The Bossman

Book One in the Bossman Series

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Pub Date 09 Apr 2016 | Archive Date 06 Jun 2018

Description

No

Sophie Palazzo never imagined that falling in love with a mafia don would get her a spanking – and that she would love it!

Sophie Palazzo steered clear of the mafia after her father's involvement ended with his murder. Fifteen years later, Joey La Torre, the Don's brother himself, shows up unannounced at her massage studio and wheedles his way into a date. She has no interest in aggressive, macho men like Joey, or so she tries to tell herself, but her body just doesn't get the message. When Joey takes her in hand with a firm bare-bottomed spanking, she ought to be furious, instead, she's aroused. As she explores her physical desires to be dominated, she tries to keep Joey at arm's length emotionally.

Joey knows he wants Sophie for keeps from the moment he walks into her life. She is hot, classy and full of fire, even though submission turns her on. But his involvement in the mafia is a hard limit for her, bringing to conflict his own dedication to the Family, the code of silence and his relationship with his older brother. Can he reconcile his duty to the organization and his growing need for Sophie to remain in his life permanently?

description available

No

Sophie Palazzo never imagined that falling in love with a mafia don would get her a spanking – and that she would love it!

Sophie Palazzo steered clear of the mafia after her...


A Note From the Publisher

Renee Rose is a modern dance teacher, Feldenkrais Practitioner(R), energy worker and kinkster. Named Eroticon USA's Next Top Erotic Author in 2013, her books are all centered around her favorite kink: spanking.

A lifelong writer, she has a B.A. in creative writing from Knox College, where she won the Davenport prize for both fiction and poetry, and the Lorraine Smith prize for literary criticism. She spent thirteen years in technical writing before she found a way to incorporate her deepest darkest spanking fantasies into fiction and express a part of her that longed to see the light. She is now passionate about supporting others in accepting and exploring their kink, whatever that may be.

Renee Rose is a modern dance teacher, Feldenkrais Practitioner(R), energy worker and kinkster. Named Eroticon USA's Next Top Erotic Author in 2013, her books are all centered around her favorite...


Advance Praise

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Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781626010802
PRICE $6.99 (USD)

Average rating from 220 members


Featured Reviews

I really enjoyed this book. Even though it is a series and I read the 3rd book first before this 1st book of the series I think they could all be read as a standalone. I don't feel like a reader would be missing anything by not reading them in order.

The only issue I had was the separating out of the scenes within the chapters. Sometimes there were extra blank lines where there would be one scene and a few hours later or the next day, but sometimes there wouldn't be which would be confusing. There were some notations with '#' and I think that's where the spacing should've been, but I believe that editing didn't catch that. When there wasn't a space I had to backtrack and reread parts again to make sure I understood the continuity of the story. This made the book slightly confusing for me, but didn't really detract too much from my enjoyment of the story.

I noticed that you have a new book out (on Kindle Unlimited! Yay!) which I just added to my shelf to read (hopefully soon). Thank you so much for allowing me to review this book and I can't wait to read more of your work!

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I really enjoyed this book Joey and Sophie's chemistry was off the charts and I always love a good mob book even though Sophie wanted nothing to do with the mob it was a great book with some twist and turns

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I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I have been in a massive book funk lately. I don’t typically read Mafia series books but something about the blurb on this book drew me in. Renee Rose didn’t disappoint. She brought me a well written book with complex characters that were well developed. Sophie and Joey have a lot of obstacles to overcome to be together. But will what is blossoming overcome the fear that Sophie holds onto too? Joey is a strong alpha that knows what he wants and doesn’t stop until he gets it. But will something about him keep him from his happily ever after? Sophie has been burned by events in her past that lead to her to not associate with specific people. But will the underlying emotions trump the association? Will she be enough for Joey to change or will Joey be enough for her to change her beliefs?
Ms Rose did a great job of character growth, story twists and turns, drama and steamy romance. I didn’t total understand Sophie’s need for spankings but to each their own. I haven’t been this excited by a book in a while. Thank you for getting me out of my book funk and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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the woman can write her ass off..i would read any thing she writes.. a lot of good stuff in this book looking forward from this author.. thankyou for letting me read this

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This book was a little different than the ones on this same genre am accustomed to it. Is well written, with likeable characters and a good plot.

It is a fast-paced short story, but detailed. Sophie and Joey are more than attracted to each other, but Sophie's insecurities about Joey's life style may keep them apart, or not. I love Organized Crime/Mafia Romance Genre. However, this story is not exactly what I expected, but does contain everything I like in a good book. I did liked it and will continue to read the rest of series.

ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I loved this book very much. The author can really write a hell of a scene. She is very imaginative and colorful through her use of words in this book. I will definitely read the rest in the series! Plus an upside is it's so much better than 50 shades! So a definite recommend!!!

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My first time reading Ms. Renee Rose book, I enjoyed the story completely look forward to her next book. I completely recommend my friends and family members her books.

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Based off some of the reviews I read, I wasn't sure I was going to like this story. I actually really liked it and thought it was kinda hot! Yes there were a few things I didn't like and can see why people complained but I easily overlooked them because the story itself and Joey, the Hero, were what really made this book for me.

Sophie's dad was part of the mafia family. Being in the mafia meant he spent time in jail and not long after loses his life when Sophia was just a kid. Her mom hated that he was mafia so after her dad died, her mom's hate fueled Sophie's beliefs. They both distanced themselves from the family, only having contact when one of the members brought money to them over the years to help support them after her dads death.

Years later, mob boss' brother, Joey, seeks Sophie out at her place of business to get a message for pain he suffers from a knee replacement. There is instant attraction but Sophie wants nothing to do with him. Wouldn't you know, her car ends up getting repossessed just as she finishes Joey's message. He of course intervenes on her behalf and demands a date for helping her out. She's resistant but has no choice.

