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SERIES REVIEW: Demon Bound by Grae Bryan
Demon Bound: Wreaking Havoc – Grae Bryan
Sascha has always felt powerless, the weak baby of a cruel family. But that’s fine. He has his looks, his ample allowance, and a smattering of one-night stands to keep him busy. But when Sascha’s oldest brother offends the wrong people, Sascha finds himself in hiding with a target on his back. And when poking around in his temporary home leads to accidentally summoning the hottest demon Sascha could ever imagine, he has to ask does he want to feel powerless anymore?
Kai has been waiting centuries for a summons. When he’s at long last brought to the human realm for his final contract, he expects to find another warrior hungry for battle and bloodshed. Instead, he finds himself bound to a saucy, scared mobster princeling who can’t stop looking at Kai like he’s dinner. It isn’t long before Kai decides that—for once—he wouldn’t mind staying exactly where he is, with a certain human for his mate.
But Sascha isn’t used to anyone sticking around, let alone caring for him in any real way. It’s up to Kai to convince Sascha he can give him so much more than protection. He just has to deal with those pesky enemies—and Sascha’s own meddling family—first.
Wreaking Havoc is a heated MM paranormal romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains a spoiled (or is it traumatized?) mafia prince with trust issues, the cocky warrior demon who wants nothing more than to pamper him for eternity, a stifling family, elusive enemies, and the frustration of never getting to finish a manicure.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Bakemono
Artist: Yoasobi
Album: Bakemono
Demon Bound: Inviting Bedlam – Grae Bryan
Ivan Kozlov doesn’t make mistakes, no matter what his brothers might say. Mistakes in his world mean death. So while he may have summoned the wrong sort of demon to aid him in cementing his empire, binding himself to the creature with an irreversible contract, that doesn’t mean he can’t make use of him. Except the seductive incubus he’s summoned seems to want more from Ivan than just a piece of his soul. Nix wants Ivan’s body, his desire, his faults and his regrets. But giving those things to him would be a mistake. And one Ivan might never recover from.
Nix has been waiting to be summoned again for ages. And while he might have had to trick his handsome mob boss to make it happen, he’s not going to waste the opportunity while he has it. Only now that he’s here, he doesn’t just want to stay in the human realm. He wants Ivan—his greed and his rage and his lust. And if Nix has to fix Ivan’s life to make that happen—if he needs to handle the dangers in his business, mend the broken bits left by Ivan’s father—then that’s what he’ll do. Even an incubus can be useful to a mobster, if given the right incentive.
Inviting Bedlam is a heated, MM paranormal romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains a repressed, controlling mob boss and the naughty incubus determined to make him crack, brothers who won’t communicate, more demons than Ivan asked for, and a pair of panties Ivan would like to set on fire. While each book focuses on a different couple, the series is best enjoyed in order.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Vanilla
Artist: Gackt
Album: Mars
Demon Bound: Calling Chaos – Grae Bryan
Cooper didn’t mean to summon a demon. He may be a hacker for the Mafia, but he’s not exactly brave or adventurous by nature. He was only trying to do a small, easy job for his terrifying boss and then get back to not leaving the house for days on end. Only now that the demon’s here, promising to be Cooper’s friend for as long as he needs one, Cooper might just be lonely enough to let him.
Chaos knew it was finally his time to get summoned. No more being stuck in the boring Void, no more hanging out with the same three dull demons. It’s time for madness and mayhem and answering to no one but himself. Except Chaos didn’t expect his newest summoner to be quite so…timid. And sweet. And willing to cater to every single one of Chaos’s many wants and whims. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to stick around for an eternity or two.
Now Chaos just needs to convince his new friend that it really isn’t all that scary to be mated to a demon, even one who loves to play with fire.
Calling Chaos is a heated MM paranormal romance. It feature a lonely, socially anxious hacker and the wily, wicked, and slightly feral demon who wants to play with him forever. It also contains “it’s just practice” bedroom lessons, Mafia meetings gone awry, and the joys of stealing your not-boyfriend’s hoodies.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Inhuman Empathy
Artist: Amazarashi
Album: Eien Shi
Demon Bound: Unleashing Mayhem – Grae Bryan
Matteo’s been running scared for so long he’s forgotten what it’s like to feel safe. Or maybe he never knew in the first place. Raised by a cruel man, tormented by an even crueler one, and recently rescued by a demon, Matty’s still jumping at shadows around every corner. When he sees a familiar face from the past and realizes his ghosts really have come back to haunt him, Matty does the only reasonable thing he can think of.
