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COVER REVEAL: The Blue Viper by Bella Barnes
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REVIEW: Paid In Full by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
Vitale Brothers: Paid in Full – Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
I’m used to my life being insanity. A family of a-holes, being locked up, and a few loose screws? Yeah anyone would go crazy. (Not that I am. I’m different, that’s all). My brothers say I’m the loose canon of the family. The truth is that I’m the life of the party!
The party comes to a screeching halt when I meet Ash. Shy, younger, virgin. He’s everything I’m not attracted to. Give me an experienced partner anyday.
But there’s something about him that makes me want to keep him. Maybe I want to stoke that fire I see in his eyes. Or maybe I’m just lonelier than I thought.
Either way, he’s mine. Nobody, and I mean nobody, will take Ash away from me.
(Blurb may change)
Gritty M/M romance.
Look at that cover and know that it is perfect. Wait till you get to the part why!
Paid in Full is the second book of Vitale Brothers, a mafia romance series that stays true to its gritty promises. This stars Giancarlo Vitale, a.k.a. Gin, the next older brother to Enzo, the youngest and MC of Take Me Apart.
While Enzo’s appeal lies in his eerie calmness and neat freak ways, Gin is the ex-con, the wild child, the life of the party, and the insatiable playboy who can charm the pants and panties off anyone. For some reason, the narrator, Declan Winters, gave him an accent (Bostonian? New York? Not sure) while his brothers speak in what to me is the standard American accent (sorry, not an accent expert). It might be confusing at first, but I loved how it suits Gin’s personality to a T.
Initially, I considered the second book kind of a necessary hurdle to get to Benito’s book, which I am super excited about. But Gin and Ash surprised me, and I was completely hooked from the get go!
The opening chapters immediately grabbed interest with Gin at a black market auction masquerading as a charity event. Up for auction is the wide-eyed, virgin son of a man who owes the Vitales money. Just to teach him a lesson, Gin bought Ash and let Ash’s abusive father pay the price to cover what he owed.
Ash didn’t know what to do with his new owner because, frankly, the guy is crazy! The least he expected was an offer to let him buy his freedom through sex. But first, Gin has to teach him how. Our boy is a fast learner!
Ash has been through the wringer, enduring beatings, forced to watch other people being abused as psychological torture, and always been told he was good for nothing so he might as well be sold as a slave. Most of the sexual abuses weren’t graphic and are off-page, but the violence and torture are on-page (check the trigger warnings).
Here comes Gin, an unlikely comfort and a giver of tough love who challenges Ash to be angry, to stand up for himself, to be himself. He is exactly what Ash needs. The best part is when Ash harnesses his big dick energy, and yes, you can take that literally, and unleashes his inner beast.
I totally didn’t see this dynamic coming, but OMG, they’re fantastic! Gin and Ash were fun and amusing together. Gin is full of stupid jokes and dumb ideas. He made me laugh! He’s big, dominant and possessive, and lets Ash go to town on his ass. Ash is an endearing cinnamon roll, innocent as a puppy, as Gin likes to call him, and always eager to please. Then a switch flicks, and our boy is in control!
One of Gin’s ideas:
“Gin, I’m ready to go.”
“I can practically see a tail wagging.” Gin’s dark brown eyes lit up. “Ash, pull your pants down and wag your dick for me.”
“What? No.”
It’s not all fun and games. There are demons to conquer. Blackmailing fathers, evil human traffickers, PTSD, panic attacks, and massive trust issues create conflict and drive wedges, leading to one of the most heart-breaking scenes in the series. That’s why the cover slays!
Paid in Full is a story of dysfunctional families, complicated relationships, unspeakable crimes and invaluable lessons on how to grow a spine. The uncommon dynamics, the humor and heart-warming moments balance out the darker, bloodier scenes. Overall, intense, wild, and totally worth it!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Worth the Fight
Artist: Broods
Album: ConsciousP.S.
Vitale Brothers books can be read as standalones but why miss out on the Vitale charms? Let Enzo Vitale show you how to own a cop and keep him too in Take Me Apart.
