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The Secrets We Hide

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Lost in a labyrinth of forgotten memories, my past was shrouded in mystery.
Apart from his hazel eyes.
I remembered those.
I was kidnapped and then emerged into a new world saved by a villain, yes, not a hero but a villain in a patch of redemption-Pietro Barone.
I know I know him, but I really can't remember from where. Pietro didn't just rescue me; he turned into my home, dropping unexpected hints about myself. But to every piece he put back together in my puzzle, he lost one in his, including the secret piece from his heart.
He is my guardian, way older than me. A future Don promised to another woman.
And also the villain who stole my heart.
I want him.
And deep down, I knew he wanted me back.
So I broke him, brought him into my freakiness.
They say our love is wrong, twisted even, but I've never felt more alive than when I was with him. They call him a villain. The bloody Don. The soulless bastard who is incapable of love.
Yet, for me, he is the one.

Please check the trigger warning before reading.

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2024

2 people are currently reading
203 people want to read

About the author

Juv Martinez

13 books52 followers
A book lover who is obsessed with broken and morally gray characters. Chaos is my go-to when writing or building characters who are completely obsessed with their significant others.

I am currently launching my first series, Evermore, which is a mix of mafia, bikers, and a touch of darkness to soothe the hearts of those drawn to the darker side of books.

Follow me on ig to stay tuned
@authorjuvmartinez

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for hafsa.
213 reviews20 followers
April 8, 2024
"Laura Murray is my sweet addiction, the secret I hide, the one who made me fucking feel. She is my everything and more."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

♡ Thoughts

The story starts with Laura, who finds herself grappling with forgotten memories and a mysterious past, with only the memory of Pietro's hazel eyes standing out. Despite being saved by Pietro, who is portrayed as a villain seeking redemption, Laura feels a deep connection with him. Despite their age gap and Pietro's existing commitments, Laura is drawn to him, and she believes he feels the same way. Despite societal judgment and labels, Laura sees Pietro as her true love, despite his reputation as a villain.

Laura is a clever and kind-hearted girl who usually prefers to stay under the radar, blending into the background of life. But when a terrible twist of fate throws her into a nightmare, everything changes. Kidnapped and thrust into a series of horrifying events, Laura emerges with her memories in tatters and her past a puzzle waiting to be solved. Despite the challenges she faces, Laura isn't someone to be underestimated. She knows what she wants and refuses to abandon her beliefs and dreams, even in the darkest of times. Even when she's in danger, her quick thinking and sharp mind become her greatest assets, proving more powerful than any weapon her captors might wield.

Pietro Barone, the guy who saved Laura from a bad situation and introduced her to a whole new life, is seen by most people as a really bad guy. the tough Don, someone who seems heartless. But when it comes to Laura, he's like a completely different person. He'll do anything to keep her safe from anyone who might try to hurt her.

Pietro and Laura have been through a lot, each feeling broken in their way until they find comfort and strength in each other's arms during yet another tough time. Their love story is intense and real, making you crave more with every chapter. It's like they tear you down and build you back up again, leaving you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside like you're with family. Their relationship, with Pietro being older and kind of like Laura's protector, adds an interesting twist. They start as friends, but it blossoms into something deeper and more special. They have this playful back-and-forth banter that's just so fun to read. In their journey together, they not only find love but also help each other heal and grow. And that's something that sticks with you long after you've finished reading their story.

In my opinion, Juv's writing showcases her talent and dedication. I always find myself eagerly waiting for her next release, and even after finishing her stories, I can't help but cherish them for a long time.
Profile Image for winnie.
376 reviews271 followers
April 5, 2024
"Laura Murray is my sweet addiction, the secret I hide, the one who made me fucking feel."

TROPES:
• slow burn
• mafia romance
• amnesia
• he hates everyone but her
• praise kink
• breeding kink
• possessive hero
• touch her and you die
• forbidden romance
• forced proximity

ARC REVIEW

After being kidnapped Laura is tortured, she's being used for her smartness to create a new drug for her father, Nico Riviera, until Pietro finds out and rescues her. Day by day, Laura starts recovering her memories, she's Pietro's responsibility now and she knows she used to have a crush on him before, a crush that only grows. With the dangers of the Italian mafia and the Cartel, and Laura's sister, now married to an Evermore biker, looking for her, Pietro has to make decisions regarding Laura's future and how to deal with their connection while being engaged to someone else.

This book surprised me (a good surprise) because I expected Laura to be a soft girl (she is), but she also served and was a badass WITH personality. Usually, writers will give us a soft girl who's sunshine and has no personality, their only job is to be kind, but Laura KNOWS how to be fierce.

Pietro is also a good character, he took his responsibilities, he fought, he loves his sister and Laura and cares a lot about them, he will be a good Don.

As for the romance, it was great and all I was expecting. I loved the domestic scenes, and how protective Pietro is of Laura, their banter is also so good, the book starts with the girl liking the boy more than he likes her but then wow Pietro truly falls for Laura.

Juv truly evolved in her writing because I despised some of the quotes and plots in the first and second books in the series. I also think this one is more interesting and has better dialogues because it's about the mafia and not the bikers (I hate the bikers except for Seth, can't wait for SethAudrey's book). The villain of this book was SO UNEXPECTED and that's so rare because I always guess who the villain is but I guess Juv was inspired for this one, it served.

Until 70% of the book it was truly great, I had no complaints, but then the sex scenes were so cringe, that I was just stalling to finish this because I got bored, so maybe Pietro and Laura could get together later and I also think the reasoning for the "third act breakup" was so weak. Despite my criticism, I still think this is the best Evermore book so far.

Thank you Juv Martinez for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for ★ luna • 🧸🖇️.
32 reviews59 followers
April 5, 2024
ARC REVIEW •
“I like having his smiles. Like a secret we hide. In a world that is just ours.”

I’m having issues putting my thoughts about this book into words but let me just start with saying that Laura and Pietro completely took over my heart. My mind has been their residence since around a month now and I gladly keep them there forever.

Since “The Love We Curse” I obsessed over the idea of this couple, and they did not disappoint at all.
As a sucker for the age gap and forbidden trope, I devoured this book all while experiencing many different emotions. I giggled, I cried, I laughed - you name it :D

What I personally appreciated a lot was the fact that this couple build up a deep rooted relationship over the time Pietro took care of Laura after she was kidnapped and was able to free herself. In many books the couples become intimate really quick and it often lacks the feeling of them actually loving each other because how can you love someone this much without some good conversations?
Important to mention is that the massive slow burn seemed necessary to me as we,as readers, had to witness Pietro actually not being attracted to Laura at first at all.
Was he protective? Sure, but he knew her before he took her in and saw his own past struggles in hers. But was he actually interested or considered her enormously attractive at first? No. And in my opinion, that’s really important (because obviously, we wouldn’t want a grown man being sexually/romantically interested in a minor).

Juv’s writing improves with every book that she creates and it shows again in “The Secrets We Hide”.
I’m a big fan of the characters inner monologues and with that our opportunity to get to know them better.

Laura was an incredibly relatable, lovely girl, but despite being “unbelievably nice and romantic”, she wasn’t weak. She knew what she wanted and was even without any memories not willing to give up on her beliefs and dreams. Even when she was kidnapped, she knew what was necessary to survive and her brain was a stronger weapon than some men’s guns.

Pietro being Guilia’s older brother and the to be new leader of the familia was trained not to have the same range of emotions as other people. The abuse of his father influenced him in ways that made him feel conflicted when it came to Laura and the emotions she introduced him to at some point and yet he just always knew how to make Laura happy. They get each other so well and Pietro taking Laura in when he was quite young himself gave them the opportunity to grow older together.

Pietro might not be the hero in the story of many people, calls himself the villain in Laura’s way to her fairy tale, but he is her own personal savior and hero which fits all to well because our sweet Laura is a reader like we are.

Both characters went through so much, felt broken only to save each other in the midst of actually another tragedy.
They have my whole heart.
🤍
Profile Image for Tinie Milley.
9 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2024
“I just want your heart, Pietro. I love you too,” she murmurs softly.
“You have my heart, Little One. Every piece that was thawed to beat just for you,” I say, and she kisses me.

Pietro and Laura was definitely my favorite Juv book! Having a few more chapters than the other releases, The secrets We Hide tells the story of Laura and Pietro who we met in the previous books, from the first moment Pietro stole my attention as did Laura due to her personality!

But nothing in the world had prepared me for how moving the story of these two would be, the way they loved each other, the way Pietro cared for his Little One, the incredible and moving scenes, and the plots that shocked me! Pietro Laura gave me a rollercoaster of emotions when I thought it was impossible to achieve something like this mountain 😭😭

PietroLaura's Love is something intense and genuine, it made me want more in each chapter, it destroyed me and rebuilt me ​​in the same way, it gave me more about the relationships with the other characters, I felt like I was at home with my family because it was so how cozy this series makes me😭 I don't think I know if I'll get over these two anytime soon! AND MY GOD THE BONUSES!!! I NEED ABBY'S STORY ASAP, JUST LIKE MY BOY SETH'S


Oh and my heart was already melting with them, but when I saw Juv's thanks and affection for me I was even more moved, thank you so for remembering me




Profile Image for My_book_obsession25.
720 reviews38 followers
March 29, 2024
ARC Review ✨️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5

𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙿𝙴𝚂:
• 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗
• 𝚖𝚊𝚏𝚒𝚊 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
• 𝚊𝚖𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚊
• 𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛
• 𝚙𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚔
•𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚘
• 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚎

Laura was kidnapped, and get trough horrible events, that left her with forgotten memories,and past full of mystery.
The only thing she was remembering was one pair of hazel eyes that was chasing her dreams.

Pietro Barone,the man who rescued her,and emerge her into a new world.
He is the epitome of villain,the bloody Don,and the cold hearted bastard who is incapable of love.
But with Laura he is completely different person, who will do anything to protect her from these, who want to harm her.


I love the guardian, ward aspect with the age gap.
It was totally consumed, how theyr relationship prosperity from friends to much more.
They banter so damn good, that I was giggling the whole time 🤣
But I can say that the whole show stole Seth!!
This man is absolutely mysterious to me and left me intrigued so much!!
Now after I finish the little glimpse of him in the end you totally left me in longing for him and his story.
I'm waiting impatiently and can't wait lol 🙈
Profile Image for ste.
9 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2024
"I remember you every time I breathe."


I have to admit that I came away from this book without direction. After I delve deeper into Pietrolaura's intense love, it's something very brutal. We had already been introduced to Laura's obsessive love in other books, where she was in love with Pietro to the point of learning Italian. Now, the intensity of Pietro? I didn't expect it to be something so crazy; the phrases said by this man left me wondering if one day I'd hear them, or if I'd just read them in a book.

The book is very slow when it comes to sex because there is this romantic tension that grows and sexual tension as well. I really liked this rhythm because it was totally different from the other couples in the other book.

The villain of this story won me over in a huge way. A good, well-written villain makes the whole story worth it; not only does the couple attract attention, but I can say that the villain totally gained my attention and surprised me. I screamed in my room. I was so surprised.

The secondary character, Juv, never disappoints in this part! I feel like her writing at this point always makes me curious and interested in it.
Profile Image for kookiesandrambles .
54 reviews8 followers
March 30, 2024
❝𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬.❞

I knew pietrolaura were gonna be my favs just from their snippets in the previous books and I was right. There's just something about a soft heroine going absolutely obsessive and slightly unhinged for her man. I'll eat that up every time. 

And Pietro. Gosh that man is the definition of possessive. I'm obsessed with how he would risk anything just to keep her safe. This is my fav dynamic. 

I loved the writing and I can't believe how much it's gotten better since the first book. The plot is crazy and chaotic and absolutely gruesome and painful. The friendships and relationships are written so well. It's my fav part of this world. And I enjoyed the crumbs of the other couples. I can't wait for sethaudrey. 

And finally I'm incredibly honoured to be acknowledged. Juv, ur the sweetest person ever and I'm looking forward to loving and supporting more of your works. Love you.

