Sempre (Forever)

by J M Darhower

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 stars

This was a surprising read for me. While the two main characters of the story are seventeen year olds, this is not a YA book. It's a dark, gritty story involving the Mafia, slavery and how a family firmly entrenched in the Mafia tries to affect change.

Carmine DeMarco and Haven Antonelli are worlds apart. He's the prince of the Chicago Mafia and she's a girl born into a life of slavery at the hands of some of the Mafia family. But Carmine's life isn't all sunshine and roses. When he meets Haven, something about her calls to him. Calms him and takes away the pain he's suffered since the death of his mother. He may scare the life out of her at times , has a terrible temper and a mouth that would make a sailor blush, but deep down Carmine is a kid who has been traumatized by the death of his mother and what he suffered at the hands of her killer. He's looking for someone to show him he's more than just an ugly reminder of what happened to rip apart his family.

Haven is a pretty special girl. She was born into a horrible situation and suffered because of it. When Dr. DeMarco (Carmine's father) "rescues" her, she not sure if she's in a better place or not (regardless of the fact that she's no longer sleeping in a stable). Dr. DeMarco is not always nice to her and she walks on eggshells most of the time making sure she doesn't set him off, but she manages to start blossoming in her new "prison". Carmine's older brother, Dominic, takes on the brotherly role with Haven, helping her come out of her shell, learning to laugh and not take everything so seriously. Things may have had a rough start with Carmine, but they form a bond that proves to be just what the two of them need. Carmine help her understand her worth as a person and show her that she isn't a slave. He encourages her to try new things or to pursue pastimes that she thought were only passing fancies. He opens up a world to Haven she didn't know existed, while trying to shield her from the horrific things of the life they are both entrenched in.

It's a hard story to read, but a wonderful display of perseverance and triumph. Things aren't always happy and we don't get a happily ever after...more a happy as it can be, but it was well worth the ride.