Now the rest of the story is Joey worming his way into Sophie's life all the while she fights him every step. Normally the constant resisting is a pet peeve of mine but in this case it worked. She has legitimate fears about the mafia and the way Joey pushes was actually pretty romantic. He genuinely cares for her and won't let her fears push him away. You also have some light Dom/Sub in this story. I'm personally not a fan of D/S storylines but what made me love it in this story was the author did such a good job of expressing how much Sophie needs Joey to take control in her life. Joey doesn't need the Dom/Sub relationship but he sees right through to how it helps calm her so he takes the control. I thought that was a unique approach from the author. Usually D/S is instigated because the man needs it. In this case, Joey only did it because he realized Sophie needed him to take control. He was very careful about not pushing her and was always putting her needs first. Also, the author focused a lot on spanking. Again, not my thing but the author wrote about it in such a way that it didn't really bother me.

The other complaints I read were the author did not do a good job of switching scenes in the book. One scene flowed into the next and I could see how it caused confusion. This book really did need to be edited better. This is something I hope the author will improve on for future books. I will definately read more from this author.

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Get a load of that cover! Hot!! I tell you!!! Any who, I enjoyed the macho ways of Joey. I even liked that this woman had spunk. She wasn't push over. She was strong and independent. She would speak her mind and not do something she did not want to. Good fast paced read. Good writing and character development. Not bad at all!

I received this ARC from the publisher via Net Galley for my honest review.

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Entertaining story, I like these mafia alpha males, it was dual pov which I love, what I didn't love was that their povs bleed into one another without any warning which I found confusing, but it was a good story

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This was a fairly quick read, fast paced and very hot & intense. Liked the characters and the relationship between Joey & Sophie.

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This book was full of delightful surprises. Sophie is struggling to maintain her safe and controlled life when a man from her past tears that world apart. Joey is a member of the mafia and a strong alpha male that knows exactly what he wants and that is Sophie. Sophie is no stranger to the mafia life and tries her best to resist his advances. This only draws Joey closer to her. These two had an undeniable chemistry from the start and when Joey discovers that Sophie likes a little spanking then all bets are off. This book was funny and sexy at the same time. I loved the chase that Sophie lead Joey on and how well the story unfolded.

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A sexy story with plenty of twists and turns and excitement. Sophie is sure she doesn't want anything to do with the mob. She's tempted to forget all that when she meets Joey. Even though she fights her attraction, Joey is determined to convince her to stay. When Joey's brother, the Don, is injured during a bombing, Joey has no choice but to step up and take charge. Even though he wants out, he does what is necessary while his brother is recovering.
But, once his brother is fully healed, will he let Joey go so he can finally be with Sophie?
It's worth 5 stars to find out!

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Absolutely loved the first book in The Bossman series, The Bossman by Renee Rose. This is a short quick fast paced novella romance erotica eBook.

Sophie Palazzo is a massage therapist who gets an unexpected visit from Joey LaTorre, brother to the Don of the LaTorre family and Capo and Made Man in his own right. After years of watching Artie Palazzo's daughter grow up he's finally decided to make her his girl, to say she's hesitant because of his lifestyle is putting it lightly. She quickly discovers that his sexy bossy and domineering ways not only turns her on, it makes her lash back at him because of those feelings he stirs inside her goes against her wishes to not get involved with the family again, since her father was killed years ago in questionable circumstances. And when Sophie gets mouthy with Joey, he spanks her bottom red, and hot, and in return Sophie gets hot and bothered all over!

I'm anticipating book 2, Mob Mistress and book 3, The Don's Daughter. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

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I did enjoy this book, to the point that I got annoyed if I had to put it down. It's emotional at times, I enjoyed the inner dialogue these two had. Sexy, sweet too. I just might have enjoyed a bit more romance, though the last few chapters did give me my romance fix

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Erotic Novel with a gangster vibe in it.

Sophie never wanted anything to do with The Family after her father's death. However when the Don's brother wiggles his way inside her heart she knows that this will end in her heartbreak.

Joey, the Don's brother, knows that she is not like any other woman he met and it will take a lot to win her over and keep her.

This is an erotic novel bits of bondage, anal and spanking in it.

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My first book from this author. I loved it. We need more from author.

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Loved this book, well written and believable, just the right amount of suspence

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What is clear to me, is that Renee Rose knows how to spin a great story. I read this in about an hour and a half, and could not put it down. I love a gifted writer. The characters were a bit cliche' but I would have had trouble not throwing a few in there myself. I do think his character could have been aggressive and dominant without an overabundance and maybe a bit overused spanking scenario. They just seemed unimaginative. Her wanting him to make her feel something, made warning lights flash in my brain, like she had a lot of baggage, and spanking might not be the thing to get to the bottom of it all. All in all, for an erotica book, this story was fantastic, and I enjoyed it very much.
*This book was given to me as an ARC for an honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!!!

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I'm giving this a 4 star because I think any less is unfair. I feel like this was well written. There were some of the erotic aspects that felt a little forced and rushed, but I think I'm doing comparisons there. I love the fact that this book isn't too cliche and it's not predictable. It's a great little read.

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This was the first book by Renee Rose that I've read. And I really enjoyed this book. It can be read as a stand alone and there's no cliffhanger at the end. This books throws you into the world of the mafia and erotica fantasies that one true with the right man.
Sophie left the family years ago. After her fathers death she didn't want any ties to the organization. Then walks Joey La Torre aka the mafia boss's brother into her shop asking for a massage. Sophie can't tell Joey no because that would be bad but so would getting close to this man and the family again.

Joey sees Sophie as a woman he wants to get to no even better. But in order for him to be able to get close to her, he needs to gain her trust. It's not long before Joey has Sophie opening doors into a world she never knew or dreamed of. But can Sophie have it all? Or will Sophie stand her ground and keep the family at a distance?

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I loved this book.

