INCEST

Didn’t know there was incest I feel like that should be the first thing people should know about before listening but if it wasn’t for the incest this would be 5 stars all around I get that there only half brothers but still kinda weird the story it great it just that part.

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Loved it !!

Loved the couple and plot. I love how well rounded the characters are. Was great to listen to for my shift at work.

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Hot!

I really got into this book. I am dying to start the next one.

Seth and Dom and super steamy together. I am really enjoying their dynamics. The story is fun and I know will get to spend a long time with this pair.

highly recommend!

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It’s finally on audio!!!

By the time I finished listening to this book on audio, I will have finished all the books in this series by text. So, my review for the audiobook will be slightly more forgiving than the one I had when I first read this book?

Look. I’m just going to say it. I was not a fan of the first 2 books in this series when I first read them, and I still think they are the least likable books in the series. These are books you need to read to get to know the characters, but the series overall (throughout 11 books!) gives a lot of slow character growth you normally wouldn’t see from a romance series with, say, MCs that change ever book.

Guns n’ Boys is the long game. And patience is key.

While this book is probably my least favorite, I LOVE this series overall and the fact that we’re finally getting audiobooks for these is a DREAM. I’m so happy we’re going to get these audiobooks funded and available to listen to over and over again, because I series is just *chef’s kiss*

So, what is this book about?

Seth is an Italian mafia don’s youngest son and has spent the past several years studying at a college in the US. When he's kidnapped, and eventually rescued, he's shaken up and first order of business is that his days in the US living as an openly gay man is now over. He is rescued by Domenico, or "Dom", a man who Seth grew up with as a child, but hasn't seen in a long time.

Content notes include homomisia, transmisia, violence, misogyny, death, kidnapping, threats, amputation, not quite consensual sex (and definitely comes off more like rape), and an implied incest relationship (allegedly blood related stepbrothers).

There was a breaking point between Seth and Dom when they were younger, and Dom was taken away and eventually trained to be the assassin he is today. It is alleged that Seth and Dom share the same father, and Seth and Dom have sex. A lot of sex. I say allegedly related because ******SPOILER***** they turn out not to be? But that’s a revelation in a future book and not this one. So, ymmv with how you feel about reading that here and that Seth and Dom pursue a relationship anyway while believing they are stepbrothers.

Seth is, at heart, a soft soul who just wants to create new recipes and cook all day. He’s really not cut out for the life his family expects him to live. He's not the oldest, and when his father names Seth as his successor, it comes as a shock to everyone. Not to say Seth's older brother is particularly suitable to be the next don, but he definitely seems more ready for a life of crime than Seth.

Dom is the assassin for their mafia family and comes across as very abusive in this book. It’s how he was raised and all he’s been molded to be. He resorts to violence a lot and keeps pushing Seth to have sex even when Seth tells him no. Dom keeps hounding Seth to bottom even when Seth struggles to get away or repeatedly tells Dom to stop. It's beyond me that Dom says he would never rape anyone unless ordered to by the don, AND YET, what does he call what he's doing to Seth? Dom also hits and punches Seth when Seth doesn't agree with something he says, and Dom never shows remorse for doing so. Dom unnecessarily goes out of his way to intimidate Seth at every turn and he even says in his POV chapters that he's “grooming” Seth to be more responsive to Dom.

Dom may be the younger one, and shorter, and lean where Seth is the taller and bigger guy with more muscles. But Dom has an intensity about him that makes him a man not to be trifled with. Sometimes, I just want Seth to punch Dom in the face and for Dom to actually apologize.

I want to say my feelings on Seth and Dom’s relationship does get addressed throughout the series and amends are made, but it doesn’t make the first book less harder to read. It’s still violent. It’s still not okay.

The thing about Dom is that he never apologizes and, sure, he needs to train Seth to be the new don, but Dom's blasé and uncaring attitude makes him very hard to like here. Seth expresses PTSD from his kidnapping and Dom straight-up does not care.

