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Untamed Hearts #3

The Enforcer

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They are the lost boys.

Sons of mafia mistresses expected to keep their fathers’ sins in the shadows. The lucky ones are forgotten.

Unfortunately for Valentino “Tino” Moretti, his brother Nova was too smart to be forgotten, and too valuable to risk when he resists a life of crime. So they punished Tino instead. Forced into the cruel world of the Sicilian Mafia at twelve, Tino was broken before he was old enough to know the man he was supposed to be. Now he’s what the mafia made him.

The enforcer.

A trained killer forbidden to love, but he did anyway. He's loved Brianna all along.

Raw and beautiful, their romance was all consuming and far too dangerous. They were ripped apart a long time ago. It’s not until the borgata puts out a hit on her that Brianna falls back into Tino’s arms, churning up their dark past and unraveling all the Moretti brothers’ closely guarded secrets.

This isn’t the end of the story. It’s only the beginning, and it is brutal.

There’s a reason enforcers are considered too deadly to love.

First published March 22, 2016

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About the author

Kele Moon

22 books2,608 followers
A freckle-faced redhead born and raised in Hawaii, Kele Moon has always been a bit of a sore thumb and has come to enjoy the novelty of it. She thrives on pushing the envelope and finding ways to make the impossible work in her story telling. With a mad passion for romance, she adores the art of falling in love. The only rules she believes in is that, in love, there are no rules and true love knows no bounds.

So obsessed is she with the beauty of romance and the novelty of creating it, she’s lost in her own wonder world most of the time. Thankfully she married her own dark, handsome, brooding hero who has infinite patience for her airy ways and attempts to keep her grounded. When she leaves her keys in the refrigerator or her cell phone in the oven, he’s usually there to save her from herself. The two of them now reside in Florida with their three beautiful children, who make their lives both fun and challenging in equal parts—they wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
Profile Image for Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️.
1,916 reviews32.3k followers
October 25, 2016
"There's this rule in chess.
If a pawn gets to the other side of the board, he can be anything he wants...once it hits other other side, it can be any piece.
A knight. A rook. A bishop. Anything...
All I wanted was to save one pawn.
To get him to the other side so he could be something different..."

-Valentino Moretti

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Well fucking A, I'll be your pawn, Kele Moon.

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This book was so much different from what I expected it to be.

It took me places I wasn't expecting to go.

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Because it took us through places I didn't expect Tino to have been taken.

And I've got to be honest, a part of me did NOT love those places.
Because those places didn't fit the mold of the Valentino I had in my head.

But by the end?

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My pawn ass was doing this^^^ shit right the fuck across the chessboard.

This books starts up pretty much right where The Slayer left us.

And then it takes you back to the origins of the Moretti brothers.
What happened to Romeo.
What happened to Nova.
What happened to Tino.
And what they did to protect each other.

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If you liked loved The Slayer, you will love this one even more.

Yes, it's book one in a two book Tino series.
Yes, it ends leaving you on a cliffhanger.

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But fear not homies, it's not the slit your wrists kind of cliffhanger.

You'll survive.

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So play.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So excited to start book one of Tino's two book story!

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I'm so fucking excited I might actually vomit.

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***ARC provided by author via Loose ID Publishing***

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Profile Image for Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾.
2,118 reviews13.1k followers
March 14, 2016
FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED
5 BUT I'D GIVE IT 10 IF I COULD STARS

Together they were like a firework.
Beautiful in the night. A dusty smear of ash in the morning when reality crashed in and ruined the high. They just weren't ever meant to be more than one brief, amazing explosion of memories that should've been enough to sustain them. But it hadn't been. Not even close.


Powerful.
Emotional.
Gut wrenching.
All consuming.
Gritty.
And so raw it'll make your heart bleed.


I say this each and every time I finish a book by Kele Moon, but unbelievably she only continues to get better and better. And that's saying a lot considering how much I loved The Slayer. But Tino's book? This was something else entirely. Kele truly takes you to the dark and violent underbelly of the New York mafia. She spares no details. None. You'll read it with your gut twisted and your heart in your throat the entire time just like I did.

Prepare for much darker undertones than the previous books. Tino's story is not for the faint of heart. It's incredibly gritty and at times almost unbearably difficult to read. There are no parts that the author glazes over. When she gives you a story, she gives you everything.
I fucking love you, Brianna...
I wouldn't just bleed for you... I'd bleed motherfuckers out for you."


In case you didn't know already, The Enforcer will be part 1 of 2, and with good reason. Tino's story is not one that could be told in two books, nor should it be. I think it would almost be too much to handle. There is not one small dose of filler here. Each tiny detail is a plot driver and I am beyond blown away at the forethought this author gives every single one of her characters. If you want my advice, you'll appreciate it so much more if you read the series this was a spin-off from, Battered Hearts.

The Enforcer will take you back to the very beginning. To the years when Tino, Nova and Romeo were just small boys. It will take you step by devastating step through the events that made them into the men that they are today. It will tell the story of how Tino and Brianna met. It's incredibly powerful and easily one of the best books I've read not only from Kele but period.

I don't remember the last time a book effected me on such a visceral level, but I swear I felt this in my bones, my blood, my very being. These characters are so real to me, and I'm beyond invested in their stories. I cannot wait for you all to fall in love with Tino even more, just like I did.

The Enforcer takes you back to the very beginning. To the days and the events that set everything in motion and what made Tino and Nova Moretti into the men that they are today. There are parts that will gut you; there are parts that will make you laugh, and through all of it you'll be glued to the pages unable to focus on anything else.

Gino's story was equal parts tragic and beautiful; tragic in terms what he's been trhgouh and beautiful in terms of his love for Brianna. I cannot describe to you just how much this man loves Brianna. He'd do anything for her; sacrifice anything...even his own happiness to make sure she's safe. Young Tino was a gut wrenching to read about. His story is so tragically brutal. He yearns for a different life but he lives in a nightmare of his father's making...

Kele did such an incredible job navigating the reader through the years. So much so that you feel everything right along with the characters and by the time you get to the end, you're yearning for their HEA as much as they are. God, it was amazing!
Their love had been wild, unpredictable, and so unbelievably raw and sensual it would likely never stop haunting her.


I adored Brianna. She's such strong heroine but in an understated way. She truly understands Tino and everything that he is and accept and love him in spite of it. She's the perfect match for his light and especially his dark sides.
I love you. Please remember that, okay?"
"I know....
I know, baby. It's okay. I'm good...
I'm strong, remember?"
He did remember. So he fucked the shit out of her.
Hard. Angry.


You get not only Tino and Bri here; you get more Chu, a whole lot more Nova and a few other secondary characters that will capture your hearts.

Prepare for one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. This is a book you don't just read you experience it.
Never forget that. You take from whores. Use them. Don't love them"
"Why?"
"'Cause they're love starved. They've been hurt and beaten for so fucking long they are desperate for kindness. Love them, really love them, and they'll die for you. They'll bleed for you.

One of the best books I've read all year. If you haven't yet discovered the talent that is Kele Moon, you are seriously missing out. This series is an absolute must read for any lovers of true anti-heroes with hearts of gold. I can't recommend it enough!
Learn to fight your own battles. We have to be better than them. Stronger. Faster. Smarter. Lost boys have to fly."



