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Take Her
Power, Love, Money: Pick One
I’m her father’s best friend. She’s twenty years younger than me. He’ll kill me if I touch her—but I’ll die if I don’t.
The last time I saw Lia Ferreo I was helping her with a skinned knee—and now she wants to run her father’s company. She has no idea the dark lengths her father and I went through to build the mafia-financed hotel empire we currently run, or where any of the bodies are buried, but I know better.
So much better.
Lia’s gentle, I’m cruel.
She’s innocent, I’m a murderer.
She deserves to be free—all I want to do is control her.
And I don’t think I can hold back my beast around her much longer....
Take Her: A Dark Wall Street Mafia Age Gap Romance is like if the movie Secretary met the TV show Succession, with a Beauty and the Beast themed twist. It is the first book in Cassie Alexander's The Moth and the Monster series, and marks her stunning contemporary debut.
I’m her father’s best friend. She’s twenty years younger than me. He’ll kill me if I touch her—but I’ll die if I don’t.
The last time I saw Lia Ferreo I was helping her with a skinned knee—and now she wants to run her father’s company. She has no idea the dark lengths her father and I went through to build the mafia-financed hotel empire we currently run, or where any of the bodies are buried, but I know better.
So much better.
Lia’s gentle, I’m cruel.
She’s innocent, I’m a murderer.
She deserves to be free—all I want to do is control her.
And I don’t think I can hold back my beast around her much longer....
Take Her: A Dark Wall Street Mafia Age Gap Romance is like if the movie Secretary met the TV show Succession, with a Beauty and the Beast themed twist. It is the first book in Cassie Alexander's The Moth and the Monster series, and marks her stunning contemporary debut.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2024
169 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Alexander
134 books1,463 followersSign up to Cassie's newsletter for sexy bonus scenes on all her books here!
US links:
https://linktr.ee/cassiealexander
Hi there! I'm a registered nurse and author. As Cassandra, I wrote the Year of the Nurse: A Covid-19 Pandemic Memoir. As Cassie, I've written numerous (and very hot!) paranormal romances, sometimes with my friend Kara Lockharte. I live in the Bay Area with one husband, two cats, and one million succulents.
US links:
https://linktr.ee/cassiealexander
Hi there! I'm a registered nurse and author. As Cassandra, I wrote the Year of the Nurse: A Covid-19 Pandemic Memoir. As Cassie, I've written numerous (and very hot!) paranormal romances, sometimes with my friend Kara Lockharte. I live in the Bay Area with one husband, two cats, and one million succulents.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
January 9, 2025
1 star
Thank you to the publisher and author for sending over this advance copy for an honest review. But I have to be real with you.
So, here’s my honest review.
I felt totally cheated by the blurb. I was expecting some dark romance with a forbidden love plot and some spice, but where was the plot? Seriously, where was it? It felt like a Harry Styles fanfic written by a 14 year-old on Wattpad. Even the side story about the book the FMC was reading was more interesting than the actual book.
I read it so fast because I just wanted to end this torture ASAP. This was the dumbest book I've ever read. I couldn't believe how many phrases I highlighted, either because they were cringe-worthy or just plain stupid. Here are few of them :
said a 45 year-old man.
WTF does this even mean?
I laughed my ass off. For real?
Bisss, there wasn't even an ounce of smartness in this book. Shut up.
And there was so much more. Gosh.I’m really sorry, but this book just raged me.
Thank you to the publisher and author for sending over this advance copy for an honest review. But I have to be real with you.
So, here’s my honest review.
I felt totally cheated by the blurb. I was expecting some dark romance with a forbidden love plot and some spice, but where was the plot? Seriously, where was it? It felt like a Harry Styles fanfic written by a 14 year-old on Wattpad. Even the side story about the book the FMC was reading was more interesting than the actual book.
I read it so fast because I just wanted to end this torture ASAP. This was the dumbest book I've ever read. I couldn't believe how many phrases I highlighted, either because they were cringe-worthy or just plain stupid. Here are few of them :
"I knew I was a thousand times more frightening than a little girl"
said a 45 year-old man.
"Maybe she'd gotten her period or something, I thought, like a Neanderthal."
WTF does this even mean?
"I programmed in one of my burner lines and gave myself my own title in his contact list: Monster."
I laughed my ass off. For real?
"My di*k only jumped for smart women."
Bisss, there wasn't even an ounce of smartness in this book. Shut up.
And there was so much more. Gosh.I’m really sorry, but this book just raged me.
July 29, 2024
🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧
Well, that was unexpected! The story begins with a bang and then ... but it was really well done! I am now obsessed with what comes next!
Okay, so here’s the thing, when I say the story started with a bang and then … I mean there is a one-night-stand that set my mind on fire and then we begin what most would probably call a slow-burn, but I’d rather call it a discovery. I mean, yes, the sexual content of the story is what one would traditionally call a slow-burn, but I honestly didn’t even give that aspect a second thought while I was engrossed in the story.
Before I say anything else, you should know this is the first book for this couple and their storyline does not end with this book. I knew that going in but what I didn’t know was that I’d have to wait a year for what comes next. July 2025 people! I’m not gonna make it! *cries* #sendhelp
There are a lot of circumstances going on in the story and they are intricate and captivating and each one twists the fudgesicles out of the story. To say I was unblinkingly concentrating for almost 10 hours would be very factual. You don’t want to miss a single moment. Hence, my use of the word discovery.
Lia and Rhaim are both strong complex characters, each carrying the weight of their pasts. They are interesting on their own and magnificent together. They hold different power within themselves and those powers fit together like puzzle pieces.
I’m stopping here because a play-by-play of what happens in the story is not useful to any future reader. You should go in blind. Read the blurb if you want, but that should be it. If you enjoy dark, age-gap romances with morally dark gray situations and characters riddled with secrets, this might be for you! :)
With this story not only did I get to experience a new-to-me author, but both narrators, Bunny Warren and Matthew Holland, were also new-to-me. It wasn’t just the story, but also the narrators, that kept me completely hypnotized for 10 hours. Well done!
Well, that was unexpected! The story begins with a bang and then ... but it was really well done! I am now obsessed with what comes next!
Okay, so here’s the thing, when I say the story started with a bang and then … I mean there is a one-night-stand that set my mind on fire and then we begin what most would probably call a slow-burn, but I’d rather call it a discovery. I mean, yes, the sexual content of the story is what one would traditionally call a slow-burn, but I honestly didn’t even give that aspect a second thought while I was engrossed in the story.
Before I say anything else, you should know this is the first book for this couple and their storyline does not end with this book. I knew that going in but what I didn’t know was that I’d have to wait a year for what comes next. July 2025 people! I’m not gonna make it! *cries* #sendhelp
There are a lot of circumstances going on in the story and they are intricate and captivating and each one twists the fudgesicles out of the story. To say I was unblinkingly concentrating for almost 10 hours would be very factual. You don’t want to miss a single moment. Hence, my use of the word discovery.
Lia and Rhaim are both strong complex characters, each carrying the weight of their pasts. They are interesting on their own and magnificent together. They hold different power within themselves and those powers fit together like puzzle pieces.
I’m stopping here because a play-by-play of what happens in the story is not useful to any future reader. You should go in blind. Read the blurb if you want, but that should be it. If you enjoy dark, age-gap romances with morally dark gray situations and characters riddled with secrets, this might be for you! :)
With this story not only did I get to experience a new-to-me author, but both narrators, Bunny Warren and Matthew Holland, were also new-to-me. It wasn’t just the story, but also the narrators, that kept me completely hypnotized for 10 hours. Well done!
July 9, 2025
This story follows Lia, a 23-year-old daughter of a wealthy businessman named Nero. Her father assigns her to learn the ropes of the business with his right-hand man, Rhaim, who is 45. Lia has a difficult past and is holding onto some secrets, but she has always admired Rhaim from a distance. However, Rhaim hasn't seen little Lia in a long time. What could go wrong?
