Genre: Mystery, Dark Romance, Suspense
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
The secrets of the past never remain buried. Somehow, they always find a way of leaking into the present, forcing people to face their demons and confront the haunting truths they have tried so desperately to keep hidden.
Isaac
25, Exotic Dancer… likes to party and have a good time.
What can I say? I like to have fun. Do I party hard? Yes. Do I make all the guys around me hot under the collar? Also, yes. But what’s my favorite thing to do? Annoy the heck out of a certain uptight, ex-army boy whose muscles are way too big for his body. Seriously. We get it. You work out, dude… but also, I want you. Right here. Right now. Nope! Not going to admit that! Never. Ever. So, forget what you just heard and move along, please.
Jared
28, Exotic Dancer, ex-army… spends most of his time making sure that a certain blue-haired pain stays out of trouble.
Why do I do this? He annoys me to no end. Constantly playing pranks and always getting on my nerves. Yet, for some reason, I always find myself looking out for him. Making sure that he’s safe and stays out of trouble. So, when the boss asks Isaac to revisit his painful past, of course, I’m there to protect him. He’s going to need all the moral support he can get. Also, if anyone touches him, they’re going to be introduced to a whole new level of pain. Just don’t tell Isaac. I still have a reputation to keep.
This is an MM Dark Romance filled with bad men doing bad things.
Content Warning: Kidnapping, violence, off-screen assault, alcohol abuse, foul language, and loads of steamy scenes.
The Review
Matteo is the owner of the La Maison de M, and keeps a close watch on all the clientele who become members. He was used once before by Edwin, who began blackmailing the high end customers with the information. Edwin kept a journal that became known as the “Book of Sin.” Since that incident, Marc Bodin has started working with Matteo, conducting background searches on any new applicants.
Jared is also helping to look for any applicants who might be a danger to society and the club. Jared runs across a lawyer, Benjamin Sawyer who arranges fake adoptions for people. He tells Matteo about a gangster called “The Night Basher,” and the name Declan Snake. Jared realizes immediately that something has set Matteo off.
Isaac lost his father at a young age, and went to live with his Uncle. When he was
fifteen, he was pimped out to two men. He fought back and wouldn’t let the men abuse him. Drunk and high, one of the men tried to take Isaac, but he scratched and kicked. When the man fell and and cracked his head on fireplace bricks, he died. His uncle had left him, and there was nothing left to do but run. He couldn’t go home anymore. So he made his own life on the streets, selling his body, until he met Matteo, who gave him a safe place to live. He also found a friend in Jared.
Jared, now twenty-eight, is a strapping ex-military man, and struggles with PTSD. Matteo found Jared in a bar, and after several nights he and Matteo became friends. Matteo offered Jared help and a safe place to live his life. Even with therapy, Jared doesn’t share what he faced in the military. His room is next to Isaac’s, and Isaac can hear when Jared is having one of his nightmares. Experiencing Jared’s reaction to be woken during these nightmares makes Isaac very cautious when he goes to check on him. As much as the blue haired skater boy, irritates Jared with his joking around, Jared has always cared for Isaac. He worries for his safety when he entertains too many men at one time.
Even though they drive each other crazy, they eventually cross the line. When Jared, Isaac, Gunnar, Anders, Teo and the impulsive Diesel are invited on a yacht with some high end clients, Jared and Isaac become more involved. They are almost caught, and decide they have to slow things down. After all, what would Matteo do if he found out?
On their return to the club, is approached by Matteo, who wants to see him immediately. Matteo has done some investigating, and he shares the information he uncovered about Benjamin Sawyer and the man known as Declan Snake with Isaac. With Matteo’s agreement, Isaac will go to Ireland and see his Uncle in prison, along with Jared, Diesel and Malik, one of Matteo’s top security guys. When they return to La Maison, Matteo is angry that they stayed overnight.
Isaac is now in danger, and only Raj knows what happened, but he’s not talking. Will Matteo and the boys be able to deal with this crisis? Who else will join them? And will Jared be able to handle the chaos that lies ahead?
Dante brings back Matteo and the boys of La Maison d M in the second tale in the “Book of Sins” series with The Broker. It’s another fast paced, dark thriller, filled with danger, excitement, a budding romance and humor. This time pranksters Isaac and Jared take center stage. There’s so much snark and banter between them. They have a special friendship, and also show their serious and vulnerable sides as they start to share their pasts.
Other characters that deserve recognition too: Matteo and Ares – what is or isn’t going on between these two? Raj is certainly a special kind of hero. Will Diesel find his way and come back to earth? And Teo is turning out to be interesting, too.
I highly recommend The Broker and the “Book of Sin” series, especially if you like characters who have struggled in life and now are starting to get things together. I can’t wait to see who Dante has plans to expose next!
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.
