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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
scarlett_joker's review against another edition
4.0
Characters - Both Dom and Seth are likeable characters, but in their own ways. Dom is an ice-cold mafioso, but his softer side is shown at several times throughout the book. His dry humour and bitterness at his unfair position helps make him a 3d character. Seth has moments of being a whiny kid and makes some really stupid and cruel decisions, but he is a good guy at heart who just isn't really built for mob life and has been put in a crappy situation. Both have some level of internalised homophobia but at the same time accept their sexuality. The issue is the limits they have to put on their sexuality in public.
Plot - Seth is the son of a mafia Don, who is kidnapped and ransomed out. He is then brought back to his childhood home in Italy where he learns something very unexpected. Dom is told to take Seth to Berlin and train him. It is nice to see a character who isn't instantly a martial arts master and a perfect assassin - Seth really is not cut out for the mafia, and he has real problems learning what he needs to (though he isn't *totally* useless). I have the mind of an idealist who dislikes some of the harder truths in life, so it's difficult to read gritty books for me sometimes. Seth cannot be 'out' anymore, because it will mean death for him, and he. Though I know this happens, I tend to dislike reading it, but it did add a further layer of realism and helped me sense the hopelessness that takes over Seth.
Relationship/Sex - Seth and Dom start off as reluctant allies with an unhappy past. The sex starts off as dub con, but over time Seth accepts 'bottoming' for Dom and they both open up to each other slightly, and you can really feel the beginning of deep feelings between the two men. It is very steamy!.
Cannot wait for part 2!
Spoiler
(Dom, for instance, has a real dislike for camp men)Plot - Seth is the son of a mafia Don, who is kidnapped and ransomed out. He is then brought back to his childhood home in Italy where he learns something very unexpected. Dom is told to take Seth to Berlin and train him. It is nice to see a character who isn't instantly a martial arts master and a perfect assassin - Seth really is not cut out for the mafia, and he has real problems learning what he needs to (though he isn't *totally* useless). I have the mind of an idealist who dislikes some of the harder truths in life, so it's difficult to read gritty books for me sometimes. Seth cannot be 'out' anymore, because it will mean death for him, and he
Spoiler
is forced to marry a womanRelationship/Sex - Seth and Dom start off as reluctant allies with an unhappy past. The sex starts off as dub con, but over time Seth accepts 'bottoming' for Dom and they both open up to each other slightly, and you can really feel the beginning of deep feelings between the two men. It is very steamy!
Spoiler
I didn't think much of the threesome though, it seemed unnecessaryCannot wait for part 2!
charmon's review against another edition
2.0
This was hard for me to read. I just did not like Dom at all and Seth seemed like such a big baby most of the time. Literally like at 95% it felt like perhaps they were actually maybe making strides to a real relationship, but so far there really has been. Just lust...the story outside these two with what is going on is not bad. I am interested to see what happens, but probably will not come back to this book for some time, as it took me over a month to finish...
catalina0730's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Ok in my opinion this thing is dark and I love that but there was a scene that I really couldn’t wrap my head around and not to hate so that justified my three stars. If you look past that it was actually funny and kind of hard core in some ways. It still sound crazy how all the books in the series revolve around the same couple so I try to have a open mind and hope for nothing sad.
_melissa_9901's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Please take to heart the author's warning at the end of the blurb - this is very accurate. There may be spoilers ahead.
This book was more of a 2.5 to 2.75 rounded up to 3 for GR rating purposes. I wanted to love it but I had some issues with the book. We start off the book with Seth (who has been living on his own in US for several yrs) being kidnapped, rescued and then ushered onto a plane to attend his Mother's funeral back home. I found that for most of the book I didn't like either of the two MC's. Seth was a whiny, squeamish, spoiled brat that I wasn't expecting after the repeated description's of how big/strong he was. I also don't understand how growing up as the Don's son he could be so sheltered - especially with the peek to the past we are given at the end of the book. Dom was a sadistic bastard only thinking of himself for most of the book - can any one say funeral church sequence - talk about a taboo!! I did actually find Dom's dark humor funny at times. Most of the book takes place with the two of them in Berlin attempting to find out who was behind the kidnapping and Dom being tasked with 'training' Seth as his father named him his successor the night before his Mom's funeral. I didn't start to like either of them until about 3/4 of the way into the book. I'm hoping with the next book we find out more about both Dom and Seth's childhood and what brought them to where they are now. The whole half-brother thing is not my cuppa. Especially their nonchalant attitude to it - with the author's writing though half the time I forgot about it as they are seriously hot together. Even though I had issues with the book I will be continuing - because damn you K A Merikan - I have to know what happens!
Please take to heart the author's warning at the end of the blurb - this is very accurate. There may be spoilers ahead.
This book was more of a 2.5 to 2.75 rounded up to 3 for GR rating purposes. I wanted to love it but I had some issues with the book. We start off the book with Seth (who has been living on his own in US for several yrs) being kidnapped, rescued and then ushered onto a plane to attend his Mother's funeral back home. I found that for most of the book I didn't like either of the two MC's. Seth was a whiny, squeamish, spoiled brat that I wasn't expecting after the repeated description's of how big/strong he was. I also don't understand how growing up as the Don's son he could be so sheltered - especially with the peek to the past we are given at the end of the book. Dom was a sadistic bastard only thinking of himself for most of the book - can any one say funeral church sequence - talk about a taboo!! I did actually find Dom's dark humor funny at times. Most of the book takes place with the two of them in Berlin attempting to find out who was behind the kidnapping and Dom being tasked with 'training' Seth as his father named him his successor the night before his Mom's funeral. I didn't start to like either of them until about 3/4 of the way into the book. I'm hoping with the next book we find out more about both Dom and Seth's childhood and what brought them to where they are now. The whole half-brother thing is not my cuppa. Especially their nonchalant attitude to it - with the author's writing though half the time I forgot about it as they are seriously hot together. Even though I had issues with the book I will be continuing - because damn you K A Merikan - I have to know what happens!
moolissap's review against another edition
4.0
A gritty, raw, erotic and dark romance. Seth is kidnapped and tortured. Domenico is sent to “rescue” him. Seth ends up back in his mafia family that he originally left but now with unwanted responsibilities. Dom’s job is to watch over and train Seth but Dom has his own ideas for what that means.
Interesting byplay between Seth and Dom and so very hot! After this book I’m more of a fan of Dom but hopefully Seth will grow in the series. KA Merikan knows how to set a scene and draw you in. Great read!
Interesting byplay between Seth and Dom and so very hot! After this book I’m more of a fan of Dom but hopefully Seth will grow in the series. KA Merikan knows how to set a scene and draw you in. Great read!
christinemomo's review against another edition
4.0
January 2023. Dark crime/mafia MM romance novel, first in a series.
Seth, A 20-something heir to a mafia family who has chosen a life away from it all in America is kidnapped, tortured, ransomed back, and announced heir over his older brother by his mafia father, resulting in a target on his back and the anger of just about everyone in the mafia family.
Seth ends up paired with a rival from childhood ordered to train him as successor, who has little patience or respect for our main character’s soft lifestyle and lack of combat prowess or brutality.
This was dark and interesting, and I liked it quite a bit. I’ll definitely read more of the series. Read on Kindle Unlimited.
My main objection is honestly just an absurd number of steamy explicit scenes, generally speaking I find having those a plus if they are well-written, but I found myself wanting the plot to move forward quicker.
“He Is Poison” (book one of Guns N’ Boys)by K.A. Merikan.
Seth, A 20-something heir to a mafia family who has chosen a life away from it all in America is kidnapped, tortured, ransomed back, and announced heir over his older brother by his mafia father, resulting in a target on his back and the anger of just about everyone in the mafia family.
Seth ends up paired with a rival from childhood ordered to train him as successor, who has little patience or respect for our main character’s soft lifestyle and lack of combat prowess or brutality.
This was dark and interesting, and I liked it quite a bit. I’ll definitely read more of the series. Read on Kindle Unlimited.
My main objection is honestly just an absurd number of steamy explicit scenes, generally speaking I find having those a plus if they are well-written, but I found myself wanting the plot to move forward quicker.
“He Is Poison” (book one of Guns N’ Boys)by K.A. Merikan.
rebecca_3's review against another edition
5.0
This review can also be found on my blog: A Match Made in Heaven
I really loved this book even thouhgh it felt incomplete and it pushed my limits a little bit.
I was in the mood for a dark romance, and that is most definitely what I got. This book is violent. And Dom is a monster, a passionate, obsessive monster. I love him. Seth is not what I expected. Despite the fact that he is muscular and physically larger than Dom, he seems so weak in comparison. Even though Seth does not fit into Dom's world at all and Dom cannot help but laugh at him and mock him sometimes for his foolishness, there are still things about Seth that Dom finds completely irresistible, and not just his body. It is such a strange dichotomy. Seth's incompetence makes him roll his eyes, but at the same time his dependence on him makes Dom’s blood burn.
I find it surprising that neither of them fought their relationship harder. The hard life they are in has no room for weakness, and in the Villani family being gay is a death sentence. But they both just threw themselves into it and never looked back. And on top of all that, they seem to be half brothers, which is completely disgusting of course, but I am holding out hope for a City of Glass moment.
The last sex scene of the book was beautiful. Although neither of them have even thought the world 'love' yet, it seemed to be screaming at them in that scene. Seth hates to bottom but he did it for Dom and told him it was only for him, no one else, because he was the only one good enough. Dom was so tender and it was amazing.
I am totally in love with Dom and Seth and their complicated, angst-filled relationship. I love Dom's love tinged with obsession, and Seth's love tinged with fear. I can't see how things will work out for them and I am so excited to read the next part of their story to see what will happen next, and what they will be willing to sacrifice to try to make it work.
I really loved this book even thouhgh it felt incomplete and it pushed my limits a little bit.
I was in the mood for a dark romance, and that is most definitely what I got. This book is violent. And Dom is a monster, a passionate, obsessive monster. I love him. Seth is not what I expected. Despite the fact that he is muscular and physically larger than Dom, he seems so weak in comparison. Even though Seth does not fit into Dom's world at all and Dom cannot help but laugh at him and mock him sometimes for his foolishness, there are still things about Seth that Dom finds completely irresistible, and not just his body. It is such a strange dichotomy. Seth's incompetence makes him roll his eyes, but at the same time his dependence on him makes Dom’s blood burn.
I find it surprising that neither of them fought their relationship harder. The hard life they are in has no room for weakness, and in the Villani family being gay is a death sentence. But they both just threw themselves into it and never looked back. And on top of all that, they seem to be half brothers, which is completely disgusting of course, but I am holding out hope for a City of Glass moment.
The last sex scene of the book was beautiful. Although neither of them have even thought the world 'love' yet, it seemed to be screaming at them in that scene. Seth hates to bottom but he did it for Dom and told him it was only for him, no one else, because he was the only one good enough. Dom was so tender and it was amazing.
I am totally in love with Dom and Seth and their complicated, angst-filled relationship. I love Dom's love tinged with obsession, and Seth's love tinged with fear. I can't see how things will work out for them and I am so excited to read the next part of their story to see what will happen next, and what they will be willing to sacrifice to try to make it work.
deliaknits's review against another edition
5.0
Well written and has a good pacing. Steamy sex scenes and a good choreographed fight. Some of the tropes and themes were not for me. But if you like them, you will like this book.