Beta copy provided by author

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Profile Image for ~♡AB♡~.
974 reviews686 followers
January 18, 2019
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★ #TOP READ#



I cannot begin to express my love for this book, it has completely consumed my life for the last week, and probably will continue to do so for a long while. I read it over a weekend, and since then I have been thinking about it non-stop and listening to the fantastic playlist on spotify -> http://bit.ly/1pLbA3j

It was just that intense and amazing, these characters are real to me, I actually refuse to admit that they are fictional and the fact that this book took Kele a year to write is evident in the level of detail and the quality of the writing, this is by far her best work yet.

The Enforcer is part one of two, but is a story in itself. This is the story of before, of how brothers Tino, Nova and Romeo came to be in the place that they are now. For those of you who are new to this series, Tino and Nova are mafiosi, and this tells the tale of how they became the notorious men the are today and how they detest being a part of the life.

I'm gonna make them all pay. I'm done being Cosa Nostra's whore."

We experience how the two young boys learnt that they had to do what they had to do in order to survive, with their mother having passed away and their older brother Romeo sent to prison after being set up by the mafia.

Let me tell you, their life was tough...so tough it will break your heart. Essentially this is Tino's story and we are taken back to the day he met his Brianna, the redheaded dancer who was his light in all the darkness.



On the outside, Tino is a happy go lucky party boy, but on the inside he is so very broken, and if it weren't for the love of his two brothers, his sister (cosmic twin) Carina, and Brianna, he would be lost. And let's not forget Zio Carlo ♥

Their love was so special and perfect, but Tino never felt worthy of it and you can feel the absolute pain in his heart that he can never have a normal life and have his happily ever after.

"Their love had been wild, unpredictable, and so unbelievably raw and sensual it would likely never stop haunting her."

This book is not only a romance, it is so much more than that and involves a fabulous cast of characters and I adore each and every one of them.

The Enforcer's Revenge which is coming later this year, is without a doubt my most anticipated read of this year (if ever), and I can't wait to continue on this journey with Tino and Brianna.



This one ends in a good place, I normally like to wait and read books together, but in this case I am so glad I have read it now so that I can process it all and really digest everything that has happened. It's not a book to be rushed, it deserves time and attention, and whilst it technically can be read as a standalone, I can't recommend this whole series enough, if not just for the greatness of the alpha male's and feisty heroine's that Kele creates, but just for the background behind Tino and Nova that all adds to the overall experience.

Just in case you missed it, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Did you get that from my review? Because I did love it, so much it's unreal. It's one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life... Motherfucking amazing! If you love Mafia books, you need to read this. And if you are already a follower of this series, then you will absolutely not be disappointed, I can guarantee.



FYI, Romeo also has a book Star Crossed which is part of a different series but does contain both Tino and Nova. I am re-reading it now and it's great to go back and see them.

Stars seem inadequate, but I am giving out all of the stars to what is my favourite book of 2016.

The Enforcer is a Mafia Romance told from third person POV. Part one of two, but part of an overall fantastic and must read series

ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.

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Profile Image for Jennifer Kyle.
2,462 reviews5,295 followers
March 17, 2016
4.5 "Lost boys have to fly" STARS

” I don’t wanna win like Nova does. I don’t wanna save the world. All I want is a chance to be something else. Anything else.”

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How I adore this series and how with each book the characters accumulate and these Moretti boys are simply irresistible. If you loved Romeo Wellings in book two of Battered Hearts Series you will adore this book. This is his youngest brother, Tino’s story and what happened to him and Nova after their mother’s death and Romeo’s imprisonment. It’s a brutal tale of what happen to these beautiful boys.

”They were trapped in another world. A secret world. A secret world that no one, not even his older brother, was allowed to know about.”

The story is told mainly in alternating POVs of Tino and Brianna, his half-sister’s BFF Forever. I loved these girls they were so well written and if I could join a BFF group theirs would be the one. The story takes us from present to the past and shows the path Tino took to become the man he is today. It’s brutal, heart breaking and well done.

”They could do just about anything to him, and it was all right because he was the expendable brother. Not smart like Nova. Not famous like Romeo. Not insanely talented like Carina. He was just Tino. But there had been one thing. One perfect, beautiful thing that made him feel life wasn’t quite so mean. Brianna made Tino feel like he mattered.”

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Tino has always been the good time brother, or so we thought. He wears many masks and is a true survivor. He and Nova are sent to live with their father the Don, where the abuse starts very quickly.

”If Nova Moretti’s puking his guts up…everyone’s fucked.”

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Overall, Kele Moon delivers a great installment that does end with a very bearable cliffhanger. I truly enjoyed the path through the Moretti’s past and getting to know new characters. Tino and Brianna need their HEA and I can’t wait to get there with them!

”King, Endgame. Protect my queen at all costs. I’m not you. I still need her to win. Pawn.”

description

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Profile Image for Gi's Spot Reviews.
1,105 reviews1,314 followers
March 21, 2016
5 'You Matter!' Stars

You know that expression we see all the time in romance books, 'You've ruined me for other men'? That's exactly how I felt after reading this book. Kele, I feel like this book completely ruined me for every other book to follow, and believe me that I say this in the most adulatory way.

First of all, it's been almost one week since I've finished it and I still feel book hungover (there are very few books I can say the same thing about), and while reading it, I had to pause several times, to take a breather, for THE FIRST TIME EVER, not because I was bored or tired of the story, but because my heart was literally hurting for these characters, especially Tino, and I needed a moment to ground and remind myself that it is fiction. That's how EXTRAORDINARY Kele Moon's writing is, she really makes us share these moments, scenes and feelings with the MCs. And this is not even counting the times I found myself crying while reading it. So unless you want people to thinks you are going crazy or being hormonal, I advise you not to read the book in public. Yes, it's an emotional heavy story, but it's so very much more than that.

I can honestly say that, after this read, I can't really set this book in my usual review parameters, because it's most definitely NOT a safe read, (it has to many triggers for that) but that didn't hurt the book in my eyes. You can imagine how good of a book it is if it made me forgo my usual safety/spoilerish quirks.

And for that reason this won't be my typical review, because, for the very first time, I don't want to spoiler it. Believe me when I say that if I were to reveal the 'safety' triggers I would destroy the story for you guys.

Half of the richness of this book is on the unveiling of the events, and the journey on itself. The other half comes from pure Kele Moon gift. It may seem like an exaggeration, but there is no other way to explain it because it's the deceivingly natural result of her extensive research (underworld, dance, language, cultures), realness and rawness of her characters, and incredible scene setting, that really make her writing unique. In my opinion, she is one of the most talented romance writers of our generation, and I can't wait for everyone of you to enjoy her gift and realize that.

This book is the third book of the Untamed Hearts series (Spinoff of the Battered Hearts Series), and the first of the two parts of Tino, Valentino Moretti's story.



After reading both series, I knew that this series was getting a darker setting, we are, after all, getting more and more into the mafia's underworld, to whom these men, unfortunately, will be forever linked by their name, Moretti.

The attempted murder of Brianna, by order of the head of the Moretti family, is the trigger for the cataclysm of events that will occur from this point forward, because for Tino, she is the one thing they were forbidden to touch.



