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A review by gee_reads_books
Shameless by Lola Malone
4.0
Despite being the second installment in the "Undeniable" series, "Shameless" can be read as an independent story. It follows two main characters: Connor Donnelly, member of the family organisation The Business, and Austin Carrington, who belongs to a different family organisation known as The Void. Connor and Austin went to college together, and back then, something with the power to hurt chronic wallflower Connor ended up in Austin's hands. So, when their paths cross again after a wave of associates of these two organisations wind up dead, all Connor wants is to crawl under a rock, and stay there forever. What happens, though, is the complete opposite: Austin and Connor end up being on a mission to infiltrate the mysterious cult that's said to be the root of their associates' murders. Since Austin still has the video that could turn Connor's life upside down, and is using it to make Connor do what he wants, the trip quickly takes an even more dangerous turn.
This is a short book, with a length that's absolutely perfect for anyone who needs a break inbetween thicker reads; is looking for a quick one (say, to kill time at an airport!); or wants to feel the accomplishment of getting a whole book read fast. Since it's a steamy MM mafia romance at that, I'd also absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes said genres. If you enjoyed "The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair", for example, then you'll enjoy this one as well! In terms of mafia-ing, though, it's quite a light read, so there aren't many trigger warnings in that regard.
With the genre mentality on, I found this to be quite enjoyable. Despite the pacing not allowing me to truly connect with most characters, I was invested to see what happened next, and I was also really thankful that the author was skilled enough to weave a plot into the book, but not overload it considering the length of the novel. I found that the book was well-plotted, well-paced, and overall well-written, which isn't something you usually find in stories this short, and I was very happy to devour it in a single day!
The steam is off the charts in this one (I'm so thankful that my hairdresser doesn't understand English), as well, and if you're here looking for spice, you will be more than delighted to hear that there's copious amounts of high-quality, scorching hot scenes! It was sweet to see that Connor's lack of sexual experience was never mocked, or used as a plot device or a running joke. Instead, he was guided by Austin, and he was given the chance to learn without any shaming. Some of the scenes, though, are quite dubcon, since Connor originally says no but is then distracted by the physical sensations Austin is giving him—which is something I think any reader should be aware of, going into the book. Also, since this is a lust-at-first-sight kind of book, there's less focus on the building of the romance, which is perfectly acceptable and even normal in this genre but may take some readers aback. I'm usually wary of instalove, so at first I found it a little hard to believe their whole thing, but their sexual chemistry and the insta-lust mentality instead helped me relax and enjoy the story.
Personally, I liked both main characters quite a lot, and had fun following their little investigation into the mysterious cult that seems to be responsible for their associates' murders. Their banter was fun, and since both have communication issues (AKA, Why Say What You Want And Feel When You Can Just... Not! :D), watching them struggle with their misunderstanding and not know what to do about it was quite entertaining. If it'd gone on for too long, it would've probably annoyed me, but I felt like it didn't. The plot wasn't rushed, so I could follow it easily while I also enjoyed all the hot scenes and sexy times! I walked away from the book feeling quite satisfied with what I'd read.
Completely recommend to anyone who enjoys mafia romances, MM stories, and steamy reads!
This is a short book, with a length that's absolutely perfect for anyone who needs a break inbetween thicker reads; is looking for a quick one (say, to kill time at an airport!); or wants to feel the accomplishment of getting a whole book read fast. Since it's a steamy MM mafia romance at that, I'd also absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes said genres. If you enjoyed "The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair", for example, then you'll enjoy this one as well! In terms of mafia-ing, though, it's quite a light read, so there aren't many trigger warnings in that regard.
With the genre mentality on, I found this to be quite enjoyable. Despite the pacing not allowing me to truly connect with most characters, I was invested to see what happened next, and I was also really thankful that the author was skilled enough to weave a plot into the book, but not overload it considering the length of the novel. I found that the book was well-plotted, well-paced, and overall well-written, which isn't something you usually find in stories this short, and I was very happy to devour it in a single day!
The steam is off the charts in this one (I'm so thankful that my hairdresser doesn't understand English), as well, and if you're here looking for spice, you will be more than delighted to hear that there's copious amounts of high-quality, scorching hot scenes! It was sweet to see that Connor's lack of sexual experience was never mocked, or used as a plot device or a running joke. Instead, he was guided by Austin, and he was given the chance to learn without any shaming. Some of the scenes, though, are quite dubcon, since Connor originally says no but is then distracted by the physical sensations Austin is giving him—which is something I think any reader should be aware of, going into the book. Also, since this is a lust-at-first-sight kind of book, there's less focus on the building of the romance, which is perfectly acceptable and even normal in this genre but may take some readers aback. I'm usually wary of instalove, so at first I found it a little hard to believe their whole thing, but their sexual chemistry and the insta-lust mentality instead helped me relax and enjoy the story.
Personally, I liked both main characters quite a lot, and had fun following their little investigation into the mysterious cult that seems to be responsible for their associates' murders. Their banter was fun, and since both have communication issues (AKA, Why Say What You Want And Feel When You Can Just... Not! :D), watching them struggle with their misunderstanding and not know what to do about it was quite entertaining. If it'd gone on for too long, it would've probably annoyed me, but I felt like it didn't. The plot wasn't rushed, so I could follow it easily while I also enjoyed all the hot scenes and sexy times! I walked away from the book feeling quite satisfied with what I'd read.
Completely recommend to anyone who enjoys mafia romances, MM stories, and steamy reads!