Mad Man – Onley James

Synopsis

Avi Mulvaney is many things. Son. Twin. Owner of the fashion label, Gemini. Murderous psychopath. Together, he and his brother, Asa, make one brutally efficient monster, ridding the world of predators who victimize the innocent. History proves Avi and Asa don’t do well apart, but their father has decided to test that theory.

Felix Navarro knows exactly who he is. Baby brother. Fashionista. Vigilante. While he’s not happy that his big brother married a Mulvaney, the union has its perks. Like a paid internship with Gemini. But all good things come with a cost and, for Felix, that’s enduring Avi Mulvaney each day, which inevitably leads to thinking about him every night.

Felix doesn’t like Avi. He’s cocky, condescending, overbearing, and inappropriate. He’s also sexy, brilliant, and twice as lethal as Felix. Still, Felix loathes him. Even if he keeps letting him kiss him. And touch him. Even if he slipped just once. It was still hate sex, and it would never happen again. Ever.

Except, Avi’s being sent to help take down a dangerous crime ring and he’s ordered Felix to come along. Felix has vowed to stay strong. To remember he hates Avi. But they’re trapped together and there’s only one bed, and it’s so hard to hate Avi in the dark when he’s whispering how Felix belongs to him. Felix belongs to no man, but Avi is determined. He has one week to prove to Felix that he’s the exception to his rule. After all, who says no to a Mulvaney?

Mad Man is a scorchingly hot, intense, enemies to lovers, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a dirty talking, brutally vicious killer and a sharp tongued murderous fashionista who are both too stubborn for their own good. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, enough blood to film the final scene in the movie Carrie, and enough heat to melt your panties. This is book 5 in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.

TAGS: psychopath, enemies-to-loves, dark humor, much violence, jealousy, bad boys doing bad things, long distance snark, only one bed, hate sex, more hate sex, hate sex that becomes apathetic sex then maybe something like love, if two killers are better than one what’s three killers, Avi is jealous, Asa is preoccupied, August is still August, Lucas is frazzed, Archer is still drunk, Thomas is at his wits end, Aiden is still in denial, Noah is still the psychopath whisperer and Adam is still a dick.

My Thoughts

Avi and Asa haven’t been apart since they were children. But now with Avi taking Felix with him on a mission to help their wayward brother, Aiden, things are bound to be interesting.

Felix is feisty, extremely lethal, and he hates Avi with an extreme passion. But that really only makes him more attractive to Avi. Especially when it’s apparent that Felix doesn’t hate him at all.

But Felix is deathly afraid of losing those closest to him. He built walls so high, and so thick, not even his brother, Jericho, can reach him sometimes. But Avi is determined to break those walls down, and to show Felix that he is Avi’s most important person – other than Asa.

What’s fascinating about this book is the glimpse into Aiden’s life. Aiden, the Mulvaney son we know the least about – just that his relationship with Thomas is extremely strained. Aiden may want as much distance between himself and Thomas as possible, but he’s still Mulvaney through and through – taking out the trash. And when his case captures Felix and Avi’s attention, the three of them team up to do what they do best.

And between all that, Avi and Felix give their relationship a chance. Felix brings his walls down, and he lets Avi in. They share their deepest insecurities, thoughts, and fears. And they vow to continue to communicate their needs to each other – even when Felix promises to be very, very bossy.

As each Mulvaney finds their partner, I’m more and more fascinated and enthralled by these vigilante psychopaths. I guess there are few things I love more than morally grey vigilante murderous psychopaths. Who knew?

~ by Aubrey Smith on April 15, 2024.