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Savage
Everyone thinks the mafia is so glamorous. They make books and movies by the hundred and it's all suave guys in suits making deals in smoky backrooms over poker games.
Well, I'm the mafia prince of Oklahoma. There's no glitz or glamor here, and I hate every minute of it. But it's my birthright. Until war breaks out between my family and the Aryan Brotherhood, and I'm forced to go into hiding in a little Missouri town that's even more remote and redneck than my own.
The only upside is that I get to see my long-lost little stepbrother. I devoted my childhood to protecting him from my violent father, and it was the only thing that's every made me feel like a good person. Seeing him again makes me feel like maybe that good version of myself isn't as dead and buried as I thought. Maybe there's a chance to get him back, if I can scrape away all the numbness and callous around my heart that a lifetime of violence has built up.
Not to mention, he's... different. He was always a shy, scared little kid. Now he's still kind of little, but he's ten pounds of confidence in a five pound bag. And he has no problem telling the homophobic killers that I work with where to shove it if they don't like who he's become. I'm inspired, and I wish I could take a little bit of that confidence for myself.
I've spent my entire life rolling over and giving Dad whatever he wanted. Chipping away at my soul, one piece at a time. With Micah's help, maybe I can get it back. Even if his methods are the last thing I was expecting...
Savage is a Dark M/M Mafia Romance. It features explicit sexual content and is only suitable for readers 18+. It contains potentially triggering content, there is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book with details. It is Book 1 in the series Sins of the Banna, with takes place in the same universe as the Possum Hollow series. All books follow a different couple and can be read as standalones, ending with an HEA/HFN, but the series is better when read as a whole because several characters and storylines overlap.
Well, I'm the mafia prince of Oklahoma. There's no glitz or glamor here, and I hate every minute of it. But it's my birthright. Until war breaks out between my family and the Aryan Brotherhood, and I'm forced to go into hiding in a little Missouri town that's even more remote and redneck than my own.
The only upside is that I get to see my long-lost little stepbrother. I devoted my childhood to protecting him from my violent father, and it was the only thing that's every made me feel like a good person. Seeing him again makes me feel like maybe that good version of myself isn't as dead and buried as I thought. Maybe there's a chance to get him back, if I can scrape away all the numbness and callous around my heart that a lifetime of violence has built up.
Not to mention, he's... different. He was always a shy, scared little kid. Now he's still kind of little, but he's ten pounds of confidence in a five pound bag. And he has no problem telling the homophobic killers that I work with where to shove it if they don't like who he's become. I'm inspired, and I wish I could take a little bit of that confidence for myself.
I've spent my entire life rolling over and giving Dad whatever he wanted. Chipping away at my soul, one piece at a time. With Micah's help, maybe I can get it back. Even if his methods are the last thing I was expecting...
Savage is a Dark M/M Mafia Romance. It features explicit sexual content and is only suitable for readers 18+. It contains potentially triggering content, there is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book with details. It is Book 1 in the series Sins of the Banna, with takes place in the same universe as the Possum Hollow series. All books follow a different couple and can be read as standalones, ending with an HEA/HFN, but the series is better when read as a whole because several characters and storylines overlap.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2025
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1166 people want to read
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dnf
February 26, 2025DNF at 40%. Not safe at all! 😭
Long story short, the main characters lived together; one of them is a nurse who's taking care of the other MC, heavily injured.
One of the MC, Micah, wanted to get laid, so he argued with the other MC, Tadhg.
Then, Micah leaved to join one of his fuckbuddy outside. Tadhg got jealous, so he went out to bring a girl; they fucked. Later (that's not the worse!) he heard Micah come back with the dude...and guess what? Yes, Micah and said dude were fucking too.
Not for me, sorry 😬
Long story short, the main characters lived together; one of them is a nurse who's taking care of the other MC, heavily injured.
One of the MC, Micah, wanted to get laid, so he argued with the other MC, Tadhg.
Then, Micah leaved to join one of his fuckbuddy outside. Tadhg got jealous, so he went out to bring a girl; they fucked. Later (that's not the worse!) he heard Micah come back with the dude...and guess what? Yes, Micah and said dude were fucking too.
