Paradise Island

The Flesh Cartel #12

by Rachel Haimowitz, Heidi Belleau

Mat and Douglas’s time as Nikolai’s wards is finally drawing to a close. Though torn apart by Nikolai’s machinations, their fates are still inextricably they’ve been sold to the same cruel master, and are united in their desire to go home. But “home” means two different things to the for Mat, their little bungalow in Nevada, and for Douglas, a swift return to Nikolai and Roger, the only people he believes still love him.But first they must survive their new master. Smythe Hall is a twisted island paradise where Americans affect British accents and slaveboys dress up as slave girls, all at the whims of the rich and megalomaniacal Allen Smythe-Kennedy.Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson can’t let the case of the missing brothers lie. He knows it’s a waste of resources to chase ghosts down a cold trail, but after admiring Mathias “Stonewall” Carmichael ringside and at countless afterparties where he was too shy to say hello, he’s determined to solve the mystery and bring Mat and his little brother home.Word 23,300; page 88

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, BDSM, Abuse, Erotica, Horror, Contemporary

101 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2013

About the author

M/M erotic romance author, freelance writer and editor, sadist with a pesky conscience, shamelessly silly, proudly pervish. I'm a twitter addict (@rachelhaimowitz), and I blog every M/W/F at Fantasy Unbound. To learn all about my current and upcoming projects, please stop by my website. I love to hear from folks, so feel free to drop me a line anytime at metarachel (at) gmail (dot) com.

Reviews

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is a lie!

It should be called Hell Island.

The boys have arrived to their new home, and Douglas is finding it difficult to fit in.

Mat on the other hand is handling it like a champ. Hang on Mat!

I thought Nikolai was worse, Allen tops the shit list. He even Kills his slaves just to prove that he on top.

Allen!

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is like a car accident... It's terrible and tragic, but you can't stop looking.
Although, it's more like a train accident - with lots of casualties.

This installment is called 'Paradise Island'. Was there ever a more sarcastic title?

Dougie and Mat's life with their new owner is a non-stop hell. Where Nikolai was determined and calculatingly cruel, Allen is just insane and unpredictable. Where Nikolai *trained* his 'subjects' to become valued slaves, Allen just lives out his sadistic streak, knowing full well a dead slave can be replaced in the blink of an eye. It's the ultimate death sentence for Mat, who is just waiting until his new master's hunger for blood will lead to getting him killed by torture...

Not even Nikolai's training can help these guys satisfy their murderous master's wishes. And what for anyway, when Allen only bought Mat so he could torment him to death, while Dougie is just the odd guy, required to keep his 'savage' brother in check.

And I thought Nikolai's household was unbearable, but this island is what I imagine HELL must look like...

I have to give 5 stars to poor Mat. He is a SAINT. I'd probably drop the brainwashed brother and run for my life, not even looking back once. But even that is an illusion now on this remote island...

So....
WHERE THE F*CK ARE YOU, NATE????

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

INTENSE … This series is really intense!!

This series is not only about the black market that trades in lost souls or breaking a human mind, but the hope of escape/freedom that people hold onto when they are faced with terrible torture, beatings, humiliation and even dead.

We have a new villain - Allen, who makes Nikolai look like a saint. Mat continues to be my favourite, and very strong, even in the worst of situations but he needs to figure out what to do to stay alive…

I´m curious to see how the author “awakes” Doug, he is so lost!

Can't wait for payback day…

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This part of the story focused on the boys adjusting to their new master and Mat trying to figure out what he can do to play Allen. Mat and Dougie have been delivered to Allen's island and the small glimpse of Allen we had previously only hinted at the evil, sadistic man he really is. While Dougie is placed with his other pleasure slaves, it's Mat who Allen is interested in and a lot of time is spent with Mat's thinking process as he tries to figure out their new master.

