in ways I was not expecting, and my heart hurt for both, especially Frisco. It's always entertaining when one or both in a couple don't do love, and are then brought to their knees, and that's most certainly what happened to Frisco. He had no idea what he was feeling for sweet Torre, and fought it like mad. Thank God Torre was able to wrangle him into believing in them. Altogether a wonderful story that has me anxious for more of the Lost in New York world.



ARC via Enticing Journey Book Promotions for an honest review.

Review: Live Through Books Blog.

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[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a sort of slump here.. got bored af. I don't know why I find difficult to enjoy stories

[Ariana (mostly offline)]

DNF @ 67% - no rating

Loved the blurb and the idea, enjoyed the beginning, and then it went all sideways.
I started skimming at around 40% and finally gave up at 67% - I couldn't take the highly unrealistic plot, the dull conversations between characters and the clicheed writing any longer.

Simply not for me.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 🌟's
I really loved this book, I read them out of order but I had 😬 to read Frisco's story! I wasn't disappointed, on paper Frisco and Torre are sworn enemies. When they first meet each other they didn't have a clue that one was the snooty food critic and the other was the food blogger who roasted Frisco publicly whenever he got a chance. Let's just say they were explosive 🔥 together, before and after they found out the truth!
Frisco played at being very cavalier about everything but inside he had a heart of gold and he did what he could to help people, especially when it came to their life long dream of becoming a chef. Torre was hesitate to start anything with Frisco because of his bad breakup and he knew Frisco wasn't looking for a relationship but Frisco was very persistent. Frisco was scared and curious himself why he felt such a strong draw to Torre. Torres brother Mike was a jerk to Frisco even when he went out of his way to help the guy out. 😡
I loved the ending, finally I figured out I had read Ross and Arden's story in Running from My Heart that's why they seemed so familiar on the last read with Presley's book. Amazing how this author can interweave her characters. 👍👏
Now on to the middle story with the doc!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Frisco and Torre. Frisco had a horrible family and a more horrible upbringing. Things from his past has molded him into the man he is today, unfeeling, and untrusting. Torre was perfect for Frisco. He was sweet, caring and strong in the ways that Frisco was weak. They fit like the proverbial glove. Felice Stevens has a knack for bringing out the both the worst and the best in her characters. She allowed us to see into Frisco’s back story so we would know and understand why he turned out the way he was. Torre’s family was such an integral part of the story. Frisco didn't that know he needed them and was unprepared and slightly confused by their love and acceptance that made him want to be "worthy". We got to see more of Presley and Nate from book #2. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the "Lost in New York" series. Too bad it's the last but I'm sure Felice Stevens will introduce us to more loveable characters in future series.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a fun twist on enemies to lovers, considering the lovers don't realize that they are actually enemies. Frisco, the high end food critic, has a one and done policy. When he hooks up with Torre, his waiter, he has no idea just how quickly Torre would challenge that policy. Torre, the blogger with a focus on the joys of everyday NYC for New Yorkers, who was doing what he always does, helping out at his brother's restaurant by filling in for a waiter, isn't really one for random hookups but couldn't resist Frisco's charms.

I knew from reading Fool for Love that I would love Frisco and I think he is actually my favorite from this series. In that book he was snarky, fiercely loyal to his friend Presley and had no trouble telling it like it is. In Never Say Never he is still all that, but we get deep down into his vulnerable side and the hurt and pain he is carrying around that is keeping him from letting anyone in, and let me tell you, it is one hell of a back story and you're just going to want to wrap Frisco in your arms and hug him.

These two are so similar, yet so different (and I had to laugh out loud when Torre introduces Frisco to the NYC subway system). Torre is nursing a broken heart while hoping one day the right one will come along. He is loyal to his loving family, not afraid to place boundaries and call people out, but is on the sweeter side, where Frisco is blunt and direct. Frisco knows love isn't for him. He's seen the damage relationships do and is scarred by it.

Frisco and Torre have sizzling chemistry. They also have a few ups and downs before finding some foooting. There's a bit of tension as Frisco and Torre move forward, still not knowing everything about the other, and you just know that they're on a collision course with the truth.

