Xavier

Vigilance #4

by Silvia Violet

I thought I was straight.
I thought protecting my identity mattered more than anything besides family.
Then Emilio came to me for protection.
It's my fault he’s in danger, and no one is going to touch him.
No one besides me.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Crime, Gay For You, Military Fiction, BDSM

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2021

About the author

Silvia Violet writes fun, sexy stories that will leave you smiling and satisfied. She has a thing for characters who are in need of comfort and enjoys helping them surrender to love even when they doubt it exists. Silvia's stories include sizzling contemporaries, paranormals, and historicals. When she needs a break from listening to the voices in her head, she spends time baking, taking long walks, and curling up with her favorite books. Keep up with her latest ventures by signing up for her newsletter.

For insider information, early looks at works-in-progress, and other rewards, join Silvia on Patreon.

Reviews

[Iman (hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright, but not entertaining. I didn’t enjoy it, but I can tolerate it. Better writing than Lucien definitely, but they had so much push and pull that I was just 😴😴 Their relationship move so slow in the first half, I felt like that was intentional, until the 50% mark that they have sex. I couldn’t follow up with the storyline and they were very sexual since the beginning (less entertaining) and and …. I might have fallen asleep. The second half was fine, I get glimpses of scenes that I actually like, but it was still plain to me. Silvia Violet is not for me.

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just... loved it. Giving these 5 stars out of pure personal enjoyment. I try to be critical most of the time but I'm giving this one the exception. The plot was okay at best. In the end I didn't really care because Xavier and Emilio got me swooning so much. Excited for this author's next series!

[Hugo #freepalestine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be My favorite Silvia violet book so far 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ ..
I'm in a good mood so
This was everything I wanted at the moment,
Possessive mc, the angts happening around them but not between the mcs.
One of the reasons I liked it so much than other books from Silvia violet is that,
The mcs don't have any doubts on what they're after so they chase it, usually the mcs starts mc having doubt like "I'm no good for him and all that and left the other mc on the third act" on here they're not.
They're both so compatible
I know this one's might follow the same formula just like her other books but the pacing was good, and there wasn't any unnecessary drama, The mcs Were compatible and that's what I need.

[Skirmish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2021/05/21/...
Rating: 2.5 Stars – far from hate but not quite a like

[Kaity · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Ehh….I wished for more and this was a little bit of a disappointment..

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect that Xavier would be mushy mushy with Emilio lol
But I enjoyed this while skimming some of their sexy times.
Not much action except in bed🤣🤣

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Overall I really enjoyed the whole series now on to the next spin off.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finally get X's story and it didn't disappoint! Xavier and Emilio were great together. Emilio really got beneath the rough exterior to grab hold of X's heart. Their scenes together were fabulous--great dialogue, witty banter and smoking hot (they had a few 'melt my kindle' moments)! It was also so much fun when all the vigilance guys got together with some of the Marchasi's and the new Mob family from New Orleans--their conversations were so good! I cannot wait for the spin-off series...a new family and hopefully visits from old friends too!

Michael Dean was fantastic in this entire series! He had a lot of growly men to voice, all in the scene at the same time and he was excellent! He always brings such passion and intensity to his narration that you just get completely immersed into the story!

[the kevin (vaguely alive) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 55%

The major flaw of this book is the egregious instalust and instalove. It's rare to get both, but this book has it all.

The attraction between X and Emilio is the "staring googoo eyes forget-how-to-talk" type. Upon their first meeting, X is so terribly overcome with his instalust of Emilio that he almost entirely forgets how to function. Mind you, this is during an active mission, when peoples lives depend on him functioning.

Then, by 32% in - I think this is either before they even kiss or just after they first kiss - X is thinking about love. There's nothing to support this!!! staaaahhp

Overall, there's no chemistry between these characters. Their first kiss scene was contrived, and their first sex scene was stilted, especially in the dialogue. It feels like their physical scenes pop out of nowhere, because there's no sexual tension between them. There's definitely no romantic connection.

There is far too much time spent in the internal monologues of both characters, instead of action happening. Most of the book could be summed up as "but I thought I was straight??" vs "I'm such an awkward nerd he'd never want me even if he wasn't straight" thoughts.

I got bored.

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silvia Violet scores another hit with this entry in the Vigilance saga. The mysterious X meets his match in a young hacker. This may be my favorite of the series, right up there with Devil from the Marchesis. The storyline is thrilling and tense, the romance is swoony and magnetic, and the sex is even filthier and hotter than ever.

You won't necessarily need to start with the Marchesi series (though I recommend it), but you should at least read Leo, and it would be better if you started with Giorgio and make your way through the series.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it but less than the others.
I m jumping to the marchesi family ( I know that's not probably the correct read order)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s here! *Cue happy dance* If you’re like me, you’ve been intrigued with who X is, and what his story may be since we first met him in Devil’s book within the Marchesi series. We finally get to know X’s story and holy hotness it was everything I hoped it would be! I loved being able to fill in all the why’s: who X is, why he is the way he is, and why Vigilance is so important to him. With all those why’s, we also get to learn that X is interested in a man for the first time. Cue all the advice (and some ribbing) from his teammates about falling for a man! That man being Emilio, the cyber intelligence of Vigilance. Emilio was so sweet and I loved him getting X to open up and face some hard realizations. I enjoyed the action we’ve come to expect from this series, and the seriously hot AF (first) sexy times! It was great getting to seeing the Marchesi’s and the rest of the team join in on the action. The setup for the next series the author has in planned for us has left me so intrigued!

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emilio and X are definitely when opposites attract. Emilio prefers to stay behind the scenes where X is definitely front and center.
Both are hot for each other. AND they have a hard time reconciling how they will fit in each other’s lives. This series has been an adventure. I’m glad we finally got X’s story. AND we get the HEA we were hoping for.

[Samantha Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! It's finally here! I knew in my heart that X had to have a book in this series. I'm so happy that X finally found someone who accepted him and all of his many sides. Emilio was adorable as heck in this book and I loved the way he loved X. They both wanted nothing more than to protect the other and in the end it all worked out. This book also had some seriously hot 🔥 sexy times. As in all the other books we get to revisit the whole crew of Vigilance as well as some of the Marchesi family. It was hilarious to see everyone on the team trying to give X advice and basically just causing a ruckus. I really enjoyed this book, heck this whole series was great, and I definitely recommend it.

[Devoted❤️Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a risk

Oh Xavier, I love your arrogance and it’s well-earned in more than one way (yum) but it was your unexpected romantic side that put you heads above the Vigilance crew. You are just full of scintillating secrets. Emilio is a lucky guy but then again you are too to have his love. I think their love story is my favorite in this series. A shy-but-confident hacker and a commanding ex-military leader who is so much extra, yes please and more.

“A person does what they have to do to protect the ones they love.” I think this could be the Vigilance motto but I would never place a bet against Emilio or Xavier, when it comes to risking it all to protect their own. These two did everything possible to take care of and watch out for each other and I gotta say I wish I could be stranded on an island with them. It was non-stop excitement paired with a heat level of burn. Add in the ravenous love these two have, the deep friendship bonds between the team, some surprises and there’s no monkeying around. I am thrilled about the new series and can’t wait to learn more about Remy and his family.

[Romance Recs · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know? The entire time we were reading this series there was this underlying bad boy yet sophisticated about the team's boss, the man who created Viligsnce, Thomas/X aka Xiavier.

I was very underwhelmed by this read. It lacked any real passion. I didn't feel a connection between the tech nerd and X. It was so much less of exciting, fun and romantic than I was expecting.

I feel as though the too many cameos from every other character in this series in this book was major OVERKILL. I hate secondary characters having entire chapters where they're in the scene.

I hated it to be honest. It's a boring read that left me wanting some actual love.

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xavier plus Emilio equals one hell of an explosive, powerful, grab-you-by-the-feels, five alarm flaming hot, intense, gritty, raw, gripping, enthralling, fast paced, action packed, emotionally charged, fascinating, intriguing, and totally awesome end to a marvelous masterpiece of a series. I would recommend getting this for yourself ASAP!

[Amos24601 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I wanted to like this one better than I did. I was very excited for X’s story. While I did like it a lot, I didn’t LOVE it like I wanted to. I really got tired of X pushing Emilio away. I did understand his confusion, but as a man who always gets what he wants, I expected him to be a bit more decisive.

