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BOOK TOUR: Lovesick Falls by Julia Drake
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Zeno by Gene Gant (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener
Between the Devil and the Sea – Chani Lynn Feener
What happens when a devil claims a demon?
Detective Shadow Yor hates his life.
He spends all of his time, day after day, struggling against the demons in his head that tell him he’s a worthless, unlovable person. This doesn’t change when he’s sent on a new assignment with his partner to solve a series of murders. He’s good at his job and will find whoever did it, there’s no doubt there. The only question is whether or not he’ll be able to keep himself together, or if his empathic abilities will finally be the death of him.
Apollo Orobas is bored.
He’s bored of his secret nighttime proclivities and bored of playing the part of charming neighborhood do-gooder. Apollo isn’t good, never has been, but just when he’s starting to think life holds no interest, Shadow Yor stumbles into his sights. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out the detective is also hiding his true self, and suddenly coaxing Shade’s monster out into the light is all Apollo can think of. As obsession sinks its claws in, he decides it’s time for a new game, one Shade is going to play with him. Whether he likes it or not.
Kidnapped and forced to endure whatever twisted plans Apollo has in store, Shade struggles to hold onto his idea of right and wrong, but the more he tries to resist, the more those lines start to blur. What chance does a mere demon have against an actual devil? Especially one who soothes those twisted voices in his head and makes him feel for the first time ever that maybe he isn’t as unlovable as he’s always believed.
Trigger Warning: This is a stand-alone dark romance which means there are many themes that some might find disturbing. Some of these include, but are not limited to, dub-con, violence, a seriously obsessed male lead, a male lead who deals with low self-esteem, and explicit sexual content not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to read the Author’s Note for a complete list of warnings! HEA guarantee!
Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener has a long list of trigger warnings that should be heeded. The gist is that it is pitch black with a guaranteed HEA. The book is a sci-fi serial killer romance, low on the sci-fi, high in serial killer, and a slow-burning romance.
The setting is an intergalactic world where law enforcement officers jump from planet to planet depending on where their cases take them. Most of the story takes place on a planet that is really no different from Earth. Apart from a few high-tech gadgets mentioned, the story feels very contemporary.
Detective Shadow Yor and his partner and best friend, Inspector Gael Thiago, are working on a new case that points to a serial killing. Shadow, known to most as Shade, is an empath, a rare variety whose powers can’t be turned off. Empaths are usually trained to be detectives because they can suss out lies.
He met Apollo Orobas, a well-liked art journalist currently assigned to cover their case. It turned out Apollo was an empath himself, although a low-level one. Apollo is easygoing, with a boy-next-door charm. Shadow’s fellow LEOs encourage their friendship, seeing how they hit it off quite well.
A deadly encounter with a suspect led to an abduction, and suddenly Shadow is face to face with his nightmare – or is it his deepest, darkest desires?
This is a deliciously intense, twisty turny tale, though it lost some of its bite with Shadow’s repetitive woe-is-me internal dialogue, which took up almost the entire first half of the story. Like that complaint, nobody wants to date someone who can read all their emotions. He whined about this at least three times.
While there’s a lot of self-depreciation, Shadow has a strong will, fighting spirit, and snark, so he’s not a doormat. He had a traumatic, lonely childhood and a solitary adulthood if not for Gael, who immediately took his introverted partner under his wing.
Meanwhile, Apollo wears his public face with aplomb and embraces his true self with glee. Our boy’s not sweating the small stuff and handles crisis with a deft hand. He knows when to dole out punishment and when to soothe, taking the hurt part of the story to kinky and the comfort part to hella swoony levels.
There are lots of things Shadow is afraid to admit to himself but trust the psychopath to teach Shadow how to embrace his dark side by letting Apollo be his light. Because shadows thrive best in the light.
And holy hell, did it work! Apollo took Shadow apart and put him back together the right way. It took a while for their connection to click, but when it did, the chemistry was off the charts! And I especially loved the ending because that’s where they zing!
Between the Devil and the Sea is one man’s journey to self-acceptance and finding the yin to his yang. Overall, it is a potent example of soul-deep connections that make a broken man whole, and the devil you know holds the glue.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Breathe
Artist: Christian Cohle
Album: Holy Trouble
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BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE SEA: Kindle | Audiobook
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PRE-RELEASE BLITZ: The Party Plot by Emily Spady (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: The Witch and His Crow by Ben Alderson
The Witch Trials: The Witch and His Crow – Ben Alderson
‘Rule them. Win. Become Grand High.’
My name is Hector Briar, and I live for revenge. It’s been eighteen years since Witch Hunters murdered my parents, and still the night haunts me. A part of me died that night, when six-year-old me was forced to listen to their brutal murder. Since then, I’ve gone from prey to predator. I spend my nights stalking Oxford’s streets for those who’d see me slaughtered for being what I am. A witch. And more than that, the son of the last Grand High.
I’ve spent the last years hidden in the shadows, not only from Witch Hunters but also my own kind. But one fateful night lands me directly in the hands of the people I’ve been evading my entire life-the Coven. Whereas the Witch Hunters want to destroy me, the Coven want me for a darker fate. For my blood. It’s the key to starting the Witch Trials – a contest to find the next Grand High, a contest where witches battle to the death, or madness.
Thrown into the middle of the very contest my mother died trying to prevent, I must make allies with my enemies if I wish to survive the first night. Not so bad when my ally so happens to be an attractive blue-eyed, 6ft-something, tattooed from neck to navel, bloodthirsty rival-Arwyn Morgan.
But I soon discover that not is all as it seems. There are dark forces lingering in the shadows and the truth is a hard pill to swallow. The Witch Hunters seek a Champion of their own. Enemies and allies lose all meaning when a wolf invades the flock.
Surviving the Witch Trials quickly becomes the least of my worries when ancient forces reveal their true natures. Something dark stirs within me, waiting for its inevitable freedom. I’m the key to keeping it locked away, or freeing it.
The Witch and his Crow is the first book in a MM paranormal romance new series of heart-pounding romance, witchcraft, and bloodthirsty enemies, perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night and Her Soul to Take
The Witch and His Crow is the first book of The Witch Trials, an intriguing paranormal romance by Ben Alderson. I thought it would be a pairing between the witch and a crow shifter.
The witch is Hector Briar. He was orphaned at the age of six after his parents were murdered by witch hunters. His mother, Heather, then the Grand High of witches, left him in the care of a shadowy entity that takes the form of a crow.
Hector grew up under the care of his familiar, Cayman, hunting the hunters and hiding from the coven. He’s an air witch and a telekinetic. One day, he is caught and coerced to join The Witch Trials since his Briar blood is key to a big secret.
The plot then focused on a Battle Royale/Triwizard Tournament-style contest with three trials. Ever since watching the OG Japanese movie Battle Royale, other stories with this plot tend to pale in comparison. The book didn’t offer anything new, so in this aspect, it was more or less standard fare.
The crow, Cayman, was sadly absent for most of the story. He was the most intriguing character, and I wanted more interactions with him and the other characters. I hope he reappears in future books in one form or another.
The weakest aspect for me was the main characters. Try as I could, I didn’t connect with any of them. The characterizations felt shallow, and I felt Hector. as the 1st person narrator didn’t seem to own the story. I could swap another character, perhaps Salem, the scarred witch, and it would still work.
In the opening chapter, I was genuinely impressed by Hector. He appeared formidable as the lone wolf confronting the witch hunters, with only Caymen at his side. However, during the Witch Trials, he often jumped to rash conclusions and made questionable decisions that left me wondering how he had managed to survive alone for so long.
Arwyn, the enemy-turned-lover-turned-enemy-again, wasn’t necessarily cardboard, but he was the typical tall, dark, and witchy love interest mold. Even his big reveal wasn’t that surprising. But boy, that ending sure changed my mind about it. Darkness is a good look for the hunky witch.
Romy also piqued my interest in the opening chapter. Then she turned into some kind of manic pixie dream girl, conveniently catering to whatever Hector needed. Too bad because her gift is one of the scariest and the most helpful. She’s a fire witch who can melt flesh and bone, or conversely, mend them.
The strongest aspects were the world-building and the magic system. The vibe is wonderfully gothic. Think overcast skies, ancient castles, old graveyards, and secret passageways. This is a world where old magic no longer exists, and witches have gifts, typically associated with an element. It’s immersive despite Hector as narrator and a big factor why I stuck with the book.
They worship Hecate, and as the story progresses, we learn the limitations of Hecate’s powers and that darker forces exist in the periphery, biding their time. I’m hoping the darker forces will come into play more in future books. The combination of old magic and gifts would also make the world richer and more dangerous if they continue with the trials.
Hector, Arwyn, and Romy form a tentative coven and navigate the trials while dealing with betrayals from all sides, even among themselves, and enemies coming out of the woodwork. Everything hinges on Hector’s family legacy, and when it comes down to the wire – BAM! That twist was insidious and hella creepy!
And just like that, Hector became a million times more interesting and I’m super hyped for the next book. It came at the very end but still, a complete gamechanger!
The Witch and His Crow is a mixed-bag but won me over in the end. Atmospheric, fantastically witchy, with a bombshell ending that crept up the spine.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Shadow
Artist: Amigo The Devil
Album: Born Against
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THE WITCH AND HIS CROW: Kindle | Audiobook
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SERIES REVIEW: Damned Connections Books 1 & 2: Patience & Justice by Lark Taylor
Damned Connection: Patience by Lark Taylor
I paid the ultimate price when I took the gamble to save my mate’s soul.
Ferry
Ferryman. The Grim Reaper. La Muerte. La Pelona. Shinigami. Charon.
I’ve been called many names over the millennia, all thanks to my role in Hell.
Ferrying dead souls over the river Styx.
But few know the demon behind the legend, how I came to be here, or the freedom I sacrificed to save the man I love.
Now I’m free to find him again. The problem? He doesn’t remember me.
And he’s straight.
Leo fell madly in love with me once before. Will he fall again before it’s too late?
Leo
All my life, I’ve felt like something is missing. Neither my job as a firefighter, my brother Matty, nor my ex-girlfriends have been able to fill that hole.
When a mysterious stranger approaches me in a bar, I find myself captivated.
I’ve never been attracted to men before, but I can’t seem to resist him.
Why is it that spending time with Ferry feels so…right? So familiar?
Patience is a fated-mates, second-chance PNR romance. The first in the Damned Connections series, each book will follow a different couple as they find their HEA. Although better read in order, these books can stand alone.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Infinity
Artist: Jaymes Young
Album: Feel Something
Damned Connections: Justice by Lark Taylor
Sebastian
Blood. Torture. Murder. They’ve been my only companions for centuries. I haven’t needed or wanted anything else.
Until I see Matty smile. Then something in me, something that’s been dormant for centuries, begins to reawaken.
Matty doesn’t belong in my world. He’s loving, innocent, and full of joy. The darkness of my life would corrupt him in a heartbeat, but when he’s dragged into it against his will, nothing can stop me delivering my personal brand of justice.
Matty keeps fighting for things I can’t give him, for things I’m no longer capable of. I can’t come between him and his family. I can’t give him what he needs.
But I also can’t stay away from him.
Matty
I’m surrounded by couples in love.
Once, I thought that’d be me. That I’d be swept off my feet and experience the kind of epic love you only see in movies.
Now, I know better.
A horrific night taught me to look for other things in a partner. Someone who’s predictable. Safe. Stable.
Sebastian is anything but.
Everyone tells me to stay away from him, but I don’t understand their concerns. How can he be a villain when all he’s shown me is kindness?
He makes me want things I thought I’d given up on. Things I’m too scared to admit I still want.
The trouble is, I can’t figure out what Sebastian wants. He tells me he can’t say no to me, but he won’t open up. He says to stay away from him, but he keeps coming around.
One thing is for sure, Sebastian is who I want in my future.
But how can I keep fighting for us if I’m the only one doing it?
Justice is a MM PNR romance about a grumpy vampire assassin and the sunshine human he can’t stay away from. The second in the Damned Connections series, each book will follow a different couple as they find their HEA. Although better read in order, these books can stand alone.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Sunshine
Artist: Red Clay Strays
Album: Moment of Truth
Damned Connections is part of Lark Taylor‘s universe of interconnected paranormal and contemporary series featuring supernatural creatures finding their fated mates. This is my first read from the author.
Patience grabbed my attention with its angsty premise of tragic love. Imagine an immortal—not just any ordinary immortal but Ferry, the Grim Reaper himself—doomed to spend an hour with his fated mate only to see him die.
This vicious cycle went on and on for millennia, and every time his fated mate, Leo, is reborn, he has no memory of his previous lives and his immortal lover until he dies and spends a precious hour with Ferry.
The angst and pining made my chest ache. My heart goes to Ferry who remembers everything from the beginning when he and Leo shared a home, the war with the angels, Leo’s death, and all his succeeding lives. And he was always there watching and protecting his mate. Patience is too weak a word.
While the feels were intense, the story as a whole didn’t fully capture my attention all the way through. The plot weaves together key events from the past and present in Ferry and Leo’s lives. At the same time, Leo struggles to come to terms with his supernatural connections and his fated mate. The book is written from a dual first-person point of view, and it was usually Leo’s parts that I found less engaging.
Also, there were a bunch of already established couples from the author’s other books who were friends with Ferry and Leo. It took me a while to figure out who’s who and which characters were paired together. There were a lot of appearances that sparked my interest in the other series.
Justice features Sebastian Lecler, a grumpy vampire, hacker, and feared assassin, along with Matty, Leo’s sweet, sunshine-y brother. Sebastian and Matty’s brief interaction in the final part of Book 1 made me sit up and think, ooh, there’s something there.
So I was ecstatic to learn they were paired in Book 2.
If you are like me, a sucker for a broody, morally grey anti-hero types, you’ll go gaga over Sebastian. He’s from a French aristocratic family of vampires. Sebastian was an affectionate, family-oriented man until a tragedy killed his heart, and he went to the dark side.
And so, when Sebastian latched on to Matty, stalking him, calling him “sunshine,” rescuing him from evil werewolves, buying him knitting yarn in his favorite colors, gifting him several pairs of Converse that he put trackers on to keep Matty safe, cuddling Matty when he has nightmares, and snarling at anyone showing a hint of interest at Matty, Sebastian has no feelings for his sunshine, none whatsoever.
Or so he claims…
Initially, Matty’s POV bored me, probably because he was suppressing parts of himself. I loved how his character blossomed when he went through a gamut of emotions that hit hard. The one that shattered the kokoro like an asteroid smashing into the earth was the text messages.
I will never forget Matty’s increasingly desperate text messages to Sebastian after he disappeared. The vampire thought he was unworthy and would only hurt Matty. All the messages were unanswered. That was the single, most poignant chapter of heartbreak. It completely made the book for me.
Matty deserved some hardcore groveling and major TLCs, so watch our boy Sebastian redeem himself. And answer the text messages! Serious squee moment! Just like Matty, I loved how Sebastian grew as a character.
Damned Connections is about unbreakable bonds and renewed connections. It’s a series that doesn’t pull punches on the angst, the pining, and the feels. Overall, swoony, impactful tales of fated mates and hurt-comfort goodness.
P.S.
For your sanity a.k.a. keeping up with a boatload of characters, it’s best to read Damned Connections in order, as well as Lark Taylor‘s other series.
Also, audiobook this because Will M. Watt’s Sebastian voice is the voice of your deepest darkest desire. Hearing him call Matty “sunshine” gets me everytime!
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DAMNED CONNECTIONS: Kindle | Audiobook
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REVIEW: Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
The Wildersongs Trilogy: Sorcery and Small Magics – Maiga Doocy
Desperate to undo the curse binding them to each other, an impulsive sorcerer and his curmudgeonly rival venture deep into a magical forest in search of a counterspell—only to discover that magic might not be the only thing pulling them together.
Leovander Loveage is a master of small magics.
He can summon butterflies with a song, or turn someone’s hair pink by snapping his fingers. Such minor charms don’t earn him much admiration from other sorcerers (or his father), but anything more elaborate always blows up in his face. Which is why Leo vowed years ago to never again write powerful magic.
