What do you think?
Rate this book
Carfano Crime Family #1
Casino King
Tessa
Every week he sits at the same table, half in the shadows, watching me. Raw power rolls off of him in waves, and because of him, I dance better than I ever have before.
I only know him as A, the simple signature he uses on every note left for me at the end of each show. But I want to know more. I want to know if his eyes are as dark as they feel, and if his touch will burn as much as his gaze promises it will. He keeps his distance, though, until the night I need saving, and I’m swept away to his castle in the sky.
The moment I lock eyes with him, I feel my world tilt. He brings out a part of me I’ve kept hidden away, but so desperately need to be. I know I should run in the opposite direction when I find out who he is, but I take a step closer instead. And even when I try to run, he has other plans. Alec Carfano isn’t a man to let what’s his go easily, and there’s no question that I’m his.
Alec
Tessa Lyons is mine.
She became my obsession the moment I saw her.
There’s a darkness in her that matches my own, hiding just below her cover of innocence. It calls to me, begging me to coax it out of her so she can join me in the shadows where I live.
I stayed away as long as I could, not wanting the evils of my world to touch her. But when the evils of hers dares to, I use the opportunity to finally take her. And now that I have her, I refuse to let her go.
She doesn’t know who I am or what I’m capable of, but she’ll soon find out just how far I’ll go to keep her safe. No matter the cost, I’ll do anything to protect her. Nothing will stop me from keeping the one thing in my life that makes me feel anything good.
Every week he sits at the same table, half in the shadows, watching me. Raw power rolls off of him in waves, and because of him, I dance better than I ever have before.
I only know him as A, the simple signature he uses on every note left for me at the end of each show. But I want to know more. I want to know if his eyes are as dark as they feel, and if his touch will burn as much as his gaze promises it will. He keeps his distance, though, until the night I need saving, and I’m swept away to his castle in the sky.
The moment I lock eyes with him, I feel my world tilt. He brings out a part of me I’ve kept hidden away, but so desperately need to be. I know I should run in the opposite direction when I find out who he is, but I take a step closer instead. And even when I try to run, he has other plans. Alec Carfano isn’t a man to let what’s his go easily, and there’s no question that I’m his.
Alec
Tessa Lyons is mine.
She became my obsession the moment I saw her.
There’s a darkness in her that matches my own, hiding just below her cover of innocence. It calls to me, begging me to coax it out of her so she can join me in the shadows where I live.
I stayed away as long as I could, not wanting the evils of my world to touch her. But when the evils of hers dares to, I use the opportunity to finally take her. And now that I have her, I refuse to let her go.
She doesn’t know who I am or what I’m capable of, but she’ll soon find out just how far I’ll go to keep her safe. No matter the cost, I’ll do anything to protect her. Nothing will stop me from keeping the one thing in my life that makes me feel anything good.
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2021
1220 people are currently reading
1712 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Gannon
15 books192 followersRebecca is a dreamer through and through with permanent wanderlust. She's a lover of all things romance and writes what she loves to read, which is a little of everything!
When she's not writing, you can find her *attempting* to curb her online shopping problem while sipping an iced coffee and planning her next road trip!
🖤
Website - https://rebeccagannon.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rebeccagann...
Pinterest Book Boards - www.pinterest.com/rebeccagannonauthor
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccagannon...
BookBub - https://bookbub.com/profile/rebecca-g...
Signed Books - www.etsy.com/shop/RebeccaGannonAuthor
Facebook - https://facebook.com/rebeccagannonauthor
When she's not writing, you can find her *attempting* to curb her online shopping problem while sipping an iced coffee and planning her next road trip!
🖤
Website - https://rebeccagannon.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rebeccagann...
Pinterest Book Boards - www.pinterest.com/rebeccagannonauthor
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccagannon...
BookBub - https://bookbub.com/profile/rebecca-g...
Signed Books - www.etsy.com/shop/RebeccaGannonAuthor
Facebook - https://facebook.com/rebeccagannonauthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
May 2, 2024
3 Smut Scale Stars
This definitely wasn't the best thing I've read, by any means, and my rating is definitely inflated...the story was rough, there was a lot more telling than showing, it was light on the actual mafia element, and the sex scenes sometimes had a weird flow to them...
But this was exactly what I was in the mood for and I enjoyed it a lot.
Super mafia-lite.
Super OTT obsessed alpha male.
A little too insta-lovey.
But I don't care. It hit the spot.
This definitely wasn't the best thing I've read, by any means, and my rating is definitely inflated...the story was rough, there was a lot more telling than showing, it was light on the actual mafia element, and the sex scenes sometimes had a weird flow to them...
But this was exactly what I was in the mood for and I enjoyed it a lot.
Super mafia-lite.
Super OTT obsessed alpha male.
A little too insta-lovey.
But I don't care. It hit the spot.
March 31, 2022
DNF @40%
Maybe it's me but this book didn't work for me. The beginning was OK but then I pushed myself to keep reading.
It was too insta-lust/love for me and I couldn't feel the chemistry between the MCs. Tessa was a doormat of a heroine, she did everything Alec told her to. Also, it was quite funny when Alec spoke to her in Italian and she had no idea what he told her but she didn't bother asking him. Having said that, it was also frustrating because the author didn't offer a translation and I had to look for it online.
I haven't read many mafia romance books so it's not like I'm an expert but this one wasn't well executed and the writing style wasn't for me.
October 19, 2022
Dnf @60%
I was struggling with the book...
The insta Lust, the obsession, the way she knows she shouldn't do / accept those things but keeps letting him do whatever he wants with her.
Then the H shoots her bodyguard/friend in front of her and when she asks him for space to deal with it, he refuses and literally "assaults" her, saying he will f*ck the anger out of her not once but twice. (Before and after the news of the friend death)
There's a fine between being dominant and abusive.
I was struggling with the book...
The insta Lust, the obsession, the way she knows she shouldn't do / accept those things but keeps letting him do whatever he wants with her.
Then the H shoots her bodyguard/friend in front of her and when she asks him for space to deal with it, he refuses and literally "assaults" her, saying he will f*ck the anger out of her not once but twice. (Before and after the news of the friend death)
There's a fine between being dominant and abusive.
March 7, 2022
I read books like this because for a little while I feel like I could be living this exciting life where a dark and mysterious man sees me and goes out of his way to be with me. I know these stories aren't believable but it doesn't stop me from fantasising. It is the small, realistic details that help with this fantasy. Putting me in the FMC shoes and imagining this powerful and dangerous man sweeping me off my feet.
This book, unfortunately, lacked those details and it was noticeable. For example, every woman knows that when you apply fresh red lipstick and a man kisses you, there is no way you don't need to do a touch up and the way Alec kissed Tessa, he would definitely need to wipe his mouth. It is also quite unlikely that she would be the exact same clothes and shoe size as Alec's sister. This detail just felt lazy to me. It would have made more sense, and been within his possessive nature, to have bought Tessa those clothes for one day when she does stay over. It's these little things throughout the book that made me feel like the author was more concerned about the sex scenes and less concerned about making this story believable and relatable.
And when I talk about the sex scenes, I am talking about the abundance of sex scenes in this book. To the point where I started skimming over some of them because they stopped being sexy and starting becoming boring. Too much of a good thing...
However, some of these scenes were really not good, in particular where Alec is so forceful in his intentions that it is bordering on rape and where Tessa is so angry but then just looks at him without a shirt on and 'her insides melt' and she gives in. After that particular scene and a later one where she finds out some terrible news, I just skimmed the rest of the book. The fire that Tessa was supposed to have (and would have made the book more interesting if it was believable) was non-existent and Alec just started to piss me off with his incredibly domineering ways.
I might have been interested in reading Leo's book but the more I think about how let down I felt about this book, the less likely I am to continue with the series.
This book, unfortunately, lacked those details and it was noticeable. For example, every woman knows that when you apply fresh red lipstick and a man kisses you, there is no way you don't need to do a touch up and the way Alec kissed Tessa, he would definitely need to wipe his mouth. It is also quite unlikely that she would be the exact same clothes and shoe size as Alec's sister. This detail just felt lazy to me. It would have made more sense, and been within his possessive nature, to have bought Tessa those clothes for one day when she does stay over. It's these little things throughout the book that made me feel like the author was more concerned about the sex scenes and less concerned about making this story believable and relatable.
