A dark and intense romance with a strong emphasis on power dynamics, where the lines between consent and control are blurred. Content warnings include but are not limited to kidnapping, torture, emotional abuse, rape and so much more.

Story: 2 ⭐️
Steam: 5/6🔥 heavy steam - dubcon/noncon
Audio: 4 🎧

Ugh. I wanted to give this author duo another chance but I just can’t. I don’t like the writing style and this book was kinda boring. Also the heroine was annoying af and just… pretty dumb with no common sense.

I loved this book from beginning to end. The narrators were excellent - they kept me engaged and interested in the story throughout. Great listen!!

*received for free from netgalley for my honest review* ah yes, another case of me going into books completely blind has come to bite me in the ass lmfao not my cup of tea and not a book id had ever finished without a lot of determination but i do know someone whod love it so, to each their own lol

SUMMARY: Book two of the of the Moretti Crime Family series follows Marcus, crime boss Julian Moretti's right hand man and best friend. Both Moretti and Marcus are characters from book one, in which Julian falls in love with Elena, a women he buys to enact a revenge plot.Marcus is with the couple when he bids and wins Fallon at auction. His uncharacteristically impetuous action is triggered when he momentarily mistakes her for his first and only love. Although he realizes they are not the same person, he takes Fallon since he cannot have the woman he lost. He plans to exorcise a ghost and, instead. gets possessed.

REVIEW: The novel starts with Fallon near naked, in line for the stage, and one of the first things readers learn about her is that she is the only woman who doesn’t cower and cry despite being terrified. She, special snowflake that she is, “can’t let fear own [her].” When a hysterical girl in line tells Fallon, “you’re stronger than me,” the food in my stomach sours. I’ve read a lot of these books where the women are sold to some benevolent monster who is willing to spend a million dollars for them only to wait patiently to have sex with them. That dynamic sums up the entire reason for the trop to be considered romantic. It is the most morbidly romanticized version of human trafficking there could be. It’s a fantasy. I get it. No one truly believes there are men who pay money for kidnaped women only to pamper them and fall on love. But it was not until this particular women was presented as some how better because she didn’t cry that I felt complicit. The fact that Julian and Marcus frequent the auction, and are so flippant about it all adds to my discomfort.

Starting off with these kind of vibes colors the rest of the story for me. I’m not as primed for steaminess knowing that this woman was snatched off the street after class as I am willing to accept that a man has watch a young woman grow up, and instead of brokering a deal like she expects with her mafioso father, he has to strong arm her father into selling her outright. It may be splitting hairs, but it definitely hits me differently as a reader. It takes a long time for this feeling to go away, far longer than it takes for Fallon to acclimate to her new lifestyle. The disconnect is so prominent, by chapter four I have nothing invested in either male or female protagonist.

So I am understandably surprised by how affectively Beck and Hallman bring me over to their side chapters later. Most of my tolerance comes from the fact that both Marcus and Fallon recognize how wrong they are in nurturing the feelings they have towards each other. Plus, Fallon recognizes the unlikelihood of her experience as a human trafficking victim and the need for her to grieve the lives of the women who shared a space with her in holding and on that stage. Prior to this realization, as a reader, I felt “there’s something wrong with me for enjoying” the story of characters who can enjoy sexual intimacy under the circumstances they do. In the end, Hallman and Beck relay the MC’s relationship so unflinchingly, I cannot help but accept it. The couple ekes out a bit of love where they’re able—with their eyes wide open.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Violent Beginnings is the second book in The Moretti Crime Family series. This book is told from dual perspectives by Markus and Fallon.

Fallon is kidnapped and sold at an auction. Markus sees her on the display and she reminds him of someone he lost. So he purchases her for 1 million dollars. He locks her in a cell and treats her like a prisoner.

At first, Fallon seems compliant, so Markus lets her out and lets her sleep in his bed even though she's tied to it. Markus realizes she is hiding something, so he leaves her untied one night. She tries to make a phone call he knows there is more going on, and that she is hiding secrets.

Can Fallon learn to trust that Markus wants to help her? Can Markus prove to Fallon that he won't hurt her? Can Markus find out what Fallon's secret is before it's too late? Will they get their happily ever after?

Thank you to netgalley.com and Dreamscape Media for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

He thought he was seeing a ghost when the girl walked out on the stage. It couldn't be who he thought because he had watched her die and that night played over and over in his head. He had to buy her he couldn't let anyone else have her. Desperate to own her and break her he takes her to a safe house that belongs to his boss. There he discovers that she has secrets and he is determined to find out what they are.

Narrators were good, I appreciate the back and forth of male and female narrators as opposed to just one or the other. Fast paced action and some sizzling scenes. Great for those who like alpha men who are in control.

This is Fallon and Markus's story. Fallon fined herself in an auction, Markus sees her and he can't believe is a woman from his past. They find themselves in a new situation where deceit and lies come out to play. The story has so many twists and turns to have you wanting to find out what comes next. The audiobook was well narrated by Alastair Haynesbridge and Samantha Summers, they did a great job portraying and keeping good pacing of the story.

I received an audiobook of Violent Beginnings by J.L. Beck & C. Hallman for review provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

All I needed to hear was mafia enemies to lover romance. I love dark mafia romances and this book is no exception! It’s dark and twisted in all the right ways! It took some time to warm up to Markus but I immediately liked Fallon; She’s smart, selfless. The narration was good, and kept me engage. Definitely recommend if dark mafia romance is your thing!