This is a dark, delicious, and intense read. It jumps straight into the spice and grips you. The storyline is mysterious, featuring broken and possessive characters who cannot resist temptation. The male main character (MMC) is very controlling and dominant, while the female main character (FMC) is submissive and not shy about calling him Daddy or Sir. The spice hits and makes me so weak. Cassie has a series called the Transformation Trilogy which is also dark but fantasy. It’s as if she captured that story and rewrote it in a more contemporary, dark, and workplace setting that's very different but has similar vibes. Overall, I enjoyed this read, and the audiobook is brilliant. I highly recommend it.
If you love:
🔹Dark Romance
🔹Mafia
🔹Age Gap (22yrs)
🔹Dad’s Best Friend
🔹Workplace
🔹 Delicious Spice
Genre/Type: Dark Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle and Audiobook
Pages: 365
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 56mins
Narrators: Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In The Moth and The Monster Series
Tropes or Themes: Mafia, Age Gap (22yrs), Dad’s Best Friend, Workplace, Love After Loss, Trauma, Possessive MMC, Mutual Agreement, Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, Mental Health, Cursing, Cliffhanger, Sexual Content, Daddy, Sir, Praise, Dirty Talk, Dom, Sub, Toys, Impact Play, Exhabitionist, Voyerisim, Squirting, Office Scene and Outside Scene
Discusses: Self Harm and Assault/Rape
Mentions: Death Of Parent
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
This is a dark, delicious, and intense read. It jumps straight into the spice and grips you. The storyline is mysterious, featuring broken and possessive characters who cannot resist temptation. The male main character (MMC) is very controlling and dominant, while the female main character (FMC) is submissive and not shy about calling him Daddy or Sir. The spice hits and makes me so weak. Cassie has a series called the Transformation Trilogy which is also dark but fantasy. It’s as if she captured that story and rewrote it in a more contemporary, dark, and workplace setting that's very different but has similar vibes. Overall, I enjoyed this read, and the audiobook is brilliant. I highly recommend it.
If you love:
🔹Dark Romance
🔹Mafia
🔹Age Gap (22yrs)
🔹Dad’s Best Friend
🔹Workplace
🔹 Delicious Spice
Genre/Type: Dark Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle and Audiobook
Pages: 365
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 56mins
Narrators: Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In The Moth and The Monster Series
Tropes or Themes: Mafia, Age Gap (22yrs), Dad’s Best Friend, Workplace, Love After Loss, Trauma, Possessive MMC, Mutual Agreement, Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, Mental Health, Cursing, Cliffhanger, Sexual Content, Daddy, Sir, Praise, Dirty Talk, Dom, Sub, Toys, Impact Play, Exhabitionist, Voyerisim, Squirting, Office Scene and Outside Scene
Discusses: Self Harm and Assault/Rape
Mentions: Death Of Parent
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
September 7, 2024
Take Her by Cassie Alexander
is the first book in The Moth and the Monster trilogy and marks the author's contemporary debut.
What you can expect:
-an age-gap romance featuring Daddy's best friend
-a workplace, forced proximity romance
-suspenseful family drama
-a heroine who has been in love with the hero since her youth
-a tortured hero and widower
-an irresistible attraction that intensifies over time
-a cliffhanger ending that isn't overly dramatic
✨ "...if I was a moth, then he was my flame, and I was just going to keep flying nearer and nearer until he burned me alive. - Lia ✨
I greatly enjoyed reading Take Her! Despite its 400+ pages, I finished the book in no time. The pacing was excellent, filled with intimate moments and engaging dialogue between the main characters. The backstory is well-developed, and the direction of the plot is clear. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment!
🗣️Dual POV
⚠️Content Spoilers:
💋Safety Spoilers:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What you can expect:
-an age-gap romance featuring Daddy's best friend
-a workplace, forced proximity romance
-suspenseful family drama
-a heroine who has been in love with the hero since her youth
-a tortured hero and widower
-an irresistible attraction that intensifies over time
-a cliffhanger ending that isn't overly dramatic
✨ "...if I was a moth, then he was my flame, and I was just going to keep flying nearer and nearer until he burned me alive. - Lia ✨
I greatly enjoyed reading Take Her! Despite its 400+ pages, I finished the book in no time. The pacing was excellent, filled with intimate moments and engaging dialogue between the main characters. The backstory is well-developed, and the direction of the plot is clear. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment!
🗣️Dual POV
⚠️Content Spoilers:
💋Safety Spoilers:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 13, 2025
I enjoyed these first 2 books, but fair warning, there’s a cliffhanger and book 3 isn’t out yet.
Mafia age-gap. CW for references to self harm and sexual child abuse of a main character.
Update: I noticed that Alexander was using AI for her covers and ads videos, but apparently she is also using AI for the writing and that just really pisses me off. I’m declaring a moratorium on reading her books, even when they’re free on KU.
Mafia age-gap. CW for references to self harm and sexual child abuse of a main character.
Update: I noticed that Alexander was using AI for her covers and ads videos, but apparently she is also using AI for the writing and that just really pisses me off. I’m declaring a moratorium on reading her books, even when they’re free on KU.
July 26, 2025
Enjoyed this spicy story with steamy tension, and flawed characters. Navigating a world of pain, obsession, and unexpected connection, their dynamic is very intense and magnetic.
The narration is excellent. Bunny Warren gave Lia’s internal conflict gripping emotions. The emotion in her voice shows the tension and vulnerability that run through every chapter. Matthew Holland brought the heat as well, and I felt the intensity in Rhaim’s character.
Overall, Take Her is a powerful and provocative listen for fans of dark romance and emotional thrillers. It’s raw, intimate, and unforgettable. Readers may enjoy if they like age gap (legal all adults) & forbidden love tropes. Thank you Home Cooked Books for a listening copy.
The narration is excellent. Bunny Warren gave Lia’s internal conflict gripping emotions. The emotion in her voice shows the tension and vulnerability that run through every chapter. Matthew Holland brought the heat as well, and I felt the intensity in Rhaim’s character.
Overall, Take Her is a powerful and provocative listen for fans of dark romance and emotional thrillers. It’s raw, intimate, and unforgettable. Readers may enjoy if they like age gap (legal all adults) & forbidden love tropes. Thank you Home Cooked Books for a listening copy.
August 21, 2025
worst book i have ever read i fell for the tiktok trap
July 11, 2024
Audiobook Review
🖤Age gap
🩷Father’s best friend
🖤Daddy/LG
🩷Morally grey
🖤Possessive MMC
🩷Secrets
🖤Lies
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a hot initial encounter, the book becomes a slow burn. The tension between the main characters burning hotter as the story progresses until the incendiary explosion. There is a lot of dirty talk and promises made, but if you’re looking for book with fast and frequent spice, this is not it. If you’re looking for an eloquently written book with characters that have depth, secrets, and lies being woven throughout, and an ending that leaves you wanting more? Then, YES! Read this book!
For the last ten years Lia was away at boarding school abroad. She recently moved home and wants a place at her dad, Nero’s, company. He doesn’t want her to run the company. Basically wants his best friend and CFO, Rhaim, to “babysit” her, keep her in the ‘clean’ part of the business until her can marry her off. Nero wants a male heir to pass of his company to. What Rhaim doesn’t want is some little girl tailing him all over the place.
