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The Lost Corisis #1
He Said Always
From New York Times bestselling author Ruth Cardello comes another hot Corisi romance about a bet, a love story, and the secrets that ruin relationships.
When billionaire and tech start-up capitalist Gian Romano strikes a bet with his niece Judy—the daughter of Dominic Corisi—to find even more of the Corisi family, his search leads him to the Boston area. But when he pops into a store, the woman who runs it becomes an instant distraction from his mission. Teagan is beautiful, strong, and too smart not to see through him.
What started as a friendly family bet quickly becomes complicated when sparks fly between Gian and Teagan. Nothing is as simple as it appears, and together they discover the past still has the power to hurt the ones they both love. Teagan won’t settle for less than the truth from Gian, but when it comes to her own secret aspirations, she holds back. If they learn to trust each other, they just might discover that some secrets are better when shared.
They’ll have to trust each other completely, or else their love, along with Gian’s lead on Judy, will be doomed.
When billionaire and tech start-up capitalist Gian Romano strikes a bet with his niece Judy—the daughter of Dominic Corisi—to find even more of the Corisi family, his search leads him to the Boston area. But when he pops into a store, the woman who runs it becomes an instant distraction from his mission. Teagan is beautiful, strong, and too smart not to see through him.
What started as a friendly family bet quickly becomes complicated when sparks fly between Gian and Teagan. Nothing is as simple as it appears, and together they discover the past still has the power to hurt the ones they both love. Teagan won’t settle for less than the truth from Gian, but when it comes to her own secret aspirations, she holds back. If they learn to trust each other, they just might discover that some secrets are better when shared.
They’ll have to trust each other completely, or else their love, along with Gian’s lead on Judy, will be doomed.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2021
1445 people are currently reading
2676 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Cardello
127 books2,954 followersRuth Cardello hit the NYTs and USA Today for the first time back in 2012. Millions of sales are evidence that her books are akin to potato chips, addictive from the first one. She has created a multi-series billionaire world with a combination of escapism and realism that has gained her a faithful following of readers.
What Kindle Reviewers write about her:
"Wow hot at every page. Heart stoping, fear raging, mind blowing wonderful."
"I'm a true fan of Ms. Cardello. I ran on to her first book a few years back and have been hooked ever since. I could go on and on about the story like of this book, but I'm not. All of her books are total page turners, unique, heart wrenching, and I love them all. There isn't two alike in the bunch and I feel like i know the characters personally. I personally read 97 authors books. And I buy every book they put out. This author is in my top 10. Great job and keep them coming."
"Love this series. Got me to start reading again. I look forward to the next book. Thank you for giving me the love of reading back."
Ruth Cardello was born the youngest of 11 children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She spent her young adult years moving as far away as she could from her large extended family. She lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York--then came full circle and moved back to New England. She now happily lives one town over from the one she was born in. For her, family trumped the warmer weather and international scene.
She was an educator for 20 years, the last 11 as a kindergarten teacher. When her school district began cutting jobs, Ruth turned a serious eye toward her second love- writing and has never been happier. When she's not writing, you can find her chasing her children around her small farm or connecting with her readers online.
Email Notice of New Releases: www.RuthCardello.com/Signup
You can find her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RuthCardello
Follow her at Twitter @RuthieCardello
If you'd like to email her directly, you may contact her via her website: www.ruthcardello.com
Lone Star Burn Series
Book 1: Taken, Not Spurred
Book 2: Tycoon Takedown
Book 3: Taken Home
Book 4: Taking Charge
Want to hear the song Charles proposed to Melanie with? https://youtu.be/SGZT5nVKfMs
The Legacy Collection
Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire (FREE on Amazon!)
Book 2: For Love or Legacy
Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire
Book 4: Saving the Sheikh
Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire
Book 6: Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption
Book 7: (Novella) A Corisi Christmas
The Andrades:
Book 1: Come Away With Me (FREE on Amazon)
Book 2: Home to Me
Book 3: Maximum Risk
Book 4: Somewhere Along the Way
Book 5: Loving Gigi
Christmas Novella: A Recipe for Love (Maddy and Richard)
The Barrington Billionaires:
Book 1: Always Mine
Book 2: Stolen Kisses
Book 3: Trade It All
Book 3.5: A Billionaire for Lexi
Book 4: Let It Burn
Book 5: More than Love
Book 6: Forever Now
Book 7: Never Goodbye
Book 8: Reluctantly Alpha
Book 9: Reluctantly Rescued
Book 10: Reluctantly Romanced
Book 11: Loving a Landon
Book 12: Loathing a Landon
For a more complete list visit her website at www.ruthcardello.com
What Kindle Reviewers write about her:
"Wow hot at every page. Heart stoping, fear raging, mind blowing wonderful."
"I'm a true fan of Ms. Cardello. I ran on to her first book a few years back and have been hooked ever since. I could go on and on about the story like of this book, but I'm not. All of her books are total page turners, unique, heart wrenching, and I love them all. There isn't two alike in the bunch and I feel like i know the characters personally. I personally read 97 authors books. And I buy every book they put out. This author is in my top 10. Great job and keep them coming."
"Love this series. Got me to start reading again. I look forward to the next book. Thank you for giving me the love of reading back."
Ruth Cardello was born the youngest of 11 children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She spent her young adult years moving as far away as she could from her large extended family. She lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York--then came full circle and moved back to New England. She now happily lives one town over from the one she was born in. For her, family trumped the warmer weather and international scene.
She was an educator for 20 years, the last 11 as a kindergarten teacher. When her school district began cutting jobs, Ruth turned a serious eye toward her second love- writing and has never been happier. When she's not writing, you can find her chasing her children around her small farm or connecting with her readers online.
Email Notice of New Releases: www.RuthCardello.com/Signup
You can find her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RuthCardello
Follow her at Twitter @RuthieCardello
If you'd like to email her directly, you may contact her via her website: www.ruthcardello.com
Lone Star Burn Series
Book 1: Taken, Not Spurred
Book 2: Tycoon Takedown
Book 3: Taken Home
Book 4: Taking Charge
Want to hear the song Charles proposed to Melanie with? https://youtu.be/SGZT5nVKfMs
The Legacy Collection
Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire (FREE on Amazon!)
