Baxter Flynn is a wanted man in more ways than one.
He and Angelo Messina, ex-Underboss of the Morelli Family, have only strengthened their connection while they’ve been on the run, working toward their goal: find the one man who can clear their names.
But the law is always nipping at their heels, and for Bax—once an FBI agent—his underbelly life has never been completely comfortable.
Now Bax and Angelo have a solid tip on the whereabouts of their target, and with the help of the Castellani Family in Los Angeles, they might just pin him down…if they can get to him fast enough.
Because they’re not the only ones with an interest in the fugitive they’re chasing.
And all the while, one question grows larger in Bax’s mind: What happens after?
How can he and Angelo possibly make a life together that isn’t tainted by blood?
***
This is a single-POV book. For content notes, please consult the Copyright page.
Leighton Greene has been writing stories since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Her first book was a choose-your-own-adventure style book about deciding what to eat for breakfast. It didn't shake the New York Times bestseller list, but she still has a copy of it.
After spending some time writing in academia, fanfiction and corporate reporting, Leighton decided she should probably do what she actually wanted to do, which was to write commercial fiction. So she did. She writes gay romance and, when the mood strikes, erotica as L.J. Greene.
Leighton lives with her partner and her cockatiel on the east coast of Australia.
everything was just so.... unexciting and unarousing. no swoony moments. no thrilling events. no hot scorching sex. nothing. it wasn't boring though but the spice wasn't just there for me. first book read for this year sucks!
I'm so glad there is another book for Angelo Messina and his beau, Baxter Flynn. Angelo is my favorite character from the entire Morelli series and is great to catch up with him about his unfinished quest of trying to clear Baxter's name.
Vow of Vigilante introduce us to the Castellani family and let's just said they are cray cray. There was this suspense surrounding this Greco person that Angelo is hunting for and when the mystery was reveal, my reaction was "WTF! These people are crazy."
For me, the best part of the book is towards the end, about Angelo and Baxter embarking on their new life. The epilogue was everything I can wish got Angelo.
I know there is gonna be a spin off series for the new mafia family, I just hope Angelo doesn't get drag back into their mess. Despite how much I love to see him again, I want him to stay away from them forever.
*** I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book *** This was the perfect novella for Baxter and Angelo, their story has many loose ends, and finally seeing their story resolved with the perfect HEA was so great to see. Another great aspect of this novella was the great insight into the next mafia series taking place in Los Angeles, which is going to be exciting with a new crop of fascinating characters. This was the perfect send-off for these characters and I cannot wait to see more in this excitingly fun universe.
This was a lovely wrap up to Bax and Angelo's storyline even though it was a little underwhelming in the romance department. I love Bax and Angelo, but I didn't get enough Bax and Angelo, if you know what I mean. All was good with them wrapping up the case and getting everything they needed to sorted out to clear their names, but there wasn't much time with them together as a couple, and I missed that 🥺 Don't get me wrong, I loved the little scraps we did get, and of course the fact that , but I wanted more. It wouldn't have taken much, but it needed a little something else to take this from a 4* read to a 5* read.
Książki o mafijnych chłopcach z przymrużeniem oka 😉 bo gdyby tak mafia wyglądała, świat byłby ciekawszym miejscem 😆 Bez scen tortur, hektolitrów krwi i ponurych dramatów. Bardziej obyczajowe niż kryminalne. Lekko, czasami zabawnie, cała seria na podobnym poziomie, super 🙂
“What do you think, Babyface? Maybe we’ve had an unconventional courtship, but I’m a traditional man at heart. I’d like to make vows to you.”
3.5 stars. Wow okay I did not expect this book to make me emotional?? Haha but it did, especially near the end. It's a little novella to round off the series, following Bax and Angelo as they try to resolve their unfinished business and clear their names. The author also uses it as a way to introduce us to characters in her next series, and it was pretty effective at that. I really like Jack and I can't wait to get more about Julian's whole... deal. But Bax and Angelo were the stars here; I'd forgotten how warm and soft they made me feel, wah. :( At first I wasn't super hooked by in the plot, and the fact that it's a novella meant that I wasn't really expecting much out of it. But it turned out to be surprising and entertaining, and the romance REALLY made me heart squeeze. Especially at the end. My heart is too small!! I'm really glad we got to revisit them, and see how their relationship has turned into a true partnership, when they started out as enemies, and Bax being almost resentfully starry-eyed. Now look at them. Ugh. <3
Definitely going to take a break from the mafia stuff for a while, because I don't want to get too burnt out, but the author did a pretty effective job of reeling me in with these characters, and to a lesser extent, with the plots. I'm looking forward to moving to the West Coast!
