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yazaleea's review
2.0
2.5 stars. This was painful... Dominic's new job as a PI leads him back into his gambling addiction, while Levi is struggling with his out-of-control rage and anger issues. They're both slowly falling apart, and Dominic's desperate lies to hide his relapse to avoid Levi's disappointment drives them further away. Things are a mess.
I don't really know what to think of this book: mystery was fine, but the Seven of Spades subplot drives me crazy. I spoiled myself since book 1 on the culprit and it doesn't feel believable to me. I see the hints but SoS just seems so... omnipotent it's just hard to believe.
I don't FEEL like i even enjoy the book while I read it, but damn it does draw feellings out of me. I have complicated feelings for Levi's character. Sometimes I like him, and sometimes I really don't. I get that he is a flawed character but he can be so frustrating to me... but it's true the man has a lot of shit in his life he has to deal with. I love Dominic, he's my favourite character and seeing him sink back into his addiction felt like a personal attack. HOW DARE YOU HURT MY CUTE CUDDLY GIANT? Need to read the next volume to see him being OK and I am curious to how Levi and Dom's relationship will be mended. I might have weird feelings about the book, but I like them together and I need them happy.
The side cast is still as cool, love Martine, REBEL, Leila (hot badass PROSECUTOR lady) and the flirty lawyer, Sawyer. I do wish the series gave me side couples because 1. i love side couples and 2. i need a distraction for the sheer mess everyone is, lmfao
EDIT: you know what? Nevermind I do NOT like Levi, his reaction to Dominic’s relapse is fucked up and lowkey confirmed Dominic’s fears and I hate it
EDIT 2: I think I am just angry, at everyone. Lmfao
I don't really know what to think of this book: mystery was fine, but the Seven of Spades subplot drives me crazy. I spoiled myself since book 1 on the culprit and it doesn't feel believable to me. I see the hints but SoS just seems so... omnipotent it's just hard to believe.
I don't FEEL like i even enjoy the book while I read it, but damn it does draw feellings out of me. I have complicated feelings for Levi's character. Sometimes I like him, and sometimes I really don't. I get that he is a flawed character but he can be so frustrating to me... but it's true the man has a lot of shit in his life he has to deal with. I love Dominic, he's my favourite character and seeing him sink back into his addiction felt like a personal attack. HOW DARE YOU HURT MY CUTE CUDDLY GIANT? Need to read the next volume to see him being OK and I am curious to how Levi and Dom's relationship will be mended. I might have weird feelings about the book, but I like them together and I need them happy.
The side cast is still as cool, love Martine, REBEL, Leila (hot badass PROSECUTOR lady) and the flirty lawyer, Sawyer. I do wish the series gave me side couples because 1. i love side couples and 2. i need a distraction for the sheer mess everyone is, lmfao
EDIT: you know what? Nevermind I do NOT like Levi, his reaction to Dominic’s relapse is fucked up and lowkey confirmed Dominic’s fears and I hate it
EDIT 2: I think I am just angry, at everyone. Lmfao
kathylee's review
5.0
黑帮虐恋，一天把剩下的一半看完了。这本超级心疼DOMINIC啊，太太的笔法太好了，那种无助感很强烈，一直很怕Levi放弃Dom。Dom作死说Levi你这个pillow Queen真是太难伺候了，要笑死我，pillow Queen，size Queen，Levi到底还有什么Queen？
中间seven of spades说“你没Google过我名字吗？现在可是information age啊detective”，一下子就觉得这个大boss好可爱，有血有肉。
中间seven of spades说“你没Google过我名字吗？现在可是information age啊detective”，一下子就觉得这个大boss好可爱，有血有肉。
alindeman's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So I’m reading these back to back to back and I think this one is even better than the last. I love Levi and Dominic so much but the tension btwn them in this book is so good and them both hitting rock bottom in this book was totally necessary. They both need serious help and I’m hoping they get it in the next book. And of course I want to see their relationship flourish. Even throughout all this shit in the book they are so good for each other 😭
It’s funny that crime books are typically so plot driven but my love for these books is totally based on the characters.
Tho the seven of spades is SUPER interesting it’s just weird how book 2 and 3 have so little of the killer! I definitely appreciate the killers connection to Levi’s other cases & dominics case. And it’s super interesting seeing the profile of the killer fleshed out and to see him and Levi interact and how they relate to each other. Every time I put down one of these books I pick up the next one! #4 here I go!
Plot summary
The seven of spades is back and everyone knows it. They have like 11 victims so far. they take a break bc Levi is on vacation w Dominic.
Dominic meets Levi’s parents and they love him, obviously.
Levi’s cases surround the local gangs. There are 3 major gangs but they all have tentative alliances like they collaborate on different sectors together so they’re not enemies. But a series of crimes happen where one gang member is attacking another. First one member kills the other over a rumor of him sleeping w his wife. Then there’s a driveby shooting where one gang shoots another gang, but they thought it was someone else. It appears that someone is manipulating gang members into committing violence against each other- but why would someone want to start a gang war???
Dominic is working a PI case for a college girl who dropped out and ran away for a shady guy. Dominic finds where she goes to church and watches her and she’s followed by armed guards. He drops a gps tracker/audio tracker in her purse. She’s staying at like an insane super guarded compound. SUS. He listens to her bf be verbally abusive. He hears their plans to go to a secret party. He decides to go and watch them. He goes to this party and it turns out it’s a fucking underground illegal casino. He’s fucked! He’s a gambling addict! But if he leaves he blows his cover.
He makes contact with the girl, Jessica, bc she recognizes him from church. She covers for him to her crazy bf saying she
It’s funny that crime books are typically so plot driven but my love for these books is totally based on the characters.
Tho the seven of spades is SUPER interesting it’s just weird how book 2 and 3 have so little of the killer! I definitely appreciate the killers connection to Levi’s other cases & dominics case. And it’s super interesting seeing the profile of the killer fleshed out and to see him and Levi interact and how they relate to each other. Every time I put down one of these books I pick up the next one! #4 here I go!
Plot summary
The seven of spades is back and everyone knows it. They have like 11 victims so far. they take a break bc Levi is on vacation w Dominic.
Dominic meets Levi’s parents and they love him, obviously.
Levi’s cases surround the local gangs. There are 3 major gangs but they all have tentative alliances like they collaborate on different sectors together so they’re not enemies. But a series of crimes happen where one gang member is attacking another. First one member kills the other over a rumor of him sleeping w his wife. Then there’s a driveby shooting where one gang shoots another gang, but they thought it was someone else. It appears that someone is manipulating gang members into committing violence against each other- but why would someone want to start a gang war???
Dominic is working a PI case for a college girl who dropped out and ran away for a shady guy. Dominic finds where she goes to church and watches her and she’s followed by armed guards. He drops a gps tracker/audio tracker in her purse. She’s staying at like an insane super guarded compound. SUS. He listens to her bf be verbally abusive. He hears their plans to go to a secret party. He decides to go and watch them. He goes to this party and it turns out it’s a fucking underground illegal casino. He’s fucked! He’s a gambling addict! But if he leaves he blows his cover.
He makes contact with the girl, Jessica, bc she recognizes him from church. She covers for him to her crazy bf saying she
book_slut03's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
babyarty's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.75
aeden016's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
purple676's review
5.0
This book is even better than the previous ones. I read the reviews before starting and I was honestly scared and with good reason but holy shit it was GOOD.
My emotion are also a mess but I’ll deal somehow. I love the relationship between Dom and Levi and that hot scene in the alley was one the best shit I’ve ever read❤️. but Dom needs to get his shit together. IM so worried about both of them
I kinda like Stanton too even tho no one really talks about him. he was a dick sometimes but he’s alright.
Not sure how I feel about Rohan. low key like sawyer i guess.
And don’t get me started on this awesome serial killer. like Seven of Spades is LEGIT.
I love the fact that they kill with good reason and to make the world a better place. it makes them easier to like and even sympathize with. Seven of Spades is just so intriguing.
And I LOVE their twisted relationship with Levi. I kinda reminds me of Hannibal and Will.
This author knows how to write awesome crime novels with beautiful queer characters❤️
My emotion are also a mess but I’ll deal somehow. I love the relationship between Dom and Levi and that hot scene in the alley was one the best shit I’ve ever read❤️. but Dom needs to get his shit together. IM so worried about both of them
I kinda like Stanton too even tho no one really talks about him. he was a dick sometimes but he’s alright.