Not for me, sorry 😬
March 19, 2025
Micah + Tadhg
Stepbrothers | Feminization | Hurt/Comfort
This was disappointing. Some super annoying issues that were hard to look past.
First problem:
There is a scene with OM/OW drama where both MCs are fucking different people in the same house and trying to make each other jealous. One of them was with a woman which a lot of people reading MM dont want to see on page. Perhaps don't bring other people into your childish games and have a conversation instead.
Second problem:
Micah cried homophobia every 5 seconds. Someone would just be in his vicinity and he said they were being homophobic. He was being completely ridiculous about it and just assuming everyone had ill intentions towards him. Not. Everyone. Is. Out. To. Get. You.
Third problem:
Political tangents that added no purpose to the plot. This is supposed to be entertaining fiction. I'm not here to read your political points in a book. Go write an autobiography for that. Yeah yeah you can write whatever you want but as a reader this is obnoxious. I'm reading to escape reality. Mmmkay. That's why I read fiction and not self help.
⚠️possible spoilers below in detailed tropes and trigger warnings
Tropes:
Gangster + Nurse
Stepbrothers
Feminization
Hurt/comfort
Smaller top/bigger bottom
Mafia
Strict roles
Bareback
Mental health rep
Size difference
Touch him and die
Slow burn
Pet names (Bambi, doll)
TWs:
OM/OW drama
Sex on page with other people
Gunshot wounds
Torture
Murder
Obtaining drugs illegally
Mental illness
PTSD
Child abuse recounted
Physical abuse from a parent as an adult
Suicidal ideation
Coming off of psych meds cold turkey
Mentions of sexual assault
Stepbrothers | Feminization | Hurt/Comfort
This was disappointing. Some super annoying issues that were hard to look past.
First problem:
There is a scene with OM/OW drama where both MCs are fucking different people in the same house and trying to make each other jealous. One of them was with a woman which a lot of people reading MM dont want to see on page. Perhaps don't bring other people into your childish games and have a conversation instead.
Second problem:
Micah cried homophobia every 5 seconds. Someone would just be in his vicinity and he said they were being homophobic. He was being completely ridiculous about it and just assuming everyone had ill intentions towards him. Not. Everyone. Is. Out. To. Get. You.
Third problem:
Political tangents that added no purpose to the plot. This is supposed to be entertaining fiction. I'm not here to read your political points in a book. Go write an autobiography for that. Yeah yeah you can write whatever you want but as a reader this is obnoxious. I'm reading to escape reality. Mmmkay. That's why I read fiction and not self help.
⚠️possible spoilers below in detailed tropes and trigger warnings
Tropes:
Gangster + Nurse
Stepbrothers
Feminization
Hurt/comfort
Smaller top/bigger bottom
Mafia
Strict roles
Bareback
Mental health rep
Size difference
Touch him and die
Slow burn
Pet names (Bambi, doll)
TWs:
OM/OW drama
Sex on page with other people
Gunshot wounds
Torture
Murder
Obtaining drugs illegally
Mental illness
PTSD
Child abuse recounted
Physical abuse from a parent as an adult
Suicidal ideation
Coming off of psych meds cold turkey
Mentions of sexual assault
February 12, 2025
I’ve been eagerly looking forward to Sav and Micah’s story ever since I got little pieces of them in Running Feral. Their story did not disappoint, it was so much more than what I was hoping for. This was such an emotional and intense story, and the whole time I was reading I just wanted to give Tadhg a hug. These two are going to stick with me for a long time.
March 2, 2025
In rounding it up, and that's final. I like Tadhg too much. 🤷
_______________________
Even though this story goes for 3.75⭐ for me personally and I initially rounded it up - but now I'm not really sure, because I'm sick AF and not myself, so on second thought I'm definitely rounding it down, even though I did like Tadhg very much.
This book just came out when I read it, it's connected to the Possum Hollow series and it deals with Sav, the gangster guy who works part time in Gunnar's bar. I didn't like that series particularly much, but here the writing is much, much improved.
The author still tries to center a lot of things around homophobia (simple events even), but it's very toned down, comparing.