That is, until a mix-up involving a forbidden spell binds Leo to obey the commands of his longtime nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. Grimm is Leo’s complete opposite—respected, exceptionally talented, and an absolutely insufferable curmudgeon. The only thing they agree on is that getting caught using forbidden magic would mean the end of their careers. They need a counterspell, and fast. But Grimm casts spells, he doesn’t undo them, and Leo doesn’t mess with powerful magic.
Chasing rumors of a powerful sorcerer with a knack for undoing curses, Leo and Grimm enter the Unquiet Wood, a forest infested with murderous monsters and dangerous outlaws alike. To dissolve the curse, they’ll have to uncover the true depths of Leo’s magic, set aside their long-standing rivalry, and—much to their horror—work together.
Even as an odd spark of attraction flares between them.
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy puts the charm in this charming not-yet-but-hopefully-very-soon-to-be romance between two bitter rivals brought together by a curse.
The opening drops us right in the thick of things. The new school year is just starting, and our 1st-person narrator and troublemaker extraordinaire Leovander Loveage yet again crosses paths with his nemesis, Sebastian Grimm. The two are students in the magical school The Fount.
Then, in one of their subjects, they were partnered against their will. Putting the force in their forced proximity is a curse Sebastian unknowingly cast on Leo, thinking it was just a simple spell Leo wrote for their lesson.
Leo is doomed to obey whatever command Sebastian says. It even causes Leo to be drawn to wherever Sebastian is. It got progressively worse that, in desperation, Leo and Sebastian decided to travel to the notoriously dangerous Unquiet Woods to search for the sorcerer who could undo the curse.
The world-building efficiently relays the need-to-knows as the story progresses. It’s not as deep and detailed as I would have liked, with the writing focusing more on the dynamics between Leo and Sebastian and their quest to break the curse.
Meandor is a country where people with magical abilities study at The Fount. The graduates usually go on to work for The Coterie, which is like a magical army. They render their services in many villages or patrol the border in the Unquiet Woods, home to outlaws and monsters.
Sebastian is determined to be recruited and has his life planned out with grand ambitions for a seat in their council. Leo has no concrete plans after graduation other than to live in his childhood home. And that he’s determined to be as useless and carefree as possible,
The magic system is reminiscent of Jordan Castillo Price‘s The ABCs of Spellcraft. The magic is created by two individuals. One is the scriver or writer of the spell like Leo. Just like in JCP‘s book, the wording is chosen with care. The language used is the Old Language, although the author does not give examples with Leo relaying them in English.
The other is the caster like Sebastian. Intent is key, and whenever a spell is cast the paper burns. Sebastian is popular on campus since he is an exceptionally strong caster.
Casters rely on scrivers for their spells since they cannot write their own. There are typically more casters than scrivers, and this has an impact on the story. Leo is an odd duck in that he can cast.
A key point in the book is that he doesn’t create strong spells known as Grand Magic because they have disastrous results. But he can cast spells using music, like that which turned Sebastian’s hair pink or made clothes feel warm when the weather is cold, even though he is technically a scriver. This will be significant in future books.
I find most fantasy books too slow-paced, but Leo has an engaging and humorous point of view that makes reading a joy. His thoughts are always full of mischief and, as it later turned out, full of things left unsaid and unrealized until pointed out.
And so I was swept away by his twisty-turny tale, his resourcefulness, and his ability to think on his feet. Because he is limited to small spells, our boy has no choice but to make the most of what he’s got. His ingenuity saved their asses and others a time or two. Mostly though, he’s causing trouble.
Sebastian is a tough nut to crack. He’s a man of a few words, resting bitch face and lovely grey hair. You can tell he’s a good guy by the fact that he hasn’t told Leo to jump off the cliff the whole time they were together with Leo continually pushing his buttons. Sebastian is very conscious not to abuse the power he has over his infuriating nemesis.
Maybe Leo was an oblivious dork, but there were mentions of Sebastian’s subtle expressions that generated ghosts of a squee. But we are not squeeing yet because there’s barely anything truly romantic happening, just the curse at work. In short, this is going to slow burn at a snail’s pace until the next two books.
In the meantime, let’s live for the pining and the tension because lord, those were adding years to my life!!! I love that this is a cozy fantasy, all butterflies and warm fuzzies.
From Leo and Sebastian’s antagonistic interactions in The Fount to their road trip across the wilder, more dangerous areas of Meandor, the book is a fun, immersive experience building up to one grand spellbinding scene.
The writing is easy to digest and both Leo and Sebastian were compelling in their own ways. Together, their chemistry is a tantalizing promise of an epic romance in the next books. Let’s hope it lives up to it.
Sorcery and Small Magics is a story of two rivals, one curse, and a hundred conflicting feelings. Overall, wondrous, whimsical, and a whole lotta fun!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Spells
Artist: Cannons
Album: SpellsP.S.
The book ends rather abruptly. If cliffhangers aren’t your thing, best to wait for the trilogy to complete before starting.
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SORCERY AND SMALL MAGICS: Audiobook
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BOOK TOUR: Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
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BOOK BLAST: And Hubby Makes Three: A Tragically Fabulous Love Story by Michael McHale (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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SERIES REVIEW: Extradiction & Protection (Mobsters + Billionaires Books 1 & 2) by Kelly Fox
Mobsters + Billionaires: Extradiction by Kelly Fox
Fun fact: You can take the man out of the Mafia and put him in a fancy Manhattan high-rise, but that man’s always gonna have a little bit of mobster in him. Which probably explains why I told off my arrogant billionaire CEO, Rand Wolfe, in front of the entire company.
After our little exchange goes viral, I’m left with the choice of letting my father’s men toss Wolfe’s disrespectful ass into the Hudson or helping him escape. Long story short, I’m hiding out in the billionaire’s penthouse with my father’s extradition order hanging over my head.
Only…Wolfe’s nothing like I thought he’d be. This wealthy, powerful man is actually interested in what I have to say, and his alpha-hole façade falls apart completely when we’re alone.
God, he comes alive under my hands.
With other families getting involved and my father’s threats looming in the background, am I mob enough to save the man I’m falling for?
Extradition is a Manhattan romance that features an ex-mobster with a heart of gold, a billionaire with a tiny humiliation kink, and a snarky cast of criminals, reprobates, and other corporate types.
This is the first book in the Mobsters + Billionaires series. #dangerswoon
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitSoundtrack: The Wolf
Artist: Mumford and Sons
Album: Wilder Mind
Mobsters + Billionaires: Protection – Kelly Fox
I wait for the signal at crosswalks. I pay my taxes on time. And, despite my association with a certain Mafia family, I run a clean business providing security for Manhattan’s wealthy elite.
I don’t break the law.
Dr. Madhuban Laghari—Mads—is my newest protectee and my biggest problem. He fights his security protocols at every turn and makes me question all of my carefully crafted rules. Especially the one about not falling for the world’s most adorable billionaire.
Every time we go back and forth, I fall a little harder.
More dangerous than our sexy banter is the fact that the threats against him are starting to escalate.
He doesn’t want to face the reality that he’s got a stalker tracking his every move, not to mention the Russian government trying to steal his technology. The closer we get, the more I know I’ll do anything to protect him.
If his enemies dare to put a hand on my billionaire, they’ll discover how Mafia I can get.
***
Protection is a cameo-filled, globetrotting romance that features a reluctant mobster, a billionaire with questionable taste in fashion, and a found family made entirely of morally gray do-gooders.The books in this series are stand-alones, and the HEA is always guaranteed.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitSoundtrack: Worth Fighting For
Artist: The Movement
Album: Always With Me
The combination of mobsters and billionaires had never crossed my mind, but when author Kelly Fox put them together, I realized it was an obvious and unexpectedly intriguing pairing!
Also, who doesn’t swoon for dangerous, deadly men and their ‘touch him and die’ vibe when it comes to their adored boyfriends?!
Series opener Extradiction kicked off with a mic drop walk-out scene where Joe Portelli puts the posturing billionaire Rand Wolfe in his place. I’ll keep the details to a minimum because this is one of the best parts and started a series of exciting events that led to Joe living with Rand.
Rand quickly realized Joe was an asset, and working with him would improve the company’s image and more. The two started working closely to convince Wolfe Sr and other old school board members to improve work conditions for their employees. They met a brick wall but Joe and Rand were determined to make positive changes.
Rand also realized he could let himself be vulnerable around Joe, and Joe would instinctively give Rand what he needed. They don’t have much in common, but both men have complicated relationships with their fathers, and this impacts much of the story.
While BDSM isn’t my cup of tea, and Joe’s magic dick was a bit much, the evolution of their relationship and the undeniable soul-deep connection that formed was a joy to witness! This is such a fun and delicious read, the kind I found myself so entertained that I could ignore the inconsistencies.
For example, we can totally ignore the elephant in the room, a.k.a. Joe “there’s no such thing as an ethical billionaire” Portelli is also Joe mooching off and being okay with said billionaire spoiling him with designer suits and thousand-dollar VR games.
Forced proximity did its magic, creating a spectacularly sizzling chemistry between Joe and Rand! Add to that the swoony alpha protectiveness of Joe, tapping deep into his mafia soul to save his beloved billionaire from the bad guys! Also, lots of cuddles and pasta dinners!
Coming full circle is the squee-tastic closing scene where I squee-ed so hard!!! It was the perfect happy ending for this power couple!
The series also introduces us to lots of unforgettable characters, pairings for the succeeding books, and secondary characters who made their mark. The couples from each book come together to play poker every week.
Aside from Joe, the mobsters are could-be-could-be-not-actual brothers starting with security specialist Edgerton, mob boss Luca, and unhinged psycho Hopper. The billionaire contingent and Rand’s friends are money geek Ford and tech genius Mads.
There’s also a mysterious RICO agent stalking Hopper. Adding their snark and good sense to the mix are Greyson, the butler, and Sherry, Rand’s PA.
Protection is about security specialist Anthony Edgerton assigning himself to protect tech billionaire Dr. Madhuban Leghari from a stalker. Mads is fighting hard to keep his invention away from people with malicious intent. It has gotten so bad, that there were even kidnapping attempts.
This is narrated by Declan Winters, and unfortunately, his voices for Mads and Anthony were so similar that it took me a while to realize the POV changes.
The story opens with a rather manic internal dialogue by Mads, and the rest of the chapter is chaotic because Mads’s energy is on hyperdrive. At first, he came off as a horny teenager, then just a horny adult, but he was amusing, and he was a ray of sunshine.
Mads made it well-known from the get-go he was crushing on Anthony. Tried as he might to resist, the immovable, taciturn Anthony stood no chance against the unstoppable force that is Mads.
This has the size difference and opposites attract tropes in play. Anthony is Captain America, while Mads is a scrawny 5’7, tall in Asia, chibi in the US. Anthony is also a rule-follower, a code he has because of his complicated family history. And protecting his loved ones, especially the sunshine-y Mads, is making him break his rule.
While I liked the first book more, I couldn’t help but be charmed by Mads and his loyal bodyguard, Anthony. Sure, the love declarations were cheesetastic, and there were plenty, but they were heart melting too!
The cameos certainly piqued my interest. Couples from the author’s Wrecked: Guardians series contributed their skills and crazy in the action-packed rescue scene. It was quite a treat, even though I haven’t read their series yet.
I’m also hoping the author would write a story about Olga, the spy secretly helping Mads, and Ryder, Mad’s goth tech expert. Loved how Olga kicked ass as Ukrainian spec ops while Ryder kicked ass with her keyboard.
The books are in dual first-person POVs. Expect action and some violence, plenty of humor and steam,
Extraction is narrated by Blake Lockheart who did a fabulous job! The rest of the books are narrated by Declan Winters. He’s one of my top narrators so other than the point mentioned above, his narration was very engaging.
Mobsters+Billionaires should be read in order. Ethical mobsters and billionaires might be a myth but they sure fall in love for real.
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MOBSTERS + BILLIONAIRES: Kindle | Audiobook
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