Member Reviews

Overall, it was a good, easy read but I thought it went on too long after the conflict was resolved. I also stopped reading when Primo's name was changed to Javi. It just made things too confusing for me.

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Impossible Odds by Jill Ramsower is the 4th book of the Five Families series, and my first book by this author. Wow, what a love story. Giada Genovese is a Italian mafia princess and Primo is second in command for the highest ranking Mexican cartel. How could this possibly work? The chemistry between Giada and Primo jumps out of the page it is so strong. If you are looking for a hot, steamy, beat the odds romance, I highly recommend this book for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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ARC received from the Next Step PR. Voluntarily reviewing and all opinions are objective and my own.

I’m positive this series just continues to get better and better! I loved the plot of this one. It felt more light-hearted than the others, with its plentiful humor, but definitely retained its seriousness of the plot. Giada and Primo meet after she steals something from him, and he tracks her down. Instantly drawn to him, these two set out together...At least that’s what it *looks* like occurs in the book. There’s a lot of background that sets these two together. Primo is creative for sure.

Giada is a bit of a different character than we’ve seen yet in this series. Sarcasm is her weapon and she doesn’t take no for an answer. Despite his actions, I found Primo to be a sweetheart and he melted my heart. Together, they really are made for one another.

Overall great read and am looking forward to Filips’ book!

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Thank you to Jill Ramsower, Victory Publishing and NetGalley for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book. If you love gorgeous men, beautiful beaches, romance and non-stop action, this book is for you.

Impossible Odds is Book Four in the Five Families Series and can be read as a standalone. The four other books revolve around the main character, Giada, sisters and cousins but you also get to know them in this book. Giada Genovese is the daughter of Mafia Don Edoardo Genovese. She is the oldest of three girls and the black sheep of the family. She seems to be wandering through life aimlessly until she meets Primo in a casino in Las Vegas. She steals his lighter and he tracks her down to a club in NYC. Primo is the head of a Mexican Cartel and very dangerous. He pulls her into a closet and "punishes" her. And so begins their "cat and mouse" relationship. He convinces her to come to Mexico with him, where she learns she has been taken hostage for negotiations between Primo's cartel and her own family.

Despite all of their odds, this is a beautiful romance with some intense parts and a happily ever after. I am giving it five stars because the writing was excellent and the action kept the reader riveted.

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Did someone say Mafia? Well sign your girl right on up. Fair warning, this story definitely touches on the darker side of topics. Being that it is a mafia romance I don’t mind.

Going in I expected the general sweet and loving heroine that gets paired up with the ruthless gangsta? Did this story deliver that? Oh no I was gifted with so much more. Instead we the mafia princess that is Giada and the delicious Mexian cartel member that is Primo. Did someone say Enemies to Lovers!

Giada is not only confident but isn’t a pushover either. When she meets Primo for the first time only to be rejected, she takes something from him to be remembered by. She is not blinded to life her father lives, but for the first time she is encountering its draw backs with her relationship with Primo.

Primo, with his broken childhood will shatter all your expectations. Not only will his broken childhood gut you, but any man willing to take the risk of falling for his rivals daughter can cement a place in my heart.

This story is action packed and thrilling. So many plot twist. Overall this was a very enjoyable read.

ARC gratefully received in exchange for an honest review.

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Impossible Odds is book 4 in The Five Families Series by Jill Ramsower and can be read a s a standalone. The book centres on the delightful Giada Genovese, a mafia princess who takes no nonsense from anyone. On a night out in Vegas she comes across a stranger who she is instantly attracted too, but the feelings aren’t reciprocated. No harm, no foul for Giada as she walks away with her confidence intact, but no before she takes something from the mystery man that he wants back.

Primo isn’t going to let Giada get away with anything, mainly due to pride but also due to the fact that he is attracted to this mysterious beauty. The only problem is that Primo is part of the Cartel and the Cartel and the Mafia don’t mix.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the background we get about both Primo and Giada. Primo has had a tragic childhood and when secrets form that come to light it really does test his loyalties. He also tried so hard not to be attracted to Giada, but she just gets under his skin. We may not like everything this brooding man puts her through, but boy does he make up for his mistakes. Giada is a wonderful character, both vulnerable and strong, she has a mind of her own and she isn’t afraid to use it. I definitely think she was overlooked in her family, but you see the strength she has because like a queen, she doesn’t take anything lying down, she also doesn’t let Primo get away with anything and helps to crack his tough exterior.

