Genre: Dark Romance, Action-Adventure
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
La Maison de M is a private gentlemen’s club where the rich and powerful come to relax, have a few drinks, and enjoy the company of hot young men. There’s no judgment here. Men are able to explore their fantasies and share in the pleasures that only a few lucky souls ever get the chance to experience.
It is within these walls that secrets are shared, and vulnerabilities are discovered. There’s nothing more sinful than a man in the heated throes of passion.
Levi
25, exotic dancer… secret romantic.
It’s no secret. Men fall to their knees when I hit the stage. I’m young, flexible, and know how to work a room. Men seek my company to get a taste of what it’s like to be with a walking fantasy. It’s my job to bring men’s innermost thoughts and desires to life. When you escape an abusive household, having this kind of power over men can be… intoxicating. I love it.
But all that changes when I meet a handsome, mysterious stranger—my knight in shining armor. I do my best to guard my heart against his roughness and charm, but the more I get to know him, the more my heart wants to give. But he’s hiding something. Behind those smoldering blue eyes and gorgeous, hungry smile, I know that he’s keeping something from me.
Chase
32, former cop… hunts down evil men.
Seriously. How am I supposed to get anything done when I’m stuck in a Speedo that should be illegal to wear in public? Like, seriously. Where is the rest of the material? I’m ready to give up on the whole darn mission when I spot him—a feisty young twink with intoxicating violet eyes and the body of a goddess. Watching him defend himself and take down someone nearly double his size has me impressed and feeling very… protective. I need to know him. I need to have him.
This is an MM Dark Romance involving bad men doing bad things.
Content Warning: Violence, alcohol abuse, foul language, and loads of steamy scenes.
The Review
Ten years ago, Matteo Sabarino, a very wealthy man from a long line of aristocrats, opened the exclusive club. Not much is known about Matteo, and he seems to be the last of his family.
Five years ago, Levi Harris found himself living in Paris at the chateau La Maison de M. Now at twenty five, he goes by the name Vixen, and is an exotic dancer. Vixen always thought Matteo knew everything about everybody.
Many of the young men who entertained at the chateau were known as “Matteo’s Boys” – Levi, Isaac, Shawn, Gunnar and Anders, Jared, Edmund, Teo, Diesel and his special pet Raj. The boss reminded his boys to stay focused, and to find out as much information about the business deals of their high-powered business clients. Information was Matteo’s business.
Marc and Alex Bodin have traveled to Canada to find Chase Harwick. Marc has done deep and extensive research on Chase. Chase was once in homicide with Canadian law enforcement, but was fired for excessive use of force, but there was more to it than that. Chase suffered a great loss, and believed in justice for those who would never receive it. He fights men of high privilege that abuse women, women who will need therapy, never trust, never love and never have a normal life again. Chase carries out his own special kind of justice for them.
After he’s taken care of one such man, he finds he has visitors in his car – Marc and Alex. Chase agrees to take part in Marc’s project to bring monsters to justice. Marc explains that the information he has on these men is from a journal that he possesses. The investigation will take Chase to Paris and the La Maison de M.
Chase is amazed at the La Maison and all it offers, especially Levi. The purple-eyed twink quickly gets under his skin. The more time they spend together, the more their hearts become involved.
Chase still has a job to do, though, and when he’s caught, the journal will bring the most dangerous men to the chateau – Matteo, Marc, and Ares the European arms dealer.
Will Chase and Levi be ready for the evil and danger that awaits them?
Dante’s new series revolves around the mystery of the journal that was discovered in “The Rough Edges” series. “Book of Sin” starts with The Collector, a fast-paced, action-packed story that’s filled with suspense and surprises.
The author delivers an amazing introduction to Chase Harwick and Levi Harris, two men who’ve had tragedy and heartbreak in their young lives. There’s also a little tour of Paris, as Chase and Levi visit the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre Pyramid.
This first book in this new series brings characters full circle – Marc and Alex were introduced in the “Fractured” series, and Mickey O’Brien and Patrick O’Malley and Ares first appeared in the “Rough Edges” series. I already am invested in a future Ares and Matteo story, as there’s definitely something going on there.
I highly recommend “The Collector” – full of intrigue, suspense and a wild ride through Paris. If any of the characters pique your interest, check out Dante’s “Fractured” and “Rough Edges” series.
I can’t wait for the second book in the “Book of Sin” series!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
