February 18, 2025 • 54 mins
Jordan, Devonnie, & Christina share their favorite romance recommendations centered around characters that lead a life of crime. These heroines often find themselves in tricky situations with dangerous men who will do anything for them. You'll find love in the Mafia, Yakuza, Motorcycle Clubs, the Bratva, and more! If you like reading about morally grey bad boys who burn the world for their love, then we've got your next read! Because in these stories, crime really does pay.
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Episode Transcript
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Christina (00:02):
Welcome to Romance Recs, where book besties explore
the world of romance novels andencourage you to expand your
TBR.
Join us as we dive into thehottest releases and hidden gems
of the genre.
You can find us on Instagram andthread, so at Romance Recs Pod.
Hi, I'm Christina, and I'mcurrently rereading Fourth Wing
(00:24):
by Rebecca Yaros.
Jordan (00:24):
I'm Jordan and I'm currently reading Don't Let Go
by Heather Long and I'm relistening to Heat of the
Everflame by Penn Cole
Devonnie (00:34):
hey guys, this is Dev.
I'm back.
I am currently listening to andreading Salt and Broom by Sharon
Lynn Fisher.
Christina (00:45):
So buckle up for some bookish banter.
Jordan (00:49):
it.
Hi! Hi, we're back.
First Hey, first recording of2025.
It's gonna be a good year.
We have plants.
Devonnie (01:05):
Yeah, I'm excited and lots of books are coming out,
this year or the first half ofthe year is so packed with so
many books.
I'm really excited.
Jordan (01:15):
Yeah, things are happening.
Yeah, we've got events in theworks that we can't talk about
yet.
We have interviews on the books.
Devonnie (01:28):
Yeah.
Jordan (01:29):
good, throughout the year.
It's, this is gonna be good.
Hang in here, guys.
Make sure you're following uswherever you listen to your
podcasts.
Make sure you are following uson socials right now.
When we're recording this, it'sInstagram and threads and
TikTok, but TikTok could be goneany moment,
Christina (01:45):
and share.
Jordan (01:46):
Yeah.
Christina (01:47):
Share us with your friends.
Jordan (01:49):
Yeah.
Devonnie (01:49):
With everyone.
Yes.
We really appreciate the supportfor those of you who've been
with us from the very beginning.
Thank you so much.
We love you.
We appreciate you.
And yeah, we love hearing fromyou.
So comment on the socials, emailus if you want.
We, you can find our law, all ofour links in our bio on
Instagram.
So yeah, keep up with us.
(02:09):
We love hearing from you guys.
Jordan (02:13):
we're going to start out with one that Christina has just
been waiting on bated breath torecord for a month now.
We were ready to do this, It'sin October and then life
happened and other stuff had toget recorded and so we're
finally here.
We're ready to talk.
Well, mafia and any organizedcrime, really, because what's
(02:36):
life without the Bratva and MCsand other affiliated gang
members with soft hearts.
Devonnie (02:44):
You're right.
I think that's the key.
Christina (02:48):
Oh,
Jordan (02:48):
And what?
Devonnie (02:49):
Huh?
Jordan (02:50):
Say it.
Say it in the mic.
Say it loud and proud.
Christina (02:53):
In these books, crime does pay.
Oh my
Jordan (02:56):
There.
See?
See?
Say that proud.
Don't hide behind your mic.
Get in there.
Devonnie (03:00):
is very lucrative, cause I've read a couple crime
families, and everybody's abillionaire, I'm just saying.
Do with that information whatyou will, but I don't see any
broke Mafia members is what I'msaying.
Jordan (03:13):
Well, only like the entry level scrubs.
Devonnie (03:15):
right and they're not the Real mean characters.
We're falling over.
We want the top dog
Jordan (03:21):
Let me give you an example.
My quote today is from the bookI'm currently reading, Don't Let
Go.
This man he's a criminal.
He is a thief.
He's a career thief, okay?
Thinks like Ocean's Eleven typestuff, but he works alone.
Look at me, Fallon.
Look in my eyes.
I know beauty and art.
(03:42):
I know magnificent pieces fromthe Greeks to the Renaissance.
I know beauty in all its manyforms.
You.
You are so goddamn beautiful,you make me ache.
I want to hide you away wherenothing can ever touch you
again.
I want to give you a reason tosmile every single day, even if
it takes me a lifetime todiscover all the ways I can.
(04:05):
The unexpected poetry threatenedto shred my heart.
But the scars?
Our scars, he said with a shrug,they are a symbol of what we
survive, that we overcome, thatthey are a history of the path
that we've walked.
Mike.
Devonnie (04:24):
that's so sweet and romantic you wouldn't believe
that they'd be thieving You knowin
Jordan (04:28):
Well, I mean, he's smooth,
Devonnie (04:30):
beautiful lines.
Yeah Very yeah, I really lovethat.
That's so sweet
Jordan (04:35):
Oh,
Devonnie (04:37):
Yeah, he's using those words it's distraction meanwhile
Lifting your art off the walls.
That.
That was really sweet
Jordan (04:44):
love him.
Devonnie (04:45):
Cute love him.
I don't have a quote today but Ijust wanted to Prepare you guys
basically to be sick of mebecause I'm back on my bullshit
with netgalley arcs
Jordan (04:58):
Yeah.
Christina (05:00):
We could never be sick of you.
Devonnie (05:02):
I am back on my bullshit.
I've requested three alcs.
I am easing into it.
So they aren't arcs like readercopies.
They're listening And I'vealready gotten approved for one,
which is a sequel to a book thatis actually on my bookshelf that
I have been dying to crack openand I haven't yet.
So I'm like really excitedbecause I'll get to read that
book and then jump into it.
Jordan (05:22):
What is it?
Devonnie (05:23):
yeah it's the ALC is This Ends in Embers by Camilla
Cole, which I'm pretty sure isYA.
I think it's ya, but I mentionedthis book or the author last
season, I think briefly becausethe first book is actually based
on Jamaican mythology or j ithas like Jamaican culture in it
(05:46):
and it's their dragons.
It's fantasy.
I'm it, I'm pretty sure it's ya.
Although.
I think they lean into a sapphicrelationship in the second book.
I haven't been trying to readtoo much about it because I want
to be surprised.
But yeah, so I'm really excitedabout that.
I have that ALC, so I'm, I wantto blaze through the first book,
get to the ALC and yeah, y'allwill be getting tons more arcs
(06:09):
from me because I'm back toliving my arc life.
So no quote, but.
Prepare to be sick of me.
Christina (06:22):
Okay, so I have to follow up Jordan's amazing quote
and Dev's amazing news with thisquote, okay?
Jordan (06:30):
Oh, did you go sexual?
Christina (06:32):
It's, no, I went like, dumb.
Jordan (06:35):
What do you mean dumb?
Devonnie (06:36):
Let's hear it.
Let's have it.
Lay it on us.
Jordan (06:39):
Oh
Christina (06:40):
Boyfriends are like koi fish, a time consuming and
boring hobby.
Jordan (06:45):
my god.
What is it from?
Wait, what is it from?
Quote the quote.
Christina (06:51):
J.
T.
Geisinger, Cardinal Urges.
Jordan (06:54):
Oh, With the organized crime, Rex today.
I think that Christina should gofirst.
This is the one she's beenwaiting for.
She's prepared.
I did the homework.
it.
Devonnie (07:07):
Pick me.
Jordan (07:08):
Yep.
Christina (07:08):
Okay, so my first rec is a trilogy called The Monster
Trilogy by Rina Kent.
And this series follows Sasha,who enlists as a man in the
Russian military on her uncle'sbehest to try to get close to
government officials to find outwhy her whole family was
murdered.
Like, they were all taken out.
She works really hard because,you know, she's dressed as a guy
(07:31):
and she's a girl, so she'ssmaller and not as strong, so
she's trying to work reallyhard.
Her superior officer, his nameis Kirill, and he realizes her
potential.
Like, he knows she's a woman, Idon't know why everyone else is
blind around her, but he's not,so he knows.
And he's just like, okay, she's,maybe she's trans, or she's just
blind.
doesn't want to be dressed as agirl.
(07:51):
Like, he doesn't give a shit andthat's great.
So he's just like, okay, I'lltake you on as my personal
protection.
Fly back with me to America.
And she's like, sure.
She's like, I thought I'll findout more about my family's
murder in America, I guess.
I don't know.
So she decides to go and shebecomes like his personal
assistant.
And then he lets her know, like,yeah, I know you're a woman, and
(08:12):
she, like, thinks he's gonnakill her.
But no, he's interested in otherthings with her privately, so.
Devonnie (08:16):
Okay, see I was waiting for it.
I was waiting for that.
Cause I was like, huh?
Jordan (08:21):
Yeah, there we
Christina (08:23):
So I just want you to know that the sex scenes in this
book are very, very dark.
And you should really read thetrigger warnings, okay?
Because there's a lot of thingseven I was, like, shooketh
about, and I was like, okay, so.
Devonnie (08:39):
Interesting.
Christina (08:41):
so check
Devonnie (08:41):
Did they come from nowhere?
Was it like a surprise or werethere content warnings in this
Christina (08:46):
Well, I mean.
I, I listened to this, so Idon't know if the content
warnings
Jordan (08:50):
doesn't look at content warnings.
This is Christina.
She's I have no triggers andthen she comes up on a trigger
and is oh no, I can't believe Iran into a trigger.
So that's Christine.
Christina (09:00):
I
Devonnie (09:00):
Yeah.
Oops.
Christina (09:02):
what do you mean
Devonnie (09:03):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Transcripts provided byTranscription
Christina (09:06):
didn't know that could happen, but here we are.
So, yeah, I mean, he is aRussian Bratva leader, right?
So, I mean, he's dark, and he'slike, really embraced that love
of Bratva.
Jordan (09:20):
Pain.
Christina (09:20):
and murder and pain and misery,
Jordan (09:23):
blood play.
I've read plenty of blood play.
What are you talking about?
Yeah, that's normal.
Christina (09:27):
Tim's face is like, is it?
Jordan (09:30):
In dark romance it is.
Devonnie (09:32):
I was listening.
I was, I'm sorry.
I had a meme in real life momentwhere you said that.
And then in my head, I wasplaying out a visual meme where
it was the the one, I think it'sa Taylor Swift song where it's
like everyone in the room,everyone in the
Christina (09:46):
All eyes in the room on me.
Devonnie (09:48):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Christina (09:49):
me.
Devonnie (09:50):
So sorry.
That happened in real time.
But in the yeah.
It was good.
It was like, why not?
Sorry.
I was memeing in real life.
Crazy.
Christina (10:00):
It's some serious hate fucking, so just be aware
of that, okay?
Devonnie (10:03):
Wait, do they hate each other though?
Is that their relation?
Are they clashing as well?
Or are they like all peaches andcream?
Christina (10:10):
It's, it's definitely not all great all the time.
There's definitely some hateback and forth for different
reasons.
But it takes like three books toreally, because it's the
trilogy, it takes you to thethird book to really solve her
family's murder.
And there is some plot twiststhat you won't expect coming
it's got like weird vibes inthis book, like Goodfellas and
(10:30):
Mulan, because you know shedresses as a guy.
Devonnie (10:33):
right.
Very Mulan.
Very Mulan.
Yeah you said that it takesthree books.
I thought this series was like,you know, following different
cadets or different couples,each thing, but it's the, it's
them all three.
Christina (10:45):
It is,
Devonnie (10:46):
that's kind of cool.
Bring back the art of a longstory.
Christina (10:49):
It is, cause you have a lot going on, and then like
the hate between each person.
You know, like, that alwayshappens, the third act breakup
and stuff in each
Devonnie (10:57):
Yeah.
Christina (10:58):
But it's great.
Jordan (11:00):
It's great.
It's really dark and it'sunexpected.
It's great.
Devonnie (11:05):
Good.
Enjoyed it.
Ate it up.
Jordan (11:07):
Couldn't sleep at night, but love it.
Devonnie (11:09):
Recommend.
Jordan (11:10):
Okay.
Christina (11:11):
out of 10.
Jordan (11:12):
My first one is called Blade of Iris by K.
A.
Knight.
This book is a standalone withina series of six interconnected
books by six different authors.
I've talked about this series onat least one other episode of
ours but I wanted to highlightthis one because this one is one
I still think about.
And it's just in my brain.
(11:33):
It's in my top two of theseries.
And this was the first time Iread K.
A.
Knight and made me a fan.
So female main character's nameis Iris, hint, blade of Iris.
Her father sold her to theirenemies for a chance at peace,
(11:53):
or at least a ceasefire.
She's a Kelly from Boston.
They're the Bratva of Vegas.
Alexei, the car, and.
Nicolay Volkovs.
Three Volkov brothers are aboutto learn she's no innocent girl.
She's not this good littleCatholic girl that is coming,
(12:16):
okay, she lived a life even herfamily was unaware of, because
she was the daughter, she wasthe princess, she wasn't
supposed to get her hands dirty.
She found her own way to get herhands dirty in the way that she
wanted to, not necessarily inthe family business.
She's going there and she'sgonna make them pay for
(12:36):
Everything that they've done totheir family.
I'm not gonna say a lot about Itis dark.
It is talk about blood play somuch like there is a whole there
is a Well, there's a torturechamber in the bottom of this
casino where they live and theyown it and where one of them
works and She shows him her darkside and they both have dark
(13:01):
sides and it's maybe tied me tothis chair Maybe while someone's
dying on the wall.
I don't know things happen.
Okay, like Life happens.
It's, I just, I say this becauseit's really dark, but it's also
very good.
And, just have fun with it.
Definitely one of the best ofthe series.
All of the, all six books in theseries are why choose.
(13:24):
And, yes, they're all alwayslike brothers.
I think in one instance it's nota brother, but someone high up
with them.
Anyways yeah, so they all tradetheir daughters.
And then once they're all ofage, they do the big swap and
send their daughters over to bemarried to the next in line, or
by the time they are old enough,the ones that are in charge.
Christina (13:43):
Am intrigued.
I
Devonnie (13:45):
for
Jordan (13:45):
This one's so good.
I don't want to say a lot aboutit because I don't want to give
certain things away.
Definitely enemies.
Enemies to lovers, like theirfamily feud has been going on
longer than any of them havebeen going alive
Devonnie (13:58):
I
Jordan (14:01):
It's so good and she can fight back.
She's a badass
Devonnie (14:03):
love that because speaking of badasses the FMC in
my book is So good.
Okay.
My first rec is going to besinful vow by Asia Monique
follows the, this is the firstbook of six.
I'm pretty sure there's six inthe series.
And it follows different membersof different crime families.
And in the very first book, youget like a Prologue of basically
(14:29):
why the next six books are goingto happen or like how they come
into play, especially with thefirst books kicking it off.
It follows Lucia and Enzo.
And one of the reasons Iabsolutely love this series So
far, because I haven't finishedit.
But The, all the characters areblack.
Okay?
(14:49):
Now,
Christina (14:51):
Nice.
Devonnie (14:51):
It's Mafia.
It's Yakuza.
I'm pretty sure it's Bratfa.
There's different organizedcrime families.
All kind of trying to co existtogether peacefully.
But they're all super violent ashell.
Jordan (15:05):
okay kind of like mine in the same vein like they're
Devonnie (15:07):
yes.
Right, but then the title of theseries is Mafia Misfits because
they're like all black butthey're like black and Japanese
or they're black and Italian orblack and you know Irish and
basically they're the misfits oftheir Community, family,
(15:30):
whatever, their traditionalorganized crime families don't
support them because oh, thedaughter went off and married a
black man, oh, the son, youknow, married a black woman this
is horrible, and now we're gonnacast you out, so they've banded
together, and now they'rerunning the town, so it is, and
it's so interesting to seebecause whenever I read mafia
(15:51):
books, Or books that have theYakuza or any of those organized
crime families.
I honestly truly don't picturemyself, I can't see black people
there unless, it's oh, there's aside character.
But, you know, whenever like themain top dogs and every, when I
tell you everybody's black, it'sgiving very black.
It's giving very black.
The names are like, to theirrespective origins or like half
(16:12):
cultures.
I guess, but it's still, it's sofun to read it and Enzo and
Lucia are the first one.
And when I tell you Lucia is abadass, number one, you meet
her, she's in the middle of acrime.
Okay.
She's in a, when you meet thisgirl, she's in the middle of
criminal activity.
And I'm like, yes.
Jordan (16:30):
She's criming
Devonnie (16:33):
She's criming.
And then she's getting away.
I was like, I absolutely loveher.
And then she's just, she's very,no nonsense because she is,
she's a mafia princess, right?
So she understands like the workthat's happening, but she also
has a side gig, which is a bigfocus of the book.
It's violent.
There's violence.
There's them like figuring outhow to like each other because
(16:55):
it's also arranged marriage,which I feel like you, you
Typically get with organizedcrime like when you gotta, you
know, oh we gotta marry thisfamily to keep our power blah
blah blah So you get that ofthem clashing like we both know
that this is our duty But howare we gonna each other and do
we like each other, you know?
Jordan (17:13):
Is there like a my wife moment like?
Devonnie (17:16):
It's definitely giving my wife it's giving touch her
and I touch him and I it's likeShe's very tough.
She's a badass.
She's gonna blah blah blah Butshe also like submits to her
husband only in specificScenarios like she'll put him on
his ass and remind him everyminute.
I can actually kill you What didyou say to me?
(17:37):
So we love that for her.
But she's just really fun toRead as a character.
There are dead spots in the bookwhere i'm just like Girl, if you
don't get on with this story,but I think it's really fun.
And I am going to finish therest of the series because I do
want to see how the othercouples come into play because
we've, I feel like we've alreadymet a handful of them.
So seeing how these familiesnavigate their pieces, you know,
(17:59):
to take over and deal with theirthings.
It was fun, honestly, reallyenjoyable.
And FMC.
So yeah.
Jordan (18:06):
I love that.
Do you, how did you feel about,so I love this idea.
I feel like we don't see thisever.
I feel like this is such a fresh
Devonnie (18:14):
take on it.
Jordan (18:15):
and especially the inclusion in it.
I feel like that's even morerare, but it doesn't feel like
kitschy or anything like that.
It is it Do you know what Imean?
Devonnie (18:26):
Yeah.
No, I know what you mean.
I'm trying to think if I everfelt like that
Jordan (18:29):
But if you have to think that hard about it, I feel like,
Devonnie (18:32):
I feel like it doesn't, I can't speak for the
rest of the series because Ihaven't gone through the rest,
but the first book it's not, Ifeel like I'm not gonna sit here
and say, I know the author didall her research and made sure
that everything was true toeverything.
You know, I can't vouch forthat.
But when I was reading it, Ididn't have a, not, I don't,
yeah, I didn't ick a lot or Idon't think I icked at all.
(18:54):
So yeah it was very heavy as faras like violence and just like
the nature of Being an organizedcrime, but I also found like
very funny moments as well, youknow,
Jordan (19:05):
It's hard.
It's also hard.
I feel like with these big crimeRomances not to get stuck in
like kitschy different likestereotypes of wherever the
people are from like it
Devonnie (19:19):
from, yes.
Jordan (19:20):
Yeah, just because
Devonnie (19:21):
Yeah,
Jordan (19:22):
it's organized crime and we're making it we're
Romanticizing it which istotally fucked up in the real
world.
Let's totally own that
Devonnie (19:29):
because we would not be romanticizing organized
crime.
I don't care.
In real life, this does notwork, but in this
Jordan (19:35):
blood play No, off the table.
That's a hard list.
That's a, that's on my red list.
That's a no, but in a book?
Devonnie (19:43):
I'll take it.
Jordan (19:44):
Okay.
Okay.
Devonnie (19:45):
It's just love.
Yeah, and we
Jordan (19:47):
two consenting adults.
Devonnie (19:49):
Yeah, we have to understand the difference.
I beg of you, listeners,understand the difference, okay?
We don't want to see thesethings play out in real life,
but I'm going to get lost inthis world of my like, Irish
black mafia man, whose name isDara.
the rest of the mafias or, youknow, like whatever the Irish
(20:09):
equivalent, like his name isDara and he's a black man.
Are you joking?
And the other mafia bossesteasing him because he's black
and his name is Dara.
So it was nice.
It was fun.
It was good.
It was refreshing.
I should say, I, like I said,I've never read a series or a
book like this thatincorporated, it was very
inclusive yeah.
Mio, the black Asian Yakuzaboss, number one, she's a woman
(20:32):
and she's running the Yakuzaunheard of.
Yeah, and she's a badass and sheloves knives.
She walked in, everyone dropsguns.
All the men drop guns into thebasket to take away their
things.
She drops nine knives.
She drops nine knives.
Yes.
And then she laughs when shesees the guns.
So yes, Mio.
Jordan (20:49):
Like you're overcompensating.
Devonnie (20:51):
Yes, exactly.
That's how she felt.
She was like, Oh, guns.
I could kill you all with myknives before you even reach for
your gun.
Cute, cute.
So yeah, I love it.
I can't wait to get to her book.
If she has one, I'm not sure ifshe gets one, but cause she's
already married when you meether.
But I would definitely love tosee her book.
Although they do mention she hasa daughter.
(21:12):
So I'm curious about that.
If her daughter gets a book.
I'll let you know.
Jordan (21:17):
stand by.
Devonnie (21:18):
Yeah.
Christina (21:18):
My next book is already gonna throw Jordan off.
I'm gonna start off by tellingyou it has a pregnancy trope in
it.
Okay, Jordan.
Devonnie (21:26):
Give it to me.
Give me 14.
It's spectacular.
Give me 14 of them right
Jordan (21:30):
back here.
I'm going to check my reels realquick.
We're
Devonnie (21:32):
Yeah.
You're talking to me.
Now you're speaking my language.
Jordan (21:36):
If you need to skip this rec, you can go ahead and look
at the chapter markers onwhatever device you're listening
on and
Devonnie (21:44):
If you skip this, I will disown you.
Not kidding.
Let's hear it.
Christina (21:51):
I feel like this book is divisive because I was
reading the Goodreads andthere's like one star, five
star, one star,
Jordan (21:56):
But that's the brilliant thing about our podcast because
we all are different readers andthere is something for everyone
and that's what I love about us.
Devonnie (22:05):
Jordan's the one star.
I'm the five star.
Let's have it.
Jordan (22:08):
let's hear it.
Let's hear this.
I'd love this for you.
Christina (22:14):
so Technically this book starts off page.
So off page before this bookeven starts The main female main
character, her brother, goes tothe mafia to borrow money,
right, for his gamblingaddiction, right?
Okay, start of the book, ourgirl Kat is a nurse, she's
hanging out at home, her brotherwho was, like, couch surfing on
(22:36):
her couch, like, up and left andleft a big mess at her house,
left without saying goodbyeeven, and she's like, that's
just typical, you know, he's akind of here again, gone again
guy, right, like, can't dependon him.
Bam, opens her front door andit's the fucking mafia, they're
coming for her brother, theyneed their money back, right,
like, you borrow money, gottapay it back, right?
(22:58):
Brother's not there.
So, what are they gonna do?
They're gonna take Cat ascollateral.
Devonnie (23:03):
Yeah, we saw that coming.
Poor cat.
Christina (23:06):
Yeah, I know.
Cat is not happy about this atfirst.
She's like, Look, I don't evenknow my brother.
He stole money from me too.
Like, took my last thousanddollars and ran.
What do you want me to do aboutthis?
I can't pay you your milliondollars back.
And then, they're like, We'llkeep you around.
Your brother's gonna come foryou.
She's like, Fat chance of thathappening.
So, the leader of the mafia,Dante, the book by the way is
(23:30):
Dante by Sadie Kincaid, becauseI don't think I said that,
Devonnie (23:34):
Thank you
Jordan (23:34):
You didn't.
You
Devonnie (23:36):
did it, but thank you.
Dante, Sadie Kincaid.
Christina (23:40):
So Dante decides,
Jordan (23:41):
the beginning.
Christina (23:44):
Dante decides, you know what, your brother's not
paying me back, you're thepayment, I'm keeping you girl.
You're gonna earn your keep as anurse here, providing for all my
mafia guys who are getting shotin the streets and can't go to
the hospital, right?
Devonnie (23:58):
That's good actually.
That's not what I thought youmeant when you said he would
keep her, so I'm glad to knowthat he's thinking
Christina (24:04):
Part of what he meant.
Jordan (24:06):
Her outfit was really small though.
Devonnie (24:08):
Okay.
All
Jordan (24:09):
her uniform was tiny.
Devonnie (24:11):
Yeah, I'll keep listening.
Christina (24:14):
He basically is like, I'm gonna sleep by you every
night.
Doesn't really give her achoice, so that's questionable.
Jordan (24:21):
There's the
Christina (24:21):
Anywho.
Yes this is fiction, okay?
Lo and behold, he wears herdown.
Then next thing you know, she'spregnant.
Okay, all right.
Devonnie (24:30):
Okay, all right, we missed a couple steps here.
Christina (24:33):
Not really.
Jordan (24:34):
so when I hear you say he wore her down, it makes me
think she was coerced.
So I just need to be very clear.
Is this like CNC, likeconsensual non consent for those
who are listening, or is it likeshe gives into her feelings?
Christina (24:49):
I would say there's both in this book.
Okay?
Jordan (24:51):
Okay, but like the first time.
I just need to know like thefirst time.
Is she like reluctant?
Christina (24:57):
for
Jordan (24:57):
Okay, so so it is like her.
Okay.
Christina (25:00):
but she has,
Jordan (25:00):
always need to know that first time like
Christina (25:03):
It's like those female main characters.
She's like, Oh, but he's so hot.
And I wonder what it would belike.
And I'm thinking about him andthen, and then,
Jordan (25:09):
I should hate him, but look at those arms
Christina (25:11):
Yes, exactly.
Devonnie (25:12):
the itch but then you get trapped
Christina (25:15):
Yes, she gets trapped alright, and she's like, Oh good
god, I'm pregnant, and I need torun away because I don't want my
child born into the mafia.
Dante finds out about this, andshit goes sideways real fast for
this girl.
Like, she gets locked up.
Like, in a tower locked up kindof thing.
Like, Locked up.
Jordan (25:36):
because
Christina (25:37):
He is not letting his kid go nowhere from him, kay?
Devonnie (25:41):
Oh no,
Christina (25:42):
Like, for a week, he leaves her in a room and, like,
delivers food, but, like, no onetalks to her, so she, like, has
no human contact and goesfrickin crazy.
Jordan (25:52):
While
Christina (25:52):
gets dark.
Yes, it gets dark, right?
Yeah.
So, I
Jordan (25:57):
There's your five star dev.
Devonnie (25:59):
you know, I'm going to actually pull that rating back.
I'm not going to lie to you.
The way I'm feeling right now isI thought this was going to be a
cute little mafioso story.
This is giving Rapunzel.
To the worst degree.
I
Jordan (26:12):
Mother Gothel got her knocked up and locked her in the
Devonnie (26:15):
and then, I don't love it, I fear.
And no human connection for aweek, and you're pregnant, and
the hormones are raging, you'rehungry, you need, like
Jordan (26:27):
But I think Christina really liked this one.
So let's hear her the rest of
Devonnie (26:32):
gonna skip! Please, redeem, redeem Dante for me,
okay?
Cause I've never met a Dante Ididn't like.
He might be the first.
Christina (26:39):
I fear he might be, okay?
I'm so sorry.
I don't know if I can save himfor you.