Lia has a past full of trauma. Trauma that no one knows about. It impacted her life in every aspect, including where she’s been the last ten years. But now that she’s back, she wants what she’s owed. Corvo. To run her dad’s business someday. The only person who may help her accomplish that is the man she’s been obsessed with for the last ten years. Can the two come up with a solution to both of their problems? Or is this little girl destined to be overlooked and undermined by every man in her life?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I signed up for this ALC other than it was a dark mafia romance with beastly tendencies. This isn’t a story that hits you in the face with spice repeatedly until you’re wrung out. This is a story that continually builds, keeping your attention until the very end. And once I reached that end, well, now I don’t know what to do with myself! This is the first in a series which is setting you up for what’s to come. 😅 Cassie Alexander hooked me in and I must find out what happens next!
This is my first audiobook with Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren each narrating. I really like the both of them. Holland was outstanding in bringing out the dominant/d!ckish side of Rhaim. I absolutely LIVED for it! He has such a gravelly and commanding voice, it was really enjoyable to listen to. I also had not listened to Bunny Warren before and now I find that a tragedy, because she was fantastic! She has such a rich voice and embodied the characters perfectly. I must listen to more of each narrator! Once again I have to thank HomeCookedBooks for introducing me to amazingly talented humans, again! I will be looking for more books voiced by these two.
🦋“I like the idea of you strewn across my lap, your heart shaped a$$ in the air. You mewling with each stroke as I I sp@nk you, preferably until you can’t br3athe. Possibly until you cry.”
🦋“We were both in trouble now. Her, because she didn’t really know me. Me, because I f***ing knew myself.”
🦋“I would be a daddy who wouldn’t throw her to the wolves, because I was a wolf who wanted her for himself. I would become whatever she needed until I was the only thing that she could see.”
🦋“No. It belongs to me.” “If you can’t be trusted with this body I’m taking it from you. It’s mine now. And the only person who gets to hûrt any part of you, from here on out is me.”
🦋“I didn’t want to be able to walk away at the end of this, I only wanted to crawl.”
🦋“Gods not here little girl, there’s only daddy.”
“What are you doing?” “Whatever the f*** I want.”
🦋“And he’s f***ed me so many times I needed calculus.”
🖤Age gap
🩷Father’s best friend
🖤Daddy/LG
🩷Morally grey
🖤Possessive MMC
🩷Secrets
🖤Lies
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After a hot initial encounter, the book becomes a slow burn. The tension between the main characters burning hotter as the story progresses until the incendiary explosion. There is a lot of dirty talk and promises made, but if you’re looking for book with fast and frequent spice, this is not it. If you’re looking for an eloquently written book with characters that have depth, secrets, and lies being woven throughout, and an ending that leaves you wanting more? Then, YES! Read this book!
For the last ten years Lia was away at boarding school abroad. She recently moved home and wants a place at her dad, Nero’s, company. He doesn’t want her to run the company. Basically wants his best friend and CFO, Rhaim, to “babysit” her, keep her in the ‘clean’ part of the business until her can marry her off. Nero wants a male heir to pass of his company to. What Rhaim doesn’t want is some little girl tailing him all over the place.
Lia has a past full of trauma. Trauma that no one knows about. It impacted her life in every aspect, including where she’s been the last ten years. But now that she’s back, she wants what she’s owed. Corvo. To run her dad’s business someday. The only person who may help her accomplish that is the man she’s been obsessed with for the last ten years. Can the two come up with a solution to both of their problems? Or is this little girl destined to be overlooked and undermined by every man in her life?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I signed up for this ALC other than it was a dark mafia romance with beastly tendencies. This isn’t a story that hits you in the face with spice repeatedly until you’re wrung out. This is a story that continually builds, keeping your attention until the very end. And once I reached that end, well, now I don’t know what to do with myself! This is the first in a series which is setting you up for what’s to come. 😅 Cassie Alexander hooked me in and I must find out what happens next!
This is my first audiobook with Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren each narrating. I really like the both of them. Holland was outstanding in bringing out the dominant/d!ckish side of Rhaim. I absolutely LIVED for it! He has such a gravelly and commanding voice, it was really enjoyable to listen to. I also had not listened to Bunny Warren before and now I find that a tragedy, because she was fantastic! She has such a rich voice and embodied the characters perfectly. I must listen to more of each narrator! Once again I have to thank HomeCookedBooks for introducing me to amazingly talented humans, again! I will be looking for more books voiced by these two.
🦋“I like the idea of you strewn across my lap, your heart shaped a$$ in the air. You mewling with each stroke as I I sp@nk you, preferably until you can’t br3athe. Possibly until you cry.”
🦋“We were both in trouble now. Her, because she didn’t really know me. Me, because I f***ing knew myself.”
🦋“I would be a daddy who wouldn’t throw her to the wolves, because I was a wolf who wanted her for himself. I would become whatever she needed until I was the only thing that she could see.”
🦋“No. It belongs to me.” “If you can’t be trusted with this body I’m taking it from you. It’s mine now. And the only person who gets to hûrt any part of you, from here on out is me.”
🦋“I didn’t want to be able to walk away at the end of this, I only wanted to crawl.”
🦋“Gods not here little girl, there’s only daddy.”
“What are you doing?” “Whatever the f*** I want.”
🦋“And he’s f***ed me so many times I needed calculus.”
August 3, 2024
please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: cliffhanger
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: a few open-door spicy scenes
TWs: birth control tampering (past), death by overdose (recounted), death of a parent (recounted), death of a spouse (while pregnant, recounted), eating disorder, kidnapping, mental hospital setting (recounted), misogyny, murder, PTSD, SA of a minor (recounted, nongraphic), sexism, stalking, suicidal ideation, mentions of suicide, torture
Kinky Content: BDSM club, breeding kink, Daddy kink, Dom/sub dynamics, exhibitionism, finger licking good, fingering, masturbation, “one more”, oral, outdoor sex, praise, public sex, spanking, squirting, voyeurism
standalone: book 1 of The Moth and The Monster series
final thoughts: I’m excited to be back in a new world of Rhaim and Leah! While this is a standalone series from the Transformation trilogy, there are some similarities in the characteristics of the MCs and I’m so excited to see where the story goes. This series is a slowburn but faster burn than the other series (thankfully!).
This series is Wall Street/Mafia with moderately dark elements so please view trigger warnings. I love the BDSM elements in this book and the MCs “meet cute”. There is so much mystery that was introduced in book 1 and I can’t wait for the next book!
I knew to expect a cliffhanger from Cassie for this series, but I still didn’t believe it!
read this book if you love
🔢 age gap (23/45)
⛓️ BDSM
🫡 big MMC
💞 childhood crush
👦 dad’s best friend
🖤 (moderately) dark romance
🥵 dirty talk
😳 forbidden lovers
🏝️ forced proximity
🤫 hidden secrets
🧠 “it’s always been you”
😜 jealous, possessive FMC
😏 kinky
🔫 mafia
🥰 nicknames
🔀 opposites attract
🌀 plot twists
🙏 praise
📖 retelling (Beauty and the Beast vibes)
🤐 secret relationship
💓 slowburn
🌍 world building
💼 workplace romance
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: cliffhanger
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: a few open-door spicy scenes
TWs: birth control tampering (past), death by overdose (recounted), death of a parent (recounted), death of a spouse (while pregnant, recounted), eating disorder, kidnapping, mental hospital setting (recounted), misogyny, murder, PTSD, SA of a minor (recounted, nongraphic), sexism, stalking, suicidal ideation, mentions of suicide, torture
Kinky Content: BDSM club, breeding kink, Daddy kink, Dom/sub dynamics, exhibitionism, finger licking good, fingering, masturbation, “one more”, oral, outdoor sex, praise, public sex, spanking, squirting, voyeurism
standalone: book 1 of The Moth and The Monster series
final thoughts: I’m excited to be back in a new world of Rhaim and Leah! While this is a standalone series from the Transformation trilogy, there are some similarities in the characteristics of the MCs and I’m so excited to see where the story goes. This series is a slowburn but faster burn than the other series (thankfully!).
