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Original Sin #1

Man's Ruin

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Magdalene is a mob-connected madam. Tommy Flynn is the hitman who loves her. And when they're framed for the murder of a rival crime boss’s favorite son, Magdalene fears the sins of her past have come back to haunt her. After spending half a lifetime in a seamy underworld where love is for sale and men worship at the altar of sex and greed, claiming sanctuary in a cathedral is the last thing she wants to do - and the only chance she has to find out who set her up.

With all clues pointing to Magdalene's ex-lover, a working girl called Lola, the legendary madam is reluctant to trust Tommy, a smooth-talking hired gun, and risk being burned again. But as time grows short and secrets are revealed, Magdalene will have to look into the dark places inside herself if she is to catch a killer and survive with body and soul intact.

In the corrupt city of Crawley, Massachusetts, passion, crime and religion collide in this steamy, neo-noir work of romantic suspense.

260 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2016

2 people are currently reading
969 people want to read

About the author

Nicola R. White

20 books178 followers
Nicola R. White is no stranger to the fantastic. Although there are no Furies in her family tree (that she knows of), she comes from a small city on the east coast of Canada where ghost stories and superstitions abound. She has worked on movie sets, as a bartender, in a lighthouse, and as a lawyer, and though she’s never been an exotic dancer like her character, Alex Hughes, she does know how to pole dance.

She has always been fascinated by the strange and morbid, and often stays up too late reading books that give her nightmares. She believes truth is stranger than fiction, and just a few of her heroes are Buffy, Dana Scully, and Xena.

Nicola is a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, and is an active member and supporter of the award-winning Romance Divas website and online forum.

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5 stars
22 (61%)
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9 (25%)
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Tasha Mahoney.
1,215 reviews45 followers
May 3, 2018
Overall Rate 5 stars

Performance Rate 5 stars

Story Rate 5 stars

This audiobook had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't listen to it in the way I usually listen to audiobooks. I usually pace myself and listen when I am alone or at the gym, in this case I was antisocial. I binge listened because I had to know what happened next. If my usual reading tipple is a cup of tea this was a straight up Vodka!

Let's talk characters. Our focus throughout is on Magdalene and Tommy, they are not, on paper, character's that you could like. She is the Madam at a high end, mob controlled brothel and Tommy is a hit man and the guard at that brothel. I liked them both despite their none-too-small flaws. Why? That is hard to answer. When the story opens they are mob controlled and there are things from their past and their careers that have made them incredibly strong, frightening and on the surface cold characters. As the book progresses we get to know Magdalene and Tommy and find there is so much more to them than being a Madam and a Hit man. Tommy is a warm, caring and in some ways gentle character. Magdalene while openly strong, has been let down and used by men her whole life. She is broken in many ways but her inner strength becomes clear as the book develops.

Now to the story.  Narrated by Carol Ayon and told through Magdalene's point of view the book begins with Magdalene on her day off with her girlfriend Lola when she receives the telephone call from Tommy that sets the story in motion. A rival and infinitely more powerful gang boss' son and a prostitute have been murdered at the brothel. Both were shot in the method known to be Tommy's signature and Tommy was the one in charge of guarding the room at the time of the murder. They are both in deep trouble! Magdalene will be held accountable because she is in charge of everything that happens on the site and all evidence seems to point at Tommy being the shooter.

This book is a race against time, Magdalene and Tommy must find out who was ultimately responsible for the murders and the clock is ticking because while they are hunting the killers they are also being hunted.

Nicola R. White has penned an extremely fast paced, sexy thriller and it really delivers in intensity and shocks. If I was a nail biter I would have no nails left! I cannot wait to dive into more of her work. Dive in is the perfect phrase to use because I became completely immersed and invested in this story.

Carol Ayon is one very talented narrator! I felt the voice acting was incredible, she maintained the intensity, emotion  and innate sexiness of Magdalene throughout the book and the other characterisations were equally well done, well defined and expressive. The voices assigned to the characters (especially Tommy as there is plenty of narrative involving him) were consistent and believable. The different characters had different accents and those accents were equally well done.

Consider me now a fan of both Nicola R. White and Carol Ayon


I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Nicola R. White. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Profile Image for S.P. Aruna.
Author 3 books74 followers
June 3, 2018
This not your usual mob romance. It's got mystery, action, politics, adventure, and explores the seedy worlds of prostitution, crime, and power. Like icing on a cake, it's got plenty of sex, all within a plot of twists and turns. Not bad!
Profile Image for Ashley Carr, LSoR.
5,003 reviews63 followers
November 28, 2016
This is the first book I've read by Ms. White and it was compelling. A mob boss' number one hit man (Tommy) and a mob boss' madam (Magdalene) go on an exciting adventure trying to solve a murder mystery. When the son of a rival crime family is murdered at Magdalene's brothel her and Tommy are framed for his murder. The hit has Tommy's signature all over it. Magdalene thinks her very dark and violent past is catching up to her. While they run for their lives they get intimately acquainted in a Catholic Church no less. This book contains mystery, intrigue and a whole lot of action. I recommend this book for anyone that loves mob books and suspense books.
Profile Image for Brandi Elliott.
148 reviews12 followers
December 3, 2016
This is an incredible love story between a powerful "Madam" & her most trusted "hitman". With all that power & corruption there's going to be insurmountable trouble lurking in every corner. Can their love overcome any & all obstacles? You #mustread to find out. This is an AMAZING READ!!!
Profile Image for Patty.
5,149 reviews55 followers
March 20, 2018
This is my first Nicola R White book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Not a typical mafia book, this involved Magdalene, the owner of a brothel and Tommy, infamous hit man. A murder took place in the brothel and these two are being framed. White has included a lot in this story, not a typical kill the person, hide the body and find the culprit. Magdalene has a lot of baggage, a secret that can destroy so many lives and has trouble trusting and loving. Tommy does his best to keep her safe, but is his love and skill enough? There are many twists and turns in this book, enough to keep the story fluid, thrilling and interesting.

This is my first narration by Carol Ayon. I commend her for trying to keep the characters in their ethnicity, but I did find her Spanish accent irritating. Her normal narration was wonderful, including the Boston accents for other characters. I would have preferred her to give Magdalene a different voice.
Profile Image for Janet.
419 reviews
April 30, 2018
3.5 Stars
This is my first book by this author and narrator. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre so I was looking forward to listening to this book. While there were elements in the story that I found intriguing and suspenseful, this listener struggled with the book at times. Overall I find that I am giving this book a 3.5 rating. There were times when I felt like the author just wasn't clear enough as to what was happening in the story, or maybe it was with the narration and not being able to follow well enough because I didn’t feel the narrator changed her voice enough to know who was who in a scene. Knowing who all the players were, was that one thing that was really missing in this story and maybe if I had read the book I could give it a higher rating or maybe if it was done in dual narration it would have been easier. With many scenes having multiple people talking, not knowing exactly knowing who was who caused me to struggle. Yet even with those struggles, I was able to predict things so that also took away from my enjoyment. There was a surprise or two a few times that and the narrator doing a better job in changing her voice for the various characters helped with the 3.5 rating. I had no issues with the sound quality and enjoyed the occasional background noise that went with the story to give it a more real feel.
Profile Image for Tim Covell.
Author 3 books9 followers
December 31, 2025
Quite a romp. The main characters, madam and hitman, are more fantasies of sex and power than real people, with redeeming qualities that make them appealing against all odds. Framed and on the run, the story focus is their relationship, so generically I suppose this is a romantic-suspense novel, but grittier and steamier, as suggested by the subtitle. Fun, fast, and thoughtful. The prequel short story nicely sets the tone. The concluding essay has a touch of square-up to it, but provides an interesting context.
826 reviews8 followers
February 26, 2017
WOW. This book grabs you from the first page and just keeps going at full pace. So many twists and turns while on the run and not sure who is friend or foe. A quick read but boy it packs a decent punch.
Profile Image for Tara Bryant.
184 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2016
Man's Fury
Nicola R. White

"I brush my hair until it shines, strap on a push-up bra and a pair of shoes that cost more than most people make in a month, and I pretend not to despise the men who rent my girls for a night."

Corruption. Deception. Sex. Betrayal. What do you do when you have nowhere to turn? How do you make it through this world with no one to help you? You do what ever it takes to survive. You sometimes have to do things that hurt yourself and others...

"His prediction comes true as he slumps to his side and his life bleeds out of him—I am a killer. His dead eyes continue to stare at me even after he is gone. I have a feeling they’ll be watching me for the rest of my life."

When Magdalene's life began, it was based on deception and seduction. She was shoved aside and ignored. Deciding to change her fate, Magdalene runs. Far away...into a life filled with shadows and nightmares, where she is forced to do things that would forever change her. Tommy has had a rough life. In and out of foster care, turning to a group of thugs for company, Tommy's future path leads down a dark hallway of abuse and death. When a murder happens too close to home, Tommy and Magdalene must revisit their demons to make it out alive.

"Out here, there are no lies, the cold just is what it is. It doesn’t care whether you’re dressed appropriately, or if you can breathe, or whether you’ve just had your whole world turned upside down. The cold November air tells you, without exaggeration or concern, that it will kill you if you don’t keep moving. And it will not be personal."

This book was AMAZING! Nicola had my attention with the first paragraph. I found each time I stopped reading, I craved more! Magdalene is powerful, confident, woman that doesn't let people use her. Instead, she ruins THEM! I can't say enough about this book, it's a rare gem! So different from many of the other books I've read! I need more Magdalene and Tommy please!!!!