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PAID IN FULL: Kindle | Audiobook
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RELEASE BLITZ: ‘Tis the Season by Gale Stanley
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RELEASE BLITZ: Infamous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine (Giveaway)
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COVER & EXCERPT REVEAL: Infamous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: The Soldier and the Spy by Annabelle Greene
Society of Beasts: The Soldier and the Spy – Annabelle Greene
A beholden man finds himself falling for the war hero he’s destined to double-cross.
Three hundred pounds for one night of protection. It’s a job offer, but it’s also a ruse. Captain Benjamin Frakes, war hero and de facto head of the Society of Beasts—a club for gentlemen who prefer gentlemen—is tempted to turn it down. But August Weatherby, the sexy, brazen stranger making the offer, has captivated him completely.
August is hardly the flush flirt he claims to be, however. An indebted man, desperate to save his infirm sister, August makes an ideal pawn for a lord eager to bring down the Society of Beasts once and for all. But August’s charge to find evidence against Frakes is at odds with his own virgin desire to entice the captain into showing him the true meaning of pleasure.
As August’s infiltration pushes him deeper into the beguiling world of delights behind the Society’s closed doors, he and Frakes discover new ways to push the boundaries of their own cravings. But with mounting pressure to complete his devious mission, August finds himself torn between the man his heart yearns for and the sister whose life depends on his betrayal.
The Society of Beasts continues to make historicals happen for me this year!
The Beasts are an uber-elite, super-secret club for gentlemen who prefer gentlemen. It was founded by Edward Stanhope and his friends, Frakes, Hartley, and Lambert, also known as the Lion, the Bear, the Sable, and the Wolf respectively.
The Soldier and the Spy picks up after the events of The Vicar and the Rake. Captain Benjamin Frakes is now the head of the Beasts after Edward settled in the countryside. While in a pub, he was brazenly approached by August Wetherby, openly flirted with, and commissioned to protect the young man from threats to his life while at they are attending a ball. Unknown to Frakes, Wetherby was tasked to out him and the club by a blackmailer.
It’s hard to root for a romance that started with deceit and continued on false pretenses for most of the story. So I didn’t really care for the romance or the two leads. They don’t detract from the story. I didn’t hate them. They’re just there.
What kept me riveted was the engaging storytelling and crisp writing, combined with the always impeccable delivery by Cornell Collins, who’s born to narrate these kinds of books. The plot moved at a steady clip. So even though I’m indifferent towards the leads, I was never bored. It’s not as twisty turn-y as Book 1, but there are plenty of suspense, intrigue, and shenanigans.
I am also deeply invested in the affairs of the Beasts, so I was happy to see the inner workings of the club. We are introduced to Josiah Balfour, the dedicated manager and star of the next book. He piqued my interest, and he’s paired with Hartley! I hope we get the audiobook for this soon.
Of course, I had to have updates on my favorite scheming dark lord, Morris, Edward’s younger brother. He lost his leverage in the first book, but later returned to form here. This is one of the rare occasions I’m cheering harder for the MF couple rather than the MM leads. Morris hopelessly pining after Caroline, Lady Ploverdale, while trying to keep his cold, Machiavellian image intact is making me squee~! I need their book so bad!!!
The Soldier and the Spy is an entertaining read and a solid installment of an addicting series. I might not have been swayed by the MM romance, but there is plenty of romance here that made me swoon!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Honest
Artist: Band of Skulls
Album: Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of The Soldier and the Spy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
THE SOLDIER AND THE SPY: Kindle | Audiobook
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Havana Bay by John Patrick (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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RELEASE BLITZ: Never Have I Ever: Wanted My Brother’s Rival by Willow Dixon (Giveaway)
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COVER & EXCERPT REVEAL: Never Have I Ever: Wanted My Brother’s Rival by Willow Dixon (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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SERIES TOUR AND NEW RELEASE: Serial Investigations by Rhiannon D’Averc (Excerpt & Giveaway)