Book 2: For Love or Legacy
Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire
Book 4: Saving the Sheikh
Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire
Book 6: Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea's Redemption
Book 7: (Novella) A Corisi Christmas
The Andrades:
Book 1: Come Away With Me (FREE on Amazon)
Book 2: Home to Me
Book 3: Maximum Risk
Book 4: Somewhere Along the Way
Book 5: Loving Gigi
Christmas Novella: A Recipe for Love (Maddy and Richard)
The Barrington Billionaires:
Book 1: Always Mine
Book 2: Stolen Kisses
Book 3: Trade It All
Book 3.5: A Billionaire for Lexi
Book 4: Let It Burn
Book 5: More than Love
Book 6: Forever Now
Book 7: Never Goodbye
Book 8: Reluctantly Alpha
Book 9: Reluctantly Rescued
Book 10: Reluctantly Romanced
Book 11: Loving a Landon
Book 12: Loathing a Landon
For a more complete list visit her website at www.ruthcardello.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
May 26, 2021
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I've been dying for Gian's story since meeting him in the Corisis Billionaires series and I can officially say his book was well worth the wait. He and Teagan made a great couple and I loved the added intrigue of learning what Teagan was working on. There were also some more secrets from the Corisi family coming out that kept the book really interesting and had me captivated.
I do think the ending was a little rushed and I was hoping for some more scenes of Gian while on his new professional path, but overall I loved his character and his story. I can't wait to see what the next book will have in store for us.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I've been dying for Gian's story since meeting him in the Corisis Billionaires series and I can officially say his book was well worth the wait. He and Teagan made a great couple and I loved the added intrigue of learning what Teagan was working on. There were also some more secrets from the Corisi family coming out that kept the book really interesting and had me captivated.
I do think the ending was a little rushed and I was hoping for some more scenes of Gian while on his new professional path, but overall I loved his character and his story. I can't wait to see what the next book will have in store for us.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2021
I have read the three books before this one (the Corisi trilogy), and I was STILL confused about all of the family dynamics. As the first book in a brand new series, you'd think that it'd be easy to jump into this without needing to know the backstory. That is absolutely not the case. The author is really doing herself a disservice here, because I do generally enjoy her writing style, but the family dynamics get more convoluted with every book. And this instalove storyline did nothing to win me over; it certainly wasn't strong enough to overcome the confusing backstory. I can't recommend this to anyone who hasn't already read AT LEAST the Corisi trilogy, and even then, the romance was more instalove than anything.
The story follows Gian, a guy who just found out that his family tree is bigger and more complicated than he realized. While seeking out relatives that he's never met before, Gian meets Teagan. The two have an instant spark and Gian is interested in pursuing Teagan, but she's turned off when she believes Gian is also flirting with her friend. Miscommunication gets in the way of the chemistry that sparked between them, but Gian is persistent in his pursuit of Teagan. As the truth is revealed and their connections are identified, it complicates things even more.
I've already laid out my issues with the family dynamics, so let's talk about Teagan and Gian's relationship. I couldn't connect to them. They have one VERY brief interaction, and it's pretty much love at first sight. Gian is immediately smitten with Teagan, and Teagan is already burning with jealousy when she believes that Gian is also interested in her friend. There was not enough time spent together to warrant any of that. And then Gian creepily starts texting her - when Teagan didn't even give him her number. What follows is a lack of communication, both in getting things out in the open AND in actually emotionally connecting. These two are very physical, and I had trouble understanding why they became so close so quickly. Pair that with the off-putting family dynamics (and a very random sex research subplot), and this just didn't work for me. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this steamy romance.
The story follows Gian, a guy who just found out that his family tree is bigger and more complicated than he realized. While seeking out relatives that he's never met before, Gian meets Teagan. The two have an instant spark and Gian is interested in pursuing Teagan, but she's turned off when she believes Gian is also flirting with her friend. Miscommunication gets in the way of the chemistry that sparked between them, but Gian is persistent in his pursuit of Teagan. As the truth is revealed and their connections are identified, it complicates things even more.
I've already laid out my issues with the family dynamics, so let's talk about Teagan and Gian's relationship. I couldn't connect to them. They have one VERY brief interaction, and it's pretty much love at first sight. Gian is immediately smitten with Teagan, and Teagan is already burning with jealousy when she believes that Gian is also interested in her friend. There was not enough time spent together to warrant any of that. And then Gian creepily starts texting her - when Teagan didn't even give him her number. What follows is a lack of communication, both in getting things out in the open AND in actually emotionally connecting. These two are very physical, and I had trouble understanding why they became so close so quickly. Pair that with the off-putting family dynamics (and a very random sex research subplot), and this just didn't work for me. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this steamy romance.
May 26, 2021
3 - "You just won my heart..." Stars.
We return to the Romano/Corisi universe with He Said Always giving us Gian Romano’s story. Bearing in mind we are now fictionally twenty years on from Dominic and Abby Corisi’s book; Maid for the Billionaire, where it all began. A lot has happened in the intervening time for everyone but especially in his and now his extended families lives, mainly because lately with each new book that has been added the author feels the need to insert more and more previously unknown illegitimate half-siblings to the mix.
"I didn’t expect to meet someone like you…"
I completely understand the reasonings as to why, but the last couple of books have started to feel lacklustre and diluted in regards to all the important factors, compared to most of the books in the original Legacy Series. I love nothing more than a long series with lots of familiar characters and locales but the stories around them still need to offer up fresh and interesting couples, and this book went from 0 to 100 on the ‘insta’ scale, and because of it I really struggled to feel any real spark between Gian and Teagan, and both of their backgrounds lacked any real development.
It didn’t really help that I barely warmed to Teagan at all, and in all honesty, it was catching up with the secondary characters that I found more joy reading about than the flat-lined chemistry between our leads. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t a struggle to read, but equally I didn’t struggle to put it down, and the urge to keep going was not there at all, and that is something I usually have with Ruth’s books.
Not a win, not a loss either, but I will certainly think longer as to whether I read further books in the series or spin-offs going forwards. Saying that though there’s a certain male stripper in this book that has piqued my interest, so never say never!
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
We return to the Romano/Corisi universe with He Said Always giving us Gian Romano’s story. Bearing in mind we are now fictionally twenty years on from Dominic and Abby Corisi’s book; Maid for the Billionaire, where it all began. A lot has happened in the intervening time for everyone but especially in his and now his extended families lives, mainly because lately with each new book that has been added the author feels the need to insert more and more previously unknown illegitimate half-siblings to the mix.
"I didn’t expect to meet someone like you…"
I completely understand the reasonings as to why, but the last couple of books have started to feel lacklustre and diluted in regards to all the important factors, compared to most of the books in the original Legacy Series. I love nothing more than a long series with lots of familiar characters and locales but the stories around them still need to offer up fresh and interesting couples, and this book went from 0 to 100 on the ‘insta’ scale, and because of it I really struggled to feel any real spark between Gian and Teagan, and both of their backgrounds lacked any real development.
It didn’t really help that I barely warmed to Teagan at all, and in all honesty, it was catching up with the secondary characters that I found more joy reading about than the flat-lined chemistry between our leads. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t a struggle to read, but equally I didn’t struggle to put it down, and the urge to keep going was not there at all, and that is something I usually have with Ruth’s books.
Not a win, not a loss either, but I will certainly think longer as to whether I read further books in the series or spin-offs going forwards. Saying that though there’s a certain male stripper in this book that has piqued my interest, so never say never!