She gives in eventually to hiscrazy being a mafia crazy
asshole?
I don't
Devonnie (26:54):
Yeah.
Christina (26:56):
yes.
Alphaholeness.
She eventually ends up lovinghim and his family and happy
ever after for her in the mafialife, right?
Jordan (27:06):
And that's the whole book, end scene.
Devonnie (27:08):
End scene.
Okay.
It's given Stockholm.
Christina (27:11):
Oh, it does.
Devonnie (27:12):
Is that the one?
Is that the one?
Am I right with my syndrome?
Christina (27:15):
Stockholm for sure.
And you find out that she has,like, this tragic, horrible
backstory.
And then he
Jordan (27:22):
have trauma?
Christina (27:23):
Yes, and then he finds the men who gave her
trauma.
Okay?
Jordan (27:28):
And gives her more by
Christina (27:30):
No, what he does to these guys, I didn't think I
could read legally in a book.
It was there, okay?
I didn't know.
I never, I can't go further.
Let's just stop it.
This is a good book.
You should read it.
Jordan (27:43):
See I read So listeners, we all know if you've been with
us for any time, you know that Ilove my dark romance I do have A
grayscale and there is somethingthat there are things that are
too dark for me And those seemto be the only dark romances
that Christina ever picks up
Christina (28:04):
I'm so sorry.
Jordan (28:05):
and then she comes at me like I don't think I Can read
dark romance.
I'm like bitch.
You are not reading the rightones
Devonnie (28:11):
You're actually reading Pitch Black Romance.
Jordan (28:14):
kidding.
I'm just kidding.
You liked it.
I'm not gonna yuck your yum.
Glad you enjoyed it Andobviously a lot of people love
that book.
I know it's
Christina (28:23):
Yeah, it's back and forth.
I, like I said, it's verypolarizing.
I feel like I was reading thecomments and I mean, I'm not
gonna say it was the best mafiabook I ever read.
You know, I liked it.
I think for some people, theywould enjoy it.
You know, for some others, Iwouldn't suggest it.
Go read the comments.
Read the
Jordan (28:41):
don't read the
Christina (28:42):
Decide for you.
Jordan (28:43):
No, read the tropes and think if that's for you.
Don't look at other
Christina (28:46):
read the trigger warnings in this book,
Jordan (28:47):
Unless it's ours.
Only look at our opinions,please.
We are the ones you can trust.
Not Goodreads comments.
Unless they're ours, because Ido review.
I'm just full of
Christina (29:00):
but read mine.
Jordan (29:02):
worry.
Speaking of Goodreqs, thank youso much, Christina.
I'm gonna turn us over to Mynext rec, the Kings of Kearney
by Nevessa Allen.
Okay.
Nevessa Allen.
Yes.
That author, the one that wroteLights Out.
Lights Out was not her firstbook, people.
(29:23):
She has a whole backlog.
Go read them.
I am.
They're good.
And she has a lot of differentthings.
I'm currently also in the middleof, I had just put it away to
read some other things forprojects, but she's also written
a Like a historical romance anda in a, yeah, and a cutesy, a
(29:45):
very cutesy, hallmarkycontemporary
Christina (29:48):
Aw.
Ooh.
Jordan (29:49):
And this Kings of Kearney, I've mentioned it in
passing in another episode, butI wanted to put a spotlight on
it.
Cause this is an MC motorcycleclub for you, those of you that
are not in the know I had toteach Christina earlier before
we started.
So this is.
It follows Jacob Larson.
(30:13):
He is the chief enforcer for thelocal motorcycle club in the
small town where Krista justmoved to.
She's trying to stay out oftrouble.
She's done with her time in themilitary.
Both of them happen to be exmilitary.
Everyone in this MC is exmilitary.
Christina (30:32):
Oh, I love that.
Jordan (30:33):
So everyone has served something.
She doesn't have much experiencewith keeping herself out of
trouble, but she is determined.
She works for one of their bars.
She's a bartender in one of thebars, but she refuses to become
a part of the MC, right?
She's so bad ass though.
She has, through her time, shedoes have a messed up leg.
(30:56):
So she has some physicallimitations and it flares up and
stuff.
So she deals with thatthroughout, but it's like the
one thing that kind of forcesher to become vulnerable.
And it just works really well.
They have to end up, they end uphaving to work together to help
her grandma and the shadybusiness going down in the
assisted living home.
Now that sounds so silly.
(31:18):
It sounds silly, but it's notbecause he wants to use her to
get into the, Assisted livinghome because the, their rival mc
in the next town is trying tobring drugs into their, sit into
their small town.
And they are big on not lettingthat happen.
And they've been doing thatthrough the assisted living home
(31:38):
and like somehow they thinkthey're swapping out medications
from the elderly and all thisstuff.
So she's concerned about hergrandma who has dementia and
there's just there's all theseserious levels happening and.
So that's how she kind of getsentangled with him.
And
Devonnie (31:58):
like the FBI should, I mean,
Jordan (32:00):
so the FBI might come into play
Devonnie (32:03):
But I mean in real life.
In real life, they should bechecking.
Because that seems like goodcrime.
You know, I was
Jordan (32:09):
I'm sure it actually happens.
If I was criming, ah, This isthe adjective of the whole
Christina (32:16):
They're all criming.
Jordan (32:17):
We're criming everywhere.
I'm
Devonnie (32:19):
Clearly I am not
Jordan (32:21):
all over this
Devonnie (32:22):
crime.
Christina (32:22):
She's not criming.
Devonnie (32:24):
was criming, I'd crime there.
Seems smart.
I'm not gonna
Jordan (32:29):
a lot.
People do a lot.
Assisted living homes are scaryplaces.
Anyways,
Devonnie (32:33):
Yeah.
Jordan (32:34):
They're But yeah, there's,
Devonnie (32:37):
together.
Jordan (32:38):
their work, they have to work together.
And this changed I fell in lovewith a beefy ex military long
haired blonde.
Devonnie (32:52):
Oh,
Jordan (32:53):
never thought I would say that about, no offense, ex
military.
Or about long hair, long blondehair.
I'm sorry, but not once did Ithink Tamlin in any of this.
It was, he was perfect.
He was perfectly moody andstoic, but he had amazing lines
and his banter was so good inhis dirty talk.
(33:16):
And their banter together,perfect.
Off the charts.
One of my favorites.
Christina (33:21):
Oh.
Devonnie (33:22):
I do love about Nevesa Allen as a writer.
So that's, I was actually gonnaask you about that because she
has a very specific writingstyle and her character dialogue
is some of the best I've like IHer and Bryn Weaver with their
characters banters and the waythey feed off of each other So
funny like the comedic reliefand comedy is like a skill Like
(33:45):
not everyone has it and thenalso to write it the timing has
to be perfect So I was gonna askabout that and i'm also curious
to see how that plays Up in thehistorical
Jordan (33:56):
So that's actually ends up being I think it ends up
being a throuple there's And
Christina (34:00):
Oh my god, I'm
Jordan (34:01):
it's queer like
Christina (34:03):
I
Devonnie (34:04):
I love that.
Christina (34:05):
you
Jordan (34:05):
Yeah which we are gonna do a historical romance episode
sometime this season so that'sone of the reasons, actually, I
think all of my historicals aregonna be queer representation.
But anyways, that's a wholenother thing.
Kings of Kearney by NevessaAllen.
Definitely read it if you're inthe mood for some like badassery
Devonnie (34:24):
Yeah
Jordan (34:26):
And I normally don't just because of my own personal
interactions in the past andrelationships, I don't typically
like to read things with exmilitary.
like MC clubs, motorcycle clubs.
I have no association with them.
I have no, there's it to me.
That's a totally fictionalworld.
So I can read it but it didn'tgive me any kind of feelings
reading it.
(34:46):
It just more gave the sense ofthe camaraderie that they got
from that and that kind ofstuff.
So yeah, it was great.
Yeah.
Devonnie (34:56):
I love that.
Okay.
The next series I have so here'sthe thing.
This was tricky for me.
I really debated whether or notI should even add this because
to be fair, like it's probably areach to include it in a life of
organized crime, but I am goingto include it.
I don't know if you know thisauthor, Gina L.
Maxwell.
She has a series.
(35:17):
It's I'm trying to the deviantkings and I've read the first
two books the third one I'vebeen waiting to come out, but I
think it might have releasedthat I missed it the first one
is the dark king second is therebel king and then the last one
I think is the vicious king thereason I had trouble or didn't
know if I wanted to includethese books is because They're
(35:38):
also paranormal and
Jordan (35:43):
Yes.
At
Devonnie (35:45):
Okay, so I think yeah You Okay, it follows three
brothers and the they're faethey are fae but they're
basically trapped in Vegas Okay,the city of sin Disconnected
from their fae roots because ofsome witchy witch who basically
cursed their families and in thefirst book We kind of get into
(36:07):
the breaking of that curse andthe them being able to like Go
back to their home world andalso access their magic and all
these other things.
First of all anything said invegas.
I already think you live in alife of crime if you tell me you
are writing a small time romanceYeah, small town romance and you
put these people in vegas.
I already think there's crimeand criminal activity happening
(36:29):
because it's vegas It's the cityof sin.
There are way too many lights inthat place.
Yeah
Jordan (36:34):
Okay.
Okay.
Just checking.
I was like,
Devonnie (36:36):
I've actually been there once when I recorded a
little show.
You may know the next levelchef, but that's really the only
time I've been there and Ireally didn't, I didn't get to
see too much criminal activity.
So next time, maybe anyway,
Christina (36:49):
she knew it was happening.
Devonnie (36:51):
I knew
Jordan (36:52):
what happened, besides some of the mood, the decisions
made on that show by
Devonnie (36:56):
yeah, very criminal, Gordon Ramsay.
Okay, very criminal of you.
Anyway So this series, TheirFate is Paranormal.
There's a, there's definitely alot of killing.
I don't know if it's supergruesome, but that first book,
oh, he was killing for hiswoman.
He was killing everybody for hiswoman.
The third book is my mostexcited.
(37:17):
The second one was okay.
I don't think it had that muchThe third one I'm excited for
because mates start to come intoplay.
And the third brother, he's thebaby, but I think he's also the
biggest one of the family.
He realizes that his mate mightbe a vampire.
Now the vampire family, maybethey running all up and through
(37:40):
crime.
I don't know what it is about avampire family that always has
their hands in criminalactivity.
Jordan (37:46):
Because
Christina (37:46):
Not the
Jordan (37:47):
blood.
Because they steal blood tosurvive.
So they're all
Devonnie (37:50):
they've been here for years.
At this point, what else isthere to do?
The first 3, 000 years you'rehere, you're you know, figuring
stuff out.
By year 5, 000, you're ready tostart criminalizing yourself.
I don't know.
That family is very They'revery, like In the crime world
the vampire family.
And so the third book, I'mactually super excited to read
(38:11):
about it because I want to seehow the mates things happen, but
also just having that vampireinfluence where before it was
just like Faye and like witchesand other paranormal stuff.
So I think that'll be reallygood.
So yeah, it's by Gina L.
Maxwell.
It's the deviant King series.
And I guess I will include it inmy organized crime because it is
very organized because they owncasinos.
(38:34):
So
Christina (38:34):
crime.
Cause it's Vegas.
Devonnie (38:37):
But we're in vegas.
So
Jordan (38:39):
I assume that if you are at a certain level of wealth,
you are also doing crime.
Devonnie (38:44):
for sure.
You're doing legal crime.
Is there a legal crime?
Christina (38:49):
Yes.
Devonnie (38:50):
crime, it's illegal.
Jordan (38:51):
I mean, let's just talk about the fact that you can be
convicted and not allowed tovote, but you can still be
elected to the President of theUnited States.
I mean, I'm, yeah, I think atthis point there is legal crime.
I think there's justified cri I,anyways.
Devonnie (39:08):
if you start making a lot of money i'm looking you're
a criminal because who are youstealing from?
You're stealing from someone,okay?
You're a criminal.
You're you can't talk aboutcrime without politics.
Jordan (39:18):
Politics and smut.
Devonnie (39:21):
Do.
Okay.
That's my little
Christina (39:23):
That's our new intro song.
Devonnie (39:25):
Yeah.
Politics and smi i Politics andcrime La da do.
You're welcome, listeners.
You're so welcome for that.
Christina (39:35):
You have just been serenaded.
Devonnie (39:38):
Yeah, we love that for you.
Jordan (39:40):
Raw.
Next question.
Devonnie (39:41):
yes.
Jordan (39:42):
question.
Devonnie (39:43):
Serenaded by the Romance Recs podcast host?
Raw, next question.
Jordan (39:50):
Crime.
Devonnie (39:51):
That's my series.
Christina (39:54):
You came for the
Devonnie (39:55):
Let me know if y'all pick those up.
Christina (39:57):
vampires and the fae.
Devonnie (39:58):
Yes.
Yes.
I love that.
But yeah, my little fantasycrime
Christina (40:04):
I have one more series to recommend.
It is Queens and Monsters seriesby JT Geisinger.
That is the one that I quotedearlier.
I have mentioned this seriesbefore, but I really wanted to
bring it back because it is myfavorite mafia books I have ever
read.
Devonnie (40:23):
What?
I love that.
Christina (40:25):
It's four books that follows different characters and
different mafias, but they'reall intertwined.
Devonnie (40:31):
Oh, yeah.
Christina (40:32):
It's really fun to see how the characters interact
with each other.
Like, you have two sisters thatare married into enemy mafias
and have to bring them togetherfor a wedding, and it's chaos.
Devonnie (40:41):
Love that.
Yeah, sign me up.
That sounds like fun.
I
Christina (40:45):
These books have literally the best banter I've
read in any book ever.
Like, the second book, I'venever read a book quite like it.
It's literally my favorite bookprobably ever.
So the first book is RuthlessCreatures and it follows Cage,
who's a Russian Bratva assassin.