Both men are thrown off balance, Dougie is nothing to Allen and he is the "new guy" among the other pleasure slaves. Mat is trying to figure out how he can win against Allen, remembering Nikolai's warnings and advice, while still trying to keep Dougie safe and find escape. At a party to show off Mat as Allen's new toy, it becomes clear that Allen is very different from Nikolai. Mat may have finally figured out just how to play him, but who knows how much time he will have before Allen decides he is tired of them.

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahora ya en poder de su nuevo dueño. Doguie y Mat deben aprender a sobre-llevarlo, aprender como hacerlo feliz y esperar sobrevivir a ello. Doguie, espera que su hermano "muera" pronto para poder regresar a su hogar con Nikolai y Roger. Mat espera encontrar la forma de complacerlo para obtener un poco de libertad y huir de ese lugar.
Por otro lado, Nate (Agente del FBI) tiene sus dudas sobre la desaparicion de los hermanos, y esta buscando pistas de que pudo haber pasado con ellos, pero el tiempo se le acaba y su jefe lo esta presionando para que se dedique a otros casos. Pero podra Nate ver lo que esta frente a sus ojos? Podra descubrir realmente que paso con los hermanos?

Otro libro sencillo, sin muchas torturas (gracias a dios), pero donde vemos como han cambiado las cirscuntancias de los hermanos y lo que piensan hacer cada uno para sobrevivir. Tengo curiosidad por saber como el agente del FBI va a descubrir todo el complot, y si eso es los que los va a ayudar a escapar u otra cosa.
Ahora, lo que estoy esperando es ver como se van escapar, y si van a lograr destruir todo la mafia de trafico de personas que se maneja.

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This episode was a lot easier to read than the previous ones. It was still graphic and raw and cruel, but I must confess I loved watching Douglas getting a few of his feathers knocked off. And Mat getting stronger. He can do it!


We have a cover and a blurb for season 5!!!!

With the help of the FBI, Mat Carmichael has let himself be re-taken by the Flesh Cartel. Objective? Rescue his brother, exact revenge, and destroy the entire organization from the inside.

FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson will be playing backup, of course, but to get Dougie out alive, Mat will need to make sure his brother is out of Allen’s clutches before calling in the troops. Now that Mat’s back in bondage, though, there’s no way he can do it alone. He’ll have to ask for help from the only man within the Cartel who cares about Dougie’s welfare. And even knowing it will destroy him, Nikolai delivers.

Bringing down the Cartel should have been the hardest part, but it doesn’t take long to realize that the real challenge has only just begun. Dougie doesn’t know how to be free anymore, and Mat is forced to admit that he may no longer be strong enough to help himself, let alone his brother. But with loved ones in their corner and their love for each other banked but not extinguished, Mat and Dougie learn that you can come home again, no matter how desperate the circumstances you’ve left behind.

source http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com...

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this instalment quite a lot. Things finally feel like they are moving along. It's good to see Mat staying strong and trying to learn how best to play the game with Allen and stay alive. There's also hope with FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson working in the background. As usual I spent most of my time worrying about Dougie, he's so vulnerable and just wants to please the seriously nasty Allen. Looking forward to the next!

One of the saddest moments of the book for me.... When poor Jason got killed! I hated that bit:(

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 surreal stars!!!
Well, this instalment was... weird...

The "Paradise Island" is Allen's private sanctuary - a British, phoney Victorian mansion on a f**king tropical island!
But it's also a torture field for Mat...

Mat, who's still fierce and determined but also very, very tired...

Well, at least the cuffs were comfortable, as those things went. And his feet were free.
He rested his head on one arm, watched the waves wash in and out. Maybe he could sleep standing up.
Maybe he’d need to learn to.
At least it was beautiful here. Maybe he’d give in to his exhaustion, just standing here looking at the sunset, and die.
No. I’m going to be free. I’m earning my freedom, even if I have to swim to fucking Cuba. I’m not fucking dying here, I’m not.

The little "twist" at the end, with Jason, was a stark contrast to this beautiful scenery - and what a blow!

