bookameme's review
5.0
I thought this was a great story. I’ve rooted for Cindy since she first popped up in The Disciples. Her struggles were so endearing and I felt so bad for her.
Cassandra really showed the darker side of The Disciples and how their behavior can tear a woman down. Until Cindy’s character developed in the story, the only picture we got of The Disciples was a positive one from either the POV of other members inside the group or from one of the women they actually treated right. So seeing the imperfections of the other characters gave more depth to them.
Then there’s Cade, sexy as can be. Serena always hinted that there would be more to the Frasier family than we saw of them in The Filthy Feckers. Not only did she write the perfect damaged man, but she gave him an entertaining and endearing family.
The Plot of this book is fun and moves at a great pace. The angest, sexy scenes and drama permeates the whole story. I really enjoyed this one.
Elements to Love:
⚜️ Redemption Arcs
⚜️ Sexy Smut
⚜️ Mafia and MCs
⚜️ Bad Guys Finally Getting Their Comeuppance
⚜️ Tragic Backstories
⚜️ Fun Family Dynamics
Quote:
Cassandra really showed the darker side of The Disciples and how their behavior can tear a woman down. Until Cindy’s character developed in the story, the only picture we got of The Disciples was a positive one from either the POV of other members inside the group or from one of the women they actually treated right. So seeing the imperfections of the other characters gave more depth to them.
Then there’s Cade, sexy as can be. Serena always hinted that there would be more to the Frasier family than we saw of them in The Filthy Feckers. Not only did she write the perfect damaged man, but she gave him an entertaining and endearing family.
The Plot of this book is fun and moves at a great pace. The angest, sexy scenes and drama permeates the whole story. I really enjoyed this one.
Elements to Love:
⚜️ Redemption Arcs
⚜️ Sexy Smut
⚜️ Mafia and MCs
⚜️ Bad Guys Finally Getting Their Comeuppance
⚜️ Tragic Backstories
⚜️ Fun Family Dynamics
Quote:
puzzlegirl30's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
girlwithhearteyes's review
Not quite a DNF as I got to the end, but skipped a lot of chapters. I liked the concept but not the execution - the core conflict dragged on for longer than I would have liked. Also, Cindy/Belle’s friends were all insufferable. Maybe I would have been more engaged if I had read the earlier books in either series?
beviltiska_romantike's review
2.0
I guess I've come to the wrong party. Ridiculous, cringy, predictable, and cheesy. Nope.
brooklynlowe's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As soon as I had finished Ryder’s story with the Disciple’s, I immediately ran to Cassandra’s DM’s and asked when we were getting the Irish Mafia’s 5 point series. Now, here we are getting Cindy/Belle’s story with Cade.
Cade has been sent by his mob boss to bring Cindy back. Only, it’s lust at first sight for him. Cade struggles with his work responsibilities and falling for Belle.
As soon as I saw Joe and Maxine were the narrators… I was like, yes please! Let’s get it. And they did not disappoint with Cade and Belle’s story.
I need more from 5 points!
kfriend's review
4.0
Five Points meets the Disciples MC?! Serena Akeroyd and Cassandra Robbins?! Two of my favorite dark and smutty worlds, two authors who build stories and explosive steam like no other?! Uhm yes please. I was all about this, so excited to see how Serena and Cassandra wove together their worlds and characters, excited to see how their emotional intense and emotionally evocative writing styles would fuse to create what I knew would be a super sexy, hella emotional, and utterly addictive page turner. Filthy Disciple was utterly delicious.
I knew I’d love the marriage of this world and these two authors in this collaboration. But, where I was torn was in their choice of heroine. Fans of Robbins’ Disciples series will likely have mixed thoughts about our heroine going into this story- Cindy, a problematic and needy addict who has been nothing but trouble (including to those she purports to care about) in prior Disciples books. I wasn’t really sure I wanted her story- and I went into this no WANTING to like her. But Serena and Cassandra set her on a path of empathy and redemption- helping us see the broken, insecure, lacking any self-worth or direction. I can’t FULLY let go of the harm she’s caused others, but I also can reconcile her own issues and pain being the driver of much of her actions. Seeing her fall in love with another, finally finding a healthy and physically and emotionally safe space with love and support was the catalyst we needed as readers to see her in a different light- to see her find her strength and grow. To fight not just her addiction but her demons. I might not FULLY be team Cindy overall, but I wanted to see in her what Cade clearly did, I wanted to believe she was worthy- and I do think she got there. She’s made a lot of mistakes to try to cope with her pain- but she’s more than the sum of her actions.
Cade is a delicious Serena mafia alpha pseudo anti-hero. Darkly swoony, charismatic and captivating, and kinda sweet. He has done dark things but he has a big loving family that gives him a softness to his edge, and while he has his own past pain to battle, I love how fiercely he protects Cindy. He may not open his heart to her fully at first, but he shows his care by saving her and shielding her, by acknowledging her pain. I really did like them for each other and together- perhaps more than I liked them individually, and that just shows the magic of how these two authors create chemistry.
We have some MC and some Five Points, and we have a whole heck of a lot of steam. That seemed to be part of Cindy and Cade’s journey- to find out how to connect NOT just physically, but it also shockingly made the little run a bit slow because of the heavy amounts of hotness. I’ll never say too much sexy time is an issue because give me all my smut, but I think here it did impact story flow slightly. But, damn can these women write some steam!
All in all a wondrous collaboration- a great melding of worlds and points of view!
I knew I’d love the marriage of this world and these two authors in this collaboration. But, where I was torn was in their choice of heroine. Fans of Robbins’ Disciples series will likely have mixed thoughts about our heroine going into this story- Cindy, a problematic and needy addict who has been nothing but trouble (including to those she purports to care about) in prior Disciples books. I wasn’t really sure I wanted her story- and I went into this no WANTING to like her. But Serena and Cassandra set her on a path of empathy and redemption- helping us see the broken, insecure, lacking any self-worth or direction. I can’t FULLY let go of the harm she’s caused others, but I also can reconcile her own issues and pain being the driver of much of her actions. Seeing her fall in love with another, finally finding a healthy and physically and emotionally safe space with love and support was the catalyst we needed as readers to see her in a different light- to see her find her strength and grow. To fight not just her addiction but her demons. I might not FULLY be team Cindy overall, but I wanted to see in her what Cade clearly did, I wanted to believe she was worthy- and I do think she got there. She’s made a lot of mistakes to try to cope with her pain- but she’s more than the sum of her actions.
Cade is a delicious Serena mafia alpha pseudo anti-hero. Darkly swoony, charismatic and captivating, and kinda sweet. He has done dark things but he has a big loving family that gives him a softness to his edge, and while he has his own past pain to battle, I love how fiercely he protects Cindy. He may not open his heart to her fully at first, but he shows his care by saving her and shielding her, by acknowledging her pain. I really did like them for each other and together- perhaps more than I liked them individually, and that just shows the magic of how these two authors create chemistry.
We have some MC and some Five Points, and we have a whole heck of a lot of steam. That seemed to be part of Cindy and Cade’s journey- to find out how to connect NOT just physically, but it also shockingly made the little run a bit slow because of the heavy amounts of hotness. I’ll never say too much sexy time is an issue because give me all my smut, but I think here it did impact story flow slightly. But, damn can these women write some steam!
All in all a wondrous collaboration- a great melding of worlds and points of view!
karmellah's review
2.0
I just....I dont know. I wished I had known it was a book in the middle of a series, but one of my favorite thing about standalone series is that you can jump in anywhere and not be lost, but this book wasnt one of them. THank god im not dumb because i figured it out quickly, but a little backstory would have been nice. I had no connection to any of the characters, didn't like any of them. the begining made it seem like Caid would be a sexy stalker but it wasn't like that at all. The spice was okay, but a little repetitive. there was no storyline really. the main storyline felt like an add in after the fact. Something was missing in this book but i cannot put my finger on it. the narrator was good so there's that. It jsut wasn't for me. Kind of forced baby girl trope. If youre not new to the series, you'll probably like it. I wish Netgalley told me there were others before this.
rhack05's review
4.0
When I started this book I hated "Cindy", she was definitely needy and a bit bratty. I was afraid I was going to end up hating this book but as it turns out, I rather enjoyed it. I loved Cindy/Bella/Isabella's character progression and I love that Cade was so enamored with her from the start. The spice was definitely spicy and Cade has a dirty, dirty mouth, but we love it. Cade's mom is so precious and I love her.
I'm definitely interested in reading the backlog on these authors as it seems I have been missing out!
I'm definitely interested in reading the backlog on these authors as it seems I have been missing out!
mikaelabooks_'s review
5.0
finally a girl family in the mob
Filthy Disciple is a crossover that should be read after Filthy King (#7) by Serena Akeroyd. Unlike the main O’Donnelly family, Cade’s family is led by a widowed mom and three very opinionated sisters. While the mob only employs the sons, this girl-fam is atuned to the life. You see the difference that having a strong female presence has in the mobster brothers Cade and Lucas.
Belle is a recovering addict on the ledge. She can’t help but fall for the stranger who picks up all her baggage and praises her for the work she’s done. It’s a quick seduction and delicious read.
That being said, I will not be reading the Disciples series. Maybe I’m biased because Cade hates them, but they were annoying.
Filthy Disciple is a crossover that should be read after Filthy King (#7) by Serena Akeroyd. Unlike the main O’Donnelly family, Cade’s family is led by a widowed mom and three very opinionated sisters. While the mob only employs the sons, this girl-fam is atuned to the life. You see the difference that having a strong female presence has in the mobster brothers Cade and Lucas.
Belle is a recovering addict on the ledge. She can’t help but fall for the stranger who picks up all her baggage and praises her for the work she’s done. It’s a quick seduction and delicious read.
That being said, I will not be reading the Disciples series. Maybe I’m biased because Cade hates them, but they were annoying.