Tag: author N.N. Britt

Review: Dallas: MM Mafia Romance (Light & Shadow Book 2) by N. N. Britt

Rating: 3.75šŸŒˆ

Is it so incredibly contradictory to say i enjoyed this despite myself? There were so many aspects to this storyline that vexed me because they and the characters actions felt illogical or clueless.  And that doesnā€™t address the plot holes left dangling at the end of the story never to have resolution if this is a duology. 

But I did end up getting snared in the messy, enemies to lovers relationship between the mob boss son trying to hold his territory and the undercover agent sent in to neutralize him and his criminal element. Brittā€™s intention isnā€™t to write a realistic law enforcement thriller that mirrors current real life scenarios or even alphabet agency procedures, but in her words ā€œto tell a love story ā€œ.  Which she does.

This second book contains the most detailed aspects about the characters, the horrific abuses in Isaacā€™s background and family history, including vague references to his prison life. 

Itā€™s also where we see a more rounded version of Agent Dallas Bradley, aka Hawk, now a man so conflicted about his duty and where his loyalty is based that heā€™s hesitant about his own personal feelings and future.  This is where a two person POV really excels in getting a reader into the mindset of the main characters, especially in situations where they are so diametrically opposed.

The relationship between Dallas/Hawk and Isaac has a vivid raw realistic connection.  Britt has done a great job in making this a passionate, love hate romance thatā€™s so overwhelming that some of the plotā€™s underwhelming elements get overlooked. 

This includes the resolutions to the storylines left dangling at the end of the book.  These plot holes relate only to this couple and these two books, at least from what I understand, ties up their relationship and storylines.  Not totally satisfying but they do get a HFN. 

The third book has a completely different story and couple. And, I expect, follows the same unconventional narrative concerning law enforcement code and policing. 

I enjoyed this duo, found it entertaining and the pair dramatic and interesting.  Is it in the top of my mafia romance list? No. But if this is a trope that you enjoy, pick it up and see what you think.  Read them in the order they are written.

Great cover.

Cover Design by Sarah Kil

Light & Shadow series:

Isaac #1

Dallas #2

Forbidden #3 – different set of characters 

Buy link

        Dallas: MM Mafia Romance (Light & Shadow Book 2)

    

Blurb

Prepare for Betrayal and Redemption in Sin City.

As the leader of the Hellhounds and a valued member of the notorious Thoreau crime syndicate, Isaac has it all: power, money, fear. Falling for someone has never been on his radar. But for the first time in his life, Isaac thinks he’s found someone he can truly trustā€”the mysterious security guard who shattered through his icy defenses and became the one person Isaac could be himself with.

Until everything goes up in flames.

Dallas Bradley has been treading an unstable line of deceit between righteousness and criminality. Isaac Thoreau’s world is slowly turning him into Hawk, the man who doesn’t exist, the man who’s ready to do bad things to survive and remain close to Isaac. But when a dangerous deal goes south, in order to save Isaac’s life, Dallas is forced to reveal the devastating truthā€”he’s a Special Agent sent to infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring down Isaac.

Heartbroken and enraged, Isaac can’t stand the man who betrayed him so deeply. However, when it’s clear Isaac’s fate is prison, Dallas strikes a bargain with his boss: help save Isaac from life behind bars and keep Dallas undercover to clean up the mess.

Isaac hates Dallas more than ever, but to escape the crosshairs they must work together once more. As tempers and stakes flare in the streets of Sin City, Dallas will risk everything to redeem himself in Isaac’s eyes. But can their undeniable connection survive when trust has turned to ash?

***

Dallas is the second installment of Light & Shadow Duet. It should be read after Isaac. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc. Length: 65,000 words. Alternating POV.

Review: Isaac: MM Mafia Romance (Light & Shadow Book 1) by N. N. Britt

Rating: 3.75šŸŒˆ

Im a fan of the dark mafia romance trope, including a sub group where one of the main characters is an undercover agent and the other is the mafia boss or something similar.  So when I ran across an author I hadnā€™t read before and this series with a great cover, I had to check it out. 

