I am so freaking excited to tell you about this series!!
The Specs
Series Title: Mob Boss
Book One: Ruthless (320 pages)
Book Two: Fearless (310 pages)
Book Three: Lawless (300 pages)
Author: Michelle St. James
Publish Date: August 3rd 2015
Blurb
Two years out of college, Angelica Bondesan spends her time working as a barista, keeping in touch with her prodigal brother, and trying to figure out how to bridge the gap with her father, a wealthy real estate developer.
But all of that changes the night she’s kidnapped. Thrown into a windowless room, Angelica is positive there’s been some kind of mistake — until she meets Nico Vitale.
Gorgeous and frightening, Nico became the boss of New York City’s Vitale crime family after the execution style murder of his parents two years earlier. Since then he’s turned the old-school mob into a sleek, modern army of ruthless men who understand that physical violence — while always an option — isn’t the only way to get what you want.
Now Angel is forced to face the truth;
Her father is not the man she believed him to be.
Nico Vitale is dangerous, possibly lethal.
She is falling in love with Nico Vitale.
Ruthless by Michelle St. James from Goodreads (2018)
My Review
So let me give you some back story to this book; I was rushing out the door on a three-hour road-trip down to Cornwall and I had left it to the last-minute to download a book (as usual). I scrolled through IBooks frantically and found Ruthless. I scanned the blurb and knew instantly that I’d love this book. So much so that I bought the second book in the series and downloaded them then ran out the door! I read the three books in a week over Christmas and oh my goodness I’m in love and feel like I’m never going to be able to read another book again!
The Juicy Bits
- Now I know it’s not just me who has a kink for mob bosses falling in love with ‘innocents’ and protecting them at all costs…right?? The whole plot of Nico kidnapping Angel, them falling madly in love and going head to head with the mob is my favourite thing ever and I could not put it down!
- I fell in love with all of the characters! Usually with romance/erotica novels, there’s always a sister, mother or friend who is an absoloute pain in the a** but in this book, I found all of the characters really interesting and important! I adored, ADORED Nico and Lucas and really connected with Angel.
- It didn’t take long for the spice to be added to this recipe and it was definitely HOT. The kinkier scenes were written perfectly.
- Throughout the books, either Nico or Angel recalled quotes that had been said to them at some point in their life and used them as a kind of moral compass. Somehow this added depth and rawness to these characters. My favourite quote was ‘hardening your heart only made it crack wider and more permanently when it finally did’.
- Michelle St. James is a master at switching perspectives perfectly, knowing when the reader needed Nico’s version or Angel’s version. It was amazing!
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Not So Juicy Bits
- MINI SPOILER ALERT. The ending of the second book killed me…stone dead. My heart broke into a million pieces and I was furious. However, I soldiered on and my heart was wonderfully repaired again. So this complaint isn’t really a complaint but that brief moment of heartache was TORTURE and although I’d like to say the story didn’t need it, it put the cherry on top of the beautiful victoria sponge cake.
- I would encourage caution if you are triggered by rape, death or mentions of suicide as there were a couple of instances when this was present.
- As usual, I feel the ending could’ve had at least two or three more chapters to it. After working up such a powerful plot through all three books, I think the ending deserved more than a couple of pages!
SUGAR AND SPICE TIME
(THE BEST PART)
/5 
/5
Designed by Freepik from Flaticon
Oh my goodness, the sugar and spice in this book were divine. Not only was Nico portrayed as a ruthless mob boss but also as a kind-hearted, genuine gentleman who adored Angel. The way he doted after her made my heart melt and made me wish a mob boss would knock on my door?? The spice though…absoloutely sweltering. There’s not much kink to it but it’s definitely hot, hot, hot!
Overall Review
This series is definitely in my top ten favourite series I’ve ever read. The plot ticks every box for me, I connected with Nico, Lucas and Angel from the start AND the sugar and spice was beautiful. I would’ve loved a little bit more kink but that’s personal preference! I want to say I’d recommend this to everyone because I want everyone to read it! But in all honesty, I would recommend Ruthless to readers who believe that love conquers all and is worth fighting everyone and everything for. This book has a beautiful mixture of edge-of-your seat action and hot under the collar romance with a happy ending! What more could you ask for?
/5
Designed by Freepik From Flaticon
Have you guys checked this series out yet? If so, let me know what your thoughts were on it! If not, what’s stopping you? NICO’S WAITING!
Catch you in the next review,
xo B
Read Astray 