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
December 14, 2020
*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Great first read, from a new-to-me author.
I enjoyed the storyline, it held my interest from start to end and I loved watching the relationship between Gian and Teagan unfold.
Overall, The broken One is a great start to the The Lost Corisis Series and I'm looking forward to reading more.
3.5 stars
Great first read, from a new-to-me author.
I enjoyed the storyline, it held my interest from start to end and I loved watching the relationship between Gian and Teagan unfold.
Overall, The broken One is a great start to the The Lost Corisis Series and I'm looking forward to reading more.
April 21, 2021
It has been a long time since I have been in the book world of Dominic Corisi and it was nice to be back. This book is about Dominic’s half brother Gian.
Gian is the brother of Dominic through their mother. Gian and his niece who are competitive and enjoy challenging each other decide to try and find other siblings/half siblings of Dominics as they are sure more exist.
Gian is the first one to find Riley who he believes along with her twin brother are half siblings of Dominic’s. Riley works for Teagan in a T-shirt print shop and the moment Gian sets his sights on her it is insta love. There relationship is a bit rocky at first with Teagan firstly believing Gian is a bit of a player and has his sights set on both her and Riley, she is suspicious of the Romano/Corisi motivations as she is hiding an AI project that many would like to get their hands on and also she is unsure because Riley and Kal’s mother don’t want them to know about their father and makes Teagan promise to stay away from the dangerous family.
That being said when Gian turns up at Teagan’s house they are both very quick to shed their clothes which becomes a recurring theme and talk quickly progresses to kids and the future. The only things standing in the way are the secrets about Riley’s family and her project.
I enjoyed the story however I felt the concerns were a bit too quickly overcome and I would have liked to see a bit more relationship building before everything was rosey in the garden.
#NetGalley #HeSaidAlways
Gian is the brother of Dominic through their mother. Gian and his niece who are competitive and enjoy challenging each other decide to try and find other siblings/half siblings of Dominics as they are sure more exist.
Gian is the first one to find Riley who he believes along with her twin brother are half siblings of Dominic’s. Riley works for Teagan in a T-shirt print shop and the moment Gian sets his sights on her it is insta love. There relationship is a bit rocky at first with Teagan firstly believing Gian is a bit of a player and has his sights set on both her and Riley, she is suspicious of the Romano/Corisi motivations as she is hiding an AI project that many would like to get their hands on and also she is unsure because Riley and Kal’s mother don’t want them to know about their father and makes Teagan promise to stay away from the dangerous family.
That being said when Gian turns up at Teagan’s house they are both very quick to shed their clothes which becomes a recurring theme and talk quickly progresses to kids and the future. The only things standing in the way are the secrets about Riley’s family and her project.
I enjoyed the story however I felt the concerns were a bit too quickly overcome and I would have liked to see a bit more relationship building before everything was rosey in the garden.
#NetGalley #HeSaidAlways
January 27, 2021
4 stars
He Said Always by Ruth Cardello is a good read.
The storyline is well written, I found it entertaining and held my interest from start to end.
Gian and Teagan are likable, passionate character's that I enjoyed getting to know and I was happy they were able to find their happily ever after.
Overall, He Said Always is a solid start to The Lost Corisis series, looking forward to reading more.
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*
He Said Always by Ruth Cardello is a good read.
The storyline is well written, I found it entertaining and held my interest from start to end.
Gian and Teagan are likable, passionate character's that I enjoyed getting to know and I was happy they were able to find their happily ever after.
Overall, He Said Always is a solid start to The Lost Corisis series, looking forward to reading more.
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*
May 25, 2021
4.5
I love the quirkiness of both Gian and Teagan but more importantly I’m obsessed with how they found one another!
They just fit and they had a patience and understand for each other that you don’t see often! More than anything I loved seeing the WHOLE family and their dynamic now!
This book and the books before (The Romano’s) really show the power of love and the power of family!
There are some seriously steamy moments and the list dropped through the pages! I couldn’t get enough and I highly recommend this beautiful book with an independent heroine and hero who just wants to find his place amongst his overbearing, loving brothers!
I love the quirkiness of both Gian and Teagan but more importantly I’m obsessed with how they found one another!
They just fit and they had a patience and understand for each other that you don’t see often! More than anything I loved seeing the WHOLE family and their dynamic now!
This book and the books before (The Romano’s) really show the power of love and the power of family!
There are some seriously steamy moments and the list dropped through the pages! I couldn’t get enough and I highly recommend this beautiful book with an independent heroine and hero who just wants to find his place amongst his overbearing, loving brothers!
December 13, 2020
Very grateful to Montlake for my review copy through NetGalley.
He said always it’s a great contemporary romance story with interesting characters and many family secrets that have been buried for way too long time.
Starting off as a bet, the romance story between Gian and Teagan is hot and beautiful and so damn steamy because I never thought a cooking scene can be so sexy and enticing.
This wasn’t my first book by the author and I must admit that I had a hit and miss relationship with her previous series but I’m looking forward to the next books in this series.
He said always it’s a great contemporary romance story with interesting characters and many family secrets that have been buried for way too long time.
Starting off as a bet, the romance story between Gian and Teagan is hot and beautiful and so damn steamy because I never thought a cooking scene can be so sexy and enticing.
This wasn’t my first book by the author and I must admit that I had a hit and miss relationship with her previous series but I’m looking forward to the next books in this series.
May 24, 2021
The thrill of the chase is that the heart takes the fall. He Said Always is a reminder of what makes Cardello great. With characters that are always evolving, emotions deep enough to swim in and unpredictable twists that will keep you thoroughly invested, it's only a matter of time before you fall in love. Gian Romano finally gets a chance to shine. However, in my opinion it's two feisty women that steal his thunder. Am so looking forward to getting to know more about the ever growing Corisi clan.
December 23, 2020
I have been wanting Gian’s books since I read his brothers’ books, and his story with Teagan was worth the wait! I just love this world, and these two are a wonderful edition to it. Just a super great book!
August 29, 2023
An intelligent romantic lovestory
Wow.... What a book i loved it...just as i love all of ruth cardellos books. It was a very long time when i reAd dominics book....... And reading this has refreshed my memory........ I love the way ruth writes her stories... Family friendship loyalty has been her core ingredients....
RUTH CARDELLO ROCKS.
Wow.... What a book i loved it...just as i love all of ruth cardellos books. It was a very long time when i reAd dominics book....... And reading this has refreshed my memory........ I love the way ruth writes her stories... Family friendship loyalty has been her core ingredients....
RUTH CARDELLO ROCKS.
June 16, 2021
A good read if you are a fan of the series but a bit meh if this is your first introduction to this family
January 21, 2021
Well, talk about disappointment. I loved how it started–with Teagan’s secret project and the reasons behind it, and Gian’s very special interest–but those elements quickly became no more than excuses for unnecessary conflicts–between Teagan and Gian, and between Gian and his family. The rest is just sunshine and rainbows. I think I lost a tooth from all the sugar.