What a great read from Renee. This was my first venture into an Italian mob type story but not my first read from Renee, she does a superb job with this story. Joey and Sophie. Sophie has distanced herself from anything that resembles "the family", as did her Mother. Joey and Sophie meet when he ends up on her massage table at the suggestion of his mother due to an injury. Sophie isn't happy about this, and when Joey bails her out of an financial crisis that unfolds, she fears being beholden to the family. Joey makes it clear, it's not the case. The backstory is perfect and well told in this book. Joey's brother is the head of the family and Joey essentially does his brothers bidding. Joey, college educated and restless is ready for a change and wants Sophie along with that. Watching Sophie come into her own with Joeys family was a testament to her mettle. Renee writes these two characters so well, she brings them to life. We witness the story evolve, Sophie gets some resolution that she's struggled with from a young age. This was so well written, no angst (huge plus for me) and she connects all the dots. The end was perfect. This book had it all for me. I loved it.

**arc from Publisher in exchange for an honest review**

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5.0 out of 5 starsThoroughly Enjoyable ByA Wisconsin Readeron June 13, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition I received an ARC through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

And my honest opinion is that this is an excellent book. I don't like spoilers, so I am going to be very careful about what I say.

Unlike most Mafia books which I have read, this book is not dark. This is a real love story between two excellent characters, people whom the reader can imagine having as friends. Sophie and Joey are both children of Mafia fathers and have known each other for most of Sophie's life (she is younger than Joey by almost a decade). Due to circumstances, however, they have not seen each other since Sophie was a teenager, so their meeting again is as adults who are basically strangers.

The sex in "The Bossman," and there is a lot of it as one would expect, is well-written and enjoyable, but never seems forced or gratuitous, not that there is anything wrong with that. The nice thing is that these people have real feelings for each other, something which is clear to the reader. Some erotic books are basically sex strung together with a little plot; those books have their place too, but this book is a love story with a lot of sex. It was a pleasure to read.

If you are looking for a book with a lot of heart, a reasonable amount of drama, some angst to keep it interesting, and well-written love scenes, this is the book for you. An enthusiastic five stars.

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Oh Joey what am I going to do with you, "smiling a wicked grin, he inched closer, invading her personal space and loving that she didn't step back. "Well, I didn't say anything about sex, but if it's on the table, I am absolutely interested in that, too." The boy kinda likes Sophie's a** like A LOT, "he gave her a** a slap. "You should know better than to ask." The boy is a total tease, "Sophie," he coaxed, running his hands down her back and squeezing her firm little a**. "Don't you want to find out what you've been missing?" I really do have to give some props to Joey he tries real hard for his girl, "in a flash he pulled her into his arms, wrapped close to him so she couldn't distinguish where her body stopped and his began. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I'm still learning how to be your man." He does treat her good and I really liked that, "when he returned, she was sound asleep on her belly, her face as relaxed and blissful as a child's. "Soph?" She didn't stir. "Baby, I've got some food." And well I like when a man can multi-task and boy oh boy does Joey know how to multi-task, "he smacked her with the spoon for forgetting she was in the middle of sucking his co**. Speaking into the phone, he said, "We'll be over in a couple hours, okay?" I loved reading this book.

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Absolutely loved this!!

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Wow good book and one sexy male God they call Joey.this book is sexy with a capital s lol it had me hooked right from the start excellent read x

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review. The opinions in this post are 100% of my own. They may differ from others.

Title: The Bossman

Author: Renee Rose

Genre: Romance

Book Description:

Sophie Palazzo steered clear of the mafia after her father's involvement ended with his murder. Fifteen years later, Joey La Torre, the Don's brother himself, shows up unannounced at her massage studio and wheedles his way into a date. She has no interest in aggressive, macho men like Joey, or so she tries to tell herself, but her body just doesn't get the message. When Joey takes her in hand with a firm bare-bottomed spanking, she ought to be furious, instead, she's aroused. As she explores her physical desires to be dominated, she tries to keep Joey at arm's length emotionally.

Joey knows he wants Sophie for keeps from the moment he walks into her life. She is hot, classy and full of fire, even though submission turns her on. But his involvement in the mafia is a hard limit for her, bringing to conflict his own dedication to the Family, the code of silence and his relationship with his older brother. Can he reconcile his duty to the organization and his growing need for Sophie to remain in his life permanently?

Publisher's Note: The Bossman contains graphic sexual scenes, consensual and non-consensual adult spanking, anal play, elements of BDSM. If such material offends you, please do not buy this book!

My Review

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First I have to say I just received this book yesterday and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It was a fast and easy read, and it flowed really well.

As the saying goes 'Once in the family, Always in the family.' Really applies to Sophie. Even though she's tried to make a life for herself outside of the family since her fathers death. Sophie definitely has some inner demons that she fighting and has to overcome to really accept Joey.

Ahhhh Joey, what to say about Joey? He's strong and dominate. And definitely goes after what he wants. Joey was definitely swoon worthy and made me wonder where I could find my own Joey!!!!

This book was definitely up my alley with just enough of the Mafia life, and romance, and some steamy sex scenes thrown in.

You can now get The Bossman on Amazon and Barnes And Noble

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Catch me as I swoon in love with Joey La Torre. Joey is a mafia don. Joey's eye is on grown up Sophie Palazzo. Sophie's avoided the "family" ever since her father died. She and her mother loathe the "family" because they believe Sophie's dad's death is their fault. When her path crosses Joey's again, despite her own warnings, she can't resist him.

Mafia themed stories are not my favourite ones. I tend to avoid them. It's because the guys are usually domineering and come across as dumb. Joey is different. He's an alpha male who is intelligent, sexy and dominating. He also has no interest in beating women. When he learns about Sophie's spanking fetish, he makes a little exception. It's not beating; it's discipline with love.

Ms. Rose does a great job with her character development. Sophie is a conflicted woman who is still not recovered from her father's death. It colours how she feels about the mafia. She responds in ways which place her into hot water. The fact that she knows better makes it even worse. Joey is way too lenient with Sophie's mess ups.

Joey may be a product of his environment, but he's still affectionate and respect women. He is tough yet he is gentle. I really liked both of these characters. Sophie is spunky, bratty and a bit naïve. Still, she has a good heart. Joey's dominance exudes off of him. The way he commands Sophie is panty wetting goodness.

When the domestic discipline (DD) comes into play, its fabulous. The way DD is introduced in this story is so good. It's how many females find out about it - playing a bit and surfing the internet. The difference is, Sophie is lucky enough to find a man who is interested and willing to give her what she needs. She needs more than weekly maintenance. Based on her defensive behaviour, she needs daily ones!

What I liked about this DD story is that it wasn't for funishment. Sophie did become aroused from the spankings and paddling, but they weren't light taps. Joey meant business and used the belt to correct her out-of-control behaviour. It's almost as if Sophie can't help herself. She keeps getting herself into trouble whenever she feels overwhelmed or insecure. This does make Sophie rather immature and it's good she has a man to keep her straight. Because as a single female, she was terrible at her business as well as taking care of herself. Some women need a man to complete them. Some women need a strong man to discipline them like an unruly child. Sophie is that woman. Joey is her perfect man because he understands, respects and gives her what she needs. Ms. Rose did a lovely job of showing all of this without any judgment or guilt. This sexy hawt erotic romance is recommended for domestic discipline lovers who like tough mafia men.

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The Bossman is a well written romance/domestic discipline novel and it takes place within a mafia family.

The Hero is the dreamy, alpha male brother of his family's Don. He is the money man for the family, but he is tired of his role. The pain from a knee replacement leads him to the heroine, a massage therapist.

The heroine's father was a soldier in the "family" and was killed when she was fifteen years old. She resents the family and wants to stay away from their influence. Her plans go awry when the Hero decides that he wants her. Their relationship is turbulent and incorporates domestic discipline (spanking). Unfortunately, the heroine became very bratty about halfway through the story which I found very annoying. It almost seemed as though the H and h couldn't interact without a spanking taking place.

Overall, this was a fast, enjoyable read with a HEA.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

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I loved every moment of this book. I love that Sophie is strong will and feisty! Joey is a great alpha male, who is tough, yet so caring and gentle when Sophie needs him to be. The Bossman is a must read for 2014!

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Loved it, I wish it was a little bit longer as I really enjoyed it. It's the first time I've read anything by this author and I will certainly read more very soon .

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Loved it! Here are my gr and blog reviews - can't wait for more from Renee!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/892407339

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I found this book to be an unexpected pleasure to read.

Sophie is a ballsy, sassy heroine who was born into the mafia and spent her life trying to distance herself from the Family and all they represent. Joey is brother of the mafia Don and the kind of guy she has spent a lifetime trying to avoid. Ever resentful of the macho mafia culture for the death of her father, Sophie has always sought out weaker, non-threatening men. But when Joey walks into her massage studio, she is instantly attracted to him. Joey is a take-charge type of guy and Sophie finds herself attracted to him in spite of herself. Agreeing to one date only in exchange for a favor, Sophie discovers that there is more to Joey than simply meets the eye.

Both Joey and Sophie turned out to be surprising contradictions and very different people than I anticipated. I did not imagine the sensitive side that Joey would portray. With the macho Italian swagger and boss-man attitude, Joey showed a concerned and understanding part of himself when he was around Sophie. He proved to be caring and nurturing to Sophie’s newly discovered need for domestic discipline, yet still strong and secure enough to command respect in a male dominated world of the mob. Sophie, on the other hand, was strong enough to stand up to the Family and Joey, but found a true need to explore her spanking fetish with him.

Together, Sophie and Joey work perfectly and they had me rooting for them to somehow figure out a way to get past their differences. The issue of domestic discipline was handled in a sensitive manner that was in no way demeaning to Sophie, and was frankly pretty damn sexy. This was a quick read but I did not feel cheated by the length of the book. Renee Rose packs a full story into a small package, complete with complex, fun, sexy characters and enough hot, spanking sex to fill a novel!

While I found I got a full story even in such a short book, I do feel the current Amazon price of $6.99 is too high for a book this length.

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I really enjoyed this. Would have liked for there to have been more mafia related stuff, but loved it nonetheless.

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I'm on a big bad boy kick right now and this book definitely did not disappoint. Sophie and Joey are great characters and I enjoyed getting to experience their story. As Sophie learned more about herself and her submissive nature, Joey tried to come to terms with the fact that he wanted to keep her even though she was creating friction in his "professional" life. I loved the difference between Joey's sweet side when he was trying to woo Sophie and his dedication to his mafia family. Definitely a great read!

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Mafia, Sexy macho Italian man... What's not to love?! Quick fun read with steamy sex scenes and spankings. Yup, definitely my kind of book.

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Spanking Fetish and a Bossman where will this lead us. Let's take a look. . . Joey knows who he is and what he wants. It is unfortunate that he has little choice in the matter according to the family he is born into. He is born to the family to serve the family. He is in direct line of ascension. He knows his place whether he is happy with it or not. He does what has to be done.

Sophie purposefully stays away from the family because she wants no part of it and what it represents. But is this her mother's prejudices or something she can get over. Sophie has not intention of becoming involved with anyone that has ties to the family. But Joey makes her an offer that she finds hard to refuse. Men like him, dominating, intimidating, & controlling, she makes a point to avoid. With all this said her proclivity to spankings shocked me and I think it may have shocked her also.

This story could have lead to more and been more. I found it entertaining.

Thank you, NetGalley.

Posted to Amazon.com Barnes and Noble The Book Junkie's Reads at http://mileythebookjunkie.blogspot.com/
First Reads, Reading Challenge at http://mileyfirstreadschallenge.blogspot.com/

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Ok, so I have a bit of a weakness for badass heroes. Gangsters, mobsters, totally all round baddies...I'm all over them, so when I saw this was a story featuring a mafia man who was into a little bit of kink then I didn't think there'd be much for me to dislike here, I mean, really.

