The House Always Wins

The Flesh Cartel #13

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.Reader discretion advised.

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

74 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 4, 2014

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]

Allen is a shit-head, What he made Mat do! Fight to the death and still using Dougie against him.

The psycho "Daddy" is back!

Dougie! I don't know how he is going to be saved. But still



Allen!!



Mat!



The end of this book had me like!



Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes: dubious consent, explicit violence, public flogging, killing for sports, and a very bad man called Allen

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finally finally - is that a tiny glimmer of light I see?

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

I love Mat more and more with each installment. I still don't know how Douglas can be saved. This was another interesting episode. A lot of time passess, a number of things changed and once again my fingers are crossed.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not gonna write much in the way of a review.
Just... I need to read on. Like NOW.

So, yeah. 5 stars and a love letter to Mat.

Moving on to book 14 *sigh*

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up!

The "attractions" on Allen's paradise island continue...

This part was a little bit... detached??
Mat once more is forced to do unimaginable things, he must kill people on the arena for the enjoyment of Allen's guests . But we don't see what happens in his mind that much... We don't actually feel his struggle, his reluctance to take life of other, maybe innocent, people . Only that very first time was very detailed and full of Mat's thoughts...

And Dougie? Dougie's life on the island seemed almost too easy for me... His "relationship" with Penny was too sweet, too much reminding him of being a real man, instead of being a slave, a "good boy"...
He even managed to somehow change Allen's demand that he kill a boy on the arena into a show of sexual domination and submission, a power play of some twisted sort... And Dougie's disobedience didn't bring any negative consequences to him. Odd...

But I guess this instalment was a bit of a transition time, of finding that balance between physical torture and mental abuse, of preparation for Mat to finally try to really escape the clutches of Allen and the Cartel... And also a time to show us what is Dougie's insight into this all.
I'm sorry but I think Dougie's experiences in this part of Flesh Cartel were a little bit too easy, too smooth for him... The lull before the storm, perhaps??

Still, the writing style is exquisite and I can't wait to see if...

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Su nuevo dueño parece que consiguio una nueva forma de castigar a Mat, hacerlo pelear en la arena, o mas bien, hacerlo matar en la arena. Asi que ahora Mat es su perro-luchador, y Doguie la carnada que pone en frente cada vez que no quiere hacer las cosas. Por otro lado Doguie consiguio servir a alguien como servia a Nikolai, incluso se siente hasta feliz. Si solo su tiempo ahi pasara rapido? Si solo pudiera volver con Nikolai?

En este libro vemos mas brutalidad fisica que metal, practicamente descubrimos como son el resto de los integrantes de este cartel. Por un lado estan los sofisticados, "amables", que entrenan y quieren a sus mascotas y los que las usan como entretenimiento para sus "invitados" y adquirir posicion. Pero tambien escuchamos las forma de entrenar de otros, y eso no es tan bonito.
En fin, ahora ya estoy viendo por donde tienen la posibilidad de escapar, ahora quiero ver si van a escapar los dos o uno solo, o si Mat realmente va a ser capaz de abandonar a Doguie.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

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

It took me a while to pick up this next book in The Flesh Cartel series. I really liked the beginning of Dougie's and Mat's story, but after a while, it turned out to be quite repetitive. But I'm still curious to know how their story will end and I have to admit that I was once again pulled right into the story.

I still keep hoping, suffering with them and I really, really want to believe in a happy end. But these two authors make believing sooo difficult. Dougie is completely brainwashed and I'm afraid for his sanity. Is it still possible to save him? I'm not so sure!

But hell, I love Mat. He's such a great character and I want him to keep fighting. In this part of the series, the plot finally moved on and I really keep my fingers crossed. I can't wait to know how this cliffhanger is going to turn out.

3 stars!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Special thanks to Martin for recommending the series to me.]

This particular installment was better than I expected. I thought it was going to be a dragged out arc like the time spent in Nikolai's mansion. The story at Allen's was well paced, full of colourful characters and interesting events happening.

Nate doesn't get any appearance in this story at all, so it seems his introduction has been rather short-lived and his story doesn't get much presence which was slightly disappointing. I hope we'll get to see him soon.

Mat is still always trying for a chance to escape, and it seems an opportunity has presented itself again. I'm not sure how successful it would be this time round, but one can only hope it won't be a repeat of last time. I loved this one, the story is great, no excessive abuse and torture that I can't stomach, and finally it's again not some story in which the brothers are always losing.

5 Stars!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say love this series, love Mathias “Stonewall” Carmichael, the plot is heading off in a new direction… Woo hoo, and the title as everything to do with the episode!

Bring on ep. 14! I can't wait to read it!

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

My lips are sealed!

[JaHy☝Hold the Fairy Dust · Rating 4 out of 5]

*********4 "SHOW SOME DAMN MERCY" STARS*****

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Dougie is still a twat but I'm loosening up to him..... a bit . My affection for Mat grows with each passing episode. I pray his character never gives up because I know he can Swim win his way home to safety.

Allen makes Niko sound like the friggin tooth fairy. I have nothing nice to say about this psychotic fucking prick, so I shall end my review with .....


