Title: Sweetest Sorrow (Forbidden Series #2)
Genre: Romance/New Adult/Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
 ***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***
 “You always question what's new. It's human nature. While everything else, you know, no matter how strange, feels normal because you're trained to see it that way. You're brainwashed.”
 Before I begin, I must say that if you haven’t read the first book, what are you waiting for??? Go read By Any Other Name before you go any further! Seriously, this is a MUST READ series. Especially if you love mafia/crime stories, romance, and forbidden love.  Seriously though, stop reading right here if you haven’t read the first book.
 Sweetest Sorrow was not what I expected when I learned there was going to be a sequel. But I knew that because it was the lovely J.M. Darhower that regardless I would not be disappointed.
 When I first read By Any Other Name, I had fallen in love with the main characters Matty Barasanti and Genevieve Galante. I loved their Romeo & Juliet type love story. I mean, two feuding Italian mob families set in NYC, what more could a girl ask for? Throw in the romance and you got yourself a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
 “The world tried to tear us apart in the worst ways, but we didn’t let it and I know I’ll never let it, because you are my world now. No matter what happens.”
 Sweetest Sorrow picks up where the first book left off. Genevieve and Matty, the star-crossed lovers, are on the run and seeking a secluded place to hide out from their vengeful families. Back in NYC, everyone believes that they are dead and a tragic casualty of a war between the Barasanti’s and Galante’s.
 Meanwhile, Dante, Genna’s brother, is laying in a hospital bed fighting for his life after being beaten to the point of near death by Roberto Barasanti and his men. When none of the medical staff wants to take care of him because of his reputation, Gabriella Russo offers to be his nurse.
 However, Dante is not only destroyed physically, but he is also emotionally destroyed by the thought that his little sister is dead. This leads to a difficult recovery for Dante. He is lost, he knows his father is the reason behind the explosion that rocked Little Italy. He begins to regret being in this life and becoming the man that he is. In search of answers, he ends up befriending Gabriella. Through this friendship, he realizes that the life of crime is as inviting as he once thought it to be.
 Primo Galante, Dante and Genna’s father, tries his hardest to draw him back in but Dante has already begun to become attached to the good that he’s witnessed in Gabriella.
 But walking away from this life is easier said than done. And while Dante and Gabriella grow closer and closer, Dante begins to learn discover the truth about that faithful night, his father, and even Gabriella.
 “Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art the fucking Pizza Rolls, Romeo?”
 The story is told in a dual point of view. Switching back and forth between the adventures of Genna and Matty and the growing romance between Dante and Gabriella. In choosing to do this, J.M. Darhower managed to keep the plot twists coming. To the point where, as the reader, you weren’t sure who was telling the truth and who knew what. It only served to keep me engrossed and wanting more.
 Once Genna learns the truth, that Dante is alive, everything begins to unravel at a fast pace and you find yourself turning the pages faster and faster just to see how everything plays out.
 In my opinion, Darhower is the queen of mafia romance. She is amazing at creating these worlds. And once you’ve read one of them you want to read all of them. As someone who has read almost all of her mafia based stories, I must state that when Corrado Moretti made an appearance, I had to put the book down and proceed to fangirl. (Another good story that EVERYONE should read by her is Sempre, trust me).
 Anyone who has read the Sempre series, will love the Easter eggs in this book. And you know that when Corrado shows up, SHIT IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN!
 Overall, this book and series is on the list of must read and must re-read. But be prepared for the book hangover. Everytime I finish reading one of her books, I have to take a few days to re-center myself because the story just stays with you.
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