While Torre brings out a different side of Frisco, I love that it doesn't change his snarky, direct side. And while Torre has this gentleness to him, he also has a backbone and isn't afraid to do what's best for himself, even when faced with the force of nature that is Frisco.

A wonderful addition to the series.

[Claude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad I didn't read the first books to get there.
What a annoying book.


Me all along.



Grrr....make it STOP.




The resume:
- 35 years old single men.
- Families and friends: "you HAVE TO find love". Grrrr.
- They don't do relationship. But hey what did you not call me after last night? Then the night after ? I don't know.
- I think I like you. Yeah me too. But we can't get close. Why ? Because I don't do relationships. Don't you understand ?
- Finally I think I want something. Big secret's revelation -> Go away.
- Resolution -> We can finally trust each other. So so so...we can start a relationship. Euh....? OK.
WE ARE TOGETHER. Youhouuuu

Duhhh.
Endless.

[Felice Stevens]

PRE ORDER IS NOW AVAILABLE!
Yes! The guys are up for pre-order, so make sure you #oneclick and you can have Frisco and Torre downloaded and ready to go on May 21st.
Universal Link: getbook.at/NeverSayNever
AmazonUS Link: https://bit.ly/Never_SayNever
AmazonCa: https://amzn.to/3bBe5ga
AmazonUK: https://amzn.to/3fSvQuH

[Louise Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved this series so far as it deals with real people who have make mistakes or had their hearts shattered to pieces but who end up learning that there truly is someone out there just for them. I’ll admit I didn’t like Frisco very much as the beginning of this one, his lifestyle and laissez-faire attitude were not very appealing to me but once Torre entered the picture we saw a softer, more human side to him which had been lacking thusfar. From that point on it was a complicated story to reach their HEAs as both (but especially Frisco) had to deal with their respective issues to build a solid + lasting relationship together. I enjoy how real Felice’s books always are; Frisco didn’t change from meeting Torre, we just saw a different side of him that was always there and the story doesn’t finish until they have at least started to work on their demons and move forward, which I enjoy more than just skipping over the rough bits. A great addition to the series and lovely to see Pres so much again in this one!

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals

Felice Stevens’ Lost in New York  series comes to a close with Never Say Never, in which snarky restaurant critic and unapologetic manwhore Francisco – Frisco – Martinelli, best friend of Pressley from book one, Fool for Love finds his HEA in a most unexpected quarter. It’s an angsty enemies-to-lovers (sort of) story featuring two men who have been burned by love – but while one of them is moving forward and getting on with his life, the other is stuck in an emotional limbo, unable – or refusing – to see how locking away the hurt and pain of a decades-old betrayal has changed the direction of his life and continues to inform his decisions. The mechanics of the basic premise are perhaps a little wobbly, but it’s worth getting past that in order to enjoy the rest of the story, which is a beautifully written and deeply felt romance.

Frisco is a food critic for Ultimate NYC, a glossy, up-market magazine “for the uber rich who can afford to Uber everywhere.” He tells it like it is and doesn’t hold back on his opinions, and his scathing reviews can make or break a reputation. For the last couple of years, he and Salvatore Grant, writer of the popular food blog New York for Real New Yorkers have been engaged in an online feud; Grant accuses Frisco of being an elitist, “a pompous, arrogant food snob”, pointing out that the restaurants he visits are way beyond the budget of most New Yorkers and that he favours the chic and the overpriced over the things that really matter – the food and the people who produce it. Grant’s blogs haven’t gone unnoticed by Frisco’s managing editor, who decides it’s time for him to broaden his horizons and visit some of the less exclusive places in the city. Which is how Frisco finds himself in an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn one evening, fully prepared to hate it – but is (somewhat reluctantly) impressed by the quality of the food, which has obviously been lovingly prepared from the freshest ingredients, the ambiance and the service. Especially the service provided by his waiter for the evening, a gorgeous guy with dark curls, a generous mouth and eyes the colour of the finest chocolate.


Salvatore – Torre – Rossi (Grant is his mother’s maiden name) lives in Brooklyn, in the downstairs apartment of his childhood home (he abandoned plans to move out following his father’s death), and he sometimes helps out at his brother Mike’s restaurant,  Mangia . He lives a full life surrounded by his loving, close-knit family, and although romantic love hasn’t worked out for him so far – his boyfriend of two years cheated on him and then dumped him – he hasn’t given up on it and believes that someday he’ll find ‘the one’, although for the moment, he’s content to be single and see what happens. He’s not a fan of one-nighters, and when the handsome customer with the piercing blue eyes blatantly propositions him, he turns him down. The first time. But the pull of the attraction Torre feels towards this stranger is so strong, that he later changes his mind and takes Frisco back to his apartment. The sex is hot, frantic and a real eye-opener for Torre, but he’s not at all surprised when he awakes to find Frisco gone in the morning and doubts he’ll see him again.

Frisco doesn’t do repeats. He doesn’t do relationships or believe in love; having seen his parents’ sham of a marriage and experienced first-hand the damage love can lead wreak, he decided long ago that sex with a string of willing partners – both men and women – was the way to go and sees no reason to change that. But try as he might, he can’t forget Torre – and a couple of evenings later, finds his way to the other man’s doorstep and stays the whole night (something he never does) and even cooks breakfast the next morning.

Frisco has no idea what’s happening to him – or if he does, he ignores, denies and fights it like mad. He can’t stop thinking about Torre, and in an attempt to try to force himself to forget him, to remind himself Torre is nothing special, Frisco ghosts him for several weeks until, unable to stay away any longer, he shows up at  Mangia  – in time to face the wrath of both Torre and Mike. Before he can finish apologising, a kitchen emergency sees Frisco donning whites and offering to help with the evening’s service, and he’s forcibly reminded of how much he’s always loved cooking (he’s a classically trained chef) and how far off course he’s drifted over the last couple of decades.

I always love a romance in which the firmly “I don’t do love” type is brought to his knees by it, and that’s certainly what happens to Frisco in this book. He does some dumb, unkind things (see ghosting, above) and sometimes acts like a moody teenager having a tantrum, but he’s running scared – his growing feelings for Torre completely blindside him and he doesn’t know how to handle them. His backstory is certainly a heart-breaking one and makes his issues with love and commitment easy to understand, and I loved the moment near the end when he attends one of the Lost in New York support group sessions with Pressley and finally gives what happened to him the right name. He’s a complex, damaged character and I really appreciated the way his personal growth is depicted in the story; thanks to Torre and his family, Frisco starts to learn to let people in, to let go of his feelings of hurt and betrayal, and to realise what he truly wants from life. Yet the author wisely doesn’t give him a complete personality transplant; by the end of the story he’s as forthright and snarky and flirtatious as he always was, it’s just… tempered by love and happiness.

Frisco is one of those force-of-nature personalities, but Torre is no pushover. The intensity of his attraction to Frisco knocks him for six, too – he’s never felt anything like it before, and certainly not with his cheating ex – but he’s not going to put up with any crap, and after Frisco ghosts him, Torre makes him work to get back into his good books. He demands honesty, he calls Frisco out when necessary and pushes him – literally and figuratively – out of his comfort zone. He’s just what Frisco needs and thankfully, Frisco eventually comes to see that for himself.

As to the “wobbly” thing I mentioned at the beginning. For well over half the book, Torre and Frisco have no idea they’re online enemies. Both of them use aliases for work – Frisco makes a point of being as anonymous as possible so he can visit places without being recognised and Torre is treading a fine line, being a food blogger and having family in the restaurant business – and although they never actually lie to each other about their identities, I couldn’t quite believe that “Francisco” and “Salvatore” never connected “Frisco” and “Torre”. It’s one of those things that kinda niggled at me a little bit, but which I realised I just needed to accept to move on with the story. YMMV.