This series is Wall Street/Mafia with moderately dark elements so please view trigger warnings. I love the BDSM elements in this book and the MCs “meet cute”. There is so much mystery that was introduced in book 1 and I can’t wait for the next book!
I knew to expect a cliffhanger from Cassie for this series, but I still didn’t believe it!
read this book if you love
🔢 age gap (23/45)
⛓️ BDSM
🫡 big MMC
💞 childhood crush
👦 dad’s best friend
🖤 (moderately) dark romance
🥵 dirty talk
😳 forbidden lovers
🏝️ forced proximity
🤫 hidden secrets
🧠 “it’s always been you”
😜 jealous, possessive FMC
😏 kinky
🔫 mafia
🥰 nicknames
🔀 opposites attract
🌀 plot twists
🙏 praise
📖 retelling (Beauty and the Beast vibes)
🤐 secret relationship
💓 slowburn
🌍 world building
💼 workplace romance
August 11, 2024
They do it in a ✨cemetery✨
For full transparency, I received an arc of this book.
I’ll admit while I was excited to see Rhaim and Lia in a more contemporary setting, I was a bit nervous but I really enjoyed this. Lia, who has a vague dark past, is the daughter of Rhaim’s boss. Which he’s initially unaware of because when they first meet (technically reunite but Rhaim doesn’t remember her) it’s at a sex club.
A short while later his boss asks Rhaim to teach his daughter everything he knows about the family business (minus the mafia stuff) and they’re formally introduced. Rhaim is convinced this is a waste of time as he believes Lia is spoiled and will be easily deterred by manual labor, but Lia is determined to prove him wrong. In the process of teaching her about the company, they develop an attraction to one another and start a dd/lg relationship that is filled with mutual stalking and obsession.
This is a dark age-gap mafia romance that contains stalking, scenes of violence, mentions of self-harm and off-page character deaths.
I’d say the spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.
For full transparency, I received an arc of this book.
I’ll admit while I was excited to see Rhaim and Lia in a more contemporary setting, I was a bit nervous but I really enjoyed this. Lia, who has a vague dark past, is the daughter of Rhaim’s boss. Which he’s initially unaware of because when they first meet (technically reunite but Rhaim doesn’t remember her) it’s at a sex club.
A short while later his boss asks Rhaim to teach his daughter everything he knows about the family business (minus the mafia stuff) and they’re formally introduced. Rhaim is convinced this is a waste of time as he believes Lia is spoiled and will be easily deterred by manual labor, but Lia is determined to prove him wrong. In the process of teaching her about the company, they develop an attraction to one another and start a dd/lg relationship that is filled with mutual stalking and obsession.
This is a dark age-gap mafia romance that contains stalking, scenes of violence, mentions of self-harm and off-page character deaths.
I’d say the spice is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.
August 17, 2024
Just not nearly as good as the first 3 Monster/ Moth books.
July 27, 2024
Thank you so so much to the author for sharing an ARC of this book with me!!!
“I knew it was wrong, but it was vastly too late.
I loved him.
Possibly not in a good way.
Like cancer needs a body.”
“I wasn’t a literal beast, but I had done beastly things.
I liked being covered in other people’s blood”
I realised there’re two things I cannot read before bed. Fantasies, because, who am I kidding? I always want to read the next chapter. And the dark romance version of the Transformation Trilogy. This book was … wild !!! Absolutely wild !!! I am in love and in lust and sad and pained and excited. Basically, I feel overwhelmed with a wide range of emotions that I don’t know how to control. The only thing I know is that I’m in dire need of the next book in this series!!! Once again the relationship between Rhaim and Lia made me absolutely wild. It’s so complicated and frustrating and twisted and kinky and crazy. It’s them wrapped up in a dark package. The trauma that binds them is insanely intense and there was nothing I could do but cry for them. Hers especially!!! The things she had to suffer … I was feral !!! Almost like him !!!! We have forced proximity, boss’ daughter, boss romance, good girl, some other very kinky and feral vibes (I’m not gonna go into heavy detail about it cause you have to read it) and trigger warnings for which you better be prepared !!! And he calls her “moth” … I love it !!!! I am obsessed !!!! And that ending ??? I really want to say disrespectful to the max but … I need to know !!! I need to know more !!!!
“We were both in trouble now.
Her, because she didn’t really know me—and me, because I fucking knew myself.
I would be a daddy who wouldn’t throw her to the wolves—because I was a wolf who wanted her for himself.
I would become whatever she needed, until I was the only thing that she could see.”
“God’s not here, little girl—there’s only Daddy,”
“I knew it was wrong, but it was vastly too late.
I loved him.
Possibly not in a good way.
Like cancer needs a body.”
“I wasn’t a literal beast, but I had done beastly things.
I liked being covered in other people’s blood”
I realised there’re two things I cannot read before bed. Fantasies, because, who am I kidding? I always want to read the next chapter. And the dark romance version of the Transformation Trilogy. This book was … wild !!! Absolutely wild !!! I am in love and in lust and sad and pained and excited. Basically, I feel overwhelmed with a wide range of emotions that I don’t know how to control. The only thing I know is that I’m in dire need of the next book in this series!!! Once again the relationship between Rhaim and Lia made me absolutely wild. It’s so complicated and frustrating and twisted and kinky and crazy. It’s them wrapped up in a dark package. The trauma that binds them is insanely intense and there was nothing I could do but cry for them. Hers especially!!! The things she had to suffer … I was feral !!! Almost like him !!!! We have forced proximity, boss’ daughter, boss romance, good girl, some other very kinky and feral vibes (I’m not gonna go into heavy detail about it cause you have to read it) and trigger warnings for which you better be prepared !!! And he calls her “moth” … I love it !!!! I am obsessed !!!! And that ending ??? I really want to say disrespectful to the max but … I need to know !!! I need to know more !!!!
“We were both in trouble now.
Her, because she didn’t really know me—and me, because I fucking knew myself.
I would be a daddy who wouldn’t throw her to the wolves—because I was a wolf who wanted her for himself.
I would become whatever she needed, until I was the only thing that she could see.”
“God’s not here, little girl—there’s only Daddy,”
March 31, 2025
Lia is the gentle rich girl who was dealt a cruel hand growing up while Rhaim was the right hand man to her father who did his dirty work while keeping his company going. But like all there stories go their lives crash together and they have to test the limits…even if it will kill them! This has all the spice, hate and lust you find in most stories along this line and I do look forward to seeing where it goes. Ms. Alexandra has a way of hooking you into caring for the rough bad guys and feeling sorry for them while hating what they stand for.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐⭐⭐.5 rating
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐⭐⭐.5 rating
July 28, 2024
Wow…. Just wow!!!!!
Cassie has done it again! I’m not sitting here thinking “what am I going to do with myself.”
If you’re looking for a Mafia Age Gap then look no farther than this book!
Rhiam is the bosses right hand man. The one that takes care of all the things. Then he gets assigned to teach Lia the business.
Insert Lia who’s had a rough life and is trying to get her life together.
The cliffhanger at the end. The bantering between Rhiam and Lia is NOT to be missed!
Run don’t walk and get Take Her!!! It’s soo good!
Cassie has done it again! I’m not sitting here thinking “what am I going to do with myself.”
If you’re looking for a Mafia Age Gap then look no farther than this book!
Rhiam is the bosses right hand man. The one that takes care of all the things. Then he gets assigned to teach Lia the business.
Insert Lia who’s had a rough life and is trying to get her life together.
The cliffhanger at the end. The bantering between Rhiam and Lia is NOT to be missed!
Run don’t walk and get Take Her!!! It’s soo good!
August 7, 2024
I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. I have not read this author before and wasn't sure of what to expect. First off you should be aware that this is part of a series. Secondly, the ending leaves one wanting.