And he's sent to kill his Mark,Natalie, who's a middle school
(41:05):
art teacher.
Just because her ex fiancee wholeft her had stolen money.
So they think she's connected.
So he's going to take her out.
So he moves the next door tokind of like find out what she
knows, see if she has anydetails, and then he's supposed
to kill her and leave.
But he ends
Jordan (41:17):
an ex fiancée?
Christina (41:19):
Yeah, her fiancé left her at the off, at the night of
her wedding.
Just up and left, because he hadstolen money from the mafia.
And she had no idea what wasgoing on, right?
And so she's like, got all thesetrust issues.
She didn't even like talk to aguy for five years because of
all this.
And then this hot guy moves innext door and is chatting her
up.
And she's just like, okay.
(41:40):
And then, yeah, they fall inlove.
And it's so sweet.
It's just great.
And there's some hot sex causeit's the Russian Bratva.
And then you start with thesecond book, okay?
Cardinal Urges, who followsNatalie, the main character, her
best friend.
Her name is Sloane.
Well, she gets kidnapped by theIrish Mafia to get back at the
(42:01):
Russian Bratva for his new wife.
And it's like, what?
Devonnie (42:05):
Really like that.
I like that connection.
Yeah.
Christina (42:08):
But Sloane is like, A man hater.
Like, she goes through men,like, she's like, gonna fuck him
and leave him.
That's all, like, that's allthey're good for.
Dick and go.
Dick and dip.
Like, that's all she's gonna
Devonnie (42:21):
Ticket tip!
Christina (42:22):
She does.
Jordan (42:23):
I know that playbook.
Yes.
Christina (42:29):
So
Devonnie (42:30):
I've read this before.
Christina (42:31):
she's in for a good time, not a long time, right?
So, she's just going through themen.
Next, next, next, right?
And then, You know, here comesthe Irish Mafia and a new, new
leader named Declan and he takesher and kidnaps her, thinking he
could hold it against theBratfa, and she gives him a run
for his money, let me tell you.
(42:51):
He had no idea what he was infor.
Devonnie (42:55):
Yeah, I feel like he probably kidnapped her and then
wanted to return her.
Can we drop her back?
Jordan (43:00):
It's us girls.
It's us girls with the unisexnames where it's, where you hear
our names that are mostly usedfor men.
Devonnie (43:07):
Return her.
Jordan (43:07):
ahead.
Christina (43:08):
No, yeah, Declan was done with this woman.
The banter between them is thefunniest thing I've literally
ever read.
She, like, matches him point forpoint and then takes over, like,
basically.
She, like, turns all his menagainst him with her, like, love
and stuff, and he gets so mad.
Jordan (43:27):
I love her already.
Now I
Christina (43:29):
Yeah.
Devonnie (43:29):
yeah, I think so too.
I really, I like it slowed.
Christina (43:33):
Yeah, she makes him just so mad.
Okay, so and then she's stillbest friends with the leader of
the Russian Bratva, and they'remessaging and, like, chatting,
and these men hate each other,and it's just hilarious.
Just,
Devonnie (43:46):
Crazy.
Christina (43:47):
trying to keep in plaintice.
Okay, so then you go into thethird book and that one is
Savage Hearts, and it followsSloane's sister, Riley.
Riley is visiting her sisterSloane, and then The Irish mafia
gets attacked by the Russiansand Riley gets shot.
And so this Russian, he, shelike jumped in front of him and
(44:07):
saved his life.
So he feels like he needs totake her and like, give, owe her
his life.
Yeah.
Right.
So he takes him back to hislittle, one little room shack in
the middle of nowhere, Russia,in the middle of the woods, and
like teaches her how to likeshoot and chop
Devonnie (44:22):
Oh, I love this.
Christina (44:23):
Little, like, wallflower.
Devonnie (44:25):
I like this.
Christina (44:27):
She's, like, a little book reader and wallflower,
never, like, even been with aguy and never done anything.
They're quiet, reserved, andthen they have this huge,
hulking, Russian bratfa guy inhis little cabin out off grid.
And it's so sweet just to seethem, their relationship.
I know.
Jordan (44:44):
that sounds so good.
The whole series, and you knowwhat I realized as you were
saying this?
I feel like we each identifywith a different book.
I feel like Christina, you arevery book one.
Where you're like, dealing withthis just then shut yourself out
after something happens and belike, screw all of you, forget
you, and then someone comes inand you're like, oh, but you're
kinda hot.
And then you have me, who's justDo it and leave it until you get
(45:07):
someone who like forces you tostay there and you're like, I'm
gonna I'm gonna be mean to youuntil you love me and then you
have dev who's like Just being agood samaritan who's just a girl
and he's let me take care of youBut also help you take care of
yourself like this is all veryus coded
Devonnie (45:30):
Yes.
Christina (45:30):
that third book also has a pregnancy trope, so.
Devonnie (45:35):
Spectacular.
Spectacular.
I will be.
Yes.
Thank you.
And can I, you know, I wasreally, I was just about to ask
if I could just skip and readthat one, but the way this
author has chosen to weave themtogether, I feel like you have
to start at one to kind of seeit progress.
So yeah, I feel like if I startthis series,
Christina (45:54):
other characters, yes,
Devonnie (45:55):
right.
And know where they're comingfrom,
Christina (45:57):
Because
Devonnie (45:58):
but yeah, well, I want to get
Christina (45:59):
and she's with the Russian, and her sister is
married, is now with an Italian,and his best friend is Russian,
so like you have all thesepeople in the room, and she's
like, There's not gonna be anyguns in our wedding, and they're
all like staring at each other,and you know they all have guns.
Like,
Devonnie (46:13):
Right.
Everybody's back.
Are you kidding me?
Yeah.
Christina (46:16):
so
Jordan (46:17):
I like how it's connected through the women
Christina (46:20):
Yes,
Jordan (46:20):
positivity because I feel like it's the men And I
like this a lot.
Devonnie (46:25):
Did you say it was four books?
Christina (46:26):
Yes, there is one more book and it follows a
henchman from the Irish Mafiaand he gets forced engaged to
someone from the Italian mob totry to get their warring parties
to stop.
And But the problem is he's inlove with his fiancee's aunt in
the, in the mafia, so.
Jordan (46:44):
And?
Christina (46:44):
figure this out.
Yes.
Devonnie (46:47):
Huh?
Jordan (46:47):
this one?
Have you read this one?
Christina (46:48):
Yes, so she's barely like 18, 19, he's like 30s, you
know, but they're trying to stopthe families from warring so
they get engaged.
But he's in love with her auntwho's like in her 40s, like a
mature woman.
Jordan (47:02):
Oh.
Christina (47:03):
Oh
Devonnie (47:03):
I actually this author like very
Christina (47:08):
JT
Devonnie (47:09):
is it?
Okay, yeah, Geisinger, yeah,either way, I,
Jordan (47:15):
like we're just sitting on this oh.
Devonnie (47:17):
yeah, no, I'm really intrigued.
I'm very excited to possiblyread this.
This just sounds really fun.
Christina (47:24):
Because tell me if you read it, Jordan, you would
literally love Sloane and herbanter, because she's a badass.
Jordan (47:29):
I bet I would.
She just.
Sounds like she's written forpeople like me.
I just love it.
Christina (47:38):
We
Jordan (47:38):
Oh, well, speaking of badass women my last rec is I've
mentioned it again.
This is one I've mentionedbefore, but I really wanted to
highlight this one.
I'll just do a quick seventhcircle by Tate James is the, and
this is the Hades series.
And this is book one is seventhcircle.
This is an organized crime.
(48:01):
So The Timberwolves, it's led bythe notorious Hades, okay?
Hades, you think, tall, darkhair, brooding man.
No, this is a badass, red headedwoman who wears stilettos every
day and rides her motherfuckingmotorcycle around.
(48:21):
And she will eat you alive.
Shoot your ass if you're goingto try to fuck her over.
She slaughtered her whole familyto save her little sister from
being sold on the black market.
And slaughtered them all,because her father ran it.
Her father ran the Timberwolves,and she slaughtered everyone in
(48:44):
the entire organizationthroughout the state that was
loyal to him.
And she took over.
And hasn't looked back.
Christina (48:52):
Damn.
Jordan (48:54):
People in her, yes.
People in her organization referto her as sir, or at least one
of them does.
Which is so
Christina (49:00):
Ooh, I
Jordan (49:01):
Her right hand she's, and this is another why choose
shocker, I know.
It's so fun.
So there's Cass is older.
So there's actually two age gapsin this.
She is a mature woman.
I'd say like thirties.
I think she's thirties.
He is older.
So there's an age gap there.
Then there's Zed.
(49:21):
Yeah, Zed is about her age, sothere's no real weird age gap
there.
And then, I actually forget hisname, they call him Pretty Boy.
He is 18.
18 and
Christina (49:32):
Oh my god, girl.
Devonnie (49:33):
Huh?
Jordan (49:36):
Yeah, and I have to actually, I forget his name.
I'm going to be honest becausethey call him pretty boy and
it's so funny.
Okay.
I'm just going to, I'm going todo a little spoiler because it's
in the very beginning of thefirst book, but she meets him,
this younger, very attractiveman at one of her clubs, her
strip club that she owns.
(49:57):
It's a classy joint too.
Just let's let you know.
It's run by a woman.
So of course it is.
And so anyways, she ends upfucking him in a supply closet
before a meeting that she hasand he like, right?
And then he leaves then she goesback to her office and she just,
and then she realizes that he'sthere for an interview to be one
(50:17):
of the dancers.
Devonnie (50:20):
Oh,
Christina (50:20):
Oh my god.
Jordan (50:22):
And not only that, but one of her employees, the one
that she has like chemistrywith, not only that, but he
watched it because there was acamera in there.
Christina (50:36):
I love that.
Jordan (50:37):
And then later she finds out no, get this later.
She finds out that was his firsttime and that's how she took his
virginity.
Christina (50:45):
Oh my god.
Devonnie (50:46):
That is sick.
That poor young man.
Jordan (50:50):
He There's no poor him.
There's no poor him in this.
I'm sorry.
I know if it was a woman and shewas 18, we'd be saying poor
girl, but he was a fullyconsenting, and I mean he was
there to strip.
Not that justifies sex, but
Devonnie (51:08):
getting screwed in a cult closet.
Jordan (51:10):
To be fair, he was doing the screwing because he had her
up against so I mean he stillhad control
Christina (51:16):
Okay, here's a
Devonnie (51:18):
This man was looking for a job.
Jordan (51:19):
I really like it when you read about experienced women
being a man's first.
That's like a little trope thatI don't hardly ever see.
So when this came about, I waslike
Christina (51:31):
Here's how we'll know it's fiction.
It was his first time.
Did he make her orgasm?
Jordan (51:35):
Yeah, I know.
That's
Christina (51:36):
Okay, so it's fiction.
Devonnie (51:37):
Fake.
Yeah, totally fake.
Christina (51:38):
Gone.
Next.
Devonnie (51:40):
deal.
Jordan (51:40):
I mean out of all the things we've read that's the
most far fetched
Devonnie (51:44):
Yeah.
Christina (51:47):
sure.
Orgasm, no.
Devonnie (51:49):
Yeah.
Get that?
That's fake.
Jordan (51:51):
Hot blonde?
Okay.
No
Devonnie (51:54):
Yeah,
Christina (51:55):
An 18 year old knowing how to make a woman
orgasm?
Probably
Devonnie (51:57):
No way, buddy.
No one believes that.
Jordan (52:02):
But later there are group chats where they're like,
hey pretty boy Like, come learnthis and then there's like group
learning
Devonnie (52:09):
Oh,
Jordan (52:10):
of the
Christina (52:11):
He's taking notes.
Jordan (52:12):
because there's not only there's daddy cast There's Zedd
and then there's pretty boy.
Like I mean, I just
Christina (52:18):
She's got it all.
Jordan (52:19):
She is Fucking badass.
And so if you're not familiarwith Tate James There's usually
this big hidden dark secrets orplots that they're unraveling
throughout series and new thingscome up and it's just so good.
It's so good.
Devonnie (52:35):
How many books in this series?
Because Tate James could have aseries can go forever.
Jordan (52:40):
I think there's four.
Devonnie (52:42):
oh, okay, not bad.
Jordan (52:43):
There's four.
Yeah, please hold Tate James
Christina (52:51):
It would take him four books to learn how
Jordan (52:53):
One, two, three, four.
Yeah, because there's usuallyone for each character in the
why choose situation seventhCircle, Anarchy, Club 22, and
Timber.
Names of her clubs.
Christina (53:04):
Mmm.
Jordan (53:05):
And when I say she is the star, she really is.
Christina (53:07):
I love that.
Jordan (53:08):
I want to be her when I grow up.
Without all the murder.
Devonnie (53:12):
of course.
Christina (53:12):
little less murder.
Devonnie (53:13):
will say, yeah, Tate James knows how to write a
badass female main character, soI'm sure Hades doesn't
disappoint.
Jordan (53:19):
And so that's that.
There's also, I thought aboutdoing Vicious Kings by Eva
Ashwood it's the Dark Eliteseries.
She's a mafia princess and it'sanother Why Choose, but I just,
seven Hades series has a biggerspot in my heart in the fact
that it's, the female is incharge.
I wanted to.
Rep that.
Christina (53:40):
Badass women.
Gettin shit.
Jordan (53:43):
Yeah.
And,
Devonnie (53:44):
We love it.
Jordan (53:45):
Stick with us.
This is gonna be a very excitingyear big things Thanks for
listening to us ramble aboutromance in organized crime.
If you're looking for moreromance books, please be sure to
follow us on Instagram andthreads at Romance Recs Pod.
(54:06):
You can find our favorite bookRecs from our episodes, as well
as behind the scenes content,again, at Romance Recs Pod.