Joey is 'the Bossman', number two in command in 'The Family', mid-twenties, hot, confident; in short, totally badass.

Sophie is a massage therapist who likes to live safely. She chooses boring and does everything in her power to date guys as unlike her late father as possible. Her late dad may have been loving, loyal and fiercely protective of his wife and daughter, but he was also a badass mafia mobster who died in suspicious circumstances when Sophie was a teenager. Sophie's mum blamed her husband's mafia connections for his death and has spent the last ten years keeping them both well away from the rest of the 'family'.

Unfortunately for Sophie though, choosing safe, dating boring guys and scraping a living is not working out so well for her so when blast-from-her-mafia-past Joey makes an appointment with Sophie for a soothing massage, she finds herself drawn to him, against her better nature.

This had such a fantastic opening scene with Sophie fighting her attraction to him and after noticing just how much he was um...enjoying the massage, concentrating all of her considerable massage techniques on torturing him. Yikes. When moments later, he intervenes in a typical no-shit, totally cold and badass way to prevent her car from being repossessed, I was totally sold on him.

This is told from dual povs so we learn very early on that while Sophie is fighting her attraction to Joey because of who he is and what he does, he has always been attracted to her, but thinks she's someone bright, pure and unobtainable to him too:

"She was that girl who'd always been out of reach for guys like him. He wanted to show her what she'd been missing."

And did he show her. He demands a date in return for helping her out and sets out to wine, dine and um...court her. I love to read stories like this featuring alphas who just go after who they want, refusing to take no for an answer.

The chemistry between the two of them is good and there's lots of smut to keep us smutsters happy, but Sophie is fighting all of the way, determined not to repeat the mistakes of her own mum:

"No matter how sweet his words, or hot the sex, she couldn't forget who or what Joey La Torre was; a man made in the mafia. A killer. The kind of guy who winds up in jail or dead - just like her father."

But Joey finds her weak spot; she loves a little spanking kink...and he loves to spank. As their relationship heats up, the more she tries to pull away, the kinkier he gets...and the more she loves it. There really is lots of spanking in this, not bdsm exactly but they both really get off on it and grow increasingly adventurous with toys and props. Sophie is turned on by being dominated and punished, but hates being told what to do. As Joey observes:

"Sophie was a little package of enigmas. She needed money, but didn't seem to like it. Had a college degree, but preferred to work with her hands. She resented his aggression, yet craved being spanked. She was of the Family, yet against it."

But unbeknown to Sophie, Joey is fighting his own demons. He's actually a sensitive soul who doesn't particularly relish being a baddie. He puts on a good front, but inside, he's unhappy and feels trapped in 'the Family'.

I hate to say it, but getting inside Joey's head and seeing his sensitive side rather poured cold water over my libido. I wish he could have managed to pull off being all sensitive, caring, loyal and protective while at the same time remaining scary and badass on the outside. While there were glimpses of this type of behaviour from him, especially during a deadly drama with a rival family, it wasn't enough to satisfy the needs of this alpha male groupie. There are I'm afraid too many scenes with Sophie where he totally wimps out, dropping to his knees and generally coming over as a little sad and desperate.

I enjoyed reading how this all got resolved - it is a standalone, hurrah! - but after such a strong start and a fantastic, pretty original plot, I had high hopes for more. That said, it was easy to read, relatively short there was lots going on and it had plenty of smut and kink so I still enjoyed it.

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I liked this more than I first thought I would. The dynamics of the relationship was interesting because of the mob background and Sophie's past history with the mob.

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First of all you got me with the cover....sexy...Second, for the love of all that is a spanking romance, this one has to top my list! I have to say, I had no expectation when I started this book since it is my first read with this author..and it makes me want to read more. I'm not by trade a huge fan of the whole mobster romance. I don't get it most of the time, and sometimes the mobsters end up not being Alpha enough. Their often isn't enough killing, and I don't understand having to 'respect' someone in a world that I don't live in. Loved this book

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The Bossman (The Bossman, #1) by Renee Rose.

Book received from publisher, Riverdale Avenue Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Review published on Goodreads and Amazon. (All available now)

The Bossman is about Sophie Palazzo, who having avoided the mafia for 15 years following her fathers death and their involvement in it, is suddenly confronted with the Dons brother, Joey La Torre. Joey turns up at Sophie's massage studio and manages to get himself a date with her. Sophie has no interest in him, but unfortunately her body has other ideas!

I enjoyed this book, there were times when I couldn't quite understand why Sophie would want to be treated the way she was, but overall I though the story was great! It was a definite love story between Sophie and Joey, and spanking aside, I think he truly did do everything he did do to keep her safe. I loved the ending and would describe this book as a happily ever after.

I thought the author did a great job with this book and although it might not have flowed as well as some book I've read I still enjoyed it and would read more books by Renee. I thought it was interesting to read a Dom/sub story line where it is the sub character that appears to want/need that type of relationship more that the Dom character. This is definitely different to the other Dom/sub stories that I have read. I think that the BDSM scenes were tastefully written too. A credit to the author! I look forward to reading the next books in the series.

I give The Bossman 4 stars.


** The Bossman contains graphic sexual scenes with elements of BDSM, spanking (both consensual and non-consensual) Do not read/buy this book if this kind of material offends you. **

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This was a fun read! If you like a bit of Steamy, Dominant, Italian, Crime Boss ( and even possibly if you don't) this book had steam..humor...and yes.. Spanking! Lol
But there was more depth to the story than that! Give it a try.

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Bossman is one of the better mafia books I've read lately. Joey and Sophia's chemistry is not only hot, but sweet too. Sophia meets Joey one day when he books a massage with her for some knee pain relief. Although she's instantly attracted to him, she's steered clear of the Family ever since her father's death 15 years earlier and has no intention of involving herself in that life ever again. But she just cannot seem to resist going on at least a date with him when he insists on paying the fee to get her car back from the man trying to repossess it.

