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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This one was not as good as I was hoping it would be. It was so slow and boring throughout the book, I really disliked the time jumps which seemed to try to convey some important plot lines, but it never did. Like Dantes mum... One wuick chapter and then she was never metioned again, getting incested in Sean and Bridget's relationshops theough snippets and then ot being ripped away. I really hate Bridget, she is irritating and stubborn and ridiculous. I understand her fear but I just couldn't get away with the character at all. Dante was an ass but he owned it and never pretended otherwise. Sean Jr is hard to like because he's a teen with a lot of anger but I still think it was overboard. Overall just not an enjoyable read.
****AUDIOBOOK****
4 STARS
This was a solid mafia read/listen. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline.
What I loved:
1. Dante was mafia, anti-hero goodness. Possessive, loving, understanding, but also willing to lay it all down for Bridget.
2. Bridget carries a lot on her shoulders - secrets, fear. She handles it very well.
3. I liked that the author explored how victims of SA can use kinks to deal with trauma. While it doesn’t go into too much detail, there is mention of a therapist being involved. It was a great aspect of the book.
4. Great storyline and follow through. I’ll definitely pick up the next book.
5. Really great narrators.
What I needed more if:
1. It was a great read but not consuming. I enjoyed it but wasn’t riveted to the pages.
2. There good first chunk of the book is them not together. I didn’t hate it, but I felt like the synopsis didn’t allude to that. Synopsis not matching plot line is something that is hard for me as a reader to overcome.
Would I recommend? Yes. Will I read the next standalone? Absolutely!
4 STARS
This was a solid mafia read/listen. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline.
What I loved:
1. Dante was mafia, anti-hero goodness. Possessive, loving, understanding, but also willing to lay it all down for Bridget.
2. Bridget carries a lot on her shoulders - secrets, fear. She handles it very well.
3. I liked that the author explored how victims of SA can use kinks to deal with trauma. While it doesn’t go into too much detail, there is mention of a therapist being involved. It was a great aspect of the book.
4. Great storyline and follow through. I’ll definitely pick up the next book.
5. Really great narrators.
What I needed more if:
1. It was a great read but not consuming. I enjoyed it but wasn’t riveted to the pages.
2. There good first chunk of the book is them not together. I didn’t hate it, but I felt like the synopsis didn’t allude to that. Synopsis not matching plot line is something that is hard for me as a reader to overcome.
Would I recommend? Yes. Will I read the next standalone? Absolutely!
I loved Dante and Bridget so very much. Maggie Cole hit this one out of the park. Their story broke my heart and made me swoon.
Dante was SUCH an asshole in the beginning, but I was completely in love with him by the end. Gimme Immoral NOW, please!!!
Dante was SUCH an asshole in the beginning, but I was completely in love with him by the end. Gimme Immoral NOW, please!!!
Honestly this was brilliant. It was not a gentle read though!
This is a book full of trauma and secrets, which I don't typically like because I get too stressed! However, it is gripping and well told and a really good story.
Also, got to love when the main female character is 40 not 20! I will definitely read on, but I'm going to wait a while because that stressed me out so much!
This is a book full of trauma and secrets, which I don't typically like because I get too stressed! However, it is gripping and well told and a really good story.
Also, got to love when the main female character is 40 not 20! I will definitely read on, but I'm going to wait a while because that stressed me out so much!
Oh, the constant crying and d*ck twitching
Let me start off by saying I am a sucker for hot, dark men who look like they’re either want to ravage you or kill you, so I decided to purchase the entire Mafia Wars book series (whether it was going to be good or not). However, I was thoroughly disappointed by the coldness of the writing, in addition to pillar of salt Bridget and 24/7/365 d*ck twitching Dante. I’ll explain.
First off, I don’t care about the time skips as much as I care about the writing looking like a court case summary. It felt very cold, surgical and methodical which constantly interrupted the flow of the story. There didn’t seem to be a transition between the characters as a result which took me out of full immersion. Maybe I got used to it because at around 70% of reading left, I felt more comfortable. Still, I know some people DNF it due to said fact.
Secondly, Bridget is…and please forgive as I’ve not gone through what she has…but the amount of times she cries as well as the volume of said tears could fill an Olympic sized swimming pool. She weeps at the slightest provocation, the slightest thought, that it made me want to backhand her and tell her to STFU. Yes, you can hurt. Yes, you can let your tears flow, but how is she able to produce that much water? All the wailing was just so off putting and the way she handled her children was also awful. It’s no wonder Fiona and Sean Jr. hated her. She was worse than a helicopter parent. She completely took over their autonomy and independence. And all of a sudden her kids forgive after how many years of hate? A bit unrealistic, I think.
Thirdly, Dante… How many times did his d*ck twitch in Bridget’s presence? Even when she’s bawling her eyes out, his family jewels stir. I mean, he’s gotta have a crying kink because nearly all of the time it happened she was in that sorry state. His character seemed OK outside of that when it came to dealing with family matters, at least. But the absolute horniness was very inappropriate and just happening way too much for who he is (in my opinion).
I’m torn between giving this a 1 or a 2 star. 1 seems more fitting to me, but I could deal with a 2 seeing as I got used to the writing (which I still think was awful). We’ll see how it goes with Gianni in Immoral (though truth be told, he needs to be sh*t in the kneecap and given anger management lessons) but I’m not going to hod my breath. Dude’s an absolutely psycho who doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and as much as I love forceful MCs, he was too much for me.
Let me start off by saying I am a sucker for hot, dark men who look like they’re either want to ravage you or kill you, so I decided to purchase the entire Mafia Wars book series (whether it was going to be good or not). However, I was thoroughly disappointed by the coldness of the writing, in addition to pillar of salt Bridget and 24/7/365 d*ck twitching Dante. I’ll explain.
First off, I don’t care about the time skips as much as I care about the writing looking like a court case summary. It felt very cold, surgical and methodical which constantly interrupted the flow of the story. There didn’t seem to be a transition between the characters as a result which took me out of full immersion. Maybe I got used to it because at around 70% of reading left, I felt more comfortable. Still, I know some people DNF it due to said fact.
Secondly, Bridget is…and please forgive as I’ve not gone through what she has…but the amount of times she cries as well as the volume of said tears could fill an Olympic sized swimming pool. She weeps at the slightest provocation, the slightest thought, that it made me want to backhand her and tell her to STFU. Yes, you can hurt. Yes, you can let your tears flow, but how is she able to produce that much water? All the wailing was just so off putting and the way she handled her children was also awful. It’s no wonder Fiona and Sean Jr. hated her. She was worse than a helicopter parent. She completely took over their autonomy and independence. And all of a sudden her kids forgive after how many years of hate? A bit unrealistic, I think.
Thirdly, Dante… How many times did his d*ck twitch in Bridget’s presence? Even when she’s bawling her eyes out, his family jewels stir. I mean, he’s gotta have a crying kink because nearly all of the time it happened she was in that sorry state. His character seemed OK outside of that when it came to dealing with family matters, at least. But the absolute horniness was very inappropriate and just happening way too much for who he is (in my opinion).
I’m torn between giving this a 1 or a 2 star. 1 seems more fitting to me, but I could deal with a 2 seeing as I got used to the writing (which I still think was awful). We’ll see how it goes with Gianni in Immoral (though truth be told, he needs to be sh*t in the kneecap and given anger management lessons) but I’m not going to hod my breath. Dude’s an absolutely psycho who doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and as much as I love forceful MCs, he was too much for me.
The book gave the history in a great way. Highly emotional with plenty of wins and losses.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a very well thought out, well written, wonderful story. I’ll be honest and say the time jumps in the beginning did make me consider stopping, but curiosity won and I’m so glad it did.
I loved Dante. His willingness to protect and love was wonderful. I adored him so much.
Bridget was great as well. Her inner dialogue sometimes annoyed me but I think that was all due to the past. I would recommend reading this book!
I loved Dante. His willingness to protect and love was wonderful. I adored him so much.
Bridget was great as well. Her inner dialogue sometimes annoyed me but I think that was all due to the past. I would recommend reading this book!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5.
1. There were entirely too many time skips in this book. It felt like the author was too lazy to write so instead she put ‘A few weeks later’ every couple pages.
2. I’m convinced the male MC does not view the woman as a real person. In real life, people always comment on how when a guy asks you out, they won’t take no for an answer but they will leave you alone if you say you have a boyfriend. The male MC was perfectly fine being a nice and polite friend to her while she was married, but as soon as her husband died he started saying that she was his and making decisions for her. If he actually viewed her as autonomous of her own body and not simply a man’s possession he wouldn’t have began taking control of her life as soon as he saw her again after her husbands passing. Absolutely annoying.
1. There were entirely too many time skips in this book. It felt like the author was too lazy to write so instead she put ‘A few weeks later’ every couple pages.
2. I’m convinced the male MC does not view the woman as a real person. In real life, people always comment on how when a guy asks you out, they won’t take no for an answer but they will leave you alone if you say you have a boyfriend. The male MC was perfectly fine being a nice and polite friend to her while she was married, but as soon as her husband died he started saying that she was his and making decisions for her. If he actually viewed her as autonomous of her own body and not simply a man’s possession he wouldn’t have began taking control of her life as soon as he saw her again after her husbands passing. Absolutely annoying.