Showing posts with label J.J. McAvoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J.J. McAvoy. Show all posts
Today's flashback is the Ruthless People series by J.J. McAvoy. This was my first foray into this author's work and I was blown away with the world she created for these two rival mafias ruling Chicago. This is the story of Melody and Liam, their arranged marriage, and everything that they grew to be. They started out as enemies, each the heir to a kingdom, eventually joining forces to rule together. It's a story full of chaos, death, drama, family and love.
All of these stories are told in either dual or multiple first person perspectives. The heat ranges from descriptive to almost explicit and there is a happy ending.
I read this series many years ago and can still remember how amazing it was. Have you ever read these books? Are you interested?
Please Note: I had intended to read this author's Children of Vice series after this, but I chose not to and will continue not to because readers, whom I trust, have advised me not to. To leave the love I have for these characters right here, to remember them this way. Supposedly the author ruined everything LOL.
1. Ruthless People
To the outside world, they look like American Royalty, giving to charities, feeding the homeless, rebuilding the city. But behind closed doors is a constant battle for dominance between two Bosses, cultures, and hearts. Ruthless People is a romantic crime fiction set in modern day Chicago, and follows the life and marriage of Melody Giovanni and Liam Callahan-rivals by blood and leaders through fear. Their marriage, arranged by their fathers in hopes to end years of bloodshed between the Irish and the Italians. Liam believes he's getting a simple-minded wife, one he can control, one who bends to his every need . . . the complete opposite of Melody. She knows exactly what type of man he is, and would rather die than give up the power she has spent her life building. The Mafia of the past has evolved, and with rival bosses gunning for them, Melody and Liam will have to learn to work as one to take down those who stand in their way.
Rating - ★★★★★
This book was fan-freaking-tastic!! I LOVED every single minute of it!! I know I'm twisted, but everything Liam did was beautiful to me. His character made me all swoon-y. I'm not sure what screw is loose in my brain, but even in torture and killing mode, he was extremely hot. And the way that he loves Melody, though a tad obsessive, possessive, and manipulative, was incredibly sweet. Speaking of Melody, she was truly a lioness. Beautiful and lethal. Her coldness put me off a bit but in no way took away from my respect for how strong a character she was. I love strong female roles and JJ McAvoy nailed it here. I'm glad that she was able to love Liam right back (in their own twisted but sexy and endearing way).
I can't believe JJ started writing this in her first year in college. That's amazing!! This author is truly talented. I've already got book 2 so that's what's next!
This book was fan-freaking-tastic!! I LOVED every single minute of it!! I know I'm twisted, but everything Liam did was beautiful to me. His character made me all swoon-y. I'm not sure what screw is loose in my brain, but even in torture and killing mode, he was extremely hot. And the way that he loves Melody, though a tad obsessive, possessive, and manipulative, was incredibly sweet. Speaking of Melody, she was truly a lioness. Beautiful and lethal. Her coldness put me off a bit but in no way took away from my respect for how strong a character she was. I love strong female roles and JJ McAvoy nailed it here. I'm glad that she was able to love Liam right back (in their own twisted but sexy and endearing way).
I can't believe JJ started writing this in her first year in college. That's amazing!! This author is truly talented. I've already got book 2 so that's what's next!
2. The Untouchables
Everything Melody Callahan has ever been told about her past is a lie. Her father lied. Her husband lied. But like all secrets…they come out. Not only is her mother, Aviela, alive but she won’t stop until she tears down everything Liam and Melody have spent the past year building.
With a new target on their back and the media now focused on their family as the Presidential election approaches, Liam and Melody must fight on two battlefronts. Melody is torn between being in love with Liam and wanting to kill him for lying to her. Being in love and showing love are two different things in her world. Liam wants to do anything to protect his family even if that means hurting the people he loves.
Family is everything… but what happens when they’re out for your blood? Everything they have been through is nothing compared to what is coming...
Rating - ★★★★★
This series just keeps getting better!! This installment had me on tenterhooks. I was giddy, anxious, nervous, happy, sad, mad, and every other emotion in between. That's what these books have done. Drawn out my emotions in such a way that I'm IN the story. I feel everything.
I tried to explain this series to one of my daughters. She wanted to know if the H and h were the good guys. I then had to explain that Liam and Melody were actually bad guys. That's kind of a given considering they were Mafia bosses. However, they are the best of the bad guys and I love them for that. They have a love for family and exist by an honour code. And their rules are absolutely hilarious!! I think that appeased her curiosity.