Not familiar with the author’s work, I was overwhelmed by all the side characters and side stories from other books–the family tree looks complicated. As a new reader, it felt like a sampler menu to make me read her other books, while Gian and Teagan’s romance took a back seat.
A romance that I had the hardest time to see. Though their first meeting was cute and sexy, I couldn’t see anything beyond attraction, and yet, according to the characters, they instantly become the love of each other’s life. They barely speak, they have almost no contact outside the bedroom, but they talk marriage and kids after a few days. I didn’t buy it.
All in all, I felt like I was shown what the book could be just before hiding it back behind family stuff that I didn’t care about. It was one of those books that only regular reader of the author can really enjoy.
Quickie
- Series: The lost Corisis #1 (can be read as a standalone, but linked to two other series by the same author)
- Hashtags: #billionaire romance #instalove #geek #italian family
- Triggers: mention of past domestic abuse and possible assassination
- Main couple: Teagan Becket & Gian Romano
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 2/5
- + Teagan and Gian’s peculiar interests and hobbies were quite original and interesting
- – I saw the spark, but I didn’t get how it became love and devotion
Not familiar with the author’s work, I was overwhelmed by all the side characters and side stories from other books–the family tree looks complicated. As a new reader, it felt like a sampler menu to make me read her other books, while Gian and Teagan’s romance took a back seat.
A romance that I had the hardest time to see. Though their first meeting was cute and sexy, I couldn’t see anything beyond attraction, and yet, according to the characters, they instantly become the love of each other’s life. They barely speak, they have almost no contact outside the bedroom, but they talk marriage and kids after a few days. I didn’t buy it.
All in all, I felt like I was shown what the book could be just before hiding it back behind family stuff that I didn’t care about. It was one of those books that only regular reader of the author can really enjoy.
Quickie
- Series: The lost Corisis #1 (can be read as a standalone, but linked to two other series by the same author)
- Hashtags: #billionaire romance #instalove #geek #italian family
- Triggers: mention of past domestic abuse and possible assassination
- Main couple: Teagan Becket & Gian Romano
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 2/5
- + Teagan and Gian’s peculiar interests and hobbies were quite original and interesting
- – I saw the spark, but I didn’t get how it became love and devotion
January 6, 2021
I was really excited to read Gian's story, having followed the Romanos through all their stories. And, giving that the last story had him reconnecting with the Corisi family, I was interested in how everything progressed. Well, this story takes place a few years after that event and Gian is unsure of what he wants to do after going through intensive schooling. He meets Teagan when he and Dominic Corisi's daughter were wagering regarding finding more hidden family members of the Corisi clan. Confused? Yeah, the background of this particular story is pretty difficult to explain without going into too much detail. I don't think it's necessary to read all the other stories in the series but I think you'll get more richness from it if you do.
That said, Gian and Teagan were a little nebulous as characters for me. I didn't think there was a real "point" to them. The story kind of just flowed but without a clear direction or point, besides setting up that there is yet another group that can potentially be folded into the Corisi clan. I liked both Gian and Teagan as characters but their romance took a back seat to the set up, in my opinion, which left it kind of underwhelming.
I still enjoyed the read, having had read all the books in the prior series. I would give this book a 3.5 to 4 stars, depending on familiarity with the story line from prior books. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.
That said, Gian and Teagan were a little nebulous as characters for me. I didn't think there was a real "point" to them. The story kind of just flowed but without a clear direction or point, besides setting up that there is yet another group that can potentially be folded into the Corisi clan. I liked both Gian and Teagan as characters but their romance took a back seat to the set up, in my opinion, which left it kind of underwhelming.
I still enjoyed the read, having had read all the books in the prior series. I would give this book a 3.5 to 4 stars, depending on familiarity with the story line from prior books. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.
August 25, 2021
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here is my review.
I liked the story of Gian trying to find lost family members and finding someone to love in the process. It was entertaining at times but for me some of the time it seemed to drag along.
I liked Gian and Teagan as a couple but his family didn't seem to want him anywhere near her. I wondered if it was because she owned a print shop? Did they think she was beneath him?
Anyway, I have read this author before and really like her work and will be reading more from her in the future.
I liked the story of Gian trying to find lost family members and finding someone to love in the process. It was entertaining at times but for me some of the time it seemed to drag along.
I liked Gian and Teagan as a couple but his family didn't seem to want him anywhere near her. I wondered if it was because she owned a print shop? Did they think she was beneath him?
Anyway, I have read this author before and really like her work and will be reading more from her in the future.
January 24, 2021
He Said Always by Ruth Cardello a four-star read that will hopefully lead to more. This is number one in the Lost Corsis series and hopefully the rest of the series will have a better start. This was a great second half of the novel, but it was let down by the first few chapters, it took me so long to get into, so if you struggle at first, do not let it put you off. Keep going as it gets very good. If you have read the other series by this author then this is a must read, but if you haven’t it may be worth checking them out first.
May 25, 2021
Check out our full post for HE SAID ALWAYS on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary – ☆☆☆☆
I liked the story of Gian trying to find lost family members and finding someone to love in the process. It was entertaining at times but for me, some of the time it seemed to drag along.
I liked Gian and Teagan as a couple, but his family didn't seem to want him anywhere near her. I wondered if it was because she owned a print shop. Did they think she was beneath him?
Anyway, I have read this author before and really like her work and will be reading more from her in the future.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This may be identified as the first book in a new series, but it is intrinsically linked to earlier Corisis' stories. I have to tell you that the complications in their family tree are enough to blow your mind! I am completely up to date and was very grateful that Cardello reminded us of the highlights. It really is complicated beyond reasonable... but makes for some fabulous opportunities for fascinating plots and reveals.
Gian Romano and his niece, Judy (Dominic's daughter), are on a mission to find other hidden relatives. To be fair to Gian, he is trying to keep Judy a little under control to help out Dominic, although he is keen to know the extent of his family. When he meets Teagan, for a moment he is worried they may be related, as he is completely besotted with her. Thankfully it is her best friend and employee who is the likely Corisi.
As Teagan and Gian get to know each other better, and fall for each other, the lost Corisi sibling’s story rather plays out as a sideline. It is interesting for sure, but the romance and efforts that Gian has to make with Teagan are really the most exciting bit!
Teagan is creating the ultimate in good white knight software, on a secret mission to save the privacy of society. She is very nervous of anyone finding out what she is doing, so Gian scoping out her shop, and Judy also appearing soon afterwards, fires all her protective streaks. Once she gets involved with Gian, she then has to decide whether she can trust him with this, and if not, what does that say about any future they may have.