He summons someone even worse.
Nightmare is a solitary demon by nature. He’s never needed a companion or a lover or a friend, and he’s never minded being feared by others of his kind. But one taste of Matteo’s sweet, terrified soul and Nightmare needs more. When he’s finally summoned to Matteo’s side, Nightmare finds himself exactly where he wants to be. Now it’s only a matter of patience, seduction, and convincing his little human that one contract isn’t enough.
What they really need is an eternity.
Unleashing Mayhem is a heated MM paranormal romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains a sweet human afraid of everyone but the monster at his side, a demon so possessive even other demons run scared, a found family made of mobsters and monsters, and a summoning gone right (for once). While each book focuses on a different couple, the series is best enjoyed in order.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsArtist: Beautiful Monster
Artist: Art School
Album: Flora
Demon Bound is a paranormal fated mates series by Grae Bryan that I picked up because I enjoyed her Vampire’s Mate series, which is set in the same world. Also, both series were narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo and that’s always a bonus. His comedic timing is spot on!
The series opener, Wreaking Havoc, didn’t completely blow me away but I was entertained enough to proceed to the next. The story is a beauty and the brute romance between the youngest son of a Russian mob boss, Sascha, who’s trying to stay on the straight and narrow and far, far away from his dysfunctional family. However, someone is trying to kill him.
Through some creative nail art, Sascha inadvertently summoned the warrior demon, Kai, who became his protector from the very elusive killers out to get Sascha. The plot, as with the rest of the series, focuses on the development of the romance and the bond.
We met Sascha’s middle brother, Alexei, in Vampire’s Mate when he was mated to the cute vampire Jay. Here, Sascha’s notoriously scary older brother and now head of the family, Ivan, makes his appearance.
Kai is essentially a grumpy 7-foot musclehead, though a very protective one who treats Sascha like the treasure he is. Sascha is a petite diva and a shopaholic forced to stay in small town Maine for his safety and try to build a crime-free life. I loved his colorful approach to fashion.
My favorite part was during the villain comeuppance scene when Sacha fainted at the sight of blood and Kai held him till he came to. Their dynamic is something I’ve seen before but the plot left intruiging open threads and teasers that I immediately grabbed the next book.
Inviting Bedlam is Ivan’s book and I was happily surprised to see him paired with an incubus. Ivan is estranged from his brothers having been groom by their abusive father in crime and toxic massculinity.
Ivan is beset by enemies left and right and thinking to summon a fearsome demon like Kai to fight in his corner, he got Nix instead. What use is an incubus in a fight thought Ivan, but Nix surprised him at every turn, even during the big villain showdown.
Their dynamic is a delicious play of the fire and ice. Vanya, as Nix loved to call him, is repressed due to his tough mobster upbringing and Nix just couldn’t resist pushing his buttons every chance he gets.
Vanya is taking steps to improve his organization, his life and his relationship with his family. I loved his redemption story and how Nix helped him even if Vanya was being a cold bastard at first. The way the ice melts was wonderful to witness.
Nix adores everything about his Vanya, even him being “a little bit worn around the edges” at almost 40 years old. Ivan slowly but surely found the incubus inextricately weaving himself in his life and realized he loved having Nix there.
My favorite part was after the big villain showdown when the contract was fulfilled. I could practically feel the world stop for Ivan and it was the coldest this intimidating man has ever been. What came after was pure joy!
Calling Chaos is Cooper’s book. He’s the hacker the family hired and also a cousin. He accidentally summoned the chaos demon Ruckus. Their dynamic is a delightful push/pull of the shy and the feral.
Ruckus is a riot. This gremlin has a childlike propensity for causing trouble wherever he went just for his own amusement. He immediatly latched on to Cooper, drawn to the young man’s shy and sweet disposition, and accepting nature towards his antics. He’s protective and doting of Coop and likes to call him puppy.
Coop is firmly tucked away in his shell, his social anxiety usually getting the better of him. It took a while for him to venture a toe out of it but Coop is nothing if not resilient, skilled, and brave where it counts. I loved how he lets Ruckus be himself just like Ruckus helped him step out of his comfort zone.