Most of this book is sex scenes and with very little focus on scenes involving their training or doing whatever their Berlin job is to “observe” the woman who helped kidnap Seth. This book is definitely more sex heavy than future books of the series, and I had forgotten that until I relistened to it in this book.

Also, I have nothing against having a m/m/m scene, but the one in this book felt very random and it was more a way to introduce a character from a series by another author? There didn't really seem to be a reason to introduce Silvio other than to say that all mafia leaders might be queer. Silvio is an interesting character for sure, but was it enough to push me to read Silvio's books? No. I mean, I did eventually try to read his book, but winded up shelving it under DNF anyways because Silvio outside of the Guns n’ Boys series wasn’t as interesting to me.

So, I guess I just found the Silvio scenes pointless and could have done without them when Dom is clearly capable of taking care of dead bodies by himself and the threesome scene adds nothing.

The audiobook narration is great. Wyatt Baker already does the narration for the authors motorcycle club, Sex & Mayhem, and the Four Mercenaries series, among others. I’m a big fan. I liked the clips he did for the authors Patreon over the years for this series so seeing him getting to perform the whole book does not come as a surprise. I really liked his Italian accents for Seth and Dom. I do feel like Seth sounds maybe a bit too whiny at times, but I could attribute that to his character in book 1 versus the Seth I just finished reading in book 11.

Wyatt Baker’s British accent for the slight second that Dom slipped into it? Give me more of that. Has Wyatt Baker narrated any characters with British accents? I must find out.

I think it’s great he didn’t go for any accent for the Chinese characters who captured Seth, who were only described in the books as having a “Mandarin” accent, whatever that means. That could’ve been been offensive and I’m glad he just skipped right over that.

I’m happy with Wyatt Baker performing these audiobooks. Will he also narrated the m/f novella (like a narration with a female narrator?? sign up Elena Wolfe, PLEASE. I need to listen to Lucrezia and Santo on audio) or will the f/f crossover with Sex & Mayhem be turned into audiobooks too? I want all the audiobooks!! I can’t wait to listen to the rest of this series in audio. Like I said, I really love this series overall even if this first book is not high on my list of favorites.

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3 people found this helpful

Loved It a Lot

I loved this book so much I wish i can give it more stars. Great story with all my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, hot and very steamy scenes and romance with an edge. And for my personal enjoyment a little amazing cameo by a favorite character from another series. Narrator did a great job with voices and accents. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Highly recommend for all readers who enjoy mafia romance.

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3 people found this helpful

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!

"Guns N' Boys: He Is Poison" is a captivating novel that stands out within the action and romance genre. The author, K.A. Merikan, brilliantly crafts a compelling storyline filled with tension, excitement, and alluring chemistry between the main characters that will keep readers engrossed from start to finish.

Set in a dangerous underworld, the plot delves into the lives of Seth and Domenico, who are irresistibly drawn to each other despite the many obstacles thrown their way. The authors' ability to intertwine action-packed scenes and moments of tender intimacy showcases their skill in building a multifaceted story that never fails to entertain.

One of the strengths of this book lies in Merikan's ability to create complex and layered characters that readers can easily invest in. Seth and Domenico's personalities are brilliantly developed, with each possessing their own strengths and vulnerabilities. Witnessing their growth and transformation throughout the course of the story is both satisfying and heartwarming.

The authors' meticulous attention to detail shines through in the vivid descriptions, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the story's gritty and atmospheric setting. From the dark underbelly of organized crime to the thrilling action sequences, every scene feels tangible and believable.

Furthermore, Merikan's writing style is engaging and fluid, providing excellent pacing that keeps readers intrigued and eager to uncover what lies ahead. The dialogues are sharp, witty, and laced with just the right amount of suspense, making for an engrossing reading experience.

"Guns N' Boys: He Is Poison" is not merely a romance novel, but a thrilling journey filled with unexpected twists, intense emotions, and enduring passion. It transcends genres, appealing to fans of action, romance, and suspense alike.

Overall, K.A. Merikan's "Guns N' Boys: He Is Poison" is a triumph - a masterfully crafted story that enthralls readers from beginning to end. With its meticulously developed characters, vivid setting, and captivating narrative, this book is a fantastic addition to any reader's collection.

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1 person found this helpful

A dark mafia romance 🔥

This was a dark, gritty, steamy, enemies to lovers, opposites attract Mafia Romance.


The storyline was engaging and compelling.

I found the world building to br very authentic, original and descriptive.

The characters were likeable, relatable and well fleshed out.
The chemistry between them was intense, palpable and undeniable.


I absolutely loved the narration.
It was entertaining and the narrator performed a commendable audio delivery.

Definitely looking forward to the next in the series!!

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4 people found this helpful

Forbidden romance, but not forbidden for the reason you might think (purposely vague. Just read the da** books. All of them).

Just restarted this entire series for the third time. Narration is excellent, and Domenico’s voice is to die for when he gets all deep and purry. But, I have to admit I fell for Domenico from his first appearance. Took me a while to not be annoyed by Seth, but he eventually won me over.

The story is excellent, the spice is hot, and the violence and bloodshed are extreme. Overall, this series is in my top three favorites of all time. Highly recommend 11/10.

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Wow hot!

This was a great story. The storyline was intense with so much exciting adventures. The characters Domenico a assassin and Seth a spoiled stubborn Don’s son are so opposites but you know the saying opposites attract and these two have it in spades. Amazing action filled adventure. The narration was great. Can’t wait for more.

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1 person found this helpful

Wyatt Baker deserves an award!

Wyatt Baker was a wonder in this book. with so many accents and many, different characters, numerous action sequences, and violent sex scenes, Baker kept me on the edge of my seat with their intense performance!

K.A. Merikan have once again done a fantastic job with their world building. all of the characters are frighteningly believable and deeply flawed. Making mistakes feel very real.

I have read 11 books by K.A. Merikan, and all of them have been slightly twisted. I love that these authors take chances! They give us the opportunity to explore the minds of people who normally are not considered the hero of any story. I always know whenever I get a book by these authors that I will not be buying a Hallmark experience, however this one may take the cake for me in terms of making me feel unsettled. *See spoiler thoughts below.






***********Semi-Spoilers***********
The relationship between the two protagonists is difficult to understand. Everything is painted in shades of gray, this is a standard for K.A.Merikan and it's one of my favorite things about their writing.

It is not uncommon for one of their darker stories to feature scenes with sexual intimacy that include dubious consent. However, in other books I have read by them. One of the parties involved usually has a kink about being forced, or enjoys having forceful sex. -For example "Primal" and "Feel my pain" feature this kind of dynamic. (If you've read it you understand what I'm getting at.)

However, this story features one partner forcing anal sex. While the other partner repeatedly says no. In fact, the partner on bottom fights penetration almost every time, in quite a brutal fashion.

But the worst part...
(the reason for my 3 stars)
The top degrades, and humiliates, the bottom for being a "slut" and "enjoying" the sex.
Essentially the top rapes the bottom repeatedly and then degrades him. The top then manipulates him by using insults and shame to control him.



Look... this world is a big, weird, wonderful place! Ultimately different things are going to appeal to many different people. I choose to "never yuck anyone else's yum!" Someone from a different perspective may have read this and found it really stimulating, and I'm happy for them. This is fiction with no real people involved and we should have diversity of characters and stories.

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ But for anyone who may not be into that this is your fair warning! ⚠️⚠️⚠️

Are you are looking for some hot sex scenes that are brutal but where it's much more clear that everyone involved wants the sex?
I would suggest the following titles from K.A. Merikan! :

"Just here for the pain"-BDSM
"Feel my pain"-Angry hate sex
"Primal"- Forced sex kink

Have a great day! Please support these authors they are amazing!

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