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REVIEW: Deviant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
The Firm: Deviant – Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
In my defense, this is all Brad’s fault.
I had one very important job: kidnap Brad.
I’ve never kidnapped someone before but how hard could it be? Find Brad. Snatch Brad. Deliver Brad to the very scary people who hold my fate in their hands.So when a handsome, flirty stranger at the bar drops his name, I think my luck has finally turned. No chase. No fight. The man practically throws himself in my trunk, smiling like it’s a treat to be taken, like he wants me to have him.
The only problem? “Brad,” the charming and slightly unhinged man I’ve been keeping hostage for days, may be the most dangerous man of all.
Now I’m knee-deep in a life of crime I never signed up for. Tangled up with a man I never meant to take—and definitely never meant to fall for. And I’m staring down the barrel of a gun for mistakes I never should’ve made.
Because everyone knows The Firm never forgives a debt… and they always collect in blood.
Deviant is the second book in the secret society/billionaire romance series, The Firm, by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor. The billionaires are the Buckingham brothers. Trained since birth by their ruthless father, they uphold the secret family business, The Firm. Here, people make desperate requests in exchange for whatever The Firm asks of them.
Today’s Buckingham is Cade, the psychopathic brother, who was cruising a bar under the alias “Brad.” First-time kidnapper Ansel was blackmailed to abduct someone named “Brad.” And so mistaking Cade for the “Brad” he’s supposed to kidnap, he lured Cade to the woods.
Intrigued by the cute twink who was obviously the worst kidnapper Cade has met, he happily let himself be abducted, even instructing Ansel how to do it properly, and be taken to a remote cabin. Cade then proceeded to seduce his hapless abductor.
This is the most fun anyone has ever had while being kidnapped! This part was pretty humorous and bursting with delicious sexual tension. Cade, no stranger to kidnappings, whether as the one abducted or the one tying people to a chair, easily lured the anxious yet still sassy Ansel to share a bed.
The fun only ended because Cade’s brothers crashed the party a.k.a. staged an unsolicited rescue. By then, Cade is obsessed with Ansel, and Ansel couldn’t help but fall for his infuriating but lovable captive. Cade lost no time whisking Ansel away to the Buckingham mansion.
The second half still retained the irreverent humor but had significantly darker vibes when Ansel’s blackmailers became even more insidious, and the self-sacrificing Ansel took it upon himself to shoulder all the world’s burdens. It was frustrating how he didn’t communicate with Cade and even with his best friend, Neo, keeping everything bottled up.
The bad guys were threatening Cade and the rest of the Buckinghams. It was chilling that they had snipers trained on the unsuspecting brothers, whom only Ansel was aware of. Only he could see the tell-tale red dots on Cade and his brothers.
Ansel couldn’t openly talk to them, given that not only the mansion was bugged and watched, they were followed outside too. I thought he could have been cleverer about it and perhaps use a secret signal, such as drawing signs on Cade’s palm while holding his hand. I was expecting something more from Ansel instead of him pushing people away to protect them,
Secret signals aside, the authors really did a great job portraying Ansel’s dilemma. His despair and heartbreak, then later his gut-wrenching sacrifice, all these vivid emotions squeezed my heart and made the story that much more alive and poignant.
The Buckingham brothers were a riot with their ridiculous antics and silly banters. My favorite brother is still Wylder, the eldest and the most stoic. I must admit, I’m not so thrilled he’s paired with the bratty Neo because it’s not my favorite dynamic. We’ll see.
Overall, Deviant is about unlikely connections and the sacrifices made for love. It’s a compelling blend of silly and suspenseful, humor and emotional depth, found family magic, and darker, heart-wrenching moments that left me a captive audience.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Beautiful Mistake
Artist: Billy Howerdel
Album: What Normal WasP.S.
Each Buckingham book can be read as standalone but The Firm demands your attention:
Covenant is Matthias wooing his man, Wyatt, with a forced marriage and the world at his feet.
Wylder – his book is gonna be fire only because it’s him
Samson – thought he’d be paired with Neo but alas
Dalton – our klepto baby should open his eyes because Wyatt’s brother Jackson is right there
Harley – cute and pining for the Chef and I can’t wait when he’s come of age
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COVER REVEAL: Ruthless by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine
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RELEASE BLITZ: Merciless by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine
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CELEBRATION SERIES TOUR & FREE READ: The Soho Knights Series by Oliver Takely (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: Immoral by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank
Park Avenue Kings: Immoral by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank
Who are we? Nobody really knows. We’re the seven most powerful heirs to empires, ruling Manhattan from our thrones on Park Avenue. By day, we’re the elite, untouchable, and more connected than you could ever imagine. By night, we revel in the darkness of our secrets, pulling strings that make the city bow to our whims.