Their story is a fantastic reflection of their dynamics, fluffy and cozy and also wild and free. My favorite scene was during the villain takedown when Ruckus was furious that Coop was harmed.
The author perfectly captured the raging emotions in the way Ruckus unleashed his flames and putting them out in a blink of an eye because of all the FEELS he’s feeling for his beloved mate. It was one of my favorite declaration scenes.
Unleashing Mayhem is Matty’s book. Matty is the stray Sascha and Kai rescued in the first book and taken under their wing. He’s very timid and scared of everything. He frequently suffers nightmares and so avoids sleep as much as possible.
Matty is scared that an evil man from his past might come for him eventually. One day, tired of being scared, he decided to summon a demon to protect him, just like his friends and their mates.
Sarcaren is a nightmare demon who frequently visits Matty’s dreams so Matty immediately found comfort in his new demon. Nightmare promised to exact revenge for everything the evil man did to Matty.
Another fantastic dynamics of the sweet and the scary which is what Nightmare and Matty call each other. Adorbs! It’s a bit similar to Coop and Ruckus but Nightmare is more sinister and shadows. He saw Matty as pure, sweet, and endearingly brave even at his most scared.
Matty is smittened with his demon from the get go and eagerly wanted to become his mate so the mating ritual wasn’t the main focus. Matty’s past is the darkest in the series and the villain was one I wanted the most to suffer after what he did to Matty since he was a young boy.
The revenge part was mostly rushed and partly told rather than seen. The story as a whole was fast paced and enjoyable but not as gripping as the middle books.
My favorite part was how everyone banded together to help Matty. I was super amused at everyone horrified at the fearsome Nightmare taking a mate and it’s little Matty.
LOLed at Ivan being wistful and wishing he summoned the scary nightmare demon. Even tried to recruit him but Nightmare has no plans working for anyone other than his mate. Nix was having none of it.
Demon Bound explores the fated mates trope through different flavors of human-demon connections. The series is a blend of fluffy, humor, steam, and violence, featuring the Kozlov family and their friends. The book are best read in order, with interlapping events and cameos from the author’s other series.
Overall, lovable humans to root for, gorgeous demons to drool over, and all that squee-tastic fated mates magic to swoon over!
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DEMON BOUND: Kindle
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REVIEW: His Reluctant Savior by Courtney W. Dixon
The District: His Reluctant Savior – Courtney W. Dixon
PLEASE READ THE BLURB AND WARNINGS IF YOU’RE SENSITIVE TO TRIGGERS! And please, please be careful of spoilers and giving away endings of books. Use spoiler tags.
I have a second chance to right wrongs, even if it means I’ll lose my family and life.
Sid Virgil
FBI analyst Dalton Reed’s name is on my hit list, but I know I won’t do it. Though I haven’t seen Dalton in twenty-seven years, we have a history together. He saved my life many years ago, and he doesn’t even realize it. Now, it’s my turn to save him and his young son. Saving Dalton puts my life at risk with my assassin family, but I owe it to him, and I owe it to myself.
Dalton Reed
Sid, goddamn, Virgil. I haven’t seen him in twenty-seven years, and I now find him standing between me and my escape. He insists he wants to help me, but I know he was sent to kill me. I don’t trust him. He was a bastard to me growing up as a teen, and I’m sure he’s a bastard now. He’s a killer. But I’m being hunted, and I have no choice but to let Sid help. My son is all that matters.
Can these two men see beyond their past to save Dalton before it’s too late? Can Sid’s family forgive him for his betrayal?
Reading in order will add more pleasure to the reading experience since some of the books end in a series cliffhanger. But they can technically be read as standalones.
Criminal Activity, Loss of Parents (off page), Sexual Assault (on page) of a Minor, Drugging Minors, SA by a Family Member, PTSD, Loss of Spouse, Torture, Murder, Murder of a Family Member, Organized Crime, Pedophilia, Forced Suicide, Mentions of Child Sex Trafficking (side character), Alcohol Consumption, Violence, Explicit Language, Sex.
Last we know of Sid Virgil, in the cliffhanger of The District Book 2, His Bane, he went rogue and betrayed his found family of queer assassins. Sully was raging to skin him alive, with Malik barely able to hold on to his beloved psychopath’s leash.