But before we can embark on these events Kele takes us to the Moretti brothers' past, from the event that changed these siblings lives forever, Romeo's arrest. And this is the core of the book, the beginning of Tino's life as we know it and all the events that transformed him in the man he is in the present, the Enforcer.

His stolen childhood by abuse and neglect are truly heartbreaking, and without a doubt some of the most emotional moments I have ever read. Even so, a faint trace of hope always seemed present, something to hold on to...

“This is Neverland. The rest of the world doesn’t exist anymore. The sooner you forget it, the easier it’ll be,” Carlo said softly. “Learn to fight your own battles. We have to be better than them. Stronger. Faster. Smarter. Lost Boys have to fly.”


Tino shows us the true meaning of unmeasurable love, loyalty and sacrifice for his siblings. He will, literally, do anything for his brothers and sister.



But there isn't only sadness, we get see when Tino and Brianna first meeting, and their bond developing throughout the years. Their love is a force of nature,

Together, they were like a firework.
Beautiful in the night.
A dusty smear of ash in the morning when reality crashed in and ruined the high. They just weren’t ever meant to be more than one brief, amazing explosion of memories that should’ve been enough to sustain them.
But it hadn’t been.
Not even close.


Tino even shows us that his love for Brianna goes one step further, because he worships her. She is lifeline throughout all sacrifices. She is everything to him.

Brianna was a strong and loyal character. She was always there, to support and love him, no matter what. She was everything he needed.

Let's talk about their chemistry together, because, my friends, if there is one thing that Kele know how to do perfectly, is create some nuclear, of the charts, chemistry. When these two where in the same room it was palpable, and when touching, whether it was dancing or kissing, it exploded, and nobody else existed for them. And the sex scenes, boy oh boy, let's just say they are need-a-cold-shower-after HOT.



It wasn't the easiest road for them, as we see, but by the end of this part, even though it's not a HEA, it's also not, in my eyes, a cliffhanger. We can anticipate what will happen next, but it doesn't make you want to scream and throw you e-reader at the wall! LOL

That said, I can't wait to put my greedy hands on the second part of this story, so please Kele, don't make us wait to long...Pretty please... (*cue puppy eyes*)

And I can't finish without saying....TINO, YOU MATTER!!!




ARC kindly provided by the author via Loose ID Publishing in exchange for a honest review

You can also check out this review on my blog,

http://gisspotreviews.com/2016/03/20/...
Profile Image for Geri Reads.
1,232 reviews2,117 followers
March 26, 2016
"Learn to fight your own battles. We have to be better than them. Stronger. Faster. Smarter. Lost boys have to fly."


I read this book a couple of months ago and it took me a long time to write even a coherent review for many reasons.

One, I don't want to inadvertently spoil anything about the plot. Two, I had a hard time putting into words just how much this book affected me.

I was one of those readers who dismissed Tino as being this goofy, happy-go-lucky, without a care in world, Moretti brother. Boy, was I wrong. So very wrong. Kele has hinted in the past the dark path that the Moretti brother haved trekked before they even came to Garnett. But I was still unprepared for most of the stuff that happened to Romeo, Nova and Tino.

This wasn't an easy book to read. I was glad that I was reading it along with Lana and Alex because if it had just been me, I didn't think I would be able to handle it. Definitely not for the faint of heart but those difficult moments are so essential to the story and to the evolution of the Moretti brothers that it had to be told. No matter how difficult it was to read, without it, the story would've been incomplete.

As usual, Kele delivered her own brand of sensuality to The Enforcer. The chemistry between Tino and Brianna developed over the course of the book. Brianna herself was a character that really stood out to me. It would have been easy to overlook her character because she was a bit quiet and reserved compared to the other characters, but especially to Carina, Brianna's BFF and Tino half sister. But she was a force to be reckon with. She wasn't as brash or as flamboyant as Carina but she has nerves of steel, man.

Aside from the romance between Brianna and Tino, what I really loved about this book, and this series in general, was the bond between the men. That bond includes not only the Morettis but also Chui, Marcos and Wyatt. I just loved how Kele writes her male characters. They are so expressive and not afraid to show every bit of emotion they can. Their love for each other, their loyalty shines through every single interaction they have. As a reader, you would know that these guys would not hesitate to kill or to sacrifice themselves for each other.

The Enforcer is definitely one of those books that I wouldn't soon forget. And rightly so, especially since the story isn't over yet. The Enforcer is only the first half of Tino's journey. The second book, The Enforcer's revenge would be the culmination of Tino's plan...

"There's this rule in chess.
If a pawn gets to the other side of the board, he can be anything he wants...once it hits other other side, it can be any piece.
A knight. A rook. A bishop. Anything...
All I wanted was to save one pawn.
To get him to the other side so he could be something different."


I couldn't wait to see it come together in the second book.

An early copy was provided by the author.
Profile Image for Karla.
987 reviews1,101 followers
March 20, 2016

5 Stars! Exhausting, Exhilarating...ECCELLENTE!! I never doubted The Enforcer would be epic, but I never expected this...it blew me away! Wow! Just. WOW!

A compelling, complex, intoxicating, cleverly crafted story that will take the reader from high to low on the emotional spectrum and back again! Your skin will crawl, you’ll rage, you’ll weep, and you will sag along with the characters in their defeat. You will feel the strength, love, and loyalty of siblings connected through a bond that is forced to bend but never breaks, and the devotion of a young girl who becomes the fiercely loyal passionate woman who loves Tino unconditionally. She is the one he turns to when he begins to heal. It’s baddest of the bad, the ugliest of the ugly, and the best and beautiful of human nature. It’s everything…tumultuous, harsh, raw, violent, heartbreaking, but also fun, amusing, sexy…very, very sexy…and steamy hot! Through it all, it’s the commitment and love that the core group of characters; Tino, Brianna, Nova, Romeo, Carina, and Carlo, have for each other that rises to the top and SHINES ! A family saga and love story…that is The Enforcer!

This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever had to write. It’s always difficult to express how you feel about the books you love so much because you want to say it all. But in the case of The Enforcer so many things are best left unsaid and just allow readers to enjoy the experience!

Bottom line…one of the best books I’ve ever read, Kele Moon’s writing and storytelling is extraordinary, and this is definitely a 2016 top pick read! I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us in The Enforcer’s Revenge where the Moretti family saga will continue and love will no doubt conquer all!

* A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Check out Dorsey's review for some awesome quotes and pics! Loved reading this one with her!
Profile Image for Claire.
2,314 reviews723 followers
March 22, 2016
5 + - "You matter." Stars!

ITs LIVE!

Amazon US -http://www.amazon.com/The-Enforcer-Un...
Amazon UK -http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Enforcer-...

I have found that finding the words to adequately write this review really difficult, firstly because the book is so freaking awesome, I don’t think there are words to accurately objectify it, and secondly there is so much that goes on in The Enforcer that I don’t want to touch on for fear of spoiling other readers enjoyment. Just know, you are in for a hell of a ride, and every step of the journey even the painful ones are so, so worth it.