Tara
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews188 followers
December 1, 2016
Magdalene is now a powerful mob-connected madam, who rose quickly up the ranks, after being one of the girls. Tommy Flynn is the best hitman, who loves her. One night, out of the blue, they are framed for a murder of a powerful rival crime boss' favorite son. Now they are surrounded by betrayal from all sides, and must go on the run together. Racing against the clock, they must uncover the truth before they are caught and killed. Since so many clues point to Magdalene, she must dig deep down in her dark past. But will she take down her walls in order to trust Tommy, before it's too late?

Man's Ruin was an action packed story that I enjoyed a lot, not to mention, kept my heart racing. To me though, it was too much information in the beginning, so it took me a bit to understand what was truly going on, but after I got past the confusion, I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. I had never read Nicola R. White, and I'm so glad that I had to opportunity to read her, and her original spin on a crime thriller. In the midst of all the chaos, and suspense, she added in some very well placed humor, (hair dye and a priest) that had me laughing hard. Her diabolical twists and turns never stopped, so some clues were easy, and others not so much. This, of course, led to some great f-bomb dropping moments that scared my cat, when I screamed them out of the blue. I just wished the ending had been a bit less rushed, but I'm excited to read more by this author, especially in this new series, so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Katie.
2,260 reviews15 followers
December 2, 2016
5 star review
Read and reviewed on behalf of 2 girls who love books blog.
What a book! Man’s Ruin by Nicola R. White was sexy, racy and a whole lot of naughty! It’s definitely not for everybody though as it has some violent scenes as well as explicit sex ones in it but it makes for one fabulous dark read full of passion, crime and religion.
The story is about Magdalene, a mob-connected madam and Tommy Flynn, the hitman who is in love with her. When they are framed for a murder, Magdalene fears that the sins of her past were coming back to haunt her. The last thing she wants to do is claim sanctuary in a cathedral but it’s her only chance to find out who set her up.
I have to say this isn’t the usual type of book that I read but as soon as I read the synopsis I knew I had to read it and I was no disappointed at all. I was hooked from the very first page and although it is on the short side (188 pages) it was in no way rushed, had some great plot twists and had me guessing until the end. I thought the character development was good and their background stories came through well enabling me as the reader to understand the course of action they took in the story.
I highly recommend this book and it fully deserves the 5 dark stars I give it! I’m definitely going to be looking for more books by this author.
Profile Image for Beyond The Covers Blog.
2,518 reviews91 followers
December 3, 2016
Susan Reviewed on behalf of Mytimeoutbookblog

I give Man's Ruin 5 stars for pulling me in, keeping me hooked and giving me a thriller with a lot of steamy on the side.

Nicole R. White has managed to bring the church, a madam, and a hitman together and mesh it all together and create a masterpiece. The characters are strong and the plot is interesting and action packed.

Magdalene and Tommy Flynn are associates. What connects them...the mob. She's an ex prostitute, turned madam, and he, a hitman. Tommy is in love with Magdalene.

After a rival boss' son is killed, they are the prime suspects so they go on the run. Tommy, along with her help, needs to figure out who betrayed them and clear their names or be killed. He will protect her at all cost.

Magdalene is worried the sins of her youth will come back and haunt her. She does not want to hide inside a church but quickly realizes she has no choice. Whats her aversion to the church?

Man's Ruin is a suspense/romance novel which includes murder, prostitution, mob bosses and mayhem but also tenderness, passion and overall acceptance. Remember, God hates the sin, but loves the sinner.

I loved this book and yes, as promised, passion, crime, and religion collide in this steamy thriller!
Profile Image for Charles Ray.
Author 562 books153 followers
November 3, 2016
Magdalene is the madam of a mob boss’s brothel. Tommy Flynn is the boss’s number one hitman. When a rival crime boss’s son is killed in the brothel and Magdalene and Tommy are framed for the crime, they are forced to take sanctuary in a cathedral while they struggle to find the real killer. Time is quickly running out for them as they are besieged on all sides, and Magdalene fears that her dark past has finally caught up with her.
Man’s Ruin by Nicola R. White is an erotic mystery in which there are no good guys, and it’s definitely not for the squeamish. The action flows as relentlessly as a raging river as Magdalene and Tommy burrow deep into the bowels of two rival gangs, dealing with murder and betrayal at every turn. No holds are barred, and the author doesn’t deal in euphemisms, so if explicit language and action bother you, give this book a pass. If, though, you like a mystery that pulls you in like an undertow, you might want to give it a look.
I received a reader’s advance copy of this book.
60 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2016
Lately I have read my fair share of mob inspired stories and it was staring to get old with the same storyline and outcome. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Man’s Ruin and I wanted to finally find a book that I didn’t get bored or annoyed half way through. This was not that book. I was pleasantly surprised with how the story unfolded with enough suspense and mystery to last me to the very last page. And holy hotness. I did feel though like something was missing. When I first started I thought I missed something with Magdalene and Lola. And then with Magdalene and Tommy. Like there was backstory but none of it appeared in the book. My heart went out to Tommy because I felt like it was a one-sided love at times and I wanted to shake her. The back and forth was a little much until the very end when she finally came to her senses.