Honestly, this book was amazing. Melody's mother, Aviela, is gunning for both Liam and Melody. And she stops at nothing!! She's more ruthless than Melody (if that can be believed). There's a new baby in the house (sweet part of the storyline). There's a mole in the house. A family member is not acting like family. Liam and Melody are more in love than ever. And there's lots of killing and torture too. Awesome!!
This series just keeps getting better!! This installment had me on tenterhooks. I was giddy, anxious, nervous, happy, sad, mad, and every other emotion in between. That's what these books have done. Drawn out my emotions in such a way that I'm IN the story. I feel everything.
I tried to explain this series to one of my daughters. She wanted to know if the H and h were the good guys. I then had to explain that Liam and Melody were actually bad guys. That's kind of a given considering they were Mafia bosses. However, they are the best of the bad guys and I love them for that. They have a love for family and exist by an honour code. And their rules are absolutely hilarious!! I think that appeased her curiosity.
Honestly, this book was amazing. Melody's mother, Aviela, is gunning for both Liam and Melody. And she stops at nothing!! She's more ruthless than Melody (if that can be believed). There's a new baby in the house (sweet part of the storyline). There's a mole in the house. A family member is not acting like family. Liam and Melody are more in love than ever. And there's lots of killing and torture too. Awesome!!
3. American Savages
Melody is nowhere to be found, Liam is in jail, and the Callahan family is cracking, just as Avian Doers, the FBI Director and puppet master behind their downfall, planned.
But just because they’re down doesn't mean they’re out. To fight back, Liam and Melody will have to put everything on the line. The kid gloves are coming off, and no one is getting out alive. Nothing will compare to the reign of terror that is about to envelope the entire country. First they were Ruthless, now they are pure Savages. The end is here, and no one is safe…
Rating - ★★★★★
I swear that reading this series was like watching a really good Mafia, political, FBI, police thriller. It's got everything!! An amazing couple (Liam and Melody) who quantify dysfunction. They love each other so much but they're the Bosses of the largest mob! It's got sociopaths out the yingyang. There's action, suspense, torture, betrayal, justice, and also a lot of love. I am so sad to say goodbye to these characters. I honestly did not want this book to end. I feel a little lost right now trying to think of what book to read next. This series set me up with pretty high expectations. The epilogue was awesome!! Another job well done JJ McAvoy!!
I swear that reading this series was like watching a really good Mafia, political, FBI, police thriller. It's got everything!! An amazing couple (Liam and Melody) who quantify dysfunction. They love each other so much but they're the Bosses of the largest mob! It's got sociopaths out the yingyang. There's action, suspense, torture, betrayal, justice, and also a lot of love. I am so sad to say goodbye to these characters. I honestly did not want this book to end. I feel a little lost right now trying to think of what book to read next. This series set me up with pretty high expectations. The epilogue was awesome!! Another job well done JJ McAvoy!!
4. A Bloody Kingdom
It has been eight years since the Callahans defeated Avian Doers and conquered Chicago. Melody is now the Governor and public face of the family, while Liam rises as the Ceann na Conairte of both the Irish and Italians.
Their reach is limitless; their power endless...but is it possible to have too much power? Can Liam and Melody raise a family, a city, and an empire?
Only a fool would try to stop them now....
Rating - ★★★★
It's been a long time since I was swimming in the debauched lives that Liam and Melody led. They're still the bosses running the criminal underground of Chicago. Liam's the face while Melody acts legit as the Governor. They were a bit soft with age and kids, but the lethal edge that always existed with these characters was still just as sharp. The story was utter chaos. I had no idea what would happen next and can admit that I was very surprised by some events. I loved getting the voices of the family as points of view. Everyone had something valuable to say and it gave this last book the family touch that I didn't even know would be necessary.
I'm not a huge fan of the way this story ended. I wanted more for these characters who ruled my life in so many ways. I'm hoping whatever was missing can be found in the legacy books the author released. I want more of Melody and Liam and hope to catch a glimpse of them there.
It's been a long time since I was swimming in the debauched lives that Liam and Melody led. They're still the bosses running the criminal underground of Chicago. Liam's the face while Melody acts legit as the Governor. They were a bit soft with age and kids, but the lethal edge that always existed with these characters was still just as sharp. The story was utter chaos. I had no idea what would happen next and can admit that I was very surprised by some events. I loved getting the voices of the family as points of view. Everyone had something valuable to say and it gave this last book the family touch that I didn't even know would be necessary.
I'm not a huge fan of the way this story ended. I wanted more for these characters who ruled my life in so many ways. I'm hoping whatever was missing can be found in the legacy books the author released. I want more of Melody and Liam and hope to catch a glimpse of them there.
When I looked down, I saw the rings on both hands. The ring... the seal of the king on my pinky and the wedding band on the other. I never thought I'd have either.
Yet here I was.
I never thought I'd be in love, either.
And yet, here I was.
The Prince's Bride: Beginning Forever by J.J. McAvoy
The Prince's Bride #3
Release - February 12, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance (royal, interracial)
Multiple POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5
Format - Kindle purchase
Length - 533 pages
Publisher - Indie
With the fairytale wedding now over and the reality of their new roles placed on their shoulders, can Gale and Odette survive the sea of politics, family secrets, and scandal that awaits them? Can they still be true to themselves and their hearts?
The whole country...even the world is watching and not everyone is happy for them.
Check out my reviews of BOOK ONE and BOOK TWO
Find your copy of The Prince's Bride: Beginning Forever on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wxKHSJ
They're married. As king and queen, they are an unstoppable force. No matter what is thrown at them, they seem to come out stronger. Bad politics, death, family drama, not even bullets can stop them. Their love, their beauty, and their grace made their story such a joy to read.
I even loved getting inside the heads of the secondary characters: Wolfgang and his endless optimism; Iskander and his stoicism even in the face of hilarity; and Wilhelmina was too funny for words! I still want to know what ended up happening to Augusta. That girl did a disgusting 180 and her karma should be harsh!
I leaned over, taking the ties off his eyes. He blinked as he looked around the retro van I had customized. He glanced at the array of all his favorite treats beside him, then the pictures of us and love notes I'd glued to the ceiling among the twinkling lights. Then back toward the front of the car, where a large screen was before us. Slowly a smile spread across his face. "A drive-in movie?"
"My informant told me you've always wanted to do one of these. I've picked all the classic movie food: Twizzlers, popcorn, a few of your favorite, and..." I got up slightly and moved to the back to pull out a small crockpot, lifting the lid for him to see. His eyes lit up.
"Cherumoran Kosowens?" He grinned.
"It's super hard to make well, but I waited until I had perfected it and got a seal of approval."
He looked up at me, surprised. "You made this?"
"All the food tonight, besides the candy, was made by yours truly," I said. He stared at everything all over again. "Do you like it? I didn't wnat to make it too girlie —"
"This is amazing." He reached up and touched one of the notes I'd written. "Wow. I'm very touched right now."
Thank God.
"Dear Gale —"
"Don't read it out loud!" I gasped, and he glanced down at me.
"Why?"
"Because it's... it's embarrassing?"
His eyebrow rose. "Your love is embarrassing?"
"I only want to do one super embarrassing thing right now."
"And that is?"
I made a face before I grabbed the guitar.
"You wrote me a love song?" He gasped, grinning wide.
"Stop looking at me like that! You are going to make me mess up." I bit my lip while sitting in place before him. "I tried doing the whole love letters thing. I didn't feel like they were as good as yours, so I decided to switch back to what I'm good at — music."
"Now I'm very excited," he mused, leaning back on the pillow to watch.
I rolled my eyes and focused on my fingers. "I'm not as good with this as the piano —"
"Encore!" he called out, pumping his fist in the air.
"I haven't even played yet!"
"Doesn't matter. I'm in love and I'm going to want more," he said.
Oh God... focus.
Trying to ignore him, I began to play, singing the first verse, "Before I met you I never knew, how bright the stars shine at night, I never knew how sunshine made every morning all right, how beautiful the world is when I wake up, and you are the very first thing in my sight..."
The thing about music for me was that once I got started... once I was into it... everything faded away and I could just melt into it. The song, the sound of the music... it felt like swimming in the current of memories... and all the memories of this song was of him. From the first time, I saw him, to us laughing together, teasing each other. It hadn't even been two whole years, and yet everything felt like... magic.
"Loving you is like magic, Gale —" Before I could finish the words, his lips were on mine, his hand cupping my face.
When we separated, he rested his forehead on mine, his eyes glazed over with lust. "I don't think I can handle much more right now... I want you too badly. Can I have you?"
"You already do," I replied, kissing him again.
"My informant told me you've always wanted to do one of these. I've picked all the classic movie food: Twizzlers, popcorn, a few of your favorite, and..." I got up slightly and moved to the back to pull out a small crockpot, lifting the lid for him to see. His eyes lit up.
"Cherumoran Kosowens?" He grinned.
"It's super hard to make well, but I waited until I had perfected it and got a seal of approval."
He looked up at me, surprised. "You made this?"
"All the food tonight, besides the candy, was made by yours truly," I said. He stared at everything all over again. "Do you like it? I didn't wnat to make it too girlie —"
"This is amazing." He reached up and touched one of the notes I'd written. "Wow. I'm very touched right now."
Thank God.
"Dear Gale —"
"Don't read it out loud!" I gasped, and he glanced down at me.
"Why?"
"Because it's... it's embarrassing?"
His eyebrow rose. "Your love is embarrassing?"
"I only want to do one super embarrassing thing right now."
"And that is?"
I made a face before I grabbed the guitar.
"You wrote me a love song?" He gasped, grinning wide.
"Stop looking at me like that! You are going to make me mess up." I bit my lip while sitting in place before him. "I tried doing the whole love letters thing. I didn't feel like they were as good as yours, so I decided to switch back to what I'm good at — music."
"Now I'm very excited," he mused, leaning back on the pillow to watch.
I rolled my eyes and focused on my fingers. "I'm not as good with this as the piano —"
"Encore!" he called out, pumping his fist in the air.
"I haven't even played yet!"
"Doesn't matter. I'm in love and I'm going to want more," he said.
Oh God... focus.
Trying to ignore him, I began to play, singing the first verse, "Before I met you I never knew, how bright the stars shine at night, I never knew how sunshine made every morning all right, how beautiful the world is when I wake up, and you are the very first thing in my sight..."
The thing about music for me was that once I got started... once I was into it... everything faded away and I could just melt into it. The song, the sound of the music... it felt like swimming in the current of memories... and all the memories of this song was of him. From the first time, I saw him, to us laughing together, teasing each other. It hadn't even been two whole years, and yet everything felt like... magic.
"Loving you is like magic, Gale —" Before I could finish the words, his lips were on mine, his hand cupping my face.
When we separated, he rested his forehead on mine, his eyes glazed over with lust. "I don't think I can handle much more right now... I want you too badly. Can I have you?"
"You already do," I replied, kissing him again.
So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)
I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.
For more information, visit the following links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jjmcavoy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JJMcAvoy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jjmcavoy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JJMcAvoy
"I will not let you burn to keep me warm, but I will burn everything else so you can stay." - Gale
The Prince's Bride Part 2 by J.J. McAvoy
The Prince's Bride #2
Release - November 27, 2020
Genre - Contemporary Romance (royal, interracial)
Multiple POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 348 pages
Publisher - Indie
In book one, he was just a spoiled playboy prince whose family was in desperate need of money. Now everything has changed Odette Wyntor has a choice.
Stay or Run.
Royalty is not for the weak of heart.
Can they handle what is to come?
Find your own copy of The Prince's Bride Part 2 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fkFOXH
It's FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited!
Gale and Odette gave me everything I thought I needed and so much more...
👑 connection - even though, in the beginning, they were apart and Odette had doubts about where they stood, once they were in the same room, their spark was back! It was magical. They fell together as if no time had passed. Their love was so beautiful.
👑 drama - why was every bit of their angst and contention either adorable or hilarious?
👑 ease - weird right? They were navigating the monarchy, trying to find a way to be themselves and stay united, and there was such an easiness between them. It translated in a way that made me truly believe in their forever.
👑 authenticity - in ways that were so simple. It was so easy to relate to Odette's hair care regimen. Yup, I too wear a tie-head to bed!
While there was a bit of mayhem mixed in with their magic, I had no worries when it came to Gale and Odette. I fell in love with them. I fell in love with their story. And I know I'm going to fall in love with whatever comes next for them. I've already got their extended story downloaded and I can't wait to read it!!
Find my review of the first book here: https://www.nbiblioholic.com/2020/08/the-princes-bride-by-jj-mcavoy.html
So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)
I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.
For more information, visit the following links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jjmcavoy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JJMcAvoy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjjmcavoy
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jjmcavoy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JJMcAvoy
At that moment, in that brief second before she screamed bloody murder, all I could think was, the poets are right. No one will believe me, and many others will think I am insane. But I want the sun to rise with my name on her lips and my hand on her hips.
She’s an American heiress who can only get her inheritance through marriage.
According to their families they are a perfect match.
According to each other, arranged marriages have no place in modern times and this could not possibly work.
But Prince Galahad “Gale” of Ersovia is bound by duty to obey the crown anyway.
Odette Wyntor doesn’t give a damn, she doesn’t want to get married.
Can he change her mind?
Can she even handle what it means to be royal, if he did?
The Prince’s Bride is Part 1 of a 2 part series.
Part 2 arrives a month later.
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