What I very much liked here was specifically Savage - and the kink he was introduced to. That was really well done and I loved it. His healing, opening up and finding love was sweet to read about.
🔵 Stepbrothers for a short time when they were kids
🟣 The story happening 12 years later 24/25
🟢 Size difference (lean, shorter, but not short/bulky, tall)
🔵 Gay/GFY
🟡 Hurt/comfort
🟠 The Banna gang is represented as very amateurish while Sav is seriously injured inside out and does heavy stuff for them, they needed to be a serious, terrible gang, not a bunch of hillbillies
🔵 Sav's mental health issues and his inner turmoil very well described, too bad he doesn't get any help in the end (dick doesn't magically solve everything, you actually need pills, yes)
🌶️ Some smut, I expected more; they get together after 50%; first a lot off-page, then later more on-page; ED; dirty talk; oral; rimming; penetrative; on the floor; (smaller) t/b (first time, very submissive)
❗ Mental health, physical violence, murder
In short, I'll say this is one of those stepbro books I can actually digest.
I loved how Tadhg and Micah, his nurse ex-stepbrother, just picked up where they left off. They were close and very protective of each other when they were kids because they lived in an abusive household, until Micah and his mom ran away and left Tadhg alone with his violent father that actually runs a gang in Oklahoma.
"No, not brother. Stepbrother. Former stepbrother. Fuck. I don’t even know how to think of him anymore. Mine. My Bambi."
Don't look at me, this is what my AI came up with.
So when Micah sees Tadhg after 12 years being apart and patches him up when he's brought to his apartment very hurt, they have this slow and intense forming of a close, intimate relationship and I was all in -
"Because the truth is, now that Micah is next to me again, my entire existence is screaming that this is the way it was always meant to be. That he was the missing chunk from my life— the approximation of a family I’ve always secretly craved— and if I let him go one more time, I won’t survive."
- until 40% of the book when the author needlessly inserts a stupid argument that not only wasn't believable but wasn't typical for either main character, or their relationship .
I guess the author wanted to jump start the romantic part of the relationship, but that wasn't the way to go. If that silly fight were left out, this story would've been much, much better.
“Don’t ‘Bambi’ me, and put your penis away, asshole. Why are there random women running out of my apartment half- dressed?”
Tadhg makes a nonchalant face. “I don’t know, Micah, why are you face- fucking dudes in the kitchen when you know I’m home? To prove a point? Some kind of big gay point?”
Tadhg and Micah go from being so in tune with each other to this meaningless bitch fight that just didn't fit the story.
Then they finally explore sex and it's hot, the sex scenes were good and I really liked them; pussy, doll, good girl - none of that bothered me, it was simply perfect for Tadhg.
"I smile at him briefly, because how could I not? He’s such a good boy, and he doesn’t even know it."
The last third of the book isn't as strong, I also expected the Banna gang plot to get a bit thicker, but I guess that's still coming.
There were a few things though that contributed to my lower rating and why this book doesn't reach 4⭐ for me and these are just a few;
- "“Alright, alright, don’t get your panties in a twist.” I put my hand over my mouth, coughing the word ‘homophobia’ loudly into it while making pointed eye contact with him until he relents and holds up his hands."
"I look at him more closely and try to see beneath the hard outer shell to figure out what’s causing all this anger. Is it homophobia? Or something else entirely that I’m missing?"
"Despite the digs he’s making, this doesn’t feel like homophobia so much as Tadhg just being… off."
"Panties in a twist" has already been used.
Not everything is homophobia. It's getting old. It's like Micah is just constantly sniffing out for signs of homophobia, also trying very hard not to offend anyone.
- a white VW Jetta, "Hopefully, the rest of the Banna are too busy doing real work to notice me driving around town in a girly- ass car."
*stares in european* 🙄
Either the author wrote this book with a little help, I have no idea but the majority of the book was substantially better than the Possum series.
This installment was a bit anticlimactic near the end though, I did expect a banger ending and epilogue - you're not getting it. Actually not much is resolved. So I'm looking forward to the series nevertheless and hopefully we'll also get Tobias' brother involved.