Kale Williams has delivered intelligent, emotionally resonant performances in the previous books in the series and the same holds true here as he expertly conveys the many conflicting emotions experienced by the characters. His pacing is good, and the secondary characters are all clearly differentiated and appropriately voiced; from softly-spoken Pressley to Frisco’s boss at the magazine, a slightly world-weary older gentleman – and I especially liked the big, booming tones he adopts for Torre’s brother, Mike, complete with a Brooklyn accent that sounded accurate to my English ears! Unlike in the other books however, I sometimes had trouble distinguishing between the two leads, especially in quieter moments. Both voices are placed in the same register, and while Torre’s voice is usually a bit lower-pitched, the differences between them are so subtle that at times I had trouble working out who was speaking and had to rely on dialogue tags. It’s not too much of an issue when it’s the two of them in conversation, but when the PoV changed (it’s alternating first person PoV) from chapter to chapter, it could be difficult to work out whose head I was in because I couldn’t tell from the tone of voice alone. I would still recommend the narration (and the audiobook), but I had to knock off half a grade point because of that.

Even so, I did enjoy listening to Never Say Never and would recommend it – and the whole Lost in New York series – to anyone who enjoys angsty, heartfelt and emotional stories about people with realistically messy lives and equally messy problems finding love after heartbreak.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy to read and review for Wicked Reads

This was a sweet book. Did it start out sweet? No, not really, but after while you could tell deep down Frisco was a sweetie. Torre and Frisco have both been screwed over by past lovers, one worse than the other. These two hit it off the moment they set eyes on each other but there's lots to learn and figure out. It was a sweet love story that unfolded. We see characters from pervious books in the series and I enjoyed Torres family. There were some super hox sex scenes too! Just a tad of drama and daily stuggles but made for a good story. Highly recommend.

[Jennifer Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five huge darn stars. I will start that these guys are now MINE, MINE, MINE.

This is the third book in the series and although a standalone, I recommend reading Fool for Love first as you get a taste for who Frisco is.

Frisco is cavier, sex god, gorgeous, could be snobby, and so much more. However he is also lost, confused, and lonely. The ones you should should be able to trust most in life are the ones who hurt him the most. He never wanted a relationship, nor love until it smacked him in the face.

Torre is passion, lust, hunger. He is total opposite of Frisco. When they meet, sparks fly and off they go. However, it’s not so smooth as you’d hope. They are opposites don’t forget and some misunderstanding happen.

With the help of friends and family, these two realize what they have in each other and it’s worth the heartache that they have gone through to get to where they are. They really do compliment each other even with their differences.

These two have now become my favorite Felice couple with Ross and Arden. I loved, loved, loved them. This is one of my top 2020 reads hands down and it’s only May.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

POSSIBLE SPOILER

Sometimes life had a funny way of coming back and biting you in the ass

Never Say Never is a soulful story about finding yourself and leaving the past behind and never look back. Felice Steven's books always easily become my comfort reads every time I need a good book, with a little angst but not the kind that I hate, with a guaranteed happy ending. That's what I came for.

"There's no time on grief, no expiration date for pain. But when you don't let go of the past, every day you keep breaking and rebreaking your heart, over and over, until it becomes too weak to heal"

When Frisco made an appearance in Presley's book, I knew right then, I wanted his own book.
Someone like Frisco will have an interesting story to tell. I needed Frisco's story so bad, fortunately, everyone needed Frisco's story to tell.
I hurt for Frisco's past, no wonder he was what he was before he met Torre, aka Salvatore Grant, his online forever enemy in food reviewer business.
Frisco held nothing when it comes to his review, he was blunt, harsh and have no mercy for the food he didn't like.
But. even in food reviewer's world, politics makes people's life miserable.
When Frisco forced to review one restaurant that wasn't his field, he met Torre and cannot forget him after.
But Frisco was a one night, one time only guy, no romance, no relationship. His past will tell you why he's such a relationship phobic.
Enemy that they were, both Torre and Frisco cannot be far from each other for too long, but there were still some secrets that remained a secret.
If not for their determinations, and a little help from Presley, maybe there won't be Torre and Frisco.



Reading about Frisco's past hurts me, i wanted to wrap him in a blanket and be a momma bear him.
Glad that everything was great in the end, a guaranteed happy ending for them all.
Including everyone in the series (you'll get free bonus story at the end of the book).


Bonus story review :

After Frisco and Torre set their goals for their new business, some things happened with them. Especially with Presley who's still needed to meet Arden, and apologized one's more.
When Presley met Arden, I cannot held my tears for both of them, between happy and very sad for they were both victims of a cheater.
It was so freeing reading that they're finally came to be friends, and let go of the past.
This bonus scene alone deserved five stars. Because, all the guys are finally got their happily ever after. And I'm happy.

[booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC RECEIVED FOR HONEST REVIEW**
FINALLY!! At long last we get Frisco's story!!!
Not gonna lie, as much as I've loved all the "Lost In New York" characters, Frisco is DEFINITELY my favourite!
We already know he's a straight talker, not holding back and saying EXACTLY what he thinks whether in a food review or talking to friends.
What we don't know though is his past. We kinda already knew he was estranged from his mum ( if you read Presley's book you'll know this) but we didn't know why. We also didn't know how talented and charitable he was. He is quite like a fancy menu; when you look at the cover it gives nothing away, but, when you open it up and look inside, there's so much to see!
Because of his past, Frisco does NOT do relationships. For him, hook-ups are all he'll have, love is NOT real. Well, that is until he is sent to review "Mangia".....
Now we come to Torre........Torre is quite different to Frisco. He;s very close to his family and while at times he is also straight talking, he tends to take the feelings of others into consideration before speaking.
Torre absolutely despises the food reviewer, Francisco Martinelli. Reading any of his reviews certainly leaves a bitter taste in his mouth and he lets it be known in his food blog.
What follows is such an emotional story and, just like with the other books in the series, there's quite a bit of push and pull between the main characters which will leave you screaming at either or both of them, especially when their true identities are revealed..........
This was such a brilliantly written story and I loved how we finally got to see the real Frisco, not the Frisco we'd met prior to this.
Something else I loved was how the descriptiveness of the food made it possible to smell/taste them! (Snacks while reading this would be advised!!)
I thought the bonus story at the end really tied the loose ends up perfectly, too.
This was definitely an easy 5 star read!!
LOVED IT!!

[Kara Hildebrand (Two Book Pushers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Say Never is the third book in the Lost In New York series by the talented Felice Stevens. I have been loving the series and have been waiting for Frisco's story since we first met him. He's wealthy, mouthy, handsome, a major playboy and a bit of a princess, but we love him! He's not apologetic for his life choices or the men he takes home. He is who he is and that's it. He's a tad dramatic and his sense of humor is a little off color, but he's fiercely loyal. And he's met his match in Torre Rossi. Torre doesn't do one night stands but there was something about Frisco. He never expected to hear from him, but he kept showing up and Torre kept giving him a hard time for ghosting him. Frisco didn't know why he kept going back to Torre. He doesn't do relationships or love. He's very up front about that. But he wants Torre. They aren't exactly truthful with each other and they both have pasts that don't want to be buried. But together they make each other better. Torre makes Frisco want things he never dreamed of. Torre isn't going to let Frisco get away with his behavior. Can these two men who have more in common than they thought make it work? Is love even possible? I loved this story! I laughed, teared up, got mad, got hot and bothered and laughed some more. I loved Torre and his loud, intrusive Italian family! They made me miss mine! And they made me want to eat pasta, drink a Negroni and go back home to NY. I loved watching Frisco give in and fall. It wasn't easy for him, but he found his other half on the other side.

"You're so uncomfortable and out of place here, you look like a tourist."
"That's the rudest thing anyone's ever said to me. Fuck off."

"Fishing for compliments?"
"Nope. I know you're crazy about me."
"I always wondered how we fit three in our bed: you, me and your ego."
"It's king-sized, baby."