Although I am certainly not an expert on the spanking lifestyle, or spanking as punishment (for adults) or to keep an adult in line, and in theory it kind of gives me the creeps, in Bossman I found the author handled it with style and a certain sensitivity. Not to mention it was pretty sexy in parts. I enjoyed the fact that when Joey did spank her it was at her request, he didn't even want to do it in the beginning, had never been into it. But when Sophie asked him, he was more than willing to go along with it for her sake, and they both came to enjoy it, even require it.

So, sizzling chemistry, sexy, sweet leads, naughty spankings, mafia dealings, lots of love, and you have a great romance that made me really eager to read all the books in this series!

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This mafia, spanking romance introduces Joey, the Don's brother, and Sophie, a massage therapist whose father's death propelled her out of The Family. Joey is a cool hero to read- he's mortal, and aging, and has insecurities. Rose did well using third person perspective to handle the characters. Sophie had some qualities I liked, and some things that rubbed me a smudge wrong. Her self-determination is great; but sometimes, she seems much less mature- and from the text, it's not real clear as to why. Good read with some great, steamy scenes! I received an ARC for an honest review.

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A mafia book is always my go to, without a doubt. I love reading about a man that dominates & is possessive. I also love it when a woman can stand up for herself. That is just what I got from Joey & Sophie. The fact that Joey practically beat Sophie didn't bother me in anyway. It's just a story, after all. In all fairness, I think it was something that Sophie needed anyway. Joey took her as far as he could & it was pretty damn hot too. Some women genuinely need a man & that's not a bad thing. This sums up Sophie. She needed Joey & everything he gave her. I literally zoomed through this book. Like, I actually couldn't physically put it down. I'm not entirely sure if I was reading it too fast, but to me, it didn't seem all that long. I really love books that have epilogues that skip forward in time. This one went forward eight months, which was great. Now, I'm all for reading some sexy spanking scenes, but I just feel like this book did focus on that more than the two characters developing together. Also, I felt that some scenes jumped straight into another & I'd lose myself for a second. Apart from that, I really enjoyed this book & Joey was brilliant. Thank you for allowing me an early copy of this book. 4/5*

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This was a great read. Sophie and Joey were great together. I loved his bossiness and I loved her vulnerability with him. The story flowed perfectly and was hot! I would not expect anything but from Renee. Love all her books! I was gifted this book for an honest review.

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Sophie Palazzo wants absolutely nothing to do with mob life after seeing how her father's death ruined her family. After 15 years of keeping her head low and her nose out of all things mob related... in walks Joey La Torre the Don's little brother.

Joey La Torre walks into the masseuse hoping for a massage and a little stress relief. What he didn't expect to see was hot and sexy Sophie Pallazzo struggling to make ends meet and keep her business afloat.

After years of denying his attraction to Sophie, Joey is ready to let her know just how he feels.

The real question is can Joey help Sophie see that being in the mob is not as bad as it seems or will Sophie end up seeing everything she hated about the mob and leave him where he belongs in her past? Read and find out!

I received this book from Net Galley for my honest review

Joey and Sophie's relationship is nothing less than explosive. I loved that Sophie was not afraid to tell anyone just how she felt. She didn't care if it was the Don...his mother or even Joey himself. Unfortunately she has to learn the hard way that Joey is not a man to be messed with and shows her just how naughty girls get treated.

Renee Rose did a great job with this book. She kept the readers entertained with Sophie's sass and attitude and kept the women wanting more with Joey's hard outer shell and super sweet center. If you have read a Renee Rose book than you know that there will be some naughty behavior that will definitely lead to a spanking. If you were not a fan of spanking you may just become a believer.

Overall great job!

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This was a reread for me and it was just as good as the first time.. Renee Rose is a go to Author for me

Wow!!! I loved Joey.. He was the perfect Male Specimen
He was Possessive but not in creepy way.. he was Dominant in the drench your panties kinda of way and he was Controlling in a you asked for it.. so take IT way!!

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a really great story just loved joey and sophie couldnt put it down recommended to all

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Great storyline, love mafia stories. Well written and edited. I was able to get into the story right away. I really like both the hero and heroine.

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Quick read but still pretty good. Likable characters and obvious chemistry.

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ARC via NetGalley and the publisher. Wow what a wonderful read. Strong Alpha male Joey is tough but with a heart of gold, who would do anything to get the girl he loved. A sassy female, Sophie is sweet but a little kink and a little bite. Picked up and read in an afternoon could not put this book down. Another amazing read from the excellent Renee Rose. Adult content but done with class

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This is one steamy novel. The chemestry between Sophie and Joey is palpable and their encounters nearly set my kindle on fire. Loved the story.

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very well written, good story line & kept me from doing my housework.......keep writing. thx

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Enjoyable easy read, the sexual content seemed to fit the book, bit just there for the sake of it. Definitely will read more by Renee Rose

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I love Renee Rose! It is such a quick read, but it is great to just escape and the characters are amazing, as always!

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Joey and Sophie's story was perfect. They knew each other before and hadn't seen each other in quite some time. Joey and Sophie begin spending time together despite Sophie's doubts and she sees a whole different side of Joey. You really need to read this book Ms. Rose really out does herself on the intimate scenes. HOT!!!! I would definitely recommend this book. I was given an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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I was very interested in reading an organized crime/mafia novel that had a good balance of sizzle and story. Bossman was just the thing I needed!

The story opens up to where Sophie, a down on her luck massage therapist, is taken aback as Joey La Torre, brother of the mafia Don, pays off her car loan and asks her out "just" for a dinner date. She assumes there are more stipulations as Joey is very macho and obviously interested. What happens when two fiery personalities with chemistry in spades mix? FIRE, folks!