His Reluctant Savior follows Sid and single dad/FBI agent Dalton Reed as they dodge hitmen, The District boys, and fellow feds. There’s a hit on Dalton’s head after he submitted crucial evidence against the Speaker of the House, only to find out his boss was the Speaker’s friend.
But why would Sid risk everything, even his family and the trust they built for years, for a fed?
Like the rest of the series, Sid’s backstory is dark and tragic, suffering sexual abuse from his uncle since he was very young. It’s not as graphic or disturbing as Book 1, His Death Bringer, but do heed the TWs.
During high school, Sid was a moody troublemaker and treated Dalton, the star quarterback and all-around sweetheart, terribly, even though he was really crushing hard on the golden boy. A fateful night with Dalton at a party changed everything for Sid, though they never saw each other again after that. He never forgot what Dalton did for him.
When adult Sid and Dalton met again, there were sparks between them that quickly ignited into a full-blown inferno. I love the contrast in their personalities: Sid is the bad boy, always making jokes even in life-or-death situations, while Dalton is the concerned dad type—an overthinking boy scout who prefers to do everything by the book.
Trust is key to survival, with Dalton knowing Sid is a killer hired to kill him, and not fully understanding why the man is helping him, but having no choice with his son’s life on the line and bad guys hot on their heels. Also, not trusting Sid 100% didn’t stop Dalt from eagerly jumping into bed with Sid.
The best part is Easton, Sid’s 17-year-old protege and sociopath, who’s obsessively attached to Sid, the father figure in his life. East helped save their asses, and I loved his relationship with Owen, Dalton’s 5-year-old son. The birthday scene was adorable, and it made me eager for Easton’s book.
Meeting the family was also my favorite part. Sid bringing his Boy Scout to The District HQ, a.k.a. throwing him to the wolves, was hilarious and as tense as wild animals circling each other. Dalton might be by the book, but I loved how he shook things up in The District. There were shocking but fitting additions to the family. It’s also a fantastic resolution to their situation.
The story was intriguing, and I loved the connections between Sid and Dalton across past and present. However, I felt it lacked the oomph of Books 1 and 2. The ending scene was unfortunately anticlimactic, although it provided the best solution to protect Dalton and Owen.
Overall, His Reluctant Savior is a story of second chances, trust, and finding the good in a person. It’s a suspenseful chase, a steamy reunion, and an intense shake-up of a crazy family of killers who will always have each other’s backs, no matter what.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Good In Me
Artist: Andy Grammar
Album: Monster (Deluxe)P.S.
The District is best read in order.
His Death Bringer brought together the sweet and innocent with the dark and deadly.
His Bane is a clash of wills, power, and control between a feral psychopath and his closeted mentor.
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REVIEW: His Death Bringer by Courtney W. Dixon
The District: His Death Bringer – Courtney W. Dixon
PLEASE READ THE BLURB AND WARNINGS IF YOU’RE SENSITIVE TO TRIGGERS! And please, please be careful of spoilers and giving away endings of books. Use spoiler tags.
He calls me his dark angel, but I’m merely a killer. A bringer of death.
Luca Davenport
He is my angel, sent to be my death bringer to save me from my tormentors and betrayers—those who sold me into slavery when I was only eight years old. Angel came in with guns blazing and black wings that were made to crush his enemies and envelope me in love. He belongs to me and I belong to him. We are destined. After he saves me from my captors, we hunt down the remaining men who had abused me for eleven years to make them pay in blood.
Dante Varga
He is a broken boy of no more than nineteen. He sees me as an angel, but I’m simply a killer. An assassin for hire. I can’t save him. I can’t take care of him. There’s no room left in my dying soul to care about someone. Not anymore. But I can’t turn him away either. I should kill him. He’s a witness. But I feel compelled to protect him at all costs. Saving him will either shatter the ice around my heart or destroy me. Either way, Luca is dangerous.
Reading in order will add more pleasure to the reading experience since some of the books end in a series cliffhanger. But they can technically be read as standalones.
CW: graphic violence, murder, rape, torture, human trafficking, explicit content
** Note: This book has been re-edited in December of 2024. Several grammatical errors have been fixed and some scenes have been adjusted for sensitivity issues. If you download this book before then, these changes will not be available on your Kindle. But you can get it updated. **
His Death Bringer is the stirring opener of The District, an assassin, found family series by new-to-me author Courtney W. Dixon.
