Swamp Blood

Guns n' Boys, Book 4 (Gay Dark Mafia Romance)

By: K. A. Merikan

Narrated by: Nathan Kelly

Faking their own death was the easy part.

After months of recovering from his injuries, Seth struggles with who he has become. Afloat in a reality he never planned, he tries to find the lost pieces of himself again; to find the purpose, motivation, and strength to get back into shape. He is sick and tired of being a burden for Domenico, who seems to have it all together. When Domenico’s jealousy pushes them into the spotlight of a biker gang with connections to their former mafia family, Seth decides to step up and make his own decisions, no matter what risks they might entail.

Domenico Acerbi can’t trust anyone. Nightmares of Seth’s torture are still haunting his dreams, and if he and Seth are to leave the country quietly and disappear off the mafia’s radar, he needs to stay in charge and keep everyone under control. What he doesn’t need is Seth giving him attitude, keeping secrets, and distancing himself for no reason. And, as if Domenico didn’t have enough on his plate already, Seth forces him to help some hooker. Being stuck in the swamp with a kid hunted by a bunch of bikers is not Domenico’s idea of laying low.

Warning: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this audiobook is not for you. Guns n’ Boys is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid façade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor and a love story that will crawl under your skin.

©2015, 2021 K. A. Merikan (P)2024 Acerbi and Villani Ltd.

A Dark and Captivating Journey

In "Guns N' Boys: Swamp Blood," K.A. Merikan takes readers on a dark and captivating journey through the treacherous world of organized crime. This book offers a gripping combination of suspense, romance, and complexity that will keep readers hooked until the very end.

Set in the mysterious and steamy Louisiana swamp, the story follows the perilous relationship between Seth and Domenico as they navigate the dangerous waters of their personal and professional lives. Merikan's ability to craft a vivid and atmospheric setting adds an extra layer of intrigue and tension to the narrative, immersing readers in the haunting beauty of the swamp.

One of the strengths of this book is Merikan's skill in creating deeply flawed and compelling characters. Seth and Domenico's struggles with their own inner demons make them relatable and multi-dimensional, allowing readers to empathize with their experiences and choices. Merikan's exploration of their complex relationship delves into themes of trust, loyalty, and the lengths one will go for love.

Merikan's writing style is evocative and engrossing, effortlessly building suspense with every page. The authors' ability to balance high-stakes action scenes with intimate and emotionally charged moments is commendable, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and affecting. The chemistry between Seth and Domenico crackles with intensity, adding an electric energy to the story that will keep readers turning the pages.

The intricate plot of "Guns N' Boys: Swamp Blood" is filled with twists and turns that will leave readers guessing until the very end. Merikan's attention to detail and intricate storytelling keep the suspense high and the stakes even higher, ensuring that readers will be on the edge of their seats throughout the book.

In addition to its gripping plot, this book also tackles deeper themes of identity, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions. Merikan's exploration of these complex ideas adds depth and nuance to the story, elevating it beyond a simple romance and offering readers a thought-provoking experience.

Overall, K.A. Merikan's "Guns N' Boys: Swamp Blood" is a dark and captivating read that will satisfy fans of the genre. With its compelling characters, atmospheric setting, and masterful storytelling, this book is a must-read for those seeking a thrilling and emotionally charged journey. Merikan once again showcases their talent for crafting a riveting tale that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

We meet Mark! And fight an alligator!

This book is wonderful and stressful, so your typical Guns n’ Boys book here. It was exciting to see how the guys meet Mark after reading the entire series because I remember my initial reaction to the first chapter of this book starting out with him, I was like WHO IS MARK. It’s odd because nobody else had their POV chapters besides Seth and Dom outside the bonus scene at the very end. And now there’s a guy with his own chapters throughout the book? Well, by the end of this book I was in love with Mark. And I too would like to adopt him and keep him safe! It’s not really a secret at this point that Mark has his own books later on in this series, so seeing how his relationship with Seth and Dom (and even Dana) all started is really fun.

Content notes include bimisia, homomisia, misogyny, violence, blackmail, deaths, torture, human trafficking, and kidnapping.

Seth and Dom really grow on me in this series. I really can’t stress enough how much I didn’t like Dom in the first two books the first time I read them. But the memory loss did wonders on giving him a new perspective I guess? Dom’s over here telling sixteen-year-old Mark to ask for enthusiastic consent before having sex with a kid his own age and Dom’s very sweet on Seth and realizes how awful he was to Seth in the beginning. It’s a huge change of pace.

It’s also interesting to see this book really look into what happened at the end of book three and what comes of it. Seth is depressed and has gained some weight but it was nice to read Dom not giving him any crap for it? Sometimes Dom’s reactions to things can be…not so nice? It was good to see that Dom just loves Seth no matter what. And meanwhile, Dom is dealing with his own nightmares from what happened at the end of book three and now lives in terror that something can happen to Seth and him being powerless to stop it.