I'm sorry, but all beautiful, tropical islands where people are being tortured will forever remind me Lisa Henry's exquisite The Island - though I try not to make comparisons and let each book speak to me for itself... But both Lisa Henry's and the Haimowitz/Belleau team's paradise islands make an impression on the reader.
That enormous, heart-wrenching contrast between the beautiful and the ugly, the gentle and the cruel - all of that works so perfectly in both those stories...

As for Dougie?? Well, maybe his stay in the diversified, male harem will teach HIM some lesson!!!

Hurry up, Nate!

[La-Lionne · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.5 stars***

Decent episode. While I was reading I kept wondering why everyone kept saying how bad, f@cked up and worse than Nikolay Allen was. I finally learn why. What a psychotic nut-job.

I'm not sure how I feel about Doug being turned into something almost not human. Sometimes it felt like he was going on autopilot. I miss old Douggie.
Love Mat though. At this point he is the only reason I'm still reading these series.

The parts written from detective's pov still bored me. The guy seemed nice enough, but I learned nothing new from him. I think author could have just posted his parts as extra free material on her blog or website. The book is short as it is and his parts were just waste of a digital space, if you ask me. I already know that they were kidnapped and how it happened, I don't need the detective-guy re-telling me the first book.
I have a feeling I will be hearing more about him in upcoming installments, which I'm not looking forward to.

What I am looking forward is reading about what Mat will do with his realization. I think it will be interesting.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the easiest one to read so far.

[Allegedly]

*** LIK DIS IF U CRY EVRYTIM ***

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different Master,a Paradise Island... but for Matt and Dougie nothing else changes... just hope
Matt your giving me just that...

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I buy that Allen is all that worse than Nikolai. Sure Allen is more of a brute but Nikolai played some awful mind games, dished out plenty of torture, broke the bond between Dougie & Mat, and turned Dougie into a egotistical brainless slave. So I was rolling my eyes a bit at the statements that Allen is so much worse than Nikolai, I don't ever want to see Mat go soft against Nikolai.

I loved that DouglASS was thrown off his pedestal....that was the best part of the episode!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The brothers begin their new life and routine at their new owner's place, where they don't know what to expect and what their new owner wants, unlike Nikolai who was always explicit. I wonder when we will see Nikolai again, since they are now off his hands.

Nate starts his investigation but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere with the clues left behind. Not sure how he is going to move forward because it seems like a dead end for him.

The overall story was good, there was hardly moment that I really had any complaints for. It seems like we have not seen the worst that could come to Mat and Dougie yet, so I'm still waiting for the shoe to drop in the next books.

4 Stars!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed under Season 4
5 Stars
Another mind boggling episode... what these brothers have been through, how they have changed, what they are forced to do... omg, it feels like I have run a marathon reading these books. They are warping my mind and I will never unsee or forget things that have happened.

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this installment a bit more interesting than I expected. Allen is just as bad as previously led to believe, but here, the tides turn a bit for the boys. Dougie is no longer the cherished one, and he has absolutely no idea how to deal with it. Mat, on the other hand, is the more desirable of the two, at least according to Allen, who never wanted Dougie to begin with.

So, this segment is all about the boys trying to figure out the best way to deal with their new surroundings, etc.

We also get a snippet of the Detective not quite giving up when his investigation reaches a dead end.

These end way to quickly, leaving you longing for the next, just to see these guys get through the next challenge. Can't wait for the next one.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Mat....seems that your only potential alley effed up and should have done what he was told.
But it seems you may have figured out how to survive.

[Kera · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one will be a perfect slave one day, even better than Douglas, but now is in trainig.

But for now it is utterly confused because of what people think about Master Allen and Master Nikolai.

It doesn't understand why somebody may think that Master Allen is bad and Master Nikolai is good or Master Allen is worse than Master Nikolai. Until it doesn't understand this peculiarly strange logic and ethic dilemma, it can't serve properly his Master.

First, Master is always right. Didn't Master Nikolai teach that one should abandon old-fashioned petit bourgeoisie standards while entering this truly free world?

Why Master Nikolai beating Matt with belt until he begs to be fucked (thus Master Nikolai shows how benevolent Master he is by complying with slave’s request) is better than Master Allen whipping the same slave until he begs him to stop?

Master Nikolai prefers tight hole. He even praised Douglas after their second fuck how good and tight hole he was, showing how much he cherish this taut anus. Master Allen prefers holes loose and slippery. Does it make him worse?

Master Allen gives his slaves to the guards as fuck-toys. Lucas and his companions fucked, fisted, pissed on and pissed in Douglas. Does it make Master Nikolai better?

Master Allen can kill, he actually killed somebody on the beach. Apparently not the first time. Who provides him with trained slave-meat to fuck, torment and then discard in the way Master fancies the most? Does it matter who keeps the gun when the other keeps the body not to miss the bullet?

Why, when Master Nikolai ordered Douglas to lick clean dildo just taken out from his ass (freshly fucked and full of Master sperm) or fucked him when he was washing the dishes and then ordered him to lick his sperm from the kitchen furniture, all think Master Nikolai cherish and appreciate his slave. But when Master Allen face-fucks the same boy it is degradation and humiliation?

Why it is OK to use serum so often (or at all) that when Master Nikolai puts his hand on his trousers pocket Mat is on his knees but is not OK to throw darts in him?

And where is difference between the Masters when they order brothers to fuck each others?

It has to finish because if Master K notice it uses computer it will be severely punished.

Oh, it’s too late but if it fetches the cane by itself maybe Master will not brake its fingers. So don’t be angry with it if the next review appears later.

Master K ordered me to write (Master K will never acknowledge this but he is a great fun of FC) that Mat should have pissed in Roger’s mouth instead of cumming in this little shit mouth.

It.

PS.

And when, oh when, Roger became the beacon of morality and ethics whose role is to pass moral judgments like "not-so-bad-man"?

And be warned that if you hate Douglas too much, the Authors will make fools of you showing how "not-so-bad-man" sacrifices himself to save the brother whom you already buried.

Master K

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this episode, we are finally moving to a new setting - Paradise Island. However - after meeting Allen - I would prefer to get the boys back to Nikolai, because this new guy is just a thousand times worse! Mat is able to figure his desires out quickly and I hope that this will make him survive Paradise Island. All in all, we didn't learn that many new things and some aspects still feel very repetitive. But, I can't wait to read more about Nate and I desperatly want him to find some evidence in order to really start looking for the brothers. 3 stars!

[♥J ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no denying. I LOVE this serial. I eagerly await it's release every month and then devour it as quickly as I can, then spend the rest of the month impatiently waiting again.
This story does not disappoint. EVER. I need to know what happens to Mat and Dougie so bad. The story keeps evolving and the heartache for these characters, never lessens.
Absolutely brilliant.

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another scary episode of Flesh Cartel. Matt & Dougie are delivered to Paradise Island and begin to discover their new sadistic owner's preferences.

'(Dougie) was a slave, yes, but with Nikolai he'd been valuable and treasured. With Allen, he felt lower than an animal. Maybe even lower than Matt.'

[Menna · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT!!! That was intense!

Allen is a sick fucker and Dougie is still a brainless little shit.....and mat! Oh mat he is the one most suffering and has the most unwanted attention!

I can't sense any hope coming any time soon!

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mat and Dougie finally arrive at their new home to meet their new Master Allen.

This guy is a piece of work...he's selfish, cruel and he makes it difficult for Dougie and Mat to know how to please him.

[Sandi ♥'s way too many M/M books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh god I feel for Mat it's insane what their being put though.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each time I start a new episode with this series, I prepare myself for the worst and hope for the best, this was no exception. The title of this alone makes me start to hyperventilate.