This novella serves to give some sort of resolution to Bax and Angelo's quest to clear their names, and also introduces the author's next series of West Coast Mobsters. Personally, this was not my favorite book in the series (hello, Devoted to the Don!) and I found Julian, son of the Castellani family, very ... unsettling. But I loved Bax and Angelo coming to terms with what they do with the rest of their lives. 4 stars.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 💋💋💋 If you’ve been following this series you’ll love the return of Angelo and Bax. Now it’s time to follow their journey to clear their names, if that’s possible.
Bax is ex-FBI , accused of murder and Angelo is a Morelli . The story is fast moving and it’s full of action and romance between the two characters. They are made for each other. I adore both of them, their affection and chemistry is out of this world.
It’s got a brilliant plot that has run through quite a few of the previous books and they’ve made appearances in those too, but this is where you discover not just the depth of their love, but the depth they will go to to both clear their names and protect each other. Great read .recommend !
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
I’m so happy Angelo and Bax got a second book. I missed them. Plus, we really needed a resolution to their on the run status.
They are in LA for this installment and meet a cast of very odd characters. Julian, Alessandro and Jack made this a very entertaining book.
Julian was not what he appeared to be that’s for sure! And we get a spin-off book with Jack next! I’m excited for that.
Angelo truly is in love with Bax and he shows it in many ways. Bax in turn would take a bullet for Angelo. Their HEA was sweet and so very sexy. Loved it! Highly recommend this series!
please give this series a chance, ignore the ugly covers. the audiobook covers >>>> anyways the plot for this one was so good and their relationship sm fun, glad I picked up the last few books of this series
We're back with Angelo and Bax (from Enticed by the Enemy). They got a second sorta-HEA and we got to introduced to the new group of the next series, the West Coast Mobsters.
I enjoyed Angelo and Bax, but the storyline wasn't going anywhere in this one. They tried to clear their names while meeting new people and having interesting and exciting actions (both in the bed and on the streets), but at the end I felt a big emptiness. The book was great, but the end result? Nah.
Jack will be the MC of the next book but he isn't as interesting for me, so I'm not sure how I feel about this? I'll probably read the series but I am not as excited about it anymore as I was before (?).
Well, this is genuinely a wish come to life! My review of Angelo and Bax's book earlier in the series was that I hoped for more from this couple and here it is…yes!
Here's my only minor complaint - it's novella length and I'd really like so much more time with these guys.
Now with that said, I can appreciate this fabulous little snapshot of Angelo and Bax hunting down the man who can clear their names in New York. Yes it's short, but Vow of the Vigilante takes us on a race through LA, where they have to navigate the protocol of reaching out to a 'friendly' Family to let the Boss know they're in town; and ask for a bit of support in tracking down leads on Grecco with a view to handing him - and his testimony - over to Bax's FBI contact in NY. Of course, complications come thick and fast in this entertaining plotline. In terms of character or relationship development, there isn't that much room in the timeline for delving too deeply but Angelo and Bax do have the chance to wonder what life together would look like after Grecco's testimony does its job, given their different backgrounds and ties in New York. Honestly, though, we already know these guys are perfect for each other so I don't need more than that here. What we do get is a perfect-for-them wrap up of their story arc.
I'm delighted we get to see Bax and Angelo on this final leg of their adventure. It's got twists and turns, and is a bit twisted too. It's also got some serious sweetness and a good amount of heat. We also get an introduction to some characters who'll become better known to us in the future…and if they need to call on The Monster Of The Morellis and his partner occasionally I, for one, will absolutely not be upset. 4.5*
An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.