You will love how she finally reveals all, and what a plan she has in store to support Gian's unusual plans for his career. Lovely idea and I wonder whether it will ever get developed for real!!
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Gian is searching for more family. However, what started as a quiet endeavor quickly becomes a race when his niece challenges him to a contest to see who might find more family first. As Gian tries to figure out the best way to search without detection, he comes across Teagan.
Teagan is smart, protective, and knows that at any moment, things could go wrong. When she encounters Gian for the first time, let's just say that things don't go quite as planned... As she continues to encounter Gian and his family, Teagan isn't sure what to make of them. She is very protective of her family and wants to make sure it's their choice, but the choice is somewhat taken away when Judy and Gian find them first.
This was a great first encounter and I wanted to like this couple more, but even with Teagan's brains and invention, there just wasn't much to the story. I think I was expecting more to come of her invention, for Gian's family to be less standoffish, and for Gian and Teagan to have less conflict about everyone else.
I liked the series where this book stems from, so I'm intrigued to find out more about this branch. I did like how Judy had to grow up some and hope we continue with that line too.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
May 18, 2021
This is my first read by Ruth Cardello, and I really enjoyed the storyline! However, it took me a while to work out the characters' relationship dynamics with each other. Hence, it was a bit tiring and confusing at first, I had to reread a few paragraphs to grasp the situation fully. The Corisi and Romano families are interconnected with each other in an intriguing way, to say the very least. He Said Always is a contemporary, billionaire and friends to lovers romance. It's also book #1 in The Lost Corisi series, however it's a standalone. The Corisi family/characters are woven in and throughout many of Ruth Cardello's books, set in the billionaire world. I don't usually read many friends to lovers romance, I'm more of an enemies to lovers kind of reader. But, I really liked reading Teagan (heroine) and Gian's (hero) interactions and their relationship.
As soon as they meet, an instant attraction happens between Gian and Teagan. It was well going until a slight misunderstanding occurs. I loved their dialogues and Teagan is such a great character! And I really like how Ruth Cardello portrayed Teagan's character. she's smart and intelligent however, she can be seen as a loner. She not really interested in a serious relationship; Teagan is a bit skeptical when it comes to the matters of the heart. Gian is the prefect gentleman, he loves Teagan's company and he wishes that she could see how amazing she is. They are so adorable together. Gian is so understanding and he is aware that Teagan has certain trust issues, he doesn't push her. Oh boy, there were a few scenes that was through the roof! It was so steamy!! Gian certainly surprised me!! Overall, it's an interesting, fun and light hearted read.
Even since Teagan was a young teenager, she has a fondness towards technology. She's a computer and programmer wiz, creating facial recognition apps hidden away from the public eye. Gian is looking for someone; he's seeking information about the time when he met Teagan. He wasn't looking for any distractions, but the moment his eyes layed on Teagan, well that's going to be a bit difficult.
**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
As soon as they meet, an instant attraction happens between Gian and Teagan. It was well going until a slight misunderstanding occurs. I loved their dialogues and Teagan is such a great character! And I really like how Ruth Cardello portrayed Teagan's character. she's smart and intelligent however, she can be seen as a loner. She not really interested in a serious relationship; Teagan is a bit skeptical when it comes to the matters of the heart. Gian is the prefect gentleman, he loves Teagan's company and he wishes that she could see how amazing she is. They are so adorable together. Gian is so understanding and he is aware that Teagan has certain trust issues, he doesn't push her. Oh boy, there were a few scenes that was through the roof! It was so steamy!! Gian certainly surprised me!! Overall, it's an interesting, fun and light hearted read.
Even since Teagan was a young teenager, she has a fondness towards technology. She's a computer and programmer wiz, creating facial recognition apps hidden away from the public eye. Gian is looking for someone; he's seeking information about the time when he met Teagan. He wasn't looking for any distractions, but the moment his eyes layed on Teagan, well that's going to be a bit difficult.
**I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review
May 23, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This may be identified as the first book in a new series, but it is intrinsically linked to earlier Corisis' stories. I have to tell you that the complications in their family tree are enough to blow your mind! I am completely up to date, and was very grateful that Cardello reminded us of the highlights. It really is complicated beyond reasonable ... but makes for some fabulous opportunities for fascinating plots and reveals.
Gian Romano and his niece Jude (Dominic's daughter) are on a mission to find other hidden relatives. To be fair to Gian, he is trying to keep Jude a little under control to help out Dominic, although he is keen to know the extent of his family. When he meets Teagan, for a moment he is worried they may be related, as he is completely besotted with her. Thankfully it is her best friend and employee who is the likely Corisi.
As Teagan and Gian get to know each other better, and fall for each other, the lost Corisi siblings story rather plays out as a sideline. It is interesting for sure, but the romance and efforts that Gian has to make with Teagan are really the most exciting bit!
Teagan is creating the ultimate in good white knight software, on a secret mission to save the privacy of society. She is very nervous of anyone finding out what she is doing, so Gian scoping out her shop, and Jude also appearing soon afterwards, fires all her protective streaks. Once she gets involved with Gian, she then has to decide whether she can trust him with this, and if not, what does that say about any future they may have.
You will love how she finally reveals all, and what a plan she has in store to support Gian's unusual plans for his career. Lovely idea and I wonder whether it will ever get developed for real !!
This may be identified as the first book in a new series, but it is intrinsically linked to earlier Corisis' stories. I have to tell you that the complications in their family tree are enough to blow your mind! I am completely up to date, and was very grateful that Cardello reminded us of the highlights. It really is complicated beyond reasonable ... but makes for some fabulous opportunities for fascinating plots and reveals.
Gian Romano and his niece Jude (Dominic's daughter) are on a mission to find other hidden relatives. To be fair to Gian, he is trying to keep Jude a little under control to help out Dominic, although he is keen to know the extent of his family. When he meets Teagan, for a moment he is worried they may be related, as he is completely besotted with her. Thankfully it is her best friend and employee who is the likely Corisi.
As Teagan and Gian get to know each other better, and fall for each other, the lost Corisi siblings story rather plays out as a sideline. It is interesting for sure, but the romance and efforts that Gian has to make with Teagan are really the most exciting bit!
Teagan is creating the ultimate in good white knight software, on a secret mission to save the privacy of society. She is very nervous of anyone finding out what she is doing, so Gian scoping out her shop, and Jude also appearing soon afterwards, fires all her protective streaks. Once she gets involved with Gian, she then has to decide whether she can trust him with this, and if not, what does that say about any future they may have.
You will love how she finally reveals all, and what a plan she has in store to support Gian's unusual plans for his career. Lovely idea and I wonder whether it will ever get developed for real !!
October 31, 2021
I maybe started with the wrong Ruth Cardello's series. But even though I don't know what the other series is about, I thoroughly enjoyed reading He Said Always.
Teagan & Tian have fantastic chemistry, and I liked how they talked about everything. They had excellent communication between them.
