Tag Archives: Mafia/Mob

Keep (Romanian Mob Chronicles #1)

by Kaye Blue

Keep

Synopsis

HER:
I thought the only thing I feared was living another day in the hell my life had become. But when I looked at his hulking, tattooed body, the icy brutality in his eyes, I realized I was wrong.

HIM:
Familie. My clan.
I’d fight for it, kill for it, die for it. It’s all that matters to me. But her innocence, only barely hidden by thick layers of makeup, the curves that her tight dress can’t hide, calls to me.
So I’ve decided to keep her.
No matter how deadly the consequences.

My Review

Am going to be honest I picked this story from simply the cover and the fact I was feeling the need for some down and dirty mob romance on the dark side – I got that and so much more.

You get lots of action, suspense, drama and then hot and heavy moments which are what all good mob stories entail.

The female character was interesting to me in that she was so conditioned by her environment but then also when given the time and space she blossomed into a strong woman.  I really could have read more and there were parts that I though were let down by the fact it was a short story as such so it felt rushed when I really wanted to savour moments when the two characters were connecting on emotional and physical levels.

Keep (Romanian Mob Chronicles #1)

My rating: 3 Hearts

Buy Links:
Amazon.US:  Keep (Romanian Mob Chronicles #1)
Amazon.CA:  Keep (Romanian Mob Chronicles #1)
Amazon.UK:  Keep (Romanian Mob Chronicles #1)
Amazon.AU:  Keep (Romanian Mob Chronicles #1)

Visit Kaye Blue:  Click Here

 

Matteo

by Rachael Orman

Matteo

Synopsis

Being born into slavery, I never thought my owner, my very mother, would sell me. And she didn’t.

Until Matteo.

I was tormented, struggling to come to terms with my new life then he narrowed it down to two things.

Pleasure. Pain.

The man confused me at every turn with his unexpected and unattainable desires.

If only he’d speak to me.

If only he’d tell me how to avoid upsetting him.

If only I could please him.

**Disclaimer: This is a DARK erotic Italian Mafia story. There are twisted behaviors in this book not everyone will be able to handle. Explicit, violent, and sexual scenes are involved. Not for the wary of heart.**

My review

Be prepared this is one dark, intense and quite confronting romantic story, yes I do believe this is romantic, these two souls in the end repair each other.  Matteo is a product of his upbringing and unfortunately as is Gia at the hands of her awful mother.  It is incredible to watch Gia at the beginning of this story how she cannot even make a clear decision for herself to the end of this story – it gives you hope at the end for forgiveness and love.

Matteo is hard, selfish and simply closed off but perhaps that is how is has to be when he is going to take over the family from his father, has been bred to be ruthless and uncaring.

There are some particularly harrowing scenes in this story and my heart broke for this girl yet I could see glimpses of light seeping through.  I continued to turn those pages even though at some points I was petrified as to what would come of Gia, her tolerance to pain and loss was incredible.

I shattered along with Gia at two particularly poignant moments for her in the book which were key turning points in her journey to a better life of love with the man who took her heart.

Be strong with this dark romantic tale.

My rating: 4 Hearts

Matteo

Buy Links: Amazon

Visit Rachael Orman:  Click Here

 

Guardian For Hire (For Hire # 2)

By Christine Bell

BR Guardian For Hire

Synopsis

Sarabeth Lucking’s life is turned upside down when the couples’ retreat she works for winds up embroiled in the biggest scandal of the year. With her reputation in tatters, she can’t imagine things getting worse, until her former co-workers are rubbed out, and a bad-ass, ex-Army Ranger shows up hell-bent on protecting her. She shows him the door, perfectly content with letting him go find someone else to brood over. Right up until her car explodes into a ball of flames…

Gavin McClintock grew up on the streets of Edinburgh, so protecting Dr. Stick-Up-Her-Rear isn’t on his bucket list. Still, a promise is a promise, and, after her brush with death, he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep Sarabeth safe. When she finally sheds her librarian-in-mourning look in favor of a sexy new disguise, the revealing clothes and new hairdo bring out the spitfire she’s been hiding beneath that shell of propriety. Maybe the doc isn’t the only one in need of protection…

Review

First thing I have to say is that the cover is hot.  Very simple yet very, very effective.  Damn.

Sarabeth’s life is in danger after her perfect job turned out to be nothing more than a scam that was revealed by Owen and Lindy is the previous book, WIFE FOR HIRE.  A scam for which the perpetrators have been killed and Sarabeth is the next target, so Owen and Lindy have hired their good friend and security expert, Gavin, to keep her safe.

