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Money Devils #1

Money Devils 1: A Cartel Novel

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From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Cartel series comes a new chapter in a world that only Ashley and JaQuavis know how to bring to life.

The LaCroixs are four beautiful Haitian American women bound by money and blood. On the surface The LaCroix Group is a venture capitalist company, but underneath it’s so much more. The four sisters run long cons, targeting wealthy, prominent business figures. They have a system. Find the perfect mark, create the problem, then present the solution. For a cost…

Sutton “Sutty” LaCroix, the eldest sister and an accomplished business maven, sits on the family throne as the CEO of the LaCroix Group and is the face of their operation. No one is as good as Sutton when it comes to finding new prey.

However, when Sutton meets West, a young, black oil tycoon--a man who represents a life she and her sisters vowed never to live--she breaks all the rules. The LaCroix sisters have a pact—to never settle down and leave roots in one place. But Sutton falls in love with his good looks, charm, and old money. This means that West is a problem. When he inducts her into a high society of opulence, power, and generational wealth, Sutton finds herself torn between the love of her life and the love of her family.

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2020

690 people are currently reading
1560 people want to read

About the author

Ashley Antoinette

77 books7,438 followers
ASHLEY ANTOINETTE COLEMAN is one of the most successful female writers of her time. The feminine half of the popular married duo, Ashley and JaQuavis, she has co-written over 40 novels, including the bestselling Cartel series. Several of her titles have hit The New York Times bestsellers list, but she is most widely regarded for her continuing racy saga, The Prada Plan. Born in Flint, MI, she was bred with an innate street sense that she uses as motivation in her crime filled writings.

Picking up a deal with publishing powerhouse St. Martin's Press while simultaneously inking deals at Warner Brothers Studios and NBC/Universal, Ashley shows no signs of slowing down. She is currently hard at work on a new book series and two television pilots.

To keep up with everything Ashley Antoinette follow her...
twitter @novelista
Instagram @ashleyantoinette

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5 stars
1,138 (72%)
4 stars
283 (18%)
3 stars
107 (6%)
2 stars
19 (1%)
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12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
Profile Image for Drenna Gurl.
352 reviews62 followers
July 15, 2020
Let's be clear... This is not a Cartel book! We have Cartel pop ups and trust they are awesome pop ups!

The LaCroix sisters are 4 new characters and they did not come to play! Sutton, Honor, Luna aka Gadget, and Ashton. These ladies have a corporate hustle that is making them millions!

West and August Sinclair are brothers... West being adopted into August's family. One night of rash decisions changes the fate of all of these characters. Secrets,lies, deception..... The Coleman's gave us all of that! While it's been a few years since we have felt the impact of this dynamic duo as a unit, it feels as if they never left! Money Devils part 1 was just the entree, part 2 is for sure gonna pack a lunch!
Profile Image for Kelsie Maxwell.
430 reviews86 followers
August 20, 2020
Money Devils 1 by the infamous, married urban lit duo, Ashley Antoinette Coleman and JaQuavis Coleman, Ashley & JaQuavis, is the first book in a spinoff, of a sort, of The Cartel series.

The four LaCroix sisters are stunning and a lure to men of all types. They know it, and they use it in their legitimate business and in the cons they perpetrate on the unsuspecting. Their latest long con introduces them to the Sinclair brothers and big trouble. Sutton “Sutty”, the oldest and CEO of the family and their business, breaks rule #1 and finds herself in love with West Sinclair, an oil tycoon and savvy player. Her attraction to West is causing her to second guess herself and her tactics.

Wow! That’s the first word that comes to mind in reference to Money Devils 1. These characters are over-the-top fabulous. The relationships and interactions between the characters are convoluted, but followable. The reader may need push pins and yarn to keep up with the connections, but it’s worth it. The very complex plot is extremely well-executed. There are twists of monumental proportions. The ending – just Wow! This novel is worthy of my 5 out of 5 star rating. I definitely enjoyed it and recommend it to everyone who enjoys urban fiction.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Profile Image for lexiskat.
290 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2024
This was definitely a book that was needed. I just love the messy and drama that these books give. Sutton was that girl but just didn't know that Miamor is badder. But what i cant understand is why did Ashton mess up the drop, did it have something to do with it being CJ as the supplier. All the sisters are bad ass. I just wish that Ashton had of figured out that homeboy was behind her hurt as well. This book is good and tie with the whole Cartel series.
Profile Image for Qiana Groves.
350 reviews64 followers
July 3, 2020
Urban Lit's favorite literary duo is back and they definitely did not disappoint. In this book we have some of A&J's older characters mixed in with some new characters and it made for a very interesting mix. Myself, and I'm sure some of you, were wondering how they would resurrect this series, mainly because the majority of the characters are dead. A&J pulled a fast one on us with The Cartel 2, but they didn't resurrect any fallen soldiers in this installment.