And when I talk about the sex scenes, I am talking about the abundance of sex scenes in this book. To the point where I started skimming over some of them because they stopped being sexy and starting becoming boring. Too much of a good thing...
However, some of these scenes were really not good, in particular where Alec is so forceful in his intentions that it is bordering on rape and where Tessa is so angry but then just looks at him without a shirt on and 'her insides melt' and she gives in. After that particular scene and a later one where she finds out some terrible news, I just skimmed the rest of the book. The fire that Tessa was supposed to have (and would have made the book more interesting if it was believable) was non-existent and Alec just started to piss me off with his incredibly domineering ways.
I might have been interested in reading Leo's book but the more I think about how let down I felt about this book, the less likely I am to continue with the series.
January 14, 2021
First off, I love mafia stories and gritty, dark romances...this was not it. Alec had no good qualities about him. He was obsessive, demanding, and just plain evil. He "assaults" the main character to get the anger out of her from him shooting her bodyguard, IN FRONT OF HER! And Tessa is just plain weak. She would be ready to face Alec and tell him how she really feels, but then she would see him and couldn't handle their attraction and go with it. Grow up woman! Alec never changed throughout the book, Tessa did not change or fix him, if anything he just got worse the more Tessa was with him. Throughout the book, Tessa should have left after the things that he did to her, but she stayed because she didn't want to be alone. Yeah no...
November 4, 2021
The first person present tense was difficult for me to read. I'm not against authors using this whatsoever, but struggled with the writing style here. I'm also a picky mafia reader and was disappointed in the insta-lust - insta-obsession as other readers have described. Not much else going on beyond this insta-attraction/obsession.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
Good till the end
Was a 5 star read until they decide to have sex in the same room as someone they cut up and killed. That kinda pushed my boundaries and really to me didn’t need to happen. I was really enjoying it till then
Was a 5 star read until they decide to have sex in the same room as someone they cut up and killed. That kinda pushed my boundaries and really to me didn’t need to happen. I was really enjoying it till then
April 30, 2024
learn to say no, babe
January 8, 2021
Casino King is the first book in Rebecca Gannons new mafia series.
This story is about Alec and Tessa. Tessa lost everything. Her parents died when she was a teenager and her brother died a few years after. She‘s alone. She only has her passion of dancing keeping her happy. While at one of her jobs she meets the handsome Alec. He‘s enarmoured with her and he wants her.
Alec is the second oldest son in the Carfano family. He owns this town, he‘s dangerois and oh so handsome!
Rebecca‘s writing for this series was just as good as her other books. I loved reading her small town romances and was excited to read something new and different from her.
I enjoyed this story alot. The characters were interesting, the story was pretty fast paced but I didn‘t mind that at all.
4 ⭐️
This story is about Alec and Tessa. Tessa lost everything. Her parents died when she was a teenager and her brother died a few years after. She‘s alone. She only has her passion of dancing keeping her happy. While at one of her jobs she meets the handsome Alec. He‘s enarmoured with her and he wants her.
Alec is the second oldest son in the Carfano family. He owns this town, he‘s dangerois and oh so handsome!
Rebecca‘s writing for this series was just as good as her other books. I loved reading her small town romances and was excited to read something new and different from her.
I enjoyed this story alot. The characters were interesting, the story was pretty fast paced but I didn‘t mind that at all.
4 ⭐️
free-on-amazon-owned
September 3, 2021Free 3 Sept 2021
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
October 13, 2021
I've been so lazy about writing reviews lately and I want to do better so here goes.
This was a entertaining read and it kept my interest all the way through. The love scenes are mega-hot and the chemistry between the MCs is intense. No cheating.
The h is on her own, no family and supports herself working three jobs. Waitress, ballet teacher and her third job is dancing in a show once a week at an elite Atlantic City casino. This is where she catches the eye of the H the mafia-connected owner of the casino.
The issues I had with the story were not enough conversation between the the two MCs. Presumably they did have them over the course of their relationship but there was nothing on page and it made it hard to feel that they were in love. Not that they acted uncaring about each other but whenever they had conflict it would morph into angry sex and then be forgotten.
There were two huge incidents that should have been dealt with but were just swept under the rug and glossed over. It was a little frustrating where I thought the h would really stand up for herself and stick to her convictions but the H looks at her and she starts panting and lusting for him and just forgetting what was important to her a second ago. It made their story feel less real for me.