Gavin and Sarabeth initially rub each other the wrong way; she thinks he’s a brute and he thinks she’s a spoiled princess.  While Gavin comes from poverty and Sarabeth comes from money, they quickly realise how alike they really are and a bond forms.  Sarabeth is given a new look and identity and has to stay at Gavin’s fortress/castle/house until her would-be killers are caught.  Other than that, not a lot really happens.  As with the previous book, there is a mystery to be solved and the story is laced with small doses of humour to keep things from getting too heavy.

Sarabeth:  Given all the rigmarole involved in getting into the house, she’d be shocked if there wasn’t a retinal exam and an anal probe just to cross the threshold.

GUARDIAN FOR HIRE isn’t a novella, but it’s a fairly quick and lighthearted read.  I did enjoy it, but not as much as the first book.  I can’t say exactly why, but I already find myself forgetting it.  You don’t really need to read the previous book before starting this one as you get given the basics of what happened.  It could use some proof-reading as I found a few words that were spelled incorrectly.

Guardian For Hire (For Hire # 2)

My Rating:  4 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Christine Bell:  Click Here


For Hire Series

Kane

By L A Casey

Kane

Synopsis

Aideen Collins is a free spirit. She is outspoken and tough as nails, but she has to be after growing up in a house full of men. Family means everything to Aideen. Her family consists of her four brothers, her father, and her group of wild friends. Aideen is protective of her family, there is not a lot she wouldn’t do to keep them safe.

Kane Slater is a tortured soul. Literally. He is misunderstood by people, even feared by them thanks to the scars that mar his face and body. He relishes in their fear because people who fear you, won’t want to know you. He likes his circle limited to his brothers and their girlfriends, but a thorn from an Irish rose is dug deep into Kane’s side, and her name is Aideen Collins.

Aideen and Kane don’t get along… at all. Aideen is the only woman who stands up to Kane and throws his bullshit back at him without fear of hurting him. Kane is the only man who can see right through Aideen’s tough exterior. He knows her deepest, and darkest secrets. They can’t stand each other, but they want each other. Badly. They hide their need behind arguments, and banter, but when Kane drops his guard for all to see, and succumbs to an illness within his body, it’s Aideen who steps up to the plate to take care of him.

An illness is the least of their worries when a devil from Kane’s past comes back to play with him. Everybody in Kane’s life is threatened, and with his body fighting against him, he doesn’t know if the luck of the Irish is enough to keep his family safe and his demons at bay.

Kane needs Aideen, and what Kane needs, Kane takes.

Review

Firstly I need to get off my chest, the ending sucked big time, I am so disappointed I want to cry, I  needed full closure for Aideen and Kane and without giving away too much, I needed to see the end result.  I was so in the frame of mind this is one really great read, loved the fire scene and was really looking forward to their future and then BAM the ending happens and I am left shattered and really unhappy.  I have gotten it off my chest now so I need to share what I simply loved and adored.

Love  the Slater boys and the dynamic group of girls who surround this family, they all have their issues and I really enjoyed the feisty nature of Kane and Aideen.  We all love people differently and our needs in a relationship can form many levels and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship change, mature and find happiness in so many different forms and stages.  Kane is alpha and Aideen is the centre of his world, yes it takes them time to realise this but I love the comedy banter that surrounds this group and how these two eventually find their way.

Finally, I hope Kane and Aideens journey is continued in the next brothers story as I do not want to miss out on anything to do with these two, I really hope it is explained with all the joy, love and excitement it should have been in this book.

Kane

My Rating: 4 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit L.A. Casey: Click Here

Play Me: The Complete Story

By Tracy Wolff

BR Play Me

Synopsis

My name is Aria Winston. I’ve fought desperately to escape the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas. Now I’m on my own, in control of my own life and my own destiny . . . just the way I like it. Until Sebastian Caine changes everything.

Working as a cocktail waitress at one of Vegas’s hottest five-star casinos means putting up with a ton of bad behavior from the big spenders. But it pays the bills—and that’s all that matters to Aria, who needs every last dollar to escape from her father’s destructive grasp and the brutal man he expects her to marry. But when she lashes out against a billionaire who won’t take no for an answer, she nearly loses everything—until Sebastian steps in. The owner’s son and handpicked successor, Sebastian is dark, sexy, and kinder than any rich man should be. And when he apologizes and offers to keep her job safe, Aria can’t help the way her body reacts to his. Suddenly her job, and the security it brings her, isn’t the only thing Aria wants.