Tino Moretti, and his brothers Romeo and Nova are well known in relation to the Untamed Hearts and the latter stages of the Battered Hearts Series’ of books. Quoting the author herself, The Enforcer is very much the beginning of Tino’s story, but in telling it you are also given the beginnings of Nova and Romeo’s stories as well. Although the opening of the book briefly touches on Brianna’s return to Tino’s life, and their subsequent rapid departure from Chu and Alaine’s wedding in Garnet (the end of The Slayer), the book mainly focusses on him and his brothers teens an early twenties, back when they still lived in Harlem/Brooklyn, and how much of an effect on his and Nova’s lives Romeo’s incarceration actually had.



There is a huge amount going on in this book, none of which I am inclined to delve into too deeply, the joy and heartbreak of reading the story of these three men, their beginnings, and what makes Tino the man we have come to know and love, is one you need to experience yourself, and with all its surprises at your own pace.

"Lost Boys gotta fly."

Starting in 2002, you are given life through twelve year old Tino’s eyes, and how things change for him and his brothers after his mother’s death. I think Kele played this story out really well, because through his eyes you also see a large part of what Nova goes through at the same time, and if you have read the previous books you know just how closed-off and complex a character he is, this book gives you a lot of the background as to why that is, but also sheds light on him as he works through the whole situation of becoming an integral cog in a Mafia family over the next six or so years, as well as his involvement in Tino becoming an Enforcer later on.



Briana and Carina Moretti are the other main players in this book, Briana comes into Tino’s life just when everything is changing, she’s the one positive out of everything, their blossoming friendship/relationship, is basically built around everything the Moretti brothers go through, but it really is just a friendship for a lot of the story, the attraction is evidently there, but as you are reading you begin to understand how difficult Tino finds it to separate one part of his life from his time with Brianna, tissues at the ready people.

"The best lies are the ones closest to the truth."

Carina was a huge surprise to me as well, the shocking impact of her actions in the latter stages of the story really do make you stop and take a breath, not because of what happens, because I had everything crossed that something of its nature would, but more that she is the one to do it, sorry if my comments seem vague, but I really don’t want to post anything spoilery and ruin anyone’s reading enjoyment.

In fact, I think I am going to leave my review there, I have gushed enough, my rating indicates my love for this book, and the series as a whole, and I can’t really say much more without giving stuff away. The Enforcers Revenge, continues Tino and Brianna’s story, and although there is no release date as yet, I really hope it’s sooner rather than later.



ARC generously provided by the publisher, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Profile Image for *J* Too Many Books Too Little Time.
1,921 reviews3,710 followers
July 20, 2016
4.5 Stars!

Totally late to the party, I know. Not sure what made me pick this one up, I mean (a) it's long as hell and (b) it's MF. But it's Kele Moon so in I dove.



And not in the least bit shocking, I loved this one.

There are tons of great reviews for this one, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

This was definitely more Tino's story, as opposed to Tino and Brianna's. It was even Tino and Nova's story honestly.

At times, it was really hard to read. What they went through as kids. Horrific. Mary and Frankie - they were vile human beings.

My hate for them reached epic proportions.



Most of the book takes place in the past. So yeah, there wasn't a lot of romance. But I was addicted to Tino's story. Literally from the first page. And somehow this one seemed to read pretty fast despite the length.

I wouldn't really call the ending a cliffie. I mean, it's definitely to be continued. The book ends back in the present so Tino and Brianna have yet to get their HEA. But I wasn't left pissed and wanting to cut a bitch. No one's life status was up in the air.

A great addition to one of my all time favorite MF series.
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,662 reviews3,270 followers
July 27, 2020
5 The Best and I Want More Stars
* * * * *Spoiler Free
So I am Dying...Because this was everything and more...and then...the knowledge of not knowing if the other books are ever coming hurts.

As I sit here hours after reading, I am feeling the pain, the glory and incredible want for more. It is as if this is a living breathing thing pulsing inside needing to be reassured all will be alright.

I love Kele Moon's Writing. I love this series. I will remain hopeful but realistic.

The Viper (Untamed Hearts, #1) by Kele Moon The Viper (Untamed Hearts, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Slayer (Untamed Hearts, #2) by Kele Moon The Slayer (Untamed Hearts, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Enforcer (Untamed Hearts, #3) by Kele Moon The Enforcer (Untamed Hearts, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Enforcer's Revenge (Untamed Hearts, #4) by Kele Moon The Enforcer's Revenge (Untamed Hearts, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Boss (Untamed Hearts, #5) by Kele Moon The Boss (Untamed Hearts, #5)

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
It Has Only Taken 4 Years for Me To Catch Up With This Series...
Well, Better Late Than Never
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
July 9, 2014
First Met Kele Moon ...
Through Her Battered Hearts Series...
Readers Were Drawn...
In From The Start...

Read Each Book...
One Right After The Other...
Loving Ever Single Moment...

Now The Characters...
I Fell For...
Were Carried Over...
To Untamed Hearts...

Where We Got To Go Deeper...
And Fall Harder For The Men...
We Pined For...

First, It Was The Viper...
Then The Slayer...
Each Powerful, Intense...
And Oh So Sexy...

Now We Wait...
But Not Too Long For...


The Enforcer-March 22, 2016

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Profile Image for Polly.
676 reviews249 followers
March 10, 2016
5+++++ stars

Have you ever read a book and when it was over looked around and was like "how do I go on?"
I'm not one to wax poetic about a book. I like to joke that I have a hard black heart because I'm just not an overly emotional person. So when I say this book has stamped itself on my very being, I mean it.

If you've read the previous books (I think it's needed to get the full story), you know that Tino is the joker. He's always cutting jokes and not taking anything seriously. What we didn't know was the deep pain he was hiding from everyone. In this book Kele paints such a tragic and heartbreaking story. You don't know whether to cry, throw your kindle, or stab someone. One minute I was gutted and the next was smiling over the smallest thing.

I wouldn't call this a conventional love story. It's so much more. I can't wait to find out where it leads. In fact I'm dying for it.

I don't want to give much of this one away. You need to feel it first hand. These characters are some of my favorites of all time. I'm going back to re-read all the previous books again. I can't move from these characters just yet. It's impossible.

*arc provided for honest review*

**Guest reviewing for The Review Loft**
March 30, 2016
Blog Tour Review: http://sweptawaybyromance.com/blog-to...


5++++ Beautifully Brutal Stars!!!!

The Enforcer…..where to begin. In this case I’m going with “less is more” since Tino’s story isn’t over and will continue in The Enforcer's Revenge.

Kele Moon has given us a moving, powerful, heartbreaking, and definitely shocking story, as she takes into the world of the Costa Nostra. But the heart of this book is the sibling connection between three brothers. Romeo, Casanova and Valentino, they share a bond that is forged in love. Three brothers who would literally die for one another if it came to that. Not to mention a devoted sister who loved and bonded with her half-brother the minute she met her “cosmic twin”.


“Trust me, I know Tino. He’s my cosmic twin. He’s got a good soul.”


I must say, I adored Carina and her fiercely protective loyalty to Tino. She’s put in a position that no young girl should be put in and the retribution she hands out to someone who hurt him was brutal yet beautiful in a sick shocking way!!