I enjoyed the conversation Gian had with his father. The guidance he got is something that he passed on when he talked with his brother Dominique and Teagan.
Ruth Cardello brings us a story of romance with family and loyalty, pulling them in different directions. I enjoyed reading Teagan and Gian's stories.
Even though it is my first time reading Ruth Cardello, I am sure it won't last one. I am looking forward to reading her other books from her other series.
Teagan & Tian have fantastic chemistry, and I liked how they talked about everything. They had excellent communication between them.
I enjoyed the conversation Gian had with his father. The guidance he got is something that he passed on when he talked with his brother Dominique and Teagan.
Ruth Cardello brings us a story of romance with family and loyalty, pulling them in different directions. I enjoyed reading Teagan and Gian's stories.
Even though it is my first time reading Ruth Cardello, I am sure it won't last one. I am looking forward to reading her other books from her other series.
May 21, 2021
4 star review of He Said Always (The Lost Corisis #1) by Ruth Cardello
A spin off from the original Corisis series, this is Gian Romano and Teagan ‘s story. Having enjoyed the previous series I was excited to see what Ms.Cardello had in store for this series.
I loved Gian and Teagan, they were easy to relate too and I was invested in the story that Ms. Cardello wove. The chemistry that sizzles between them is hard to ignore but what happens when secrets are revealed. Will it bring them together or rip them apart?
I loved the journey they travelled to get their happily ever after. He Said Always is a story of love, family and romance and taking a chance that the one you offer your heart to will keep it safe.
An entertaining read with some twists and turns which will keep you guessing. Looking forward to see what Ms.Cardello has in store for the rest of this generation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
A spin off from the original Corisis series, this is Gian Romano and Teagan ‘s story. Having enjoyed the previous series I was excited to see what Ms.Cardello had in store for this series.
I loved Gian and Teagan, they were easy to relate too and I was invested in the story that Ms. Cardello wove. The chemistry that sizzles between them is hard to ignore but what happens when secrets are revealed. Will it bring them together or rip them apart?
I loved the journey they travelled to get their happily ever after. He Said Always is a story of love, family and romance and taking a chance that the one you offer your heart to will keep it safe.
An entertaining read with some twists and turns which will keep you guessing. Looking forward to see what Ms.Cardello has in store for the rest of this generation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 14, 2021
Even though this is a stand alone there’s a lot of side characters from previous books that I haven’t read so certain things got a little lost for me, I think if I had read the previous books I would have enjoyed this more but all in all it was a good book.
Gian and Teague were both really great characters with a lot of depth who both really helped each other out but the story was a tad bit slow for me.
Gian and Teague were both really great characters with a lot of depth who both really helped each other out but the story was a tad bit slow for me.
May 11, 2021
He Said Always (The Lost Corisis #1) by Ruth Cardello
3 stars
M/F Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Gian is searching for more family. However, what started as a quiet endeavour quickly becomes a race when his niece challenges him to a contest to see who might find more family first. As Gian tries to figure out the best way to search without detection, he comes across Teagan.
Teagan is smart, protective and knows that at any moment, things could go wrong. When she encounters Gian for the first time, let's just say that things don't go quite as planned...As she continues to encounter Gian and his family, Teagan isn't sure what to make of them. She is very protective of her family and wants to make sure it's their choice, but the choice is somewhat taken away when Judy and Gian find them first.
This was a great first encounter and I wanted to like this couple more, but even with Teagan's brains and invention, there just wasn't much to the story. I think I was expecting more to come of her invention, Gian's family to be less standoffish and for Gian and Teagan to have less conflict about everyone else.
I liked the series where this book stems from, so I'm intrigued to find out more about this branch. I did like how Judy had to grow up some and hope we continue with that line too.
3 stars
M/F Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Gian is searching for more family. However, what started as a quiet endeavour quickly becomes a race when his niece challenges him to a contest to see who might find more family first. As Gian tries to figure out the best way to search without detection, he comes across Teagan.
Teagan is smart, protective and knows that at any moment, things could go wrong. When she encounters Gian for the first time, let's just say that things don't go quite as planned...As she continues to encounter Gian and his family, Teagan isn't sure what to make of them. She is very protective of her family and wants to make sure it's their choice, but the choice is somewhat taken away when Judy and Gian find them first.
This was a great first encounter and I wanted to like this couple more, but even with Teagan's brains and invention, there just wasn't much to the story. I think I was expecting more to come of her invention, Gian's family to be less standoffish and for Gian and Teagan to have less conflict about everyone else.
I liked the series where this book stems from, so I'm intrigued to find out more about this branch. I did like how Judy had to grow up some and hope we continue with that line too.
May 19, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Enjoyable read
Characters are very good
Found the story slightly weaker than I’m use to from this author, but it didn’t stop me enjoying it, it just meant the plot wasn’t as deep.
Entertaining
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
Enjoyable read
Characters are very good
Found the story slightly weaker than I’m use to from this author, but it didn’t stop me enjoying it, it just meant the plot wasn’t as deep.
Entertaining
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
July 11, 2021
Interesting start to the new series set in Ruth Cardello’s billionaire “universe”. Gian's character development has expanded as he is now an adult and MC of this book. Lots of new characters, old characters, steamy but always family love.
August 22, 2022
Enjoyed this sexy, fun and action-packed adventure filled with interesting and engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and thrilling passion. An edge of your seat emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.
February 20, 2021
I was lucky enough to win a ARC copy of this book, omg I loved Gian and Teagan, I literally couldn’t put this book down, such a page Turner... now I’m desperate for book 2.
