Loyalties (The Flesh Cartel #8) in Riptide Publishing

Mar 29, 2013 JustJen "Miss Conduct" rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, mm, shorty, dmc

Torture - check; killing with kindness - check; non-stop mind manipulations - full speed ahead. Roger steps in now to console Dougie and offer clarity of his situation. It was very sad to see Dougie giving in and actually seeing himself wanting to please and serve Nikolai, as opposed to just doing it to avoid consequences, just as Nikolai promised would happen. He truly seems to have broken down mentally, as, at this point, he doesn't seem to be able to figure out the right from the wrong and se ...more

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Sep 02, 2013 Lilli *slowest reader ever* rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, slavery, dark-and-devastating, psychology, m-m-m, abuse, kill-them-all, mindfuck, disturbing

This episode showed me that I'm an idiot. (surprise!?)

Even after so many episodes I'm still too naive or I would have seen this one coming. I noticed that something was off, I didn't quite understand the interactions because somehow it wasn't smooth. Anyway, when the light bulb went on I wanted to put my fist through a wall.

Apart from revealing my naivety this episode also revealed some interesting things about Nikolai, his household, the business, and Roger. Oh Roger, you are breaking my heart ...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Evaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, psycho-sexual-thriller

Well first off, I think readers might be losing sight of what this series is. It's NOT romance, it's NOT erotica, it's a mind-fucking psycho-sexual story. For either - never mind both - Mat and Dougie to emerge from this as anything approaching who they were at the beginning would be a fairy tale of the most huge proportions. That being said, the most interesting thing about this installment was the step into the starring limelight that our quiet right-hand man, Roger, takes. VERY intersting. Je ...more

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Jun 21, 2013 Leigh rated it really liked it

Review can also be found at Under the Covers Book Blog.

Just when I think that I can’t be shocked anymore than I already have in reading The Flesh Cartel, Haimowitz and Belleau prove me completely wrong! They have penned another excellent episode in Loyalties, one that leaves me wanting more…and then hating myself for doing so. Because, really, how much of a sadist must I be to keep wanting to read this torturous, albeit amazing, series?

Loyalties picks up immediately where Homecoming had stopped Review can also be found at Under the Covers Book Blog.

Just when I think that I can’t be shocked anymore than I already have in reading The Flesh Cartel, Haimowitz and Belleau prove me completely wrong! They have penned another excellent episode in Loyalties, one that leaves me wanting more…and then hating myself for doing so. Because, really, how much of a sadist must I be to keep wanting to read this torturous, albeit amazing, series?

Loyalties picks up immediately where Homecoming had stopped with its huge cliffhanger. Of course, I just knew that the big shocker wouldn’t actually take place, but nonetheless, I devoured this episode to make sure. The scary part of it all, though, is that I was almost sad that it didn’t. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want anything to happen to my beloved Mat or Dougie, other than to escape and get sweet, sweet revenge. But seeing how that seems nearly impossible at this point, I was almost happy for Mat taking charge in ending the torture he’s lived and endured since his capture. While Mat wasn’t actually physically tortured in this episode, he is still being mentally tortured, both by Nikolai and Roger, as well as by himself. It is heartbreaking to see how his strength continues to be whittled down episode by episode.

And then Dougie, oh my sweet Dougie…I am as tortured and fucked up by Nikolai’s actions as Dougie is. One moment he is being treated decently, and I want to jump for joy, and then the next, he’s being treated worse than awful (and accepting it!), and I want to gouge out Nikolai’s eyes…with a spoon! But Haimowitz and Belleau continue to evolve the characters and their depth, and the plot keeps moving right on along at a good pace. Transformations continue on all levels – for those of the characters and for me as the reader. Dare I say that some of the sex scenes are even titillating to me?? Does that make me an awful human being? Just when I begin to wonder, though, Nikolai shows his true colors, devoid of humanity and decency, and I can rest assured that I’m not too fucked up. Yet.

*Review copy provided by publisher ...more

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May 09, 2013 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it liked it

Shelves: slavery, oblreview, m-m, sadistic, taboo

Oi, I'm with my buddies on this one. The sexual depravity is low here but the humiliation and guilt trip is high. I thought we established Roger is a beloved slave. So if he gets beaten, who cares? Mat, let Roger get beaten. You don't need to take on another one to save, especially one who doesn't need or want to be saved.

Dougie is just driving me crazy. Make him go away. He doesn't deserve a brother like Mat. He can't play Nikolai and he falls for everything he knows he shouldn't. Dougie - you ...more

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