Not sure how I feel about Rohan. low key like sawyer i guess.
And don’t get me started on this awesome serial killer. like Seven of Spades is LEGIT.
I love the fact that they kill with good reason and to make the world a better place. it makes them easier to like and even sympathize with. Seven of Spades is just so intriguing.
And I LOVE their twisted relationship with Levi. I kinda reminds me of Hannibal and Will.
This author knows how to write awesome crime novels with beautiful queer characters❤️
divapitbull's review
4.0
Cash Plays is another solid installment in the Seven of Spades series. I really did enjoy it; but it was more of a 3 ½ stars rounded up to 4. High marks on excitement of the action/adventure variety. The storyline is intriguing but also at times somewhat predictable. I’m still thinking I know who the killer is. Given it’s supposed to be someone “we know”, because it’s someone who knows and respects Levi – only 1 person seems plausible. 3 1/2 stars because it’s light on the humor and the romance got angsty – which I don’t especially care for.
It started off well enough, with Levi and Dominic getting lovey-dovey and meeting the parents; but not in a disgustingly saccharine sweet, ridiculous, no one actually behaves that way sort of way. Happily, in a normal, real people talk this way, sort of way – that was all good; and rather sweet. And then the shit hits the fan. Levi has his hands full working a series of homicides that seem related. It seems someone is trying to start a gang war between the dueling cartel factions in Las Vegas which have been making an unprecedented effort to work together. The city is about to erupt in violence between Los Avispones – the Latino cartel that the Seven of Spades seems to keep on retainer, and the Russians (i.e. the Slavic Collective; and the Korean Park family. And then there’s the new gang in town; waiting in the wings to take advantage of the chaos and carnage – Utopia – the neo-Nazis. As if this isn’t enough to contend with; the Seven of Spades is enjoying a glorious Dexter-like murderous spree, there’s a new FBI profiler on the case, and Levi’s PTSD and anger management issues are bubbling over like the water fountain display at the Bellagio. Just when he needs his boyfriend the most; Domenic goes walkabout.
This installment sees Domenic struggling even more than Levi – which really says something, as it seems universally agreed among Levi’s colleagues that he’s “about one stressful even from cracking like a dropped egg”. Domenic however wins the prize for dysfunction, when his newest case as a newbie PI with McBride Investigations leads him right back down the rabbit hole of compulsive gambling. It’s not a good look on him; especially since it turns him into a shitty pet parent. Rebel deserves better. Of course, Domenic’s case and Levi’s case collide, and they have each other’s backs in a professional capacity but they are not in a good place as the installment wraps up.
It started off well enough, with Levi and Dominic getting lovey-dovey and meeting the parents; but not in a disgustingly saccharine sweet, ridiculous, no one actually behaves that way sort of way. Happily, in a normal, real people talk this way, sort of way – that was all good; and rather sweet. And then the shit hits the fan. Levi has his hands full working a series of homicides that seem related. It seems someone is trying to start a gang war between the dueling cartel factions in Las Vegas which have been making an unprecedented effort to work together. The city is about to erupt in violence between Los Avispones – the Latino cartel that the Seven of Spades seems to keep on retainer, and the Russians (i.e. the Slavic Collective; and the Korean Park family. And then there’s the new gang in town; waiting in the wings to take advantage of the chaos and carnage – Utopia – the neo-Nazis. As if this isn’t enough to contend with; the Seven of Spades is enjoying a glorious Dexter-like murderous spree, there’s a new FBI profiler on the case, and Levi’s PTSD and anger management issues are bubbling over like the water fountain display at the Bellagio. Just when he needs his boyfriend the most; Domenic goes walkabout.
This installment sees Domenic struggling even more than Levi – which really says something, as it seems universally agreed among Levi’s colleagues that he’s “about one stressful even from cracking like a dropped egg”. Domenic however wins the prize for dysfunction, when his newest case as a newbie PI with McBride Investigations leads him right back down the rabbit hole of compulsive gambling. It’s not a good look on him; especially since it turns him into a shitty pet parent. Rebel deserves better. Of course, Domenic’s case and Levi’s case collide, and they have each other’s backs in a professional capacity but they are not in a good place as the installment wraps up.
laiinny's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
5.0