.....now bring on ep. 14 damn it!

[La-Lionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm exited again! This was sooo much better than the last two episodes. Finally something is happening again.
Penny was a nice addition to the story, and Dougie and Mat wasn't as boring as I thought they were in the last couple of episodes. Loved the whole thing. Thank god there weren't any detective's povs, but I do hope he is out there somewhere, still looking for them :). Because of the ending, I actually wouldn't mind if he would showed up in the next episode.

I can't wait to read next episode.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an episode! Mat is amazing! Seriously AMAZING, love him so much.

DouglASS continues to bug the shit out of me, but perhaps Dougie is finally starting to see the light? I hope so.

I have to read the next one immediately, need to know what happens next!

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY SHIT! Not sure how I'm supposed to wait until February, people. This series gets better and better with each episode. This time around, Daddy is back, there are fireworks, big fights, more death, and it seems as if months have gone by in this one little book. So much happens this time around, and we are left with a cliffhanger to blow all cliffhangers away. I'm on the edge of my seat. I'm jumping up and down. It's so close, the end. So close I can feel it, almost taste it, and it tastes like blood, sweat and tears. It taste of freedom.

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loathe Allen...he's now got Mat fighting in crazy death matches and whips him when he refuses. They're still using Dougie against him. All Dougie wants is to please his new mistress Penny and eventually get back to Nikolai...so frustrating.

[Allegedly]

I feel absolutely sick over this series, I am longing, yearning, desiring, fucking PINING for an end to this series, oh my god, I can't take their pain anymore, I need them to be HAPPY

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this one. It took a new direction with the story.

[Sue bowdley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was hard for me to read....Mat did not fair well in this one....he had to fight....Gladiator style to the death and if he didn't then his brother was used against him....when Dougie was brought in he didn't fight he f****d.......Dougie was not liked much by the other slaves and was still treated apallingly till he met Mistress Penny who took him on as his own....And the return of "Daddy" made my skin crawl but that ending....Is Mat finally free?? well not without his brother he isn't x

[Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars bumped to 4

I really wasn't digging this installment until about 80% in. Then I was like...this is the Flesh that i've been missing! The punch in the face...loved!! Is that wrong that I had such enjoyment in that one action?! lol

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed under a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... 4 - The Flesh Cartel

5 deviant, depraved, sadistic, mind-fuckery Stars!!


Check the warnings - 8/10 on Darkeness Scale

[AGandyGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well...the punch to the face was easily the most enjoyable and deserved.

FFS. I get it but gawd I want to punch him too!!

[Kera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dear Ladies,

At the beginning of its letter this one beseeches you not to rat on him to his Master. Should he learn it wrote to you, you will miss one reader. There is no chance it can stand Matt's fury in the ring and because it's already not a kid it doesn't count his person will awake fighter's scruples.

Master K was again tremendously angry with you. He shouted he didn’t pay such handsome sum of money for M/M thriller to read how delighted was the “supposedly-straight-turned-gay” former psychology doctorate (who hasn’t heard about Zimbardo) by keeping his tongue in woman cunt. Its ass felt the Master’s anger for quite long time.

Master K was also awfully disappointed that Matt encounters with Master A were so briefly dismissed. Master K would prefer shorter description of fights and longer of fucking and fisting, especially of fisting; it was quite long time since the last such event, and never enough details were provided. He is very interesting in Master A techniques. Was Matt in bondage? Crisco? Feltching? One or two hands? It agrees in this point with Master.

Speaking about Matt. If he thinks that his actions (killing) are justified and absolved by Douglas protection (sorry, the end doesn't justifies the means), he is very wrong and commits horrible crimes. Not because Douglas isn't worth it (and he is not) but because nobody is. It’s not his tasks to take life, even if he thinks the victim is guilty. On the other hand, if he fights for his life in the face of imminent deadly danger - he will/can be forgiven on the ground of every creed on Earth apart from one. Nevertheless, in this rolling to nowhere, or rather to the bottom of the bottomless abyss where in the end he would be undistinguishable from other slaves and masters in the cartel, he stopped and proved to be a man of moral integrity. Recently it hasn't thought highly about him, and it still upholds its opinion about Matt's intellectual capacity, but at least at this point he won.

Speaking about Douglas... This one is very ashamed, even twice ashamed . It wanted to be even better slave than Douglas but after finishing reading the ring scene with Douglas it suddenly realized what it takes to be a perfect slave - and it doesn’t want to be any longer - which is the first reason for shame. The second one is that this one so late realized it although Master N plainly explained this in the CF3. In the acme of his life, when the existence of the other human being was in his hands, when he had to decide to kill or not to kill, Douglas didn't draw on any kind of religious or secular moral code, even the slightest shadow of "shall not kill" didn't fly through his mind. He spared kid's life and for kid it doesn’t matter why but for us it matters. Even if we know that other slave would kill the kid, it shouldn't change our classification of Douglas deed. Should Master N order him to kill, he would do it without hesitation. In fact Douglas absolutely didn't care about kid, he was angry Matt hadn't finished him and the price of his life wasn't too high for the possibility to keep his tongue in Pen's cunt.

