Gilded Agony

Guns n' Boys #7

by K.A. Merikan

“We are two halves of the same rotten apple.”

Deep in the Amazonian jungle, there is a mansion with a rose garden and a hen house where juicy tomatoes are the perfect shade of red, and marble countertops glisten.
Inside, where even the shadows don’t reach, something is rotting, and the perfect facade can only hold the stench for so long.

Domenico promised his husband that he would keep him safe, keep him away from the bloodshed and the brutal world of cartel violence. But when a guest arrives to help retrieve a stolen transport of guns, something sinister sneaks into his home, something more dangerous than his enemies. Or has it been there all along, and he just hasn’t noticed?

Seth’s life is what others dream of. Endless leisure time filled with cocktails, a kitchen stocked with anything he wishes for, and a private pool in the sunshine. What’s missing is the man he shares it with, the man he fell in love with. If being cut off from the mafia business was what he wanted, then why is it so painfully lonely in paradise?

Desperate to be the supportive husband Domenico needs, Seth buries his rage, his violent urges, and the anger that simmers inside of him. But he can only hide in plain sight for so long, and when a guest invites him to play with fire, one misstep, one wrong move, could burn their safe haven to the ground.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: mafia, cartel, assassin, organized crime, family ties, domestic violence, inequality, betrayal, revenge

Genre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thriller

Length: ~92,000 words (Book 7 in the series)

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists as well as scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, Romance, Contemporary, Crime, Abuse, Suspense

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2018

About the author

(Goodreads profile run by Kat)

K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.

K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.

e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars!!

"Sometimes I think it's impossible for two people to be so closely connected.Maybe we've met in a different life."

Seven books in and this series just gets better and better and how many series can you say that about?After years of reading MM romance books,Dom and Seth are still my favourite couple.In this book K.A. Merikan once again grab your attention and don't let go in what is my favourite book in the series so far.





This one is brutal in terms of Dom and Seth's relationship....


Seth seems to have the perfect life.Lazy days spent with their daughter Angelica,tending to his beloved chickens and hours spent in his beautiful kitchen creating wonderful food for his family.And,really,whatever he wants he eventually gets from Dom.But resentment is starting to creep up on him.Is he really happy being Dom's Trophy husband?....he might have the T shirt but is it enough?


For his part Dom is determined to keep the ugliness out of Seth's life as far as his work is concerned.After all Seth made it very clear he wants no part in any violence but is Dom's over protectiveness about to back fire in the worst way when a new face arrives at their home turning their world into chaos.


No matter how strong their love is will it be enough this time?

As usual,these Authors don't hold back.....they are never afraid to go there... and there are some shocking moments here but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reading a new chapter in Dom and Seth's life always,without fail,makes me happy because along with the violence and self destruction it's a powerful love story,definitely not always pretty but completely compelling.......


Review copy provided by the Authors.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp · Rating 2 out of 5]

|| 1.5 stars ||

Nah, I’m so completely over the way everyone treats Seth. I just can’t stand the constant disrespect and condescending behaviour he receives.
He is such a sweet ball of sunshine by nature but Mark and Dom keep turning him into a broody, moody, and depressed person with all their harsh words and inconsiderate treatment.

Domenico is honestly just the worst partner to have as he’s emotionally, financially and physically abusive: he doesn’t listen to Seth, he doesn’t let him leave the house, he refuses for Seth to have any money of is own or to access the internet, Dom basically does not let him live any kind of life, but worst of all; he is literally physically violent to him time and time again! He will never learn… He says he’s sorry each time at the end of the book, but then he just does it all again in the next one.
Of course, Mark is terrible as an adoptive son too: He looks down on Seth for being loving and sweet, and he isn’t grateful at all for everything Seth has done for him.
They’re both completely underserving of Seth’s love, and I honestly just want Seth to leave their abusive asses behind and never look back.

Also, this whole series is insanely repetitive and it’s getting beyond boring.


'Guns n' Boys' series:
1. He Is Poison - 3.0 stars
2. He Is Mine - 4.0 stars
3. Homicidal Instinct - 2.5 stars
4. Swamp Blood - 3.0 stars
5. Chokehold - 3.5 stars
6. Bloodbath - 2.0 stars
7. Gilded Agony - 1.5 stars
8. A Breath of Innocence - 3.0 stars
10. Black Lies - 1.5 stars

Other K.A. Merikan books:
‘Sex & Mayhem’ series - var. ratings
Mr. Jaguar - 3.0 stars
Not Like Other Boys - 4.5 stars
The Cattery - 3.5 stars
Break My Shell - 3.5 stars
The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple - 3.5 stars
‘Kings of Hell MC’ series - var. ratings
Wrong Way Home - 4.0 star
‘Wrong Side of the Tracks’ series - var. ratings

[~Mindy Lynn~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!


It is no secret that I absolutely love this series and these two men. They stole my heart and loyalty from book one. They can do no wrong in my opinion.

7 books and more to come and you have no idea how happy that makes me. I am dreading when these ladies decide they are finished. With every book the tension builds. With every book more blood is shed. With every book Dom's and Seth's relationship takes hits only to come out stronger and more fiercer. With every book I anticipate the next because they just keep getting better. I have completely enjoyed the ride these sister's have taken me on with this series. I can not get enough.