That being said I enjoyed it, I probably wouldn't re-read it for those reasons but I think I may read the next in the series because I'm intrigued.
This was a entertaining read and it kept my interest all the way through. The love scenes are mega-hot and the chemistry between the MCs is intense. No cheating.
The h is on her own, no family and supports herself working three jobs. Waitress, ballet teacher and her third job is dancing in a show once a week at an elite Atlantic City casino. This is where she catches the eye of the H the mafia-connected owner of the casino.
The issues I had with the story were not enough conversation between the the two MCs. Presumably they did have them over the course of their relationship but there was nothing on page and it made it hard to feel that they were in love. Not that they acted uncaring about each other but whenever they had conflict it would morph into angry sex and then be forgotten.
There were two huge incidents that should have been dealt with but were just swept under the rug and glossed over. It was a little frustrating where I thought the h would really stand up for herself and stick to her convictions but the H looks at her and she starts panting and lusting for him and just forgetting what was important to her a second ago. It made their story feel less real for me.
That being said I enjoyed it, I probably wouldn't re-read it for those reasons but I think I may read the next in the series because I'm intrigued.
December 13, 2021
This was kind of just a ridiculous story.
Insta love doesn’t bother me if it’s written well with characters that actually have personality. This girl gets assaulted in a parking lot after work. Her bodyguard who she has no clue about rescues her. Her big mafia guy demands she come to his apartment and she’s like okay. You’ve never met him and don’t know what he looks like but you’re like okay 🤷🏽♀️
That was basically her reaction to everything and I couldn’t stand it.
This dude killed her brother and doesn’t even apologize lol she ends up forgiving him because she can’t deny the connection. Like really ? You don’t talk to him for a week and all is forgiven ??? Ma’am.
I considered dnf’ing but I had to see the crazy play out
Insta love doesn’t bother me if it’s written well with characters that actually have personality. This girl gets assaulted in a parking lot after work. Her bodyguard who she has no clue about rescues her. Her big mafia guy demands she come to his apartment and she’s like okay. You’ve never met him and don’t know what he looks like but you’re like okay 🤷🏽♀️
That was basically her reaction to everything and I couldn’t stand it.
This dude killed her brother and doesn’t even apologize lol she ends up forgiving him because she can’t deny the connection. Like really ? You don’t talk to him for a week and all is forgiven ??? Ma’am.
I considered dnf’ing but I had to see the crazy play out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
Alec is a member of the Carfano mafia family along with his brothers and he has fallen hard for Tessa and watches her dance but never reveals himself. When she is attacked, he brings her to his penthouse and will do everything to keep her safe. Sparks fly between them but what will happen when she discovers who he really is? Fast-paced mafia read with intense chemistry and loads of drama and steam. I liked it.
September 18, 2025
I started this series out of order by reading book 2 first, but I never felt lost while reading book 1. I really enjoyed book 2, but book 1 was still really good. The beginning kind of dragged out a little, but by midway it picked up and didn’t slow until the end.
While I loved both Tessa and Alec, I really wanted Tessa to be stronger and not cave to Alec so easily. There were moments I thought she was going to be strong and stand her ground, and I guess she tried, but she caved. I was so pissed at what he did to Enzo, and I thought for sure she’d be angry and upset because Enzo was such a nice guy and friend to her. So for her to just roll over and forget it, I was pissed at both her and him. Then when she learned the truth about her brother I thought, ok this is it. This is what will drive her to really get space from Alec and stand up to him and be strong. But again, nope. I wanted her to call Leo and get out of that apartment and make Alec crazy with worry about her. To make him realize what he did.
Now don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of times I found his OTT obsessiveness and possessiveness down right sexy! And the chemistry between them was intense and undeniably hot.
While I loved both Tessa and Alec, I really wanted Tessa to be stronger and not cave to Alec so easily. There were moments I thought she was going to be strong and stand her ground, and I guess she tried, but she caved. I was so pissed at what he did to Enzo, and I thought for sure she’d be angry and upset because Enzo was such a nice guy and friend to her. So for her to just roll over and forget it, I was pissed at both her and him. Then when she learned the truth about her brother I thought, ok this is it. This is what will drive her to really get space from Alec and stand up to him and be strong. But again, nope. I wanted her to call Leo and get out of that apartment and make Alec crazy with worry about her. To make him realize what he did.
