This audiobook caught my attention because of the cover. It just looked like it was going to be intense, and it really was. There was some spice and violence in this mafia romance between two women.

If you’re looking for spice, there wasn’t enough. If you’re just getting your feet wet with this style of fiction, then it was perfect. For me, I was looking for more of everything. Although it does share unrealistic circumstances (and that is usually what
I enjoy about mafia romance), it was missing something.

The narration was excellent. It made it that much more thrilling. I just wish there was more from the author.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for a copy of this #ARC #AudioBook to review.
#ForbiddenGirl

I love a retelling so when I saw this FF romance pop up based on Romeo and Juliet I was excited to check it out.

Kristen Zimmer doesn’t make you wait long before diving into the spice, which I appreciated. However, you do have to wait a bit for it to kick up again after that. I liked that Jules and Rowan had a strong connection from the jump but I did kind of feel like we started in the middle of the relationship between them. I would have liked a bit more backstory early on to explain how Jules and Rowan got together and to see the chemistry between them build.

Both MCs were bad@$$ characters and I liked that neither one was a shrinking violet. They were both tough ladies!
The audio is fantastic and I thought Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannon did a great job of bringing Jules and Rowan to life. Forbidden Girl is a quick listen and you could easily digest it in one sitting which makes it great for a road trip or day on the beach.

Overall, a great listen for anyone who enjoys a retelling and likes a sapphic love story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio and Kristen Zimmer for an early listening copy. These are my honest thoughts.

This modern day Romeo and Juliet but make it mafia book had me hooked from the start.

Sure this was a quick and easy (and steamy in places!) read, but the plot itself is what kept me invested.

I adored how fast paced it was, I enjoyed that both Juliet and Rowan were their own people, but were better together.

I loved their interactions a lot - their chemistry just jumped out.

Both women are the daughters of gang leaders (mob bosses?) and have fallen in love with each other - which is explosive in more ways than one, and it was just so good.

It was just what I was after.

Thank you Netgallery for the ARC audiobook.

A Sapphic Juliet and Romeo retelling - Say less!

Jules and Rowan are the daughters of the heads of opposing mob families - set in the backdrop of Boston. I loved this spicy forbidden mafia story.

Jules and Rowan were such strong FMC's in their own ways and you truly felt their connection.

A great story and highly recommend it. The narrator was brilliant.

'These violent delights have violent ends'

Content warnings: guns, gun violence, blood, death, murder, references to past parental death, references to drug use, alcohol consumption, sexism.

This was a fast paced, modern day FF Romeo and Juliet meets mafia book. I was hooked from the start. Rowan and Juliet have an undeniable connection. Their chemistry is something everyone wishes they had. They would do absolutely anything for each other, without a doubt. The only thing in their way is their rival mafia families..

The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me is due to the amount of spice. I was really hoping for more.

The narrators Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannon were new to me. They were absolutely amazing. Their voices matched the characters perfectly.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this copy!

Forbidden Girl by Kristen Zimmer is an electrifying sapphic retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but with a twist. From the moment I started listening, I was hooked by the intense chemistry between Jules and Rowan. This isn’t your typical will-they/won’t-they story—these two are drawn to each other from the start, and I adored watching their bond grow and deepen.

Jules, the daughter of Boston's biggest crime family, vows to stay away from her father's business until she meets Rowan. Rowan, the second-in-command to her own father, Jules's father's deadly rival, initially wants to tempt Jules, but she soon finds herself falling deeply in love. Their love story is filled with spice, passion, and a perfect blend of hardness and softness, violence and tenderness.

Kristen Zimmer did an amazing job illustrating the many facets of these women. Both are fiercely protective of their loved ones and their relationship, showcasing a depth and capacity to love that is truly captivating. The layers to Jules and Rowan’s characters, along with their unwavering commitment to each other, made this a page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The audiobook, narrated by Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannon, was a fantastic way to experience Jules and Rowan. Their performances brought the characters to life, adding an extra layer of complexity and emotion to the story.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a steamy, heartfelt romance with strong, multifaceted characters. This thrilling tale of forbidden love and fierce loyalty is one you won’t want to miss.

