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The Valentino Family #2
Between Bloody Lips
Who is Nicolai Valentino?
Some think him a devoted son, a ruthless killer, a vicious monster. The heir of the infamous Valentino family, Nico is a man with blood-stained hands and a heart of ice.
To Gabriel Delatto, Nico is more than that: a childhood friend, a passionate lover, a misunderstood soul, a man whose cold, calculated outward exterior protects the broken man inside. Nico is his best friend, his lover, his other half—his better half.
But how much of that is true? And how much is just lies whispered between bloody lips?
New York to Tokyo—Gabriel is willing to follow his lover to the ends of the earth to find out what Nico is running from.
Or, maybe, what is Nico running to?
Author Note: Please be advised that there are sexual scenes of explicit graphic nature, including BDSM themes, within the following story. These are done between two parties over the age of 18.
There are scenes involving non-consensual BDSM themes and mentions of past physical and mental child abuse and graphic material that may not be suitable for all audiences.
Between Bloody Lips is a 66,000 word novel with a HFN ending, promising a HEA ending as a series, with no major cliffhanger.
Some think him a devoted son, a ruthless killer, a vicious monster. The heir of the infamous Valentino family, Nico is a man with blood-stained hands and a heart of ice.
To Gabriel Delatto, Nico is more than that: a childhood friend, a passionate lover, a misunderstood soul, a man whose cold, calculated outward exterior protects the broken man inside. Nico is his best friend, his lover, his other half—his better half.
But how much of that is true? And how much is just lies whispered between bloody lips?
New York to Tokyo—Gabriel is willing to follow his lover to the ends of the earth to find out what Nico is running from.
Or, maybe, what is Nico running to?
Author Note: Please be advised that there are sexual scenes of explicit graphic nature, including BDSM themes, within the following story. These are done between two parties over the age of 18.
There are scenes involving non-consensual BDSM themes and mentions of past physical and mental child abuse and graphic material that may not be suitable for all audiences.
Between Bloody Lips is a 66,000 word novel with a HFN ending, promising a HEA ending as a series, with no major cliffhanger.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2019
6 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 15, 2019
The continuation of Gabriel and Nico.
Gabriel is heading to Tokyo to find his best friend and lover Nico, who run without a trail.
Gabriel is searching with ugly doubts crawling through his brain. Could he be wrong about Nico, could he be wrong about himself.
At moments he had him and lost him again. There are more questions rising than answers.
A lot of unfinished sentences was for me confusing and intriguing at the same time. It was all fairly vague.
Sinister characters are playing a role in this story. It was quite a dark read. Shocking was the clarifying fact when dark memories weren’t the real ones. Everybody is using/misusing one other, it’s all contra contra.
I think I was even more confused than Gabriel and Nico together. Somewhere on my way I thought I lost track and it went misty for me.So mindf ck accomplished.
It was a amazing, captivating and again confusing dark mysterious story. There is a lot of extremity, with pain, blood and mutilation. At the end there is, thank goodness, a ray of light, we can call romance!
One thing is sure: they’ll do what they need to do!
Gabriel is heading to Tokyo to find his best friend and lover Nico, who run without a trail.
Gabriel is searching with ugly doubts crawling through his brain. Could he be wrong about Nico, could he be wrong about himself.
At moments he had him and lost him again. There are more questions rising than answers.
A lot of unfinished sentences was for me confusing and intriguing at the same time. It was all fairly vague.
Sinister characters are playing a role in this story. It was quite a dark read. Shocking was the clarifying fact when dark memories weren’t the real ones. Everybody is using/misusing one other, it’s all contra contra.
I think I was even more confused than Gabriel and Nico together. Somewhere on my way I thought I lost track and it went misty for me.So mindf ck accomplished.
It was a amazing, captivating and again confusing dark mysterious story. There is a lot of extremity, with pain, blood and mutilation. At the end there is, thank goodness, a ray of light, we can call romance!
One thing is sure: they’ll do what they need to do!
July 27, 2019
Confusingly disappointing
*looooooooong exhale* this was a wild goose chase or more like a headless chicken running around without knowing what’s happening. I mean, I felt like that most of the book. I have no idea what’s happening and can’t seem to figure it out even by the end!
I’m sure there’s a third book planned because it just absolutely CANNOT end this way while everything is up in the air. But that said, I don’t know if I want to even try the next book. *siiiiiiigh* guess we’ll see eh?
*looooooooong exhale* this was a wild goose chase or more like a headless chicken running around without knowing what’s happening. I mean, I felt like that most of the book. I have no idea what’s happening and can’t seem to figure it out even by the end!
I’m sure there’s a third book planned because it just absolutely CANNOT end this way while everything is up in the air. But that said, I don’t know if I want to even try the next book. *siiiiiiigh* guess we’ll see eh?
May 30, 2019
Ok I'm officially going out of my mind...this book was soooo good. It was dark, sexy, filled with secrets just waiting to be unfold. Some of them were but we're left with so much more to learn before these two men can finally find peace. I absolutely love how much Nico and Gabe love each other. With every word you read you can sense it and it kept me turning the pages so fast to see how much more of a fight is ahead of them.
I'm not sure what I can write more other than you need to pick up this series. I found the first book to be good but this one was far better. Highly recommending it!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
I'm not sure what I can write more other than you need to pick up this series. I found the first book to be good but this one was far better. Highly recommending it!!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
May 17, 2019
This is the continuation of Gabriel and Nico, whose story must be read in “On Hands and Knees.” I was sucked into their world from the get go in that book, though this installment takes us on an entirely different trip. There, we leaned about Gabe and Nico’s roles within the Valentino family, how they were best friends from childhood and still right by each other’s sides. Gabe is the only one how truly knows and sees the real Nico, the only one who can safely give him what he needs, and they long to find a way to just be together without all the stress of the family business.
The last book ended on a pretty big cliffy, and it had been a while since I read it. I wish I had the time to read it again before jumping into this one because I felt a bit lost for much of the story. Gabriel was in the same boat, however, so I didn’t feel too bad and just kept reading on waiting to find out what was really going on. Gabriel is so in the dark as he chases after Nico wanting to just keep him safe and bring him home. It never feels as though Nico is on the same page as Gabriel as far as that goes, and indeed, claims he is trying to do the same for Gabriel. There is so much mystery and deception going on at this point that you don’t know what or who to believe. Even by the end, when things play out, things are still a little muddy. I think I know what is going on, but don’t have any solid intel to back that up. The mantra for them is “we do what we need to do (for the family),” and that leads to some pretty violent, can’t come back from that the same altercations. There is also a lot of symbolism used which I found quite interesting.
There were things mentioned in this book that I really hoped for more clarification on, either here or in the previous book. This felt almost like a different story to me at times, but I was so invested in learning the details, I found myself at the end before no time. The guys spend much of this book physically apart, but mentally and emotionally, they are right next to each other. While both of them (myself included) have doubts about various things and feelings, they don’t last long before you can see the love is still there shining through. I so badly want things to be right for these guys to find peace with what has transpired, and believe me, there has been a lot. I hope we get to see them again before too long and that they are finding their way to be “normal.”
This story has been dark, gritty, suspenseful yet hot and steamy at times with a side of romance, and I have really enjoyed the heavier tone. If you like things a bit light on fluff like I do, be sure to check this series out. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
May 26, 2019
this was... wow... just wow.. it was dark and interesting.. sexy and fun to read.. plus the cover is hott.. lol. i really enjoyed this and the characters were very well written.i cannot wait to see what is next!
June 3, 2019
First, Between Bloody Lips is part of the Valentino Family series, so On Hands and Knees must be read before considering picking up the sequel. Be sure to check out my review for the first book.
As in the previous novel, Between Bloody Lips continues the saga of Nicolai “Nico” Valentino and Gabriel Delatto. Now in Japan, having followed Nico there in the previous book, Gabriel is determined to save his lover, but he doesn’t count on unearthing many truths.
I must say Ms. Fox kept me reading because “what happened in Jersey” had me curious. Just like the previous novel, Between Bloody Lips starts off slow and goes into heavy detail. But she keeps the plot moving at all times. Each scene ending, each chapter ending, she ends on a bang or a cliff hanger that forces the reader to turn the page to find out what will happen next.
Since this is told straight from Gabriel’s POV, his journey at times is dreamlike, depending on what happens to him, or full of internal musings, misgivings, and doubt. Some readers might find the book dark, even sinister, but I didn’t. I loved the deep exploration of the criminal world the author brought me to.
New characters pop up, and I ADORED Rin. She’s a real show stealer. I hope she pops up in the next book. This character Ms. Fox created is a ruthless, cold woman capable of mind-screwing or putting the fear into anyone. She was all three dimensional. No cookie cutter antagonist, if you wish to call Rin an antagonist, or perhaps she’s something else. There is much mystery surrounding her.
Read more here: https://maggieblackbird.com/2019/06/0...
As in the previous novel, Between Bloody Lips continues the saga of Nicolai “Nico” Valentino and Gabriel Delatto. Now in Japan, having followed Nico there in the previous book, Gabriel is determined to save his lover, but he doesn’t count on unearthing many truths.
I must say Ms. Fox kept me reading because “what happened in Jersey” had me curious. Just like the previous novel, Between Bloody Lips starts off slow and goes into heavy detail. But she keeps the plot moving at all times. Each scene ending, each chapter ending, she ends on a bang or a cliff hanger that forces the reader to turn the page to find out what will happen next.
Since this is told straight from Gabriel’s POV, his journey at times is dreamlike, depending on what happens to him, or full of internal musings, misgivings, and doubt. Some readers might find the book dark, even sinister, but I didn’t. I loved the deep exploration of the criminal world the author brought me to.
New characters pop up, and I ADORED Rin. She’s a real show stealer. I hope she pops up in the next book. This character Ms. Fox created is a ruthless, cold woman capable of mind-screwing or putting the fear into anyone. She was all three dimensional. No cookie cutter antagonist, if you wish to call Rin an antagonist, or perhaps she’s something else. There is much mystery surrounding her.
Read more here: https://maggieblackbird.com/2019/06/0...
June 6, 2019
This book continues right where book one ended. Nico has fled to Japan without any note or explanation. Gabriel is hot on his trail, hoping to defend Nico against anyone who he is running from be it The Valentino Family, their Enemies or Nico himself.
The story is told from Gabriel’s viewpoint. He finds himself in a strange country, not knowing who he can trust or where Nico may have run to and why. He is tired, confused and in a state of panic.
We are taken on a intense and phycological journey. Now you may wonder if things could get more confusing for Gabriel. Well yes, they sure can, Nico turns up at Gabriel’s hotel room, when they have a heated scene, before he disappears leaving a message telling Gabriel to go home.
As Gabriel’s journey leads him towards the darker side of Japan and hopefully to Nico, he is forced to make deals with people that want him to do their dirty work.
His mind is so scrambled that all he believes in, starts to crumble, does he even know who Nico really is and what happened in Jersey?
The Story is so thrilling you are left breathless, and it is not only Gabriel’s brain that is scrambled but your own is at some points in the book.
The characters have great depth even the minor ones. You really feel connected to Gabriel and Nico and prey throughout the book for their safety. Gabriel’s loyalty to Nico is so strong that he will die for the man. He knows Nico has not been the same since the Jersey incident and needs Gabriel’s protection and comfort. But what Gabriel does not realise is that he needs Nico’s support even more.
The story is told from Gabriel’s viewpoint. He finds himself in a strange country, not knowing who he can trust or where Nico may have run to and why. He is tired, confused and in a state of panic.
We are taken on a intense and phycological journey. Now you may wonder if things could get more confusing for Gabriel. Well yes, they sure can, Nico turns up at Gabriel’s hotel room, when they have a heated scene, before he disappears leaving a message telling Gabriel to go home.
As Gabriel’s journey leads him towards the darker side of Japan and hopefully to Nico, he is forced to make deals with people that want him to do their dirty work.
His mind is so scrambled that all he believes in, starts to crumble, does he even know who Nico really is and what happened in Jersey?
The Story is so thrilling you are left breathless, and it is not only Gabriel’s brain that is scrambled but your own is at some points in the book.
The characters have great depth even the minor ones. You really feel connected to Gabriel and Nico and prey throughout the book for their safety. Gabriel’s loyalty to Nico is so strong that he will die for the man. He knows Nico has not been the same since the Jersey incident and needs Gabriel’s protection and comfort. But what Gabriel does not realise is that he needs Nico’s support even more.
May 11, 2019
Saying now that I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Between Bloody Lips is sooooo much better than the first of the series. On Hands and Knees was a good book but sometimes it focused a little too much on salacious sex scenes than plot. This book jumps right into the mystery plot that had me guessing through the entire thing. Is Nico good? Is Nico bad? Is Gabriel loosing his mind?
I think part of it is because the ending actually has a happy for now ending rather than the MASSIVE cliffhanger like in the last one. Don't get me wrong. I love cliffhangers. But god did I want to cry and beg for the next in the series. This time there's a satisfying conclusion that leaves readers wanting to know more. I'm happy with the ending even though there's so many new questions.
It feels like I'm slowly opening an onion. The more I go through the more layers keep popping up. I dunno what's going to be in the middle when this is all said and done.
One complaint is that chapter 14/15 kinda grossed me out and that it was light on sex, but daaaaaang did the sex scene make up for it. Warning for anyone who doesn't like knives though. They're used gratuitously.
When's the next book coming out?
Between Bloody Lips is sooooo much better than the first of the series. On Hands and Knees was a good book but sometimes it focused a little too much on salacious sex scenes than plot. This book jumps right into the mystery plot that had me guessing through the entire thing. Is Nico good? Is Nico bad? Is Gabriel loosing his mind?
I think part of it is because the ending actually has a happy for now ending rather than the MASSIVE cliffhanger like in the last one. Don't get me wrong. I love cliffhangers. But god did I want to cry and beg for the next in the series. This time there's a satisfying conclusion that leaves readers wanting to know more. I'm happy with the ending even though there's so many new questions.
It feels like I'm slowly opening an onion. The more I go through the more layers keep popping up. I dunno what's going to be in the middle when this is all said and done.
One complaint is that chapter 14/15 kinda grossed me out and that it was light on sex, but daaaaaang did the sex scene make up for it. Warning for anyone who doesn't like knives though. They're used gratuitously.
When's the next book coming out?
June 1, 2019
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review
Rating: 4.75 Stars out of 5
for the full review, visit https://wp.me/p220KL-gS0
From that review:
To be honest, after reading the first story in this series I wasn't at all sure I was going to continue with the series. I thought that book,On Hands and Knees, was lacking in world building and a foundation for the characters and the characters relationship necessary to the story and overall arc. But there was just enough intrigue and interest for me to continue and I'm so glad I did because this? This novel? It's a completely different animal.
Between Bloody Lips (The Valentino Family #2) by Sai Fox to be sure builds on the somewhat nebulous storyline of the prior book, picking up right after the events there. But here everything is so much more fleshed out. What was a disadvantage in the first story becomes a strength here, and that would be the tortured narrative of Gabriel Delatto, whose mind and memory never seem little more than a shaky thing ready to fly apart, and it's threatening to do so without it's anchor, Nico.
For all our reviews, visit http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
Rating: 4.75 Stars out of 5
for the full review, visit https://wp.me/p220KL-gS0
From that review:
To be honest, after reading the first story in this series I wasn't at all sure I was going to continue with the series. I thought that book,On Hands and Knees, was lacking in world building and a foundation for the characters and the characters relationship necessary to the story and overall arc. But there was just enough intrigue and interest for me to continue and I'm so glad I did because this? This novel? It's a completely different animal.
Between Bloody Lips (The Valentino Family #2) by Sai Fox to be sure builds on the somewhat nebulous storyline of the prior book, picking up right after the events there. But here everything is so much more fleshed out. What was a disadvantage in the first story becomes a strength here, and that would be the tortured narrative of Gabriel Delatto, whose mind and memory never seem little more than a shaky thing ready to fly apart, and it's threatening to do so without it's anchor, Nico.
For all our reviews, visit http://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords...
May 21, 2019
Wow...this book left me all over the show....they way it is written lends itself so well to the confusion and disconnect being experienced by Gabe in his search for the man he loves. The suspense throughout is awesome. The sex scenes are super hot. The end divine. Excellent read!
June 8, 2019
Woooooooo boy.
I'd like another ten of these. Please.
I'd like another ten of these. Please.
May 13, 2020
**A free copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review via the MM Romance Group ‘Don’t Buy My Love’ program.**
Wow! I need MORE!! That was beautiful.
The book was a true mind f*ck and made me swear out loud at 3AM from my hospital bed, but so good.