Introduction of the West Coast Mobsters – Wonderful M/M age-gap romance I have loved every one of these mafia books! This one will have you staying up late to finish. After Baxter Flynn and Angelo Messina are accused of a crime they did not commit, Angelo is given permission to leave by his Don, Luca D’Amato, Don of the Morelli Famiglia in NYC. Angelo had been Luca’s Underboss and right-hand man, but he’s in love with a former FBI Profiler, Baxter Flynn. Together they set out to prove they didn’t do it. For their love story read “Enticed by the Enemy.” The Prologue of “Vow” is interesting because it shows Angelo’s and Baxter’s side of the tragic events in “Devoted to the Don.” When Angelo’s Don needs him, Angelo will always be there. This book explores their search for the man who can prove their innocence of the crime back in NYC, the one and only Donnie Greco, former Clemenza Family enforcer. He’s an oaf who always seems to allude Angelo and Bax. How? When they finally get a tip that leads them to Greco, all he!! breaks loose. Is somebody setting up our duo again? Fascinating and surprising culmination to this book. How does Ms. Greene keep her books so fresh and different from each other? This book is told in Baxter’s POV only. There are many new and interesting characters introduced to us, one of whom will be the MC in the next book: Jacopo. “Vow” is a witty, humorous and steamy page-turner. If you like mafia M/M romance with lots of intrigue, read this book. The title will make sense in the end. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through Gay Romance Reviews.
First of all, I would really like to see any images Leighton used to envisage Bax – for * ahem * research purposes! Because when Finch described him as swole, I had to admit I really wished this was a movie.
And that was how I felt about the whole book – I could imagine it playing out on screen, with Angelo and Baxter pursing their only chance for justice, chasing down leads, intermingling with other Mafia families and enjoying being together. We meet Jack (who gets his own book His Lethal Desire) which is what led me to the Morelli family in the first place, as we try to track down Greco who could have a whole lot of answers for Angelo and Baxter.
Julian is here – I freaking adore Julian, and reading his shenanigans in this book, including his choice of outfit when he first meets Angelo and Bax, just made me love him more.
The biggest thing I loved about this book was the answers as to how a Federal Agent and the Monster of the Morellis manage to get a happily ever after. And they surely did – so much so that I re-read the last two chapters twice after I finished the book simply to soak in the joy of a well-deserved slice of heaven for the two of them.
This was a brilliant ending to my journey with the Morellis, although I wouldn’t mind visiting them every now and then – especially to visit Nicky and Carlo (hint hint) – and an easy 5/5 from me. My only regret is that I didn’t discover this series before.
Love love julian. He is a gem. I really need a book with Angelo and Julian together. Wish julian gets to sleep with angelo man he deserves it. Anyway flynn is boring as hell and angelo as a character is too legendary in this universe for him to end up as a bounty hunter with a boring disgraced ex fed. Like the idea was cool but as a couple they suck. Its a waste to pair up the most legendary character with a boring loser like flynn. This whole i don't wanna go back to nyc bcuz he is too insecure. Angelo should have ended up with someone like Julian who literally carried this whole book and all the west coast books. Julian is the best character of this universe and angelo was written like a legend who had so much more potential which got wasted on a loser like flynn. Man imagine angelo and julian working together?? It would be one of the best books ever. Angelo and Julian as a couple.???oh author i wished u realised their potential instead of doing stupid insta love between a legendary mobster and a loser on his first day at job. Anyways julian is one of the best character i have read. He deserves all he desires. Read his book people instead of the trash of angelo and his 0/10 love interest flynn. Wasted angelo messina as a character when the author wrote flynn as his love interest.
Baxter & Angelo This story seemed to move along very fast, and seemed almost like an afterthought to the Morelli Family series. I know that this is a follow-up to the MC's initial story earlier in the series, but it still feels more removed from the others--from what I can interpret. The emotional aspect of the characters also seems a bit lacking, but that may be because there is so much violence and drama surrounding this part of their story follow-up. I did enjoy the ending after all the drama of the story was concluded. I liked the sweet conclusion we were given to end Angelo & Baxter's story. All of the characters in the Morelli family series have their sweet personalities, and moments that clash--but don't clash--with the main storyline. It adds a level of entertainment I wouldn't have necessarily expected for a high drama mafia series.
Audiobook Update: Narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo I've enjoyed several of the Morelli Family audiobooks completed by this narrator and they're all very enjoyable, but I have to say that Baxter & Angelo sounded almost too much like Finch and Luca at times that I was thrown off temporarily. The story came together well, and it was an enjoyable listen, but I wouldn't say that this was my favorite of the Morelli Family series.
I received an authorized copy of this story/audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.
So I had no idea this was part of a series but I really loved the book and the authors style of writing! I was a tiny bit lost and had to figure some things out since I haven’t read the other books but I will definitely be going back and starting this series from the very beginning. This was such a great novella! Baxter and Angelo had such a sweet HEA. I cant believe I didn’t read their first story of how they fell in love before reading this one, but I am going to fix that! I can’t wait to go back to the begging and see everyone’s story play out from day one. I am also very much looking forward to the next mafia series that was introduced in this novella that take place in Los Angles. All in all I really enjoyed this book a lot and I am super excited to read more by this author. I am very intrigued by this series!
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
POV: 1st Person Single POV (Baxter)
Standalone or series: Book 7 in the Morelli Family series
Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩
Thank you to Leighton Greene for providing me a copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.
In this shorter Morelli Family novel (4 hours audio) we catch up with Baxter Flynn, and his boyfriend Angelo Messina, from book 3 (Enticed by the Enemy). Currently on the run, accused of a crime they didn’t commit, they wind up in LA following a lead that may get their names cleared, or lead them further into trouble.
What isn’t to love about Michael Ferraiuolo, again he brings these characters to life beautifully.
What I liked: The twist, I didn’t see coming, in fact the whole plot wiggled around enough to keep me guessing. Plus it was wonderful to have closure for Baxter and Angelo, I really love their relationship.
What didn’t work for me: The use of foreshadowing - I’m just not a fan of this literary device.
Final thoughts: A nice farewell to some beloved Morelli Family members.
Who would enjoy this: Fans of contemporary romance with mobster protagonists. I would strongly recommend reading the entire series before this one to avoid spoilers but at the bare minimum read book three.
I’ve loved this series from the beginning and I was equally drawn to this story. Enticed by the Enemy needs to be read before this to get the whole background. These characters so fit yet backgrounds are so opposite. Even though Angelo has been the such a big part of the Morelli Family from the time he was young he has always sort of been more of a background person. Bax is ex-FBI so naturally they have a little different outlook on situations. Since they are been trying to clear their names they have been hiding out while trying to get evidence of their innocence. This story put the icing on the cake for this part of their story. The author did a great job tying up this part which had been an open issue to this series. I have to laugh at the new careers these two decide to pursue. I am hoping that this is also a new beginning and these characters will be a part of the Los Angeles stories. The only thing I missed was Finch and Luca. Somehow, I think they brought so much to this series besides Finch’s character just made me enjoy the stories more.
This is a story about Baxter Flynn, a former FBI agent, and Angelo Messina, an ex-mafia underboss, who are on the run together. They have strengthened their bond while trying to track down a fugitive who can clear their names. Despite their growing connection, Bax is struggling with his new life outside the law. They have a lead on their target, but others are also chasing him. The central conflict is not just about catching their target, but about what happens afterward. Bax wonders if he and Angelo can ever have a peaceful life together that isn't defined by violence and their pasts.
I loved this story with the two men who were on the joint quest to clear their names after being incorrectly identified as the people behind a series of murders in New York. I loved their relationship and the way that they worked together that showed the depths of their feelings for each other. The plot and story all had complexity and multiple layers. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.
With most of the Morelli Family happy and settled, it was a great ending to see Bax and Angelo work towards settling themselves, as well.
While the finale of the series wasn't as action packed or high octane as I was expecting, there was more than enough plotting, scheming, and thwarting to go around. And while we didn't see too much of the New York faction of the Morelli Family, we definitely got a glimpse of things in Los Angeles.
Bax and Angelo made a great team through this book. It was easily apparent how much their relationship has grown, how much their skills have sharpened, and how easily they trust each other and rely on each other. And I loved seeing that so much.
While the Morellis get their happy endings, the stage has been set for a spin-off series, set in Los Angeles with what appears to be an incredibly twisted Family. Whatever the Castellanis have to offer, I'll be ready for it.
Boy, did I miss these two. I admit, it has been some time since I read their book, so it did take me a bit to re-familiarize myself with their story (particularly why they were on the run in the first place). But once I caught up, it was spectacular.
This does read more like a novella, and is only in Bax’s POV which was slightly disappointing. There were a few fade-to-black scenes that I felt could have been developed more because, to my knowledge, this is not actually considered a novella. I think some scenes could have been fleshed out more.