Now don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of times I found his OTT obsessiveness and possessiveness down right sexy! And the chemistry between them was intense and undeniably hot.
January 2, 2021
Casino King is the first book in the series and my first book by this author. The book pulled me in from the beginning seeing the push and pull from the mysterious “A” who obviously admired the dancing of Tessa. I enjoyed the story of these two who had a strong chemistry they couldn’t deny. However, I would have liked more background of both Tessa and Alec. There wasn’t much about the day to day lives and who these two characters are or details on what their struggles have been. However, there is plenty of heat and the story was enjoyable. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
July 27, 2024
Oh my goodness!!!! Tessa and Alec were everything! They had this intense chemistry! You knew it was going to be amazing! I love how protective he was of her! I loved seeing them together! Can’t wait to continue this series! 🌹🖤 I’m excited to read about Leo next! ❤️
March 20, 2022
4,5/5⭐️
April 29, 2024
Another annoying af H.
April 11, 2021
4.2 stars
Great start to what I think will be a new series. This is my first time reading this author but I will look for more in the future. There were minor issues in the story that I wished had been fleshed out. Alex was a definite jealous/possessive man. Some of that was pretty hot.
Great start to what I think will be a new series. This is my first time reading this author but I will look for more in the future. There were minor issues in the story that I wished had been fleshed out. Alex was a definite jealous/possessive man. Some of that was pretty hot.
April 22, 2024
she was his from first sight.
She won’t have a choice. She will be his and only his. She will dance only for him. He will win her heart, body and soul.
She won’t have a choice. She will be his and only his. She will dance only for him. He will win her heart, body and soul.
January 14, 2022
First half good. Second half descends into madness!!!
Why did I get my hopes up with this book! 😢 It was going so well then, then it was just awful!
Tessa is a dancer in the casino that Alec owns. Alec is part of the mafia. He’s a very dark person. Every Friday night, she does a solo dance, that he watches. He becomes obsessed with her, and sends her black roses and jewellery after her performance. But he never meets her, because of who he is. When she is attacked outside the casino, Alec gets her to stay with him and the relationship begins.
This is a really serious complaint about this book! IF A WOMAN IS A VIRGIN, DON’T WRITE ABOUT THE MAN POUNDING INTO HER!! HE COULD DO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HER INTERNALLY IF SHE TENSES UP IN PAIN!!! I can’t believe how angry I was at that. That she’s so turned on that she orgasms twice! Nope!
So this book could have been so much more than sex, sex, sex and more sex! They don’t have conversations, he treats her like she’s a possession, an object. Even when he does something really awful in front of her, he has sex with her! She’s traumatised by what he did and he wants to pound his anger away!!!!!! 😡😡😡😡😡
There is a plot twist that you can spot a mile off, as it’s so obvious. But she still forgives him for that as well!!!
It’s like the author who wrote this book, thought that she had to make him as dark as possible, as he is in the mafia. So whenever we could have seen some gentleness in him, it’s like she thought he couldn’t be gentle! It’s quite sad as there parts of the book where it was quite good.
I can forgive a lot of mistakes, spelling etc. I can’t forgive him taking her sexually after she’s traumatised by what he has done. It’s too much!
Why did I get my hopes up with this book! 😢 It was going so well then, then it was just awful!
Tessa is a dancer in the casino that Alec owns. Alec is part of the mafia. He’s a very dark person. Every Friday night, she does a solo dance, that he watches. He becomes obsessed with her, and sends her black roses and jewellery after her performance. But he never meets her, because of who he is. When she is attacked outside the casino, Alec gets her to stay with him and the relationship begins.
This is a really serious complaint about this book! IF A WOMAN IS A VIRGIN, DON’T WRITE ABOUT THE MAN POUNDING INTO HER!! HE COULD DO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HER INTERNALLY IF SHE TENSES UP IN PAIN!!! I can’t believe how angry I was at that. That she’s so turned on that she orgasms twice! Nope!
So this book could have been so much more than sex, sex, sex and more sex! They don’t have conversations, he treats her like she’s a possession, an object. Even when he does something really awful in front of her, he has sex with her! She’s traumatised by what he did and he wants to pound his anger away!!!!!! 😡😡😡😡😡
There is a plot twist that you can spot a mile off, as it’s so obvious. But she still forgives him for that as well!!!
It’s like the author who wrote this book, thought that she had to make him as dark as possible, as he is in the mafia. So whenever we could have seen some gentleness in him, it’s like she thought he couldn’t be gentle! It’s quite sad as there parts of the book where it was quite good.
I can forgive a lot of mistakes, spelling etc. I can’t forgive him taking her sexually after she’s traumatised by what he has done. It’s too much!
July 22, 2021
1.5... the extra .5 is because I could see other people liking this book but couldn't be me. I don't know why I even finished it. I really had to push myself through. These characters were so dumb. Alec crossed over the hot possessive line into just plain annoying line. He wouldn't even give Tessa space when she asked for it, and he didn't listen to her ever. They were insta-lust, which I knew going into it because the blurb mentioned Alec watching her dance from afar. Everything he did was driven by the need to have sex with her. I love some good smut but it was exhausting reading these two. Nothing really happened until 70% in. I'm so mad at the last 20%. Alec did NO groveling, and Tessa was spineless. She went back to him without even processing that he sent out the hit order on her brother. She never processed her brother's death at all. She runs back into his arms and says that she forgives him. He literally did nothing! And he was going to continue to do nothing even if you weren't kidnapped! He would've forced you into paying attention to him. He would have never given it to her. He wasn't a hot psychopath. He was annoying, and I wanted to slap him half of the time. He didn't respect her. And she had no backbone either. Ugh. She would have thoughts about how she doesn't want him to treat her like an object anymore but she does nothing about it to stand up for herself. The sex next to the dead kidnapper would've been hotter if they were any other couple. Those are my parting words
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2021
The story line, plot and idea are well thought out and interesting with a few twists and turns but the character development and personalities just don't do it justice.
Tessa is weak most of the time without much of a personality or back bone while Alec is an arrogant, controlling, self absorbing a$$ with no redeeming qualities. I just did not connect with the characters and I found the relationship between them lacking and boring at times and that the chemistry, romance and relationship between them was not very believable and strong.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tessa is weak most of the time without much of a personality or back bone while Alec is an arrogant, controlling, self absorbing a$$ with no redeeming qualities. I just did not connect with the characters and I found the relationship between them lacking and boring at times and that the chemistry, romance and relationship between them was not very believable and strong.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2022
Did not like it, don’t get me wrong I love smut but it was ever 5 pages :/ no plot, didn’t like the characters and the ending was confusing of what they done, some people may find it hot but i found it disgusting
February 16, 2021
Dancing for him and the gifts start arriving!
April 1, 2021
4 fabulous stars!
Want to read
September 3, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/3/2021)! 🎁
February 1, 2023
Considering passing on this one. This story could have been much better had there not been so much emphasis on sex and more content to the actual storyline. Sometimes two main characters should not end up together.
I have never seen a novel that had a decent storyline CRASH AND BURN in the last few chapters to the degree that this story did. OMG...the characters went from tolerable to WT? I have read enough crime family genre to have a basic expectation in these novels: there must be some kind of redeeming quality by books' end, with the "darkest of anti-hero's and the most innocent of MFC's.
Alex's character not only lit the match, but dropped a bomb in this story to ruin a perfectly decent read that should have been a 3.5 rating instead of a 1.
The author dumbed down Tessa's character reducing her importance as a character in this book to a puppet who is controlled by a puppet master with sex. With the death of her brother and Enzo's death you will never convince me, as a reader, that she is going to accept what Alex is and what he does for a living. There is no "get out of jail" free card in this life. What you sign up for is what you get until DEATH DUE YOU PART.
Alex's character is so OTT, I actually expected him to accidentally/or on purpose kill her during their last few sex-capades in this book because he was so upset with her. The fact that this woman was soooo enamored with the big O and dirty sex just made her character seem simple minded and submissively dumbed down to the point of embarrassment. I had hopes for her character which died an untimely death in the last few chapters of this book. She chose to stay in a world she had no part being in. Often times (when you have read enough stories in this genre) these types of female character's don't have a long life expectancy. They end up dying by their husbands' hand, cheat with another man, or die by their husbands' enemies or drink themselves to death; or take their own lives. They become ghost's of their younger selves as is seen when addressing mother's who mysteriously die while the children are young.