Also make sure to Follow us andsubscribe wherever you're
listening.
That really helps us.
And we'll be back with the nextepisode in a couple of weeks.
Christina (54:22):
Yay.
Jordan (54:23):
Bye.
Devonnie (54:23):
then.
Bye.
Welcome to Romance Recs, where book besties explore
the world of romance novels andencourage you to expand your
TBR.
Join us as we dive into thehottest releases and hidden gems
of the genre.
You can find us on Instagram andthread, so at Romance Recs Pod.
Hi, I'm Christina, and I'mcurrently rereading Fourth Wing
(00:24):
by Rebecca Yaros.
Jordan (00:24):
I'm Jordan and I'm currently reading Don't Let Go
by Heather Long and I'm relistening to Heat of the
Everflame by Penn Cole
Devonnie (00:34):
hey guys, this is Dev.
I'm back.
I am currently listening to andreading Salt and Broom by Sharon
Lynn Fisher.
Christina (00:45):
So buckle up for some bookish banter.
Jordan (00:49):
it.
Hi! Hi, we're back.
First Hey, first recording of2025.
It's gonna be a good year.
We have plants.
Devonnie (01:05):
Yeah, I'm excited and lots of books are coming out,
this year or the first half ofthe year is so packed with so
many books.
I'm really excited.
Jordan (01:15):
Yeah, things are happening.
Yeah, we've got events in theworks that we can't talk about
yet.
We have interviews on the books.
Devonnie (01:28):
Yeah.
Jordan (01:29):
good, throughout the year.
It's, this is gonna be good.
Hang in here, guys.
Make sure you're following uswherever you listen to your
podcasts.
Make sure you are following uson socials right now.
When we're recording this, it'sInstagram and threads and
TikTok, but TikTok could be goneany moment,
Christina (01:45):
and share.
Jordan (01:46):
Yeah.
Christina (01:47):
Share us with your friends.
Jordan (01:49):
Yeah.
Devonnie (01:49):
With everyone.
Yes.
We really appreciate the supportfor those of you who've been
with us from the very beginning.
Thank you so much.
We love you.
We appreciate you.
And yeah, we love hearing fromyou.
So comment on the socials, emailus if you want.
We, you can find our law, all ofour links in our bio on
Instagram.
So yeah, keep up with us.
(02:09):
We love hearing from you guys.
Jordan (02:13):
we're going to start out with one that Christina has just
been waiting on bated breath torecord for a month now.
We were ready to do this, It'sin October and then life
happened and other stuff had toget recorded and so we're
finally here.
We're ready to talk.
Well, mafia and any organizedcrime, really, because what's
(02:36):
life without the Bratva and MCsand other affiliated gang
members with soft hearts.
Devonnie (02:44):
You're right.
I think that's the key.
Christina (02:48):
Oh,
Jordan (02:48):
And what?
Devonnie (02:49):
Huh?
Jordan (02:50):
Say it.
Say it in the mic.
Say it loud and proud.
Christina (02:53):
In these books, crime does pay.
Oh my
Jordan (02:56):
There.
See?
See?
Say that proud.
Don't hide behind your mic.
Get in there.
Devonnie (03:00):
is very lucrative, cause I've read a couple crime
families, and everybody's abillionaire, I'm just saying.
Do with that information whatyou will, but I don't see any
broke Mafia members is what I'msaying.
Jordan (03:13):
Well, only like the entry level scrubs.
Devonnie (03:15):
right and they're not the Real mean characters.
We're falling over.
We want the top dog
Jordan (03:21):
Let me give you an example.
My quote today is from the bookI'm currently reading, Don't Let
Go.
This man he's a criminal.
He is a thief.
He's a career thief, okay?
Thinks like Ocean's Eleven typestuff, but he works alone.
Look at me, Fallon.
Look in my eyes.
I know beauty and art.
(03:42):
I know magnificent pieces fromthe Greeks to the Renaissance.
I know beauty in all its manyforms.
You.
You are so goddamn beautiful,you make me ache.
I want to hide you away wherenothing can ever touch you
again.
I want to give you a reason tosmile every single day, even if
it takes me a lifetime todiscover all the ways I can.
(04:05):
The unexpected poetry threatenedto shred my heart.
But the scars?
Our scars, he said with a shrug,they are a symbol of what we
survive, that we overcome, thatthey are a history of the path
that we've walked.
Mike.
Devonnie (04:24):
that's so sweet and romantic you wouldn't believe
that they'd be thieving You knowin
Jordan (04:28):
Well, I mean, he's smooth,
Devonnie (04:30):
beautiful lines.
Yeah Very yeah, I really lovethat.
That's so sweet
Jordan (04:35):
Oh,
Devonnie (04:37):
Yeah, he's using those words it's distraction meanwhile
Lifting your art off the walls.
That.
That was really sweet
Jordan (04:44):
love him.
Devonnie (04:45):
Cute love him.
I don't have a quote today but Ijust wanted to Prepare you guys
basically to be sick of mebecause I'm back on my bullshit
with netgalley arcs
Jordan (04:58):
Yeah.
Christina (05:00):
We could never be sick of you.
Devonnie (05:02):
I am back on my bullshit.
I've requested three alcs.
I am easing into it.
So they aren't arcs like readercopies.
They're listening And I'vealready gotten approved for one,
which is a sequel to a book thatis actually on my bookshelf that
I have been dying to crack openand I haven't yet.
So I'm like really excitedbecause I'll get to read that
book and then jump into it.
Jordan (05:22):
What is it?
Devonnie (05:23):
yeah it's the ALC is This Ends in Embers by Camilla
Cole, which I'm pretty sure isYA.
I think it's ya, but I mentionedthis book or the author last
season, I think briefly becausethe first book is actually based
on Jamaican mythology or j ithas like Jamaican culture in it
(05:46):
and it's their dragons.
It's fantasy.
I'm it, I'm pretty sure it's ya.
Although.
I think they lean into a sapphicrelationship in the second book.
I haven't been trying to readtoo much about it because I want
to be surprised.
But yeah, so I'm really excitedabout that.
I have that ALC, so I'm, I wantto blaze through the first book,
get to the ALC and yeah, y'allwill be getting tons more arcs
(06:09):
from me because I'm back toliving my arc life.
So no quote, but.
Prepare to be sick of me.
Christina (06:22):
Okay, so I have to follow up Jordan's amazing quote
and Dev's amazing news with thisquote, okay?
Jordan (06:30):
Oh, did you go sexual?
Christina (06:32):
It's, no, I went like, dumb.
Jordan (06:35):
What do you mean dumb?
Devonnie (06:36):
Let's hear it.
Let's have it.
Lay it on us.
Jordan (06:39):
Oh
Christina (06:40):
Boyfriends are like koi fish, a time consuming and
boring hobby.
Jordan (06:45):
my god.
What is it from?
Wait, what is it from?
Quote the quote.
Christina (06:51):
J.
T.
Geisinger, Cardinal Urges.
Jordan (06:54):
Oh, With the organized crime, Rex today.
I think that Christina should gofirst.
This is the one she's beenwaiting for.
She's prepared.
I did the homework.
it.
Devonnie (07:07):
Pick me.
Jordan (07:08):
Yep.
Christina (07:08):
Okay, so my first rec is a trilogy called The Monster
Trilogy by Rina Kent.
And this series follows Sasha,who enlists as a man in the
Russian military on her uncle'sbehest to try to get close to
government officials to find outwhy her whole family was
murdered.
Like, they were all taken out.
She works really hard because,you know, she's dressed as a guy
(07:31):
and she's a girl, so she'ssmaller and not as strong, so
she's trying to work reallyhard.
Her superior officer, his nameis Kirill, and he realizes her
potential.
Like, he knows she's a woman, Idon't know why everyone else is
blind around her, but he's not,so he knows.
And he's just like, okay, she's,maybe she's trans, or she's just
blind.
doesn't want to be dressed as agirl.
(07:51):
Like, he doesn't give a shit andthat's great.
So he's just like, okay, I'lltake you on as my personal
protection.
Fly back with me to America.
And she's like, sure.
She's like, I thought I'll findout more about my family's
murder in America, I guess.
I don't know.
So she decides to go and shebecomes like his personal
assistant.
And then he lets her know, like,yeah, I know you're a woman, and
(08:12):
she, like, thinks he's gonnakill her.
But no, he's interested in otherthings with her privately, so.
Devonnie (08:16):
Okay, see I was waiting for it.
I was waiting for that.
Cause I was like, huh?
Jordan (08:21):
Yeah, there we
Christina (08:23):
So I just want you to know that the sex scenes in this
book are very, very dark.
And you should really read thetrigger warnings, okay?
Because there's a lot of thingseven I was, like, shooketh
about, and I was like, okay, so.
Devonnie (08:39):
Interesting.
Christina (08:41):
so check
Devonnie (08:41):
Did they come from nowhere?
Was it like a surprise or werethere content warnings in this
Christina (08:46):
Well, I mean.
I, I listened to this, so Idon't know if the content
warnings
Jordan (08:50):
doesn't look at content warnings.
This is Christina.
She's I have no triggers andthen she comes up on a trigger
and is oh no, I can't believe Iran into a trigger.
So that's Christine.
Christina (09:00):
I
Devonnie (09:00):
Yeah.
Oops.
Christina (09:02):
what do you mean
Devonnie (09:03):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Transcripts provided byTranscription
Christina (09:06):
didn't know that could happen, but here we are.
So, yeah, I mean, he is aRussian Bratva leader, right?
So, I mean, he's dark, and he'slike, really embraced that love
of Bratva.
Jordan (09:20):
Pain.
Christina (09:20):
and murder and pain and misery,
Jordan (09:23):
blood play.
I've read plenty of blood play.
What are you talking about?
Yeah, that's normal.
Christina (09:27):
Tim's face is like, is it?
Jordan (09:30):
In dark romance it is.
Devonnie (09:32):
I was listening.
I was, I'm sorry.
I had a meme in real life momentwhere you said that.
And then in my head, I wasplaying out a visual meme where
it was the the one, I think it'sa Taylor Swift song where it's
like everyone in the room,everyone in the
Christina (09:46):
All eyes in the room on me.
Devonnie (09:48):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Christina (09:49):
me.
Devonnie (09:50):
So sorry.
That happened in real time.
But in the yeah.
It was good.
It was like, why not?
Sorry.
I was memeing in real life.
Crazy.
Christina (10:00):
It's some serious hate fucking, so just be aware
of that, okay?
Devonnie (10:03):
Wait, do they hate each other though?
Is that their relation?
Are they clashing as well?
Or are they like all peaches andcream?
Christina (10:10):
It's, it's definitely not all great all the time.
There's definitely some hateback and forth for different
reasons.
But it takes like three books toreally, because it's the
trilogy, it takes you to thethird book to really solve her
family's murder.
And there is some plot twiststhat you won't expect coming
it's got like weird vibes inthis book, like Goodfellas and
(10:30):
Mulan, because you know shedresses as a guy.
Devonnie (10:33):
right.
Very Mulan.
Very Mulan.
Yeah you said that it takesthree books.
I thought this series was like,you know, following different
cadets or different couples,each thing, but it's the, it's
them all three.
Christina (10:45):
It is,
Devonnie (10:46):
that's kind of cool.
Bring back the art of a longstory.
Christina (10:49):
It is, cause you have a lot going on, and then like
the hate between each person.
You know, like, that alwayshappens, the third act breakup
and stuff in each
Devonnie (10:57):
Yeah.
Christina (10:58):
But it's great.
Jordan (11:00):
It's great.
It's really dark and it'sunexpected.
It's great.
Devonnie (11:05):
Good.
Enjoyed it.
Ate it up.
Jordan (11:07):
Couldn't sleep at night, but love it.
Devonnie (11:09):
Recommend.
Jordan (11:10):
Okay.
Christina (11:11):
out of 10.
Jordan (11:12):
My first one is called Blade of Iris by K.
A.
Knight.
This book is a standalone withina series of six interconnected
books by six different authors.
I've talked about this series onat least one other episode of
ours but I wanted to highlightthis one because this one is one
I still think about.
And it's just in my brain.
(11:33):
It's in my top two of theseries.
And this was the first time Iread K.
A.
Knight and made me a fan.
So female main character's nameis Iris, hint, blade of Iris.
Her father sold her to theirenemies for a chance at peace,
(11:53):
or at least a ceasefire.
She's a Kelly from Boston.
They're the Bratva of Vegas.
Alexei, the car, and.
Nicolay Volkovs.
Three Volkov brothers are aboutto learn she's no innocent girl.
She's not this good littleCatholic girl that is coming,
(12:16):
okay, she lived a life even herfamily was unaware of, because
she was the daughter, she wasthe princess, she wasn't
supposed to get her hands dirty.
She found her own way to get herhands dirty in the way that she
wanted to, not necessarily inthe family business.
She's going there and she'sgonna make them pay for
(12:36):
Everything that they've done totheir family.
I'm not gonna say a lot about Itis dark.
It is talk about blood play somuch like there is a whole there
is a Well, there's a torturechamber in the bottom of this
casino where they live and theyown it and where one of them
works and She shows him her darkside and they both have dark
(13:01):
sides and it's maybe tied me tothis chair Maybe while someone's
dying on the wall.
I don't know things happen.
Okay, like Life happens.
It's, I just, I say this becauseit's really dark, but it's also
very good.
And, just have fun with it.
Definitely one of the best ofthe series.
All of the, all six books in theseries are why choose.
(13:24):
And, yes, they're all alwayslike brothers.
I think in one instance it's nota brother, but someone high up
with them.
Anyways yeah, so they all tradetheir daughters.
And then once they're all ofage, they do the big swap and
send their daughters over to bemarried to the next in line, or
by the time they are old enough,the ones that are in charge.
Christina (13:43):
Am intrigued.
I
Devonnie (13:45):
for
Jordan (13:45):
This one's so good.
I don't want to say a lot aboutit because I don't want to give
certain things away.
Definitely enemies.
Enemies to lovers, like theirfamily feud has been going on
longer than any of them havebeen going alive
Devonnie (13:58):
I
Jordan (14:01):
It's so good and she can fight back.
She's a badass
Devonnie (14:03):
love that because speaking of badasses the FMC in
my book is So good.
Okay.
My first rec is going to besinful vow by Asia Monique
follows the, this is the firstbook of six.
I'm pretty sure there's six inthe series.
And it follows different membersof different crime families.
And in the very first book, youget like a Prologue of basically
(14:29):
why the next six books are goingto happen or like how they come
into play, especially with thefirst books kicking it off.
It follows Lucia and Enzo.
And one of the reasons Iabsolutely love this series So
far, because I haven't finishedit.
But The, all the characters areblack.
Okay?
(14:49):
Now,
Christina (14:51):
Nice.
Devonnie (14:51):
It's Mafia.
It's Yakuza.
I'm pretty sure it's Bratfa.
There's different organizedcrime families.
All kind of trying to co existtogether peacefully.
But they're all super violent ashell.
Jordan (15:05):
okay kind of like mine in the same vein like they're
Devonnie (15:07):
yes.
Right, but then the title of theseries is Mafia Misfits because
they're like all black butthey're like black and Japanese
or they're black and Italian orblack and you know Irish and
basically they're the misfits oftheir Community, family,
(15:30):
whatever, their traditionalorganized crime families don't
support them because oh, thedaughter went off and married a
black man, oh, the son, youknow, married a black woman this
is horrible, and now we're gonnacast you out, so they've banded
together, and now they'rerunning the town, so it is, and
it's so interesting to seebecause whenever I read mafia
(15:51):
books, Or books that have theYakuza or any of those organized
crime families.
I honestly truly don't picturemyself, I can't see black people
there unless, it's oh, there's aside character.
But, you know, whenever like themain top dogs and every, when I
tell you everybody's black, it'sgiving very black.
It's giving very black.
The names are like, to theirrespective origins or like half
(16:12):
cultures.
I guess, but it's still, it's sofun to read it and Enzo and
Lucia are the first one.
And when I tell you Lucia is abadass, number one, you meet
her, she's in the middle of acrime.
Okay.
She's in a, when you meet thisgirl, she's in the middle of
criminal activity.
And I'm like, yes.
Jordan (16:30):
She's criming
Devonnie (16:33):
She's criming.
And then she's getting away.
I was like, I absolutely loveher.
And then she's just, she's very,no nonsense because she is,
she's a mafia princess, right?
So she understands like the workthat's happening, but she also
has a side gig, which is a bigfocus of the book.
It's violent.
There's violence.
There's them like figuring outhow to like each other because
(16:55):
it's also arranged marriage,which I feel like you, you
Typically get with organizedcrime like when you gotta, you
know, oh we gotta marry thisfamily to keep our power blah
blah blah So you get that ofthem clashing like we both know
that this is our duty But howare we gonna each other and do
we like each other, you know?
Jordan (17:13):
Is there like a my wife moment like?
Devonnie (17:16):
It's definitely giving my wife it's giving touch her
and I touch him and I it's likeShe's very tough.
She's a badass.
She's gonna blah blah blah Butshe also like submits to her
husband only in specificScenarios like she'll put him on
his ass and remind him everyminute.
I can actually kill you What didyou say to me?
(17:37):
So we love that for her.
But she's just really fun toRead as a character.
There are dead spots in the bookwhere i'm just like Girl, if you
don't get on with this story,but I think it's really fun.
And I am going to finish therest of the series because I do
want to see how the othercouples come into play because
we've, I feel like we've alreadymet a handful of them.
So seeing how these familiesnavigate their pieces, you know,
(17:59):
to take over and deal with theirthings.
It was fun, honestly, reallyenjoyable.
And FMC.
So yeah.
Jordan (18:06):
I love that.
Do you, how did you feel about,so I love this idea.
I feel like we don't see thisever.
I feel like this is such a fresh
Devonnie (18:14):
take on it.
Jordan (18:15):
and especially the inclusion in it.
I feel like that's even morerare, but it doesn't feel like
kitschy or anything like that.
It is it Do you know what Imean?
Devonnie (18:26):
Yeah.
No, I know what you mean.
I'm trying to think if I everfelt like that
Jordan (18:29):
But if you have to think that hard about it, I feel like,
Devonnie (18:32):
I feel like it doesn't, I can't speak for the
rest of the series because Ihaven't gone through the rest,
but the first book it's not, Ifeel like I'm not gonna sit here
and say, I know the author didall her research and made sure
that everything was true toeverything.
You know, I can't vouch forthat.
But when I was reading it, Ididn't have a, not, I don't,
yeah, I didn't ick a lot or Idon't think I icked at all.
(18:54):
So yeah it was very heavy as faras like violence and just like
the nature of Being an organizedcrime, but I also found like
very funny moments as well, youknow,
Jordan (19:05):
It's hard.
It's also hard.
I feel like with these big crimeRomances not to get stuck in
like kitschy different likestereotypes of wherever the
people are from like it
Devonnie (19:19):
from, yes.
Jordan (19:20):
Yeah, just because
Devonnie (19:21):
Yeah,
Jordan (19:22):
it's organized crime and we're making it we're
Romanticizing it which istotally fucked up in the real
world.
Let's totally own that
Devonnie (19:29):
because we would not be romanticizing organized
crime.
I don't care.
In real life, this does notwork, but in this
Jordan (19:35):
blood play No, off the table.
That's a hard list.
That's a, that's on my red list.
That's a no, but in a book?
Devonnie (19:43):
I'll take it.
Jordan (19:44):
Okay.
Okay.
Devonnie (19:45):
It's just love.
Yeah, and we
Jordan (19:47):
two consenting adults.
Devonnie (19:49):
Yeah, we have to understand the difference.
I beg of you, listeners,understand the difference, okay?
We don't want to see thesethings play out in real life,
but I'm going to get lost inthis world of my like, Irish
black mafia man, whose name isDara.
the rest of the mafias or, youknow, like whatever the Irish
(20:09):
equivalent, like his name isDara and he's a black man.
Are you joking?
And the other mafia bossesteasing him because he's black
and his name is Dara.
So it was nice.
It was fun.
It was good.
It was refreshing.
I should say, I, like I said,I've never read a series or a
book like this thatincorporated, it was very
inclusive yeah.
Mio, the black Asian Yakuzaboss, number one, she's a woman
(20:32):
and she's running the Yakuzaunheard of.
Yeah, and she's a badass and sheloves knives.
She walked in, everyone dropsguns.
All the men drop guns into thebasket to take away their
things.
She drops nine knives.
She drops nine knives.
Yes.
And then she laughs when shesees the guns.
So yes, Mio.
Jordan (20:49):
Like you're overcompensating.
Devonnie (20:51):
Yes, exactly.
That's how she felt.
She was like, Oh, guns.
I could kill you all with myknives before you even reach for
your gun.
Cute, cute.
So yeah, I love it.
I can't wait to get to her book.
If she has one, I'm not sure ifshe gets one, but cause she's
already married when you meether.
But I would definitely love tosee her book.
Although they do mention she hasa daughter.
(21:12):
So I'm curious about that.
If her daughter gets a book.
I'll let you know.
Jordan (21:17):
stand by.
Devonnie (21:18):
Yeah.
Christina (21:18):
My next book is already gonna throw Jordan off.
I'm gonna start off by tellingyou it has a pregnancy trope in
it.
Okay, Jordan.
Devonnie (21:26):
Give it to me.
Give me 14.
It's spectacular.
Give me 14 of them right
Jordan (21:30):
back here.
I'm going to check my reels realquick.
We're
Devonnie (21:32):
Yeah.
You're talking to me.
Now you're speaking my language.
Jordan (21:36):
If you need to skip this rec, you can go ahead and look
at the chapter markers onwhatever device you're listening
on and
Devonnie (21:44):
If you skip this, I will disown you.
Not kidding.
Let's hear it.
Christina (21:51):
I feel like this book is divisive because I was
reading the Goodreads andthere's like one star, five
star, one star,
Jordan (21:56):
But that's the brilliant thing about our podcast because
we all are different readers andthere is something for everyone
and that's what I love about us.
Devonnie (22:05):
Jordan's the one star.
I'm the five star.
Let's have it.
Jordan (22:08):
let's hear it.
Let's hear this.
I'd love this for you.
Christina (22:14):
so Technically this book starts off page.
So off page before this bookeven starts The main female main
character, her brother, goes tothe mafia to borrow money,
right, for his gamblingaddiction, right?
Okay, start of the book, ourgirl Kat is a nurse, she's
hanging out at home, her brotherwho was, like, couch surfing on
(22:36):
her couch, like, up and left andleft a big mess at her house,
left without saying goodbyeeven, and she's like, that's
just typical, you know, he's akind of here again, gone again
guy, right, like, can't dependon him.
Bam, opens her front door andit's the fucking mafia, they're
coming for her brother, theyneed their money back, right,
like, you borrow money, gottapay it back, right?
(22:58):
Brother's not there.
So, what are they gonna do?
They're gonna take Cat ascollateral.
Devonnie (23:03):
Yeah, we saw that coming.
Poor cat.
Christina (23:06):
Yeah, I know.
Cat is not happy about this atfirst.
She's like, Look, I don't evenknow my brother.
He stole money from me too.
Like, took my last thousanddollars and ran.
What do you want me to do aboutthis?
I can't pay you your milliondollars back.
And then, they're like, We'llkeep you around.
Your brother's gonna come foryou.
She's like, Fat chance of thathappening.
So, the leader of the mafia,Dante, the book by the way is
(23:30):
Dante by Sadie Kincaid, becauseI don't think I said that,
Devonnie (23:34):
Thank you
Jordan (23:34):
You didn't.
You
Devonnie (23:36):
did it, but thank you.
Dante, Sadie Kincaid.
Christina (23:40):
So Dante decides,
Jordan (23:41):
the beginning.
Christina (23:44):
Dante decides, you know what, your brother's not
paying me back, you're thepayment, I'm keeping you girl.
You're gonna earn your keep as anurse here, providing for all my
mafia guys who are getting shotin the streets and can't go to
the hospital, right?
Devonnie (23:58):
That's good actually.
That's not what I thought youmeant when you said he would
keep her, so I'm glad to knowthat he's thinking
Christina (24:04):
Part of what he meant.
Jordan (24:06):
Her outfit was really small though.
Devonnie (24:08):
Okay.
All
Jordan (24:09):
her uniform was tiny.
Devonnie (24:11):
Yeah, I'll keep listening.
Christina (24:14):
He basically is like, I'm gonna sleep by you every
night.
Doesn't really give her achoice, so that's questionable.
Jordan (24:21):
There's the
Christina (24:21):
Anywho.
Yes this is fiction, okay?
Lo and behold, he wears herdown.
Then next thing you know, she'spregnant.
Okay, all right.
Devonnie (24:30):
Okay, all right, we missed a couple steps here.
Christina (24:33):
Not really.
Jordan (24:34):
so when I hear you say he wore her down, it makes me
think she was coerced.
So I just need to be very clear.
Is this like CNC, likeconsensual non consent for those
who are listening, or is it likeshe gives into her feelings?
Christina (24:49):
I would say there's both in this book.
Okay?
Jordan (24:51):
Okay, but like the first time.
I just need to know like thefirst time.
Is she like reluctant?
Christina (24:57):
for
Jordan (24:57):
Okay, so so it is like her.
Okay.
Christina (25:00):
but she has,
Jordan (25:00):
always need to know that first time like
Christina (25:03):
It's like those female main characters.
She's like, Oh, but he's so hot.
And I wonder what it would belike.
And I'm thinking about him andthen, and then,
Jordan (25:09):
I should hate him, but look at those arms
Christina (25:11):
Yes, exactly.
Devonnie (25:12):
the itch but then you get trapped
Christina (25:15):
Yes, she gets trapped alright, and she's like, Oh good
god, I'm pregnant, and I need torun away because I don't want my
child born into the mafia.
Dante finds out about this, andshit goes sideways real fast for
this girl.
Like, she gets locked up.
Like, in a tower locked up kindof thing.
Like, Locked up.
Jordan (25:36):
because
Christina (25:37):
He is not letting his kid go nowhere from him, kay?
Devonnie (25:41):
Oh no,
Christina (25:42):
Like, for a week, he leaves her in a room and, like,
delivers food, but, like, no onetalks to her, so she, like, has
no human contact and goesfrickin crazy.
Jordan (25:52):
While
Christina (25:52):
gets dark.
Yes, it gets dark, right?
Yeah.
So, I
Jordan (25:57):
There's your five star dev.
Devonnie (25:59):
you know, I'm going to actually pull that rating back.
I'm not going to lie to you.
The way I'm feeling right now isI thought this was going to be a
cute little mafioso story.
This is giving Rapunzel.
To the worst degree.
I
Jordan (26:12):
Mother Gothel got her knocked up and locked her in the
Devonnie (26:15):
and then, I don't love it, I fear.
And no human connection for aweek, and you're pregnant, and
the hormones are raging, you'rehungry, you need, like
Jordan (26:27):
But I think Christina really liked this one.
So let's hear her the rest of
Devonnie (26:32):
gonna skip! Please, redeem, redeem Dante for me,
okay?
Cause I've never met a Dante Ididn't like.
He might be the first.
Christina (26:39):
I fear he might be, okay?
I'm so sorry.
I don't know if I can save himfor you.
She gives in eventually to hiscrazy being a mafia crazy
asshole?
I don't
Devonnie (26:54):
Yeah.
Christina (26:56):
yes.
Alphaholeness.
She eventually ends up lovinghim and his family and happy
ever after for her in the mafialife, right?