Emilio was an absolute darling and I adored him. He was sweet and open to being with X and all that went with him. I just felt like this story lacked a little bit of the punch we got with the other books. Maybe it was a little rushed? There were some inconsistencies, such as Swain’s first name. It’s was Bernard in Leo but Dennis here. There were also some instances where we were reading from X’s POV and it switched to Emilio’s mid paragraph and then back to X.

Overall, this has been a great series and I would definitely recommend it. I’m glad we’re are going to visit the Theriot family in New Orleans for the spin-off series.

[Larissa_S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silvia Violet’s Xavier is the fourth and culminating book in her Vigilance series, a spinoff of the Marchesi Family series (Lucien, Angelo and Devil). Giorgio (Book 1), Niall (Book 2), Leo (Book 3), and Xavier proceed sequentially (with some slight overlap at the beginning and ends of the books), so I’d advise reading them in order. You could read Xavier as a standalone. The author provides enough background and context that you can follow along just fine. Expect unavoidable spoilers for the earlier stories, though, if you jump into Xavier first.

Notably, the author is extremely consistent across the books in this series with her voice, tone and pacing. She’s created a unique “style” that I’ve not really experienced in other books. There’s a directness to the writing which I expect was by design. It mirrors the directness of the Vigilance protagonists and their goals.

The books are heavy on sex and action, but light on emotional depth and character development. They are fast-moving, action romances. You hit the ground running at the outset of each book. Slow burn is not a feature in any of these stories. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, the attraction intense and immediate, and the leap from lust to love happens fast. All of this is to say that the books provide a specific kind of outlet for a reader. They are the perfect indulgence when you want a book that will grab your attention, pull you into the plot and engage you with the featured couple, all without having to think too hard.

Xavier’s titular character is none other than the mysterious “X”, the head of Vigilance and all-around scary dude. X is leading a double life, as we’ve known from Book 1. However, here we see that the schism between his public, wealthy philanthropist, Boston upper echelon persona and his vigilante role as owner of Vigilance and de facto commander of his team is wearing thin. X’s best friends, who have all found their HEAs, now surround him. Everywhere he looks, he sees the love and fulfillment that eludes him. Even X’s son Lane has found love with Giorgio. X wonders – actually, no, he doesn’t wonder, he knows – where he went wrong. His commitment to working outside the law to bring the bad guys to justice has forced him to sacrifice not just love, but himself.

Enter the much younger, 25-year-old, computer whiz/hacker Emilio, who X has hired to assist in taking down the trafficking ring. 44-year-old X has always identified as straight, but is instantly, magnetically, and inexplicably drawn to Emilio. X experiences some equivocation about his sexuality. He vacillates about whether a relationship with Emilio could realistically work given the large age difference and the constant danger that surrounds him. But the story doesn’t prolong X’s ruminations and hesitations, instead resolving them like all the other aspects of these books, quickly and summarily.

Xavier, to some degree, felt a bit like a redo of Leo. The two books present the same basic romantic premise: an age gap, opposites attract romance with a younger man who seems weak but actually has mettle that belies their outward appearance. Obviously, there are differences too, but the general tenor of the books felt the same. Their juxtaposition in the series order amplifies this impression.

Also, like in Leo, and the previous books in this series, Xavier continues the focus on control. X is the most controlling of the Vigilance men, but he recognizes he wants control over strength, not weakness. He’s fascinated by Emilio because he’s just as strong as X, but in very different ways – many of which are ways in which X is deficient.

Because of the similarities, Xavier suffers from the same shortcomings as Leo. The sex scenes are smoking hot, but they feel superficial. The story tells us there’s emotional investment but as the reader, I didn’t experience it. I felt like I was looking at X and Emilio – actually the whole story – through a pane of glass. I could see what was happening, but they felt removed, out of reach. All I could understand was what the story showed or told me.

As a reader who enjoys digging into subtext and themes, Xavier left me wanting. While the bad guys Vigilance is pursuing have hidden agendas, the story definitely does not. What you see is what you get. If X or Emilio thinks it or feels it, the book states it on the page. It certainly makes for easy reading. But character development is sacrificed for the enjoyable simplicity of the story.

What Xavier does deliver in spades is great action, twists and turns, some suspense, and sexy steamy aspects of an improbable relationship. This is a mafia romance with morally ambiguous characters, but it’s not too dark or angsty. In fact, there’s an irreverence to it that was surprising. Threaded throughout are subtle notes of sarcasm and humor. The author injects snarky throw-away comments here and there, many of which made me laugh out loud. The latent humor effectively balanced out what should have been some super-heavy, serious stuff.

Overall, Xavier is an enjoyable read, assuming your expectations are appropriately set. The whole Vigilance series unapologetically knows what it is and makes no pretenses. If you go into Xavier thinking you’re getting some deep, complex, emotionally nuanced romance, you’ll be disappointed. But for what Xavier presents itself to be, it succeeds. And, hey, I still liked it a lot even though I couldn’t sink my teeth into it.

A new New Orleans based mafia family is introduced at the end of the book, and will serve as the backbone for a new spin-off series. I’m interested to see what that will look like and whether it will continue the same approach from Vigilance, or branch off into something new.

[Tara Ramey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bummed about this one but it’s not bad.

Written in dual first person POV. Good amount of M/m sexy times. No humor but not expecting any. There were too many editing issues and repetition for this to be better rated.

I read the two Theriot books first, then read Vigilance books 1 through 4, so X was a mythical character and deserved a better book than this one. I understand that he’s questioning his sexuality but I wanted more from him. It also doesn’t help that this author uses a BDSM relationship as a substitute for any kind of character development.

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the story and the plot. I do have to say, though, that the romantic aspect of this one crossed the line into cheesy and stilted for me. Given everything else I've read by this author, it's kind of jarring that this one felt so.. off. Dunno. Could just be me.

re-read: upped the star rating just because I adore the universe this is set in and this book sets up the characters in the Theriot Family series wonderfully.

this and all future re-reads: look, I unapologetically love this series.

[Jesslan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xavier
By Silvia Violet

I absolutely loved this book! I loved both Xavier and Emilio. I loved their relationship together. They had serious chemistry. It was also filled with action. The angst level was about medium.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xavier is the fourth book in the Vigilance series by author Silvia Violet. This story is told in dual POV. I liked that cause this story is very much needed. Getting inside both character's headspace is especially important to this book. This story is a very slow burn/ gay for you type of story. I found this one to be my favorite of the series so far. I liked the emotional energy of this story. I love to fall in love, and this story allows me to do that.

There is an action-packed storyline also in this story. And give me a geeky hero and I am all there for them.

Xavier, he has been working with Emilio for over a year before he even knew what the younger man looked like. There is a ton of respect and trust between them. Emilio is everything X could want except for X is not gay, or he never thought he was till now.

Emilio, shy, has a few secrets of his own that will surprise you. He is great at his job. He will never be considered that alpha male type but give him a computer and he can make magic happen. His fantasy is having X be his. But why would X settle for a shy, reclusive hacker? Plus, he is straight right?

I adored this story. It has everything for me. An awesome storyline, with characters that need help but are not helpless. Just really beautifully done overall. I cannot wait to see where this story goes next.

Five Shooting Stars

[Shana_Bobana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series and was so excited for Xavier’s story. We’ve gotten hints about him in each book but nothing could have prepared me for how much I absolutely loved him and Emilio. They were both individually amazing and together they were just perfect.

X lives a double life and he knows he can’t ask anyone to really be a part of that. Having anyone love him would put them at risk. He thinks he’s fine having casual dates until he meets Emilio. He’s instantly attracted to him and wants to protect him at all cost. He always thought he was straight but he can’t stop thinking about Emilio in ways that make him feel very NOT straight. It’s X’s fault that Emilio is in danger and he’ll do anything he can to protect him.

Emilio has known for a long time that he can’t rely on anyone. He has to look after himself, like he always has. Something about X though makes him know he can trust him. X makes Emilio feel safe even though he’s never been in more danger than he is now. As he starts to developing feelings for X he has to decide if he can rely on another person.

This book was so darn good and I will definitely be reading it again.

I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.

[E.Muddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think we’ve all been waiting for the mysterious X to get his story, and it is finally here! I have been dying to know more about X and watch him fall in love just like his team members before him. This book follows much the same style as the previous ones in the series. Although it has a little bit of suspense and a nice amount of action, it centres much more on the development of Xavier and Emilio’s romance. And what I liked about this one is that X knows how he feels about Emilio right from the moment they meet in person. His attraction to a man is surprising, but he doesn’t stand a chance against falling for the shy and introverted computer genius. The issue is whether he should begin what he can’t keep with Emilio - a relationship. It takes a good dose of his protective instincts, as well as a few infuriating nudges from his team members, an island sort-of-vacation, and some hot wardrobe choices, for his resolve to crumble.

Once again, the intimate scenes are hot and heavy, and the tenderness and emotion unfolds alongside them beautifully. If you enjoy a mafia romance that isn’t too dark or angsty, you can’t go wrong with this series!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man we've all been waiting for, the mysterious, badass X has arrived. Emilio may have been young, and shy, but he rocked X's world. X is always in control, whether it be his family, his work, or his team, he's the leader. All the responsibilities, the double life, has him spread thin, and exhausted. Emilio hid behind a computer screen, practically never went outside, and was living off energy drinks to keep up with his workload. While what happened that lead to Emilio needing to escape was a bad situation, it was also the best thing that could've happened to him as well. Who knows how long those two would have continued to ignore the obvious. The danger was real, the team was amazing, and when it looked like things were going to go bad, Emilio stepped up. Meeting Lance was interesting, he's a funny, yet complexed character, and I look forward to his story. And, Tony had me laughing, so that makes me even more excited for Lance's book. X and Emilio were hot as hell together, and you'd never have guessed that was X's first time with a guy. He may have spent his life as a straight man, but one look at Emilio changed that. Really happy with their sweet ending.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fourth book of the Vigilance series. We finally get to see the elusive “X” up close and personal. This story is about Xavier and Emilio, the computer hacker X has employed to help the team crack the human trafficking ring they are after. When Emilio’s online identity is exposed he turns to the only one he knows can help. Except X has a hidden identity as well and is shocked to see Emilio on his doorstep. What starts as protection turns into so much more. Emilio has had a crush on the enigmatic X for awhile, but thought he was “straight.” Xavier thought he was straight too, but what he feels for Emilio is completely different than any relationship before. But, when he sets his mind to something he’s all in. Watch the sparks fly when X decides Emilio is his to keep. If both men can get rid of the new threat against them both, with a little help from their friends of course, they just may have a chance at a HEA. Looking forward to seeing what Silvia cooks up for the boys in New Orleans in the next series. Definitely check this book out if you like age-gap, bisexual awakening, hot alpha males and finding your person when you least expect it.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to make of X in the previous book in this series, but his romance with Emilio was deliciously steamy and really sweet too. Even without knowing the full story, it was easy for me to pick up on their long-standing sexual tension, and the added D/s dynamic made it all the more exciting. Despite all the danger lurking in the background, I thought this story was refreshingly light on the violence and action. Instead, I got to spend long, lazy days on the island watching X and Emilio fall in love and learn more about each other. I think some of the references and inside jokes would have made more sense if I'd read this series in order, but even without context I enjoyed their banter with the rest of the team. I can't say I was incredibly invested in getting Swain's allies out of the picture, but I'm sure if I'd had more buildup to this confrontation it would have felt more climactic. 

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions. 

[read•me•romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xavier // Vigilance 4 // Silvia Violet

Y’all, if you like the bad boy/ secret cinnamon roll for only his pretty boy thing then read this series! Each book brought the D/s and Opposites Attract vibes I want and love but managed to stand out and be different enough to keep pulling me in. Book 4 Xavier finally gives us X’s Story. He is the leader of vigilance and we get the resolution of the action and suspense storyline throughput the series. Ezra is an adorable, shy hacker with a complicated past and a crazy crush on his boss. These two are precious and spicy. Highly recommend this series for short, suspenseful, spicy reads/ listens!

🎧 Fantastic Audio
🗡️ Team of Assassins
☎️ Boss / Employee
💻 Vigilante/ Hacker
✨ Opposites Attract
💙 Bi- awakening
⏰ Age Gap
💸 High Society MC / Former FosterKidMC
🔫 Protective, touch him and ☠️
🏝️ Forced Proximity
💥 Action, Suspense
🔥Shminky

🔥
Strict Top/ Bottom: Yes
Size Difference
Dominance and Submission
Praise Shmink
Commands and Obedience
Exhibition ( private no sharing)
All the dirty talk
Sp@nking
Punishments