The psychopathic phenomime is definitely alive in many of these dark obsessive anti-hero's that have a very dark side that craves absolute control, bloodlust, mayhem and death; sometimes resulting in the death of the very person they are so obsessed about. Alex's character is unable to keep a tight rope on his OTT obsession of Tessa even by books' end. The ending could have been much different, but this author chose this route which for some may seem "erotic and romantic" but for those of us that wants some injection of reality even in a fictional book, staged and anti-climatic.
There is no happy ending for characters that somehow "never get it".
I have never seen a novel that had a decent storyline CRASH AND BURN in the last few chapters to the degree that this story did. OMG...the characters went from tolerable to WT? I have read enough crime family genre to have a basic expectation in these novels: there must be some kind of redeeming quality by books' end, with the "darkest of anti-hero's and the most innocent of MFC's.
Alex's character not only lit the match, but dropped a bomb in this story to ruin a perfectly decent read that should have been a 3.5 rating instead of a 1.
The author dumbed down Tessa's character reducing her importance as a character in this book to a puppet who is controlled by a puppet master with sex. With the death of her brother and Enzo's death you will never convince me, as a reader, that she is going to accept what Alex is and what he does for a living. There is no "get out of jail" free card in this life. What you sign up for is what you get until DEATH DUE YOU PART.
Alex's character is so OTT, I actually expected him to accidentally/or on purpose kill her during their last few sex-capades in this book because he was so upset with her. The fact that this woman was soooo enamored with the big O and dirty sex just made her character seem simple minded and submissively dumbed down to the point of embarrassment. I had hopes for her character which died an untimely death in the last few chapters of this book. She chose to stay in a world she had no part being in. Often times (when you have read enough stories in this genre) these types of female character's don't have a long life expectancy. They end up dying by their husbands' hand, cheat with another man, or die by their husbands' enemies or drink themselves to death; or take their own lives. They become ghost's of their younger selves as is seen when addressing mother's who mysteriously die while the children are young.
The psychopathic phenomime is definitely alive in many of these dark obsessive anti-hero's that have a very dark side that craves absolute control, bloodlust, mayhem and death; sometimes resulting in the death of the very person they are so obsessed about. Alex's character is unable to keep a tight rope on his OTT obsession of Tessa even by books' end. The ending could have been much different, but this author chose this route which for some may seem "erotic and romantic" but for those of us that wants some injection of reality even in a fictional book, staged and anti-climatic.
There is no happy ending for characters that somehow "never get it".
January 4, 2021
Thank you SO MUCH Rebecca Gannon for the ARC copy of your book.
The Godfather meets Lady Marmalade and I am OBSESSED!
This is the first book I read from this author and I’m honestly blown away.
Every page of this book was filled with intensity and intrigue.
Sexy Alpha Hero Alec and Freespirited Tessa collide in a series of events that had me biting my nails the entire time, not letting me put the book down at all.
He was darkness, she was light. He was tough and indestructible, she was the balm that softened his walls.
From the first chapter I was able to feel the anticipation and the silent chemistry they had even before they exchanged words.
I love it when a hero is so well written that you’re able to see how genuine the love and need is in his heart. Alec was crazy about Tessa and he proved it in every single page. He needed her in ways he didn’t even know at the beginning of the story. I was able to understand why he was so protective of her. The type of job he did, his responsibilities, his family name and all the world he lived in was enough reason for him to try to protect her at all costs. He was dominating but still he was able to appreciate the beauty of her freedom and strength.
Tessa was a badass. Her tragic past and lifestyle made her tough, but still she was a creative and passionate about her art. I loved how she found in Alec everything she thought she lost. Her angst and struggle was real to me and I was able ti feel all the emotions as the relationship got deeper and more intimate.
The steam of this book was off the charts. It was explosive and it evolved just as the relationship and the love between them began to grow.
This is a gangster strory, and it didn’t miss any action, suspense and secrets to be revealed. The entire package had the perfect combination to make this book equally beautiful and powerful. I felt like I was watching a movie from the golden age.
The ending had me craving for more of this family and I can’t wait for the next book on the series!
The Godfather meets Lady Marmalade and I am OBSESSED!