This book is full of action and obstacles. We see into the mind of what it looks like to be part of the Cartel and what that means for relationships and power. I really enjoyed the background we get from Primo and how Giada helps him to move forward, even though they both have to take major risks to their lives. A fast paced, exciting read!

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com

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It was a little difficult for me to get into this book, but man am I glad I did! I'll admit that I was a little put off by the dark subject matter (I'm more of a "misunderstood biker bad boy who's never really done anything wrong" kind of fan). To know that everyone in this book either killed people or profited from those deaths made it a little hard to find endearing, but then it hit me: this isn't a typical romance! Not only is this a family saga and romantic story, it's a mystery/crime drama to boot.

This modern-day Romeo and Juliet story follows a cartel kingpin's second-in-command when he sets out to enact a key part of a crucial plan. He didn't count on falling in love with his rival's daughter along the way. For her part, Giada knows what her dad does and where their wealth comes from, but is happy to stay out of it until her world collides with that of one of her father's latest enemies.

Once getting into the murder-for-hire/organized crime mindset, this book was a real delight. Yes, it had some smoldering romantic scenes--honestly fewer than I expected since that wasn't the only crux of the book--but also so much intrigue, backstabbing, and fierce protectiveness from both the male and female characters. No more wilting wallflowers, today's romance heroines are here to kick butt and be just as protective as their families.

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A mafia princess and a cartel hitman!

Giada is a mafia princess who has a habit of stealing things ... small things from strangers. While on a trip to Vegas with her cousin and sisters, she steals a silver lighter from a guy who rejects her. Weeks later when she's back home in New York and out again with her cousin, she spies this same man across the room and he is staring at her. Later when he pulls her into a storage closet, she realizes that she has a strong attraction to him. When he asks her to join him at his home in Mexico, she takes a chance and goes with him not knowing that even though her family is the Italian mafia, he is involved with a Mexican cartel that makes her family look tame. Primo was supposed to take Giada's cousin, but when she approached him in Vegas he couldn't think of anything else but her. He has never felt this need for a woman before and he knows that she is a distraction he should leave behind, but he just had to have her.

I loved how Primo just couldn't help himself when he was around Giada. And Giada was just fearless, not realizing or caring about the danger she was in just being around Primo. I loved the mystery, the action, the romance and the steamy scenes. Although I did think that she was crazy to go with him to Mexico when she hardly knew him. This is the first book I have read in the series and although it is a standalone, I want to go back and read the other books because I want to get Giada's cousins stories.

I received an early copy courtesy of Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

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OMG, another one in the Five Families Series! I dropped all my books and started on Impossible Odds immediately. Because it had been almost 6 months since I read about the Genovese women. (Of course, I read Where Loyalty Lies in between, but that one is about Tamir, Maria's Krav Maga instructor).
This one is about Giada, who meets a dark and brooding stranger in Las Vegas. Unable to help herself, she stole something from him, when he rejects her. And then he appears at her home, thousand miles away...
Primo was on a mission in Las Vegas, when a dark beauty nabbed a lighter from his possessions. And now, he will make her pay. Because nobody steals from Primo... ever.
But Giada is not scared easily, because she is a mafia princess... See how these two hot heated characters bud heads and have sparks flying. As usual Jill puts in a few unexpected twists and turns. Hold on to your panties and enjoy the ride! Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

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This was an exciting read! It MAY even be my favorite of the Five Families series. Giada Genovese, daughter of the Consigliere for the Lucciano Crime Family and Primo, hitman for the Sonora Cartel, are most definitely unlikely couple considering they come from opposing sides. There's absolutely no shortage of excitement in this book and lots of adventure.  There's surprises at every turn and nothing is as it seems.  Impossible Odds has been a great adventure!

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This series just keeps delivering! Now we find ourselves in Vegas, then back to NYC, then the beautiful beaches of Mexico for some serious trouble, courtesy of Giada and Primo. Giada is duped into believing she’s making moves for love, but she soon realizes just how wrong she was. And once it all hits the fan in a spectacular way, she’s rushed back to NYC with some very angry family just waiting to deal with her, shall we say spontaneous moves? And Primo finds himself in a whole new mess of trouble that he has to wade through to get back to the side of the woman he loves.

This story kept the promise of some darkness with strong women and the men who love them, so I can’t wait to see how Camilla manages to put Filip in his place, hopefully in the next book of this series!

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