Book Review ~ Vice City by S.A. Stovall

Book Review ~ Vice City by S.A. Stovall

Blurb:

After twenty years as an enforcer for the Vice family mob, Nicholas Pierce shouldn’t bat an eye at seeing a guy get worked over and tossed in the river. But there’s something about the suspected police mole, Miles, that has Pierce second-guessing himself. The kid is just trying to look out for his brother any way he knows how, and the altruistic motive sparks an uncharacteristic act of mercy that involves Pierce taking Miles under his wing.

Miles wants to repay Pierce for saving his life. Pierce shouldn’t see him as anything but a convenient hookup… and he sure as hell shouldn’t get involved in Miles’s doomed quest to get his brother out of a rival street gang. He shouldn’t do a lot of things, but life on the streets isn’t about following the rules. Besides, he’s sick of being abused by the Vice family, especially Mr. Vice and his power-hungry goon of a son, who treats his underlings like playthings.

So Pierce does the absolute last thing he should do if he wants to keep breathing—he leaves the Vice family in the middle of a turf war.

Buy Links:

DSP Publications: https://tinyurl.com/ycumb5d2
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yagll39f
Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/y7tuowhk
Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/yajyrwt9
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/ycu3wnl6

4.5 Stars!!!

Pierce has been working with a mob family for twenty years as an enforcer and he's never felt the need to 'save' anyone until he crosses paths with Miles Davenport, who supposedly is a mole who's been feeding the cops with information against the Vice family affairs but really only wants to look out for his brother, who is a member of a rival gang. 

Pierce is the first person that treats Miles with some kind of respect and Miles wants to repay him, so they start hooking up. However, there are a lot of things going on as the Vice family (and Pierce) and the Cobras are on the verge of a turf war.

The book is told from Pierce's POV and I wasn't too sure how to feel about it at first. If you're looking for hearts and flowers and sweetness, this definitely isn't that at all. Pierce is gruff and has no qualms (or not many) over killing someone, after all, he's been doing it since he was 16. Still, it was obvious Pierce was ready for a change, kind of disillusioned at the life he'd been leading until he met Miles. So it's not all that surprising that he doesn't put much of a fight when Miles comes on to him, despite him being only 20 years on. What was surprising was how well they seemed to work together once Pierce let Miles in a bit. Miles made Pierce laugh and the attraction between the two was undeniable, even if it was tinted with a little hero (or antihero, as the case might be) worship in Miles' eyes. 

I liked Guinevere, she was badass and I just loved how instrumental she was in the climax of the story and I hated Jeremy, he was truly a snake and I shuddered with disgust at what poor Pierce had to endure. 

I will admit I haven't read all that many Mob or Mafia-related books, it's not just my go-to kind of read. However, the blurb of Vice City sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try and it was intense, gritty, very well-written and it drew me in from the first sentence.

Very recommendable!!!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

About the Author:

S.A. Stovall grew up in California’s central valley with a single mother and little brother. Despite no one in her family having a degree higher than a GED, she put herself through college (earning a BA in History), and then continued on to law school where she obtained her Juris Doctorate.

As a child, Stovall’s favorite novel was Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The adventure on a deserted island opened her mind to ideas and realities she had never given thought before—and it was the moment Stovall realized that story telling (specifically fiction) became her passion. Anything that told a story, be it a movie, book, video game or comic, she had to experience. Now, as a professor and author, Stovall wants to add her voice to the myriad of stories in the world, and she hopes you enjoy.

You can find her on Twitter @GameOverStation or at her website https://sastovallauthor.com/