Genre: Thriller, Dark Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Skyler (Sky) Teagan
28, damaged, burlesque dancer… that is when I’m not breaking into people’s houses or knocking them unconscious at dinner parties.
I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m damaged. I have issues. I have a lot of pent-up anger and hostility, especially when it comes to bullies or guys who try and exert their dominance over me. Take this guy Patrick for instance. Yes, he may be a scary Irish thug with an eight-pack and muscles the size of my head, but I’m the expert gymnast who knocked him unconscious and left him tied naked to his bed.
Patrick O’Maley
31, Irish, professional torturer… well, I prefer “Information Extractor”, sounds less brutish and medieval.
Hey, it’s not my fault! When a child grows up knowing only pain and betrayal, can you really blame him when he grows up to become a monster? I like pain. I’m good at making people scream. Those unlucky enough to join me in my playroom, quickly discover that there are only two ways their visit will end; one with the loss of blood and broken bones, the other with the loss of their life.
But when a secret I’ve kept hidden all these years, brings me to the City of Sin, I can’t help but face my greatest challenge; a feisty little burlesque dancer wearing a sexy mesh top and tight leather pants. Oh, don’t be fooled. Under that silky smooth skin and gorgeous blue eyes, lives a dangerous and vengeful predator. One just as damaged as me, and just as sexy.
This is a MM thriller/dark romance filled with plenty of heat, steam, violence, and mayhem.
The Review
Patrick “Paddy” O’Maley was abandoned by his Mother, Marie at the age of nine. He watched as she and his younger brother Oliver both drove away. He was left with an abusive father, Liam O’Maley, and later moved to Jersey. Life was cruel to Patrick, but he made two important connections – with Mickey and Dominic. Mickey’s father was a notorious crime boss named Clive O’Brien, and Liam was one of his low-level thugs. A solid friendship grew between Mickey, Dominic and Patrick.
Patrick is an enforcer, and the expert at “wet work” for the O’Brien crew.. He lives his crazy, out-of-control life style to the fullest. He’s definitely a bad boy and doesn’t blink an eye while inflicting pain on those who deserve it. But lately, something is missing in all the sex and drug parties.
His life starts to change, when he gets a call from Ash, who has been keeping Patrick informed for years about his younger brother, Oliver. Patrick hasn’t seen Oliver in twenty years, but now his younger brother has been incarcerated for the murder of their mother, and Patrick is seeing red. He leaves town without a word to Mickey or Dominic. He’s been keeping his brother a secret all these years and he doesn’t want him in the life that Patrick now has with the O’Brien Crew. He fears that his enemies would use Oliver against him if they found out about him.
Skyler Teagan had a wonderful life and loving parents, but they were taken away from him at the age of ten. He faced bullying and humiliation in school. Two women did the best they could to help him – his Aunt Louis and Ms. LeBell, a teacher. Skyler keeps his past very private, and is also seeking revenge, a quest that leads him to a man named Eric Miller.
Patrick and Skyler find themselves face to face as both go after Miller. Nothing seems to surprise Patrick, but will Skyler’s talents shake him? Will they join forces, or become each others’ competition? Will Oliver be convicted? And when they find the man who’s really behind everything, what secrets will come out?
Devouring Sin finally explores Patrick O’Maley’s story, which I have really looked forward to. His partying and sex-capades have always been extreme and out of control. There’s a lot going on emotionally under the surface for Patrick, going back to his abandonment and feelings of betrayal at a young age. He still has a hard time accepting that his Mother was escapingfrom an abusive man, because he paid the penalty for his Mother and brother’s escape.
Skyler Teagan was also robbed of a life that could have lead to so much love. His experience in boarding school taught him to be invisible to escape the abuse from those who believed they were better than him.
As always, the O’Brien Crew plays a big role here Mickey O’Brien and his better half Seth; Dominic and Scott. I also liked Ash, who did so much to help Patrick and Oliver.
Dante weaves another tale of sexy, damaged men with rough edges, a fast-paced, action packed tale of suspense and danger with just a touch of mystery. Dante has a gift for bringing together, unique, dangerous men, and manages to show their vulnerable, emotional and caring sides, too.
I can’t wait to read tje “Rough Edges” story!
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.