This book really took Seth's and Dom's relationship to the mat. Boy did things get messy. Seth.. My boy pushed and pushed until he got burned and almost lost it all. Seth had made it pretty clear he didn't want any part in future blood shed. He wanted to live in complete ignorance to what was going on around him. So he spends his days in luxury feeding his chickens, playing with their adorable daughter, working on his unpublished blog, creating new recipes, and cooking amazing food for his family. Oh, and drinking. Lots of drinking. Why? Because he is starting to feel caged in and there's an itch under his skin. No matter how many hobbies he takes on he can't get rid of that itch. He's bored. He's angry. He feels left out and is tired of being Dom's "Trophy Husband". He wants to be on the in of what's happening. But how can he tell Dom that when he was so adamant on leaving it to Dom to take care of.
Dom is doing his part and keeping any of the blood and ugliness from touching Seth. He puts on a smile and pretends things aren't falling apart in his business. But in doing so his protectiveness of Seth has hit an all time high. Especially when he threatens to change the codes on the gates of their property to keep Seth from leaving. See. All time high. Seth and Dom have more downs then ups in this book and when a man arrives to help Dom claim something that was taken and put his business back on track, things just get messier. Especially when this new guest sets his sights on Seth.
Things between Seth and Dom are already strained. Dom and Seth not being able to share what goes on within Dom's days of working has put a distance between them. Seth's drinking doesn't help. Nor does the absence of Dom when his work takes the majority of his hours in a day leaving Seth alone most of the time. Seth holds a lot resentment of being on he outside, due to his own doing, that also puts strain on their relationship.
Dom and Seth fight like no other couple I have ever had the pleasure to read about. They go beyond the normal in their fights. Fist's fly. Blood is shed. Bones are possibly broken. Concussions are a maybe. Animals... well they unfortunately get caught in the cross fire. Literally. But when they reunite... The passion they exhume seems almost touchable with how strongly it comes off the pages. You can't deny the love they share is epic.

We get a bit of Mark's POV and I can't lie, I am extremely excited about his book. I can not wait!

I am also looking forward to getting more of Miguel. I am completely intrigued by this man.

When the book ended all I kept thinking was how perfectly titled this book was. I was in agony while reading it. The characters were in agony. It was just perfect.

Kudos ladies for writing another nail biting intense read!

If you haven't read this series I don't understand what is keeping you from it. It is a fantastic twisted good time. You'll regret missing out on this ride. So read it!!!

Happy reading dolls! xx

I was generously given an ARC by the authors in exchange for an honest review.

[K.A. Merikan]

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJDW4QV

[Dia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 HUGE stars

I absolutely adored this book!

We got a lot of action, angst, suspense, blood, revenge, unexpected turns and heartbreaking scenes, followed by a perfect ending.

It's the 7th book in the series and possibly my favorite so far. But it ripped my heart!

The first 30% of the book was a little slow paced, but we get to see Dom and Seth's new life in the Amazonian jungle, 2 years after Guns n' Boys: Bloodbath's end.
Seth asked Dom to keep him away from the violence and he got exactly that. He has a perfect mansion, he cooks for his loved ones, works out and bathes in the sun all day by the pool. But he isn't happy. Actually he's far from being happy.

"If being cut off from the mafia business was what he wanted, then why is it so painfully lonely in paradise?"

Dom feels like he's wearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. And in a way he does. He works a lot, he makes sure his grown family (Seth, Angelica and Mark) is safe and living a life of luxury. But in exchange he's giving all his time and focus, getting his hands dirty.

Everything he worked so hard for seems to crumble and now he's so stressed. And Seth's moods and drinking aren't helping him at all. Add an unexpected guest who can't take his eyes from Seth and you're going to need a seat belt for the ride.

On the outside, Dom and Seth's life seems perfect. But when the surface is scratched, many deep hidden complaints come to light.

It's so hard to refrain from giving details. But it's safe to say that I understood their fears and worries, and also their pain.
While reading from Seth's point of view I really got why he felt so alone and left out. And from Dom's POV, I got why he did everything in his power to make Seth happy, to keep their family happy. Dom is still my favorite! I felt his pain. I know he treated Seth poorly, but he felt betrayed by the only man he ever loved.

"I do everything to protect you. All I did was to keep you safe. Whatever I do, you are always my reason.”

“I love you. You are the point of my life,” he said in a whisper, completely crushed by the fact that his actions made Seth feel the opposite was true."

“Domenico’s lips trembled, and he pulled on Seth’s hand, needing him in his arms again. “If you tell me right now that you really don’t want me anymore, then you can go. But I need you. There is no me without you.”❤️

Well Mark was kind of an ungrateful brat, but let's say I forgive him, because in the end he suffers enough and he really needs to fight his own demons and find his own happiness. I'm looking forward to reading his story, Guns n' Boys: A Breath of Innocence.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. But it's Guns n' Boys, so I wasn't surprised. It's my favorite MM series! The writing is amazing, these characters change, grow. Their love is unique. So many ups and downs, but it's perfection! All the stars for this one.

ARC kindly provided by the authors.

[Lilly [Hiatus due to School] · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes I think it’s impossible for two people to be so closely connected. Maybe we’ve met in a different life.”

Gilded Agony picks up two years after the events of Bloodbath; Dom has established himself as Mr Toro with his family by his side. He has commanded respect and control over his territory despite being in the Amazon jungle deep in foreign lands. However, despite living in what seems like their little slice of paradise, there’s discord and darkness. And when a shipment of guns fails to arrive, a snake enters their little heaven.

Dom works to protect Seth from getting his hands bloody. He spends his days cooking, working out, playing with their daughter, and living a life of relaxation and luxury. He has everything he could ever want (within reason), but materials aren’t enough to replace some things. Dom is working to provide for and protect his family. Everything he does is for them. However, as Dom sinks into his role as Mr. Toro, Seth feels like he’s lost his husband. Physically they’re together but emotionally separated.

I swear to god, if they just listened and really listened to one another, so much hurt could have been avoided. Dom lost himself in his role as protector and really hurt Seth. Some of the actions in his book were very hard to read. Seth began to fear him. Dom loves Seth so deeply, there is no doubt everything he does is for him and his family, but he forgets that Seth is also his equal.

Having almost lost him put things in perspective. Seth, who’d become such a constant in Domenico’s life, his safe haven, his home, no longer felt that same way about Domenico, and this dichotomy had Dom twisting and turning on the bed.

Despite his best intentions, he’d made the person who mattered to him the most, unhappy, and lying alone in bed drove that point home more physically than he’d even have imagined.

But once they get on the same page and reaffirm their love together, it’s beautiful. Seth is Seth, and he’s meant to stand by Dom’s side, not inside a cage.

Seth looked back at him with a smile, and no matter how much Domenico loved the Seth who fed chickens and made the best breakfasts, witnessing him in a different role felt more enticing than the sweetest waffles. Tonight, no matter how bloody, was bringing him back to the man he’d fallen in love with. Sweet but violent. Capable, but needy. Vulnerable, but so, so strong.

“Next time, we will talk it out. We are the only ones for each other, am I right? We can’t allow ourselves to grow apart again.”

I wanted to strangle Mark for most of the book. He’s so disrespectful and honestly just causes issue after issue and never seems to learn from his mistakes. He’s 20 years old now, but goodness, from his actions, you would think he was still a young teenager. He was utterly infuriating, but I did feel bad for him in the end and look forward to his book.

I also loved how their family has grown. Seeing Dom and Seth shower their daughter with so much love was wonderful to see.

Miguel and Nero! I can’t wait for their story.

Overall I really enjoyed Gilded Angoy and can't wait to read what is next for Seth and Dom.

[Ele · Rating 5 out of 5]

*5 stars!*



Holy relationship angst batman! The BEST kind! Once again, you need to heed the warnings before reading this (although you already know this if you 've followed Dom and Seth's journey). These protagonists are not your usual cuppa. When Domenico Acerbi and Seth Villani fight, there are guns and dead animals involved. When they reunite, it's above someone's grave.

It's been two years since Domenico overtook Toro's business and became local royalty in Colombia. On the outside, life was rolling peacefully in the huge Colombian manor. But on the inside...there is so much trouble in paradise. And it will all explode when a "snake" tries to make its way in. Have you seen Domenico Acerbi getting crazy jealous/mad/betrayed? Have you? I have, and it's not something you can forget easily. I knew it was coming, but still....

Dom and Seth's love story might have looked like it was taken out of a cult, mafia movie but their relationship dynamics and the problems they 're facing are actually a slice of real life.

Domenico feels inadequate. He hasn't managed to bring his family back to Italy. He has to protect Seth from the ugliness that took place 2 years ago. Seth feels like a trophy husband in the bad sense of the word. Cooking and lounging in the villa is all there is to him now, and he's excluded from all important decisions.

“I love you. You are the point of my life,” he said in a whisper, completely crushed by the fact that his actions made Seth feel the opposite was true."

The POV use was quite brilliant here. Reading Seth's POV you can't help but feel sorry for him and angry at Dom. Reading Dom's POV makes you want to smack Seth and spur him into action. Like I said, real problems in a not so common context.

There is still action and bloodshed but the focus is on the couple. After all the agony , there was healing, and the process of talking things out, reuniting, making LOVE was perfectly executed.

"Tonight, no matter how bloody, was bringing him back to the man he’d fallen in love with. Sweet but violent. Capable, but needy. Vulnerable, but so, so strong."

Mark's POV is also strategically placed and added a lot. His book is next and I'm more than excited! I love this group of misfits, and I even want Nero to get a story. Preferably with Miguel!

For me, Domenico, Seth, and the little family they gathered around themselves over the years, is home. Gilded Agony follows in its predecessors' footsteps; crazy-wtf-happened moments, inappropriate humour, intense sex scenes, deep sense of romance, gritty and detailed action scenes. All things that make K.A.Merikan such a strong writing duo. And in a time like this, it's exactly this kind of authors I choose to support.

I hope more people give this series a chance. Very highly recommended.

*Review posted on Gay Book Reviews.*

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why I read. Books like this which cause your heart to pound, your stomach to churn and your blood to boil.

Books which take you into the depths of a Colombian jungle and leave you fervently devouring the words on the page so closely just in case you miss something vital in the life of a favourite pair of characters.

This book brings Dom & Seth back in turmoil, two years have passed since the events of Bloodbath and there's something definitely wrong in paradise.

When a shipment goes missing, a snake is let loose in the garden and Dom and Seth drift further apart as the pressures of running the local cartel bring frictions into the heart of their family.

This book is brutal but not quite as violent as previous ones in the series. But make no mistake, it will still rip your heart out. Now, when's Book Eight out again?...

#ARC kindly provided by the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Fangirling is all my own work ;)

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5* Was this my favorite in the series? No, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Miguel was so right when he said "You two make everything so fucking complicated."

This book was the equivalent of a third act break up, but it was done so well. The miscommunication was genuine, the hurt feelings, the intense rage, the final blow up, and the beautiful make-up.

It's a rare find when an author(s) that can continue a series, keeping the characters from going stale and building upon their relationship like an actual relationship.

“Sometimes I think it’s impossible for two people to be so closely connected. Maybe we’ve met in a different life.”

“We’re two halves of the same rotten apple.” Domenico grinned, showing off his even, white teeth as he pulled Seth up the stairs, silent like a shadow no one under this roof needed to fear.


Other than the poor chickens, this was a win.

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is no me without you."

This was a tough read. There's tension and then there's tension. K.A Merikan are really good with the latter. From the first chapter on I was getting this gloomy feeling, something just wasn't right with my favorite boys.

It's been two years since we last saw Seth and Dom. Dom is now the Toro and keeping the promise he made to Seth. But Seth isn't as happy as he thought he would be. Being Dom's "trophy husband", staying home, cooking, and being excluded from any kind of business makes him feel like he's not a part of things anymore. Dom is a really busy man these days, so he doesn't quite see what's happening right in front of his eyes. Seth is getting unhappier by the minute but he doesn't want to seem like a loser and go back on the decisicion he made in the last book. Dom is trying to juggle his business while feeling like a failure for not having brought his family back home to Sicily yet.

You can feel the tension in their relationship like a fissure, but both of them would rather pretend everything is okay, and when a new person comes into the mix, things turn from bad to worse. Things happen which bring their relationship to a breaking point like never before. Dom's jealousy scenes are still amongst the best out there. So overdramatic but just so Dom! When these two fight, they fight. Claws out, guns out, things turn explosive and nothing and no one is safe. Not even some poor, innocent chickens.

I was a huge ball of tension and angst while reading. This book was the definition of an emotional rollercoaster. There were moments you were feeling desperate about what was going on, but then one of the characters would say something funny and you'd find yourself laughing amidst everything. This is why I read. If a book can make me feel this much, can keep me on the edge of my seat from chapter one till the end, it's a winner.

Mark totally worships Dom but in this book he was acting like a bit of a dick towards Seth. But he's young and I guess he must have felt kind of resentful towards Seth living this supposed luxurious life while he and Dom had to go out and get shit done. His life outside of the business is a mess, he's kind of lost and jumping from one hook up to the next. One of those gets him more than he bargained for and afterwards Mark feels like a changed man. I can't wait to see where his story will take him!

I also have to mention Miguel and Nero. I'm totes feeling this! The tension and banter between those two was delicious and Nero is so entertaining and I actually like his creepy shark teeth. They make him special. I think he is perfect for our emo, Miguel.

Of course the action, bloodshed and morbid moments we've come to appreciate from the previous books don't fall short here, but Gilded Agony is much more relationship focused. After all the angst and agony we go through in this installment, the ending is more than satisfying. Dom and Seth talking things out, getting close and intimate again, it felt like coming home. It was the perfect conclusion. It's been a while since a book has capivated me so much that it was hard to let go. But it always is with Seth and Dom! These guys have become my family, I've been through hell and back with them and Gilded Agony left me with tears in my eyes and a full heart in the end.

ARC generously provided by authors because I annoyed them too much with my impatience.

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!



Two years later in the timeline, Domenico and Seth are living in the Amazonian jungle while Dom is the acting cartel boss known as Toro. While surrounded by the luxury of their compound, Dom tries to insulate Seth from all the violence and carnage he must endure. But even though Dom keeps his promise, Seth begins to feel isolated and craves the emotional intimacy he once shared with Dom. Amidst these feelings, Dom is forced to deal with business complications that could affect his long-range goal.

“I understand how it feels to be in that kind of position. Sometimes you can’t say no. You just do what you have to do to survive, and then you leave that behind.”

As a faction is working against Toro’s hold in his territory, the suspense mounts but once Seth begins to take certain actions, the level of tension is off the charts. Knowing how disastrous and dangerous the consequences could be to Domenico, Seth and their family, the authors pushed these emotions all the way to the edge. And what occurs left me reeling and worried about the emotional impact.

“If you tell me right now that you really don’t want me anymore, then you can go. But I need you. There is no me without you.”

Coming into this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of character development, but Dom and Seth continue to grow as a couple despite setbacks getting to that point. Always holding Domenico to a position of strength made his pain so much more compelling. As for Seth, at times I wanted to strangle him for his choices but also empathized with his feelings.



With the overall plot continuing to propel Seth and Dom to a place where they can return home, questions remain about a mysterious character. I’m looking forward to reading Mark’s new book and what he will experience. And, I still want to know about Miguel!

Gilded Agony is a story about how love can be imperfect and volatile at times, but also passionate and loving. I highly recommend!


Guns n' Boys series:



For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

​​Even a gilded cage is still a cage...​​

​​​​Guns n' Boys: Gilded Agony is the seventh book in one of my all-time favorite series. If you love stories with morally ambiguous characters and plot-lines, along with blood and violence, then this series is for you​!​ Go read it​!​

​“We’re two halves of the same rotten apple.”

​

There is a lot of angst in this one! ​And it's my favorite food-group type, too -- relationship angst. I eat that stuff up like a favorite desert! ​Dom and Seth aren't in sync for most of the book and ​though ​it broke my heart to see them at odds​, I loved every moment​. Never fear, though, they do end up in a good place.

​Guns n' Boys: Gilded Agony picks up 2 years after​​ ​Guns n' Boys: Bloodbath left off. Dom is "Toro" and Seth is his sheltered husband. Seth is bored and craves more freedom than he has. He doesn't speak the language and can go no where ​unescorted and he feels caged. ​Bored​ isn't a good look on Seth, who needs to be social and needs to feel included. But after the events of ​ ​ ​Guns n' Boys: Bloodbath he needed a break from the violence and stress, so here we are​ - with a bored Seth who is prone to getting in over his head. ​
​

​"There is no me without you." ​

​
Dom is also in a role he never thought he'd have - everything rests on his shoulders. Seth's safety and happiness, the business, ​a family of his own -- ​so much pressure. He works increasingly long hours and, as Dom has a tendency to do, his obsessiveness and focus makes it hard for him to see the forest for the trees. Dom gets caught up in whatever life he is leading and sometimes he forgets his way. Seth has been his anchor for years, but things are not as they once were.
​

​"You're mine." ​

​
​​ ​​Guns n' Boys: Gilded Agony ticked so many boxes for me - tons of relationship angst, completely messed up morality, an overbearing Dom, a crafty Seth, a headstrong Mark, violence, sex, perceived betrayal (oh, the angst!), family, as unconventional as it is, and an ending that leaves our guys in a good place.

This was an intense read​, and I loved every moment. ​Mark plays a big role ​in this story, ​too, ​and he always feels like he has something to prove. Unfortunately, he gets himself in trouble a fair amount because he doesn't think things through. Ah...youth.​ Mark's book is next and I pretty much can say I need it yesterday. ​He's been through so much since he was introduced in this series, and I'm looking forward to him getting a happy of his own.

So bring it on!

------------------------
ARC of Guns n' Boys: Gilded Agony was generously provided by the authors, in exchange for an honest review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard one - SO much angst between Seth & Dom, so much miscommunication and so much misunderstanding. Throw Mark into the mix, with his attitude and swagger and you have a powder keg of emotion. This was a tough one with Seth being a “kept” man and being removed from all things bloody and dangerous- while Dom was protecting him, he also took away his balls ! The missed anniversary broke my heart and the angst intensified from there. I hope the next book comes fast - I want them back as a full team !!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!! Domenico and Seth are two of my all time favorite characters!

This book made them refocus on their relationship and look at some things that may have been taken for granted or overlooked as day to day life got crazy.

I know the next book is supposed to focus on Mark...sort of mixed feelings on that because I want more of Seth & Dom....we leave them at the end of this book in a new place, after some "relationship work" ...and me, being greedy....I want more of them.


So, now I am hoping for a third Guns n'boys book in 2018 hahaha

Seriously though, check this series out if you haven't it's twisted and amazing!!! I love it all!!!

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** We are back to the dark adventures of Dominic and Seth, our favorite bad-ass men.
Hot sex and wild times in Columbia. They have a safe home, a little girl, Angelica, plus Mark, who they began raising in Book 4, has grown. These guys deserve every happiness they can find, because they've been through hell and back, several times.
Dom ...

and Mark work with Moreno, Diego, and Michael, while...
Seth runs the house, cooks, loves Angelica and being a dad,

gardening, raising chickens, etc...
Unfortunately our men are growing apart, because Dom is overly focused on protection and providing, instead of romancing his husband.
Seth is in a "jailed" existence and doesn't know how to ask for what he needs without sounding ungrateful for all that he does have. The cover shows him behind barbed wire, because that is how it feels.

Dom and Mark come home late every night, and do not share what they have been doing. Diego is horrible and shocking; comes after Seth, and chaos takes over. Our men can overcome anything, right ?
I love our authors and where they take us, with the deep, flawed characters we love, the evil actions, and the intense sexual scenes.

Next up, after they move, Mark is ready to try living on his own in A Breath Of Innocence.

I highly recommend this series ! ENJOY !

======

[Zuzu · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
These guys . . . They are crazy and crazy in love. Talk about domestic violence. But Seth and Dom might just be my favorite book couple. Not a lot of moving the plot line forward in this one but we got some serious moving forward of their relationship. And at the end of this, they are once again in a great place together. LOVED LOVED LOVED

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and this one just didn't make it to 4 stars for me.

Let me just start by saying 3.5 stars is not that bad...unless...
everyone else is giving it 5 stars?

In the scheme of things I just couldn't connect with Seth and Dom this time around and in a strange way I think it kind of speaks to how good the author are because for much of this story Seth and Dom were at odds and they just weren't connecting with each other. So maybe I was just being overly empathetic...I don't know.

First off I'm just going to say if you haven't read the previous books in this series...well, seriously I'm not sure I understand you because I love this series and these guys are seriously hot...broken in so many ways but hot!!!

While this story does have its fair share of action and suspense in it...Dom's lost a five million dollar gun shipment and to add to his matters he's got to deal with the mysterious Diago who seems to rub on Dom in all the wrong ways while trying to rub on Seth in all the ways that could get a man dead if Dom has his way and then there's the issue of what exactly he thinks he's up to where Mark's concerned...so can we just say 'this guy is a jerk...total, absolute jerk.

At the end of it all for Seth is a very old lesson to be learned and learned at a price that Seth never wanted to pay...'be careful what you wish for'...Seth wanted to not be part of the violence that had become their life. He just didn't want to know. So Dom took him at his word and in so doing has isolated Seth not just from the world but from Dom, himself.

Seth knows this and because it's what he wanted he doesn't feel that he can complain about it now that he realizes that what he wished for and what he wanted aren't the same thing and sometimes when wishes come true the price we pay is more than we're willing to give up, the question becomes how to fix things. It's going to take some hard work on both of their parts to get back to where they were and with everything that's going on it becomes questionable as to whether or not Dom and Seth will survive much less keep their relationship in tact.

Meanwhile, Mark's playing the field and making some poor choices as to who he's playing with. It seems that Mark either wants who he shouldn't or gets who he's not suppose to. Both lead to disastrous results for Mark and ultimately the objects of his desires.

While this may not have been one of my favorite books to date I was definitely fascinated with the look that we got at Dom and Seth's relationship now that they've been together for a while and given how explosive things can get between these two men seeing what happens when the outside world pulls and tugs at them drawing each in a different direction until priorities become unclear and things often times get taken for granted or are just assumed to be a certain way by one or both of them was definitely a huge contributing factor to how events played out.

I honestly liked and enjoyed reading this story, but I just never felt connected to things like I have in other books from this series. However, I did get enough of a glimpse at what's coming next to know that I'm totally on board for the next one. As for 'Gilded Agony' given how much so many of my friends loved it...I'm going to say that this may have been a case of 'right book, wrong time' for me but 3.5 stars is a far cry from "why did I read this?" Well, I already know that answer to that one. I read it because overall I love this series and I'll see you all for whatever comes next because I'm not going anywhere.

*************************

An ARC of 'Gilded Agony' was graciously provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.

[haletostilinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew....well, that certainly was as hard to read as everyone said in their reviews.

Now, no one ever gave away exactly what happens with this asshole, Diego, and I don't know if I would have wanted to know, but also a part of me would have wanted the reassurance, so I will under the spoiler tag. If you don't want to know and be surprised, don't look under it.

So, on the very first day Diego "meets" Seth (I say that as we saw him spying on him before they met) he kisses him, but thankfully Seth doesn't kiss back and is shocked more than anything. I was worried at times, because Seth did flirt and he definitely let things get too far. He also played up the flirting at times to try to get info about the goings on in Dom's work, since he wasn't "allowed" to know it, but when Diego actually tried to do something, Seth did not want it and put a stop to it.

But! I have to warn for the non-con, because at one point Diego forces Seth to give him a blowjob. So yeah, that's rape. He almost fucks Seth, but Seth is able to talk him out of it.

I was worried a lot throughout this, because Diego was an even bigger problem than I thought he would be - and that's saying something - but in the end, it turned out okay.

Being raped isn't cheating, and Seth didn't do anything when he didn't know about Diego and thought it was just some fun to be had - the flirting - and was kinda but not really "into it."

Instead we got worse than any kind of cheating. I felt so bad for Seth, who had to go through that. I was so glad that after it came out, after Dom and Seth were making up, that Dom understood. I would have been heartbroken if Seth had been punished for being forced to give a blowjob.

Anyway, this is a tough one to get through. It is mainly focused on Dom and Seth's relationship, but it puts that relationship through the wringer before fixing it and making it stronger than ever.

So getting through the pain is worth it, in the end.

This starts two years after the end of the 6th book, and Dom and Seth have been together for 4 years now.

Dom is the new Toro, they live in this opulent place, they now have a daughter, Angelica (Dana's and the previous Toro's kid), Seth gets to be away from the death and destruction that was too much for him at the end of the sixth book.

Only, Dom truly took Seth wanting nothing to do with it to heart, and doesn't even talk to him about what is happening in his work, and he works too much and is not around enough.

Seth is starting to truly feel like a "trophy husband." Neglected and seen as a prize (which Dom doesn't, but that's how Seth feels.) and not given much attention by his own husband.

All Dom is trying to do is work to make things so he and Seth can return home, so that Seth is protected at all costs, and that he can find out who Mr. Tropico is so they can leave El Encanto, which neither he or Seth really love all that much. He's doing it all for Seth, and for Dom Seth not wanting to be a part of that world truly means not being apart of it. Dom takes what Seth wanted to an extreme that Seth doesn't like, but that he doesn't say anything about because he feels bad for wanting to complain about his situation when it was Seth himself who said he wanted it that way.

All of that leads to Diego coming along, and with Seth not getting to know anything about Dom's work when he wants to, it leads to Diego thinking Seth might actually like him, and it just makes things worse. But Seth never wants him.

Yes, both Seth and Dom make stupid choices in this. Seth lets his flirting go too far at times, and Dom lets his anger go too far, go too far into violence.

These two men are both very complicated, but also dumb as a box of rocks sometimes. They know what not talking does to their relationship by now, and yet they don't talk! Idiots, the both of them. It leads to misunderstandings and someone as gross and inconsequential as Diego getting to go as far as he does.

There's parts with Mark int his too, but he was frustrating. He's so far up Dom's ass sometimes that his view is so biased, and he condemns Seth in his thoughts without taking much time to think about what Seth could be going through.

And yes, Seth makes mistakes, no doubt about it, but Mark thought Seth to be pretty shallow when he isn't, and he should know his supposed adoptive father better than that.

That being said....I am excited for Mark's book. He does grow up more by the end of this, and I did feel bad for him for what he went through, so I hope in his book he's matured even more. He's definitely come a long way from the 16 year old we met in book 4.

Overall, a tough book to read. Dom and Seth put through the ringer, mostly. Even if they came out stronger by the end of it, doesn't mean it was pleasant to read or get through.

Still worth it, in the end, because it's Dom and Seth, and I love these two morally grey, fucked up characters who love each other wholly and deeply. I can't wait to get back to them in book 9, but for now, a fun stop over with Mark. I already liked Griffith for the two seconds we got of him at the very end with that post-credits scene.

Onto the next! I'm so close to be caught up to this series, wow...

[River · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boys are back and even though they are daddies now, things are crazier than ever.

I'm going to try to explain this crazy rollercoaster of a story without spoilers or giving too much away so bear with me.
This story starts more than two years later after book 6. Dom is now handling Toro's business, Mark has grown and learned and it's a great asset for Dom, Miguel is hanging around and binding his time until he can be unleashed from the deal he made with Dom and get his revenge, and my favorite boy Seth, well he is a.. trophy husband?

Dom has settled into his new role as a Toro and it's really busy handling all the business with the Moreno's. At the end of the last book, Seth asked for something and Dom promised him so now he tries his best to fulfill that promise but he might be too busy to see the cracks that promise is making on his marriage.

Seth lives in a bubble Dom created for him and their new baby Angelica, he wakes up, feeds the chickens with his precious girl, makes breakfast and after Dom and Mark leave for the day he just waits around.
Seth knows that he asked for something but he is not happy with the situation, he feels like he serves no purpose. Dom doesn't share important stuff with him, he misses a lot of important days with him because of the job and Seth is just tired and we know a bored Seth means trouble.

We are introduced to a new character someone you are going to hate or already do since the glimpse we got of him on the previous book. This character is going to disrupt ALL of their lives.

I wanna address something that is spoilery but I know as a fan that this has a lot of people nervous, the whole "is Seth going to cheat?" well I can't tell you that you are not gonna be happy sometimes with his decisions but you understand why. You see what takes him to make those decisions.
It was a plot that I didn't love but I understood the purpose it served for the series as a whole moving forward.

One of the things that I love about this series is how there's always something happening, not because Dom & Seth are married now, they are going to become slow and boring. Not at all.
Some things that have been kind of part of the relationship get addressed here and it was so good! I was a crying mess because I was reading the development of these two men that I've known for 7 books now. I could see them growing and really making the relationship work.
They do not have a perfect relationship, their love is messy and sometimes they fuck up hard but in the end, they are sure of their love and they are going to fight anyone, even themselves to make it work.

I honestly can't wait for what's to come in the future, there are still a few questions in the air before my boys can be back in Italy living a happy life.


Next is Mark's story and honestly.. I'm drooling after a little glimpse that we get in this book.

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m alive, I think… maybe not.. I don’t know… we are in 2023 right?

This was a hard one…I don’t remember ever reading such a painful book… no balance between hurt and comfort…

After 2 years after arriving at El Encanto, Dom, Seth and Mark live their life in " paradise". But nothing is what it seems, and beneath the beautiful house, luxury, henhouse, garden, and baby Angelica( who is Dana’ s daughter), lairs and lairs of loneliness, frustration, longing, stubbornness, pride, control, ignorance, brutality, lack of consideration, huge egos to fill, violence, betrayal ! They all have their own agendas, but there is no conversation...and boommm! It all exploded!

This book was a test, to see if we could endure all the character mistreatment…

Dom is an even bigger asshole than usual, treating and mistreating Seth. Very very sad moments of things that should never have been said or done… he is in a terrible situation with a lot on his shoulders, being the new Toro and dealing with Moreno’s, while keeping Seth safe and out of the business… but… jeez, zero consideration for Seth, his idea of safety is gilded cage… he is really terrible… and a brute… he gets physical with Seth so…

Mark, the Dom wannabe, is a slutty brat, ungrateful, and damn, I hated him so much. Every time he decided to open his mouth, piles and piles of horse shit came out… cruel, cruel he says to Seth… god… I need something fluffy and heartfelt to just like him again… he goes through a lot in the e d of the book… but still… it hurt…

Seth has everything, even a crossbow, but what e really needs is his husband.. Seth was so badly treated by everyone… used and abused… he makes mistakes, sure, but… I just can’t even…. Poor Seth… he tried to be what Dom wanted but the emptiness that just sitting there like a trophy husband ( yes, that’s what Dom call him …..) he just misses Dom, and his love and passion… even their lovemaking or fucking is empty and with no connection like we are used to…

The arrival of Diego doesn’t help on anything, it even makes it worse… because the guy is a real Ahole!!!!! The biggest one to date! He ends up getting everyone in trouble!

The light in all this darkness was Nero & Miguel shenanigans! Adorable, funny and just kiss or fuck already!

Speaking of light, I couldn’t possibly forget the adorable way daddies Seth and Dom interact with the princess! Seeing Seth cook and feed the chickens with her, or Dom having his hair as the reins of the horse, or making braids on Angelica’s hair was heartwarming ❤️

It ended, that’s all I can say… we get some king of redemption… I beg the gods in Valhalla, heaven, hell, Olympus even the underworld for some more easy times for then!


This book was important, but painful! The tile couldn’t be more accurate!

Kat and Agnes are pure evil genius, their writing is so compelling and addictive , love then and their creative dirty, sick minds! Bless you 🖤

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Rina Pride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entendendo perfeitamente o nome do livro 7, AGONIA FOI O QUE SENTI O TEMPO TODO! Ontem eu nem dormi por causa dos ocorridos desse livro. Foram 7 livros até agora e o mais incrível é que K. A. MERIKAN consegue inovar em cada um deles. Dom e Seth só crescem em cada livro! Quando seth disse no livro 6 que não queria mais se envolver em nada sangrento, no fundo eu senti que Dom levaria seu pedido ao pé da letra. Dom passou a proteger Seth de um jeito excessivo, montou um reino mágico para Seth esquecer dos problemas que o peso de usar o nome e posição de Toro traria. Seth não aguentava mais viver como uma princesa protegida, mesmo que ele tenha dito a Dom que não queria mais se envolver com o lado Dark da força, Seth não aguentou o peso de sua própria decisão e por isso ficou com vergonha de expressar isso para Dom. Foi um livro muito agoniante por causa da falta de conversa entre ele e Dom, Dom na posição de toro não tinha mais tempo e queria que seth ficasse longe de qualquer problema perigoso, Seth virou uma dona de casa cuidando da filha, galinhas e cozinhando ( como ele desejava, até perceber que na verdade ele queria mesmo é viver perigosamente como antes). Diego apareceu só para deixar tudo isso mais angustiante do que já estava, senti na hora que o cara seria uma pedra no sapato. Ele achou que poderia superar Dom, vamos rir da cara dele ( ou do que sobrou dele na barriga dos vários cachorros hahahahaha) 😂 Agora vamos para a parte FOFA do livro... BEBÊ ANGELICAAAAA, morri na fofura da filhinha de Dom e Seth 💜💜💜💜💜💜 Coisa mais fofa de todas! Como já imaginava, Dana foi só barriga de aluguel, mulher tão fria que deu a filha para Dom e Seth criar. Achei ótimo, angélica tem ótimos 2 papais, Seth e Dom como papais foi o mais lindinho que presenciei 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Sempre deixo mark por último, espero realmente que mark se encontre, ele precisa de um foco. Acho que vai encontrá-lo no livro 8 ( mark precisa de um grande amor, não só aventuras de uma noite).

[K.S. Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t describe coherently the crazy excitement I felt when getting my hands on this book. I engulfed it in the span of several hours, without stopping, and I have one word to describe it – agony.

It truly was, in the best sense of this word.

From the very first chapters, the relationship between Domenico and Seth is not satisfying. Seth feels it, the reader feels it, only Domenico remains oblivious because he works like crazy and has numerous problems to deal with. They kiss, they touch, they talk, but there is tension and frustration between them, and they continue to grow and become explosive in the process. Seth is bored out of his mind. He stays at home with nothing to do, with nothing he can call his own, while Domenico and Mark are the big macho men who deal with dangerous things. Seth lacks communication — not just a simple three-words exchange in the evening, but a genuine one, where he would share all that concerns him and Domenico would do the same. But it doesn’t happen. Gradually, it starts to feel like Seth and Domenico are strangers living in one apartment. Yeah, it’s -that- stage in their relationship, one that many people face in real life.

I was furious with Domenico at first, but then we got his POV, and Seth’s resentment started to seem childish in the face of what Domenico was actually dealing with. Then we switch back to Seth, and it is obvious again that the relationship just isn’t working between them. Enter Diego, a crazy madman infatuated with Seth.

Seth loves Domenico despite everything, but he is flattered by attention. He finally feels appreciated — for once. He never lets himself go far, but what he does is still too much for Domenico’s standards. When Domenico explodes, he explodes, and madness, viciousness, and violence ensue, fuelled by jealousy.

I was afraid that Seth would get all the blame in the end, and that Domenico’s violence against him would remain muted. However, I should have known better – these authors never disappoint. They dealt with the issue perfectly, acknowledging the mistakes equally. When Domenico understands that he has never been closer to losing Seth than he is now, he is terrified, and he is willing to reevaluate his mindset and his beliefs.

It was an incredibly intense book, full of emotions, pain, and love. Somehow, Domenico and Seth have become even more real to me here, and my love for them burns even more brightly despite the horrible things they do. This is brilliant.

*ARC received in exchange for honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is spot on, I was in agony. This book didn't start off at a good place for Seth and Dom. It had been two years since we met them last and married life might not be agreeable to them. Not the marriage per se, but their roles and responsibilities. Dom and Mark are out there doing God knows what with the mafia, while Seth is being the best house husband. But there seems to be a lot of miscommunication and resentment between them. It hurts me to read about them this way. I miss the loving couple.

Mark is being such a shit head in this book, okay he is still 20, basically a tween, so I forgive him. Then we have Miguel, which I started to really dig this stoic man. He needs a book of his own. I know Nero is super creepy with his teeth and all, so is it weird that I totally ship him and Miguel? And last but not least, we have Diego, the character that I'm most worried about due to his fascination with Seth. I wanted to wrap Seth up and lock him in a dungeon just to keep him safe from Diego's hand.

We have been worried about the possible 'betrayal', which readers tend to jump the gun and assume cheating. Wtf?! Diehard fans can be dramatic at times, but I do have faith on my favorite authors. Honestly, with Dom being such an ass, more than usual, I'm happy to let Seth loose and flirt a little. Let Dom worry and be jealous. I know relationship is a two way thing and both of them are responsible for the mess, but I will always always be on Seth side. I am totally not happy with the way Dom treated Seth. What is wrong with him?

The entirety of the drama is one hot mess that was freaking me out and I glued my eyes to the pages during a busy Saturday morning. I can't rest in peace until I see both my boys work out their bullshit. It goes without saying that both the authors did one heck of a job here. They make me mad and hurt and contemplate writing a hate mail, but then they will work their magic to save the day and make the painful journey so worth it at the end. I used to think that I'm ready for Mark's book because I do love the boy, but now I want to read more of Seth and Dom because I feel that there is still so much more of them that was unexplored. I guess I will just have to wait a little while longer to get back to the daddies.

[Marita Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved it! These books just keep on getting better and better. The book was brutal, the way Seth's and Dom's relationship took such dire hits was brutal in itself. So much misunderstanding and lack of talking caused so much trouble. All of the hurt they went through could've been avoided. And that part in the barn with Dom, it was heartbreaking... but I'll leave it for you to find out whether they pulled through or not. But, just to let you know, I want to read it all over again. So good. So brutal. So intense. All mafia, and my favourite all round couple EVEEER.

[Elithanathile]

I don’t think it’s possible to add a book faster than I just have with this one :-)!! Gimme gimme gimme!!

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eu no livro 1: sei não, esse casal não vai render muito.

Eu no livro 7: não vivo mais sem esse casal e sua bebê angélica cute.
Posso ser madrinha da filha deles?.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gilded Agony is book 7 in the Guns n' Boys series. Dom and Seth have been through a lot in the years they've been together. Their relationship has had it's ups and downs but I wasn't prepared for the emotions I would feel while reading this book. From page 1 you could feel the tension and I was on edge the entire time. While everything on the outside seems perfect on the inside Seth is slowly losing himself and his relationship with Dom starts to get strained. While I do believe they both are responsible for what was happening, I think Seth made more mistakes in the situation. I wasn't happy with what he was doing and Dom's heartbreak broke my heart. Dom was still his wonderful self trying so hard to keep his family happy and safe that he did lose sight of what was going on with Seth. Mark has grown up so much and although I didn't like all his decisions I wanted to cry after what Diego did. My only complaint with the story is that I wish Diego was handle in a different way. I wanted Dom unleashed, and I wanted his jealousy and possessiveness to come out. I hope there are more stories with Dom and Seth because I just can't get enough of them. I'm really looking forward to Mark's story coming up next.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I love that Seth is back in the action and I can’t wait to read Marks book! A great addition to the Guns and Boys series!

[Ayesha Devi Seebarat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start the review with a Big *Sigh* as Kat and Agnes know that each time I read about Dom and Seth, I must sigh with big hearts in my eyes..Guys, hold on your panties and read this book in an AC room or in front a fan as the Hotness, the madness and craziness are still there and are greater than ever..like each start of Dom and Seth story, you will want to punch asshole Dom and Slap whiny Seth..as the story progresses, both will cave their ways back in your heart and at the end you will fall madly in love again.. for me, it was really a Glided Agony..i was holding my breath throughout the whole story and Miss Kat and Miss Agnes Did not disappoint me..they are just amazing..since I have known them they make me fall in with Mafia World and show me the beauty side of it..
keep up the giving amazing story like that KA Merikan..