Violent Devotion: A Dark MM Mafia Romance (Empire of Sins Book 1)

I am absolutely in love with this book and these 2 absolutely precious beautiful boys this book will forever be in my top 5 favorite books I don’t even have words I loved it soo much. I was all over the place with my emotions half the time I was laughing or swooning or my eyes were tearing up Alexie was soo freaking cute he was just SOOOO DOWN BAD for Kelly. He kept stealing his things that he end up with a collection of things that were just all about Kelly. And he would absolutely do anything to keep Kelly safe and make him happy my heart hurt for him in so many ways too he deserves the world and I’m so glad he has Kelly for that! And ugh sweet baby Kelly the beautiful boy he is most definitely deserves the world I couldn’t have been more happy that Alexie took care of his disgusting jerk of an ex and Kelly can have all the love and care he should have been given to begin with! And the brothers I can’t the absolute chaos with them all i was dying laughing so hard at them I can’t wait for the next book I need it like yesterday!!!

Okay but when I say TRUE mafia????? This here IS IT!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. The author did such an AMAZING job at keeping true to the unhinged and true nature of a crazy ass mafia family and I ate it up every time 👏🏽! The interactions between Alexei and his family was always a chaotic, wild, and fun time 🤣 My heart absolutely broke for Kelly and everything he endured. I appreciate how realistic the author portrayed a DV survivor, although I personally would have liked a little more care into the effects even with Alexei. Just because Kelly trusts him, doesn’t necessarily mean his body will always get the memo. I wish there was a bit more of that once living together. The dynamic between Alexei and Kelly was phenomenal. They balanced each other out so well and I can’t even tell you how many times I laughed OUT LOUD with the whole “office talk” because Kelly was really struggling to accept the facts 🤣 (iykyk). Alexei also broke my heart, in a different way. To be raised in a dangerous environment where killing for his family was acceptable but loving a man was a death sentence, just broke me. To hear that since 8 years old, he always fought with that side of him, lived in fear, and shoved it way deep down, just hit me right in the FEELS. These two men were both starved for soft love, quiet understanding, and space to be themselves. I absolutely devoured this book and loved how unapologetically unhinged Alexei was 🤣 This book was so enjoyable and for the author’s debut, I…

Wow. This book was just simply everything I could hope for in a book. I love the mafia type books and unalivers finding their perfect person to love. The only depressing part of me as a reader, was that this was a debut novel from a new author -- I can't properly stalk their backlist. If they had one, I most definitely would grab every single thing they wrote. 100% obsessed with this world the author created and cannot wait to dive further into the Empire of Sins., like Alexei level obsessed. Sending this book to all my MM / Mafia / Unhinged / Unaliver / Touch him and 💀 / book friends. They cannot miss out on everything that is Alexei and Kelly (Clover too 🐇).

I'm a fan of psychopaths, diagnosed or not, so no surprise I enjoyed this book. Alexei is from an old Russian family that started the mafia. Kelly is a veterinarian who saves his life. Like so many unhinged men before him, Alexei falls first, harder & immediately. Kelly has been through some things and should be very wary of Alexei but isn't. My only complaint in this book is that Alexei is so "touch him & die"..."no one hurts my man"...meanwhile if his Russian family finds out they'll kill Kelly but it doesn't stop him from continuing to put Kelly in danger...in public...I just felt you can't have it both ways. I probably won't continue the series bc repeated unresolved homophobia is too much like the real world and I read to get away from that.

Phew this book was intense. For a debut book this author did not hold back and honestly it definitely paid off. Alexei is the sweetest psychopath you’ll ever meet and despite having to skip over a multitude of brutal scenes that were caused by his hand, I adored him. He gives off cinnamon roll boyfriend vibes while stalking, mafia’ing, and stealing your favorite things. Kelly was an adorable mess who really just needed a wake up call. He was sleeping through life and letting his depression and anxiety ruin him before Alexei came in guns blazing. It was fun to see him come out of his shell and soak up all of Alexei’s praise and power. I loved how both of them showed different forms of strength while also being vulnerable together and neither ever asked the other to change who they are or question what they need. The side characters in this book were just as unhinged and impressive. I’m eagerly awaiting all of the mafia brothers’ books and more drama filled family dinners. Clover was an adorable sidekick and emotional support animal for both of our MMCs and this better not be the last we see of her before this series is over. I’m really excited for the next installment in this series but mostly I’m just excited for whatever this author surprises us with next. Anyone who can start their published writing career with a book like this is someone to keep tabs on. Tropes: Stalking as a Love Language, Unhinged Cinnamon Roll, Mafia Antics, First Times, Dual POV, Brutality (Please…