So many readers seemed to rave about this book, but it didn't deliver for me.
It starts somewhat explosively but then becomes a painful slow burn. I also disliked both main characters. Rhaim bordered on sleazy and Lia came across as damaged. Add to this secrets, self-harm, kidnapping, an eating disorder, BDSM, suicidal thoughts, voyeurism, torture, etc. and I came away thinking there was a list of every conceivable type of dysfunctional behaviour and sexual acts that needed to be ticked off, so were included in the story. Not for me. 3 stars.
So many readers seemed to rave about this book, but it didn't deliver for me.
It starts somewhat explosively but then becomes a painful slow burn. I also disliked both main characters. Rhaim bordered on sleazy and Lia came across as damaged. Add to this secrets, self-harm, kidnapping, an eating disorder, BDSM, suicidal thoughts, voyeurism, torture, etc. and I came away thinking there was a list of every conceivable type of dysfunctional behaviour and sexual acts that needed to be ticked off, so were included in the story. Not for me. 3 stars.
July 28, 2024
*Audiobook Review*
Dual narration by Matthew Holland, Bunny Warren
Story⭐️: 4/5
Narration🎤: 4/5
Spice level🌶️: 4/5
This is a dark mafia age gap romance with Beauty and the Beast vibes. It’s the first book in a series and it ends on a cliffhanger. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’ve been seeing people talk about her Bend Her fantasy series so I was curious to check out her work. This book is a bit of a deviation from what I usually read, and I was pleasantly surprised.
This book starts out surprisingly spicy for a slow burn romance. Lia meets Rhaim at a kink club and she knows who he is (the CFO of her father’s mafia-financed empire) but he didn’t know who she was. They have a rather spicy encounter and then come Monday morning, her father introduces her to Rhaim and asks him to take her under his wind and teach her about the business. She’s 23 and he’s 43. She’s been obsessed with him since she was 13 and tries to get close to him. We, the readers, know this but he doesn’t and it was so amusing watching him try to figure out what her deal was.
The dynamic between Lia and Rhaim is quite interesting. While there is a distinct daddy/little girl element to their relationship, there isn’ta massive power imbalance because of the kind of woman Lia is and also because of Rhaim’s relationship with her father. The build up of tension between them was fun to watch, as well as the slow crumbling of Rhaim’s resolve to stay away from her. They’re both complex characters with traumatic backstories that slowly get revealed and at the end of this book, there are still details about their pasts that we’re yet to find out. Sadly, I think were going to have to wait a while for the next book.
I’m not usually a fan of slow burn, and the initial pace of the story was a bit slow, but after a while things picked up and there was a lot going on outside of the main plot to keep me engaged. Lia’s father has plans for her that she doesn’t know about. There’s a lot of corporate intrigue going on. Her uncle and cousin are slimy sleazeballs that add a lot of drama and conflict to the story.
Both narrators are new to me, and I really enjoyed their performance. They really brought the story to life, expressing the distinct personalities of each character. I definitely want to check out more of their work.
If you enjoy stories with complex characters, age gap dynamics, slow-burn tension and a touch of corporate intrigue, you should definitely listen to this book.
*I revceived an early copy from Homecooked Books and this is my honest review.
Dual narration by Matthew Holland, Bunny Warren
Story⭐️: 4/5
Narration🎤: 4/5
Spice level🌶️: 4/5
This is a dark mafia age gap romance with Beauty and the Beast vibes. It’s the first book in a series and it ends on a cliffhanger. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’ve been seeing people talk about her Bend Her fantasy series so I was curious to check out her work. This book is a bit of a deviation from what I usually read, and I was pleasantly surprised.
This book starts out surprisingly spicy for a slow burn romance. Lia meets Rhaim at a kink club and she knows who he is (the CFO of her father’s mafia-financed empire) but he didn’t know who she was. They have a rather spicy encounter and then come Monday morning, her father introduces her to Rhaim and asks him to take her under his wind and teach her about the business. She’s 23 and he’s 43. She’s been obsessed with him since she was 13 and tries to get close to him. We, the readers, know this but he doesn’t and it was so amusing watching him try to figure out what her deal was.
The dynamic between Lia and Rhaim is quite interesting. While there is a distinct daddy/little girl element to their relationship, there isn’ta massive power imbalance because of the kind of woman Lia is and also because of Rhaim’s relationship with her father. The build up of tension between them was fun to watch, as well as the slow crumbling of Rhaim’s resolve to stay away from her. They’re both complex characters with traumatic backstories that slowly get revealed and at the end of this book, there are still details about their pasts that we’re yet to find out. Sadly, I think were going to have to wait a while for the next book.
I’m not usually a fan of slow burn, and the initial pace of the story was a bit slow, but after a while things picked up and there was a lot going on outside of the main plot to keep me engaged. Lia’s father has plans for her that she doesn’t know about. There’s a lot of corporate intrigue going on. Her uncle and cousin are slimy sleazeballs that add a lot of drama and conflict to the story.
Both narrators are new to me, and I really enjoyed their performance. They really brought the story to life, expressing the distinct personalities of each character. I definitely want to check out more of their work.
If you enjoy stories with complex characters, age gap dynamics, slow-burn tension and a touch of corporate intrigue, you should definitely listen to this book.
*I revceived an early copy from Homecooked Books and this is my honest review.
August 2, 2025
*As of 8/2/25, I am no longer a part of Cassie Alexander’s ARC team, nor do I support her works. Her use of AI has come to my attention, as well as how late I am to learning about this. I do not support the use of AI when it comes to the arts, and I am not comfortable working with an author who uses AI for their book related art. This information came to light via her Facebook page, a newsletter emailed out in May that I just read in full, as well as further research on Threads. This review was posted in 2024. The review has been requested to be removed from Amazon, and edited with this note on Storygraph as well. My full statement will be accessible on Threads & Instagram later today.*
"I needed something to root for. I needed to feel safe, despite breathtaking odds and extraordinary situations. Because reading about them made me feel like maybe, just maybe, it could happen to me, too."
I'm pretty sure we've all gone into a romance book of some kind feeling like that. Feeling like we can find some bit of solace in it. Feeling like if we can read about it on the pages that we can experience it in reality. That maybe if it can come out of someones mind and onto paper, that maybe we can have it come into our reality one day. I know I have. Some of us take a lot longer to find it than others, and some of us may not find it. But I sure hope we do. I hope we all find the love we read about and dream about. Maybe minus the... morally askew things we enjoy our MMC partaking in but that's besides the point. We all just want someone to look out for us, love us, dedicate themselves to us, and not betray us, right?
You will find that in this book. You will find that despite a rocky road to get there in this book because Cassie is a goddess with her words. You will fall in love with a man who says "I would become whatever she needed, until I was the only thing she could see." A man who says "I don't think it's enough for me to be just your sun and your moon anymore. I think I want to be your stars, too - and all the cold dark spaces in between."
If you want a FMC, who says she doesn't drink but she reads instead - this is the book for you. I was all consumed by this book for the five days that I spent reading it. I truly wish I could have just sat and read it in one sitting because it was worthy of that level of binge reading. From now on, any new releases from Cassie will be receiving nothing but a dedicated binge read when I get my hands on them.
"I needed something to root for. I needed to feel safe, despite breathtaking odds and extraordinary situations. Because reading about them made me feel like maybe, just maybe, it could happen to me, too."
I'm pretty sure we've all gone into a romance book of some kind feeling like that. Feeling like we can find some bit of solace in it. Feeling like if we can read about it on the pages that we can experience it in reality. That maybe if it can come out of someones mind and onto paper, that maybe we can have it come into our reality one day. I know I have. Some of us take a lot longer to find it than others, and some of us may not find it. But I sure hope we do. I hope we all find the love we read about and dream about. Maybe minus the... morally askew things we enjoy our MMC partaking in but that's besides the point. We all just want someone to look out for us, love us, dedicate themselves to us, and not betray us, right?
You will find that in this book. You will find that despite a rocky road to get there in this book because Cassie is a goddess with her words. You will fall in love with a man who says "I would become whatever she needed, until I was the only thing she could see." A man who says "I don't think it's enough for me to be just your sun and your moon anymore. I think I want to be your stars, too - and all the cold dark spaces in between."
If you want a FMC, who says she doesn't drink but she reads instead - this is the book for you. I was all consumed by this book for the five days that I spent reading it. I truly wish I could have just sat and read it in one sitting because it was worthy of that level of binge reading. From now on, any new releases from Cassie will be receiving nothing but a dedicated binge read when I get my hands on them.
July 31, 2024
Take Her
The Moth and the Monster #1
By Cassie Alexander
Narrated by Matthew Holland, Bunny Warren
Dark, twisty, taboo? Yes please. This is Cassie Alexander's debut novel? Can't be. It's that good! Meet the emotionally disturbed Lia Ferreo, the daughter of Rhaim's boss and best friend. He didn't know she was the woman he wanted at the club. But now she is in his business world and it has thrown him a bit. His job? Keep her safe and teach her the ropes. But having her clean the toilets truly isn't that. He wants more from her, but he knows the limits. He can read her like a book. When she is scared, panicking, needy and wanting. It's all there. Lia has known what she wants since she was thirteen. Rhaim. And she will do just about anything to get him. But having him as a mentor? This could not be better. Where does this dark, twisty, unpredictable story go? It's packed with family, all striving for power, a somewhat protective father and a deranged, brilliant best friend keeping his daughter safe. But the cliffhanger....it's one that didn't get me upset, as there was a little ending, but so many questions are still up in the air! I cannot wait for the next in this amazing new series!
Matthew Holland, WOW! What a voice put to Rhaim! Commanding, devious, protective, raspy, it's all there creating the exact personality that Rhaim has. Bunny Warren gives voice to Lia, and she is fabulous. From her childhood fears to her passion for Rhaim, she pulls out every emotion and creates and incredible character. These two are a fantastic pairing and I look forward to hearing the next in story.
The Moth and the Monster #1
By Cassie Alexander
Narrated by Matthew Holland, Bunny Warren
Dark, twisty, taboo? Yes please. This is Cassie Alexander's debut novel? Can't be. It's that good! Meet the emotionally disturbed Lia Ferreo, the daughter of Rhaim's boss and best friend. He didn't know she was the woman he wanted at the club. But now she is in his business world and it has thrown him a bit. His job? Keep her safe and teach her the ropes. But having her clean the toilets truly isn't that. He wants more from her, but he knows the limits. He can read her like a book. When she is scared, panicking, needy and wanting. It's all there. Lia has known what she wants since she was thirteen. Rhaim. And she will do just about anything to get him. But having him as a mentor? This could not be better. Where does this dark, twisty, unpredictable story go? It's packed with family, all striving for power, a somewhat protective father and a deranged, brilliant best friend keeping his daughter safe. But the cliffhanger....it's one that didn't get me upset, as there was a little ending, but so many questions are still up in the air! I cannot wait for the next in this amazing new series!
Matthew Holland, WOW! What a voice put to Rhaim! Commanding, devious, protective, raspy, it's all there creating the exact personality that Rhaim has. Bunny Warren gives voice to Lia, and she is fabulous. From her childhood fears to her passion for Rhaim, she pulls out every emotion and creates and incredible character. These two are a fantastic pairing and I look forward to hearing the next in story.
July 27, 2024
“I dearly hoped we were not flirting via Outlook.”
4.5⭐️Oh goodness! This starts with some spicy action straight up. I was not prepared for Matthew Holland narrator in all his Daddy glory! Goodness! I need a moment and probably a splash blanket.
Lots of cheeky references and homages to the OG Break Her series which I really enjoyed!
I loved the intrigue and mystery elements! The business side of the story was really interesting too. Lots of moving pieces to follow. Really pulled me through the plot pieces.
All.The.Feels. I always forget how heartfelt and raw Cassie’s writing is and get taken aback when I’m almost in tears. This one was the same! Wahhhh! But also, that cliffy?! Why you gotta edge like that?! Loved this read.
4.5⭐️Oh goodness! This starts with some spicy action straight up. I was not prepared for Matthew Holland narrator in all his Daddy glory! Goodness! I need a moment and probably a splash blanket.
Lots of cheeky references and homages to the OG Break Her series which I really enjoyed!
I loved the intrigue and mystery elements! The business side of the story was really interesting too. Lots of moving pieces to follow. Really pulled me through the plot pieces.
All.The.Feels. I always forget how heartfelt and raw Cassie’s writing is and get taken aback when I’m almost in tears. This one was the same! Wahhhh! But also, that cliffy?! Why you gotta edge like that?! Loved this read.
August 25, 2024
Thank you to BookSirens and publisher for this ARC! All words in this review are my own.
REVIEW
Score: 5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Tropes: Fathers Best Friend; Age Gap (20 years); obsessed FMC; mafia;
This is my first book by this author & will shout from the rooftops that I recommend this book. I was hooked immediately. It starts off strong with the FMC returning to the MMCs life after being gone for a long time. He doesn’t remember her. The book then continues on as we learn about the struggles and heart ache the FMC has gone through, as well as the MMC, as he battles his need to own her and well let’s just say he epically fails.
The book does end on a frustratingly cliffhanger but it is pre-told that the book would end on one and that it is a trilogy.
I did about throw my phone when I saw the release date of the 2nd book isn’t until next year July 😭😭.
5/5
REVIEW
Score: 5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Tropes: Fathers Best Friend; Age Gap (20 years); obsessed FMC; mafia;
This is my first book by this author & will shout from the rooftops that I recommend this book. I was hooked immediately. It starts off strong with the FMC returning to the MMCs life after being gone for a long time. He doesn’t remember her. The book then continues on as we learn about the struggles and heart ache the FMC has gone through, as well as the MMC, as he battles his need to own her and well let’s just say he epically fails.
The book does end on a frustratingly cliffhanger but it is pre-told that the book would end on one and that it is a trilogy.
I did about throw my phone when I saw the release date of the 2nd book isn’t until next year July 😭😭.
5/5
August 13, 2024
I finally got around to read this book and I can’t believe I didn’t read it earlier. I ate it up. I love mafia age gap stories. This is the first book in the trilogy.
This book started off with a bang. I was drawn from page one. I really like Rhaim and Lia as characters.
Tropes:
-mafia
-age gap (45/23)
-fathers best friend
-possessive MMC
-daddy/ lg
-workplace romance
-retelling (beauty and the beast)
This book started off with a bang. I was drawn from page one. I really like Rhaim and Lia as characters.
Tropes:
-mafia
-age gap (45/23)
-fathers best friend
-possessive MMC
-daddy/ lg
-workplace romance
-retelling (beauty and the beast)
July 23, 2025
This was one interesting book, and trust me it's either your cup of tea or completely not. I enjoyed it. I liked the premise, but i was hoping for a bit more? I loved the premise and it was fun seeing the behind the scenes of IPO.
Our MMC is not our usual fall in lust and find everything about our girl. He did find out stuff about her, but he was never interested to dig deeper to uncover what actually was going on, and this was for sure something i wanted to scream at him to look deeper so see that Leah needed someone to see her, actual her and help her.
Now let's talk about narration. It was my first time listening to both Bunny and Matthew and they were great. I could feel the desperation in Bunny's voice whenever our FMC was having yet another meltdown and it was amazing!
Overall it was a good read, and I'm excited for the next book!
Our MMC is not our usual fall in lust and find everything about our girl. He did find out stuff about her, but he was never interested to dig deeper to uncover what actually was going on, and this was for sure something i wanted to scream at him to look deeper so see that Leah needed someone to see her, actual her and help her.
Now let's talk about narration. It was my first time listening to both Bunny and Matthew and they were great. I could feel the desperation in Bunny's voice whenever our FMC was having yet another meltdown and it was amazing!
Overall it was a good read, and I'm excited for the next book!
August 7, 2024
Welp, another day another book! Really enjoyed this one. It is a beauty and the beast retelling of sorts and man is it good.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this.
July 24, 2025
3.5✨
I’m intrigued by the story, though it kinda felt long-winded. But I’m not super huge on the whole daddy/little girl aspect. It’s just not my thing. Idk if I want to continue the series.
I’m intrigued by the story, though it kinda felt long-winded. But I’m not super huge on the whole daddy/little girl aspect. It’s just not my thing. Idk if I want to continue the series.
August 20, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3/5✨ 2/5🌶️
I was really looking forward to this book after i read the transformation trilogy as the main characters have the same vibes. But it just didn‘t really quite do it for me. Don‘t get me wrong i enjoyed the book, but maybe i was expecting more. I think if i read this without reading the transformation trilogy, i would have liked it more. It‘s a good story and i will be reading the next book.
The MMC is a moody CFO with Mafia vibes and considers himself to be past the whole relationship thing. The FMC has a dark past and wants to prove herself worthy of a seat at the table of her fathers business… and maybe be saved my the MMC in the process.
The story has no ending… which i personally only hate if i have to wait for the next book. Which in this case i do.. but i wouldn‘t be annoyed if i didn‘t enjoy the story.
3/5✨ 2/5🌶️
I was really looking forward to this book after i read the transformation trilogy as the main characters have the same vibes. But it just didn‘t really quite do it for me. Don‘t get me wrong i enjoyed the book, but maybe i was expecting more. I think if i read this without reading the transformation trilogy, i would have liked it more. It‘s a good story and i will be reading the next book.
The MMC is a moody CFO with Mafia vibes and considers himself to be past the whole relationship thing. The FMC has a dark past and wants to prove herself worthy of a seat at the table of her fathers business… and maybe be saved my the MMC in the process.
The story has no ending… which i personally only hate if i have to wait for the next book. Which in this case i do.. but i wouldn‘t be annoyed if i didn‘t enjoy the story.
July 28, 2024
*ALC review* This was my 1st story by Cassie Alexander, and I'm so glad that I went into this completely blind! Lia and Rhaim were a pair that I did not see coming, and while the story started off hot, it very quickly became this slow burn that had me thirsty for more backstory to really get to know the characters. This was a first listen for me with Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren, and they both did a good job of keeping me locked in to want to know more of the story. Not at all your typical mafia story, but one that kept me interested and wanting more by the end!
July 28, 2024
This book started with a bang completely enrapturing from the start. It began with a powerful and intense introduction, which immediately grabbed my attention. As the story progressed, the tension between the main characters continued to build, ultimately leading to an explosive and satisfying conclusion. The book boasts excellent character development, intriguing secrets, and an exhilarating finale, making it a must-read for any book enthusiast.
When I started listening to this audiobook, I anticipated a dark mafia romance, only to discover a richly layered narrative that kept me engrossed until the very end. Serving as the first installment in a series, it masterfully lays the groundwork for future developments, leaving me eagerly anticipating what lies ahead. The storytelling was so immersive that I am genuinely excited to uncover the next chapters in the series.
As a newcomer to the narrations of Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren, I was thoroughly impressed by their performances. Holland adeptly portrayed the dominant and tough qualities of the character Rhaim, while Warren brought a remarkable authenticity to the various characters. Their captivating performances have left me eager to explore more of their narrations in future audiobooks.
I'd like to extend special gratitude to HomeCookedBooks for providing me with the opportunity to experience this exceptional audiobook.
When I started listening to this audiobook, I anticipated a dark mafia romance, only to discover a richly layered narrative that kept me engrossed until the very end. Serving as the first installment in a series, it masterfully lays the groundwork for future developments, leaving me eagerly anticipating what lies ahead. The storytelling was so immersive that I am genuinely excited to uncover the next chapters in the series.
As a newcomer to the narrations of Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren, I was thoroughly impressed by their performances. Holland adeptly portrayed the dominant and tough qualities of the character Rhaim, while Warren brought a remarkable authenticity to the various characters. Their captivating performances have left me eager to explore more of their narrations in future audiobooks.
I'd like to extend special gratitude to HomeCookedBooks for providing me with the opportunity to experience this exceptional audiobook.
July 30, 2024
Take Her is the first book in the Moth and the Monster series, and it cannot be read as a standalone.
I didn’t know what to expect from this, but the blurb sounded interesting, so I signed up.
Lia and Rhaim meet (or rather, they have their first encounter after many years) at a kink club. Things got…hot. But the next day, Lia is “introduced” to Rhaim at work when her father, his best friend, brings her in and asks him to take care of her.
This was a slow burn, and there was a lot of tension (mostly from Rhaim’s POV). He was dark, twisted, but also had a heart buried deep down.
Lia was always trying to do her best, but she was also sassy and tried going after what she wanted. She also had a past that she still hasn’t quite recovered from.
This was a little angsty and dark. I still have so many questions and can’t wait for the next book.
Audio:
Narrators: Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren
Narration style: Dual
This was my first time listening to both narrators, and they did such a great job! Matthew Holland was perfect for the broody, dark, and controlling Rhaim. Bunny Warren was perfect for Lia, and she brought out all of Lia’s emotions: from her frightened moments to her happy moments.
I didn’t know what to expect from this, but the blurb sounded interesting, so I signed up.
Lia and Rhaim meet (or rather, they have their first encounter after many years) at a kink club. Things got…hot. But the next day, Lia is “introduced” to Rhaim at work when her father, his best friend, brings her in and asks him to take care of her.
This was a slow burn, and there was a lot of tension (mostly from Rhaim’s POV). He was dark, twisted, but also had a heart buried deep down.
Lia was always trying to do her best, but she was also sassy and tried going after what she wanted. She also had a past that she still hasn’t quite recovered from.
This was a little angsty and dark. I still have so many questions and can’t wait for the next book.
Audio:
Narrators: Matthew Holland and Bunny Warren
Narration style: Dual
This was my first time listening to both narrators, and they did such a great job! Matthew Holland was perfect for the broody, dark, and controlling Rhaim. Bunny Warren was perfect for Lia, and she brought out all of Lia’s emotions: from her frightened moments to her happy moments.
July 28, 2024
ALC Audiobook Review
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️
🖤Age Gap
🖤Boss’s Daughter
🖤Possessive MC
🖤Secrets/Lies
🖤Dayddy/Little Girl
Take Her is the first book in The Moth and Monster series. This is my first Cassie Alexander book, but definitely not my last. This book has a Mafia/ Dark Wall Street vibe. Lia is coming home expecting to take over her father’s company. Rain is his right hand man and CFO of the company. Rain and Lia have a previous encounter in a S3X club prior to Lia coming home. Rain has a very particular sexual appetite. Lia is absolutely off limits but Rain can’t seem to stay away from her. I was glued to every word along the way. I need the next book immediately. This book ends on a cliffhanger.
Bunny Warren and Matthew Holland did a phenomenal job narrating this book and giving life to these characters. Both are new narrators to me. I will definitely keep an eye out for more books narrated by them.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️
🖤Age Gap
🖤Boss’s Daughter
🖤Possessive MC
🖤Secrets/Lies
🖤Dayddy/Little Girl
Take Her is the first book in The Moth and Monster series. This is my first Cassie Alexander book, but definitely not my last. This book has a Mafia/ Dark Wall Street vibe. Lia is coming home expecting to take over her father’s company. Rain is his right hand man and CFO of the company. Rain and Lia have a previous encounter in a S3X club prior to Lia coming home. Rain has a very particular sexual appetite. Lia is absolutely off limits but Rain can’t seem to stay away from her. I was glued to every word along the way. I need the next book immediately. This book ends on a cliffhanger.
Bunny Warren and Matthew Holland did a phenomenal job narrating this book and giving life to these characters. Both are new narrators to me. I will definitely keep an eye out for more books narrated by them.
August 1, 2024
"All the gunpowder in my soul that I'd kept wet for years with sorrow--that sh#t was drying. And when she looked at me like that, it made me want to combust."
"It made me want to break her free--and I was excellent at breaking things."
"I didn't want to earn her trust, as much as I wanted it to be mine, so that no one else could have any."~Rhaim Selvaggio
Oooo weeee!! This book... I don't know how to begin.☺️ This one is a dark path into a world that completely grabs your attention, holds it, and slowly wraps around you as you dive deep into uncharted waters. Cassie Alexander set the ground rules right at the beginning in that club. She was going to take you on a massive roller coaster ride. You better buckle up because this one is a topsy turvy bumpy ride.🎢🫨🎢🫨🎢 Now what do I mean by dark? Think Sopranos or Goodfellas with BDSM. There is no morally gray man here. No, this guy's scruples are black. When you think there might be a tiny bit of light breaking through, it's quickly snuffed out.😧 You want him on your side not the one hunting you down. Rhaim, known as Bestiola, is a doomed man, unforgiving, even cruel, and who has done a lot of unsavory things for his boss for the past 30yrs. Rhaim is 45, a widower, and likes and needs control. His boss is named Nero Ferreo and when Nero wants something done in New York, or anywhere really, the Beast, the Monster, takes care of it. No questions. What he wasn't planning on, was meeting a woman one night at club Vertigo, it's for adult members only; and she would turn his entire world inside out then set it and him completely on fire.🔥🔥🔥
"What if this was just a game to him--but it became my everything."
"I didn't want to be able to walk away at the end of this-- I only wanted to crawl."~Lia Ferreo
At only 23yrs old, Lia is a very complicated young woman. She returns home from being abroad in Europe for 10yrs and she WANTS two things desperately in her life. Rhaim is one. Corvo Enterprises, the family business, is the other. She is owed. And Lia isn't backing down. She will do anything and everything to have both. It's completely necessary. Lia is damaged in ways that nobody can imagine. She has secrets. Many of them. Even sharp ones. Her mind is a huge circus, one that she tries to calm, to stay focused; but mostly, it's all on Rhaim. She has been obsessed with him since she was 13. I'm not kidding when I typed obsessed. Lia is needy. She really can't think for herself that much. Everything is tied to Rhaim for her. Her journey will be a difficult one. But she's deeply devoted and LOVES him in a painfully unhealthy way. It's a ride or die situation with her.☠️☠️ She's ready to submit her entire existence to him. It's like that!🫢😬 But how far is too far? Can she finally get what she wants?
I won't spoil what happens next. There is a cliffhanger. This is a story that you have to go and read to experience, wonder about, and feel. It's stormy and bleak. Even thrilling. There's action, deception, twists, and lies. Each chapter grows into this frenzy between Rhaim and Lia. Who will win in the end? And what about those secrets? This is slow paced and building little by little. You won't lose interest. If you're looking for fast leaps, this isn't it. The characters are fully developed, with flaws, no apologies, and skating on extra thin ice with each other and everyone else around them. There is spice.🥵🌶️🥵🌶️ A CRAVING need!! Cassie did a fantastic job on this one!! I think it's a well developed story. Oh, I think Sable is a really cool character! I like the book cover. Plus, it's another reimagining on the Transformation Trilogy world. Love that!! I highly recommend. I can't wait for Book 2. Happy reading.😈❤️😈❤️😈❤️
"I don't think it's enough for me to be just your sun and your moon anymore. I think I want to be your stars, too--and all the cold dark spaces in between."~Rhaim
🥀🦋🐺Thank you to Ms Alexander and Bookfunnel for an early book. This is my honest opinion on the story. Now go get your book ASAP.🥀🦋🐺
"It made me want to break her free--and I was excellent at breaking things."
"I didn't want to earn her trust, as much as I wanted it to be mine, so that no one else could have any."~Rhaim Selvaggio
Oooo weeee!! This book... I don't know how to begin.☺️ This one is a dark path into a world that completely grabs your attention, holds it, and slowly wraps around you as you dive deep into uncharted waters. Cassie Alexander set the ground rules right at the beginning in that club. She was going to take you on a massive roller coaster ride. You better buckle up because this one is a topsy turvy bumpy ride.🎢🫨🎢🫨🎢 Now what do I mean by dark? Think Sopranos or Goodfellas with BDSM. There is no morally gray man here. No, this guy's scruples are black. When you think there might be a tiny bit of light breaking through, it's quickly snuffed out.😧 You want him on your side not the one hunting you down. Rhaim, known as Bestiola, is a doomed man, unforgiving, even cruel, and who has done a lot of unsavory things for his boss for the past 30yrs. Rhaim is 45, a widower, and likes and needs control. His boss is named Nero Ferreo and when Nero wants something done in New York, or anywhere really, the Beast, the Monster, takes care of it. No questions. What he wasn't planning on, was meeting a woman one night at club Vertigo, it's for adult members only; and she would turn his entire world inside out then set it and him completely on fire.🔥🔥🔥
"What if this was just a game to him--but it became my everything."
"I didn't want to be able to walk away at the end of this-- I only wanted to crawl."~Lia Ferreo
At only 23yrs old, Lia is a very complicated young woman. She returns home from being abroad in Europe for 10yrs and she WANTS two things desperately in her life. Rhaim is one. Corvo Enterprises, the family business, is the other. She is owed. And Lia isn't backing down. She will do anything and everything to have both. It's completely necessary. Lia is damaged in ways that nobody can imagine. She has secrets. Many of them. Even sharp ones. Her mind is a huge circus, one that she tries to calm, to stay focused; but mostly, it's all on Rhaim. She has been obsessed with him since she was 13. I'm not kidding when I typed obsessed. Lia is needy. She really can't think for herself that much. Everything is tied to Rhaim for her. Her journey will be a difficult one. But she's deeply devoted and LOVES him in a painfully unhealthy way. It's a ride or die situation with her.☠️☠️ She's ready to submit her entire existence to him. It's like that!🫢😬 But how far is too far? Can she finally get what she wants?
I won't spoil what happens next. There is a cliffhanger. This is a story that you have to go and read to experience, wonder about, and feel. It's stormy and bleak. Even thrilling. There's action, deception, twists, and lies. Each chapter grows into this frenzy between Rhaim and Lia. Who will win in the end? And what about those secrets? This is slow paced and building little by little. You won't lose interest. If you're looking for fast leaps, this isn't it. The characters are fully developed, with flaws, no apologies, and skating on extra thin ice with each other and everyone else around them. There is spice.🥵🌶️🥵🌶️ A CRAVING need!! Cassie did a fantastic job on this one!! I think it's a well developed story. Oh, I think Sable is a really cool character! I like the book cover. Plus, it's another reimagining on the Transformation Trilogy world. Love that!! I highly recommend. I can't wait for Book 2. Happy reading.😈❤️😈❤️😈❤️
"I don't think it's enough for me to be just your sun and your moon anymore. I think I want to be your stars, too--and all the cold dark spaces in between."~Rhaim
🥀🦋🐺Thank you to Ms Alexander and Bookfunnel for an early book. This is my honest opinion on the story. Now go get your book ASAP.🥀🦋🐺
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