I feel as if I stepped into the Russian version of the Godfather where the writing is smart, sexy and oh, so Alpha. ~ Leigh, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
***TRIGGER WARNING: This is a DARK mafia romance. In addition to several scenes with strong sexual content, there are also scenes involving violence, death, gun play, mention of sexual abuse, and adult language. Due to the nature of this book, it is intended for 18+ audiences only***
They call me Dash.
Sixteen years ago my brother and I were kidnapped. The Scorpeones believed our father, boss of the Vitaliev Bratva, could be pressured into relinquishing his hold on Chicago’s underworld.
They were dead wrong.
Ultimately the Scorpeones made the youngest of their family pay for their sins. I tried not to care. Marco Polo Scorpeone, the hostage whose life was forfeit if his family moved on the Vitalievs, was the enemy. Why should I care if he was tortured worse than a prisoner of war?
Except I did care.
For sixteen years I’ve cared, more than I can say.
They call me Scorpio.
There was no light in my world. Then I saw Dash smile.
No voice could pierce my darkness. Then I heard Dash speak.
I’ve killed to survive. Killed to please my handler. Hell, I’ve killed to please myself. Killing is what I do.
I know I’m not good enough for Dash, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that she’s mine, from now until the end of time. But that time might be nearer than I think, because someone deadlier than me is closing in…
109,000 words
Author’s Note: This is the first half of a two-part story arc. YEAR OF THE SCORPIO: PART ONE ends on a cliffhanger, which will be concluded in YEAR OF THE SCORPIO: PART TWO. You have been warned.
Review copy provided for an honest review
Stacy Gail is a new author for me, but while this is my first book, it most certainly will not be my last. I’m just so excited that I’ve found another author whose writing is smart, sexy and oh, so Alpha. I feel as if I stepped into the Russian version of the Godfather, complete with crime bosses, sacrifice and family loyalty. But this version also contains a sexy anti-hero that is fiercely protective and says all the right things.
Marco Polo Scorpeone is finally free after a life as a killer in the service of the Vitaliev’s. But with his freedom, he finds that he can’t give up his loyalty to Dasha Vitaliev. Charged with protecting her as her bodyguard while working for the Vitaliev’s, Polo is finally free to guard her for his own personal reasons: his attraction to her, his love of her, and his absolute need to keep her safe from the Bratva politics that won’t let him escape.
Dasha is the perfect match for a man as feared and strong as Scorpio. She is ballsy and smart and so in love with Polo. But despite the nickname of “Fearless” that Polo has given her, she is terrified of losing him to the pull of the families that battle for supremacy in Chicago. While Polo views himself as a monster, she sees the good in man that would do anything for her.
As I said, this is a first Stacy Gail book for me so I have not read any of the previous stories which introduce us to Polo. I’m not sure if I would understand Polo more or less had I had more of a background on him and his family, but I’m certain that I couldn’t possibly have enjoyed reading about him more. To be honest, the book was not as dark as I thought it would be, or at least not where I expected to find the darkness. There were scenes of past abuse and the story contained violence galore, but the sex and relationship between the two main characters was only passionate and emotional.
If you’re looking for a story that draws you in to the underworld of the Russian mafia and pulls you along for a wild ride, check this story out. It was an unexpected treat.
4.5 stars
I love mafia books will have to look into getting this, thanks Leigh