Totally recommend this book
Totally recommend this book
November 13, 2025
the book started out really interesting, and that was coming from listening to the audible. granted i felt like if i was reading the book, i would skip a few lines just because it was dragging a little. dominic (ml brother) really needs to find a new hobby instead of putting all his energy is trying to make all his siblings love him
gian (pronounced john) made a bet with his niece judy to see who can find a long-lost sibling for dominic (gian's half-brother, judy's father) to spoil seeing that dominic's dad (also gian's dad) couldn't keep it in his pants and got around with everyone. finding another sibling would be the present for dominic's birthday seeing that he wants his siblings to thrive (what a sweet bother). when finding a sibling both judy and gian stumble upon teagan on two separate occasions. judy shows interest in her because of her super secret technology and Gian shows interest in her because she's his happily ever after
judy, oh judy. if she was my niece or sister, i would have straight up bullied her and annoyed the living shit out of her. there was no way i would have been able to read her scenes just because the audible really made it seem like judy was this arrogant (she is) girl who gets whatever she wants (she does) and it really shows. i felt zero, like absolutely zero 0️⃣ remorse when teagan straight up told judy she was literally just a sack of potatoes without her father. if anything i was behind Teagan shouting for her to roast her more
anyway, this book is about teagan and gian not about judy although i feel like she was just appeared waaaay too much in this book 🫤
i started this book thinking it was just any first book in a series and boy was i wrong. you don't really need to read corisi billionaires to get a gist of what this book is about or just what they were saying the whole book. there were corisi siblings and romano siblings and at one point i thought they were the same people. this series is basically a part 2 of the corisi billionaires and it would be easier to understand the 'family tree' from the beginning but it wasn't necessary because they just explain what and why it is happening throughout the book. it would be been nice to have started reading the first series just because after reading this book, the whole family drama was just too much drama for me to want to continue reading
the 1️⃣ main reason why i read the book was because it had an audible attached to the book in ku and i just needed something to listen to when i did laundry and went to school. the 2️⃣ second reason why i wanted to read the book was because there was a bet going on and we all know what goes on with books with bets in them = 🙇♀️ GROVELING!!! but the bet that gian and judy made wasn't even that serious and it wasn't serious to the point that gian told teagan on their first date. clearly this book was not about how much gian can grovel but how many siblings can we find for dominic corisi
the groveling? non-existent and that is the most important in a book 😢 oh so very sad. the book had me wanting more even though i was really thought that gian was gonna grovel when teagan found out about the bet and when the end of the book started to come closer, i was really hoping gian would do something to fuck it up. But nope 😤 don't you just hate it when the the guy is perfect, perfect perfect
___
gian (pronounced john) made a bet with his niece judy to see who can find a long-lost sibling for dominic (gian's half-brother, judy's father) to spoil seeing that dominic's dad (also gian's dad) couldn't keep it in his pants and got around with everyone. finding another sibling would be the present for dominic's birthday seeing that he wants his siblings to thrive (what a sweet bother). when finding a sibling both judy and gian stumble upon teagan on two separate occasions. judy shows interest in her because of her super secret technology and Gian shows interest in her because she's his happily ever after
judy, oh judy. if she was my niece or sister, i would have straight up bullied her and annoyed the living shit out of her. there was no way i would have been able to read her scenes just because the audible really made it seem like judy was this arrogant (she is) girl who gets whatever she wants (she does) and it really shows. i felt zero, like absolutely zero 0️⃣ remorse when teagan straight up told judy she was literally just a sack of potatoes without her father. if anything i was behind Teagan shouting for her to roast her more
anyway, this book is about teagan and gian not about judy although i feel like she was just appeared waaaay too much in this book 🫤
i started this book thinking it was just any first book in a series and boy was i wrong. you don't really need to read corisi billionaires to get a gist of what this book is about or just what they were saying the whole book. there were corisi siblings and romano siblings and at one point i thought they were the same people. this series is basically a part 2 of the corisi billionaires and it would be easier to understand the 'family tree' from the beginning but it wasn't necessary because they just explain what and why it is happening throughout the book. it would be been nice to have started reading the first series just because after reading this book, the whole family drama was just too much drama for me to want to continue reading
the 1️⃣ main reason why i read the book was because it had an audible attached to the book in ku and i just needed something to listen to when i did laundry and went to school. the 2️⃣ second reason why i wanted to read the book was because there was a bet going on and we all know what goes on with books with bets in them = 🙇♀️ GROVELING!!! but the bet that gian and judy made wasn't even that serious and it wasn't serious to the point that gian told teagan on their first date. clearly this book was not about how much gian can grovel but how many siblings can we find for dominic corisi
the groveling? non-existent and that is the most important in a book 😢 oh so very sad. the book had me wanting more even though i was really thought that gian was gonna grovel when teagan found out about the bet and when the end of the book started to come closer, i was really hoping gian would do something to fuck it up. But nope 😤 don't you just hate it when the the guy is perfect, perfect perfect
___
"One to ten, how important is she to you?" "Seventeen. Possibly eighteen."
"I told them I found someone who makes me smile every time I think about her."
January 10, 2021
4.1 stars
I have to say that this book started a bit dry. There was a lot of detail put into Teagan and what she was working on. At first, I was a little lost in how this was going to tie into the Corsis family. However, as the story went on, it all made sense. I appreciated it, even more, when I saw the interactions with Judy. Teagan was a hard character to get a read on but I did eventually warm up to her. Gian was an interesting character and I liked them together. I look forward to where this author is going with this series. I am here for their stories. I also cannot wait until Judy gets her story too and I get to see Dominic in that position of watching his daughter grow up.
There is something about this author that sticks out. I first discovered this author with Dominic's story. It felt like I had come full circle with this book because I got to see him again in a new light. There were a few scenes (one of which where he was reminiscing about how he first met his wife, that made me remember the books distinctly. That says something about these characters because I have read more books than I can count off of the top of my head but I still remember them. It is also a testament to this author's ability to craft a story.
I did want a few areas to be fleshed out more, one of which was Teagan's "job" because so much detail went into creating this that it felt like it was just left out there in limbo. I wanted it to be more pivotal in front and center. I also wanted further explanation of what Gian finally decided to do. I don't see his family as accepting his "cover" as his new career choice. Other than that, it was a solid book and another great addition to this author's many books.
I have to say that this book started a bit dry. There was a lot of detail put into Teagan and what she was working on. At first, I was a little lost in how this was going to tie into the Corsis family. However, as the story went on, it all made sense. I appreciated it, even more, when I saw the interactions with Judy. Teagan was a hard character to get a read on but I did eventually warm up to her. Gian was an interesting character and I liked them together. I look forward to where this author is going with this series. I am here for their stories. I also cannot wait until Judy gets her story too and I get to see Dominic in that position of watching his daughter grow up.
There is something about this author that sticks out. I first discovered this author with Dominic's story. It felt like I had come full circle with this book because I got to see him again in a new light. There were a few scenes (one of which where he was reminiscing about how he first met his wife, that made me remember the books distinctly. That says something about these characters because I have read more books than I can count off of the top of my head but I still remember them. It is also a testament to this author's ability to craft a story.
I did want a few areas to be fleshed out more, one of which was Teagan's "job" because so much detail went into creating this that it felt like it was just left out there in limbo. I wanted it to be more pivotal in front and center. I also wanted further explanation of what Gian finally decided to do. I don't see his family as accepting his "cover" as his new career choice. Other than that, it was a solid book and another great addition to this author's many books.
October 14, 2021
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
He Said Always is the first book in the “Lost Corisi’s” series by Ruth Cardello. This is a connection to other previous books that she has written but more specifically the Corisi Family which this author has dedicated a couple of previous series to so it was such a delight in knowing that this book and this series she is currently working on is connected to one of my favorite contemporary indie series. I have loved these billionaires that this author writes, she really makes them so fun, and even though this book was a struggle in the beginning, I admit that I ALMOST set this one aside because I just couldn’t get into it but I will tell you that I did get into it about 30% into it and I am so happy that I was able to. Because I ended up truly liking this book and this pairing was so adorable and I can’t wait for the next “lost Corisi”
He Said Always is a story that will stop your heart and that features:
Gian-driven, successful, brother to the top Corisi, a scientist, loyal to a fault.