❝𝐇𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬─ 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞. 𝐌𝐲 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧.❞

(ARC REVIEW)
Profile Image for م.
74 reviews
June 17, 2025
libro migliore della serie a mani basse, da oggi in poi dm for permission to speak about laura and pietro!!
Profile Image for Sam.
423 reviews63 followers
March 30, 2024
Laura had always been the quiet genius, hiding in the shadows, never daring to stand out. 👩🏻‍🏫But when fate takes a dark turn, she finds herself thrust into a world she never imagined, facing the worst of what life has to offer.
Enter Pietro, the epitome of ruthlessness and cunning, a figure shrouded in sin and evil. Yet, in a twist of fate, he becomes the unexpected savior from a path veering into darkness.❤️‍🔥
Their dynamic as a couple is electrifying, a deep connection that transcends their individual complexities. They let each other in, putting each other first in a whirlwind of passion and intensity that leaves you breathless.😍

And let's talk about Pietro Barone – what a man! The embodiment of everything irresistible, leaving readers yearning for a partner with his magnetism and allure.🥵

But it's not just their romance that captivates; the storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat, consumed by the twists and turns that you never saw coming. And that ending – oh, it's a game-changer that leaves you hungry for more.🙌🏻

As the pages turn, excitement mounts for what lies ahead, eager to see where Laura and Pietro's journey takes them next.The way Juv has created a spellbinding narrative which grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go.📚❤️
Profile Image for Riz.
131 reviews7 followers
March 30, 2024
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗪𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗗𝗘 (𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪)

𝐻𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑙, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 —𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡, 𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑡ℎ, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒.
𝑃𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑜 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛. 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼’𝑚 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒.

—//—

“𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢.”
“𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑜𝑘𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦, 𝐼’𝑚 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒.”

—//—

“𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑂𝑛𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. 𝐼𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑒.”


Let me start this review by saying how much evermore universe is inside my DNA to the point I feel honored to be here since the beginning.

Laura is a genius girl kind girl who lived her life hiding, trying to blend in. When a twisted fate takes her from the life she once knew, she sees herself facing the worst
Pietro is ruthless and calculating; the bloody don itself is embodied in sin and evil. The villain himself saved her from a dark path.
I love their dynamic as a couple because you can see the way they share a deep connection; they let each other in. But what I love the most is how they are always putting each other first.
They are the intense I can't live without you kind of couple.
Also, let me say, Pietro Barone, what a man. I really want one of those for myself ngl.
The storyline really kept me consumed, and I did not expect that end.
I feel excited for what is to come.
And very much thankful for the mention, it made me so freaking warm.

Thank you Juv for the ARC and I can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Leta Carter.
188 reviews5 followers
April 13, 2024
Book 3 in the Evermore series.

I haven’t read the first 2 and maybe that’s my reasoning for not giving 5 stars.

The beginning of this book (part 1) was kind of confusing to me. Lots of past and present situations and I found myself having to stop and process what was happening vs flowing through the pages.

The second half kept this book alive for me. It held more angst and drama. Got to know the characters a bit more in part 2. You see the 2 MCs come more alive too, especially in their personal relationship.

I’ve added the 2 other books to my tbr and once I read them maybe it’ll all make more sense.
Profile Image for Juv Martinez.
Author 13 books52 followers
April 6, 2024
Pietro & Laura is Live

TROPES

🩷Slow burn
🤍Mafia romance
🩷Hates everyone but her
🤍Praise kink
🤍Breeding kink
🩷Possessive hero
🩷Touch her and you die
🤍Forbidden romance
🩷Forced proximity.

Buy: https://a.co/d/09Zc8US
Profile Image for book _nerd .uk.
191 reviews4 followers
April 12, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

This is my second book by Juv Martinez and I have to say, you can really see the author's growth from book to book. I enjoyed The Love We Curse, however, The Secrets We Hide was so much more.

I really enjoyed Laura and Pietro's story and how she fell first, with Pietro her protector falling hard a little later.
Pietro's care and love for Laura was beautiful from the beginning, and kept getting better the further into the story I got.
The villain in this book is very well written and was not what I was expecting.

I am looking forward to the next book in the Evermore series and seeing where it goes.
82 reviews
April 15, 2024
Arc in exchange of an honest review
Pietro laura u two will always be loved by me.
This has to be the best book in the evermore series so far , left me wanting more of them more of this world they live in. Seth and Audery i just know you will be my roman empire. I cant wait for the next book which will be abigail and kyle
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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