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“Where is he? Tell me, or I will cut your eyes out of your skull and leave you alive for the fucking fun of it!” – Carina


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Brianna wasn’t born Sicilian but she understood their ways by being Carina’s “BFF Forever” when they meet in second grade ballet class. She was front and center in the mafia world, when most young girls would have steered clear, Bri never even thought of running away from this world. Her innocence anchored Tino when he needed to escape the vicious world he lived in. The love Tino and Bri felt for one another was innocent and sweet, but Tino never felt worthy of it, and you can actually feel his pain in thinking that he’ll never have a normal life with the only girl he truly loves.

“I wouldn’t just bleed for you. I’d bleed motherfuckers out for you. I’d end worlds for you.”- Tino to Bri


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Tino and Bianna’s story will continue with The Enforcer's Revenge and I can honestly say it is my most anticipated upcoming read! I can’t wait to get my hands on the conclusion to Tino and Brianna’s journey to their happily ever after!

*Karla and I read and reviewed this book for our blog tour, check out her fantastic review here on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


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Profile Image for Jenny - TotallybookedBlog.
1,858 reviews2,068 followers
March 19, 2016


5 ‘you matter to us’ Stars

‘..all of them learned firsthand what love could destroy.
The kingdoms it could rip apart.
The lives it could ruin.
The hearts it could break.’


What a book! We have always suspected it would be Nova’s story that would bring us to our knees. After all, Tino came across as the wise guy of the bunch; the one who seemed to find light in a situation and who appeared to lack the intensity of his brothers yet we had wondered if that bravado was a façade for something much deeper. After having witnessed firsthand the agonising story beneath the man, we now know this was the case. Tino’s story was nothing short of heartbreaking and it brought us to our knees! We could have never envisaged the path his story would take as we personally felt Tino’s pain, guilt and humiliation as it radiated from the pages of the ‘expendable‘ brother.

“It’s okay. We all got a sad story. Some more than others.”

In The Enforcer, Kele Moon delivered a powerful, moving and shocking story. This author writes so honestly and with such precision to detail it’s as though she has an intimate knowledge of the world in which she writes. We felt like she had taken us by the hand and personally lead us into a world that excites and terrifies us in equal measures as we explored the underbelly of the Cosa Nostra with her. We trusted her to navigate our emotions as she brought Tino’s story to life through her creative and potent imagery. This may have been a long story but nothing was superfluous as we hung on every word. The light-hearted camaraderie was peppered through The Enforcer appearing when needed to alleviate some of sadness and anger we were experiencing.

“You take from whores. Use them. Don’t love them.”
“Why?”
“Cause they’re love starved. They’ve been hurt and beaten for so fucking long they are desperate for kindness. Love them, really love them, and they’ll die for you. They’ll bleed for you.”


The romance between Tino and Bri was allowed to develop in what felt like real time. It wasn’t rushed, but rather carefully constructed from youth to adulthood. This beautiful slow build ensured the depth of their feelings was paramount with the passion and chemistry searing yet with a sensitivity that befitted the very damaged man that was Valentino Moretti.

“I wouldn’t just bleed for you. I’d bleed motherfuckers out for you. I’d end worlds for you.”

Brianna was the innocence to Tino’s impurity. Bri may not have been born a Sicilian but she understood their ways and she understood Tino. She never judged, she never flinched. A lesser woman would have run a mile, but not our heroine. Every bit the pawn as Tino, Bri was as tenacious as she was sweet.

‘Together, they were like a firework. Beautiful in the night. A dusty smear of ash in the morning when reality crashed in and ruined the high. They just weren’t ever meant to be more than one brief, amazing explosion of memories that should’ve been enough to sustain them. But it hadn’t been. Not even close.’

At the heart of this story though is the love between Romeo, Casanova and Valentino. Brothers who share a bond that is forged through struggle and pain and extends beyond blood loyalty and love. When these guys say they would take a bullet for the other, you know they aren’t just words, you KNOW they would die for one another. Yet is this very love, loyalty and nobleness that which could possibly be their undoing.

“Lots Boys fucking fly. We fly right? We’re better than them.”

In this book we discovered what shaped the boy into the man, the man into The Enforcer and bravo to Kele Moon for bringing this evocative, powerful, suspenseful and heartbreaking story to life. You had us weeping over the cruelty suffered by these men, giggling at the witty banter between the brothers and clutching our hearts at the unconventional romance between a damaged man and the woman who so fiercely stood by him. We rallied behind these Lost Boys and can’t wait to learn more about their world, their lives and their loves. There are questions we desperately want answered and wait with bated breath to continue Tino’s formidable journey in The Enforcers Revenge.

Series Details and Our Reviews for Battered Hearts and Untamed Hearts Series.

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Profile Image for Eda**.
718 reviews439 followers
April 2, 2016

** 6++ “I wanna get to the other side, Bri.” STARS **

“I’m still me. A pawn. A wh*re. You don’t love a wh*re, Brianna. Never forget that. You take from wh*res. Use them. Don’t love them.”

“Why?”

“’Cause they’re love starved. They’ve been hurt and beaten for so f*cking long, they are desperate for kindness. Love them, really love them, and they’ll die for you. They’ll bleed for you. Like a f*cking dog.”

description

I cried.

I cried ALL THROUGH this incredible book.

I cried for Tino. I cried for Bri. For Nova. For Romeo. For Carina.

For all the lost souls and broken spirits in this story.

“Learn to fight your own battles. We have to be better than them. Stronger. Faster. Smarter. Lost boys have to fly.

description

I wasn't expecting half the sh*t that happened to my boys. So much agony. So much hurt. So much cruelty.

Have you ever read a series that gets BETTER AND BETTER with every book? Starts out great, and then continues to be this legendary work of art with every new character, and every new story?

Well, now I can definitely say I HAVE.

Tino, baby, get your revenge. Make them bleed. Do it for your queen...

“King,
Endgame.
Protect my queen at all costs. I’m not you. I still need her to win.
Pawn”

description
Profile Image for Amy | Foxy Blogs.
1,574 reviews1,028 followers
March 7, 2019
Fanfuckingtastic!!! Hands down one of the most intense books I’ve read this year. No one warned me how addicting this book would be.

Valentino ‘Tino’ has been peppered throughout both series: Battered Hearts & Untamed Hearts. We’ve known he has a girl he loves but is unable to be with her because of his job in the mafia. He seems somewhat satisfied knowing that she’s “happy” in her life married to a guy who appears to be safe. Tino knows his job in the mafia doesn't allow relationships and he doesn't want the darkness in his life to touch her.

Brianna has been in love with Tino since the first time he came into her life at the age of 12 years old. No matter how messed up his family was she held fast that they would be together someday. Except the mafia had other plans for her and Tino and it did not involve them together. Instead, she got a husband provided to her from the mafia.

Some bad stuff happens when the story opens up and we found ourselves transported back to when Tino’s eldest brother Romeo is thrown in jail. Which means Nova and Tino are brought to live with their mafia dad and his wife. The brothers were his father’s dirty little secret since they were conceived out of wedlock.

