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Luiz has a secret. Seven years ago he got a girl pregnant, and they had a beautiful baby girl together. But his father sent men to kill Luiz’s only tie to anything outside The Family. Too late to save his baby’s mother, Luiz got there just in time to save his daughter, Christie, and her fifteen year old aunt, Raine. Putting Raine and Christie in the protection of a guy he trusted, Luiz knew he had to keep them safe. No one else knows they exist.

Raine has put her life on hold to help protect her niece. In seven years, she hasn’t gotten close to anyone, but with Christie growing older, Raine needs more.

Luiz never expected to be jealous, but he doesn’t want Raine giving any guy the time of day. He wants her for himself, and that is the way it’s going to stay.

When his girls are attacked, Luiz knows it’s time to let his secret out. Will his friends accept his family? Luiz can’t let Raine go. He loves her. Seven years he’s been running and hiding, and the time to stop is now.

But there is still the attack on his girls to deal with, ordered by a mysterious figure from the past. Does he even have time for love? Nothing is ever simple in the mafia, or in The Family.

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2017

58 people are currently reading
265 people want to read

About the author

Sam Crescent

550 books5,499 followers
Sam Crescent is passionate about fiction. She loves a good erotic romance and so it only made sense for her to spread her wings and start writing. She began writing in 2009 and finally got that first acceptance in 2011 by Total-E-Bound.
She loved creating new characters and delving into the worlds that she creates. When she’s not panicking about a story or arguing with a character, she can be found in her kitchen creating all kinds of havoc. Like her stories the creations in the kitchen can be just as dubious but sometimes things turn out great.

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5 stars
151 (35%)
4 stars
126 (29%)
3 stars
98 (23%)
2 stars
31 (7%)
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17 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Chantal ❤️.
1,361 reviews913 followers
February 7, 2017
2 WHERE IS THE LOVE STARS

Right, so what did I learn from this book!?
Well, I learn that I can't stand the fact that the hero was in love with the heroine's death sister!
And that reading outside my comfort zone is extremely painful!
I mean, this one hurt like a bitch!


description

In hindsight, I should have stopped after he was in the shower with her and he wasn't even turned on!!!
WHAT THE F*CK!?
She is wet and naked and he just washes her!?
Where the hell is the passion, the desire!?

description

Well, it must have died with the sister! Because their relationship felt so fake and their "love" I call bullshit on!
It was complete and utter crap!
He would leave from seeing her and go and f*ck random girls at their club!?
Seriously?
All the while, the heroine stayed pure and virginal!
And when she dared to date (which she reluctantly did to please her dear friend Xander), he lost it and then he decides he need to tap that virgin before she gets a clue and has someone desent and loving to compare this "loser" of a hero to.

description

AH YEAH!
And let us not forget he has a baby and that she has been raising since she was 15.
Because what 15 year doesn't love having another person responsibility dumped on her!?
Honestly, who is writing this shizz!?
And is anyone buying it!?

description

He was a selfish cheating dick and she was a spineless fool to ever believe his "convenient" desire to forge a lasting relationship with her and his daughter was genuine.
Seriously, after 7 f*cking years!
DONE!
THIS BOOK JUST SUCKED....


description

Here is a small sample of this:
“I’ve got to head back.”(this is our loser hero)
“Of course you do.” And that didn’t hurt at all. Liar!
“I don’t want you to go on another date with Bradley.”
“I’m sure you don’t.” She didn’t know why she felt so angry, but it was so strong, and so instant. Gripping the cup tightly, she gritted her teeth, and tried to think of the good this was all doing. Christie was growing up in a semi-normal environment. Wasn’t she?
“It’s good for Christie.”
“Please, leave me alone, Luiz. Go back to your life, and we’ll be waiting here for our next lot of instructions. That’s what you do, right? Instruct, order? Stuff like that.”
“You’re pissed at me.”
“Wouldn’t you be at me?” She shook her head. “Forget it.”
"Talk to me, Raine.”
“No. I don’t want to talk to you. You’d just brush my concerns away. Go, and do whatever you need to do. Xander and I, we can fix it. Believe me.” They had been doing it for so long that it was almost second nature.
"Go!”