I loved that their interactions were HOT and kinky, but not over the top! I absolutely loved it. Sophie had her own reservations about the mob, due to her father's involvement but Joey was sweet and thoughtful and the perfect match for her. 4 stars!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review will also be posted on Amazon and Goodreads (links provided.)

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This was a short easy read.
The summary is that Joey is a bad-boy mafia guy and Sophie is a good girl that doesn't want anything to do with The Family. Her father was part of The Family and he was murdered.

This book has a bit of kink with spanking. So if you aren't into reading those types of books this isn't for you. If you are then read on. Sophie really likes Joey's dominant side. And falls for him fairly quickly. She wants him to dominate her with some spanking.

I only gave this 3 stars due to how choppy the book is. There isn't clear format when the thoughts change from one person to another. You will be reading about Joey's thoughts and the next sentence is from Sophie's point of view. So that tends to be a little frustrating.

Otherwise a cute fun smut read. Enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy for an honest review.

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A very different romance, bad boy is really a bad boy

I really enjoyed this book easy to read and
very entertaining. First mafia romance I have ever read,but will read more from this series

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The Bossman by Renee Rose is an enticing, addictive Mafia romance novel. I enjoyed the banter between Bossman (aka Spankman) Joey La Torre and massage therapist, Sophie Palazzo. Sophie is determined to not follow in her mother's footsteps and fall in love with a man 'in the family Mafia business''. But Joey will do what he can to changer her mind?!?!

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Sophie always stayed away from the mafia. Her father's involvement ended with his murder. Fifteen years later, Joey shows up at her massage studio. And things go from Hot to HOTTER fast. Sophie isn't usually into aggressive men, but Joey doesn't give up on anything he wants, and he wants Sophie.

A very sexy story, but not for you if your not into BDSM storylines..

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This was a short easy read.
The summary is that Joey is a bad-boy mafia guy and Sophie is a good girl that doesn't want anything to do with The Family. Her father was part of The Family and he was murdered.

This book has a bit of kink with spanking. So if you aren't into reading those types of books this isn't for you. If you are then read on. Sophie really likes Joey's dominant side. And falls for him fairly quickly. She wants him to dominate her with some spanking.

I only gave this 3 stars due to how choppy the book is. There isn't clear format when the thoughts change from one person to another. You will be reading about Joey's thoughts and the next sentence is from Sophie's point of view. So that tends to be a little frustrating.

Otherwise a cute fun smut read. Enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy for an honest review.

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I received an ARC from Netgalley. If you are looking for a quick read and a fast paced romance, this book is for you. You will definitely feel the connection between Joey and Sophie right from the beginning. 3.5 stars just because it moved too quickly for me.

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Cute quick read. I would have liked more of a story line but I overall did enjoy reading this book.

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This was a quick easy read. The relationship between Sophie and Joey was believable, it was good to see a man not afraid to pursue someone but not be over the top about it. Sophie was quite conflicted by her feelings due to her past. The author dealt with this in a good way which allowed Sophie to move forward with her life. The kink in this was spanking and there was a good amount of it I would have preferred a wider variety but I understand why there was so much. Overall a quick read with low angst.

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Wow, I feel like I have whiplash after reading this book! The Bossman is my first book by Renee Rose and I think she did a great job with it. I liked the characters (the alpha H more than the h, but that's my usual preference!) and their interactions. Lots of hot scenes that had me fanning my face and blushing uncontrollably. The writing was well done and, even though it was from dual points of view, it was still easy to follow. My only problem was how quickly some parts of the book moved. Not that books in this genre are supposed to be completely believable, but a few really big/important scenarios happened at lightening speed.

With that aside, I did enjoy this book and loved that I could read it in a few short hours. I will definitely read more of Ms. Rose in the future!

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Bossman is a sweet romance by Renee Rose. Sophie Palazzo is a masseur and one day she is surprised when her client is someone from the “family”. The family being the “mob family” she left behind fifteen years ago. Her father was in it and when he passed Sophie and her mother left. She has no interest in renewing her acquaintance with Joey or his family. Joey La Torre goes to see Sophie because of lingering pain in his knee after an operation. Hoping massage can help with the pain; he is pleasantly surprised when Sophie answers the door. He is quite taken with her. When things go wrong for Sophie he uses his connections to help her out of a jam and what he asks for in return is just one date. On their date Joey and Sophie realize that they have some serious chemistry between them. While Joey is all for starting a relationship, Sophie is a lot more reluctant because of her parents’ marriage. Can the two of them have a relationship; especially with outside forces pushing them apart?

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I am always a fan of m stories so I was interested to see how this one would turn out. It is a light mix of m with a sweet romance between the two main characters. Sophie is a sweet woman. While she knows she is attracted to Joey she doesn’t want to have a relationship with him because of what he does. As they spend more time together she realizes that she has strong feelings for him but can she overlook his work in order to be with him. Joey is a fine specimen of a man. He is an alpha male when he needs to be but knows how to be sweet and caring as well. It seems that he shows this side mostly to Sophie. He is also honest with her when he can be. While there are times he wants to tell her things he knows that he can’t. He soon comes to realize that the biggest job he has to do is convincing Sophie to take a change on their relationship. While Sophie and Joey are trying to figure out their relationship they have to deal with the “family” and things become even harder when the family comes under attack and Joey is put in a position he never expected to be in. The ending was quite surprising. I wasn’t expecting it but I think it was a good choice. I hope to read more books of this author’s in the future.

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I adored the mafia theme.

This my first book by this author. I loved the "spanking" and thought it was a wonderful love story with believable characters and hot hot hot love scenes.

Although there were a few editing errors, especially with the characters' names, I could overlook that.

I will be reading more books from this author.

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I am calling this my Mafia spanking book.

Sophie is the daughter of a dead mafia capo and wants to never be in the "family" again. Joey is the brother of the godfather so to speak and very involved in the daily operations legally and illegally of the family. When these two meet sparks fly and they start falling for each other immediately.