There might be a rather unhealthy codependency between Seth and Dom but considering everything they’ve been through and what they’ve given up in order to be together, that’s probably to be expected. I do like that we now have a relationship that isn’t incest even though they started their relationship 100% thinking they were brothers. That said. The book that can be read following this one is One Step Too Close from the Sex & Mayhem series. These books take place in Louisiana and guys wind up meeting the Coffin Nails MC and dealing with the two characters in that book who ARE stepbrothers, but not by blood. That book might also explain Dana’s absence and the events she went through before we see her again in these books.

I do like that Seth and Dom take on a parental aspect in this book when they meet Mark? It’s pretty endearing to read, because they do NOT want to be parents at all at this point in their lives. They’re on the run from the mafia and they don’t want to drag an innocent teenager with them. With the addition of Dana, it’s like the four of them are part of this weird dysfunctional family and I love them a lot.

Dana is an enigma. I liked her even though she still has a lot to learn. Dom was right to teach her a lesson for how she treated Mark, and that was only for what he knows she did to Mark. I think she’s possibly asexual, but it’s never said outright besides saying that she doesn’t like sex. She’s very capable and wants to train under Dom, but has been compared to an emotionless robot at times so ehhhhh. It works for her takes-no-prisoners personality, but rubs me the wrong way if she is ace. In any case, I know the reaction in this series towards Dana is that people don’t like her, but I do. It’s weird how she works her way into Seth and Dom’s lives, but it’s fun to see how she winds up fitting in like the odd aunt or something.

This is such a low bar, but it was so nice to see a dark romance book not try to glamorize human trafficking and the people who enable it. This book highlights the utter horror of it and it’s enough to turn your stomach.

There’s is some character crossover in this series with the Sex & Mayhem series by the authors, like I mentioned previously. This one specifically crosses over with Coffin Nails MC, Louisiana chapter. I feel like that series is more popular with readers, maybe because all those couples have one book each and don’t follow just the one couple through an entire series like this one does? Or maybe readers just like motorcycle club romances over mafia? I don’t know. I LIKE the Sex & Mayhem series and I find that series and this one are about the same level as far as darkness and grit goes.

What’s super fun is that Wyatt Baker narrates BOTH series. I feel like he does a lot more accent work with this book than the audiobooks I’ve previously listened to from him? Like, this series is really making him BE a lot of different characters. He’s done Italian, German, a second of Russian, British, and southern American accents, so he’s doing a LOT. And with the guys heading towards Mexico and then Columbia in South America? It should be interesting.

The ONLY blip I’ll mention (and he was bound to slip up with all these accents flying around) and I mean it’s just funny, but it’s obvious Wyatt Baker does not frequent the likes of, say, Starbucks because of how he pronounces frappuccinos in this book. I’m just saying, nobody calls a frappe, “frah-pay”. He says it multiple times and I had to rewind the audiobook and laugh when I heard it.

Overall, this is a really enjoyable book and introduces Mark into the series. We see this little family starting to grow, and we see how Seth and Dom continue their escape from the mafia and their plans to finally leave the U.S. I liked that this book crosses over with the Sex and Mayhem books because it gives me that last push to finish that series. I can’t wait to listen to book 5 when the audiobook comes out!

Wow

This was a enthralling story. There are so many things happening. After faking there deaths Domenico and Seth are trying to get back the pieces they are missing. Seth whats to be the man he was before and Domenico is still having nightmares of Seth’s torture. They will stand together but have a long road ahead of them. The narration was spot on.

Lov

Excellent story and performance. If you know these characters then this is the first time you really see Domenicos true heart.

Loved it

I am loving this series, every book offers more character development and deeper connection between our star-crossed lovers. In Swamp Blood Seth and Domenico are recovering from the ordeal ending book 4, and each heal in their own way. I enjoyed seeing Domenico so caring and open about his feeling, the way he protects his family and taking care of "business" is captivating. There are some new characters introduced in this book as well as cameo from familiar Coffin Nails MC chapter characters. It was interesting to see how Seth and Domenico interact with characters from other series. Narrator did a very good job with the story, voices and accents. Overall this was a great listening experience.

amazing

As normal, amazing! I love Seth and Dom. I can't wait to keep going and see what lies in wait for them next!

Can't get enough of this series!!🥰

I'm officially obsessed with this series!

Domenico and Seth's story continues.

I absolutely love the dynamics of their relationship. The level of trust and chemistry between them is so special.

I love that the secondary characters are well fleshed out and hold their own as well.

The storyline is gripping, captivating and engaging.


Wyatt Baker is a talented narrator and performs an amazing audio delivery and narration.