‘Between bloody lips' is part #2 of the Valentino Family Series and picks right off from the cliffhanger in part #1. I seriously recommend reading/re-reading ‘On Hand and Knees’ to bring yourself up to speed with the story.
Despite Gabriel’s undying love for his Nico, the events in book 1, planted many doubts in Gabriel’s mind- How true had what they shared been, how true had Nico been? Does Nico know about his brother-Hiro? Who was Nicholai Valentino ?
The first one-third of the book rakes up more doubts and questions as the reader gets pulled into the chaos that is ‘Gabriel without Nico’, his desperation, his longing, his struggle to understand and hold on. Till the point that you get as frustrated and desperate to make sense of what’s going on. Being an impatient reader myself, I do understand how vague it may seem at the start, but trust me on this, you’ll be applauding the author’s brilliance at the end of it all.
The story takes a fast paced, slightly gory and dramatic turn from there on and Oh my!!, there are a lot of surprises and plot-twists. Told from Gabriel’s POV, the author does a fantastic job of describing Gabriel’s internal struggle and psyche. Complemented with the author’s excellent use of symbolism, the plot keeps one intrigued till the very end. So beautifully conveyed, I could write a separate article about just that. Such brilliant penmanship.
Though it ends on a HFN, it leaves in its wake more theories and questions, the most prominent of them being :
Who is Gabriel Delatto ?
Can’t wait for part #3 ( *Bats puppy eyes at author*).
Highly recommend. Get to this goodness. Get to it now!!
Wow! I need MORE!! That was beautiful.
The book was a true mind f*ck and made me swear out loud at 3AM from my hospital bed, but so good.
‘Between bloody lips' is part #2 of the Valentino Family Series and picks right off from the cliffhanger in part #1. I seriously recommend reading/re-reading ‘On Hand and Knees’ to bring yourself up to speed with the story.
Despite Gabriel’s undying love for his Nico, the events in book 1, planted many doubts in Gabriel’s mind- How true had what they shared been, how true had Nico been? Does Nico know about his brother-Hiro? Who was Nicholai Valentino ?
| “The same rebellious teenager who he had kissed. Gabriel could almost remember the way the kiss tasted, like heat and sweat and something that Gabriel hadn’t quite understood at that moment, but part of Gabriel knew that it would be the one that would stay with him the rest of his life.”|
The first one-third of the book rakes up more doubts and questions as the reader gets pulled into the chaos that is ‘Gabriel without Nico’, his desperation, his longing, his struggle to understand and hold on. Till the point that you get as frustrated and desperate to make sense of what’s going on. Being an impatient reader myself, I do understand how vague it may seem at the start, but trust me on this, you’ll be applauding the author’s brilliance at the end of it all.
The story takes a fast paced, slightly gory and dramatic turn from there on and Oh my!!, there are a lot of surprises and plot-twists. Told from Gabriel’s POV, the author does a fantastic job of describing Gabriel’s internal struggle and psyche. Complemented with the author’s excellent use of symbolism, the plot keeps one intrigued till the very end. So beautifully conveyed, I could write a separate article about just that. Such brilliant penmanship.
| “ There was a spider web stretched across the lower-left corner of the window-still, the tattered edges blowing in a soft breeze. A spiderweb in the corner of the room, always just out of reach. Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder: Where was the spider? Where was it hiding ? Why was it hiding?”
“Gabriel.. I love you, It was a whisper between bloody lips. Gabriel pulled the trigger.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The mask shattered and, blooming like a flower, a thousand red spiders skittered out. They danced around and around.
Around and around.”
“Will you walk into my parlor, the spider said to the fly.”|
Though it ends on a HFN, it leaves in its wake more theories and questions, the most prominent of them being :
Who is Gabriel Delatto ?
Can’t wait for part #3 ( *Bats puppy eyes at author*).
Highly recommend. Get to this goodness. Get to it now!!
June 9, 2019
The storyline, that picks up where "On hands and knees" left off, is full of surprises or at least I don't think it ever went were I expected it to. The love that Gabriel feels for Nico is palpable and, though Nico keeps beeing a little mystery during most of the book, in the end, you can also see how deep are his feelings for Gabriel. I'd really liked the previous book and I think this one is much better. Certainly an awesome read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews