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!

This is a Lesbian Mafia Romance. 2 crime families that are forbidden to each other. But that doesn't stop Jules and Rowen from falling in love.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book especially because I’ve never read F/F romance and mafia. As soon as I read it was gonna be like a Romeo and Juliet retelling, I was super excited and curious how it would work out. I was so disappointed that the start of the FMCs relationship happens off page. I wanted to know how it happened and I felt like it would have made their relationship feel more genuine. We get glimpses of it but not fully to where it was satisfactory to me. I was mostly entertained with this book,but even in the end I felt like I needed more especially with Jules’s mom. I don’t understand how someone who loved her husband,and wanted to be with him so bad to the point that she doesn’t speak to her parents anymore, would just move on so fast. I understand that part of it was that she was probably fed up with him being a bad guy and a certain revelation was the tipping point to betray him but it never shows what her ending would look like and her possible grieving over him.

This book had a lot of potential but sadly for me it wasn’t a hit. I still believe other people would love it so I don’t discourage anyone else from reading it.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC.

Wow. That was hot.

Loved: Kelly Burke and Stephanie Cannon as Rowan and Jules, going in blind because of the legs on the book cover, and a GUCCI tent!

Thank you Netgalley and bookouture for the free ALC. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I am obsessed with this book and gonna need moreeee in the series and the author holy holy it was hot I had to pause to get some ice to cool me down. Loved it a bit of a Juliette and Juliette story. So dang gooooood!!!

5/5☆

I love the sapphic take on a mafia romance. I loved the feel of running away from their life to get out of the mafia.
I HATE that the majority of the romance was handled off book.

This book is a fresh new take on a mafia romance with the two MC's being female. I was intrigued to read about how this would all play out but unfortunately this one was a bit of a miss for me. The book starts off with the two MC's getting together very quickly and instead of building the romance, the story takes place around them trying to stay together despite the circumstances. I feel like this left a lot of buildup and tension out of the book and therefore didn't really hold my interest and I wasn't as invested in the characters. This one ended up just being ok for me.

The audiobook narrators Kelly Burke, Stephanie Cannon did a good job and I appreciated the fact that their voices were distinct as it made it easy to discern which character they were.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG I love that there is a book like this! The feminism in this book is so high!
And a gay woman mafia book, yes indeed!

For me, personally, I like a slow burn, and this was a hot on flame! But for the love of romance-smut this was great! And who don't like a retelling of "Romeo and Juliet"

Brava! I have enjoyed all of Kristen’s books, but this one is her best so far and definitely my favorite. The story is well written in a two person perspective that flows well and is so addictive. I didn’t want to put it down. It has the elements I enjoy; sapphic characters, a great plot, intrigue, gripping, heat and spice, family dynamics, and well developed characters. All contained in a book with a sexy cover!

Rowan and Juliet (love the play on Shakespeare here) are the daughters of two rival mob bosses in Boston.Their attraction to each other is intense and their connection must be hidden. Rowan is second in command in her father organization and he has arranged for her to marry the daughter of another crime family to join their families, but she does not love her. Juliet is home on break from college, staying with her Irish father and Italian mother. Unlike Rowan, she is not part of the inner working of her father’s organization.

As their feelings for each other grow they will be tested by the rivalry of their families. As Rowan’s father targets Jules’ family their bond becomes even stronger and they are faced with the difficult decision to stand against their fathers.

This book was a great ride that left me wanting more. Rowan and Jules were both easy to like and root for. I also liked Jules mother and their relationship dynamic. I have a feeling I will read and listen again! I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

The narrators did a great job of bringing Kristen’s story to life. I loved it just as much as the ebook. It kept my interest even though I had already read the arc last month. I highly recommend listening to this yummy story to even more fully immerse yourself into the experience
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture