Scan barcode
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
So I decided to torture myself and what a torture it was. Self-plagiarism is LJ middle name because seriously this yet another attempt from her to have another Vicious or The Villain not like they are good but moving on.
Aisling is definitely her biggest doormat, she literally obsessed Sam since she was teen because he is the first one that kissed her like okay but what I'm supposed do with that. Time jumps in beginning were set up for what annoying book this is going to be.
This is how their conversation go,
Sam: fuck off you are pathetic
Aisling: no why let me seduced you
Plus they have no chemistry literally give us nothing.
Sam is lamest mob guy, I keep forgetting he is one.
There is no reason for anyone to read this.
Aisling is definitely her biggest doormat, she literally obsessed Sam since she was teen because he is the first one that kissed her like okay but what I'm supposed do with that. Time jumps in beginning were set up for what annoying book this is going to be.
This is how their conversation go,
Sam: fuck off you are pathetic
Aisling: no why let me seduced you
Plus they have no chemistry literally give us nothing.
Sam is lamest mob guy, I keep forgetting he is one.
There is no reason for anyone to read this.
lauraffc's review against another edition
2.0
lendo achei que ia ser um pouco melhor do que o livro do hunter mas é tão ruim quanto. normalmente gosto desse tipo de livro, não querendo entrar em muitos detalhes, mas esse foi o pior. lj shen mais uma vez você me entregando uma bomba logo depois do livro maravilhoso do kill, não aguento mais!
fsmeurinne's review against another edition
3.0
Sam and Aisling's story felt flat for me, they didn't behave or talk like what the storyline, world-building, and character's background needed it to. I enjoyed previous books in the series, The Villain was good, but this one just didn't cut it for me, I love dark romance, I have even read about H being a bully, being a sadist, and even a cheater, I have no triggers so this is not the problem here. I understand that sometimes the h lacks the spine bone but eventually grows and develops but Aisling felt too short from everything. Sam on the other side is supposed to be this character I read about from previous books and when the time for him came it crumbled my expectations, the way he acted, his dialogue is not what I envisioned and looked forward to, this felt more like a high school drama than an older man, it just didn't match. I might have had a bigger expectation from the blurb, but in this case and in my personal opinion I think it just wasn't the book I expected.
zutsie's review against another edition
4.0
Yooooo I’ve been waiting for Sam Brennan’s book for ages, honestly. Since I was reading Cillian’s story and Sam shot up to the top of my INTERESTING list, and boy, I had fun.
Yes, we’ve seen sections of this type of story before, but I don’t even care. I thoroughly enjoy Shen’s work, especially the work built into series.
Aisling certainly was a bit spineless at times, but was also the perfect complement to Sam - they just worked. Sam, too, did/said some things that weren’t great, but damn, he worked for me on so many levels! The wait for his story totally paid off.
Anyway, had fun with this read for sure.
Yes, we’ve seen sections of this type of story before, but I don’t even care. I thoroughly enjoy Shen’s work, especially the work built into series.
Aisling certainly was a bit spineless at times, but was also the perfect complement to Sam - they just worked. Sam, too, did/said some things that weren’t great, but damn, he worked for me on so many levels! The wait for his story totally paid off.
Anyway, had fun with this read for sure.
sammontano's review against another edition
2.0
DNF girl stand the fuck up
edit: skimmed thru the whole book again. girly only stood up at 65%. needed more groveling.
edit: skimmed thru the whole book again. girly only stood up at 65%. needed more groveling.
lmrivas54's review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly fascinating, a very convoluted story, and I couldn’t believe LJ Shen could domesticate Sam Brennan but she did!!
Sam Brennan sees himself as a monster. He’s definitely more dark and sinister than Troy Brennan, his adoptive father. He took up the reigns of Troy’s work in underground Boston and developed it further. More than The Fixer, he turned mobster and took up more areas of Boston that Troy had. He’s richer and dangerous and now works for Aisling’s father.
In this book, we read how close the Brennan and Fitzpatrick families are, courtesy of Hunter and Sailor’s marriage and their common business. Aisling graduated in medicine and is working, and we later learn she has dark secrets of her own. Despite all their frequent reunions, Aisling’s love for Sam remains unrequited. He won’t even look at her, much less talk to her. So she took matters into her own hands, and appeared at his night club Badlands, on a Halloween night, disguised and decided. They hook up but he recognized her scent, realized they were inevitable, and they negotiate a fling. After, Sam learns damaging news about Gerard Fitzpatrick, Aisling’s father, and a new plot surfaces, revenge of the very devious and serious kind.
There are so many plot lines in this book that keep the reader riveted to the story. Aisling’s secrets that are unknown to her family and friends. Sam’s revenge on Gerard Fitzpatrick. Aisling’s unrequited love for Sam and how it changes intensity through the book. Sam’s growing fascination with Aisling as he learns of all her underlying layers. And through it all, the Boston Belles, always there supporting their friend. I loved seeing Cillian as a doting father and doting husband, what a departure from the business icicle he used to be! Hunter, entertaining as ever, Sailor adorably dorky. Belle, as irreverent and effervescent as ever, and Devon is mesmerized by her. New book in the future!
I really had no idea that Sam would ever bend and accept Aisling into his life. For one, his life is incredibly dangerous and rife with murder and mayhem. He sees himself as a monster, incapable of love. And yet, I knew it was not true, since he loves his adoptive mother Sparrow and his sister Sailor. I loved the scene where he’s crawling on the floor in all fours so his niece can ride horsey on him. That’s not what a evil monster does during his Sunday family dinners!
I was surprised at Aisling’s inner darkness but loved it because it helped her understand and accept Sam’s darkness better. Once he knew Aisling’s secret, it opened the way for him to accept her and fight for a future. In spite of how erotic their encounters were, the book was slow burn because Sam was so stubborn in letting Ash in. I loved that in spite of all her love for Sam, she also grew up and started to demand respect and attention. The domestication of Sam Brennan was full on!
This is not a book you put down! It’s fascinating, riveting, and memorable. The complexity of the characters and their lives are very compelling and what made me like it more was the duality. They have light and dark sides, they have moments where their tenderness comes forth, and at the next moment, their harshness comes out to deal with problems. Aisling’s issues with her parents are front and center in the plot of this book, the lives of Hunter and Cillian with their families, and Troy and Sparrow are all intertwined to make this a very complete saga that satisfies in all aspects a book can have. It’s a book that you need to read again and savor, once you know all the secrets that are revealed as you read. Make sure you have a free day because there won’t be any homework to do while reading this! Fantastic read!
Sam Brennan sees himself as a monster. He’s definitely more dark and sinister than Troy Brennan, his adoptive father. He took up the reigns of Troy’s work in underground Boston and developed it further. More than The Fixer, he turned mobster and took up more areas of Boston that Troy had. He’s richer and dangerous and now works for Aisling’s father.
In this book, we read how close the Brennan and Fitzpatrick families are, courtesy of Hunter and Sailor’s marriage and their common business. Aisling graduated in medicine and is working, and we later learn she has dark secrets of her own. Despite all their frequent reunions, Aisling’s love for Sam remains unrequited. He won’t even look at her, much less talk to her. So she took matters into her own hands, and appeared at his night club Badlands, on a Halloween night, disguised and decided. They hook up but he recognized her scent, realized they were inevitable, and they negotiate a fling. After, Sam learns damaging news about Gerard Fitzpatrick, Aisling’s father, and a new plot surfaces, revenge of the very devious and serious kind.
There are so many plot lines in this book that keep the reader riveted to the story. Aisling’s secrets that are unknown to her family and friends. Sam’s revenge on Gerard Fitzpatrick. Aisling’s unrequited love for Sam and how it changes intensity through the book. Sam’s growing fascination with Aisling as he learns of all her underlying layers. And through it all, the Boston Belles, always there supporting their friend. I loved seeing Cillian as a doting father and doting husband, what a departure from the business icicle he used to be! Hunter, entertaining as ever, Sailor adorably dorky. Belle, as irreverent and effervescent as ever, and Devon is mesmerized by her. New book in the future!
I really had no idea that Sam would ever bend and accept Aisling into his life. For one, his life is incredibly dangerous and rife with murder and mayhem. He sees himself as a monster, incapable of love. And yet, I knew it was not true, since he loves his adoptive mother Sparrow and his sister Sailor. I loved the scene where he’s crawling on the floor in all fours so his niece can ride horsey on him. That’s not what a evil monster does during his Sunday family dinners!
I was surprised at Aisling’s inner darkness but loved it because it helped her understand and accept Sam’s darkness better. Once he knew Aisling’s secret, it opened the way for him to accept her and fight for a future. In spite of how erotic their encounters were, the book was slow burn because Sam was so stubborn in letting Ash in. I loved that in spite of all her love for Sam, she also grew up and started to demand respect and attention. The domestication of Sam Brennan was full on!
This is not a book you put down! It’s fascinating, riveting, and memorable. The complexity of the characters and their lives are very compelling and what made me like it more was the duality. They have light and dark sides, they have moments where their tenderness comes forth, and at the next moment, their harshness comes out to deal with problems. Aisling’s issues with her parents are front and center in the plot of this book, the lives of Hunter and Cillian with their families, and Troy and Sparrow are all intertwined to make this a very complete saga that satisfies in all aspects a book can have. It’s a book that you need to read again and savor, once you know all the secrets that are revealed as you read. Make sure you have a free day because there won’t be any homework to do while reading this! Fantastic read!
beeya_bookreads's review against another edition
1.0
awww man...*sad sigh*
i was waiting for a hot-spicy-bad boy sam brennan meal but got served with bland noodles instead. thanks for ruining sams character.