At this point in the story, Tino is 12 years old and Nova is 16 years. Their world has taken a drastic turn for the worse and they’re trapped. Survival becomes their key focus. Along with being loyal to each other. The rest of the book fills us in on what the brothers do to survive their new reality and how they became part of the mafia. Of course, we get to read about how Brianna & Tino’s love story develops; ”Together, they were like a firework. Beautiful in the night.”

This book is part 1 of Tino’s story. Part 2 hasn’t been released yet but it aptly named, The Enforcer’s Revenge. By the end of this book, Tino is an Enforcer for his Grandfather, The Don. ”Enforcers were the most underappreciated members of the Cosa Nostra. They didn’t just protect the family, they took care of them in a way few could. It was the shittest of shitty jobs, but Tino still agreed to do it.” Part 2 promises to be EXCELLENT.

THE ENFORCER is the third book in Untamed Hearts series. This series is a spinoff series from the Battered Hearts series which is filled with UFC fighters. These are the younger guys we got to meet in that series. I'm loving this series. The writing captives me and the storyline has had me glued to my kindle. Tino’s story is so big we get two books for it and I’m looking forward to the release of his next part. If you haven’t read either of these series you should drop what you’re doing and get on it. They’re that good!!

Grab your copy: https://amzn.to/2tLXHG4

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Profile Image for Clumsy Storyteller .
351 reviews723 followers
April 10, 2016
This book has been highly praised by a friend of mine but I couldn’t bring myself to finish it because I just can’t deal with it, i loved the writing though but it’s so sad and heartbreaking :’( my eyes are puffy, my nose is red, I haven’t cried like this since Ned stark’s head was chopped off in season 1 of game of thrones .



I like reading dark books sometimes, but there are just certain plots (usually involving children) that I don’t want anything to do with, in this case Tino’s past was really fucked up .i had to stop many times cause I was making a big deal out of nothing I was being emotionally sensitive it’s just that these kind of stories affect me on a very deep level and I can’t do that to myself


Profile Image for Gitte TotallyBookedBlog.
2,022 reviews938 followers
March 18, 2016


5 ‘you matter to us’ Stars

‘..all of them learned firsthand what love could destroy.
The kingdoms it could rip apart.
The lives it could ruin.
The hearts it could break.’


What a book! We have always suspected it would be Nova’s story that would bring us to our knees. After all, Tino came across as the wise guy of the bunch; the one who seemed to find light in a situation and who appeared to lack the intensity of his brothers yet we had wondered if that bravado was a façade for something much deeper. After having witnessed firsthand the agonising story beneath the man, we now know this was the case. Tino’s story was nothing short of heartbreaking and it brought us to our knees! We could have never envisaged the path his story would take as we personally felt Tino’s pain, guilt and humiliation as it radiated from the pages of the ‘expendable‘ brother.

“It’s okay. We all got a sad story. Some more than others.”

In The Enforcer, Kele Moon delivered a powerful, moving and shocking story. This author writes so honestly and with such precision to detail it’s as though she has an intimate knowledge of the world in which she writes. We felt like she had taken us by the hand and personally lead us into a world that excites and terrifies us in equal measures as we explored the underbelly of the Cosa Nostra with her. We trusted her to navigate our emotions as she brought Tino’s story to life through her creative and potent imagery. This may have been a long story but nothing was superfluous as we hung on every word. The light-hearted camaraderie was peppered through The Enforcer appearing when needed to alleviate some of sadness and anger we were experiencing.

“You take from whores. Use them. Don’t love them.”
“Why?”
“Cause they’re love starved. They’ve been hurt and beaten for so fucking long they are desperate for kindness. Love them, really love them, and they’ll die for you. They’ll bleed for you.”


The romance between Tino and Bri was allowed to develop in what felt like real time. It wasn’t rushed, but rather carefully constructed from youth to adulthood. This beautiful slow build ensured the depth of their feelings was paramount with the passion and chemistry searing yet with a sensitivity that befitted the very damaged man that was Valentino Moretti.

“I wouldn’t just bleed for you. I’d bleed motherfuckers out for you. I’d end worlds for you.”

Brianna was the innocence to Tino’s impurity. Bri may not have been born a Sicilian but she understood their ways and she understood Tino. She never judged, she never flinched. A lesser woman would have run a mile, but not our heroine. Every bit the pawn as Tino, Bri was as tenacious as she was sweet.

‘Together, they were like a firework. Beautiful in the night. A dusty smear of ash in the morning when reality crashed in and ruined the high. They just weren’t ever meant to be more than one brief, amazing explosion of memories that should’ve been enough to sustain them. But it hadn’t been. Not even close.’

At the heart of this story though is the love between Romeo, Casanova and Valentino. Brothers who share a bond that is forged through struggle and pain and extends beyond blood loyalty and love. When these guys say they would take a bullet for the other, you know they aren’t just words, you KNOW they would die for one another. Yet is this very love, loyalty and nobleness that which could possibly be their undoing.

“Lots Boys fucking fly. We fly right? We’re better than them.”

In this book we discovered what shaped the boy into the man, the man into The Enforcer and bravo to Kele Moon for bringing this evocative, powerful, suspenseful and heartbreaking story to life. You had us weeping over the cruelty suffered by these men, giggling at the witty banter between the brothers and clutching our hearts at the unconventional romance between a damaged man and the woman who so fiercely stood by him. We rallied behind these Lost Boys and can’t wait to learn more about their world, their lives and their loves. There are questions we desperately want answered and wait with bated breath to continue Tino’s formidable journey in The Enforcers Revenge.

❈ ❈ ❈

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✦✦✦ TB Blog :TotallybookedBlog
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Profile Image for Sophie "Beware Of The Reader".
1,388 reviews376 followers
April 3, 2016
5 « Lost Boys » stars.

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Madre de Dio, che cosa è successo ???? I hope I got this right but it should say « Mother of God, what happened ? » because that’s what I’m wondering. It’s been one day since I finished this book and I still think about it.

I’ve never read a book written by Kele Moon before but this one had so many good reviews and it was about mafia so I bought it, even if it’s more expensive than what I usually spend on that kind of book and I did not regret one single penny.

It’s different from other mafia stories I’ve read so far as its main topic is about the Lost Boys and Lost Girls of Made Men. I’ve never read anything about them before and I was appalled more than once reading about their fate. They’re just pawns in the hands of Cosa Nostra.

As Nova, one of the Moretti brothers said : ”This place makes me feel like we’re part of the shit they’re storing away. Too valuable to get rid of, but not worth keeping in the main house.”

Nova (Casanova) and Tino (Valentino) are brothers, illegitimate sons of Frankie Moretti himself son of the Morettis Don. They have an older half-brother, Romeo who’s not Cosa Nostra and has just been convicted. As their mother is dead, Frankie comes get the boys to “raise” them or more accurately, to literally store them above his garage. Not good enough to live with him and his wife (she hates these boys fiercely) but good enough to use and do the Borgata’s dirty jobs.

I can’t tell you how shocked and sick I was reading about what their father and his wife did to these boys. I’ve read few books so harsh, gritty and brutal. They were mere boys for God’s sake! I don’t know how Kele Moon could write it but I admire her guts to take such a dare as it works incredibly well. I was sucked in this horrifying world. You really should be warned because it was sometimes impossible to stomach and I cried more than once for Tino.

