A review by k_champagne
Reaper by A. Zavarelli

4.0

“For a lad who likes to hurt women, ye sure do scream a bit,”

- Ronan AKA the Reaper, AKA Stoic man with the BDE I've always known I needed.

My heart broke at least ten times while reading this - Ronan's story is so tragic & soul shattering I want to hug him.
I loved so much about this book I'm not sure where I even start? I guess I'll just list them, so buckle up & get ready! WHAT I LOVED

#1 Ronan getting a dog. Specifically a Corgi.

“You aren’t going to kill it,” Conor says. “Are you?”
I push past him, slamming the door behind me.
I do not kill animals.
Or women.
Or children.
Conor should know this, but people always misread me.

Zavarelli is a literal genius for this pairing: The Reaper & The Corgi. Truly a match made in heaven, even more so than the human couples I think.

This interaction alone, between Ronan & Crow cemented it for me.. it's honestly my favorite interaction between the two. I read it at least 3 times. Like are you kidding me?
I want to read them dicussing wtf to do with a pup, & her "wee legs" for all eternity.

“What sort of dog is that?” he tilts his head to the side to examine her. “Is there something wrong with its wee legs?”
“Conor thinks it’s a Corgi,” I tell him. “Google said their legs are supposed to be wee. I looked it up.”
“What the hell are ye doing with it?” he asks.
“It was at Donny’s flat.”
“So ye decided to keep it? Do you even know what to do with a bloody dog?”
“I haven’t a clue,” I admit. “That’s why Conor feeds it.”
“Well it looks like it’s hungry now,” Crow points out.
“Is that why she’s carrying on like that?”
He shrugs. “What the hell do I know about dogs?”
I walk to the kitchen & grab the bag of dog food off the counter, scanning the label on the back. “It doesn’t say how much to give her.”
“Ah Jaysus, Fitz.” Crow laughs. “I don’t know how ye manage to keep yourself alive let alone a bloody animal.” He grabs the bag & fills the dish on the floor & then makes himself comfortable at my kitchen table.

Again with the wee legs & I'm grinning like a crazy person.

In the parlor, I stop and cover my mouth to stifle a laugh when I catch Ronan carting the Corgi up the stairs beneath his arm while she tries to lick at his face.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He sets her down at the top landing and smooths out his suit. “Her legs are too wee for the stairs,” he explains as he points at the offending limbs. “She can’t get down them to go outside.”
I laugh and he stares at me in confusion.
“She’s got you wrapped around her little paws,” I tell him.

#2 "Find us a baby"
Ronan, due to his tragic childhood, has issue with loud noises.

He talks to Crow about how he's afraid he could never be a dad because of the noise, that he can't give Sasha that etc etc. & Crow says he doesn't know what to do with a baby either. So, naturally Ronan proposes they find one to practice with… “because …. Ronan” as Sasha says.

I have no clue who they got a baby from, but if it wasn't for the "wee legs" on the corgi aspect of this book, this would easily be my #1 fav interaction.

Ronan & Lachlan are both hunched over a table, staring at the baby on top of it like they’re trying to work out a puzzle of some sort. Alexei is supervising from the side as is Daisy from down below.
“No, see these little flips go like so,” Ronan says as he points at the diaper on the table.
“I don’t think they do, Fitz,” Crow argues.
“They don’t stay like that.”
“Maybe you could tape them,” Alexei offers.
..she makes herself known - they boys are caught, they're embaressed.
I just caught the boss and the underboss of the Irish mob blushing over a baby.

#3 Scarlett, a v minor player in this story is an absolute boss ass queen

Though, the story & reasons are awful. She's one tough broad, loyal at that. She recognizes Daisy the Corgi, AKA Princess, informs the men of some background info all to help a woman who, like others, is being used as a crime pawn (being vague to avoid spoilers, so MY B if that (probably) makes no sense). This part, homegirl appears out of fucking no where & low key saves the day, without blinking, w.out hesitating or giving a little speach like the men seem to.

A shot goes off, and I have no idea where it came from. But the heavy weight around me falls away, and I turn around to check.
That’s when I see Scarlett standing there, wielding a gun in one hand and a knife in the other. She’s completely unhinged, her eyes dark and filled with a thirst for bloodlust.
I know because I’ve seen that same look on Ronan’s face many times before.

I realize I have not once mentioned the relationship between Ronan & Sasha, of which this entire book is centered on, but that wasn't even my favorite part!

Don't get me wrong, it was great. I wanted to scream at them both to JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER. And when Ronan was scared, nervous, walked away because he embaressed himself my heart shattered a bit more.
Ronan is such a unique character in that way- his back story, the way his mind words & logistics of it all. Again, it's tragic, & I'm so glad he got a happy ending.

Talia's book is next, not sure how I feel about her yet but thus far I LOVE Alexei. Conor has been in the background of both so far, I believe he's last & I can't WAIT to ready his.
Rory & Scarlett best have a book too somewhere in between there - I'm sure they do. I am loving this series.