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SERIES REVIEW: The Beast Who Bought Me & The Beast Who Broke Me (Clemenza Family Books 1&2) by Leighton Greene
Clemenza Family: The Beast Who Bought Me – Leighton Greene
I used to be a mafia prince. Now I’m marked as prey.
Someone is systematically eliminating my Family bloodline, and I’m the last heir standing.
No money.
No allies.
No way out…except one.An underground auction where the wealthy and the wicked bid on desperate, untouched men like me.
I expect to be sold to a stranger. Used and discarded.
Instead, I’m bought by a man with a two-decades-long vendetta against my dead father. A beast who drops ten million dollars to own me, then drags me home to a prison he built just for me.
He wants vengeance. He wants to break me. But I’m not as easy to break as he expects.
And when danger follows me into his territory, he becomes something I never expected.A protector.
A possessor.
He keeps me safe, even while he keeps me caged.I’m starting to think the most dangerous thing isn’t being owned by him.
It’s wanting him to keep me…
The Beast Who Bought Me is book 1 of an ongoing-couple trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Expect dark dealings, obsession, possessiveness, toxic dynamics, and all the red flags. These antiheroes will earn their happily ever after, but they’ll fight hard to get there.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Unleash The Rage
Artist: Tash Sultana
Album: Return To Roots
Clemenza Family: The Beast Who Broke Me – Leighton Greene
I escaped the beast who bought me at auction. I thought I could take my throne back alone. I was wrong.
I only have one option left.
Go back to the beast.But this time, I have a muzzle for the monster.
A choke-chain to bring him to heel.
I’ll use him. Control him. Pray that he’ll keep me alive long enough to take what’s mine.But every night I’m under his roof, the line between strategy and surrender gets thinner. And every fight ends the same way: with his hand at my throat and me begging him not to stop.
He bought me.
He chained me.
He’s still the only thing standing between me and whoever wants me dead.Losing him would end me.
But letting him break me might be worse.The Beast Who Broke Me is book 2 of a dark MM romance trilogy following the same couple and ends on a cliffhanger. Expect captivity, obsession, possessiveness, toxic dynamics, and all the red flags. These antiheroes will earn their happily ever after, but they’ll have to fight hard to get there.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Unbreakable
Artist: MIYAVI
Album: WHAT’S MY NAME?
Clemenza Family by Leighton Greene is a mafia romance trilogy set in the interconnected NYC organized crime world. Born from the fallout of the Morelli Family series, where Luca Di Amato killed the Clemenza Don and rose to lead the Commission, this follows the last surviving heir, Caligula Clemenza (love the name).
The Beast Who Bought Me opens with Caligula, on the run with killers hot on his heels after the rest of his family was killed. Penniless and desperate, he offers himself up at auction for protection and to everyone’s shock, Damiano Orsino, the Giuliano enforcer outbid everyone with a staggering $10 million.
Unknown to Cal, Damiano has been bidding his time to get his hands on the son of the man who killed his father. Expecting the worst, Cal’s Clemenza pride made him defiant, determined to get the upper hand on his owner, until his one-year contract is up.
The Beast Who Broke Me picks up after Cal escaped and ran into unlikely allies and the remaining Clemenza loyalists who crown him the new Don. His relationship with Damiano grows dangerously complicated, the Giuliano is the only one who can protect him, yet the irresistable pull toward each other blurs the line between hate and desire.
I loved that we get the perspective of one of the Families affected by the upheavals in the NYC Commission. Cal, grandson of the feared Don Louis, is haunted by the spectre of the old man. He’s a 21-year old virgin born with a silver spoon whose sexuality the old don scorned. Canny and manipulative, he discovers he shares more with his infamous grandfather, wielding seduction and steel alike.
Damiano is massive, tattooed, and hella determined to exact his revenge. Like a serial killer collecting trophies, he obssessively gathered pieces of the Clemenzas, with Caligula Clemenza the piece de resistance of that collection.
He will risk everything to protect that precious piece even as the aristocratic Cal pushes all his buttons. Dami who came from humbler origins and had built himself up still felt inadequate in the face of Cal’s innate hauteur that spoke of old money and privilege even in collar and leash.
Damiano is more bark than bite. There’s the build up of omininous pronouncements, promises of unspeakable tortures, and a contract whose implications made me sick to my stomach, but when it’s time for fangs to come out, Damiano holds himself back.
Dami and Cal’s connection is built upon a twisted blend of obsession, possession and revenge. A riff on the Beauty and the Beast trope, if Beauty is a viper and the Beast is a grizzly, it is a game of who breaks who. While the hatefucks are not exactly nuclear, the lust is explosive, the feels a slow-burning simmer spreading across two installments. They’re still not officially a couple at the end of the second book but by this time, the bond is unbreakable.
Dami’s found family of Rosa, Sammy, and Vito shows a softer side to the hard man and Cal uses that to his advantage, although he is also protective of them, especially Sammy, a victim of Clemenza hate crime. The ending of Book 2 had me worried about their fates.
The plot blends mafia politics with captive romance, excelling at both. The pacing is deliberate but the prose is compelling, capturing the delicious swirl of antagonism, danger and want with twists that kept me hooked.
I did not expect the books to end in cliffhangers so best to wait for the series to be completed if cliffhangers are not your thing. I also recommend audiobooking this, Michael Ferraiuolo knocked it out of the park as usual. It’s also best to read Morelli Family first, the events there resulted in Cal’s predicament here.
Clemenza Family is the ongoing saga of the fate of the last Clemenza. Shamelessly devious, ruthlessly single-minded, overall, a captivating tale of survival and obsession.
P.S.
Clemenza Family must be read in order. Also, I recommend picking up the Morelli Family first because who doesn’t melt a little everytime Luca calls Finch baby bird. Michael Ferraiuolo is narrating this too so best consumed as audiobook.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of The Beast Who Bought Me & The Beast Who Broke Me. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
THE BEAST WHO BOUGHT ME: Amazon UK | Audiobook
THE BEAST WHO BROKE ME: Amazon UK | AudiobookIf 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: The Geek And The Ghost by Cambria Hebert
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RELEASE BLITZ: Deviate Me by Daphne Thorne
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NEW RELEASE: The Strange and Unbelievable Tall Tale of Mighty Max by Duncan Gaye (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: Vigilant by Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
The Firm: Vigilant – Cora Rose & Lark Taylor
As the eldest brother and leader of The Firm, I take my responsibilities very seriously. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep my family safe. Staying vigilant, always thinking ten steps ahead, and holding the pieces of my life together with steady hands. Control is everything, because if I loosen my grip for even a moment, the darkness I’ve buried inside will claw its way free.
Everything is stable. Predictable. Safe.
Until Neo.
He’s a distraction I can’t afford but a temptation I can’t seem to ignore. My darkness is drawn to him; it wants to be set free.
And as our enemies close in, Neo becomes the one variable I can’t control… and the one risk I find myself wanting to take. Because for the first time, surrendering to the dark doesn’t feel like weakness.It feels a lot like love.
Vigilant is the third book of the dark billionaire romance series, The Firm by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor. This is my most anticipated installment, starring my favorite Buckingham brother, Wylder.
The Buckinghams were molded into killers by their ruthless father. As the eldest, Wylder endured the worst abuses while shielding his younger brothers. Now leader of The Firm, he shoulders every responsibility, holding the family together with iron control.
He didn’t count upon a bratty, blue-haired hacker to test that control. Neo is the bestfriend of Ancel (Deviant) and they are both living in the Buckingham mansion because of the threat from Umbra.
Neo lived to annoy Wylder, pranking, pushing and sassing him just to see how far he could. Wylder’s PA was on leave and he declares Neo take the position seeing the hacker was already neck-deep in Buckingham business. Neo lost no time upping his game and this time, Wylder’s walls are starting to crack.
Wylder totally made the book for me! He’s not a grump with a soft center. He’s a grump with a monster inside, and when it’s unleashed, it’s glorious! My favorite part about Wylder is that beneath the scowl, he’s a secret do-gooder: funding scholarships, protecting his family, and quietly helping those in need without expecting recognition.
Also, the megane moe slays!!!
Neo nearly ruined the book for me. More bully than brat, he was too pushy, too desperate for attention, his pranks felt more infuriating than humorous. He harrassed and manipulated Wylder for fun, just to see him fall apart. Then he sulks whenever Wylder pushes back.
And everyone would be on Wylder’s ass because he hurt Neo’s feelings. I hated how everyone made it appear that it’s Wylder’s fault and he had to do the groveling every time when really, it was Neo who started it.
Another thing that annoyed me to no end was how Neo would be all concerned about how exhausted Wylder looks and how he had too much responsibilties. Then proceeds to disrupt his sleep every night and pull pranks that added to Wylder’s burdens. He was even glad he made Wylder lose sleep because it means he’s getting under his skin.
One time, his fucked up prank even caused Wylder to pay millions of dollars for a settlement. Neo promised to repay him in blowjobs. Meh. His sob story of being a foster kid didn’t make up for his poor behavior.
My heart went out to Wylder at that scene when everything was too much, he crawled into his secret hidey-hole closet and just be. Seriously, the man needs peace, quiet and uninterrupted sleep more than he needs a blowjob. He’s really trying, damn it, even if emotions are something he struggles to understands.
Neo became somewhat tolerable when he got what he wanted, a.k.a. Wylder’s monster a.k.a. primal play in the woods. Still, not the guy for Wylder. I’d even go for Brennan, their head of security. At least, he always got Wylder’s back.
The rest of the Umbra mission was crammed in the last parts. I missed seeing the Buckinghams in action and I wished the plot was more mission-focused.
Vigilant is a story of control versus chaos. Despite being saddled with the totally wrong guy, Wylder endeared himself and charmed me to no end. I rooted so hard for him every step. Overall, it lies somewhere between like and love but Wylder completely made it worth the ride!
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Wild Child
Artist: The Black Keys
Album: Dropout BoogieP.S.
The Firm is best read in order.
Watch a Buckingham arranged his marriage to his enemy in Covenant.
Witness a Buckingham happily guide his own kidnapper in the how-tos of abduction in Deviant.
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VIGILANT: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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REVIEW: Stolen Magic by Ava Marie Salinger
The Mage and His Brute: Stolen Magic – Ava Marie Salinger
Magic defines who they are. But what happens when that power can be stolen?
In a Victorian London where magical privilege divides society, Duke Evander Ravenwood and Viggo Stonewall have forged more than just an alliance—they’ve fallen in love. But their happiness is short-lived when a new threat emerges from the shadows of London’s magical society.
A renowned professor from the Royal Institute for the Arcane has vanished, leaving behind whispers of forbidden magic and mysterious experiments. As Evander begins to investigate, complications arise with the arrival of his enigmatic former lover from Paris. An expert called in to help, Leon Beaulieu brings old emotions and new secrets to light and soon becomes a source of jealousy for Viggo.
Meanwhile, troubling rumours reach the Nightshade network: thralls linked to noble families are disappearing across London. Determined to track down the perpetrator, Viggo and his friends are drawn into a perilous hunt for an elusive adversary working from the shadows.
Realising their cases are intertwined, Evander and Viggo join forces to unravel the mysteries behind the professor’s disappearance and the missing thralls. But their search soon plunges them into a web of conspiracies rooted in decades-old betrayals and ambition—where nothing, and no one, is quite as it seems.
As allies become adversaries and the true mastermind closes in, Evander and Viggo will need their wits—and their trust in each other—if they’re to survive the darkness gathering around them.
Stolen Magic is a spellbinding tale of magic, mystery, and romance that will captivate readers from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of historical fantasy and LGBT romance, this second instalment in The Mage and His Brute series promises an unforgettable journey through a London where love and magic intertwine in the most unexpected ways.
Stolen Magic is the second book of the historical fantasy series The Mage and His Brute by Ava Marie Salinger. It picks up where Arcane Entanglement left off, with dark mages exploiting magicless thralls for nefarious reasons.
Scotland Yard’s Special Arcane Investigator Duke Evander Ravenwood and his team are tasked with finding missing professors from the Royal Institute for the Arcane. Meanwhile, his lover Viggo Stonewall and Nightshade investigate the disappearance of thralls, only to discover the two cases are connected.
I’m glad the main case isn’t a murder mystery, which is a nice change from the usual police procedural. Viggo and Evander initially pursue separate leads until the overlap becomes clear.
Just to spice things up, Evander’s ex and fellow Special Arcane Investigator, Comte Leon Beaulieu, enters the scene to assist, as one of the missing professors was from France. This got Viggo’s hackles up.
Viggo and Evander were refreshingly drama-free despite Leon’s efforts to rekindle old flames. Amid frantic investigations, it’s super sweet how they always make time to be together at the end of their busy day. They’re total relationship goals!
The only sour note is Jasper, Evander’s manservant, who is creepily invested in his master’s sex life. His salacious comments quickly turned from gag to grating
The atrocities done to the downtrodden thralls were even more horrific in this installment. They were used as experimental human conduits to transfer magic, which led to agonizing deaths.
While the villains and twists are somewhat predictable and the fight scenes less intense than in book one, the case itself is compelling. And Evander unleashing his archmage powers to their fullest was glorious!
The unexpected teamwork between Viggo and Leon was a fun bonus. They might actually become friends if they keep this up.
Stolen Magic continues the fight for justice against overprivileged mages. Though lighter on surprises and action, overall, it still delivers heart, thrills, and magic.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Conduit
Artist: The Spill Canvas
Album: ConduitP.S.
The Mage and His Brute is best read in order.
Watch a kungfu-fighting archmage and a trainstopping brute get twisted up in each other in Arcane Entanglement
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Stolen Magic. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
STOLEN MAGIC: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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COVER REVEAL: Deviate Me by Daphne Thorne
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RELEASE BLITZ: Meetings With The Minotaur by M.A. Wardell
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RELEASE BLITZ: The Bro Arrangement by Charli Meadows
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REVIEW: Arcane Entanglement by Ava Marie Salinger
The Mage And His Brute: Arcane Entanglement – Ava Marie Salinger
He thought he had to choose between duty and desire. But what if he could have both?
In an alternate Victorian London where magic reigns supreme, Duke Evander Ravenwood hides a dangerous secret — he is an Archmage of unparalleled power. When a brutal murder throws him into the path of Viggo Stonewall, the notorious leader of the underground information guild Nightshade, Evander’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel.
Force into an unlikely alliance, Evander and Viggo find themselves drawn into a web of conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of their society. With tensions rising between the magical elite and the oppressed thralls, they must navigate a treacherous landscape of politics, prejudice, and forbidden desire to find a common enemy.
But in a world where magic divides the haves from the have-nots, their growing attraction could be their greatest weakness — or their most powerful weapon. Can Evander and Viggo’s burgeoning relationship withstand the storms to come? Or will the shadows of the past and the dangers of the present tear them apart?
Arcane Entanglement is a spellbinding tale of magic, mystery, and romance that will captivate readers from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of historical fantasy and LGBT romance, this first instalment in The Mage and His Brute series promises an unforgettable journey through a London where love and magic intertwine in the most unexpected ways.
Arcane Entanglement opens the fantastic historical fantasy series, The Mage And His Brute by Ava Marie Salinger. Blending urban fantasy, murder mystery, and slow-burn romance, this is a fast-paced, action-packed story that barely lets its characters catch their breath.
Duke Evander Ravenwood, a mage and special arcane investigator with Scotland Yard, is looking into the murder of a charm worker when he stumbles upon a dangerous magical artifact. Dark mages want it badly, and soon Evander finds himself ambushed, hunted, and fighting for his life.
His investigation brought him to Nightshade, an underground information guild led by Viggo Stonewall. The attraction was instantaneous, but with an active case and strict rules, anything beyond a friendship is forbidden. Together with their team, Viggo and Evander must catch a murderer and stop dark mages from obliterating half of London and igniting another war.
Set in an alternate Victorian era divided between magic users and non‑magic thralls, the story explores a society still scarred by a brutal past conflict of the two. Among the thralls are brutes—massive, magic‑immune warriors like Viggo, who possess superhuman strength. It is said he stopped a moving train with his bare hands. The brutes defended the thralls during the war.
I have mixed feelings about the pacing. The author loves teasing secrets, and while I appreciate not being strung along, the reveals often come too quickly to build real tension. Some twists feel predictable or anticlimactic, and major secrets are treated as earth‑shattering one moment, then casually known by everyone the next. Evander also breaks rules, including direct orders from the Queen, with surprisingly few consequences.
One major inconsistency is when a brute was magically compelled to act against his will by the dark mages. Also, Viggo and Evander’s relationship was supposedly forbidden, but then everyone they know was cheering them on. Class tensions are present but not deeply explored, although I’m guessing this will come into play in the next books.
Still, Ava Marie Salinger created a compelling historical police procedural set in an incredibly fascinating world. The writing tends to be info-dumpy, which is understandable because there are so many things that need to be established. The magic system is well-conceived, and the story might be heavy on info-dumps, but it is still easy to read.
It was thrilling to tag along with Viggo and Evander in their investigation, and it’s a delight to watch them fall for each other. It happened lightning fast, but still leaves room for yearning, pining, and delicious unresolved tension. They bring out the best in each other, and their healthy dynamic is refreshing.
My favorite part is the fight scenes. The plot leaps from one high octane fight to another, and it was SPECTACULAR! I didn’t mind Evander’s secret arch‑mage status being revealed early because the display of high‑level magic is jaw‑dropping. Viggo’s train‑stopping moment is pure MCU energy!
So despite some complaints, I was thoroughly entertained and can’t wait to start on the next installment.
Arcane Entanglement is a story of magic, secrets, and murder where the strongest mage and the strongest brute unraveled a plot to destroy the city and bind their destinies together. Overall, a twisty-turny magical extravaganza!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Tangled
Artist: Adrian Crowley
Album: Measure of Joy
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