Book Review-Reaper

A. Zavarelli

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

First Impressions

Reaper is the second book in the “Boston Underworld” series and this tackles a mafia romance that is set in Boston, Massachusetts. And I do feel like Boston is one of the best locales to read a mafia romance for. And this is where we are dealing with a Irish mob/mafia base in the series. And I would say to best enjoy this book you need to read the first book first. This is a romance that focuses more on yearning and an almost spiritual connection over quick spice as one would expect. But then this author tackles chemistry in a different way than most authors tend to do these days. Reaper is a romance that has a more emotional deeper impact than what you will experience with most mafia romances if I am being honest. I love the way in which we get this story and what is revealed.

Damaged souls have their own beauty. A dark, terrifying beauty. The same type of beauty I recognize in Ronan.

Book Evaluation:

Plot: 5/5
World Building: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 4/5
Intimacy Level: 4/5
Relationship Building: 5/5
Heart & Feels: 5/5
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 4/5
Page Turner Level: 5/5
Narration: 3.5/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall View: 4.5/5

The Main Protagonists

The Hero: Ronan

The Heroine: Sasha

I’ve been called a sociopath. A monster. But I don’t fancy myself one. I’m simply a man doing a job that needs to be done. If it wasn’t me doing it, someone else would be. The men that I kill, they’ve all had it coming. They knew what they were getting themselves into. They’ve either done Niall wrong or threatened the syndicate in some way. And threats have to be eliminated, just like vermin. One of the few moral codes I still abide by. I will protect my brethren at all costs.

What I Loved

WHEW!!! This book takes you on a emotional roller coster but it will be worth all the ups and downs once you truly discover the power of this story and especially seeing the past of Ronan and why he is so silent. We see a connection between this couple from the first book and this is where we see more backstory on why they have such a deep connection. Ronan is NOT your typical mafia hero and we see that really explored within this story. Ronan is a tortured soul, having gone through horrible child trauma and manipulation and abuse. He is silent for very good reasons but he can speak only when he has to say something. Sasha brings out his voice and his passion and he discovers a will to fight for what he wants. He isn’t used to doing that. He is a soldier in the mafia, he follows orders and he has one loyalty and that is to Crow. But we see him discover he can have other loyalties including Sasha. Seeing the growth in Ronan in discovering what Sasha can be for him and seeing him learn the power of love was truly so heartbreaking. Literally this book had me in my feels and it was all over the place but this author wrote another powerful story and I am becoming convinced that I need to read her whole backlist.

Nobody else gets to see you like that,” he declares. “Ye’re claimed.” His words douse me in gasoline. His eyes light the match. And when he grinds himself against me, all that’s left to do is burn for him.

I think what drew me the most with Reaper was the self discovery and growth from both of our characters. We see Ronan discover himself, what he is capable of and how love heals the wounds so he can have his own journey. Then we have Sasha who feels like a prisoner and just wants to escape. She wants to flee the mafia world which is so dark and troublesome and has only caused her pain and wants a fresh start somewhere new. But there is one problem….how to say goodbye to Ronan….the one man she would give everything for. Sasha discovers her own inner stength to fight for the man who has never had anyone except for Crow put him first and be truly committed. We see how the love that builds slowly heals both of these damaged souls and how they find peace within each other. And find ways to embrace a happily ever after that is worthy of them.

“He’s like a trip wire, rigged to detonate a category five hurricane of emotions inside of me. But I’m a masochist of the highest order, so I let him obliterate me. Again and again.”

What I Struggled With

I think the biggest struggle that I had with this book was the narration if I am being honest. And I wasn’t a fan of the heroine wanting to constantly be on the run from the hero but I was much more forgiving of the secret baby because it was more the life she was trying to escape from and not necessarily the hero.

Narration

This narration I believe was done by the author and it wasn’t horrible or anything just wasn’t quite my cup of tea if I am being honest. I will probably physically read her books moving forward. I really respected what she did with the story though and tackled the emotion super well. I just preferred her voice for the hero over the heroine.

Overall Thoughts

Reaper is a stunning story that will capture your emotions in a gravitating way, it will show the reader the power of finding peace in the stillness and the quiet and the love in the shadows that gives you the strength to fight for your love…

“My life, my love, my breath. May we always have each other, in this life and the next.”

Book Details

Title: Reaper

Author: A. Zaverelli

Series: Boston Underworld, #2

Publication Date: May 19 2016

Publisher: Self Published

Genre: Dark Romance

Narrator: Ashleigh Zavarelli

Length: 8 Hours and 42 Mins

Tropes/Character Types: Mafia, Anti Hero/Heroine, Exotic Dancer, Disability/Tortured Hero, Yearning/Chemistry Focus over Spice, Secret Baby

Spice Level: Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

POV: DUO Pov

Music Song That Is Themed After This Book: Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy

Sasha.

He’s dark and mysterious. Quiet and lethal.
An Irish mobster.
Pure sin wrapped up in a beautiful package.
But there’s also something off about him.
He doesn’t feel anything. He shows no emotions.
Sometimes I question his humanity.
He hasn’t spoken to me in two years. Not a single word.
But we share a secret, he and I.
And if it ever comes out, I have no doubt in my mind…
He won’t have a problem killing me too.

Ronan.
I’ve slain for her. I’ll do it again.
When it comes to Sasha, there isn’t a line I won’t cross.
I watch her. She doesn’t know it.
She thinks I hate her. Sometimes, I think I might too.
But I’m always there, lurking in the shadows.
Craving her. Trying to keep the beast within at bay.
I’ll keep her safe. I’ll slaughter anyone who tries to hurt her.
The only thing I can’t do… is protect her from myself.