Overall I enjoyed the book. It was different from all the other mob books and I liked the mystery that wrapped around Magdalene and Tommy. I do like the authors writing style and I hope to read more from her soon.
Profile Image for Petula.
3,093 reviews88 followers
November 21, 2016
Magdalena is a madam in a high class brothel. She works for the local mob boss. He rescued her from the streets years ago, but he still terrifies her. She has a huge secret in her past which comes back to bite her.
Tommy Flynn also works for the same man, but he is a made man and a killer. The murder of the son of a rival mob boss at the brothel puts them both in danger. Tommy was on guard and it is Magdalena´s house. They should have been in control, that makes them responsible.
What follows is our protagonists trying to find the real killer while in hiding from both sets of Mob families . We have lots of violence, excitement, danger and of course plenty of sex. A very intense story with lots of surprises.
Profile Image for Gina.
174 reviews2 followers
December 5, 2016
This is my first book by by this author and I loved this book. This book had me on the edge of my seat. It had suspense, action, and a little romance as well. This book had so many twist and turns it was great. I loved the story line and how the characters developed. I loved the chemistry between Magdalene & Tommy it was an undeniable chemistry.

This is a great read it hit all the feelers and I hope to read more by this Author soon. I recommend this book if you love a book that leaved you on the edge of your seat and yet you get all the feelers in one and lets you escape and be time traveled in to the book as if you are the character your self.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

By:Twomuch2readblog
http://twomuch2read.wordpress.com
Profile Image for Gina.
174 reviews2 followers
December 13, 2016
This is my first book by by this author and I loved this book. This book had me on the edge of my seat. It had suspense, action, and a little romance as well. This book had so many twist and turns it was great. I loved the story line and how the characters developed. I loved the chemistry between Magdalene & Tommy it was an undeniable chemistry.

This is a great read it hit all the feelers and I hope to read more by this Author soon. I recommend this book if you love a book that leaved you on the edge of your seat and yet you get all the feelers in one and lets you escape and be time traveled in to the book as if you are the character your self.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

By:Twomuch2readblog
http://twomuch2read.wordpress.com
Profile Image for Candy76.
699 reviews25 followers
November 28, 2016
This would be the second book involving The Cat House, and let me say the last one didn't involve the gangster scenario. Nicola you flow with first person point of view, it's been a awhile since I've read that style. You bring the characters to your readers and have them feel. This action packed story has everything violence, conspiracy, revenge and love. We all have a dark side but it's in how we perceive it and use it. A must read book if your a gangster style reader with a little BDSM bondage.
**Reviewed for Sweet and Spicy Reads, ARC provided in return for honest Review**
Profile Image for Reckless Readers.
1,707 reviews89 followers
November 30, 2016
Magdalena and Tommy bond together over murder, mystery and mayhem in their sleepy town. Or rather not so sleepy. It's a different experience of a Madame with her being one of the girls however she does fall for the hitman that completely crumbles her walls down. Tommy is the ultimate assassin yet he has like a soft spot with it comes to Magdalena. When they are both framed from murder and on the run, you see just how much he cares for her. It takes awhile to see just who the master manipulator is that frames them and it kind of shocks you when it comes down to them or the ultimate bad guy.
Profile Image for Arien/Sloan.
255 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2018
This has to be one of my favorite books. So out of the ordinary, full of twists, turns, mischief and mayhem. I loved it!
The story of a Magdalene , a Madam who ends up with being framed for a murder of the son of a mob boss. Is her past coming out to haunt her? Can the hitman who loves her Tommy Flynn save her? Will she trust him to?
This is a wicked good must read book. Check it out!
Profile Image for poppy.
4,589 reviews28 followers
November 1, 2016
.I really enjoyed reading this book a great read with an interesting plot,Didnt want to put it down once i got into it a good read recommended
Profile Image for Missy Harton.
491 reviews8 followers
November 12, 2016
A FIVE STAR; thrilling, exciting, dangerous, and erotic read!! A Madam, a hit man, and the shady dealings of the Catholic Church. Look for my full review at Mommy's Naughty Playground
Profile Image for Shannon Godwin.
3,034 reviews31 followers
November 16, 2016
I love my mob books! And for me this one did not fall short! It is exciting, fast paced, great writing and the characters you will love!! I look forward to reading more from this author!!
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