Ruthless.
Dangerous.
We’re the Park Avenue Kings.
In this city of power and desire, where the line between love and obsession blurs, nothing is off-limits—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
He was sent in to seduce a monster. He didn’t expect to fall for the man beneath.
Benoit Olivier has always played the part—charming, cunning, and impossible to pin down. As one of the Park Avenue Kings, he’s used to being the watcher, the flirt, the wild card. But when the Kings need eyes on a powerful new arms dealer with a dangerous reputation, Benoit steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight—as a performer in Dimitri Stavros’s exclusive world.
Dimitri is lethal, calculating, and entirely unprepared for the distraction Benoit presents. Drawn to the dancer’s allure, he offers him a place at his side, unaware that every flirtation, every glance, is a calculated move in a game Benoit was sent to win.
But the deeper Benoit is pulled into Dimitri’s world of wealth, weapons, and whispered threats, the more dangerous the assignment becomes. Because Dimitri doesn’t forgive betrayal—and if he discovers Benoit’s true purpose, it won’t just be hearts that shatter.
Now, with time running out and his feelings blurring the line between performance and reality, Benoit must make a choice: complete the mission… or protect the man he was never supposed to love.
Immoral can be read as a standalone novel in the Park Avenue Kings world, but for maximum enjoyment, read after Savage & Devilish.
Immoral is the third book of Park Avenue Kings, a fabulous, fabulous billionaire secret society series by acclaimed writer duo, Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank.
Our King, this week, is Benoit Olivier – billionaire, burlesque dancer, polyglot, diva, and spy. He’s tasked to gather information about the notorious arms dealer Dimitri Stavros. Benoit is very good at his job, and he pulled out all the stops to hook his mark. Through a burlesque dance, of course.
And what a dance it was! This part alone made the book for me.
Benoit was seduction personified with every sizzling move and smoldering eye contact. He knew he had a gorgeous body and knew how to use it to his advantage. The finale was a cheeky wink and the ultimate tease. If I were in the club, I would have been on my feet, clapping hard and clamouring for more!
So yep, Dimitri stood no chance.
Dimitri is powerful, dangerous, and broody, a weapons dealer in the body of a Greek god. Clearly enamoured by the sassy dancer, possessive and ready to spoil the diva, he was always wanting Benoit so much that his right-hand man had to keep reminding him of business at hand.
Dimitri was a swoony blend of confidence and vulnerability, a tragic prince who slayed the villain, and now the dark king of an underground kingdom. His more somber temperament is a foil to Benoit’s playful side; his burning desire for the spy is matched only by Benoit’s palpable attraction for the man. They fit so well, just watching them interact was a joy!
In the previous books, Savage and Devilish, I had wished the stories were more mission-focused. This time, the mission and romance blended so beautifully, it was pure magic!
Benoit had to endure such hardships as being whisked away to a fairytale castle in Prague, having fantastic smexy times in different rooms each night, dragging Drimtri to a picturesque Christmas market, and sneaking around a luxury train across Europe, not to mention a bout of exhibitionism at a train stop.
Benoit enjoyed himself so much, he had to remind himself he was not on vacation. His sheer delight at a job going well, with how fun it is to flirt with Dimitri, and despite himself, falling in love with his mon monstre, that sense of exhilaration jumped off the page and swept me away!
Immoral have all the perfect moves, from the delicious tease, the nuclear-hot chemistry, the enthralling romance, the riveting cat-and-mouse game, and the constant tension that kept everything tight, fast-paced, and thrilling. Overall, a captivating dance of seduction you never want to escape!
Dating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Kiss Twice, Kiss Me Deadly
Artist: Alice Nine
Album: VandalizeP.S.
Park Avenue Kings can be read as standalones, but the Kings are worth meeting.
Savage is a shadowy king and the innocent journalist in a meet-disaster turned meet-stalker
Devilish is the dom king sweeping the sweet sub off his feet with books and constellations.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Immoral. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
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COVER REVEAL: Merciless by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine
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AUDIO BLITZ: Perfect Night by Oliver Takely
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RELEASE BLITZ: Just One Look by Tig Miller
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RELEASE TOUR: Pretty Mess by Lily Morton (Excerpt)
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PROMO BLITZ: Pretty Mess by Lily Morton