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Torre and Frisco’s story. There was something about these two that grabbed me from the start of the book and I couldn’t put it down. From the beginning their chemistry was off the charts hot, and the sexy times were SO HOT, I was so there for it. What I think I loved most was how Frisco just couldn’t stay away from Torre even though he didn’t do repeats or relationships. I love how their friendship developed and how their romantic relationship unfolded. Frisco’s carried some very deep scars on the inside from his young adult life. Those scars made him push away love and relationships for himself. Torre made him see through those hurts and begin to heal. Seeing Frisco’s walls start to come down with Torre’s friendship, support and love was beautiful. In turn, Frisco made Torre feel like he was the most special man in the world. After his ex hurled hurtful words to him upon their breakup, Torre questioned himself within a relationship. Their story was so beautiful and heartfelt, I know it’s one that will stick with me for a long time. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how wonderful it was to see Nate and Press from a previous book in the series. I’ve loved this series so much and each couple holds a special place for me.

[Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This couple, almost as different as chalk and cheese, melded together with several bumps, starts, secrets, grief, and at the end, those flickers of happiness. Torre was a strong character, in his convictions, his belief in love, his sense of family. Frisco was beautiful, a slick character who hid a deep hurt and well of caring, and someone in need of self-love and a foundation of love & caring. Reading about the ins and outs of the restaurant business, the food, the city descriptions added to the charm of this story. At first, I admit I was disappointed when Torre was so swept off his feet straight into intimacy with Frisco, but those first few scenes ended the way they were meant to, and I was able to see the relationship evolve organically.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Say Never, the second book in Felice Stevens' Lost in New York series, grabbed my interest immediately. I love the tone of this book, and the charm of both characters. Their careers being entwined the way they are make for a fun read.

Frisco's a wonderful character. A man who always vowed he'd never fall in love, finds himself falling in love with his enemy, Torre. Frisco's past is well developed, and horrible, full of abuse and pain. The betrayal he suffered is heart-breaking.

Adding to the fun is the enemies to lovers aspect, despite the men never realizing they are the other's online enemy.

In the end, I love the way it wraps up. It's a story of found family and it's beautiful.

Once again, the book focuses around the support group for those who have lost loved ones.

Oh yeah, and it's hot too.

Never Say Never is a wonderful story of healing and love. Felice Stevens once again pens a winner with this heart-felt tale.

[Cindy M. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book just "clicks" and you can't pinpoint exactly why. There were so many things I loved about the journey between Frisco and Torre, they were definitely my favorite!

The banter between these two was both endearing and utterly sexy at times. Frisco and Torre were so different, yet both so vulnerable in the ways of love. Their attraction was magnetic, the pure joy they brought out in each other was heartwarming. Their were of course bumps in the road, but that's too be expected with these two stubborn men.

I loved how Torre's family and Presley, Frisco's best friend, play such a huge roll in their relationship. Both men had people they could lean on, but seeing them come together was perfect. I'm sad the series is over, but loved reading about these men and their road to happiness. Thank you Felice for a great series ❤️❤️❤️

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the third book in a really excellent series. Do make sure that once you finish this one you read on, so that you get a bonus which ties them all together perfectly. I would recommend that you read them in order, as you would have a better understanding of Frisco in particular.

I think I would describe Frisco as prickly, defensive, and loyal only to his best friend Presley. We have met him before, and he is unlikely to have any big fans ... but by the end of this book, I definitely understood him better, and maybe forgave him some of his excesses - obviously he also changed his position on Never pretty significantly!

Torre is an up and coming food blogger who has been really annoyed by the cruel and rude reviews given by food critic, Francisco Martinelli. Torre challenges Martinelli's boss to make his try restaurants outside the city centre and to be less elitist. Cue Frisco turning up to do a review incognito at Torre's brother's place. The rest is, as they say history, but I do not intend to reveal any more. Stevens does a brilliant job of making this story very engaging, funny, sweet and moving.

As in all the books in this series, I highly recommend a tissue, and consider where you are when you read it, in case you do tear up. Thank you Felice Stevens for a really satisfying read, with some delightful culinary moments an added bonus to a passionate and wonderfully romantic novel.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read Fool for Love, book one in the Lost In New York series, I absolutely adored Presley’s best friend, Frisco Martinelli. He’s brash, fiercely loyal, and funny and I hoped he’d one day have his own story. Never Say Never is Frisco’s story and it’s everything I had hoped for and so much more! This is book three in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. I do recommend reading the series from the beginning though because each book is so wonderful and Fool for Love will give you some insight into the delightful Frisco.

Frisco Martinelli is a snobby food critic with fine taste in food, clothing, and bed partners. While he will go back for repeats of fine cuisine, his bed partners are one-and-done. He doesn’t do attachments other than his lifelong best friend. And no one but Presley can get away with putting Frisco in his place...until now. Torre Rossi is a food blogger who comes from a tight knit Brooklyn family. He lives in an apartment downstairs from his mom and he helps out in his brother’s restaurant. When these opposites meet up the attraction is combustible and oh-so-much fun!

Never Say Never is so well written and descriptive. It features wonderful characters with so much depth. Frisco is an unapologetic force to be reckoned with. Torre is quiet and modest, but he calls Frisco out when necessary, and pushes him out of his comfort zone literally and figuratively. As expected, a book featuring a food critic and a food blogger contains details of some delicious food. I found myself craving the dishes I read about, but not enough to pull me away from this book. I had a very hard time putting it down and kept reading well into the night. Now that I’ve finished, I need to go have some grilled branzino with roasted vegetables and a glass of wine.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so (not) patiently waited for this story. Frisco completely enthralled me from his role as Presley's BF in a Fool for Love. His loyalty, love and his "I don't take prisoners" attitude draws the readers in.
But along comes Torre, a ray of light at the end of the lonely tunnel. What is it about Torre that draws Frisco in, to re think everything that he despises about relationships and forever. Trust me, the sexy times between these two burn up the pages but there is also the slow building friendship that develops.
Ms. Stevens does it again with another story of redemption & finding the right person to change your world completely.
Love Presley's bolder, take my opinion & love it attitude. His growth thru his book & Frisco's shows the depth that this author goes to nurture her characters.
Again, her secondary characters, brings all the little nuggets together to bring the readers another amazing story.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story C+
Narration by Kale Williams B

Rambling story. I thought it was ending once, then realized there were 3 hours left in the audiobook. Then I thought it again at an hour to go, then it finally ended. (In the audiobook I have there are a couple of vignettes after the main book, about each of the couples from the series, and one sort of side couple?? They were odd.)

I like parts of the book, especially some of the character development with Frisco, but overall it was sort of bland.

I love Kale Williams narrations, but he failed to distinguish these two MCs at times, making me rely on dialogue tags to keep the POV straight. Otherwise he doies a great job with the character voices and emotional content.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Felice Stevens knock it out of the ballpark!! This is the Story I did not know I needed! I loved Frisco and Torre so hard. Frisco has had a horrible upbringing and things from his past has made him into the man he is today, unfeeling! Torre was a wonderful foil for Frisco, he was sweet but strong. They fit like a glove, perfect for each other. I loved how Felice Stevens dug deep into Frisco’s back story so we could see why he turned out the way he was. Torre’s family had such an integral part of the story. Frisco did not know he needed them or what hit him. I loved how we got to see more of Pressley and Nate, especially all the interactions with Pressley. I can not wait for the next Felice Stevens story…

[Meg (queer_book_recs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I DNFed the first 2 books in the series, but a friend convinced me to read this one and she was right! It was really good! Frisco has a pretty major emotional journey and finding such a solid, down to earth guy like Torre (not to mention his loving family) was so good for him. The story was really romantic. I listened to the audio and Kale Williams does a great job as usual.

[S.C. Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! For whatever reason, Frisco's snark didn't bother me. I just found him amusing. The book has what all Felice's books have, great setting, excellent character development, and a love story with lots of steam and heart.

This is a fantastic addition to the series!

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and sweet, the relationship guy tames the wild one night stander. It really was the perfect story with the perfect characters and family dynamic to pull this off and make it realistic. I really enjoyed it.

[Tracy Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Glowing Stars...
Oh My Heart...What a book! I cried multiple times. Poor broken cocky flirt Frisco & sweet brokenhearted Torre,my heart broke for them both in different ways. I needed to hug them both,especially Frisco or slap him(haha). Gah,an emotional book for sure. I couldn't put the book down it was so good! I cried some happy tears as well when Frisco finally gave in to accept Torre & try,I loved the ending & the little short freebie after book. A Must Read!