Other slaves envy Douglas and Matt that they were trained by Master N. (how simple and uneducated Reginald heard about Master N training facility and methods - the Ladies didn't bother to explain; and it cannot come up with any reasonable explanation: it was said N never trained more than one slave at the given time but all slaves seems to know Master N “end-products”!). To the other slaves it can say: beware what you wish. Reginald doesn’t want to escape because of fear of "re-training" and lack of place to go; Douglas already doesn't comprehend word "free" in its original meaning. It thinks that if the other slaves knew that price for memorizing of few Keats’ and Shakespeare’s sonnets and ability to play out of tune on piano was total brainwashing leading to inner inability to act differently than according to Master's will, they would opt not to be trained by Master N.

Thus smoothly leads to the last point: the difference between master N and A is esthetical not ethical.

Sincerely yours,
It – slave.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? Mat I am sorry. I am sorry that there were a few episodes where I wrote you off and did not really care for your story. I am sorry that I cared more about Dougie and his transformation than I did about your fight. Your fight is everything. It’s everything.

I have been knocked on my ass and I should stay down here. It’s where I belong. I admit I am writing this after catching up on all the episodes that have been released so this will be short. There is honestly so much that cannot be said in a review without spoiling so…

This continues after the freaking horror show that ended episode #12. Mat is a mess, literally and he gets a reprieve as he is healing. We meet new slaves and learn more about their master who is a monster. I have said it before; he is a closeted sociopath who makes Nikolai look like a Disney villain. Nikolai has rules, he even has manners, grace and order but Allen just has blood thirst and I hate him. I do. I hated him for Jason and that is only the beginning.

Dougie is trying to find his place in this new life. Not being the treasured slave of Nikolai here, he is buying affection the only way he knows how. It was interesting to see him with Penny, I did like that. I am so concerned for Dougie. His loyalty to Nikolai out weighs all which means Nikolai is damn good at his job but Mat is trying so hard to protect his little brother and ugh.

After finishing each episode I go back and stare at the cover and re-read the title. There is so much in each one of those and The House Always Wins… I am again, so sorry Mat. I remember each number and the last one, you broke me too.

The end of this one? I am more than glad I had the next episode to go into. I needed it quick!

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

A review by The Blogger Girls.

This series has held my interest strong throughout each installment. This episode takes a bit of a turn as the boys settle into things on Allen’s island. It picks up right where the last one left off, with the party having come to an end and the boys no longer needed. Douglas finds his way into Allen’s wife’s favor while Mat recuperates from his whipping. Douglas finds happiness serving his Mistress while Matt still has hopes of escape. But things take a turn as this story moves on and Mat finds himself fighting again.

The brothers are played against each other just as they were meant to, and while Dougie remains detached from Mat, Mat continues to push for Dougie. They each find ways to give Allen what he wants without really giving it to him completely. It really doesn’t seem possible that Dougie can ever recover from this ordeal, but I guess we shall see. They are continually subjected to horrible things, not the least of which is the reappearance of Daddy who gave such a horrific performance in his previous scene. He is just as creepy this time around, but that’s all I’ll say about that.

This segment moves the story along a bit more than the previous one, and I found I was more than ready for that to happen. I was again left holding my breath and not able to imagine how things can possibly end well from here. I’m still hooked on this well-written horror story and eagerly await the next morsel.

[Ames10025 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series could have been a taut, psycho-sexual thrill ride into some scary, dark places. Instead, it's just devolved into the absolute worst of everything for book after book after book after book. And the kicker is, it feels like they were written in about a day (it certainly takes me less than a day to get through each one), so stretching out the release dates over months and months to finish out the story feels sadistic. But I guess that's apropos coming from the authors.

I'm limping through them simply because I've read more than half of the series and my borderline OCD will not allow me to leave it unfinished, but I can almost guarantee that, for me, there's no level of redemption coming that can make up for the absolute horror that Mat and Douglas have been subjected to. It's not even inventive, ghoulishly entertaining horror. It's just over-the-top insanity. Now Mat is snuffing out DOZENS of people in gladiator-style fights? So ridiculously horrible I couldn't even groan in disgust. I was glad the villain was actually described as 'moustache-twirling' because at least I know the authors get how cartoonish it's become. But cartoons are entertaining on some level. This is just sad and depressing.

[Arlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to give a book a 5 star rating when it makes me so sick that I have a genuine physical reaction. The authors are so good at painting a horrific picture in such graphic detail, it's not hard to imagine witnessing the gut-wrenching devastation first-hand. I'm so upset when I'm reading that I forget to appreciate what talent it takes for an author to draw me in and manipulate my emotions so effectively, that it reaches a visceral level.

That ending! Holy shit!

Great work, ladies...

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally got back a bit hope for Dougie in this one, with his attraction to Penny and how he handled the situation in the arena. It shows that he still does have a brain in there somewhere!
And THAT revelation by Daddy telling Douglas that saving him from Daddy had just been a manipulating ploy by Nikolai must keep that brain working independently!

[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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[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woo hoo!!!