Genre: Contemporary, Motorcycle Clun
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
About The Book
Nikolai Borokov
36, Bouncer, member of the Shadow Vipers biker gang.
Being a member of the Shadow Vipers is like living the life of a rock star. Women throw themselves at you. Men want to be you. And everywhere you go, people respect you—whether by choice or taken by force.
But life hasn’t always been this awesome. When I first came to America, I was forced into one of the darkest corners of the criminal underworld—a world ruled by flesh, money, and monsters hiding behind human faces. It wasn’t until my best friend went missing that I realized the terrible truth about the chains I was in.
And now, after all these years, my best friend has resurfaced. Where has he been all this time? Why has he never tried to contact me? And why does he refuse to tell me what really happened all those years ago?
I know he’s hiding something. But that crooked smile and that all-too-familiar charm have my stomach—and heart—doing all sorts of weird things.
Reid Miller
36, addictive, charming, and easy on the eyes.
My life has been nothing but one nightmare bleeding into the next. It started the night I ran away from home, then got worse when I met a certain man lurking in the shadows. Word of advice? Never trust a man you meet in a dark alley. Rescue might just be another word for capture.
And yet, somehow, in all that darkness, one good thing came from the horror.
Nikolai.
The one man who kept me from stepping over that edge whenever the abyss was calling my name.
Even after all these years, my heart still belongs to him.
Content Warning: Violence, human trafficking, foul language, and, of course, loads of hot and steamy scenes.
The Review
Nikolai Borokov left Russia for a better life in America in New York City. He was eighteen at the time and believed what he was told by Mikhail, who made it all sound so good. But Nikolai found out differently. He had one person who he could depend on – Reid Miller, at least until Reid came up missing. He was never able to find Reid, and believes he is dead.
Nikolai made a plan to escape Mikhail, saved himself, and now lives a free life in the small town of Baton, New Mexico. He found a new family with Marcus and the Shadow Vipers. Marcus is head of the Vipers, and also owns the Ride ‘Em Hard club where Nikolai works as a bouncer. The Vipers do other jobs for Marcus too, who they consider a father figure. With his new life came a new family: Blade, Ace, Cade and Lucas. He’s watched as Cade and Blade have met their significant others, and wishes he could do the same.
On one of Marcus’s business meetings, he takes the Shadow Vipers rolling into West Hollywood to work out some deals with Dominic Baas, head of the Double Aces crew. The meeting ends early in the AM, as all the party goers were all going home. The Vipers decide to walk back to their hotel and take in the sights. While Nikolai is trailing behind, he sees someone running towards him. When their eyes lock, Nikolai can’t believe he is looking at Reid Miller, his long lost missing friend of ten years.
Dante never fails to bring a great story – Carnal Sin is fun, with many heartfelt and steamy moments, a bit of suspense and some great fight scenes. Nikolai and Reid experience many flashbacks of the dark moments that they went through in Mikhail’s “Diamond Squad,” and for Nikolai, it’s a time to find out about his own sexuality.
The fascinating characters keep this series interesting, and in this one, Marcus has become a much more interesting character. He’s the man in charge, stern and over protective of his brother Ace, but always willing to help any of the “family”. I hope Dante has plans for a Marcus story somewhere down the line.
I can’t wait to see what’s next for the “Bikers of Mayhem”.
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.