Overall, I really just love this universe so much. Every couple has left me smitten.
I’m really happy we got to see these two together again and see them finally clear their names.
I could read about the Morelli Family for forever if I could.
It’s great to see Angelo and Bax again, and to know that their chemistry is stronger than ever, as is their teamwork and sense of purpose. In this book, they’re working to tie up the loose ends from where their last adventure ended, and doing so with plenty of style, heat, and a beautiful depth of feeling between them. It’s clear they love each other, and it's fun and rewarding to watch that love deepen as they weather all the obstacles thrown their way as they work towards an HEA that absolutely fits with both of their skill sets. It’s also nice to see the groundwork laid here for a new series– I’m a fan of Jack already: as a supporting character he shines here, and it will be fun and interesting to see what his story looks like when it comes out.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I could not be more happy that Angelo and Bax "Babyface" got their HEA. I teared up a little at the end because it was just the perfect ending for these two. You need to read this book because this is the closure that Angelo and Baxter deserved after running for so long. 💖
This book shows how their relationship has grown. Shows how much they love each other. As always, Leighton Greene is excellent at developing the plot no matter how long or short the story is, I kept biting my nails and even got a little scared as events went on. I kept thinking "what kind of crazy @$#%^ is so obsessed with Angelo and why?" It turned out that person was indeed as pretty freaking crazy as I thought. This book introduces new and interesting characters that I am veeery curious about. Hopefully they will all get an opportunity for a book.
Vow of the Vigilante isn’t as complex as some of Greene’s other Morelli books, but it’s still full of heat and action. I love that we get to check in with Angelo and Baxter from Enticed By The Enemy again, and the mystery is solid. Angelo and Bax are in LA trying to find the mobster who can clear their names. They work with the Castellani Family, a local Mafia outfit, to try to track him down, but things don’t go to plan. Angelo and Bax are as good together as ever, and it’s awesome to see them get their happy ending. It also does a good job of introducing readers to the Castellani’s, the Family at the center of Greene’s upcoming West Coast Mobsters series. It’s a quick read that’s a lot of fun.
They are my favorite couple in this series and I am so so happy that they finally are able to close that chapter in their lives that started it all for them.
Bax and Angelo are a match made in heaven, literally! I love how their relationship started and finally in this book we will be able to read how their relationship has grown and become more stable in more ways than even Bax could be worried about. Bax keeps thinking of what will happen after they find the man who could finally clear both their names, what happens to their relationship. But Angelo has always been sure that whatever happens next, they will be together no matter what.
A well-deserved HEA/ending for two beloved characters created by this wonderful author. Congratulations Leighton Greene!
This audiobook was good. It was nice to see a resolution for Angelo and Bax. They needed their HEA. This book is not a standalone and resolves things that happened previously in the series. This book is a switch to a single POV.
This seems more like a filler book to set up a new spin off series. At the same time it is enough that it gave all the Morelli Family characters a resolution and introduced some… interesting new characters. There is a lot of action and plenty of steam and a well deserved HEA.
The narration was well done. Michael Ferraiuolo is always a narrator I know will perform books well and make them come to life.
I received a copy of this audiobook and this in my honest opinion.
In this continuati0n of the Morelli family you reunite with mobster, Angelo and his lover , ex-Fed Baxter and their pursuit of a man who could clear their names of a murder. I loved all these Morelli books and this seemed too short as this couple is my favorite. Several twists happen In L.A. and this book accelerates the excitement with bringing in characters for a new series. Angelo and Baxter get a HEA in a way that was a surprise. I am an admirer of Leighton's work and really enjoyed their book and steamy romance. I will count the days until the next Leighton Greene book. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.
Great end for this couple in the form of a new beginning.
Written in first person POV, all from Bax’s POV. Good amount of M/M sexy times. No real humor but I wasn’t expecting any. Less “mob-y” than some of the other mafia books - off the page torture but nothing really graphic. I appreciated that this book wrapped up Bax and Angelo’s story while being fairly separate fro. The other Morelli books. I would suggest reading the other Morelli books first but this one is almost a standalone. This book gives Bax and Angelo a HEA while introducing the MC in the next series. Overall, 4.5 stars rounded up. Only complaint is that I wanted more action.