Sophie knows she wants nothing to do with Joey because of the life he leads, but after some hot romps in the bedroom her heart falters a bit and she starts falling for the capo. When Joey brings a little spanking action into their lovemaking sessions, they both realize that Sophie not only gets off on it, but craves the domination only Joey can offer her.

One of the aspects I loved about this book, was that Sophie did her research. She realized that his spanking fetish was something she liked, so she took to the computer, was proactive in learning more and ordered some toys to spice up their sexy time together. I like not only when the woman takes a bit of charge, but I like to see women in books acting more of part of the decision making in the choices that they are making.

If you like books dedicated to spanking, this will be a very enjoyable read for you. The struggles these two had to deal with because of their backgrounds gave it a bit of push and pull. Sophie was headstrong with her capo and I liked seeing him trying to deal with her. All in all I liked this book and will seek out this author again in the future.

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What’s not to to love about this book? At first I thought it would be like every other Mob book. I was shocked how excited I got as the pages went on. The story between Joey and Sophie shows a lot of love. Knowing her struggles between the Family then falling in love with someone from there. The bonus for me was the Spanking. This book was HOT (in a good way)

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I was provided an ARC from netgalley for an honest review. This was billed as a spanking romance and it totally delivered. Renee Rose did a fabulous job of combining a story of about mafia and erotic spanking. Sophia was born into the mafia but after her father died her mother kept her away from them. Joey's mom sends him to Sophia after a knee replacement and the chemistry starts right away. This is a fast past romance that does not let dust settle. Sophia has reservations about getting involved with Joey due to his position in the mafia but Joey wont let that stop him from getting his girl.

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I definitely enjoy this book a lot. It is a quick, smutty romance and does not disappoint! There is a very niche audience that will be captivated by this title, and Renee Rose does a very good job of descriptive scenes. I would prefer a bit more character description. I do enjoy reading about subjects that I know nothing about...this gave me a glimpse of mob life!

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I’ve been wanting to read this one for a long time and I now that I have I’m kicking myself for not digging in sooner!

Sophie is against everything mob related. It took her father away from her during a time when she needed his guidance the most and then it took his life. When Joey shows up in her life again she fights against the attraction she feels for him. But Joey is one sneaky, charming hero and he finangles her into one date after another and then surprisingly into a hot as heck spanking. What should have felt humiliating actually turns Sophie on and soon she’s craving his complete dominance.

I loved reading how this couple both come to explore how punishment can add a deeper dimension to a relationship. For Sophie it is a means of letting go and finding a safe place to land. Joey finds an intense enjoyment out of knowing he’s providing her with what she needs emotionally as well as physically and sexually.

This is a fast paced read that is so steamy I’m sure my glasses fogged up a time or two. The mafia angle was well done, although I must admit I haven’t read a lot of mafia romances. The secondary characters were okay and the ending was pretty perfect.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I love reading Renee Rose books. I'll happily read anything that she writes. She manages to balance a great story along with hot and sexy action. It makes for a great story.

Sofia's father was in the Family in Chicago. Her mother never liked it. After her father died when she was a teenager, she and her mother pulled away from the rest of the Family, even if they did help out after her father died. When Joey walks into her massage office, she dreads what's going to happen because she doesn't want to be dragged into the Family drama anymore. Too bad Joey isn't about to take no for an answer.

There's all kinds of tension in this story. Sofia and Joey don't exactly have smooth sailing from the start. There are so many things that they have to overcome. I got mad at both of them at various times and well as very sad on their behalf. Broke my heart. Of course, in my opinion, that's the mark of a good story, making one feel strongly for the characters. It seemed like it happened in just a couple of days, but looking back at it, I realized that there was a lot of time in the story, but that didn't really bother me so much.

Overall, I really enjoyed the whole story and I'm really glad that it ended the way that it did.

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Awesome book. The tug and give in this book makes it a page turner. Can not wait to see the next one

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Bossman is a Mafia romance. Joey and Sophie met for a second time when Joey needs some massage therapy for an injured knee. Her car is getting towed and she tries not to let her customer see whats going on. He decides that he will pay for the car for one date.. Sophie is afraid to get involved with someone in the Mafia because her dad died while a part of it. Joey kind of takes over Sophies live. . She realizes that she likes for Joey to be in her life and to take charge and spank her if she needs it. This is a very erotic book with a lot of spanking with consent by both parties, especially Sophie. If you love spanking books with hot men doing the spanking, this book is for you. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review and no compensation otherwise.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my first book from Renee Rose and I will definitely checked out the other books in the series. The chemistry between Sophie and Joey was sizzling hot but I had two issues. One, the way Joey sometimes talked to Sophie was quite harsh and rude. Being in the mafia doesn't mean acting like a cave man. And two, is the way the changes between scenes were not delimited. A part from that, still a good sexy read.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Sexy with a hint of danger and spice! I Enjoyed this book. Sophie and Joey were def matched well together! I’d like to see some more from Renee!

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Amazing book that explores voluntary spanking as much as the romance!

Joey is a wonderfully complex character; Alpha to the core, pushy, arrogant, but he freely admits that his heart belongs to Sophie and there isn't much he wouldn't do for her. He's torn by his loyalty to his family, the same Family that Sophie has tried to avoid at all costs since her father's death, and his intense chemistry with Sophie and the unrelenting conviction that she's his forever girl.

Sophie doesn't want to feel anything for Joey, but she can hardly help herself, especially when they discover that he has a natural affinity for administering the kind of spankings that send her over the edge. Their romance really takes root as they learn more about what each of them wants from this new development, but the conflict of his family ties is never completely on the back burner.

How they resolve this conflict and find their HEA was exquisitely written, with surprising ups and downs and twists that didn't go where you think they were headed. I loved how Joey was willing to put Sophie ahead of everything else in his life, without sacrificing his duty or obligations to his family. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

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