After learning a little about Tamir in a previous story, I was certainly intrigued to discover more about him, and it certainly didn't disappoint.
In this book Tamir finally meets his match in Emily. She is on the run, and he is the one hired to bring her back. The chemistry between them is undeniable from the start. When Tamir learns the reasons behind Emily wanting to disappear, he takes it upon himself to do all he can to keep her safe.

A fun, enthralling, well paced story that I powered through within a day.

Jill Ramsower’s Where Loyalties Lie (a standalone in the five families world) is laden with tropes that I can’t get enough of- age gap, damsel in distress, military intrigue, a suspenseful mystery, and secret identities. This book is easily described by one word; SECRETS. SO many secrets.

Our story begins with a heavy air of mystery- which sets the tone for this book: SECRETS, SECRETS, SECRETS. Even though we have dual POV and are in our characters heads, we’re not privy to the secrets- some of which are so dark and dangerous that our characters treat them like Voldermort- they never speak of or even think them. As we open, new NYC resident Emily is taking her weekly Krav Maga class, something she does with great diligence because of...well...secrets. We just know she has reasons to want to protect herself. Her instruct is the distracting and yummy Tamir, who also has secrets. The two are both drawn to each other out of attraction about also out of familiarity- they both recognize the tells of a secret keeper, they recognize in the other the art of hiding in plain sight, since both are doing just that. When Emily’s past starts to catch up to her, Tamir intervenes- who, not surprisingly, is so much more than a sexy instructor.

What I really appreciated about this narrative approach was how insular it is. The majority of the book is one-on-one with Tamir and Emily- so a very intimate construction. We move quickly to hiding/forced cohabitation situation because of looming danger- but the danger takes a back seat to the character dynamics and the secrets they hold- and intense focus on these two exploring their distrust of one another- because both knows the other is hiding something, and neither is ready to put the truth on the table just because they are stuck together. That creates for some interesting dynamics as we see their paranoia, their theories, as they distrust their attraction and even their safety. The mystery isn’t just what the secrets are but why they are so hesitant to share them, and the plot approach allows for the suspense to really build since we really are only focusing on the parallels of secret unpacking and character chemistry- and how that shifts our characters loyalties and motivations.

Our characters are interesting with complex histories- and I loved that we have multicultural identities. I loved the dynamic about how their chemistry initially came from the fact that they recognized the secret traits in one another- the little actions and dynamics that you only notice if you yourself are masking something. Emily just wants to keep herself hidden, and Tamir becomes obsessed with unraveling her secrets. I definitely was intrigued, and what kept me quickly turning pages was wanting to know the truths- the MYSTERY is what drove me. Their characters individually and their relationship and chemistry, however, I felt less connected to. When characters hold secrets I’m not privy to, sometimes it makes a wall between me and the character- and I felt that with Emily, I couldn't really connect to her emotionally and didn’t fear for her- in part because it took so long for me to understand why she was fearful. And Tamir is indeed sexy- but I felt like I didn’t fully know parts of him. Does their connection and emotional tie supersede this situation? I wasn’t sure. The burn was REALLY slow- and when we did get them being physical (late in the book and very limited times) it was lower on the heat spectrum and a bit anticlimactic- I just didn’t feel the passion or fully feel their feelings/connection.

But, the twists and turns were super interesting, and just when I’d think I knew what was up, another secret would come out. Jill nailed this aspect- so many players of plot complexity. I cared about knowing what really was going on, so I kept reading. The ending didn’t go where I thought I would, but the way Tamir approached this was oddly satisfying and very caring. Overall, an interesting read, just wanted a bit more character connection and a heavier dash of steam for personal preferences. Secret lovers will enjoy the slow and steady secret unveiling. When the secrets are all out in the open, where will loyalties lie?

“Where Loyalties Lies” is a fantastic dark romance full of suspense. Emily moves to New York and arrives to a Krav Maga studio where Tamir is an instructor. He is a mysterious and attractive man who has a dark secret. The chemistry between them in undeniable. The daily connection creates a friendship but they do not trust in each other so easily, however he cares her. The attraction between them increases and there is a slow burn romance, but they keep some deep secrets for each other, loyalties are tested and confused feelings are displayed. Emily’s life in put in danger and Tamir have to do everything to keep her safe.

This book has everything: suspense, action, romance. It hook you, I really enjoyed it!

I loved this read.
This story took me a bit to get into. Emily and Tamir each had their secrets and were running and hiding
I am a big fan of this author and she did not disappoint. A definite must read that you'll devour and want more of. I can't wait for her next book!

This book was a roller coaster of emotion for me. One minute you think the story is going one way, and the next it appears to be going in a different direction. I loved not knowing what was around the corner. I read so much that it is rare that I cannot figure out pretty quickly how things will go down in a book, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The chemistry between the characters was great, and really sucked me into the plot. I will most definitely read more from this author.

5 STARS for Where Loyalties Lie by Jill Ramsower

ARC received from Netgalley & publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way .

ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK ! If I was able to rate more stars I would certainly do so ! Netgalley introduced me to this author in her book Blood Always ( The Five Families ) & WOW am I a new fan.

Where Loyalties Lie has it all for me ...

Engaging & very well written story line
Suspense
Amazing characters in Tamir & Emily
Sizzling attraction
HEA that will leave you wanting more. ( always for me a sign of an awesome book )

Tamir is a Krav Maga instructor when Emily starts taking his class he notices & is attracted to her right away but is pretty sure she is hiding something. Emily trusts no one & has been on the run - the problem is that she doesn’t know Tamir suspects something and is on to her.

There is also somewhat of a moral dilemma for Emily when she finds out that Tamir was in Israel’s Special Forces ( Kidon Unit ) & had become one of their top trained assassins. What would you do if you found out the person you are falling in love with kills people ( although selectively ) for a living ?

I would describe Tamir as dangerous ,lethal, helpful , protective , loyal & loving - he does love Emily but hasn’t been upfront with her - just as she hasn’t been with him. They find themselves on the run & she needs to learn to trust him in order to put all her negative “baggage “ behind her.

I read this book in one sitting - could not put it down !

Highly recommend this book & author !

Great read !!

This book is a full package which has it all: an excellent writing style, a captivating plot, a strong-willed heroine as well as a badass hero. What makes the book different from the most of other contemporary romance novels, it that the heroine could hold her own grounds, she knew her shortcomings and her faults and was on the way to improve what can be improved about herself and do as much damage control as possible in her situation. Emily was strong and quick-thinking. Tamir wasn’t your usual charming playboy and not a white-picket-fence kind of guy either. And they clicked, they fit each other perfectly and I was rooting for them. They were portrayed so well that I felt as if I had known them in real life. I was completely invested in the story, the lack of sugar-coating was refreshing and emotions were so raw. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it.
After „Where loyalties lie” I tried some other books by this author, but this one stays my favourite so far. Maybe some future releases by Jill Ramsower will change it.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the kindly provided ARC. All opinions are mine.

I loved this read. I was taken on an adventure with this author. All the details of a history and a culture that I knew nothing about. I found it all so intriguing. Everything flowed perfectly and consumed me.

Tamir is gorgeous, deadly, and intoxicating. I was drawn to his mystery. Emily has secrets of her own and is much stronger than she feels about herself. These two are immediately drawn to each other but it's a slow burn. When their together its like a match being lit and thrown into gasoline.

I am a big fan of this author and she did not disappoint. A definite must read that you'll devour and want more of. I can't wait for her next book!

Where Loyalties Lie is a romantic suspense following Emily and Tamir. Since this book is heavy on the suspense, I'm not going to go into too much detail. We are introduced to Emily who has just moved to New York. Every week she goes to Krav Maga classes which is taught by equally mysterious Tamir. After being found by her past, the two are thrust together. Secrets are uncovered, loyalties are tested, and feelings start to bloom.

Both of these characters carry so many secrets and past emotional scarring. They do not trust easily. Emily carries a sense of paranoia and Tamir has an air of danger about him. To watch the two come together was quite intriguing.

I had quite a fun time reading Where Loyalties Lie, but my one and only complaint (and this is totally a me thing because I'm a smuttier the better person) is that although I enjoyed the slow burn aspect of their relationship I wish there were more sexy scenes. The scenes that were in here were very quick and glossed over. It left me frustrated as a reader to have this slow build to only have this meh climax. I think if we saw more of these characters in intimate situations, it would have been easier to believe the depth of their feelings for each other.

I will say that I enjoyed the end where Tamir gave Emily time to work through her feelings. He wasn't demanding and to see him so understanding of what she had just went through...it was just very well done in my opinion.

CW: some violence both past and present, and there was a scene from the past that very briefly describes a rape scene (not in graphic detail)

Overall rating 3.5 but rounding up to 4 stars
Steaminess 2 stars

3.5 Stars for this one.
I couldn’t get into this one at first. I ended up skipping to about the middle of the book and then it captured my interest. Not sure why.

This story took me a bit to get into. Emily and Tamir each had their secrets and were running and hiding. The danger was still there, and I liked how they plotted to get themselves free. The heat between them was hot, and I enjoyed the ending.

I received a copy of this story through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

DNF for violence - contacted the publisher and asked them to add TW/ CW for readers. There is no reason for this in romance.

This is my second novel by this author, and was next in series. I enjoyed this as much, if not more than the first.

Tamir took my breath away!

I loved the intrigue, the steam, the characters! The words drew me in, and it was short enough to read in one sitting, yet long enough to have me completely satisfied!

This was a great read!

I received an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Emily is running from her past and take weekly Krav Maga classes taught by the mysterious Tamir. These two are attracted to each other, and are both burdened with many secrets, but when Tamir who is an assassin recognized a picture Of Emily with a bounty on her head he needs to come up with a plan to protect and keep her safe. This is a well written tale which is a journey of survival, and is filled with action, secrets, suspense, emotions, twists, and love. I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend for all.