If Nova is THE brain and will be used as accountant to launder the mafia’s money and increase their profits, Tino won’t be so lucky. I won’t tell what happens to Tino but let say he really drew the short straw.
»And as sick as it was, he’d come to terms with that. They could hurt him to control Nova. He could lose all senses of dignity to keep Romeo and Carina safe. They could go just about anything to him, and it was all right because he was the expendable brother. Not smart like Nova. Not famous like Romeo. Not insanely talented like Carina. He was just Tino”.

What I loved about the book were all the tight bonds Nova and Tino formed with other Cosa Nostra children. Their uncle Carlo, another Lost Boy, their incredible half-sister, Frankie’s daughter Carina. She had balls bigger than most men around her. And of course, with Brianna, not a Cosa Nostra kid but Carina’s best friend and Tino’s love. She stood by Tino and loved him no matter what and it broke my heart to see how he did not feel worthy of her love after they dirtied him for so long.

”You don’t love a , Brianna. Never forget that. You take from . Use them. Don’t love them…Cause they’re love starved. They’ve been hurt and beaten for so long they are desperate for kindness. Love them, really love them, and they’ll die for you.”

It’s a fast paced story, raw and frightening. Unabashedly brutal, full of incredibly strong and loveable characters. This ends on a hell of cliffhanger though so be prepared to be frustrated as you’ll need to know what happens next. I think the next book will be about revenge and it will be sinfully good to read about the demise of some main characters.

”They don’t know it yet, but Cosa Nostra is ours. We’re doing it for every Lost Boy they sh@t on and every Lost Girl they hurt because no one stood up and fought for them.”


Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
3,589 reviews2,766 followers
Read
March 15, 2016
I'm sure this is a fabulously written and heartbreaking book. Alas I can't so this is a pass. Happy reading to everyone else. :D
Profile Image for Carissa.
269 reviews63 followers
March 15, 2016
Awesome!!

Review to be posted over the weekend.
Profile Image for Bex | TotallyBex.com.
538 reviews199 followers
March 28, 2016
The Enforcer starts off with a bang and never slows down. It's an adrenaline rush from start to finish that gutted me, gave me chills, and completely blew away any expectations I may have had. The writing is absolutely phenomenal, the character development is insane, and the story is intensely immersive. I felt like I was inside the world of the Mafia underbelly and each twist and turn felt like a punch to the gut.

At first, I thought I had made a mistake starting with the third book in the series, but I was so excited to read a book by Kele Moon that I didn’t let that stop me. I have been seeing people raving about her writing and her characters, and let me tell you, it lived up to the hype and then some.

The Enforcer is the backstory of Valentino Moretti, an enforcer for the New York City Caso Nostra mafia family. It starts with Tino and his brothers trying to hold their lives together after their mother passes away, until the day their world falls apart. From there, the story winds its way through every hardship, punishment, and injustice Tino suffers as he is forced into his father’s Mafia family. His story is not a fairytale and it is told in such a brutal, honest, and raw fashion that you will feel it in your heart and in your bones.

The only bright spot in Tino’s horrible life is his relationship with his sister, Carina, and her best friend, Brianna. His feelings for Brianna are the only thing that helps Tino survive many of his abuses. I really liked Brianna because she is tough as nails but so sweet and kind to Tino throughout the book. He doesn't have a lot of love in his life, so their relationship makes the horrible details bearable and helps you feel hopeful that Tino will be ok.

The Enforcer is only the first part of Tino’s story, with the rest being told in The Enforcer's Revenge. Since The Enforcer is one of the best books I have read this year, Revenge cannot be released soon enough. I can’t believe I waited so long to read Kele Moon’s work, but I plan to make up for lost time by reading all of her books from the very beginning ASAP!


▸ ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.

▸ Order: Kindle | Kobo | iBooks | Nook

▸ For more reviews, visit
NightOwlReader.com
Profile Image for Loz.
778 reviews
April 1, 2016
6 stars

we need more then 5 stars! there's 5 star books and then there are those special 6 star books. well done yet again, kele moon.

i need the next part like, asap. neeeed!!
Profile Image for Selene.
933 reviews253 followers
September 9, 2016
Truth time!

I really wanted this book because I knew Cassanova Moretti would be featured in it and I wanted to devour every word of him that I could get my hands on! I read the books in this series (and the Battered Hearts series) out of order and was immediately drawn to every thing and all things Nova, so I didn't count on falling in love with Valentino Moretti's story! He was an unstable wild card (at best) in the other books and he was high-strung and almost manic half the time (even while sober). But, damn--can Kele Moon write characters that tear at your heart and soul or what?!!

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The story of Tino's early life was unbelievably gut-wrenching and thorough, despite the incomplete ending of this book. The reader is taken on this incredible excursion and gets to view Tino as a pre-teen all the way up to adulthood as he experiences the unexpected life detours, injustices, and brutality suffered at many different points in his life. In between all of that mafia-related chaos, only a tiny fraction of his life was spent confessing some of his private woes and sharing authentic love with the woman he genuinely cared for. As a result, Tino emerges into adulthood having experienced so many atrocities well before his time and it shapes him into this fractured young man with heavy life-or-death responsibilities, ongoing family stressors, and emotional triggers.

What I loved about Tino was his fanatical love for his family (Chuito and Alaine included). In spite of the hardships he endured, Tino mostly suffered in silence and sacrificed himself for his siblings and even struck up an unusual friendship with Carlo. While this book doesn't give us the full scope of his skill set as an enforcer, I'm anticipating the next book will. And while this story is well-equipped with violence and bloodshed, it also includes some humor, lots of drama, romance, and notable character progression. And also: Nova! Adolescent Nova reacted first and deliberated later. Adult Nova made me want to do this...

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My Burn-In-Hell List


Thoroughly enjoyed this book! ☆☆☆☆☆
Profile Image for Tori.
2,837 reviews483 followers
June 23, 2016
Sorry so late to add. I suck.

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2016/03/review-...

Favorite Quote: “It’s okay. We all got a sad story. Some more than others.”

Valentino, Casanova, and Romeo Moretti are considered bastardi, the children of mobster mistress. They sit on the sidelines, neither part of the notorious crime family they were born into but unable to walk away either. If they are unlucky enough to be notice, they must work their way up for any respect and protection. When their mother passed away, Romeo (Star-Crossed-book 2-Battered Hearts series) got guardianship of Tino and Nova, determined to keep them out of the hands of their father, Frank Moretti. Circumstances forced Romeo out of the picture when Tino and Nova were pre teens and they were forced to go live with their father. This was the beginning of their end.

“Turned out Romeo was the lucky brother. They just didn’t know it yet.”

Tino and Nova are forced into the family business-through threats and outright violence. Tino plays the game to save his brothers, destroying a piece of his soul one act at a time. Until the woman Tino loves, the woman he gave up and turned his back on, is threatened. Tino emerges from the shadows, a dark battered knight and begins to put in place a series of plans he has been working on since he was made an enforcer.

“I wouldn’t just bleed for you. I’d bleed motherfuckers out for you. I’d end worlds for you.”