Teagan-independent, sassy, protective of those she calls family, and secretive in reference to her research but dedicated to those she loves.
He Said Always is a story that sets off with a bet that Gian makes with his niece, Judy. Judy is the daughter of Dominic and has a bit too much of her father in her. Gian though is a winner and is determined to show his brother he doesn’t need his wealth or guidance, that he can make his own way through life. He finds Dominic to be too controlling and needs freedom. And when he meets Teagan, he is overwhelmed by what they feel for each other is just their first meeting alone. He knows that the chemistry they have is unique and he has never felt this way about any other woman before and he wants to make her his. But she is connected to some long-lost siblings of Dominic’s, and highly protective and a bit prickly where they are concerned, she doesn’t trust him but he is determined to be as honest as he can with her and prove that he is worthy of that trust. But proving to Teagan that he is worth the risk will be much more difficult than he imagined, and it will take charm and delicate hands to win her heart over. But will his family be too overwhelming for Teagan or will he able to win her heart and trust completely?
I found He Said Always to be a charming story that completely won my heart. What I have really admired about this author, is how well she wins me with her character development. She definitely has a style of character-driven stories over plot drive, so if that is what you like more in your contemporary romance than I highly recommend this author. Everything I have read from her so far has been superb. I will admit that I haven’t read her lately and have really fallen behind on her books but I am more than happy to get caught up. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed the Corisi’s especially Dominic (he is such a hoot and one of my favorites, and those of you who have read his book will know why he is a favorite) But seeing Gian come to light, Gian is completely different and I really liked that about him. He is so driven but loyal to those he calls family. I love how sweet he is with Teagan, and so devoted to her. He is falling hard for Teagan, and will admit to it up front, and the transparency he conveys is so heartwarming all the way through the story.
Now Teagan, she can be a prickly heroine. She does get defensive, she has had to work hard for everything that she has achieved, and she is a technology scientist of sorts, and boy she is so secretive about it all, its kinda funny. But when you see what she works on, you will understand why she can only share it with those that she trusts the most. I did find her refreshing at times, and she stands her ground against those she views as threats. I really liked that Gian stood up to her, he wasn’t afraid of fighting for her and proving himself. I would have liked to see more of Teagan proving herself to Gian, because he is such an honest good soul and deserved someone that will fight for him as much as he is willing to fight for her. Not surprised I didn’t get it that much in this one (rarely do I see it in contemporary romance) but I admired the dynamics in the relationship that was conveyed in this story. The bantering between the Corisi family members was a hoot and seeing Judy (who tends to act spoiled and high strung) get a life lesson was wonderful to see. I like her as a character, but she does have a lot to learn.
Overall I found He Said Always to be a romance of charm, wit, and style. It’s a romance to leave you with a smile and eagerness to continue on with the next book in the series. It should prove interesting to see where this author takes this series and these lost siblings.
He Said Always is the first book in the “Lost Corisi’s” series by Ruth Cardello. This is a connection to other previous books that she has written but more specifically the Corisi Family which this author has dedicated a couple of previous series to so it was such a delight in knowing that this book and this series she is currently working on is connected to one of my favorite contemporary indie series. I have loved these billionaires that this author writes, she really makes them so fun, and even though this book was a struggle in the beginning, I admit that I ALMOST set this one aside because I just couldn’t get into it but I will tell you that I did get into it about 30% into it and I am so happy that I was able to. Because I ended up truly liking this book and this pairing was so adorable and I can’t wait for the next “lost Corisi”
He Said Always is a story that will stop your heart and that features:
Gian-driven, successful, brother to the top Corisi, a scientist, loyal to a fault.
Teagan-independent, sassy, protective of those she calls family, and secretive in reference to her research but dedicated to those she loves.
He Said Always is a story that sets off with a bet that Gian makes with his niece, Judy. Judy is the daughter of Dominic and has a bit too much of her father in her. Gian though is a winner and is determined to show his brother he doesn’t need his wealth or guidance, that he can make his own way through life. He finds Dominic to be too controlling and needs freedom. And when he meets Teagan, he is overwhelmed by what they feel for each other is just their first meeting alone. He knows that the chemistry they have is unique and he has never felt this way about any other woman before and he wants to make her his. But she is connected to some long-lost siblings of Dominic’s, and highly protective and a bit prickly where they are concerned, she doesn’t trust him but he is determined to be as honest as he can with her and prove that he is worthy of that trust. But proving to Teagan that he is worth the risk will be much more difficult than he imagined, and it will take charm and delicate hands to win her heart over. But will his family be too overwhelming for Teagan or will he able to win her heart and trust completely?
Dare to dream. If things worked out the way you wanted them to, what would your life be like?
I found He Said Always to be a charming story that completely won my heart. What I have really admired about this author, is how well she wins me with her character development. She definitely has a style of character-driven stories over plot drive, so if that is what you like more in your contemporary romance than I highly recommend this author. Everything I have read from her so far has been superb. I will admit that I haven’t read her lately and have really fallen behind on her books but I am more than happy to get caught up. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed the Corisi’s especially Dominic (he is such a hoot and one of my favorites, and those of you who have read his book will know why he is a favorite) But seeing Gian come to light, Gian is completely different and I really liked that about him. He is so driven but loyal to those he calls family. I love how sweet he is with Teagan, and so devoted to her. He is falling hard for Teagan, and will admit to it up front, and the transparency he conveys is so heartwarming all the way through the story.
Now Teagan, she can be a prickly heroine. She does get defensive, she has had to work hard for everything that she has achieved, and she is a technology scientist of sorts, and boy she is so secretive about it all, its kinda funny. But when you see what she works on, you will understand why she can only share it with those that she trusts the most. I did find her refreshing at times, and she stands her ground against those she views as threats. I really liked that Gian stood up to her, he wasn’t afraid of fighting for her and proving himself. I would have liked to see more of Teagan proving herself to Gian, because he is such an honest good soul and deserved someone that will fight for him as much as he is willing to fight for her. Not surprised I didn’t get it that much in this one (rarely do I see it in contemporary romance) but I admired the dynamics in the relationship that was conveyed in this story. The bantering between the Corisi family members was a hoot and seeing Judy (who tends to act spoiled and high strung) get a life lesson was wonderful to see. I like her as a character, but she does have a lot to learn.
How can you be so smart and not have figured out that you're the universe you're asking for help from? That's why it works. Once you put it out there, it happens because you make it happen. So make it happen
Overall I found He Said Always to be a romance of charm, wit, and style. It’s a romance to leave you with a smile and eagerness to continue on with the next book in the series. It should prove interesting to see where this author takes this series and these lost siblings.
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