Review

Play Me: The Complete Story was originally published as five serial novellas:  Play Me Wild; Play Me Hot; Play Me Hard; Play Me Real; and Play Me Right.  Each novella takes about an hour to read and is the story of Aria Winston and Sebastian Caine.  Part way through the series, Ethan Frost (from the Ethan Frost series) makes his appearance asking Sebastian for help on a private matter, which Sebastian is happy to give, even more so when he finds out the people involved hurt Aria.  So I guess you could categorise this as a spin-off series.

I liked both Aria and Sebastian, but Sebastian was definitely my favourite.  He’s dominant, he’s an alpha, but he has a kind heart and good morals.  He cares about his staff and abhors the harassment they face on a daily basis, which is how Aria appeared on his radar.  He did hurt Aria, but he was in a bad place at the time and didn’t realise he was hurting her until it was too late.  And when he realised what he’d done, he was very angry with himself and desperate to make amends.  He likes control in all things and doesn’t react well when he doesn’t have it.  Aria is strong, doesn’t take crap from anyone and she stands up for those that can’t or won’t stand up for themselves.  But there is a hidden fragility to her that calls to Sebastian.  The chemistry between these two is off the charts.  And the sex?  Wow, the sex is totally hot.  I mean seriously hot, fan yourself and change into a new pair of panties hot.

The only issue I had with this series is the repetition of dialogue.  Something bad happened to Aria 14 months ago that caused her to walk away from her entire family (with the exception of her very sick younger sister), giving up the family’s name and money.  You know something bad happened to her because she thinks about it several times throughout each novella.  After a while, I stopped finding this suspenseful and just found it annoying, especially when it’s not until right at the end of the series that we find out what actually happened to her.  There’s also a tonne of talk about control, which to be honest, I started skipping over as I couldn’t make sense out of it some of the time.

Play Me sort of ends in a HEA, but at the same time, it sort of doesn’t.  They have sex, Aria reveals her deep dark secret, Sebastian vows to avenge Aria and the series is over.  There’s no prologue several months or years down the track to see how they’re going.  It just ends, which gives the series a bit of an incomplete feel to it.  But at the end, there is a notation that says to look out for Sebastian and Aria’s cameo in Exposed (Ethan Frost # 3), so maybe it’s been left incomplete for a reason.

Play Me: The Complete Story

My Rating:  4 Hearts

Buy Links:
Amazon.US:  Play Me: The Complete Story
Amazon.AU:  Play Me: The Complete Story
B&N:  Play Me: The Complete Story

Visit Tracy Wolff:  Click Here

Till Death (Deep Six Security # 1)

By Becky McGraw

BR Till Death

Synopsis

Dave Logan, the owner of Deep Six Security, is stunned when Dallas FBI head, Susan Whitmore, darkens his doorstep accusing him of being the cause of her losing her job, and demanding he hire her. Even as his brain says no way, the Barracuda is a woman nobody can work with, his white-knight complex forces him to offer her a job as his very overqualified temporary secretary.

A wealthy couple who ordered a designer baby which wasn’t delivered contacts Dave for help. To get answers for them, Dave has to get inside an overly-fortified fertility clinic going undercover with Susan as his temporary wife. The situation inside is worse than they imagined, and soon their pretend ‘til death do us part’ could become very real unless the two alpha personalities learn to work together to stay alive.

Review

TILL DEATH is the first book I’ve read from Becky McGraw and I quite enjoyed it.  This is a new series, but I did wonder if the characters have appeared in one of her previous series.  Just the way some of the characters and events were talked about, it sounded like it had happened before and the author was just giving a quick recap into how everyone came to be where they were.

I’m not sure how old David is, but Susan is 36 years old.  She’s super smart (that’s my technical term) and unfortunately for her, has no real social skills.  I liked Susan’s character from beginning to end.  She starts out quite abrasive, and that’s the opinion everyone has of her, but as the book goes on you see she has her reasons for being that way.  A woman has to act tough to make it in a man’s world, yet men can’t stand it when a woman acts like a man, all tough and arrogant.  When a man does it, he’s just getting the job done.  But when a women does it, she’s a total bitch and everyone hates her.  By the end of the book, you see that she’s just another woman who’s been hurt by a man and left broken hearted, but determined to move on.

