Reaper - Boston Underworld
Reaper is the second book in the Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli. It follows Sasha and Ronan, a seemingly unlikely pair who share a deadly secret, as well as some pesky feelings for one another.
Unlike Mack, who willingly dove into the Mafia world in an effort to save her best friend, Sasha was forced into the life at the hands of her abusive ex, Blaine. She's been working as a stripper at Slainte for the past few years, mostly because she needs the money to care for her dying mother. I really felt for her because it was obvious that Sasha just got in over her head and realized that there was no easy way out of the Mafia life. The other strippers don't like her because she's too sweet, and some of the guys just take advantage of that sweetness.
Ronan is no such guy. He's this sinister Clark Kent type, always wearing suits and glasses, and he's well-earned his nickname, the Reaper. The guy is a stone cold killer who never shows emotion, and yet there's this really vulnerable side of him that he manages to hide quite well. Secretly in love with Sasha but with no idea how to handle it, he instead opts to lurk in the shadows. Ronan is always watching her, making sure she's okay. What he doesn't realize is that Sasha shares the same intense feelings, but of course neither one knows what to do.
"He connects with me in a way that nobody else ever has. My body was dormant, and he brought me to life again. We're a symphony of madness. Dark thirsts and wild obsession. My love for him burns hotter than the sun. It's sappy. It's fucked up. And more than anything, it's real."
This was a bit darker than the first novel, but not without its comedic moments. Mack and Ronan have this somewhat hilarious, awkward brother/sister relationship, and their interactions had me laughing. Ronan is the ultimate badass in some ways, but he's SO clueless when it comes to women - especially Sasha - that I just wanted to hug him (and yeah, I know, he hates that). I loved his devotion to Sasha; he was the only guy who appreciated her goodness and loved her for it instead of just using it to his own advantage. In turn, she was the only one who really 'got' him. She dealt with his quirks and never tried to push him or change him into something that he wasn't. Like the book says, she was the light to his darkness, and I loved these two together.
Boston Underworld is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. The writing is fantastic, the stories are gritty and just awesome, and I freakin' love all of the main characters. These Irish mobsters are making me want to blast some Dropkick Murphys and drink some Jameson! That's another thing I love about this series; there's a playlist at the beginning of each book, which really got me into each story. So, if my raving isn't enough of a recommendation, I definitely suggest checking out this kickass series!
Unlike Mack, who willingly dove into the Mafia world in an effort to save her best friend, Sasha was forced into the life at the hands of her abusive ex, Blaine. She's been working as a stripper at Slainte for the past few years, mostly because she needs the money to care for her dying mother. I really felt for her because it was obvious that Sasha just got in over her head and realized that there was no easy way out of the Mafia life. The other strippers don't like her because she's too sweet, and some of the guys just take advantage of that sweetness.
Ronan is no such guy. He's this sinister Clark Kent type, always wearing suits and glasses, and he's well-earned his nickname, the Reaper. The guy is a stone cold killer who never shows emotion, and yet there's this really vulnerable side of him that he manages to hide quite well. Secretly in love with Sasha but with no idea how to handle it, he instead opts to lurk in the shadows. Ronan is always watching her, making sure she's okay. What he doesn't realize is that Sasha shares the same intense feelings, but of course neither one knows what to do.
"He connects with me in a way that nobody else ever has. My body was dormant, and he brought me to life again. We're a symphony of madness. Dark thirsts and wild obsession. My love for him burns hotter than the sun. It's sappy. It's fucked up. And more than anything, it's real."
This was a bit darker than the first novel, but not without its comedic moments. Mack and Ronan have this somewhat hilarious, awkward brother/sister relationship, and their interactions had me laughing. Ronan is the ultimate badass in some ways, but he's SO clueless when it comes to women - especially Sasha - that I just wanted to hug him (and yeah, I know, he hates that). I loved his devotion to Sasha; he was the only guy who appreciated her goodness and loved her for it instead of just using it to his own advantage. In turn, she was the only one who really 'got' him. She dealt with his quirks and never tried to push him or change him into something that he wasn't. Like the book says, she was the light to his darkness, and I loved these two together.
Boston Underworld is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. The writing is fantastic, the stories are gritty and just awesome, and I freakin' love all of the main characters. These Irish mobsters are making me want to blast some Dropkick Murphys and drink some Jameson! That's another thing I love about this series; there's a playlist at the beginning of each book, which really got me into each story. So, if my raving isn't enough of a recommendation, I definitely suggest checking out this kickass series!
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