Mat and Dougie are being delivered to their new master, Allen. The crazy MoFo who bought both of them from Nikolai. Mat is pissed, of course, being gagged and tied up like the animal they fear and yet want him to be. His plots for escape on the journey hurt my heart. I know, I know this has to happen but I am so afraid for him, for them to try again. I mean, last time was a crap shoot and look what happened?

We got a whole lot of Mat in this one and though I have passed him over in previous episodes; I fucking loved him in this. The boy is amazing, just amazing and I know Mat will survive. His mind is this wondrous place that knocks me on my ass. Mat’s fight, his drive and his skills come forward and claim the win of this round. There was so much in this, my fingers are itching to talk about and there isn’t anyone I can talk to about it. Will someone please come talk to me about this so I can tell you that this episode, twelve into the series and the authors finally made me break into sobs.

You would think with the forced incest, ingestion of numerous body fluids, beatings, humiliation and everything these brothers go through in the series I would have cried already. Nope. Choked up yes but never cried yet this episode reduced me to sobs making me hold my Nook and weep. I wept and then I got pissed for this reason alone; Nikolai may be a manipulative sadistic bastard but Allen is a fucking monster. A MONSTER!

Oh where, oh where has my Dougie gone? Oh where, oh where can he be? With his new name of Douglas Petrovic he is exactly the creature Nikolai created. I adored him as the perfect slave for Nikolai and companion slave to Roger but, poor Dougie. I mean, just the room he shares in his new home leaves much to be desired but I was glad he found his freckled ginger boy. I do have a soft spot for them.

Dougie is lost in this new world with Allen. He is not the treasured slave he was with Nikolai, he is simply the baggage who came with buying Mat. Dougie is determined to do all his true master has asked of him in this new home and he will do it well because he wants to get back to him. I am lost with who I want Dougie to be at the end of this — there is much of Dougie I am still conflicted with … who am I kidding? There is much to this whole series which has me conflicted. I don’t know what to want or what to hope for, it is a recurring theme with my reviews I know.

Now while this was mostly Mat and I was on board with more Mat, I was in LOVE with Nate. OMG! Nate, Nate, NATE! All he brings, all he wants and all that he can possibly do? Dare I hope? Dare I put all my hope onto this man? Ack!

Pleasure Island was a rollercoaster of emotions. The end? Still has me a mess but Mat, I am with you. I am with you.

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I am just so relieved that they are finally away from Nikolai, that I gave an extra star!

Yes, Allen, the new owner, might be a bit more sadistic than Nikolai, but Nikolai was way creepier. There were just so (too) many episodes of brain washing Dougie that I was starting to feel ill, especially with the way Douglas slowly started responding, until finally being the perfect little slave boy.

This episode is definitely more Mat's show, he is finally in the "spotlight" while Douglas gets taken down a notch:-).

I really liked the FBI POV, and would liked to have seen more, since it gave me hope (which was needed after the previous torturous episodes).

[Sue bowdley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well mat didn't fair well in this one......Allen treated him appallingly but he's trying to work out how to get under Allens skin....Tied up for hours then whipped to an inch of his life......Jason was so kind to him and his ending did bring a tear........Dougie I think got the smile rubbed of his face....He really should have a bit more faith in his brother I think he's going to need it x

[Puss'N'Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by PussnBooks.net



Review by Puss’n’Books. Reviewing the darkest, most erotic and taboo books we can find. Click HERE for your next disturbingly sexy read.


When you are looking for a new series of books to get lost in for a good period of time then this is the series you go to, okay?

BUT!!! Only if you can handle the darkest most depraved and violent thoughts and deeds from the blackest corners of the human mind.

This is the kind of series that makes you question your own morals because you enjoy reading it so much and can’t put it down.

This was not a story.
This was a journey.

I can guarantee you are not prepared for the huge range of feelings you are going to experience while you read the horrific journey of Dougie and Mat.

It took me a while to let this one settle enough in order to be able to write the review.
Shout out to ma girl Jill (you know who you are, lol) for recommending it to me *fist bump* I love and hate you in equal parts right now, lol.

DOUGIE
Dougie is Mat’s wee brother and although he’s in his early 20s I still found him fairy immature and, to a point, innocent.
He’s always looked up to Mat. Worshipped him in a way.

Ever since their parents died Mat has been looking out for him and taking the hard hits so that Dougie doesn’t have to. Sacrificing a lot.
He’s been sheltered and a little spoiled but he is still a sweet boy.
And he is about to undergo a dramatic change and experience things his wee mind could never have imagined.

You’d think that because he’s studying to become a psychologist he’d be more resilient to mind games and know what was going on but there are some things that are just too extreme for the human mind to take and stay intact.

He was just not cut out for the tough stuff.

MAT
I love Mat. Ever since their parents died he’s been working his ass off, missing out on things in order to make sure Dougie has everything he needs in order to make a good life for himself.
A nice home, college, food, emotional support.
Pretty much everything he does is 100% for Dougie.

This is the love of an older sibling who has had to step up and become two parents as well.

He’s an MMA/Cage fighter. Who just will not bow down and quit. He never stays down for long and he is gonna need that spirit for the future hell he goes through.

He and Dougie are pretty much opposites.

Guys...this is heartbreaking.
This whole story had me feeling every emotion.
Anger, hatred, pain, love, hope, desperation, joy...I could go on.

It is likely one of the most sickening stories I’ve read due to the rape and torture and degradation.
It manages to become more than just words on a page or someone else’s story.

Also, I gagged. A lot

NIKOLAI
This man is a master manipulator and has been tasked by one of his clients to find and train a very specific kind of man for a slave.

His client wants someone who will fight him a little but then give in in the end.

“He desires the appearance of danger, but not danger itself. He wishes you to fight, but he must also be assured that he can win those fights if he so chooses. A good slave learns to love service.

Nikolai is one of the best at what he does and what he does to these brothers...well you’ll see.
At times it was almost too hard to read.

SICK/SEX SCENES
I’m going to give you a wee look into the kind of stuff you can expect to read. I suspect that it’ll be too much for some, so be warned: TRIGGERS (although to be honest, this scene is one of the tamest ones in the book).

All he could see of Dougie was his legs, spread wide and pointing to the sky, ankles swallowed up by huge, grasping hands. Blocking him off was a man in all black, grunting and thrusting. Another stood farther away from Mat, and though Mat couldn’t see him, there was only one explanation for that angle: he was standing by Dougie’s turned head, fucking his face with deep, punishing strokes. The guard was still walking Mat forward, slowly, leash pulled taut. Mat was still playing along, at least for now. But as they got closer to the scene at the center of the stage, Mat realized that although Dougie was horizontal, he wasn’t lying on the couch. He was lying on top of a third man, Dougie’s back to the man’s chest. The man’s hands were wandering up and down Dougie’s chest, pinching his nipples, rubbing and tugging his balls and cock. Two cocks inside his ass. No wonder he was crying. “Tell the nice people how it feels, hole,” one of the men growled. The reply was a muffled howl. Sucking sounds. Mat stared, horrified and frozen, as the cock popped out of Dougie’s mouth. “Say it.” “It hurts, sir!” Dougie wailed. The man laughed—laughed—and squeezed Dougie’s balls until he screamed.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FLESH CARTEL by Rachel Haimowitz
This one was pitch black. It very much reminded me of a M/M version of Life of Anna. And although it got to be a little repetitive by season 3 the introduction of new characters solved that from season 4 onwards.


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[Shadowsword · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn´t like that paradise Island was over so fast. Nikolai and Roger warned Mat so much about Allen, but Nikolais training seemed way worse in the end (okay there was murder and a whipping, but compared to the first season that was nothing).