Jordan (27:06):
And that's the whole book, end scene.
Devonnie (27:08):
End scene.
Okay.
It's given Stockholm.
Christina (27:11):
Oh, it does.
Devonnie (27:12):
Is that the one?
Is that the one?
Am I right with my syndrome?
Christina (27:15):
Stockholm for sure.
And you find out that she has,like, this tragic, horrible
backstory.
And then he
Jordan (27:22):
have trauma?
Christina (27:23):
Yes, and then he finds the men who gave her
trauma.
Okay?
Jordan (27:28):
And gives her more by
Christina (27:30):
No, what he does to these guys, I didn't think I
could read legally in a book.
It was there, okay?
I didn't know.
I never, I can't go further.
Let's just stop it.
This is a good book.
You should read it.
Jordan (27:43):
See I read So listeners, we all know if you've been with
us for any time, you know that Ilove my dark romance I do have A
grayscale and there is somethingthat there are things that are
too dark for me And those seemto be the only dark romances
that Christina ever picks up
Christina (28:04):
I'm so sorry.
Jordan (28:05):
and then she comes at me like I don't think I Can read
dark romance.
I'm like bitch.
You are not reading the rightones
Devonnie (28:11):
You're actually reading Pitch Black Romance.
Jordan (28:14):
kidding.
I'm just kidding.
You liked it.
I'm not gonna yuck your yum.
Glad you enjoyed it Andobviously a lot of people love
that book.
I know it's
Christina (28:23):
Yeah, it's back and forth.
I, like I said, it's verypolarizing.
I feel like I was reading thecomments and I mean, I'm not
gonna say it was the best mafiabook I ever read.
You know, I liked it.
I think for some people, theywould enjoy it.
You know, for some others, Iwouldn't suggest it.
Go read the comments.
Read the
Jordan (28:41):
don't read the
Christina (28:42):
Decide for you.
Jordan (28:43):
No, read the tropes and think if that's for you.
Don't look at other
Christina (28:46):
read the trigger warnings in this book,
Jordan (28:47):
Unless it's ours.
Only look at our opinions,please.
We are the ones you can trust.
Not Goodreads comments.
Unless they're ours, because Ido review.
I'm just full of
Christina (29:00):
but read mine.
Jordan (29:02):
worry.
Speaking of Goodreqs, thank youso much, Christina.
I'm gonna turn us over to Mynext rec, the Kings of Kearney
by Nevessa Allen.
Okay.
Nevessa Allen.
Yes.
That author, the one that wroteLights Out.
Lights Out was not her firstbook, people.
(29:23):
She has a whole backlog.
Go read them.
I am.
They're good.
And she has a lot of differentthings.
I'm currently also in the middleof, I had just put it away to
read some other things forprojects, but she's also written
a Like a historical romance anda in a, yeah, and a cutesy, a
(29:45):
very cutesy, hallmarkycontemporary
Christina (29:48):
Aw.
Ooh.
Jordan (29:49):
And this Kings of Kearney, I've mentioned it in
passing in another episode, butI wanted to put a spotlight on
it.
Cause this is an MC motorcycleclub for you, those of you that
are not in the know I had toteach Christina earlier before
we started.
So this is.
It follows Jacob Larson.
(30:13):
He is the chief enforcer for thelocal motorcycle club in the
small town where Krista justmoved to.
She's trying to stay out oftrouble.
She's done with her time in themilitary.
Both of them happen to be exmilitary.
Everyone in this MC is exmilitary.
Christina (30:32):
Oh, I love that.
Jordan (30:33):
So everyone has served something.
She doesn't have much experiencewith keeping herself out of
trouble, but she is determined.
She works for one of their bars.
She's a bartender in one of thebars, but she refuses to become
a part of the MC, right?
She's so bad ass though.
She has, through her time, shedoes have a messed up leg.
(30:56):
So she has some physicallimitations and it flares up and
stuff.
So she deals with thatthroughout, but it's like the
one thing that kind of forcesher to become vulnerable.
And it just works really well.
They have to end up, they end uphaving to work together to help
her grandma and the shadybusiness going down in the
assisted living home.
Now that sounds so silly.
(31:18):
It sounds silly, but it's notbecause he wants to use her to
get into the, Assisted livinghome because the, their rival mc
in the next town is trying tobring drugs into their, sit into
their small town.
And they are big on not lettingthat happen.
And they've been doing thatthrough the assisted living home
(31:38):
and like somehow they thinkthey're swapping out medications
from the elderly and all thisstuff.
So she's concerned about hergrandma who has dementia and
there's just there's all theseserious levels happening and.
So that's how she kind of getsentangled with him.
And
Devonnie (31:58):
like the FBI should, I mean,
Jordan (32:00):
so the FBI might come into play
Devonnie (32:03):
But I mean in real life.
In real life, they should bechecking.
Because that seems like goodcrime.
You know, I was
Jordan (32:09):
I'm sure it actually happens.
If I was criming, ah, This isthe adjective of the whole
Christina (32:16):
They're all criming.
Jordan (32:17):
We're criming everywhere.
I'm
Devonnie (32:19):
Clearly I am not
Jordan (32:21):
all over this
Devonnie (32:22):
crime.
Christina (32:22):
She's not criming.
Devonnie (32:24):
was criming, I'd crime there.
Seems smart.
I'm not gonna
Jordan (32:29):
a lot.
People do a lot.
Assisted living homes are scaryplaces.
Anyways,
Devonnie (32:33):
Yeah.
Jordan (32:34):
They're But yeah, there's,
Devonnie (32:37):
together.
Jordan (32:38):
their work, they have to work together.
And this changed I fell in lovewith a beefy ex military long
haired blonde.
Devonnie (32:52):
Oh,
Jordan (32:53):
never thought I would say that about, no offense, ex
military.
Or about long hair, long blondehair.
I'm sorry, but not once did Ithink Tamlin in any of this.
It was, he was perfect.
He was perfectly moody andstoic, but he had amazing lines
and his banter was so good inhis dirty talk.
(33:16):
And their banter together,perfect.
Off the charts.
One of my favorites.
Christina (33:21):
Oh.
Devonnie (33:22):
I do love about Nevesa Allen as a writer.
So that's, I was actually gonnaask you about that because she
has a very specific writingstyle and her character dialogue
is some of the best I've like IHer and Bryn Weaver with their
characters banters and the waythey feed off of each other So
funny like the comedic reliefand comedy is like a skill Like
(33:45):
not everyone has it and thenalso to write it the timing has
to be perfect So I was gonna askabout that and i'm also curious
to see how that plays Up in thehistorical
Jordan (33:56):
So that's actually ends up being I think it ends up
being a throuple there's And
Christina (34:00):
Oh my god, I'm
Jordan (34:01):
it's queer like
Christina (34:03):
I
Devonnie (34:04):
I love that.
Christina (34:05):
you
Jordan (34:05):
Yeah which we are gonna do a historical romance episode
sometime this season so that'sone of the reasons, actually, I
think all of my historicals aregonna be queer representation.
But anyways, that's a wholenother thing.
Kings of Kearney by NevessaAllen.
Definitely read it if you're inthe mood for some like badassery
Devonnie (34:24):
Yeah
Jordan (34:26):
And I normally don't just because of my own personal
interactions in the past andrelationships, I don't typically
like to read things with exmilitary.
like MC clubs, motorcycle clubs.
I have no association with them.
I have no, there's it to me.
That's a totally fictionalworld.
So I can read it but it didn'tgive me any kind of feelings
reading it.
(34:46):
It just more gave the sense ofthe camaraderie that they got
from that and that kind ofstuff.
So yeah, it was great.
Yeah.
Devonnie (34:56):
I love that.
Okay.
The next series I have so here'sthe thing.
This was tricky for me.
I really debated whether or notI should even add this because
to be fair, like it's probably areach to include it in a life of
organized crime, but I am goingto include it.
I don't know if you know thisauthor, Gina L.
Maxwell.
She has a series.
(35:17):
It's I'm trying to the deviantkings and I've read the first
two books the third one I'vebeen waiting to come out, but I
think it might have releasedthat I missed it the first one
is the dark king second is therebel king and then the last one
I think is the vicious king thereason I had trouble or didn't
know if I wanted to includethese books is because They're
(35:38):
also paranormal and
Jordan (35:43):
Yes.
At
Devonnie (35:45):
Okay, so I think yeah You Okay, it follows three
brothers and the they're faethey are fae but they're
basically trapped in Vegas Okay,the city of sin Disconnected
from their fae roots because ofsome witchy witch who basically
cursed their families and in thefirst book We kind of get into
(36:07):
the breaking of that curse andthe them being able to like Go
back to their home world andalso access their magic and all
these other things.
First of all anything said invegas.
I already think you live in alife of crime if you tell me you
are writing a small time romanceYeah, small town romance and you
put these people in vegas.
I already think there's crimeand criminal activity happening
(36:29):
because it's vegas It's the cityof sin.
There are way too many lights inthat place.
Yeah
Jordan (36:34):
Okay.
Okay.
Just checking.
I was like,
Devonnie (36:36):
I've actually been there once when I recorded a
little show.
You may know the next levelchef, but that's really the only
time I've been there and Ireally didn't, I didn't get to
see too much criminal activity.
So next time, maybe anyway,
Christina (36:49):
she knew it was happening.
Devonnie (36:51):
I knew
Jordan (36:52):
what happened, besides some of the mood, the decisions
made on that show by
Devonnie (36:56):
yeah, very criminal, Gordon Ramsay.
Okay, very criminal of you.
Anyway So this series, TheirFate is Paranormal.
There's a, there's definitely alot of killing.
I don't know if it's supergruesome, but that first book,
oh, he was killing for hiswoman.
He was killing everybody for hiswoman.
The third book is my mostexcited.
(37:17):
The second one was okay.
I don't think it had that muchThe third one I'm excited for
because mates start to come intoplay.
And the third brother, he's thebaby, but I think he's also the
biggest one of the family.
He realizes that his mate mightbe a vampire.
Now the vampire family, maybethey running all up and through
(37:40):
crime.
I don't know what it is about avampire family that always has
their hands in criminalactivity.
Jordan (37:46):
Because
Christina (37:46):
Not the
Jordan (37:47):
blood.
Because they steal blood tosurvive.
So they're all
Devonnie (37:50):
they've been here for years.
At this point, what else isthere to do?
The first 3, 000 years you'rehere, you're you know, figuring
stuff out.
By year 5, 000, you're ready tostart criminalizing yourself.
I don't know.
That family is very They'revery, like In the crime world
the vampire family.
And so the third book, I'mactually super excited to read
(38:11):
about it because I want to seehow the mates things happen, but
also just having that vampireinfluence where before it was
just like Faye and like witchesand other paranormal stuff.
So I think that'll be reallygood.
So yeah, it's by Gina L.
Maxwell.
It's the deviant King series.
And I guess I will include it inmy organized crime because it is
very organized because they owncasinos.
(38:34):
So
Christina (38:34):
crime.
Cause it's Vegas.
Devonnie (38:37):
But we're in vegas.
So
Jordan (38:39):
I assume that if you are at a certain level of wealth,
you are also doing crime.
Devonnie (38:44):
for sure.
You're doing legal crime.
Is there a legal crime?
Christina (38:49):
Yes.
Devonnie (38:50):
crime, it's illegal.
Jordan (38:51):
I mean, let's just talk about the fact that you can be
convicted and not allowed tovote, but you can still be
elected to the President of theUnited States.
I mean, I'm, yeah, I think atthis point there is legal crime.
I think there's justified cri I,anyways.
Devonnie (39:08):
if you start making a lot of money i'm looking you're
a criminal because who are youstealing from?
You're stealing from someone,okay?
You're a criminal.
You're you can't talk aboutcrime without politics.
Jordan (39:18):
Politics and smut.
Devonnie (39:21):
Do.
Okay.
That's my little
Christina (39:23):
That's our new intro song.
Devonnie (39:25):
Yeah.
Politics and smi i Politics andcrime La da do.
You're welcome, listeners.
You're so welcome for that.
Christina (39:35):
You have just been serenaded.
Devonnie (39:38):
Yeah, we love that for you.
Jordan (39:40):
Raw.
Next question.
Devonnie (39:41):
yes.
Jordan (39:42):
question.
Devonnie (39:43):
Serenaded by the Romance Recs podcast host?
Raw, next question.
Jordan (39:50):
Crime.
Devonnie (39:51):
That's my series.
Christina (39:54):
You came for the
Devonnie (39:55):
Let me know if y'all pick those up.
Christina (39:57):
vampires and the fae.
Devonnie (39:58):
Yes.
Yes.
I love that.
But yeah, my little fantasycrime
Christina (40:04):
I have one more series to recommend.
It is Queens and Monsters seriesby JT Geisinger.
That is the one that I quotedearlier.
I have mentioned this seriesbefore, but I really wanted to
bring it back because it is myfavorite mafia books I have ever
read.
Devonnie (40:23):
What?
I love that.
Christina (40:25):
It's four books that follows different characters and
different mafias, but they'reall intertwined.
Devonnie (40:31):
Oh, yeah.
Christina (40:32):
It's really fun to see how the characters interact
with each other.
Like, you have two sisters thatare married into enemy mafias
and have to bring them togetherfor a wedding, and it's chaos.
Devonnie (40:41):
Love that.
Yeah, sign me up.
That sounds like fun.
I
Christina (40:45):
These books have literally the best banter I've
read in any book ever.
Like, the second book, I'venever read a book quite like it.
It's literally my favorite bookprobably ever.
So the first book is RuthlessCreatures and it follows Cage,
who's a Russian Bratva assassin.
And he's sent to kill his Mark,Natalie, who's a middle school
(41:05):
art teacher.
Just because her ex fiancee wholeft her had stolen money.
So they think she's connected.
So he's going to take her out.
So he moves the next door tokind of like find out what she
knows, see if she has anydetails, and then he's supposed
to kill her and leave.
But he ends
Jordan (41:17):
an ex fiancée?
Christina (41:19):
Yeah, her fiancé left her at the off, at the night of
her wedding.
Just up and left, because he hadstolen money from the mafia.
And she had no idea what wasgoing on, right?
And so she's like, got all thesetrust issues.
She didn't even like talk to aguy for five years because of
all this.
And then this hot guy moves innext door and is chatting her
up.
And she's just like, okay.
(41:40):
And then, yeah, they fall inlove.
And it's so sweet.
It's just great.
And there's some hot sex causeit's the Russian Bratva.
And then you start with thesecond book, okay?
Cardinal Urges, who followsNatalie, the main character, her
best friend.
Her name is Sloane.
Well, she gets kidnapped by theIrish Mafia to get back at the
(42:01):
Russian Bratva for his new wife.
And it's like, what?
Devonnie (42:05):
Really like that.
I like that connection.
Yeah.
Christina (42:08):
But Sloane is like, A man hater.
Like, she goes through men,like, she's like, gonna fuck him
and leave him.
That's all, like, that's allthey're good for.
Dick and go.
Dick and dip.
Like, that's all she's gonna
Devonnie (42:21):
Ticket tip!
Christina (42:22):
She does.
Jordan (42:23):
I know that playbook.
Yes.
Christina (42:29):
So
Devonnie (42:30):
I've read this before.
Christina (42:31):
she's in for a good time, not a long time, right?
So, she's just going through themen.
Next, next, next, right?
And then, You know, here comesthe Irish Mafia and a new, new
leader named Declan and he takesher and kidnaps her, thinking he
could hold it against theBratfa, and she gives him a run
for his money, let me tell you.
(42:51):
He had no idea what he was infor.
Devonnie (42:55):
Yeah, I feel like he probably kidnapped her and then
wanted to return her.
Can we drop her back?
Jordan (43:00):
It's us girls.
It's us girls with the unisexnames where it's, where you hear
our names that are mostly usedfor men.
Devonnie (43:07):
Return her.
Jordan (43:07):
ahead.
Christina (43:08):
No, yeah, Declan was done with this woman.
The banter between them is thefunniest thing I've literally
ever read.
She, like, matches him point forpoint and then takes over, like,
basically.
She, like, turns all his menagainst him with her, like, love
and stuff, and he gets so mad.
Jordan (43:27):
I love her already.
Now I
Christina (43:29):
Yeah.
Devonnie (43:29):
yeah, I think so too.
I really, I like it slowed.
Christina (43:33):
Yeah, she makes him just so mad.
Okay, so and then she's stillbest friends with the leader of
the Russian Bratva, and they'remessaging and, like, chatting,
and these men hate each other,and it's just hilarious.
Just,
Devonnie (43:46):
Crazy.
Christina (43:47):
trying to keep in plaintice.
Okay, so then you go into thethird book and that one is
Savage Hearts, and it followsSloane's sister, Riley.
Riley is visiting her sisterSloane, and then The Irish mafia
gets attacked by the Russiansand Riley gets shot.
And so this Russian, he, shelike jumped in front of him and
(44:07):
saved his life.
So he feels like he needs totake her and like, give, owe her
his life.
Yeah.
Right.
So he takes him back to hislittle, one little room shack in
the middle of nowhere, Russia,in the middle of the woods, and
like teaches her how to likeshoot and chop
Devonnie (44:22):
Oh, I love this.
Christina (44:23):
Little, like, wallflower.
Devonnie (44:25):
I like this.
Christina (44:27):
She's, like, a little book reader and wallflower,
never, like, even been with aguy and never done anything.
They're quiet, reserved, andthen they have this huge,
hulking, Russian bratfa guy inhis little cabin out off grid.
And it's so sweet just to seethem, their relationship.
I know.
Jordan (44:44):
that sounds so good.
The whole series, and you knowwhat I realized as you were
saying this?
I feel like we each identifywith a different book.
I feel like Christina, you arevery book one.
Where you're like, dealing withthis just then shut yourself out
after something happens and belike, screw all of you, forget
you, and then someone comes inand you're like, oh, but you're
kinda hot.
And then you have me, who's justDo it and leave it until you get
(45:07):
someone who like forces you tostay there and you're like, I'm
gonna I'm gonna be mean to youuntil you love me and then you
have dev who's like Just being agood samaritan who's just a girl
and he's let me take care of youBut also help you take care of
yourself like this is all veryus coded
Devonnie (45:30):
Yes.
Christina (45:30):
that third book also has a pregnancy trope, so.
Devonnie (45:35):
Spectacular.
Spectacular.
I will be.
Yes.
Thank you.
And can I, you know, I wasreally, I was just about to ask
if I could just skip and readthat one, but the way this
author has chosen to weave themtogether, I feel like you have
to start at one to kind of seeit progress.
So yeah, I feel like if I startthis series,
Christina (45:54):
other characters, yes,
Devonnie (45:55):
right.
And know where they're comingfrom,
Christina (45:57):
Because
Devonnie (45:58):
but yeah, well, I want to get
Christina (45:59):
and she's with the Russian, and her sister is
married, is now with an Italian,and his best friend is Russian,
so like you have all thesepeople in the room, and she's
like, There's not gonna be anyguns in our wedding, and they're
all like staring at each other,and you know they all have guns.
Like,
Devonnie (46:13):
Right.
Everybody's back.
Are you kidding me?
Yeah.
Christina (46:16):
so
Jordan (46:17):
I like how it's connected through the women
Christina (46:20):
Yes,
Jordan (46:20):
positivity because I feel like it's the men And I
like this a lot.
Devonnie (46:25):
Did you say it was four books?
Christina (46:26):
Yes, there is one more book and it follows a
henchman from the Irish Mafiaand he gets forced engaged to
someone from the Italian mob totry to get their warring parties
to stop.
And But the problem is he's inlove with his fiancee's aunt in
the, in the mafia, so.
Jordan (46:44):
And?
Christina (46:44):
figure this out.
Yes.
Devonnie (46:47):
Huh?
Jordan (46:47):
this one?
Have you read this one?
Christina (46:48):
Yes, so she's barely like 18, 19, he's like 30s, you
know, but they're trying to stopthe families from warring so
they get engaged.
But he's in love with her auntwho's like in her 40s, like a
mature woman.
Jordan (47:02):
Oh.
Christina (47:03):
Oh
Devonnie (47:03):
I actually this author like very
Christina (47:08):
JT
Devonnie (47:09):
is it?
Okay, yeah, Geisinger, yeah,either way, I,
Jordan (47:15):
like we're just sitting on this oh.
Devonnie (47:17):
yeah, no, I'm really intrigued.
I'm very excited to possiblyread this.
This just sounds really fun.
Christina (47:24):
Because tell me if you read it, Jordan, you would
literally love Sloane and herbanter, because she's a badass.
Jordan (47:29):
I bet I would.
She just.
Sounds like she's written forpeople like me.
I just love it.
Christina (47:38):
We
Jordan (47:38):
Oh, well, speaking of badass women my last rec is I've
mentioned it again.
This is one I've mentionedbefore, but I really wanted to
highlight this one.
I'll just do a quick seventhcircle by Tate James is the, and
this is the Hades series.
And this is book one is seventhcircle.
This is an organized crime.
(48:01):
So The Timberwolves, it's led bythe notorious Hades, okay?
Hades, you think, tall, darkhair, brooding man.
No, this is a badass, red headedwoman who wears stilettos every
day and rides her motherfuckingmotorcycle around.
(48:21):
And she will eat you alive.
Shoot your ass if you're goingto try to fuck her over.
She slaughtered her whole familyto save her little sister from
being sold on the black market.
And slaughtered them all,because her father ran it.
Her father ran the Timberwolves,and she slaughtered everyone in
(48:44):
the entire organizationthroughout the state that was
loyal to him.
And she took over.
And hasn't looked back.
Christina (48:52):
Damn.
Jordan (48:54):
People in her, yes.
People in her organization referto her as sir, or at least one
of them does.
Which is so
Christina (49:00):
Ooh, I
Jordan (49:01):
Her right hand she's, and this is another why choose
shocker, I know.
It's so fun.
So there's Cass is older.
So there's actually two age gapsin this.
She is a mature woman.
I'd say like thirties.
I think she's thirties.
He is older.
So there's an age gap there.
Then there's Zed.
(49:21):
Yeah, Zed is about her age, sothere's no real weird age gap
there.
And then, I actually forget hisname, they call him Pretty Boy.
He is 18.
18 and
Christina (49:32):
Oh my god, girl.
Devonnie (49:33):
Huh?
Jordan (49:36):
Yeah, and I have to actually, I forget his name.
I'm going to be honest becausethey call him pretty boy and
it's so funny.
Okay.
I'm just going to, I'm going todo a little spoiler because it's
in the very beginning of thefirst book, but she meets him,
this younger, very attractiveman at one of her clubs, her
strip club that she owns.
(49:57):
It's a classy joint too.
Just let's let you know.
It's run by a woman.
So of course it is.
And so anyways, she ends upfucking him in a supply closet
before a meeting that she hasand he like, right?
And then he leaves then she goesback to her office and she just,
and then she realizes that he'sthere for an interview to be one
(50:17):
of the dancers.
Devonnie (50:20):
Oh,
Christina (50:20):
Oh my god.
Jordan (50:22):
And not only that, but one of her employees, the one
that she has like chemistrywith, not only that, but he
watched it because there was acamera in there.
Christina (50:36):
I love that.
Jordan (50:37):
And then later she finds out no, get this later.
She finds out that was his firsttime and that's how she took his
virginity.
Christina (50:45):
Oh my god.
Devonnie (50:46):
That is sick.
That poor young man.
Jordan (50:50):
He There's no poor him.
There's no poor him in this.
I'm sorry.
I know if it was a woman and shewas 18, we'd be saying poor
girl, but he was a fullyconsenting, and I mean he was
there to strip.
Not that justifies sex, but
Devonnie (51:08):
getting screwed in a cult closet.
Jordan (51:10):
To be fair, he was doing the screwing because he had her
up against so I mean he stillhad control
Christina (51:16):
Okay, here's a
Devonnie (51:18):
This man was looking for a job.
Jordan (51:19):
I really like it when you read about experienced women
being a man's first.
That's like a little trope thatI don't hardly ever see.
So when this came about, I waslike
Christina (51:31):
Here's how we'll know it's fiction.
It was his first time.
Did he make her orgasm?
Jordan (51:35):
Yeah, I know.
That's
Christina (51:36):
Okay, so it's fiction.
Devonnie (51:37):
Fake.
Yeah, totally fake.
Christina (51:38):
Gone.
Next.
Devonnie (51:40):
deal.
Jordan (51:40):
I mean out of all the things we've read that's the
most far fetched
Devonnie (51:44):
Yeah.
Christina (51:47):
sure.
Orgasm, no.
Devonnie (51:49):
Yeah.
Get that?
That's fake.
Jordan (51:51):
Hot blonde?
Okay.
No
Devonnie (51:54):
Yeah,
Christina (51:55):
An 18 year old knowing how to make a woman
orgasm?
Probably
Devonnie (51:57):
No way, buddy.
No one believes that.
Jordan (52:02):
But later there are group chats where they're like,
hey pretty boy Like, come learnthis and then there's like group
learning
Devonnie (52:09):
Oh,
Jordan (52:10):
of the
Christina (52:11):
He's taking notes.
Jordan (52:12):
because there's not only there's daddy cast There's Zedd
and then there's pretty boy.
Like I mean, I just
Christina (52:18):
She's got it all.
Jordan (52:19):
She is Fucking badass.
And so if you're not familiarwith Tate James There's usually
this big hidden dark secrets orplots that they're unraveling
throughout series and new thingscome up and it's just so good.
It's so good.
Devonnie (52:35):
How many books in this series?
Because Tate James could have aseries can go forever.
Jordan (52:40):
I think there's four.
Devonnie (52:42):
oh, okay, not bad.
Jordan (52:43):
There's four.
Yeah, please hold Tate James
Christina (52:51):
It would take him four books to learn how
Jordan (52:53):
One, two, three, four.
Yeah, because there's usuallyone for each character in the
why choose situation seventhCircle, Anarchy, Club 22, and
Timber.
Names of her clubs.
Christina (53:04):
Mmm.
Jordan (53:05):
And when I say she is the star, she really is.
Christina (53:07):
I love that.
Jordan (53:08):
I want to be her when I grow up.
Without all the murder.
Devonnie (53:12):
of course.
Christina (53:12):
little less murder.
Devonnie (53:13):
will say, yeah, Tate James knows how to write a
badass female main character, soI'm sure Hades doesn't
disappoint.
Jordan (53:19):
And so that's that.
There's also, I thought aboutdoing Vicious Kings by Eva
Ashwood it's the Dark Eliteseries.
She's a mafia princess and it'sanother Why Choose, but I just,
seven Hades series has a biggerspot in my heart in the fact
that it's, the female is incharge.
I wanted to.
Rep that.
Christina (53:40):
Badass women.
Gettin shit.
Jordan (53:43):
Yeah.
And,
Devonnie (53:44):
We love it.
Jordan (53:45):
Stick with us.
This is gonna be a very excitingyear big things Thanks for
listening to us ramble aboutromance in organized crime.
If you're looking for moreromance books, please be sure to
follow us on Instagram andthreads at Romance Recs Pod.
(54:06):
You can find our favorite bookRecs from our episodes, as well
as behind the scenes content,again, at Romance Recs Pod.
Also make sure to Follow us andsubscribe wherever you're
listening.
That really helps us.
And we'll be back with the nextepisode in a couple of weeks.
Christina (54:22):
Yay.
Jordan (54:23):
Bye.
Devonnie (54:23):
then.
Bye.
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