The Butcher

Fifth Republic Series, Book 1

De: Penelope Sky

Narrado por: Ramona Master, Michael Ferraiuolo

I found out my husband of three years had cheated on me and his mistress is the one who told me—because he didn’t have the balls to do it himself.

I move out and get a new apartment, a job as a bartender, and try to move on with a broken heart. I wonder where it all went wrong, if I hadn’t been enough for him, if I’d been stupid for marrying him in the first place.

I’m at work one night when he walks inside—the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He sits at the bar and a forest fire burns between us. I was depressed the moment before he entered, but the second I look at his blue eyes, I forget the dumpster fire that my life has become. I invite him back to my place and it’s the most passionate night of my life. I expect to never see him again.

I just want him as an anti-depressant—but he wants me all to himself. I just got my heart ripped out of my chest so I want something easy and no-strings-attached, but he wants all the strings because he’s hooked.

I don’t get much of a say in the matter, and that’s not surprising when I learn why—because he’s the Butcher. The crime lord of all crime lords, the boss that overshadows all of Paris, that makes everyone abide by his rules—or pay.

And now I’m his.

©2025 Penelope Sky (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Read Before listening

I read this series before listening to the audio, the series itself I liked ! However I couldn’t really get into the audio performance. It wasn’t horrible, I Likely had higher expectations because I enjoyed reading the series so much.

Such an intense book

I really enjoyed this book, but the way it ended abruptly really caught me off guard. I was so disappointed. The book is a fast read because it keeps your attention the entire time, the characters are interesting and the storyline was amazing, but I wish it had ended differently.

Did not want the book to end!

Great narration, story, and characters! Love love love the male main character and the female main character was admirably relatable

the narrators did not fit for this book...

Saw everyone talking about this book. And figured why not give it a shot. Once again got to finish the series because it does leave you on a slight cliff hanger. Definitely invested in it. But in my opinion the audiobook does not fit well with this book. The narrators just didn't go well. I think I would have much rather just read it without the audio. I think I'm going to continue to read it without it. Cuz it kind of turned me off of it. At some point I just stop listening to the audio and read it and it definitely was much better. That's just my opinion being an audiobook person as well as just reading the book itself. But I surprisingly like the book. And it looks like you have to definitely read all the other books to get closure.

Poor Performance

The narrators performance was poor but the story was good. The narrators really brought down this book. I may just read the next book and and not wait for the audiobook.

I need more

I’m hooked… I can’t for the second book to come out! The way he loves her is just so intense

Cute

Wasn’t the best or worst book I’ve read ! Bas seems cute and he went after what he wanted. I hate the ending of book 1

I expected more

Don't get the wrong idea from my headline, because I did like the book but I haven't decided if I liked it enough to continue the series, chances are I will but I'm reserved right now. I think I expected more because the Buttons and Lace series sets you on fire when you read it because there was much more intrigue. I would have liked a much stronger start to the story but with that said Bastian and Fluer have a good chemistry and respect for the other. I think with the nickname the Butcher there would have been more on his part outside of the relationship with her but maybe that is in the next book. I do love that Penelope Sky keeps the same narrators because they work really well together.

We will see what I think of the next book in the series.

Oh my gosh! Hot hot hot is all I can say!

I haven’t read a book this good in months! Everything about this book had me on edge and couldn’t wait to see what was next!Thank you Penelope!

lady you could’ve just stayed in your home and this book wouldn’t have happened.

Okay so the writing was pretty good and the spice immaculate, but the plot kind of sucked. I know the story is going to continue on the next one (I didn’t knew that when I started reading I thought it was a interconnected standalone) but this book was her crying about the husband and wanting to be with him again oh and going to eat at every restaurant in Paris and having s ex with Bastien. Honestly I finished it out of spite hahaha I really like him, he’s head over heels for her since the moment they met. I just wished the story centered more on him and maybe their relationship and not her and her husband,