In this story we meet the LaCroix sisters, Sutton, Luna, Honor and Ashton. I won't give any spoilers, just know their family tree is imperative to the story line. These sisters appear to be prominent business women, and they are, but they are also so much more. Con-artists is the best words to describe them. "Plant the mouse then sell the trap." They've been conning for years, but this con has some beautiful distractions that knock these sisters off their game.


We also meet the Sinclair brothers, West and August. These aren't your traditional brothers. They aren't related by blood, but blood couldn't make them any closer. West is the more calculated and laid back brother, but that doesn't take away from August, he's just as much a boss as West. When tragedy strikes their family I'm not sure if their brotherly bond can stay in tact. "Expect everything, lose nothing."


Mix these sisters with these brothers and you get one hell of a story. Lines are crossed, emotions are high and I'm not sure who will come out on top. "The devil had a way of forming himself in the thing one loved the most." The ending of the story is what has me shook the most. I will be definitely be tuned in for the next installment. We've waited years to get back to this series and honestly, it was worth the wait.
Profile Image for Carla.
511 reviews202 followers
October 18, 2020
“This isn’t a hustle. It’s a corporation.”

Money Devils 1 is the brand-new offering from literary duo, Ashley & JaQuavis. It focuses on four sisters Sutton, Ashton, Luna aka Gadget, and Honor. Each sister serves a purpose at their lucrative business, The LaCroix Group. Sutton is the head of the operation. She is no nonsense and straight to the point. But nothing is as it seems and when West Sinclair enters the picture, nothing will be the same again.

Money Devils was a fast-paced read. From the prologue to the thrilling conclusion, I could not get enough. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I’m talking jaw-dropping! My emotions were all over the place. There were so many elements at play. I do not want to say too much so I will leave it there. The characters were well developed and morally grey. The way that Ashley and JaQuavis have woven this tale left me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait for the next installment.
Profile Image for Demetrius.
426 reviews45 followers
February 12, 2024
TBH, the last 3hrs of this booked saved it! For the most part it was rather boring.

All the LaCroix were soft but Luna! She understood the assignment while the other sisters caught feelings for people they shouldn’t have !

Honestly, the LaCroix sisters should’ve stuck with the corporate scamming, because they were nowhere ready for the street shit and the ending showed why!

Speaking on end, it sent chills down my spine 🥶

The ending was the reason I gave it 5 stars!

I’m excited for part 2!
Profile Image for WTF Are You Reading?.
1,309 reviews94 followers
August 29, 2020
Money Devils #1 is the kind of book that is very easy to write off as just another Urban Contemporary. Written in the "flash and fight" style of most "tales from the street.
A la Zane and Jerome Dicky.
And yes...
I, as a reviewer will be the first to admit that I had to fight the urge to DNF this book several times in the offing. Due to the staggering number of cliche racial descriptors and fashion label name drops within the book's first few chapters.
But having preserved.
I must admit that under all of that cliche; there is a story well worth reading.

The fact that the story starts with two conflicts.
Utterly delicious.
First the blood feud between the Diamonds and LaCroix.
Then the Ashton situation. And its segue into to the LaCroix family and their "not so bright and shining world".
Other factors working in this story's favor.
- The panache of the LaCroix sisters and their "business of blackmail".
- The fact that each of the sisters is allowed her own storyline and time in the spotlight.
Though Sutton and Ashton are front and center for the majority of this story.
- West, August, and Beamer Sinclair:s stories. And the way that they intermingle with those of Sutton, Ashton, and the others.
- The way that everything and everyone that is so far removed from the street and the blood feud relates back to it in the end.

This book is very reminiscent of the nighttime soaps of the 80's and 90's. With larger than life characters. Mounts of cash. And plots so twisted that one dared not blink for fear of missing something. Although one was never really sure what that something might be. Until the big reveal at the end of things.
Although this book ends in an unforgettable cliffhanger.
This fast paced and surprisingly fun read is one that makes good on its promise to shock, surprise, titillate, and sate, all who dare to enter the world of Money Devils #1.

*Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the review copy on which this honest critique is based.
Profile Image for Tia.
829 reviews294 followers
September 16, 2021
Quick thoughts

I knew the tie in would be with the Diamonds. That was too quick and convenient for me. All that angst to lead to rapid fall out was disappointing. August paying one mil for his own investigation and the investigator assuming West’s role in the explosion w/out real proof? How he tie everything to Sutton?

It unnerved me that Ashton couldn’t remember Sire and actually saved him. Yuck 🤢

Mo Diamond Sire’s coke connect
Carter Diamond killed at Courthouse
Ashton pregnant by Carter Jones II - boxer

I received an advanced reader copy from Macmillan/St. Martin's Press via Edelweiss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shontay.
85 reviews7 followers
September 12, 2020
It was ok

I'm usually all for A&J books but it seem like their books & plots are redundant and predictable at times. Money Devils just seem like I read it before just with different characters names. The end was intriguing which will make me buy the next one to see what happens cause of Miamor.
Profile Image for Erin Rae.
371 reviews24 followers
September 13, 2024
The ending 🤯😮🫢🙃 how much longer we gotta wait for Money Devils 2?!?!! lol
Profile Image for Sydney.
175 reviews92 followers
June 28, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I knew this was going to be good but It’s not even funny how good it was. The LaCroixs sisters are easily my favorite book family right now. With all the twists and turns taking place, I felt like I was on my toes at all times which I liked. There was also some super steamy scenes where I caught myself fanning the flame 😂.
The brilliance of these sisters (except Ashton) was phenomenal. Luna aka Gadget and her tech savy skills blew me away. Honor has such a good heart and even though she cons she still doesn’t deserve anything bad that’s eventually going to happen to her because Karma always comes. Sutton was so bad ass but she’s playing such a dangerous game without having solid proof which kind of annoyed me at times. West... All I can say is poor West. August and Ashton were easily my least fav characters. Both young and dumb making emotional decisions without fully thinking them through.
This book left off with a juicy cliffhanger. I can’t wait for book 2 to come out. When it does it will be jumping everything on my TBR list.

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Pub date 8-18-2020 ~ preorder it guys 🤘🏾
Profile Image for The Book Chick.
334 reviews14 followers
September 3, 2020
This was very interesting. I was nervous about the intersecting novels. I think that A&J were very ambitious in this one giving us a lot of twists and turns. There were a lot of unexpected things going on which was a plus. I’m very perceptive and can figure out the toughest plots. This one kept me on my toes.
The characters were decent. I think the Lacroix sisters aren’t the best characters written by A&J, but I want to give them a chance. Not sure that I have a favorite yet. West was of course a swoon fest and his quiet bravado is sexy. I think the story between Honor and August is an interesting one and A& J have a real opportunity to make this pretty jaw dropping depending on the direction they go in. The possibilities are endless. Ashton and Sire I can see where this may lead especially with the intersecting story and it’s definitely something to wait for. The problem I have with this story is that Ashton couldn’t have been this stupid to think that she could be trained by the best and pull the move that she did. The end is surprising, but not as much as it is satisfying because it shows that the writers are being true to their characters. But how will it all mesh? Guess we gotta read the second installment.
Profile Image for Dione Brown.
542 reviews6 followers
December 6, 2020
This book..yes..omg..It jumped all the way off in this book..Just when I was clutching my pearls guess who pops up? My FAVORITE MURDA MAMA.. GO MIAMOR....OOOHHHH WEEEEEE..THIS RIGHT HERE..and still where is My Girl Anari?
Profile Image for Stacey Nelson.
302 reviews
August 31, 2020
I highly recommend reading this book. Reading this book you can image the scenes playing out in your head and play it like a movie. The characters are easy to follow and you will find yourself either rooting for them or shaking your head in disappoint. Since I read an advanced readers copy, I can't comment on the grammar however I was able to read the story without interruption due to spelling errors. The LaCroix sisters will take you on a wide ride and you will not want to stop reading., I hope the authors don't make us wait too long for part 2. You can never go wrong reading an Ashley & JaQuavis book..
Profile Image for Jamele (BookswithJams).
2,045 reviews93 followers
October 31, 2021
This was my first read by this writing duo, and it is the first in a series so a good amount of time was spent introducing characters, but there was still a lot of thing that happened to keep me on my toes. The sisters were strong characters and it sounds like there were other popups from another series I clearly need to read, but overall this was a solid intro that has kept me wanting more, and I cannot wait to read the next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the digital galley to review.
197 reviews
August 11, 2020
I will go ahead and say it: I didn't love this book. Love for me is I will read this again. Really like is I *might* read it again. I will not read this again.

I do, however, like it and I enjoyed the ending. The ending bumped this up from ok to like.

Money Devils 1 is NOT a Cartel series book, and that is ok! It is a branch-off.

Quick rundown: Remember Matee? He has a brother, Milo, who left Miami with his daughters when things got hot with the Diamonds. The LaCroix sisters have their own personalities and roles in the family business. They do their dirt the legal-ish way, but it isn't without risks. While on a major job, the situation goes left, and the sisters are placed in a dire predicament. Will the sisters make it out of this?

Although I didn't love it, I do like it and think it makes a good transition book. What brought this down to like is me being confused. For instance, I am confused as of how Ashton can be trained by the best but made simple mistakes. I'm interested in seeing my girl, Mia, and catching up with the Diamonds, as I know their paths will cross.

The story was interesting and easy to read. It is also a quick read, so those of us looking for a brief respite from life, can pick this up and be transported to the lives of the LaCroix sisters. I am looking forward to reading part 2!

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for April.
325 reviews5 followers
July 25, 2020
RTC
*I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Joy Perry.
158 reviews49 followers
December 17, 2020
Wow! Fantastic addition to The Cartel series!!! Just wish it hadn't ended in a cliffhanger... Will be so anxious waiting for the next book to come out in August '21!!!!!
Profile Image for Patrice.
225 reviews41 followers
June 28, 2023
Went ahead and knocked it out… I got confused a few times with all of the characters but it had all the twists and turns of the Cartel. Ready for the next installment.
Profile Image for Chas &#x1f339;.
19 reviews
January 29, 2024
Coming off The Cartel, this was definitely much slower than my preference…but when it got hot, it was hot! I was all in. Well written, but slow in the beginning. Impatiently waiting for MD2!!
Profile Image for Rhiannon Rabby | 31.
944 reviews23 followers
May 8, 2024
I will *FREAK OUT* if Money Devils 2 is not released like, TOMORROW.
1,160 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2023
I thought that this book was going to be one thing & it was something that as it turns out, I DIDN'T CARE FOR!
It's based on the Four Nieces of Long-Time Nemesis of the Diamond family & Breeze Diamond's Captor/ Rapist: MATEE': Sutton, Honor, Luna ("gadget"), & Ashton LaCroix- the latter sister who readers will probably remember from "LONG LIVE THE CARTEL/THE CARTEL 8"book.
The male counterparts are the rich southern fam Sinclairs: August, Beamer, & adopted brother West who appears to be the love interest of Sutton LaCriox, which I couldn't really get into them being a couple.
There had been a scene where West had taken Sutton into a field outside of his place of business which seemed as if I'd read something similar to it somewhere else in some other best-selling author's work, & I believe I had. A similar scenario was in a Teri Woods series called :"DEADLY REIGNS", one that I'm a fan of. Usually, when THE COLEMANS "borrow", or to use one of Beyoncé's OVERUSED descriptions of thievery : "inspired by", they appear to do so with something from K'WAN's work or some street fiction authors whom they may think that their work isn't familiar to their readers.
I don't like when authors steal from other authors; it cheapens the work they'd appeared to had attempted to achieve accolades for as if it's from their own minds when it most likely is from another writer's creation.
I also wish that the Colemans will ELIMINATE rape/SA Scenes from their work. They've DONE IT TO DEATH IN ALMOST ALL OF THEIR WORK-BOTH JOINTLY & AS SOLO AUTHORS! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ENTERTAINING ABOUT SOMEON BEING VICTIMIZED IN SUCH A WAY IN EVERY BOOK THEY RELEASE! (AIRHEAD ASHTON LACROIX IS VICIOUSLY RAPED & LEFT FOR DEAD IN A WAREHOUSE OWNED BY THE SINCLAIRS, WHICH RESULTED IN HER MISCARRYING WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE UNBORN CHILD OF CARTER JONES JR.)
There are other ways to bring drama to a story line for a character SANS allowing their dignity to be snatched from them in an unwilling manner than adding a SA Scene to the equation, Ashley A. & JaQuavis! PLEASE BE MORE CREATIVE & LESS LAZY IN YOUR STORY-TELLING.
Even with Ashton in the book, who I DID NOT LIKE IN "LONG LIVE THE CARTEL"(because HER CHARACTER JUST WASN'T LIKEABLE IN THAT BOOK OR THIS ONE) THERE WAS NOT ONE MAIN CHARACTER THAT I LIKED IN "MONEY DEVILS", MAINLY BECAUSE THE LACRIOX SISTERS ARE THE NIECES OF MATEE', WHO TORMENTED BREEZE DIAMOND (in THE CARTEL Series)!
Speaking of the DIAMOND Fam... MO MONEY DIAMOND & his COUSIN CARTER JONES JR. MADE A MUCH-NEEDED GUEST APPEARANCE IN "MD", WHICH I LOVED!
BUT THAT ENDING THOUGH..... CAN YOU SAY: MIA MOTHER F--KING MOR JONES BACK IN THESE STREETS & MORE THAN READY TO F--K SOME SH-T UP?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I SWEAR TOHE LONG-AWAITED RELEASE OF MY GIRL MIAMOR JONES-HANDS DOWN THE BEST PART OF THIS BOOK!
WELCOME HOME, MY FAVORITE MURDA MAMA MIAMOR! THIS BETTER NOT BE A DREAM/NIGHTMARE BY ONE OF THE LACROIX SISTERS BECAUSE THE COLEMANS LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE F---ING WITH THEIR SUPPORTERS WITH MIAMOR & DREAM SEQUENCES IN THEIR THE CARTEL SERIES!
THEY BETTER NOT DO THIS TO MY MURDA MAMA, & SPEAKING OF WHICH: JAQUAVIS BETTER NOT MESS UP MY SECOND FAVORITE MURDA MAMA: ARIES IN HIS UPCOMING "CARTEL QUEEN:ARIES MANIFESTO" BOOK Based on the mysterious life of MURDA MAMA ARIES!
IMMA NEED FOR BOTH OF THE COLEMANS TO STOP PLAYIN IN OUR FACES WITH OUR MURDA MAMAS: MIAMOR & ARIES!
Profile Image for Tamika.
329 reviews
August 31, 2020
This was more if a gateway book. Simply introducingnew characters. I may have given it more stars if it had a different title because it opened new store lines but wasn't Cartel worthy.
Profile Image for MidnightAce Book Bar.
170 reviews11 followers
September 16, 2020
Wow!!! This one keeps you on the edge of your seat with every page. Money Devils 1 is the spin-off of New York's bestselling series, "The Cartel". Since this is my first book by this dynamic writing duo, I was not familiar with some of the backstories. However, that didn't take away from the story. It only made me want to partake in the Cartel series. I can already tell that these authors know how to bring vivid imagery making you feel as if you were there.

In this read, I had the pleasure of meeting the LaCroix family, but the highlight of the story was the 4 sisters, all beautiful, intelligent, strategic in their moves, and dangerous at the same. Their journey starts with the illegal world of their father and uncle. Learning from the best and putting their unique footprint on the LaCroix legacy. Sutton, the firstborn built a corporate empire targeting wealthy businesses and figures that ran them. Creating a problem then swoop in and save them...genius!

The LaCroix Group is A listed and the go-to for cleaning up the messes the privileged want to keep hidden. When Sutton breaks her own rule, falling for the mark, it is this emotional distraction that sends things in a downward spiral. What they didn't see coming was landing in the crosshairs of their family nemesis.

Money Devils 1 is a great read filled with lots of action, twist and turns to keep you engage throughout the entire read.
Profile Image for Tanya.
55 reviews2 followers
July 6, 2020
I went into this book blindly only knowing that it was the next book in the highly anticipated Cartel series but... it absolutely was not. There were guess appearances from the Cartel but this book has all new players who you will fall in love with. From the beginning the LaCroix sisters Sudden, Honor, Gadget, and Ashton are beautiful yet deadly. They are here to make millions the corporate way. Everything they know they learned from their Haitian father.

Then there is the Sinclair brothers West and August, August was born into the oil rig business while West is the abandoned black boy adopted into the family. When this two family intertwine things become explosive. This book keeps you on your toes wondering what’s coming next. It is a little drawn out but if you are a A&J fan it’s to be expected. Hopefully book two will give more of an update on the Cartel. I would love to know how Breeze, CJ and the rest of the family is doing after Carters death.

Thank you NetGalley, St.Martin Griffins and The Coleman’s for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
11.4k reviews194 followers
August 15, 2020
I've not read Antoinette before and didn't know what to expect from this but wow- it's got a lot of drama and it totally pulled me in. The LaCroix sisters have made a lot running corporate con games. but now one of them has fallen for their target. Sutty is the CEO and she's set the rules. Then she meets West and all bets are off. How will she deal with her sisters Honor, Ashton, and Gadget? And how will West feel when he finds out what's going on? There's a lot of secrets here and I won't spoil any of them. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Very entertaining and fun- can't wait to read the stories of the other sisters.
Profile Image for ADRIANNE GILL.
16 reviews
September 16, 2020
This book was right on time, because my review about the cartel 8 was stating they should put out 2-3 books at a time for these series. I cant wait until money devils 2 because Miamor is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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