And he does. He goes right off to f*ck a club whore.
Ahhh don't you just feel the love here!?

description

So long story short...
Would I recommend it?
HELL NO! And I'm Never ever ever going to read this book ever again.

description

I see another refund in my future!!!

Oh forgot to give a shout out to my girl Vashti for doing this buddy read with me. Sorry it wasn't a better book but next time we go for a safe book.
Profile Image for Fre06 Begum.
1,260 reviews205 followers
Read
January 9, 2017
Finished at 50%
I though I could read this but I just couldn't get over how heroine was weak or more to the point her lusting after a guy that had been with her sister. Frankly it grossed me out and their coming together was too icky for me. I won't rate this as I couldn't finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vashti.
1,233 reviews29 followers
February 5, 2017
The title of this is very aptly named,Ashamed.The so called hero should be ashamed!The hero,no words,girl,you should have told him where to go instead of being at his sole beck and call for seven years while taking care of his kid.You deserved better than this ass.
If you like your heros to be a DICK,well,this book is for you.
If you like your heroines to have NO SPINE whatsoever ,this book has your name on it.
If the trope" dead sister who is the love of your new guy and also is his beloved baby mama",this is a jackpot winner.
If while you are both NAKED in the shower and you are"wet" and lover boy leaves you dry,well this is for you.
If you keep your beloved and your child a secret and in the care of her 15 year old sister for 7 years and the now 22 year old sister has never been on a date ,kissed a man,no social life except when practically forced,then here ya go.
If only when the "hero" sees another man take some kind of intrest ,you now see your babysitter for life might actually leave your sorry ass and think ,yeah,I go after her now,cause if she wants to tangle the sheets,I your man baby.
And lastly,you take a perfectly sweet secondary character and turn him into a murdering,vicious rapist,well why the fuck not!
This book left such a bad taste in my mouth that I literally had to make my favorite sandwich of French bead with real butter,sliced heirloom tomatoes ,and mandrage ham (French ham).
Never have I read such an utter asshole for a hero and a heroine who at the age of 15 was put in charge of the hero's baby by his dead love ,the present heroine's sister.
Hated this book! If you have ever heard of the saying I was screwed without vaseline,and not in a good way that is how I felt!I felt no connection to these characters,the sex between the two was clinical,and I just did not feel his love for the heroine.I bet if the dead sister baby mama was resurected,sister#2would have been conviently taken out by "THE FAMILY".
I am a fan of this author,and will certainly read her again as I enjoyed the first two books in this series,but it looks like the next book ,it will be a pass.
Thank you dear Chantal for this buddy read,without you,it would have been a sure dnf for moi.Hopefully,our next read will be a better one for us both.
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,304 reviews638 followers
January 9, 2017
Quick read and interesting. I didn't read the previous ones and went straight to this book.
The hero protects his daughter and sister-in-law, only survivors of the family of his girlfriend. The hero's father was a mafia boss and ordered the murder of her family. The heroine ends up caring for niece and gradually the couple begins to feel attracted to each other over the years. The danger is ever present because there's always someone interested in taking power from the hands of the hero and his friends.
I liked the story and recommend!
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,112 reviews276 followers
February 5, 2017
I went into this book thinking (for some reason that is beyond me) that the H didn't love the h's sister and that she was just a ONS that he had a bang with, but that was not the case because he did love her. That bummed me out because I was really looking forward to reading this. I did finish it though because I was very curious and it was an ok read. I don't think I would be interested in rereading.
Profile Image for *CJ*.
5,106 reviews626 followers
February 5, 2017
So this book left me confused!
Third book in the family series is Luiz's book.
Luiz got his girlfriend Lora pregnant as a teen. When his family gets her murdered, he sends her younger sister Raine and his daughter Christie into hiding. They are protected by his trusted bodyguard Xander.
Years pass and Luiz is a mostly deadbeat dad who's hidden his daughter and Raine from his 3 closest friends. When Xander and they get into danger, his secret life is exposed to his friends.
Luiz was a baffled hero. One minute he's jealous of Raine's date, next minute he just wants her without love, next moment they are sleeping and showering together without sex?!
Raine also was too forgiving and at times indecisive about her feelings. She saves herself from everything for this dbag?!
I really expected this book to be so much better.
Not safe
Half star more for the ending between Emily and Jake that got me intrigued!
2.75/5
Profile Image for Jenny.
3,160 reviews558 followers
February 7, 2017
This was a DNF for me. I only read about 50% of it! I didn't care for the plot or the characters. I think I will go back to reading Fiona Davenport.
Profile Image for Neringa Neringiukas.
1,213 reviews85 followers
January 10, 2017
Ashamed was okay read. But I didn't loved it as much as previous two books in the series. Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the guys. In previous books they come as these cunning, smart and dangerous men. I so was fascinated by each of them and theirs darker side. And here all what made them special for me were gone. They were more like a little boys, playing grown up games. That dangerous aura felt like they were trying to force it on you to believe it and be wary of them.

Raine was.... I don't know how to express, what was missing in her. Maybe that she was too, trying to portray herself as someone, who she wasn't. Strong. She more came as someone who was insecure about herself and her place not only in the Family but in the world itself.

On the lighter note, I can't wait for Jakes story. That epilogue of his was really intriguing.
Profile Image for Christie.
185 reviews
February 5, 2017
DNF.... awful - H was a jerk, h was frustrating, and the book is poorly written and edited...
Profile Image for Jena .
2,313 reviews2 followers
avoid
February 28, 2023
H is in love with her dead sister.
Avoid.
1,748 reviews34 followers
September 1, 2018
I don't get it. I read it all and I still don't get it.
Where what the heck was that? I just don't get it. He started to fall in love with her years ago. When because of him her family was murdered in front of her face basically. Because he wasn't smart enough to truly grasp his father's evil.
His father kills her sister and parents. Then he saves her and his child who is baby back at the time. And then he orders her to give up her life to "help" raise his baby. Say what? She is just a teenager. And she has to "raise" his child. First of all, the baby wouldn't have been alive if it wasn't for the girl. Why does she have to give up her life. No dating nor living because she is helping to raise your child. Why not him? He is the typical absentee daddy. He gets to live his life and date and have sex but not her. I wish that this author would make their female leads not be virgins. It's too naive and childish to think in this day in age that the girl of his dreams wait around and be pure. While he gets to live be free and enjoy his life. Enjoying all the pleasures of sex. There might be more I have to say but I have to continue my reading list.
Profile Image for Jan.
2,086 reviews13 followers
November 28, 2022
Luiz tried to save his sister Maria but is was never going to be. With her gone, he needs to make changes. But he has a secret that he has kept from his friends. Raine has been taking care of her sister’s daughter Christie for seven years. Always the protector. There is one man that she wants but doesn’t think he will ever have her, Luiz. I love that Xander was there to protect Christie and Raine. But nothing is ever easy with the Family. It took possible loss to wake Luiz up and realize that he had someone special. Of course nothing is every simple. We also have a dark secret that comes about and honestly, I can understand. If you read Tonio’s life you know forgiveness is always hard along with guilt. We also lead into the next story with Jake. Emily is as tough as all the other women in the Family. I hope that Jake learns to let go of his infatuation with Charlene. It’s time to move on.
2,425 reviews3 followers
August 18, 2017
Luiz has had a secret for seven years that he has kept from his closest friends. When circumstances makes him reveal the truth it will make him face the feelings he has been running from for years.
Raine has been taking care of her niece since her sister died. While they have been in hiding she has put her whole entire life on hold. No dating, no kissing, and she is wanting to change her relationship with Luiz.
Really enjoying this series and how each guy is finding their HEA.
Although the female characters are starting to repeat each other. Loners, no experience, being kept from any interaction with men, virgins, never been kissed, which I don't mind this in a character but in a series you do want a variety of different characters.
Profile Image for Darlene I read WAY to many books.
3,679 reviews2,432 followers
January 6, 2019
Luiz was seconds away from losing his daughter he already lost his girlfriend when his father took a hit out.. but he saved his girlfriend younger sister and daughter now he has to protect them from the family and enemies they have.. Reina has always had some type of crush on her dead sisters baby daddy.. now she's watching her niece and living a quite life.. which was sad since she didnt do nothing but school, home and take care of her niece..

But a misunderstanding happened making some bad guys attack them and the feelings between Luiz and Reina come out... can they make it work?

Low angst, no ow small small om Reina went out a couple times she didn't want to but Xander pushed her to date, drama and secondary chara.. plus some sexy scenes


Instalove/lust
Single parent
Hea
Epilogue
Profile Image for Sayletta.
470 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2019
Ibooks. I just read these books one after the other. they were so good i just couldnt put them down i mean all night exhausted at work the next day
Profile Image for **Elle**Bee**Double U**.
2,207 reviews24 followers
March 7, 2017
One thing that I really love about Sam Crescent's books, even if I don't like them, is I can ALWAYS feel the chemistry between the characters. However, with Luiz and Raine I didn't feel it.

The guys in this book, compared to the other 2, felt as if they were little boys trying to play adults. In the previous 2 books of this series, they all give off that danger aura and actually have to fight for the changes they wish to see in their lives. But in this book the consequences of their action come forward and it seems like all they can do is whine.

Rather than trust in his friends, even after taking over the family and taking out their fathers, Luiz still chose to keep his kid and Raine hidden. Even after seeing Tonio and Donnie successfully bringing in the women they love and kids into the world. I just can't understand why he chose to keep up with the double lives.

I can only hope that Jake's story will be better than this one. It will be interesting to see if the son of a soldier can officially find his place within the family.
Profile Image for Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’.
3,424 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2017
ARC received in exchange for an honest review

I love this series.
The four men who's apart of 'The Family'. And who doesn't want to turn out like their fathers, are running 'The Family' now.
But they didn't think that it would be so difficult

Luiz fell in love at 18 and was going to be a father, but his own father didn't want him to be happy, so he had his girlfriend killed and wanted to kill his daughter to. But his daughter and his girlfriend's sister escaped.
So he moved them away from the family and literally has been living a double life. Spending his time cleaning up 'The Family' and keeping his daughter and his girlfriends sister safe.

Raine has grown up now but she is not living her life. Looking after Christie and just waiting for the odd occasion when Luiz would come visit. So her protector Xander is making her date and have some fun. But Raine doesn't know if she wants to date, as she is attracted to Luiz and just cant seem to stop her feelings.
But isn't that wrong, having feelings for your dead sisters boyfriend? So to make an effort she goes out and tries to have a normal life but Luiz is not happy about this. But does he have a right to dictate how Raine lives her life and can he finally come clean with his best friends about his other life?

This was not as good as the previous ones for me, I wanted more darkness more background story and just more drama

Still enjoyed the story! And now I can't wait to read Jake and Emily's story!!! That ending was an

Profile Image for Rosy.
142 reviews3 followers
January 11, 2017
Tear Jerker

Wow this one was a tear jerker for me!!

There was so much loss but a new love was gained. I was so sad with Xander's loss but what a way to go!! I was completely surprised by that twist.

Maybe in the near future we can also get Bracken and Tulip's story!!

Luiz and Raine are amazing!! I love their story and enjoyed the small interactions with Christie!

Needed Luiz a bit more Alpha but truly enjoyed what I got... I love the strong woman we got with Raine, she can take on anything for those she loves!!

As always enjoyed another wonderful book my Sam Crescent.... Can't wait for Jake and Emily!!
Profile Image for Donna .
830 reviews4 followers
January 17, 2017
Awesome. .... geez, what dark twisted sh*t these young kids have gone through. The deep dark corruption, death, revenge, greed, and these boys are trying to change the family. If they stick together, I think they will come out together. Loved Luis and Raine story. So much death and hate, it was nice to see they have a fighting chance at real love, real life, real family. Fantastic
Profile Image for Victoria Craig.
496 reviews3 followers
January 20, 2017
A great read

Despite the deaths in this book, this was actually a beautiful story. Finally admitting you have met the love of your life and would do anything to be with them always makes for a great love story. Loving this series. Looking forward to more.
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,602 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2017
Wow!!!

What a great series!! I just absolutely loved it!! I can't wait to read what will come next!! A definite must read!! Happy Reading!!! :)
26 reviews
January 13, 2017
Kind of boring......Hope Jake's story will be better.
Profile Image for Lesley Ortiz.
19 reviews
January 15, 2017
She did it again.

Love the story line and characters in this series. I can't wait to read the next story with Jake and Emily.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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