I normally have an issue with stories where the law enforcement officers or their agencies donā€™t come across as being particularly realistic. Especially when the agent is undercover and thereā€™s intelligence and support staff involved. Having a writer take this element and treat it carelessly usually takes me out of the narrative.

But N. N. Britt chooses to go a different route from the beginning and state upfront that her goal isnā€™t a ā€œgritty authenticityā€ but instead a love story about ā€œpassion, betrayal, and redemption.ā€ Sheā€™s not incorporating real basic law enforcement protocols here, let that be understood. The author is letting the reader know that upfront. So donā€™t go looking for any.  She also places her trigger warnings in the description, which I like. 

So a reader is well informed before they read the book. No looking for something that the author never said you should expect to find. And donā€™t. 

What I did find was a good story. Dramatic, half a tale actually, about a two men starting towards a relationship in a highly dangerous situation and unstable world.  

Britt sets it up as the undercover agent gets his assignment with a minimum of intelligence and time frame to get in and get the job done. 

Special Agent Dallas Bradley has his doubts but accepts the job and his target. And becomes Hawk.

His target is the recently released from prison, Isaac Thoreau, the son of a notorious crime boss. His crime? That involves the fact his father is no longer the crime boss but he is. 

Isaac had a brutal, abusive relationship with his father thatā€™s revealed in past memories throughout the story. A new mafia boss in an unsettled state, Isaac is someone whose layers are constantly being peeled off.  The two person perspective narrative helps create the complex connection/relationship thatā€™s building between them. 

The hellhounds, the bodyguards surrounding Isaac, are memorable in their own right, especially Jeremy.  He helps cut into some of the more overly descriptive passages and wordy thought processes of Hawk/Dallas with his concise statements and ill-concealed dislike for the agent in disguise. 

To read the book you have to ā€œgo with the flow ā€œ narratively speaking and not look at the mafia, law enforcement, or legal systems for any realistic scenarios.  Like Britt said, itā€™s not there. Thereā€™s plenty of emotional moments, action sequences, and doubts of self awareness to make the storylines work.

Britt does get overly descriptive and sometimes makes the passages a bit repetitive in the wordings chosen but sheā€™s telling a passionate love story, one that will have its end in the second book, Dallas. 

I enjoyed this, itā€™s entertaining but not so dark that it feels realistic or that dramatic as much happens ā€œoff the page ā€œ.  Iā€™m definitely heading to the next book to see how the characters and plot plays out.

Great cover.

Cover Design by Sarah Kil

Light & Shadow series:

Isaac #1

Dallas #2

Forbidden #3 – different set of characters 

Buy link

        Isaac: MM Mafia Romance (Light & Shadow Book 1)

    

Blurb 

In the heart of Sin City, two men on opposite sides of the law collide in a dangerous game of power, passion, and betrayal.

Isaac Thoreau, the son of a notorious crime boss, has spent nine years behind bars for his father’s murder. Driven, cunning, and unfeeling, he’s now back to claim what’s rightfully his. But when an enigmatic security guard named Hawk is hired to work at his nightclub, Isaac finds himself distractedā€¦ and inexplicably drawn to Hawk, despite his best efforts to resist.

Special Agent Dallas Bradley’s mission is clear: infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring their leader, Isaac Thoreau, to justice. Posing as Hawk, Dallas is determined to uncover the secrets of the Thoreau criminal empire. But as he delves deeper into Isaac’s world, the lines between right and wrong blur, and soon an undeniable attraction grows between the two men, forcing Dallas to question everything.

Walking away before he’s compromised would be the smart choice, but Dallas can’t resist Isaac’s magnetic pull, even if it means risking his life.

As love and duty clash, only one question remains: will Isaac and Dallas survive the fallout?

***

Isaac is the first installment of the Light & Shadow Duet. It can not be read as standalone. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc.