Reaper

Boston Underworld, Book 2

By: Ashleigh Zavarelli

Narrated by: Tracy Marks

Sasha.

He's dark and mysterious. Quiet and lethal.

An Irish mobster.

Pure sin wrapped up in a beautiful package.

But there's also something off about him.

He doesn't feel anything. He shows no emotions.

Sometimes, I question his humanity.

He hasn't spoken to me in two years. Not a single word.

But we share a secret, he and I.

And if it ever comes out, I have no doubt in my mind....

He won't have a problem killing me, too.

Ronan.

I've slain for her. I'll do it again.

When it comes to Sasha, there isn't a line I won't cross.

I watch her. She doesn't know it.

She thinks I hate her. Sometimes, I think I might, too.

But I'm always there, lurking in the shadows.

Craving her. Trying to keep the beast within at bay.

I'll keep her safe. I'll slaughter anyone who tries to hurt her.

The only thing I can't do...is protect her from myself.

This is a full-length standalone novel full of hot Irish guys with accents. Dark mafia themes throughout. HEA included.

©2016 A. Zavarelli (P)2016 A. Zavarelli

What a story! Must Read/Listen

What made the experience of listening to Reaper the most enjoyable?

Where do you begin when a book has completely captivated you in every way possible? This was an amazing story. Thrilling, heart-stopping and jaw-dropping Mafia book. There were moments you can't help but crack up laughing and other times you just want to hug Ronan and tell him it will be okay.

The Author does a phenomenal job capturing the emotions in this story. You truly feel as though you're right there watching as the story unfolds. I've never experienced a book like this one. And it's absolutely an unforgettable one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several!

Love this author and love the narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this series to everyone. I love this series!!! Please please put the next series on Audible ASAP!!!

What did you like best about this story?

Everything is great in this book. I loved everything in this story and Ronan and Sasha are a great match!

Have you listened to any of Tracy Marks’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I loved Tracy in Reaper and Crow. She does awesome narrative of characters which makes them so much more enjoyable for the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Please put the 3rd book on Audible as soon as possible.

Excellent story, 5 stars!!

Excellent timing in this story. Very well balanced. I'm so excited to have found this author! Heading straight to the next in the series. Happily using the last of my audible credits!!

Reaper Boston Underworld Book 2

If you could sum up Reaper in three words, what would they be?

Amazing, heartbreaking, Wow

What did you like best about this story?

I loved that both main characters had been pining for each other but neither thought they deserved the other.

What does Tracy Marks bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She breathes life into the characters with her performance, makes them feel tangible and real.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and cry.

Superb Sinister Sequel

A continuation of the Boston Underworld dark romance series, this sequel is an impressive successor filled with torment, ruthlessness, devotion, anger, and love. I really enjoyed Crow, and I was unsure how Ashleigh Zavarelli could do it all again just as well, and she nailed it. The PTSD and uncertainty in Ronan and Sasha's heartbreaking coming-of-age story added depth to their characters and made their relationship more endearing. The writing, pacing, story arc, characters, and narration are all spectacular.

I was again impressed with Tracy Marks ability to do both genders and several accents. I'd easily listen to books when she's the narrator in the future.

Well worth a credit for any fan of dark romance. As with the first book, this book contains mature themes.

Love. love, love this story.

The Reaper is an OMG, love, sad, happy, funny and intense listen. I've listened to it 3 times now and enjoy it every single time. I love Ronan's very mysterious character. It explains soo much about how and why he is the way he is. The connection between Sasha and him just makes me feel butterflies when they're together. This is a must listen. Don't get turned away by the single narrator. Tracy Marks does an amazing job portraying all the characters.

This book is everything!

Any additional comments?

This book is everything! That kind of story where my mind draws blank when I’m trying to put my thoughts into words for a review, well aware that I will hardly be able to do this book justice.That kind of book that makes your heart race and goosebumps spread all over your body, countless tears to leak out because you simply cannot help it. That kind of story you don’t want to let go, that you want to hold onto and think about long after finishing the last page. The kind of story where you are devastated you have turned the pages for the last time as there a no further pages left.