When Jill announced at the end of Blood Always that she would start on a stand alone book, I nearly threw my e-reader through the window. Because I really wanted to read on about the Mafia families. But then I received notification of the ARC: it is about Tamir from Blood Always. So, now I'm forgiving Jill! The mysterious Krav Maga instructor of Maria already had a dark edge in Blood Always and in Where Loyalties Lie we get to see where that dark edge is coming from. So many secrets!
And Emily, who is taking his lessons is also full of secrets. Always looking over her shoulder, always guarding her surroundings. It takes one to know one. So, when Emily is attacked, Tamir steps up to help her out. But Emily doesn't want help, she needs to run.
Only Tamir isn't giving up that easily. But every turn there is another secret and another lie. Can he trust Emily? Can Emily trust him? A slow burn romance, with a lot of distrust, unexpected twists and turns. A wonderful gripping tale, as only Jill can create them. Five out of five stars from me and I'll be eagerly awaiting part 4 in the Five Family series, to be published in October 2020. Thank you Jill for the ARC!

“Just wow! My jaw kept dropping through out the story. Krav Maga was the first words that caught my attention cause being honest who doesn’t love it? Not at all what I expected it was way better than what I could’ve ever imagined.

Where Loyalties Lie is a romantic suspense story. From the very beginning until the end it had lots of suspenseful moments. Emily and Tamir’s story was different from my usual reads. The plot itself was full of secrets and deep emotions. Whom should you trust? That was the million dollar question!

Jill Ramsower did an amazing job with this romantic suspense story. It had drama, secrets, hotness, romance and… age gap. No more details. Enjoy the story. A must read!

“My life isn’t fairy tales and rainbows. I’ve lived in the shadows and seen my share of evil, but if it all had to happen for me to be right here at this moment with you, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
***
From the moment I met Tamir in BLOOD ALWAYS I knew I needed more of him. He was an intriguing enigma to me. Not long after BLOOD ALWAYS release, Ramsower announced a new book she was working on and I knew my moment had come. This was when I would get more Tamir.
If I was an author, I couldn’t have written a better story for Tamir. It was everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Ramsower gave us all a brilliant story cloaked in charm, mystery and romance as we came to know Tamir and Emily. Both held secrets deep in their souls for us readers to pick apart and see revealed. Tamir owned every bit of me as his larger than life presence overtook the story. He is absolutely one of my most favorite people ever.
Perfectly and amazingly written, twists that take you by surprise, and a fiery slow burn romance, WHERE LOYALTIES LIE was flawless in every way. Ramsower does it again with another phenomenal read. My heart is still in recovery mode after finishing this brilliant story. 5 Stars!

Jill Ramsower is a new to me author and I was really excited to read this book. The blurb gave the impression of a suspenseful and thrilling story, and it didn't disappoint.

Emily is trying to outrun her past so she moves to New York where no one knows her and she can easily blend in and start a new life. For almost a year she constantly looked over her shoulder, fearing the people who are after her will emerge from the shadows and drag her back to her home town. She enrols in a Krav Maga class hoping she'll at least be able to put up a fight if someone attacks her, but what she doesn't know is that her insanely gorgeous and mysterious instructor might bring her downfall.

This story is filled with secrets but we are gifted with a seductive journey on the route of uncovering them all. I loved the dynamic between Emily and Tamir. She is such a strong young woman, always optimistic even in the dangerous situation she finds herself in. Her perseverance and passion for life are inspiring and I can easily relate to her. And Tamir can't resist her charm, she's like a breath of fresh air to him. He is an ex Mossad agent, a trained assassin, calculated and used to violence, but when it comes to Emily he is sweet and carrying and his protectiveness towards her really warmed my heart.

Told in dual pov, the action unravelled at a steady-paced, leaving room for character development. The romance was a slow burn but the plotline was suspenseful enough to keep me invested in the story until the end. Overall it was a lovely and well-written book. I enjoyed it and I would recommend it to those who love romances with an added twist.

Copy received from The Next Step PR and I am reviewing it voluntarily and objectively.

This book is considered a standalone but it features a character from her series.

While this novel isn’t my favourite of Jill’s, it is a strong contender. Emily has a past but we don’t learn about it till later. She goes to classes with Tamir as her instructor. He too has a past-as an assassin. Circumstances occur where they’re thrown together and he takes her away to a cabin.

This story does not move fast. It’s very much a slow burn romance with no “romance” happening till later on. The attraction between them is definitely there though.

The coy plot is another thing this book has it going for it too. She places all trust in him, he has an agenda…

I really liked the characters in this one. Despite everything, Tamir is a genuine guy. He takes the situation and does what he wants with it. Emily is definitely a strong female character. In her past, she didn’t roll over for her family. In the present, she works on defending herself, and takes nothing from Tamir. She comes first and I really respect that about her.

Overall good standalone but I’m definitely looking forward to getting back to the series.

Phenomenal story telling.
The first chapter sets the tone that something horrible affected one of the characters. The build up, the intensity. Emily and Tamir meet in a self defense class. Yet the class is only part of the reason why they’re there. There’s an undeniable, organic connection between these 2 characters. Without knowing they know that they each hold deep dark secrets and a painful past. As their slow burn relationship develops, secrets are beginning to be revealed.
Told in dual POV, the twists and turns that happen create an exciting and thrilling ride.
This standalone is a story of bravery and survival.
4.5 stars!