Antonio is a killer.
He's beautiful, educated, a prodigy of a thief and as violent a motherfucker as ever came of the boat from Napoli.
Theresa knows it, but that doesn't stop her from getting emotionally and physically entangled with him, and this is how, maybe, she got it in her head that she can protect him.
But it's not her job to save him, and she's just not getting that. Every time she tries to protect him, she practically gets him killed, and the tighter he grips her, the more dangerous she becomes.
It's almost as if...well, he'd never admit this....but it's almost as if protecting her the way he does is the one thing he should stop. As if the only way he's ever going to find a moment's peace is to just embrace her as a partner, rather than a defenseless creature.
But he'd never do that. Not this violent motherfucker.
WARNING: This book contains delicious sex scenes with a hot man dirty-talking in Italian; women handling firearms and explosives; and scenes of violence with a crystal Virgin Mary cigarette lighter.
ebook, 209 pages
Published October 14th 2014
Source: Netgalley
--Our Review--
You know what? C.D. Reiss and her fuckery have me hooked. It doesn't matter that she writes these books that end with more questions than answers. And, it doesn't matter that I have a while to wait until the next one because I will. Patiently. Ditto. There are so many twists, turns, gasp moments, "wait, what?" moment...sooo many moments that make these action packed novellas an incredible ride. Reiss can write, y'all.
I'm not sure what it is that I find compelling about her novels...I guess that's what I should try to explore here, right? So that's what I'll do. I'll try, in the least rambling way, to explain why I enjoy her works. !!!
1. Escapism. There is no way in hell I'm marrying a billionaire, that I'll be some protege pianist or an ingenue, or a sophisticated accountant with a high profile ex-boyfriend (and family for that matter). Nope, those things will never be, but I sure as hell enjoy putting myself in the shoes of those characters. In this case, having a mob boyfriend and being his willful girlfriend is 100% pure escapism and I enjoyed it. It sure is. And I enjoyed it too. I think the escapism definitely is what draws us in, because it is different, and DEFINITELY not boring or safe. I couldn't imagine being in any of the situations that Antonio or Theresa find themselves in...but then she calls him Capo, and it infinitesimally changes the scene to two lovers just trying to find a way to be together in the crazy world their found themselves in.
2. Character torture. C.D. Reiss loves her characters, at least I think she does. That being said, she has no problem creating all sorts of shitstorms for her characters. Between the internal and external conflicts, the plot twists..the ANGST..it's such sweet torture and I can't stop reading it. In Ruin there's the constant push and pull of Antonio and Theresa, the will he or won't he, and the will they or won't they...all the way to the end. I must say, I love how hardcore both characters are to their willingness to do what they feel they must, in order to have what they want (or what they think they want) <-- hi, vague much? <--totally! But, ya know what. It was definitely a full speed ahead train, and we were not getting off the track! OMG. I at this moment in time, still can't believe the ways this book went... just cannot believe it! And THEN she did the unthinkable and tied it back to Songs of Submission and I just died. Died of happiness, and am trying to think back to that up-all-night-for-two-days-readathon I did of the other series, and what happens trying to find hints so I can just fucking know what happens! But I know that probably won't help.
3. Balls to the wall sex. I mean she never holds back. In Ruin, it's rough and hot and almost animalistic ..maybe even savage? There are no mushy, lovey dovey, doe-eyed moments here. It's intense, quick, hot..just like the characters. Exactly like the characters. It fits. It's hot. It definitely can Ruin. In a good way!
4. Plot. Her books are page turners and Ruin is no exception. I willingly sacrificed the little sleep I seem to get so that I could read. I bet you will too. It went so fast, and in the blink of an eye it was another day in bed finishing a book before I start the day...---er afternoon...yeah. So...
So, I suppose those are some of the reasons why I have a *thing* for her books? I dunno. I know there are other reasons..I'll save them for next time.
The writing is just so damn good. I never felt confused by what was happening. The dialogue, the scenes, the descriptions...are hard core East L.A. and it is a glimpse into a world that probably does sort of exist, and we definitely don't know anything about. I loved it. I love L.A. I love Antonio. I especially love the Drazen's, and I love C.D. Reiss. And Shelley! Hah!
Let me caution you with this: her novels aren't pretty purple prose or delicate little things. Her books are not for people who don't like to read about characters who don't abide by societal norms. Her books are rough and tumble and fun and sexy and total escape. Yes. It is definitely a little bit darker romance than some, not per se taboo, but intense, in a way that some might find uncomfortable. I hope you give it a shot and enjoy it anyways!
Happy reading. Peace.
You know what? C.D. Reiss and her fuckery have me hooked. It doesn't matter that she writes these books that end with more questions than answers. And, it doesn't matter that I have a while to wait until the next one because I will. Patiently. Ditto. There are so many twists, turns, gasp moments, "wait, what?" moment...sooo many moments that make these action packed novellas an incredible ride. Reiss can write, y'all.
I'm not sure what it is that I find compelling about her novels...I guess that's what I should try to explore here, right? So that's what I'll do. I'll try, in the least rambling way, to explain why I enjoy her works. !!!
1. Escapism. There is no way in hell I'm marrying a billionaire, that I'll be some protege pianist or an ingenue, or a sophisticated accountant with a high profile ex-boyfriend (and family for that matter). Nope, those things will never be, but I sure as hell enjoy putting myself in the shoes of those characters. In this case, having a mob boyfriend and being his willful girlfriend is 100% pure escapism and I enjoyed it. It sure is. And I enjoyed it too. I think the escapism definitely is what draws us in, because it is different, and DEFINITELY not boring or safe. I couldn't imagine being in any of the situations that Antonio or Theresa find themselves in...but then she calls him Capo, and it infinitesimally changes the scene to two lovers just trying to find a way to be together in the crazy world their found themselves in.
2. Character torture. C.D. Reiss loves her characters, at least I think she does. That being said, she has no problem creating all sorts of shitstorms for her characters. Between the internal and external conflicts, the plot twists..the ANGST..it's such sweet torture and I can't stop reading it. In Ruin there's the constant push and pull of Antonio and Theresa, the will he or won't he, and the will they or won't they...all the way to the end. I must say, I love how hardcore both characters are to their willingness to do what they feel they must, in order to have what they want (or what they think they want) <-- hi, vague much? <--totally! But, ya know what. It was definitely a full speed ahead train, and we were not getting off the track! OMG. I at this moment in time, still can't believe the ways this book went... just cannot believe it! And THEN she did the unthinkable and tied it back to Songs of Submission and I just died. Died of happiness, and am trying to think back to that up-all-night-for-two-days-readathon I did of the other series, and what happens trying to find hints so I can just fucking know what happens! But I know that probably won't help.
3. Balls to the wall sex. I mean she never holds back. In Ruin, it's rough and hot and almost animalistic ..maybe even savage? There are no mushy, lovey dovey, doe-eyed moments here. It's intense, quick, hot..just like the characters. Exactly like the characters. It fits. It's hot. It definitely can Ruin. In a good way!
4. Plot. Her books are page turners and Ruin is no exception. I willingly sacrificed the little sleep I seem to get so that I could read. I bet you will too. It went so fast, and in the blink of an eye it was another day in bed finishing a book before I start the day...---er afternoon...yeah. So...
So, I suppose those are some of the reasons why I have a *thing* for her books? I dunno. I know there are other reasons..I'll save them for next time.
The writing is just so damn good. I never felt confused by what was happening. The dialogue, the scenes, the descriptions...are hard core East L.A. and it is a glimpse into a world that probably does sort of exist, and we definitely don't know anything about. I loved it. I love L.A. I love Antonio. I especially love the Drazen's, and I love C.D. Reiss. And Shelley! Hah!
Let me caution you with this: her novels aren't pretty purple prose or delicate little things. Her books are not for people who don't like to read about characters who don't abide by societal norms. Her books are rough and tumble and fun and sexy and total escape. Yes. It is definitely a little bit darker romance than some, not per se taboo, but intense, in a way that some might find uncomfortable. I hope you give it a shot and enjoy it anyways!
Happy reading. Peace.
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