The first thing you need to know is that the book is quite dark, so you must heed the content warnings. It stars Luca Davenport, taken when he was eight years old and subjected to horrific abuse as a sex slave for 11 years. Luca mentions the tortures he experienced, and it’s so stomach-churning I had to put the book down several times.
He was accidentally rescued by Dante Varga when the assassin was sent to kill all the evil men from the crime family who held Luca captive. Dante had no idea the young man was there when he went about his mission. Luca immediately fell in love with his rescuer, called Dante his “dark angel” and hired the assassin to punish all the bad men who hurt him.
Luca is 19 years old and remains childlike since his captors restricted his education. He also has a streak of ingenuity, is surprisingly insightful, and so resilient he survived and wreaked his vengeance. With Dante’s help, he learned to fight, protect himself, and take control of his life.
Dante doesn’t know what to do with Luca, isn’t equipped to deal with trauma, and doesn’t have space in his life for another broken soul as he is just as fractured himself. It was cute how he tried so hard to resist Luca and before he knew it, the younger man not only stole his heart, he was helping put the pieces back together, too.
With all the violence and dark themes, the relationship between Dante and Luca is sweet and tender. The hurt-comfort worked its magic to warm hearts and heal souls through trust, patience, and a whole lot of TLC’s. Realistically, though, it would have been best if Luca had professional help to deal with his trauma.
Cleo, Dante’s Cane Corso and bestest girl, stole the show as Luca’s emotional support dog and fiercest protector. Dante’s District brothers came through with no hesitations, rallying behind him and Luca with guns blazing.
The District is a found family of assassins-for-hire led by Sid Virgil and Malek Amin. The most intriguing member is Sullivan, the resident psychopath who’s lusting after Malek. The older man has his steel walls up, so I’m excited to see how Sully breaks through in the next book.
His Death Bringer is a story of survival and healing. It’s a young man’s journey to reclaim control of his life with the help of a dark angel seeking retribution. Overall, the journey is daunting, the revenge sweet, the feels intense, and the HEA so damn worth it!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Angel
Artist: Alice Phoebe Lou
Album: Shelter
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REVIEW: Prodigal by Avril Ashton
The Council: Prodigal – Avril Ashton
One man intent on reclaiming his birthright. Another denied his own. The secrets between them should keep them apart, not bring them closer.
The first time someone tried to kill Gideon Winters, his mother took the bullet meant for him. He was thirteen. The second time they came for him, his father faked Gideon’s death and sent him into hiding. It’s been fifteen years and he’s finally out of the shadows, ready to claim his rightful seat on The Council, the secret group of seven with the ability to make or break corporations and countries.
The son of a powerful man who refuses to acknowledge him, André Tesfaye leads a quiet life of monotony that’s upended when he gets trapped in a random robbery. Whispered warnings abound about the man who saves him, but he’s too busy getting lost in Gideon’s ice-blue eyes to listen.
André is the weapon Gideon plans to use to exact revenge on the people who took so much from him. Wanting him, loving him, puts everything at risk, and tests Gideon’s loyalties and focus… Which is a shame, because a battle is on the horizon.
And Gideon has acquired a weakness.
Prodigal is the first book in The Council, a brand new series by bestselling m/m author Avril Ashton. It features forced proximity, opposites attract, interracial romance, and Av’s signature heat and angst.
Prodigal is the first book of The Council, a series by new-to-me author Avril Ashton that features my go-to trope du jour: billionaire secret societies.
Unlike Park Avenue Kings, where the secret society is unified, Prodigal chronicles the upheaval of The Council’s status quo when the son of a recently deceased council member, Gideon Winters, secured his seat through a series of machinations and assassinations.
Gideon has been groomed since childhood and was biding his time until the right moment to strike. To gain leverage on one council member, he convinced the man’s secret son, Andre, along with his adopted sister Juliet, to stay in his penthouse.
Andre has a chip on his shoulder the size of his absentee father, whom he never met. He was forced to stay with the famous billionaire Gideon Winters when the man saved him and Jules from bad guys. Jules adored Gideon right away. Andre doesn’t trust the man but has nowhere to go.
The premise grabbed me right away and the concept is very intriguing. Sadly, the execution didn’t live up to the promise.