God, Ronan! Or to say it with Sasha’s in my opinion perfect words:
“Because…Ronan. Always Ronan.”
This man is one-of-a-kind. He is complex. Yet simple. Brainwashed and trained to do one thing and one thing alone: to kill. He is a killing machine, feelings are foreign to him, as is so much of the real world. To become this robot, he had to survive a horrendous traumatic and brutal childhood – tortured not only physically, but mentally as well. That he made it out alive – barely – seems like a miracle. Albeit a ruthless brutal and somewhat twisted man, there lies a naïve and unsure man underneath, and with this combination, Ronan put me completely under his spell. One scene particularly coming to my mind, where he tries Ben & Jerry’s for the first time: hilariously sweet and simply adorable!

To be honest, I couldn’t place him in CROW, the first book of this series. I knew he was loyal to a fault and that Lachlan was immensely protective of him and that he harbored intense obsessive tendencies over Sasha. But boy, did he push Lachlan from his throne.

Sasha. I liked her in the first book already, but she seemed somewhat stuck, rather moving backward than forward, maybe even a little weak. Well, she is far from all that. Yes, she is awfully alone, but she is strong – so strong. It takes her a lot to reach out for Ronan, to get him to finally talk around her, to open up just the slightest bit. And she does not waver because she sees him. The real him. Not the Reaper and nothing more as Ronan himself believes to be.

“He’s my sweet, handsome Ronan. And behind the fringe of dark lashes and the armor he’s worn for so long, there is trust. For me. And I have a feeling that later, when I reflect on that, I will finally understand the gravity of what that means. Because I doubt Ronan trusts anybody. Even his best friend, Lachlan, who he’s known all his life is considered an enemy right now. But not me. And I won’t ever take that trust for granted.”

I’m blown away. Sasha’s and Ronan’s romance is so sweet, yet unbelievably dirty, spiked with suspense and violence, which is a given in the mafia world.

REAPER should definitely not be read as standalone. The characters do cross over, even the timelines are interwoven during flashbacks, adding different perspectives and more insights to events that were touched superficially in the first book.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book, going back to the ebook from time to time when I couldn’t listen to it. Tracy Marks has fast become one of my favorite narrators; not necessarily for her voice, but for the emotions and different voices and accents she is able to convey.
The only thing that did confuse me a little were the leaps in time back to the past – whereas in the books those are marked with italics, there was no chance to directly tell we are no back in the past when listening to it. After the first two or three times I expected this, but the first times really got me irritated.

Now I cannot wait to listen to GHOST, although I have no idea if anyone will ever be able to replace Ronan. This series surely is one of my top favorites of all time. And when all goes according to plan, I am going to meet A. Zavarelli at a singing in 2017 – and I cannot wait to tell her how much her stories and her writing means to me! Yes, I am not ashamed to admit that I have a huge fangirl crush on her.

FANTASTIC!!!!

Fantastic book and narration. Great story. Looking forward to Ghost!! Absolutely loved Ronan & Sasha.

Loved, loved, loved this book!

Believe the hype ladies and gentleman. This series so good and Reaper is my favorite book of the series!!
We have the requisite strong silent-type hero. We also have a protective heroine who’s been mistreated by most of the men she’s encountered. Package these two interesting characters together with an absolutely fantastic storyline and you get this great Awesomeness. It just doesn’t get much better than that! I don’t want to give much away, but Ronan the sexy Italian mobster we meet in Book 1 of the series secretly longs for Sasha, an exotic dancer. What we find out along the way is that these two harbor a dangerous secret that could ruin them both if found out.
I’m so glad this book delves deeply into Ronan’s backstory. His character makes so much more sense now. The same with Sasha. I really enjoyed getting to know their backstory. Both of these characters have really shocking stories and I loved reading every single word!
Audiobook narration: Tracy Marks did a fantastic job narrating this book. Each character has a distinctive voice and accent. It was a very enjoyable listen.

Loved this!

What did you love best about Reaper?

I loved the character ARC of Ronin.

What did you like best about this story?

There is a constant battle between good and evil and it balances on the shoulders are flawed characters. The pace and anticipation keeps you enthralled.

What about Tracy Marks’s performance did you like?

I loved her ability to use accents to make the characters come alive.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Scarface meets a four-leaf clover

Any additional comments?

I was given this audio version in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion through audiobook boom.