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REVIEW: Ruthless by L. Eveland
The Ferrymen: Ruthless – L. Eveland
Falling for my target was never part of the plan. Neither was killing my mentor.
LUKA
I was created to be the perfect weapon with forty-eight confirmed eliminations and counting. I’m the best in the business.But my newest target is threatening to destroy everything. Who puts a hit out on a therapist? His biggest crime is talking to his plants every morning.
Now, instead of taking the shot, I’ve broken my contract to protect him and every Ferryman in North America is out to claim the bounty on my head.
We’ve got one chance at survival, and it means facing the man who spent twenty-six years molding me into his perfect weapon. Prometheus might have named himself after a god, but I know he’s just a man. And all men can die.
VINCENT
I knew I was in trouble when he showed up on my doorstep covered in blood and demanded I come with him.Now, hiding in an underground world built for professional killers, he’s my only chance of survival.
Luka is dangerous, damaged, and devastatingly attractive. I should run. Instead, I can’t help but try to heal the man beneath the scars.
As assassins hunt us without reprieve, I’m learning just how far I’ll go to protect the broken man I never should have survived, let alone fallen for.
I believe monsters are made, not born. Maybe they can be unmade by love.
RUTHLESS is the first book in The Ferryman series, a dark MM romance series about a secret society of assassins and the men who fall for them.
Ruthless is the first book in The Ferrymen, an assassin romance series by L. Eveland. Each installment follows a different Ferryman on a mission that unexpectedly leads them to love.
Luca, tasked with killing trauma therapist Vincent, becomes increasingly fascinated instead, spending three weeks secretly observing him. When his boss Prometheus loses patience and assigns the job to someone else, Luca is forced to act. He kills the rival assassin and abducts Vincent for protection, as the hit on him is now open to all.
Vincent, stunned to discover his gorgeous new patient is a killer, is thrust into a hidden world of assassins governed by strict laws, hierarchies, and Greek‑mythology‑inspired customs. Together, he and Luca seek sanctuary at the Acropolis, neutral ground where no blood may be spilled, while unraveling why Prometheus is determined to destroy an ordinary therapist.
The chemistry between assassin and healer is explosive, but intimacy terrifies Luca, deeming himself too broken. Haunted by a twin sister he couldn’t save and years of abuse under Prometheus, he battles 26 years of conditioning. With Vincent’s unwavering care, Luca begins to reclaim his humanity, and perhaps even envision a future with the doctor.
I love the Ferrymen world! With nods to John Wick, assassins were paid in special coins, neutral zones were sacrosant, tribunals and judges deal with those who broke contracts. Prometheus, director of the North American region, is an extremely manipulative bastard whose long‑game schemes drive the conflict.
Plucked from war‑torn Serbia and groomed to obey, Luca’s fraught relationship with his mentor adds turmoil and darkness. While I expected a full circle moment for Luca, I was still shocked when Prometheus dropped his bomb.
Luca is both lethal and vulnerable, cocky enough to call himself a sex god, yet desperate for emotional validation. Right from the opening scene, his obsession with Vincent is deliciously thrilling, their dynamic a balance of power and healing.
Vincent helps connect Luca to the boy he once was. He’s a natural carer, whether it’s plants or his patients and his loyalty and devotion to Luca was a ray of sunshine in the murk. His fierce defense of the assassin in front of the tribunal and his graceful acceptance of his place in this shadowy world made me appreciate the good doc even more.
The writing tends to be repetitive, with multiple mentions of 26 years and sexual abuse, as well as memories retold several times, making the book unnecessarily long. Content warning: grooming, sexual abuse, physical abuse, PTSD, trauma, and violence.