David is a typical man’s man.  While he respects that a woman can do just as good a job as a man, he refuses to hire them in his security firm, believing they’ll distract his rough and tough men from their assignments.  Hiring Susan temporarily while he tries to find her another job, it turns out that the biggest distraction she causes is to him.  I liked David and he’s definitely an alpha male, both with women and the men that work for him.  Like Susan, he’s rude, arrogant and demanding, and you realise that he also doesn’t have very good social skills, so they’re kind of made for each other.  His business is his baby, and any spare time and cash is used to keep the business afloat and his men employed.

There were a few things that felt unfinished in this book.  Susan hinted at a possible conspiracy regarding the death of her parents, her father in particular, due to a case he was close to closing at the time of his death.  I thought perhaps this would be an underlying story arc in the series, but after she thinks it once, it’s never brought up again.  If it won’t be used in future stories, I don’t see the point in mentioning it at all.  In regards to the surrogacy case, we find out what possibly happened to the mother and baby, but there was no closure for the couple that lost it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  It held my attention and I didn’t want to put it down.  I flattened my iPad battery and went straight to my iPhone to continue reading.  The members of David’s team were funny, diverse and interesting, and I’d love to learn more about them if they get their own books.

Till Death (Deep Six Security # 1)

My Rating:  5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Becky McGraw:  Click Here


Deep Six Security Series

Carter Reed 2

by Tijan

25042819

Synopsis

Carter bought his way out of the mafia to protect Emma, but when an old ghost returns to the Mauricio Family, a chain of events starts that can harm everyone. While Carter must decide to return to the Mauricio Family or not, a face that is oddly familiar to Emma comes into her life. She’s given the chance to discover more about her family while tension between the rivaling Mauricio and Bertal Family comes to a head in an explosive way. The truce is officially off, and when the two worlds collide, Carter’s decision is made.

He didn’t start this war, but he will end it.

He will do anything to protect Emma.

My review:

Firstly – Thank you Tijan you rock  for bringing Carter and Emma back, I was one of those readers that loved Book 1 and wanted much more and felt robbed at the end.

On reading the acknowledgements page I note Tijan thanked all those bad reviews as it inspired her to write book 2 – well I LOVED Carter Reed (I probably have forgotten how many times I have reread book 1 waiting for this No 2 as Carter is just my man).  There was something about the love and affection between Carter and Emma that entered my soul and I never forgot this story.  So I say to you please read Carter Reed 1 first before you read this as there are too many surprises to ruin and you will not understand Carter and Emma’s connection and pull towards each other – you will not be disappointed with the suspense, action, drama, friendship and sexual passion that is Carter and Emma – these guys simply ignite the pages.

Carter and Emma just simply belong to each other, they have a connection that has spaned most of their lives from when they met through Emma’s brother. What I really loved about this book was the answers we were given to so many of Emma’s shades of grey and lack of memory from her mother and her young life.  We also learn more of how Carter came into the Mafia and was made the Killer he is and who in the two families are to be trusted.  Cole was one character I liked from the beginning and his and Carter’s banter was interesting and kept me guessing.

The comradeship between Carter, Emma and his men was simply powerful and soul destroying when loss of life occurred.  So within this story is the love story of Carter and Emma and then also the underlying Mafia war which was exciting.   This story was fast paced however did not feel rushed, it kept me up till my eyes could not close and every spare moment in the day I picked it up to keep reading, if I could have ignored my commitments for a day I probably would have read it in one sitting – its that good.

Carter Reed 2

My Rating: 5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Tijan:  Click Here


Incapable

By Sara Hubbard

Incapable

Synopsis

After spending four years caring for her mother, twenty-two year old Evie Crane is starting over with a new job in a new city. Unfortunately, her new life involves working for a woman with close ties to the mob. When a short walk home turns into tragedy and Evie is left broken and beaten, a mob hitman comes to her rescue. In his debt, she feels a bond to him and wants to help him as much as he helped her, but getting close to a criminal brings her more chaos than she bargains for.

Declan Lewis grew up on the streets until taken under the wing of a man with a soft spot for a child he never had. The man taught Declan all he knew, only…all he knew was being a hired killer for the Dantes family. When Declan crosses paths with a girl so unlike himself, he can’t help but be attracted to his polar opposite. However, bringing her into his life means bringing her into his world, a mistake that might prove fatal. He wants to be the man she deserves, but to give her what she needs, he’ll have to change. And is change really possible for a killer?

 My review:

Incapable of love, Incapable of commitment, Incapable of letting go, well we have two people Declan and Evie who are living life like this.  Two broken people who happen to cross paths and change the course of each others lives from incredible circumstances.

The emotion expressed for these two characters and on subjects that are quite confronting I believed was expressed in a raw, honest and respectful way.  I certainly did not pick Evie’s big secret and it left me just wanting to pull her out of the book to rescue.  I have not read a romance story that had a secret like Evie’s so that was quite dramatic and hard to swallow.

Now can I say I really loved the whole basis of this story, what would have blown it out of the park for me would have been to throw the Dectective who was helping Evie into the romance mix as I kind of got the feeling he may have had a simmering attraction to her, perhaps I was hoping as he was just so caring of Evie and her emotional wellbeing.  Don’t get me wrong I am happy she loved Declan but I think it would have provided for some explosive scenes especially when both men just wanted to help Evie beat her demons and surive her ordeal.  I did feel the ending was slightly rushed and wound up when I really could have read a few more chapters.

I guess I just wanted to spend some more time with Declan and Evie.

Incapable

My Rating: 4 Hearts

Buy Links:
Amazon.US:  Incapable
Amazon.CA:  Incapable
Amazon.UK:  Incapable
Amazon.AU:  Incapable

Visit Author: Sara Hubbard

Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3)

By Cora Reilly

bound by hatred

Synopsis

When Gianna watched her sister Aria getting married to a man she barely knew, she promised herself she wouldn’t let the same thing happen to her.

Matteo – The Blade – Vitiello set his eyes on Gianna the moment he saw her on his brother Luca’s wedding, and Rocco Scuderi is more than willing to give his daughter to him, but Gianna has no intention of marrying for any other reason than love. A few months before the wedding, Gianna escapes her bodyguards and runs away. She has enough money to flee to Europe and begin a new life. But staying undetected when the mob is searching for her is a challenge that takes everything, especially as one of their best hunters and assassins is after her: Matteo Vitiello.

After six months on the run, Gianna finally settles into a tentative routine in Munich, but then Matteo and a couple of her father’s soldiers find her with another man.

Despite her pleads they kill her boyfriend, and Gianna is forced to marry Matteo. Her emotions alternating between guilt over having dragged an innocent into her world and hatred toward Matteo, Gianna is determined to make life hell for her husband. But Matteo is a master at mind games and their struggle for power soon turns into hate-fueled nights of passion.

Book three in the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles. This book can be read as a standalone.

My Review:

This is my favourite of all the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles, I loved Matteo and Gianna from book 1, they are both headstrong, passionate, stubborn and fiercely loyal to their eldest siblings.

Now I knew we were in for a bumpy ride with these two but the depth of feelings and inner turmoil from these two characters was simply breathtaking.  Gianna was the scapegoat of her family and Matteo has been in love with her from the first time he set eyes on her but it has taken her longer to believe her inner most feelings. The way we were delivered through their fears to acknowledgement of love was really beautiful on the pages.

Thank you Cora for brining these two characters to life and giving them love, strength and passion.

I have just added books, 4, 5 & 6 of the Blood Mafia Chronicles to my Goodreads list and also see there is a book 2.5 on Luca and Aria – I am hoping to hear the pitter patter of tiny feet.  I love this series the women are strong as are the men – love their passion for family, life and also the action between the sheets.

Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3)

My Rating: 5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks


Kinged

By B. B. Hamel

kinged

Kinged is a raw, gritty, honest and dirty romance novel.  The two main love characters are battling the emotional and physical demons of their upbringings. I believe they both held their own within the storyline and connected to me on a deep level and their attraction to each other was sizzling on the pages.

Rex and Darcy are headstrong and their humorous banter towards each other I really enjoyed and put light to some dark moments.  The fighting scenes were raw, explosive and brutal at times but I held hope for Rex and his need for a new beginning.

This is not a hearts and flowers romance, there are characters in this story that are rough and questionable on many levels.  Her friend Amy and her fiancée who happens to also be Darcy’s boss is a mystery to me, I so wanted to know more about them, really intriguing those two.

The whole story flowed really well and although it is not one of my favourite underground fighter style romance novels I did finish it in a few days and it kept me intrigued to the end.

Can I also say I love the cover!

Finally I find it interesting in the title on Amazon for this book the word “thriller” is attached as honestly there were some harrowing moments but thinking back I never really felt fear or was on the edge of my seat shaking for Darcy or Rex.  I have read other books that I literally had to put down and find strength to pick back up as I have been scared of the outcome for the characters, did not feel it here.

Thanks for a fast paced story with some strong alpha males.

Kinged

My rating: 3 Hearts

Buy Links:

www.amazon.com: Kinged
www.amazon.com.au: Kinged