This is the first book I read from this author and I’m honestly blown away.
Every page of this book was filled with intensity and intrigue.
Sexy Alpha Hero Alec and Freespirited Tessa collide in a series of events that had me biting my nails the entire time, not letting me put the book down at all.
He was darkness, she was light. He was tough and indestructible, she was the balm that softened his walls.
From the first chapter I was able to feel the anticipation and the silent chemistry they had even before they exchanged words.
I love it when a hero is so well written that you’re able to see how genuine the love and need is in his heart. Alec was crazy about Tessa and he proved it in every single page. He needed her in ways he didn’t even know at the beginning of the story. I was able to understand why he was so protective of her. The type of job he did, his responsibilities, his family name and all the world he lived in was enough reason for him to try to protect her at all costs. He was dominating but still he was able to appreciate the beauty of her freedom and strength.
Tessa was a badass. Her tragic past and lifestyle made her tough, but still she was a creative and passionate about her art. I loved how she found in Alec everything she thought she lost. Her angst and struggle was real to me and I was able ti feel all the emotions as the relationship got deeper and more intimate.
The steam of this book was off the charts. It was explosive and it evolved just as the relationship and the love between them began to grow.
This is a gangster strory, and it didn’t miss any action, suspense and secrets to be revealed. The entire package had the perfect combination to make this book equally beautiful and powerful. I felt like I was watching a movie from the golden age.
The ending had me craving for more of this family and I can’t wait for the next book on the series!
January 5, 2021
I am not sure where to start with this review – other than I am simply amazed at how this series is so different from Ms. Gannon’s other series. Totally opposite types of books. I have to say I am hooked, and I cannot wait for more books to come out in this series. This book had me pulled in from the start and I read it in about 2 ½ hours. I did not want to put it down.
This is the story of Alec and Tessa. Alec of course is part of the Carfano mafia family. He and his brothers have taken over after his father and Uncle were killed. He was always taught that every man had 2 weaknesses – losing control and the love of a woman. He vowed not to ever have those weaknesses. Tessa is a strong, yet innocent woman who has been on her own for 6 years after her brother was killed when she was 18. She loves to dance and is a dancer on Friday nights at the club owned by The Carfano family. Alec is immediately taken in by Tessa and leaves her gifts after every one of her shows. She in intrigued by the mysterious “A” who has been lavishing her with gifts. So, each week, she wears the jewelry he gives her and it draws him in even more. When Tessa is attacked after one of her shows when “A” isn’t there, she is taken to his penthouse to be looked over by a doctor and he is immediately there by her side. They are drawn to each other and the chemistry between them is HOT!
The way Ms Gannon wrote this story showed just how much someone can love someone just by their actions alone. You didn’t need the romantic words to be said, but you could tell that Alec was so in love with Tessa that there would be nothing he wouldn’t do for her. This story has it all – passion, action, adventure, tragedy, betrayal, suspense and mystery. I know I said this at the beginning, but I cannot wait to read more books in this series!
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy through Hidden Gems ARCs for an honest review.
This is the story of Alec and Tessa. Alec of course is part of the Carfano mafia family. He and his brothers have taken over after his father and Uncle were killed. He was always taught that every man had 2 weaknesses – losing control and the love of a woman. He vowed not to ever have those weaknesses. Tessa is a strong, yet innocent woman who has been on her own for 6 years after her brother was killed when she was 18. She loves to dance and is a dancer on Friday nights at the club owned by The Carfano family. Alec is immediately taken in by Tessa and leaves her gifts after every one of her shows. She in intrigued by the mysterious “A” who has been lavishing her with gifts. So, each week, she wears the jewelry he gives her and it draws him in even more. When Tessa is attacked after one of her shows when “A” isn’t there, she is taken to his penthouse to be looked over by a doctor and he is immediately there by her side. They are drawn to each other and the chemistry between them is HOT!
The way Ms Gannon wrote this story showed just how much someone can love someone just by their actions alone. You didn’t need the romantic words to be said, but you could tell that Alec was so in love with Tessa that there would be nothing he wouldn’t do for her. This story has it all – passion, action, adventure, tragedy, betrayal, suspense and mystery. I know I said this at the beginning, but I cannot wait to read more books in this series!
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy through Hidden Gems ARCs for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews