Lake Tahoe, Mafia Capital of the World

Lake Tahoe, Mafia Capital of the World

by Charlotte Brandman

photograph: Pinterest

Five years ago, Natalie Peterson’s fiancé disappeared the day before their wedding. Ever since, she’s super horny. And also an alcoholic. And also starting mafia wars. All in a day’s work, am I right?

Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Gessinger is the first book in the Queens and Monsters series, the one I reviewed in the second post ever of “Enemies to Readers.” I remain an avid lover of mafia romance and strong female leads so Ruthless Creatures was a joyful break from whatever H.D. Carlton tried to write (see last week’s article). 

On the fifth anniversary of Natalie’s fiancé, David’s, disappearance, she plans to drink herself into a stupor— that is until she meets a handsome stranger at the bar. That stranger happens to be Kage, who not only happens to be Natalie’s new next-door neighbor but also the second-in-command to the head of the Bratva, the Russian mafia.

Kage is instantly taken by Natalie; if you’re not into “insta-love,” which is the term the romance community has coined for when two characters fall in love at first sight, then this book is not for you. Kage is obsessed with Natalie even though he knows nothing about her. And while Natalie pushes back a little bit, her five-year celibacy marathon begs to be put to an end by her hot neighbor.

There’s only one problem: Kage isn’t all that he seems. Natalie figures out pretty quickly that he works for the mafia because of his weird work hours and his finesse of a gun holster. What she doesn’t know, is that Kage was sent to kill Natalie.

Mic. Drop.

That’s right, Natalie is the Bratva’s number one target. Why? Well, her fiancé, David, was actually an accountant for the Bratva until he quit (which is super not allowed in the mafia) and went into witness protection. He sold out the leader of the Bratva to the FBI, which is why Kage has to communicate with his boss from jail. And, there’s more: David had an entire family. That’s right, a wife and kids that he left behind when he started seeing Natalie.

And people wonder why I’m a lesbian when men are acting like this. 

Was this book amazing? No. Definitely not a literary genius. But on the “Enemies to Readers” Sex-o-Meter, it’s a 4-star smutty read. There are lots of sex scenes (and some experimentation for my more kinky readers *wink-wink*).

If you’re looking for an easy read that leads you into one of the best, steamiest mafia romance series, start Ruthless Creatures and devour the crazy plotlines.

See you next read,

Charlotte