Maryse's Book Blog

Following my heart, one book at a time...

You are here: Home / Archives for organized crime

organized crime

Book Review – On Every Street by Karina Halle

By 21 Comments

On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy)
(book # 0.5 in The Artists Trilogy – this “prequel novella” (lengthy novella at over 100 pages!!) can be read before Sins & Needles but was written after Sins).

Here’s a mini-review before the MAIN review for those wanting to go into this one blindly –> Nothing is really spoiled in the review below, but I do let on to something I had no idea would happen to me when I first read book #1. And I really enjoyed the surprise. So you can probably read this review below spoiler free (other than realizing lots of “crazy” has already happened in this series so far) that makes us flip-flop in our loyalties. But if you want to go into this not knowing a thing, I’d say just know that we’re loving this series. It’s an absolute thrill-ride and there are wonderful bouts of adrenaline and emotional surges. Sexy, steamy with moments of romantic intensity. Plus that initial deep-seated need for revenge that is making a mess of these characters. read more

Teaser Time! Karina Halle’s “On Every Street” teaser (and a mini “pre-review”)…

By 12 Comments

<—- I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I read this novella “prequel” (which is over 100 pages!!) this week and I must say… it is BIG on intensity and really packs a punch. Karina Halle’s “On Every Street” (prequel to her hit “Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1)“) will be out within the next few days and I highly recommend you guys JUMP ON IT!!!!

If this is the “prequel” should you read it first, or Sins & Needles first?

Hrmmm… good question. I read Sins first (since it was released first) and enjoyed it immensely. But… I had a certain feeling about a character in that book. A focus-shift. And this prequel fulfilled a need and I was thrilled that she “went there”! I loved Sins and Needles, but this one… it made me desperate for more.

I even told Karina:

I’m jealous of those that get read this one first, and then get into Sins & Needles anticipating more… after this major revelation.

What a character revelation on both parts! If you decide to read the prequel before Sins & Needles, I don’t think it will hurt at all. You’ll just experience “Sins” a bit differently than those of us that read Sins first. Let’s just say… you might be team someone else… and going into Sins, you *may* have a different focus. I’m a sucker for the underdog. The anti-hero. The bad guy. *shrug* 😉

So yeah… it’s not out yet, but when it does come out, grab it and enjoy a few intense hours of passionate, borderline-crazy love. So good! But then again, if you haven’t read Sins yet… what are you waiting for!!??

Oh and here’s the teaser (below – it’s a substantial teaser) from the prequel and there are NO spoilers here. Everyone can read it.

Ready?

My Top Thirteen Most Illicit Bad Boys, Misfits & Mobsters of Romance Books

By 60 Comments

I recently received this email (from “Em”) and thought to myself, OMG YES!!! I have a TON of awesome suggestions!

Hi Maryse!!! I was wondering if you know of any good mafia/mob/organised crime, bad boys romance type books?? I might drop a comment on your Bad Boys & Rock Stars thread and see if anyone else knows of any too!

In fact, I realized that some of my absolute favorite books involve some “shadier” (yet redeemable) characters. And I’m not just talking my usual tattooed bad boys that still fit within today’s social standards. I’m talking about the disillusioned social outcasts, the extreme nonconformists, the hustlers, and those that make their living on the streets. From the homeless to the richest mob bosses, the high-end escorts to the underground street fighters. read more

Lily’s Book Review of Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

By 2 Comments

Unholy Ghosts
Hey guys. I am over here today to make a long distance call to my Grandmaker. You would be shocked to your toes to find out how much it costs me on my cell to call her.

Hey Grandmaker, how are you? Oh, yes ma’am me and mine are good. I called today to tell you something HUGE. I am in love. Swoon over the Moon LOVE! Le Sigh. His name is Terrible and he is beyond wonderful! He’s also a drug dealer, but I get ahead of myself. Let me tell you how we met.

On Twitter everyone was all a-tweeting about Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane. I read blog after blog talking about how great this series was. I was a little wary. I have to admit I have not be in love with any of the new series new releases. I know this was published in 2009, but I was still a little “meh” about trying it. So Maryse and me got together and said “Why not? We will read it together?” So we shook on it and off we went. Well you know me, I can’t ever wait for nothing. So this weekend I dove in, and ooo la la I am in LOVE. I heart this book. read more