and honestly, this wasn't a mafia romance at all, nothing about this was mafia-esque. a few guns, gangs and murders but no spice. where is the spice?
there could’ve been a number of mafia plots created like rivals from a gang wanting revenge cus of what his dead father did or his mother did some shady shit with the russians and now they want him dead idk anything would’ve better then revolving drama from aislings boring and shitty family.
we got robbed. thanks author. why couldn’t have ash been a normal doctor? why couldn’t have sam been a actual mafia boss and not some misogynistic dickhead?
she was in love with him for nearly what 10 years without a lick of an actual meaningful convo with the dude and when they finally had something (bare minimum) you want me to believe they were in love by the end? no ma’am. no ma’am.
i got heavy cillian/vicious vibes from sammy...
the belle slender…ma’am i will not tolerate. belle is honestly the best character out of this series.
aisling, girl...where is your backbone sweetie?!? you is pathetic my girl.
lj, please stop writing women who lose their brain cells the moment men touch them. make them say "no" "fuck you" "i'm walking away" "i'm forgetting about you" idk god anything that isn't "i know i should stop him but the moment his hands are on me i can't think straight" kill me. please kill me.
THAT sex scene (iykyk) was goddamn embarrassing.
the family drama bored me to death. it all sounded like rich white people problems. and the rEvEnGe plot sam decided to pull out of thin air was a waste of time cus it added NOTHING to the story.
and ash being a mercy killer doesn’t make her a monster wtf. her and sam are not the same monsters.
this would've been a cute, hot unrequited/second-chance romance if ash and sam had messed around their younger years with her pinning after him and him breaking her heart and her saying "i'm done, i'm moving on" and she actually does. then after years, they found each other back and sam fell to her knees because he couldn't handle her ignoring him/moving on idk.
omg like he could’ve been in trouble with a rival gang and he got hurt and the only person he knew who was a doctor was ash and she treated him and that’s where their story started IDK i’m making up my own scenarios since i was deprived. thanks.
I WANTED A JEALOUS SAM. UGH.
why was it sam making aisling jealous? why couldn't she have made him jealous and made him realize what he was missing? MAKE THE MEN BEG LJ!
...i'm still in love with hunter. BYE.
i was waiting for a hot-spicy-bad boy sam brennan meal but got served with bland noodles instead. thanks for ruining sams character.
and honestly, this wasn't a mafia romance at all, nothing about this was mafia-esque. a few guns, gangs and murders but no spice. where is the spice?
there could’ve been a number of mafia plots created like rivals from a gang wanting revenge cus of what his dead father did or his mother did some shady shit with the russians and now they want him dead idk anything would’ve better then revolving drama from aislings boring and shitty family.
we got robbed. thanks author. why couldn’t have ash been a normal doctor? why couldn’t have sam been a actual mafia boss and not some misogynistic dickhead?
she was in love with him for nearly what 10 years without a lick of an actual meaningful convo with the dude and when they finally had something (bare minimum) you want me to believe they were in love by the end? no ma’am. no ma’am.
i got heavy cillian/vicious vibes from sammy...
the belle slender…ma’am i will not tolerate. belle is honestly the best character out of this series.
aisling, girl...where is your backbone sweetie?!? you is pathetic my girl.
lj, please stop writing women who lose their brain cells the moment men touch them. make them say "no" "fuck you" "i'm walking away" "i'm forgetting about you" idk god anything that isn't "i know i should stop him but the moment his hands are on me i can't think straight" kill me. please kill me.
THAT sex scene (iykyk) was goddamn embarrassing.
the family drama bored me to death. it all sounded like rich white people problems. and the rEvEnGe plot sam decided to pull out of thin air was a waste of time cus it added NOTHING to the story.
and ash being a mercy killer doesn’t make her a monster wtf. her and sam are not the same monsters.
this would've been a cute, hot unrequited/second-chance romance if ash and sam had messed around their younger years with her pinning after him and him breaking her heart and her saying "i'm done, i'm moving on" and she actually does. then after years, they found each other back and sam fell to her knees because he couldn't handle her ignoring him/moving on idk.
omg like he could’ve been in trouble with a rival gang and he got hurt and the only person he knew who was a doctor was ash and she treated him and that’s where their story started IDK i’m making up my own scenarios since i was deprived. thanks.
I WANTED A JEALOUS SAM. UGH.
why was it sam making aisling jealous? why couldn't she have made him jealous and made him realize what he was missing? MAKE THE MEN BEG LJ!
...i'm still in love with hunter. BYE.
brky1144's review against another edition
5.0
Best of the Boston Belle series
Hands down my favorite of the Boston Belle series. Everything I wanted and needed from Sam and Aisling's story. LJ Shen is a master.
Hands down my favorite of the Boston Belle series. Everything I wanted and needed from Sam and Aisling's story. LJ Shen is a master.
rowan_oaks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75