The romance came out of nowhere. Gideon and Andre went from barely talking to professing forevers with hardly any build-up. But this is the only part that made them unconvincing because they were pretty fantastic together! The author did a fabulous job making their chemistry sizzle deliciously!
Father-and-son relationships are the central theme, highlighting the contrast between Gideon’s loving relationship with his dad and that of Andre’s connection the stranger who fathered him.
With daddy issues up the wazoo, the vibe is often angsty and bitter, and it’s usually Jules’ cheerful personality that lightens that mood when things get too intense. Jules is 15-years old but her characterization makes her seem 10-years old.
The plot lacked depth and was all over the place, yet it was also compelling enough to keep me hooked. It aimed to depict Gideon as a morally grey character, which he is, but the execution was clumsy. It also turned out the wrongs Gideon was seeking to avenge were the schemes of a dead character, which felt rather anti-climactic because it took away a villain comeuppance scene.
Prodigal isn’t the strongest series opener but it still has its merits. I’m still interested to see where Gideon and Andre would take The Council, so I’m looking forward to Book 2.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Prodigal Son
Artist: Rationale
Album: Rationale
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Prodigal. 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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RELEASE TOUR: Green Ravens by A.E. Via (Excerpt)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Through Smoke and Shadow by L. Alyse Amidon (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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SERIES REVIEW: Mobsters + Billionaires Books 3 & 4: Attraction & Distraction by Kelly Fox
Mobsters + Billionaires: Attraction – Kelly Fox
I run a high-end escort service. And I’m in love with a virgin. It doesn’t make any sense, this attraction between us. I’m a violent Mafia Don, and Ford is a nervous, perfectly bow-tied, sexily bespectacled money nerd.
But he’s had my heart the first night I laid eyes on him, and while he keeps me at arm’s length, he’s never left my orbit. He’s as bound to me as I am to him.
Hell, I’m becoming a better man because of him.
I’ll be as patient as I need to be to win him over. The one thing I’m not willing to do, however, is let the man who put the fear in his eyes get away with it.
I don’t care how powerful or wealthy he is—I will tear down the world to make Ford feel safe enough to love me.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: I Dare You
Artist: The XX
Album: I See You
Mobsters + Billionaires: Distraction – Kelly Fox
An MM Murder Swoon Romance
From USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a uniquely unhinged Mafia romance.
Look, no one’s ever accused me of being sane, y’know? So when I say that I am crazy over this RICO agent, know that I mean business.
Sure, I’m responsible for getting him fired from the job he’s wanted his whole life, but his grandfather just died and left him 13.1 billion dollars. Dude deserves a break, is all I’m saying. And yeah, I’m a violent mobster with a savior complex, but that shouldn’t get in the way of our epic love story.
Besides, a little gunplay in the bedroom is good for the soul.
Distraction is a Mafia romance that features a frustrated RICO agent-slash-reluctant billionaire, a delightfully deranged mob enforcer with questionable boundaries, and a simple takedown that ends up a little…explosive.
As with all of my morally gray do-gooder romances, there are no cliffhangers, and the HEA is guaranteed.
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: I See You
Artist: The Horrors
Album: Luminous
Mobsters+Billionaires by Kelly Fox continues with my two most awaited books in the series.
The billionaire contingent are Rand Wolfe, star of Extradition, Mads Legari, star of Protection, and Ford Bailey, financial genius and fashion icon.
The mobsters are Luca Stefano, gentleman mobster, Anthony Edgerton, Mads’s fiance, Joe Portelli, Rand’s husband, and Hopper, the Stefano enforcer.
The plot involves action, explosions, and a body count but is generally romance-centric. Adding to the chaos are recurring characters Anders and his husband Omar from the Wrecked: Guardian series, Olga, the Ukrainian spec ops, and her wife Ryder, the goth hacker.
Luca and Ford have been circling each other ever since Luca organized Wednesday night poker. They were ridiculously cute and were probably already in love even before they started attending galas together.
Attraction is Luca and Ford taking baby steps, but always moving forward in their relationship. Luca owns an escort service and is known to sample the goods. This makes Ford hesitate because, at the ripe old age of 30, he’s still a virgin.
Major points to the author for handling Ford’s situation respectfully and positively. Ford’s virginity was taken against him in the past. Add to that an attempted sexual assault by a person he knew, and you could understand why the usually confident Ford is anxious.
I loved how everyone, especially Luca, supported Ford, always making him feel comfortable and reminding him that if they finally became intimate, it would be on Ford’s terms. The story painted Luca with a classic Hollywood leading man charm, and boy, does he ooze that Italian Montgomery Clift vibe. The way he courted his man! He’s so sweet and patient with Ford!
On the flip side, it’s cheesy and a bit annoying how everyone, the billionaires in particular, gossiped like mahjong aunties, trying to squeeze the juiciest details from Ford. But Mads’s OTT dance reactions were funny.
I also found the comedic timing was somewhat off when Luca and Ford were talking. Luca would say the swooniest things, then Ford would try to lighten it by saying something funny. Maybe it was because of the narration, but their dialogue didn’t seem to flow well together
One of my favorite parts is the appearance of Liam Hughes, the RICO agent Hopper stalks. The plot sets Liam even more firmly in the world of the Stefanos and their billionaires. Just like Ford and Luca, we have been teased with Hopper and the object of his obsession, Liam, who was initially stalking Hopper, then Hop reversed-stalk him.
Liam became a reluctant billionaire after inheriting billions from his grandfather. His death wrecked Liam and he was grieving so hard, he had Hopper worried. Hop tried to help but seemed to make things worse. He’s not giving up though.
Distraction is Liam finally seeing Hopper. And what a sight it is! Hopper is complex as he is vivid, as deadly as he is gentle. He is the best character in the series. Hopper is everything!
In the previous books, Luca and Anthony consistently went out of their way to help the RICO agent in various capacities. When Liam questioned their motivations, either Luca or Anthony would respond, “It would break Hopper’s heart if something happened to his favorite RICO agent.” This sentiment always resonates with me because it highlights just how deeply Luca and Anthony care for their brother.
Here, we learn why Luca and Anthony is so protective of their Hopper.
Hopper is the most dangerous enforcer for the Stefano family. A serial killer who started when still a teen, he’s wily and cunning and knows a hundred different ways to dispose of dead bodies. He also has the uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere, his intimidating presence frequently scaring away threats from Luca or those he considers family.
Hopper is surprisingly vulnerable. He feels things too deeply. He has ADHD and FASD, and a gutwrenching childhood left him with trauma and a severe case of claustrophobia. He’s triggered whenever somebody mentions he’s a psychopath or his birth name that he associates with terrible memories.
Hopper is also a total sweetheart. He loves with all his heart and Liam is his first love. He’s shy, adorably blushy, and endearingly childlike, whose delight at seeing his favorite animals or spotting his favorite RICO agent is pure and contagious. His golden retriever energy gives me life. He’s loyal and protective of his family.
He’s never malicious, killing only bad guys, especially those who prey on sex workers. And he is incredibly artistic. He shares his creations only with those he trusts.
Among the couples in the series, Hopper and Liam’s journey from opposing sides, one-sided infatuation to mutual love, was perhaps the hardest won, the swooniest, and the most satisfying. Their chemistry has always been fantastic, and they were even more explosive and hella kinky! Their book was an emotional roller-coaster, breaking your heart into pieces, putting it back together again, then making it soar,
“Thank you,” I whisper. “I’m sorry it took me so long to see you, Hop.”
“But you see me now?” he asks, his vulnerability wrapping itself around my heart.
“I do, Hop. Worse,” I say, chuckling as I nibble his ear. “I can’t unsee you. And I don’t want to.”The shift in Liam’s perspective and his growing feelings for Hopper was a joy to witness! It took a while but Liam completely won me over at the end. I loved how he allowed Hopper be himself and understood him at a soul-deep level. He gave Hopper the world!
A romance between a federal agent and a serial killer is a recipe for disaster. Hopper and Liam shouldn’t have worked together. But they did, and they were unstoppable!
Overall, Mobsters+Billionaires is about morally grey love interests, ethical billionaires, and bad guys getting their comeuppance. Packed full of found family magic, hurt comfort goodness, and intense touch-him-and-die vibes to tickle you pink!
P.S.
Mobsters+Billionaires should be read in order. Witness a conservative billionaire get kinky with a Brooklyn boy in Extradition. Be charmed by a sunshiney billionaire and his serious bodyguard in Protection.
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MOBSTERS + BILLIONAIRES: Kindle | Audiobook
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PROMO BLITZ: Into Elysium by A.M. Johnson
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RELEASE TOUR: Whisper Woods by Ali Woods (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: Never Say Never by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
Vitale Brothers: Never Say Never – Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
I’d do anything for my family. Even go undercover and devote my life to the FBI so they can continue to thrive. Everything I do is for the Vitale name. I just have to focus, complete my job, divert attention and stay out of trouble.
But trouble finds me.
Not just me, but York Washington. He’s my boss, but more than that he’s my friend. When he and his daughters are thrown into danger I have no choice but to step into the light. Finally, I get to go back home.
But home is a strange hellscape I no longer understand.
While a war wages on, I’m caught between who I am and who I was with a man I’ve betrayed. There’s no happily ever after for me.
The fourth book in the Vitale brother series. Each book can be read as a standalone but best enjoyed read in order. HEA guaranteed.
The Vitale Brothers is an all-time favorite series, and each brother is memorable in his own way. I thought this would be a trilogy, so learning Gin has a twin in the previous book, Say I Do, made my jaw drop.
Never Say Never finally unveiled Gianpaolo Vitale. Going undercover in the FBI for his family as Paul Gallow, he keeps tabs on cases and passes information to Benito, the only brother who knows about his mission. Paul is known as a man whore in his department, dating coworkers left and right and getting in trouble with HR.
But the man Paul is really crushing hard on is his boss, York Washington, an Idriss Elba of a hunk who’s good at his job and keeps his personal life private. And so he was pleasantly surprised to discover York in a gay bar and that he has twin daughters.
The plot highlights Paolo’s dual identity. In the first part, as Paul, I wouldn’t say there’s none of the darkness but mostly hints of a deeper obsession. You got to hand it to Paolo. The man buried his Vitale so deep it didn’t feel like a Vitale book at all. I was even borderline bored.
It took me a while to warm up to York. A 46-year-old widower and first-time gay, he’s still figuring out most things. Paolo is eager to lend a hand and I get that York doesn’t want to complicate things with a subordinate. At the same time, the older man wants to explore his sexuality.
The thing with York is that he’s hot and cold for almost the entire book and I wasn’t convinced he’s actually in love with Paolo. Also, his characterization lacks depth. It was only at the end that he stood out as a character.
My favorite in the first part is Paolo and York’s twin daughters. Paolo adored the girls from the get-go and would die to protect them. And being a twin himself, he knows all about the mischief the clever girls cook up, even taught them a trick or two.
And we all agree, we could do without the nanny. This character was terrible and unnecessary.
When York and the twins were in danger, he didn’t hesitate. When Gianpaolo shed the Paul Gallow persona, revealing his Italian heritage, his tattoos, and became a full-on Vitale, it was glorious!!! And this is where the real crazy starts! I wish we got to this part sooner because this is what I came for.
“Sanity was only a facade with me. I was born into chaos and I wielded mayhem freely.”
You can tell he and Gin are twins because Paolo is one fucked up motherfucker with fucked up thoughts and zero qualms dub-conning his boss into staying in the Vitale building for their safety. He has already declared the twins his daughters, whether York agrees or not. I loved how fiercely protective he is of those he loves.
My favorite in the second part is when the Vitales unleashed hell on their enemies. It was a spectacular free-for-all violence, gore, and mayhem with a dash of humor, usually involving a brother’s weapon of choice. All the known brothers were there, plus Benito’s beloved monstrizio, Harlow, because as the queen, he has to have the head of the enemy.
I have yet to meet a Vitale I didn’t love, and Gianpaolo stands rightfully beside Gin, finally completing the Murder Twins. Paolo was thrown in a unique position and showed his true colors much later, but he proved a Vitale through and through.
Overall, Never Say Never is a mixed-bag yet ultimately thrilling story of loyalty, trust, and family, where the mind says no, the heart says yes, and the blood screams vengeance.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Say It First
Artist: Sam Smith
Album: The Thrill Of It AllP.S.
Vitale Brothers is best read in order. Each brother is fascinating so go ahead and meet them all.
Take Me Apart by Brea – Vitales like to live dangerously and Enzo did it by kidnapping a cop
Paid In Full by Brea – Gin found himself a twink he can’t let go
Say I Do by Brea – Benito don’t do things by halves so he married a complete psycho
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NEVER SAY NEVER: Kindle | Audiobook
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