Blurb:

The deal was sealed the moment she stepped onto that stage. It was like seeing a ghost. Sunshine blonde hair, pale skin, and azure eyes that held a thousand secrets.I didn’t know what caused her to end up on that auction block. And I didn’t care either. All I knew was that I had to have her…no matter the cost.One-million dollars later and she became just that. Mine to break. Mine to use. Mine to keep. We all have secrets, and when I discover hers, no one will be able to save her from me.

*This is a complete standalone, 100k+ word novel. It contains dark themes, including violence and sexual situations. As always there is no cheating, and a happily ever after.*

I was excited about the opportunity to review this audio book as these authors have been on my 'To Read' for awhile now. It being an dual narrated, both male and female voices, always makes stories better for me especially if it's a romance. The narrators of the audio book edition, were great. Giving that masculine grovel that you imagine while reading these types of books and the female voice is very pleasant to listen to. I really enjoyed their combined narration to bring this overall book experience to life.

This story starts off with a pretty dark beginning of blood and death so it's hard to tell if it's going to get darker and more bloody or if there will be a light at the end. What you get is a story that is a little slow to get burning, with characters that I found to contradict often times with their trope types. It left me feeling frustrations a lot of times (not in a good way 😑)

When it comes to the mafia / Bratva romance, you expect them to be dark and twisted, full of blood and violence. The males to be broody alphaholes exteriors covering hard or broken interiors. What you don't expect is a male character who commands respect with a glance and then let's some girl walk all over him like it's nothing. He would lose face and be killed so quickly. The things that Markus lets Fallon get away with should get her a minimum of a spanking. It's just so wrong for his character to let her to I want to scream. Maybe it was Fallon that drove me crazy.

Overall, it started out well but somewhere along the way it lost its steam and got weighted down in the quagmire of the backdoor and inner dialogs

** Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the authors for the opportunity to review this audio book. The opinions are my own and have been in no way influenced. **

This book had a good start (and I guess a happy ending). But once the forced sex started, I lost interest and had a hard time finishing the book. There were several parts that were difficult to read because of the content. I also felt like these characters gave me whiplash! Let me explain: the male character abuses the female and then talks about how much he wants to care for her and for her to care for him, and then he sexually abused her again. Female lead character gets raped multiple times by the male lead but still falls in love with him because he lets her climax during the rapes. And there’s no underlying reason of why the female lead is at his house until it’s just randomly thrown in the story but was written as if we should have know that. I feel bad for ever saying an author did a bad job writing, but I just was not a fan of this story or the writing.
But I do appreciate NetGalley and Dreamscape audio for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

The smut in the beginning of this book was intense. I was a little worried about the lack of consent that might happen in this book but I thought it was written pretty well. Although she bonds with her "capturer" quiet quickly. I did enjoy the plot but I wish it would have started sooner then half way through the book.

This is a dark and twisted story told between two alternating POV. It is not for everyone as it deals with the human sex trade and being sold.

Violent Beginnings is a dark mafia romance with “enemies to lovers” and “forced proximity.” This is my first dark mafia romance.

Our main characters are Fallon and Markus. Fallon is kidnapped and put on stage to be sold at auction. Markus, instantly needs to have her and buys her for 1 million dollars.

I struggled a little with the first half, especially with connecting at all with Markus. However, the second half really picked up for me. I enjoyed Fallon as a character. She felt both strong and timid at the same time.

I received an ALC of Violent Beginnings via NetGalley and DreamScapes Media

HOT….steamy, sexy, and graphic. Not for the faint of heart or anyone looking for a sappy romance. By comparison this book makes Christian Grey seem seem fifty shades of average. Some dark scenes of violence that one should be prepared for when you take on this book. I was a little taken aback and wondering what I’d gotten myself into when I was within the first few chapters and a bit surprised at the level of graphic detail used throughout. The overall quality of the story didn’t have much depth so that’s why I’m rating it a little lower than average/mid range.

This one was a little brutal for me. I didn’t feel invested in Fallon’s story enough to continue. I typically like steamy sex scenes, but not when mixed with murder! DNF @ 20%.

I think this was a me problem but I have a hard time with captive romances where it’s insta-lust. With most dark romances, I can suspend belief in situations but I prefer there to be some build up of tension between the characters first. Even in captive romances I want there to be some time spent developing the characters and rationalizing their sometimes unhealthy feelings for each other. This jumped straight in to nonconsensual stuff straight from the auction block. So definitely check trigger warnings if you’re iffy about consent or ownership scenes. That being said, the writing was compelling and I was curious about both characters’ backstories the whole time.

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed the narrators Alastair Haynesbridge, Samantha Summers and the audiobook. The did a fantastic job with the characters, but the story was a bit lack luster and boring for me. Nothing really impacted me reading it as nothing seemed new to me as I have read similar books like this. A lot of inner dialogue. Needed more drama and action! I was disappointed on Fallons background on how I was wrong. I wish she was the opposite! You'll have to read to find out why. I'm sure I would have skimmed the book had I physically read it.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Violent Beginnings is definitely not for the faint of heart. Its an extremely dark mafia romance.

I have read dark mafia romances in the past and have liked them but this one was a little too much for me. Fallon was a great character and was extremely strong. However, I could not get behind Marcus. Usually the love interest would never hurt them but would hurt everyone else, Marcus definitely hurts her at different points. He somewhat redeems himself at the end but it still had me uneasy. The audiobook itself was extremely well done though. The narrators did a great job and really brought the characters to life. For me, this was a 2.5/5.

I received a copy of this audiobook free from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.

WOWZA, that was spicy. I loved Fallon and Marcus (but mostly Fallon). She seems so strong throughout the whole book. I will say I didn't like some of the descriptions but you can't win them all. Particularly the repeated use of "mushroom-shaped".