Though this is Tino’s story, we learn exactly what all the Moretti brothers have done to protect each other. We have met them all throughout both series (Battered Hearts and it’s spin off- Untamed Hearts). Moon has always hinted there was far more to Tino then the perpetual happy, laughing, carefree, prankster whose love for his family is unconditional. Beware though. This not a fairy tale. This is not quite a romance. This is a tragedy. This is a love story about a boy whose love for a girl and his family was his downfall. This is a powerful testament of a man who gave life was taken from him. This is a story that takes you through hell as it prepares you for the redemption and revenge that will soon come. And you’ll want that revenge. You’ll crave it. But you have to earn it by reading his story. And you will pay in pain and sorrow.

“They broke me along time ago; now they have broken you too.”

There are two parts to Tino’s story. The Enforcer is the first part. It picks up and ends where The Slayer (book 2) ended, going into the past to show us Tino’s backstory. It leads us through his childhood and back to the present day. Moon shows us what shaped Tino into the man he is right now and she holds nothing back. A word of warning-anyone who has issues with abuse and graphic violence should beware.

This book HURT me. It is one of the hardest books I have read this year so far. In fact, in quite awhile. This turbulent emotional roller coaster ride tore through my heart, only to be made worse by the love I have for the Moretti brothers. Tino especially, whose compassion, loyalty, and unconditional love for his family and friends forced him down a very dark, brutal, and pain filled road. Moon paints a powerful picture of the life Tino has endeared. He has been used, betrayed, deceived, and abused yet he continues to shine with an almost holy inner light despite his own feelings of unworthiness and despair. He’s down…but he’s not out.

“Learn to fight your own battles. We have to be better than them. Stronger. Faster. Smarter. Lost boys have to fly.”

I raged while reading this book. I cried, shouted, shook my fist, ate a boat load of Tums, and wondered how I could get inside the story and protect this poor man. I wanted to burn this world down, salt the earth, and dance in the ashes.

Throughout the series we have been dancing on the fringes of the Moretti crime family and the various other borgatas that rule the underbelly of New York. Moon has only hinted to their dealings and the roles Tino, Nova, and Romeo have been forced to play. It’s in here we are submerged fully in the culture and learn exactly how Tino and Nova were accepted into the fold. It’s not pretty nor for the faint of heart. Yet it’s not all hopelessness and despair. There is a strong sense of family in here which offers us love and humor to give us brief reprieves from the overall seriousness. The Moretti brothers love one another and aren’t afraid to show it. Though they don’t always make the best of decisions and some choices have been taken from them, these three will always stand by one another no matter what the future holds.

“You need to get some cuff links too. Oh, you should get those dollar sign ones. Those are so fucking ghetto. They’re perfect.”

“Holy shite, yes. The ones with the tiny diamonds on them.”

“It doesn’t get more Silicilano then that.”

[…]

“Do you really think they’re ghetto?”

“Oh my God, Casanova.”

One shining light in Tino’s life is Brianna. Best friends with his sister, Carina, Brianna has been a constant source of goodness in Tino’s life since childhood. Moon builds their romance slowly and realistically, allowing the sweetness of their childhood crush to morph into a passion that transcends all boundaries and obstacles. Brianna truly sees Tino for who and what he really is.

She stood by him.
Loved him.
Unconditionally.

Though this story ends on a cliffhanger, it’s not an emotional deep hole that leaves the readers struggling to get up the next day. Moon makes sure we understand we had to see the past and deal with it in order to accept the future. I am ready for the future, which is titled The Enforcer’s Revenge. Release date to be announced. Kele Moon continues to excel at writing the anti hero into the forefront, giving her readers a man and a story that defies expectations.

“There’s this rule in chess.

If a pawn gets to the other side of the board, he can be anything he wants…once it hits other other side, it can be any piece.

A knight. A rook. A bishop. Anything…

All I wanted was to save one pawn.

To get him to the other side so he could be something different…”







Profile Image for Toni FGMAMTC.
1,965 reviews21 followers
March 21, 2016


I could never ever do this book justice with my review. The Enforcer is definitely the best I've read this year, maybe the best in years. I don't know when I have ever been so hung over. I'm devastated that I reached the end of the novel. I'd give a great deal to be able to unread it and read it for the first time again, and I will absolutely be rereading this story. Those pitiful and strong Moretti boys totally owned my heart while I devoured the pages, and they still own it.

Children born to mistresses of made men are considered lower than dirt. After the death of their mother, Nova and Tino fall under the care of their big brother Romeo. Life isn't wonderful, but the three of them are managing to scrape by and maintain a loving home. Everything changes when their father learns that Nova is a genius. Fourteen-year-old Nova becomes their father's yes-man because he uses twelve-year-old Tino as his whipping boy in order to make Nova toe the line.

Tino is the sweetest, most beautiful person. He tries to always please others and make them feel good about themselves despite the horrible reality of much of his life. He is physically, emotionally and sexually abused. He's forced to deal and murder. Despite all of this, he never looses his loving nature.

This story is running over with feelings. It has loads of sadness topped with epically endearing moments. There's plenty of humor and cuteness, and of course it has the sexy and romantic covered. The Enforcer has it all. Readers get to know the boys and the men. Oh, my heart, this truly, truly is a must read.

Also, I think the author really did her homework on the ins and outs of organized crime. It really makes everything more interesting.


***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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Profile Image for BookAddict  ✒ La Crimson Femme.
6,796 reviews1,371 followers
May 8, 2016
What is Valentino's story? With a name like Valentine aka Tino, he must be a lover boy. He is an enforcer which is opposite of his lover boy name. How did Tino become an enforcer? Ms. Moon takes us back to the beginning. How did these three boys tied together by the same mother get tangled in with the Sicilian Mafia? Tino's story is a two part one and this first part is a heart breaker.

Unbeknownst to his brothers, Tino suffers more than all the rest. He does it quietly. The violations he experiences at the hands of adults is heinous and unacceptable. I am furious and I want to kill them all. Preying on children is a hot button of mine. As a stepmother, I can not begin to even fathom how this all happens. It is out of a Grimm Fairy-tale. I want to coming like a vengeful angel....



The characters in this story are entrancing. Every character pulls me in. Brianna as the love interest is perfect. These two are star cross lovers and I can only hope it does not end in a Shakespearean way. It is incredible Brianna and Tino can be the honourable people they are today. With all the bad things thrown at them, one would have thought they would just give up. It just goes to show, when you have bonds of love and have a connection, it makes a person stronger.

Our secondary characters do show up and Nova learns just how arrogant he's been. He is very stressed and he does the best to protect his family. Of course, when one is so young, it is hard to consider everything. Sometimes the impacts are so far flung that it is hard to take into consideration.

What really breaks my heart here is the underground sexual slavery. Whilst it is a club that no one wants to be in, it is still a bond which Tino creates to help create a safe place for as many as he can. The fact this is happening underneath people's noses is what makes me furious. How can they not know? How can parents pimp out their own child for this? These people need to be eradicated. I am feeling violent again. The second part of Tino's story can't come fast enough. Ms. Moon drags us through the depraved and dark side. This is by far one of her darkest books. When does the light start to shine in? When does vengeance and justice get mete out? I want to be there with a front row seat. Highly recommended to dark erotica lovers who love tortured souls.

Given as an arc by the author

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