I really enjoyed this! The only negative was I actually thought it would be MORE spicy due to the title and cover. I enjoyed the relationship between our two fmcs. I loved that this was a spicy sapphic romance, with a side of angst and thrills. The narration was fantastic! I would definitely read more if this was turned into a series. I sincerely appreciate the ALC!

I’ve never read a mafia romance, but this sapphic romance was the perfect addition to my Pride Month reads.
1. I’m not sure how all mafia romances are but I feel like there were some levels of unrealistic events. I enjoyed them but I’m not sure how believable they were
2. I loved that this book was sweet and romantic. There were high stakes but everything felt like it was going to be ok. Sorta cozy in that aspect.
3. There wasn’t an insane amount of action and it was enough to keep the story going.
4. This book is absolutely a Girl Power novel. The legit power women have in a world run by men. I loved it.

This was a fun audiobook to listen to but it was kind of predictable I guessed every big twist .. I do love Rowan and jules together though, it just about melted my heart what they would do to be with each other

Forbidden Girl follows Jules and Rowan, two twenty somethings who are daughters of infamous mob bosses. We follow their forbidden romance as it develops from a chance meeting to a whirlwind romance… But will they be able to forge a path for their love?
Let me say, I loved the premise of this book. A Romeo and Juliet adjacent premise with intrigue and romance. Jules and Rowan fit so well together and I adored hearing them problem solve between the two of each other. Their love felt real and deep. Every plot point that happened felt like it made sense and I was able to follow from one issue to the next, and felt like it wrapped up nicely.
That being said, I wanted more. I felt like because this story was well thought out we could have easily had more. I think this book would have been perfect if it was a duology. If the author had added a few more plot points, a little more struggle and romance it very easily could have been two books. I think that it being a duology would have given Jules and Rowan more time to fall in love, and more scenes for us to understand how and why they fell in love. There was also quite a few plot points of tension that could have been expanded upon, as well as the main conflict of the story. It’s not very often that I advocate a book be longer, but I know this book had so much more it could have given!
***Thanks to Bookoture through NetGalley for providing me an ARC for my honest review!***

Thankyou Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for this ARC.

3 ⭐
2🌶

This was my first FF book and now I'm questioning my sexuality 😂.

This was no slow burn book, there was no lead up to the "I love yous"
It all happened a bit too fast for my liking. I would have given an extra star if there was a bit more of a relationship build up and more spice!

Overall, this book was ok.

I DNF'ed this book. I can't quite put my finger on what the issue is, but I even cranked up the speed and I'm basically falling asleep while listening to it. I just cannot connect to the characters at all.

FF
Romeo/Juliet retelling
Mafia
Forbidden romance

Rating: 3/5 - I enjoyed the story but it isn't one I will reread
🌶️: 2/5 - there were a few explicit intimate scenes and they were steamy

TLDR: Not the Mafia story you're expecting

Knowing that this was a Mafia story, I had expected a bit of a dark romance with morally gray characters. That is not the case. I would not describe this book as dark and our heroins have surprisingly straightforward moral compasses and consciences. There is a prologue that gives us a meet cute but other than that we join the relationship already in progress. I personally preferred this or the relationship would have felt too fast and been in insta-love territory which I do not care for. I choose to ignore the part of the book that said they'd been "together" for only 4 months. This book didn't hit me too hard in the feels though I think it was meant to. I did laugh a few times and the storyline was interesting. I enjoyed the spice level. Ultimately, this was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a Mafia setting and is looking to add more sapphic romance to their library.

The audiobook was dual narration. Both performances were good. I was never pulled out of the story by a bad accent, goofy man voice, or unfortunate sound effect.

I received an audiobook copy of this for my honest review

I really enjoyed the narration on this Dual POV audiobook!