Ruthless is a story of reclaiming humanity and forging healthy connections. Fierce, angsty and moving, overall, a testament to the power of empathy in this cutthroat world.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Kintsugi
Artist: The Bottomless
Album: Kintsugi
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RUTHLESS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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RELEASE BLITZ: The Geek and The Ghost by Cambria Hebert
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: More Anger Chronicles: Freshman Year by Jessie Preisendorfer (Excerpt)
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BLOG TOUR: Ameliorate by R. Sinclair (Excerpt)
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COVER REVEAL: Be My Ruin by Davidson King
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COVER REVEAL: The Geek And The Ghost by Cambria Hebert
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REVIEW: The Hazard and The Hitman by Cambria Hebert
The Protectors: The Hazard and The Hitman – Cambria Hebert
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and being in the hospital with stitches in my head and no way out makes me pretty desperate. So I log in to a dating app, searching for a guy willing to pretend to be my boyfriend so I can bust out of this overpriced nightmare.
But what do I get?
Accused of being a prostitute. Talk about a waste of phone minutes.
With plan A a no-go, I move on to plan B. Escape. Except, on my way to freedom, I’m nearly pummeled by a man wearing all black and with the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.
When he pretends to be my boyfriend, I’m shook. And even more shook when I discover this is the rude guy from the app.
Turns out he’s not only rude but bossy, irritable, and he keeps calling me a walking hazard. I go along with the lie anyway, thinking I can ditch him as soon as I’m free.
Except that doesn’t happen.
I end up back at his place, eating soup and trying hard not to catch feelings.
Then my apartment is broken into, and I’m running for my life, confused, injured, and with nowhere else to go. Kieran vows to keep me safe, something he seems more than capable of… Which is kinda odd for a real estate agent, right?
As the threat to my life intensifies, I start to wonder if I’ll make it to my next birthday and, more importantly, if trusting Kieran is the deadliest hazard of all.
The Hazard and The Hitman kicks off The Protectors, a hitman romance series by Cambria Hebert
The hazard, Hazier is a lonely orphan juggling four jobs. After a car accident lands him in the hospital, he can’t afford the bills and needs a companion to be discharged. Desperate, he messages a random guy on a dating app to pose as his boyfriend.
The hitman is Kieran. Intrigued by the odd request from a cute stranger, he shows up, quickly realizes Hazier is telling the truth, and steps into the role of protective boyfriend—going so far as to pay the hospital bill.
But Kieran soon discovers Hazier is a walking disaster who can’t be left alone and starts calling him Hazard. Worse, there’s a contract on Haz’s life, and Kieran himself was hired to kill him.
The premise is ridiculously cute, but Haz’s dude in distress antics wore thin. His clumsy, too-stupid-to-live moments weren’t endearing and dragged the story down. Also, Kieran and Haz suffered various injuries which seemed to magically vanish whenever sex entered the picture. At one point, Haz even had a head injury, which didn’t stop him from giving Kieran a blowjob.
Fortunately, I loved Kieran’s grumpy, over-protective brand of alphahole energy which carried the book. He fell hard and fast, ready to burn the world for his Hazard. His broody presence and swoony declarations made Haz tolerable.
Side characters Ghost, hitman and Kieran’s best friend, and Rhett, Haz’s neighbor and only friend, also added to the fun. Ghost’s quips are a humorous contrast to Kieran’s grouchiness. I’m thrilled he’s paired with the adorable Rhett.
The plot follows Kieran and Haz as they navigate romance, danger, and Haz’s numerous part-time jobs. Mafioso bad guys and irate bosses made Haz’s life more complicated while Kieran did his damnedest to keep his babydoll safe. Chaotic but entertaining, the story kept me hooked despite my frustration with Haz.
The Hazard and The Hitman is a swoony tale of protection and devotion. Overall, not realistic, but cute enough to enjoy, especially if you love a broody hitman falling hard for his disaster of a boyfriend.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Hazardous Eyes
Artist: Arca
Album: Hazardous Eyes
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THE HAZARD AND THE HITMAN: Audiobook
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RELEASE TOUR: The Lost Lovelies by Vanora Lawless (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: Green Ravens by A.E. Via
Ravens: Green Ravens – A.E. Via
They erased their memories, rewrote their names, and made them beasts. Now, the hunt for vengeance begins.
Chief Aiken Oakley and Chief Styles Sawyer—two of the US Navy’s most elite Special Warfare Combatant-craft officers—vanished after their mission was ambushed in South America and later presumed MIA.
Captured by the Raven’s organization, a covert assassin program, Oakley and Sawyer are stripped of their past, their memories, and even their names.
They are subjected to inhumane experimentation and injected with predator DNA that transform them into primal, lethal weapons… and are now known only as Valor and Zorion.After breaking free from the program’s control, Valor and Zorion train themselves to master the beasts within them—pushing their minds, bodies, and instincts to the edge.
But to take down the corrupt organization, they’ll need more than strength, fury and an appetite for revenge. They’ll have to form uneasy alliances with the two other deadly Raven units—the strategic, silent Browns, and the ruthless, unpredictable Blacks.
Together, these assassins must unite against the program that created them… and destroy it before it creates something worse.
Black, Brown, and Green Ravens… The organization turned them into weapons, and now they’ve come back for war.
Green Ravens is the second book of the spectacular sci-fi military series Ravens by A.E. Via. The Ravens are genetically enhanced super assassins created by a black ops military program.
Each team is identified by color. The first Ravens were the Blacks, Ex, and Meridian, who have gone rogue. They teamed up with the Browns, Grace, and Mirage, who also broke free as soon as they realized the program director had his own nefarious agenda.
The third team are the Greens, former Navy officers Chief Aiken Oakley and Chief Styles Sawyer. As Navy officers, they worked together on a mission that quickly went tits up, leaving the two to fend for their lives in the Amazon.
They came upon the secret Ravens encampment, and what they thought was a rescue turned out to be a genetic experiment nightmare for both. Now reborn as Valor and Zorion, they have enhanced animal abilities from the spliced DNAs of the Amazon’s apex predators. They just have to bide their time and escape from the insidious grasp of the program director who wants to turn them into mindless killing machines.
A.E. Via outdid herself with this latest installment! Fast-paced and tightly written with a masterful blend of swoon, action, and suspense, Valor and Zorion are your deadly alpha super soldiers and sweet, soulful yearning lovers.
Valor, with the DNA of the jaguar, is dominant, territorial, and protective of Zorion. Zorion has the DNA of the hawk, the natural enemy of the jaguar. Instead of clashing, the bond between the two men remained unbreakable.
Echoes of their mutual attraction in past lives resonate with the magnetic pull of the present, a connection that transcended trauma and amnesia. It’s so unspeakably romantic! And if that’s not squee-tastic enough, we have Valor and Zorion constantly cuddling for that hurt comfort magic!
We have been teased by The Order in Black and Brown, a super-secret society of righteous assassins. Here, we see more of the inner workings of The Order, helping train the Greens, taking down the bad guys, and reworking the Ravens program. The high-octane action scenes were thrilling! I’d love to see them on screen. From Shaolin martial arts to high-tech weaponry, the Greens are on top of their game!
I think the only things missing are detailed sensory descriptions of sight and smell. I wished the author leaned more towards the animal abilities and made Valor and Zorion just a little bit more feral. But giving them hawk and jaguar pets were cool.
I loved the concept of the Cherished, which is what The Order members call the other half of their souls. This is essentially what the Ravens are to each other, and I loved how the author portrayed the trust, loyalty, and love between the couples. With Valor and Zorion, there is a certain vulnerability and coziness to their dynamics, a constant warmth and refreshing lack of antagonism that made them stand out among the Ravens.
The secret society is a badass addition to the already fascinating world of the Ravens. The world-building is fantastic, providing enough details to create a complete picture without info-dumping. The appearances of the Blacks and Browns are cherries on top of an already richly concocted treat, and this series is now my top favorite from the author.
Green Ravens is a story of defiance and vengeance, of remaking and undoing. Equal parts a tender romance and a gripping sci-fi military story, this novel delivers compelling characters, high-stakes action, and heartfelt relationships. Overall, immersive, emotional, and intense as a trek through the Amazon!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Savage
Artist: Vowless
Album: SavageP.S.
Ravens is best read in order.
Ex Meridian – I’m sorry but Ex and Meridian had me gushing! Technically part of the Nothing Special series.
Black and Brown – Grace and Mirage speaking volumes in their silence gave me life!
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GREEN RAVENS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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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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