This is a modern day Romeo & Juliet retelling, set in the world of the Boston Mafia - and with our two female main characters. Jules and Rowan are the daughters of two feuding families in Boston, but there is an instant chemistry. They start with just sneaking around, knowing both of their fathers would forbid them together, but are willing to take the risk. But will their love be enough to work through the violence and crime of their families? Will they survive the fallout if they try to be together?

I absolutely love the concept of the book. A forbidden love between two rival mafia bosses' daughters, with Romeo and Juliet vibes and some seriously delicious spice. The book is filled with desire, stolen moments, love, organized crime, loss, and betrayal. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannon, they did a phenomenal job telling Jules and Rowan's story. As a lover of mafia romances, I was a little disappointed with this story. Unfortunately, where the book fell short for me was the character relationship between Jules and Rowan that was formed off page. I never ended up connecting or falling in love with the characters' relationship. I would have loved to see how their relationship started and developed.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐝𝐨.

This review is for the audio version of this book as well as the e-book as I read them both in tandem.

The narrators Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannon were new to me but OMG so good. There voices matched these characters perfectly!

This is a dark, sapphic, Romeo and Juliet retelling with a HEA and I enjoyed it so very much! I was a little concerned going into a retelling of this nature that I wouldn't get a HEA but have no fear, it does!

This book wont be for some people because it is arranged a little differently. We meet the characters when they first meet in person, and then bam, it's some time later and they are already together. I didn't mind because the meat of the story is about Rowan and Jules trying to be together despite their families being mortal enemies.

The dad's in the story are Irish mobsters, hell bent on defeating each other and it will be their downfall in the end.

Rowan and Jules were such perfect compliments to each other. It's spicy and intriguing and if you are looking for more dark sapphic books like I was, I think this will fit the bill!

I enjoyed the narration SO much, and the story is engaging and dark and romantic. I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC and the E-ARC in exchange for this review.

Here's the biggest problem I had with this book: Literally all of the romance and falling in love stuff that literally makes a romance novel happened before the book even started. There was no emotional attachments to these characters because the things that a reader cares about happened off page. They traded "I love you"s 15% into the book :/

Also, I don't think you can sell something as a mafia romance when the MCs attest the mafia and just want it destroyed. Like, I get it, they are bad, but isn't the point of a mafia romance that intrigue?

I was so excited for this one, but was pretty bummed.

This book was incredible, reminiscent of the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet, but with a modern twist involving gangsters and sapphic element. It is a steamy and action-packed read that keeps the reader captivated throughout.

The connection between Rowan and Jules is undeniable, and their journey together is filled with intense ups and downs. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and found it to be well-crafted and engaging.

I thoroughly enjoyed the rivalry between the two families, Monaghan and Calloway. The mobster feud has a long history, it appears to be unavoidable that one or both or neither of the families will ultimately emerge victorious. To discover the outcome, you will need to download this remarkable book.

The book is a captivating read that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend it.

Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Delicious and riveting. With a nod to The Bard, the star crossed lovers are Rowan and Juliet. They are the only children of rival Boston crime families. Juliet is a mafia princess, raised with wealth, but allowed the freedom to attend college. Rowan is an active member of her father’s operations, although she has yet to take a life.

There is action and violence but there are quiet moments and even a balcony scene. If the pair survive their father’s they may get a lifetime of love. The only disappointment for me is that the story goes from first meeting, then jumps to when they are already involved, skipping the beginnings of their romance. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed both narrators. It is easy to identify which character is speaking.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Forbidden Girl by Kristen Zimmer, an audiobook narrated by Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannonis is an addictive and gripping mafia thriller-romance.
I loved the storyline, I loved the setting but something was missing. It was like eating a delicious meal and all you need is a pinch of salt to make it perfect.

I feel that the narrators were chosen so perfectly. The voices went so much together with the characters! Especially Jules!

This is a modern version of Romeo and Juliet!

Jules and Rowan come from families that hate each other. Jules and Rowan love each other. Jules and Rowan can't have happily ever after because there is no chance that their fathers will accept it.
What measures they will take to break the hate and have a happy ever after?

It's a spicy romance with a crazy amount of suspense and madness!

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this copy!