I would like for the author to be more specific on how the main characters handle their life after the conflict is resolved - and we needed a harsher conflict here, let's be honest - where do they live? What do they do? Something!
_______________________
Even though this story goes for 3.75⭐ for me personally and I initially rounded it up - but now I'm not really sure, because I'm sick AF and not myself, so on second thought I'm definitely rounding it down, even though I did like Tadhg very much.
This book just came out when I read it, it's connected to the Possum Hollow series and it deals with Sav, the gangster guy who works part time in Gunnar's bar. I didn't like that series particularly much, but here the writing is much, much improved.
The author still tries to center a lot of things around homophobia (simple events even), but it's very toned down, comparing.
What I very much liked here was specifically Savage - and the kink he was introduced to. That was really well done and I loved it. His healing, opening up and finding love was sweet to read about.
🔵 Stepbrothers for a short time when they were kids
🟣 The story happening 12 years later 24/25
🟢 Size difference (lean, shorter, but not short/bulky, tall)
🔵 Gay/GFY
🟡 Hurt/comfort
🟠 The Banna gang is represented as very amateurish while Sav is seriously injured inside out and does heavy stuff for them, they needed to be a serious, terrible gang, not a bunch of hillbillies
🔵 Sav's mental health issues and his inner turmoil very well described, too bad he doesn't get any help in the end (dick doesn't magically solve everything, you actually need pills, yes)
🌶️ Some smut, I expected more; they get together after 50%; first a lot off-page, then later more on-page; ED; dirty talk; oral; rimming; penetrative; on the floor; (smaller) t/b (first time, very submissive)
❗ Mental health, physical violence, murder
In short, I'll say this is one of those stepbro books I can actually digest.
I loved how Tadhg and Micah, his nurse ex-stepbrother, just picked up where they left off. They were close and very protective of each other when they were kids because they lived in an abusive household, until Micah and his mom ran away and left Tadhg alone with his violent father that actually runs a gang in Oklahoma.
"No, not brother. Stepbrother. Former stepbrother. Fuck. I don’t even know how to think of him anymore. Mine. My Bambi."
Don't look at me, this is what my AI came up with.
So when Micah sees Tadhg after 12 years being apart and patches him up when he's brought to his apartment very hurt, they have this slow and intense forming of a close, intimate relationship and I was all in -
"Because the truth is, now that Micah is next to me again, my entire existence is screaming that this is the way it was always meant to be. That he was the missing chunk from my life— the approximation of a family I’ve always secretly craved— and if I let him go one more time, I won’t survive."
- until 40% of the book when the author needlessly inserts a stupid argument that not only wasn't believable but wasn't typical for either main character, or their relationship .
I guess the author wanted to jump start the romantic part of the relationship, but that wasn't the way to go. If that silly fight were left out, this story would've been much, much better.
“Don’t ‘Bambi’ me, and put your penis away, asshole. Why are there random women running out of my apartment half- dressed?”
Tadhg makes a nonchalant face. “I don’t know, Micah, why are you face- fucking dudes in the kitchen when you know I’m home? To prove a point? Some kind of big gay point?”
Tadhg and Micah go from being so in tune with each other to this meaningless bitch fight that just didn't fit the story.
Then they finally explore sex and it's hot, the sex scenes were good and I really liked them; pussy, doll, good girl - none of that bothered me, it was simply perfect for Tadhg.
"I smile at him briefly, because how could I not? He’s such a good boy, and he doesn’t even know it."
The last third of the book isn't as strong, I also expected the Banna gang plot to get a bit thicker, but I guess that's still coming.
There were a few things though that contributed to my lower rating and why this book doesn't reach 4⭐ for me and these are just a few;
- "“Alright, alright, don’t get your panties in a twist.” I put my hand over my mouth, coughing the word ‘homophobia’ loudly into it while making pointed eye contact with him until he relents and holds up his hands."
"I look at him more closely and try to see beneath the hard outer shell to figure out what’s causing all this anger. Is it homophobia? Or something else entirely that I’m missing?"
"Despite the digs he’s making, this doesn’t feel like homophobia so much as Tadhg just being… off."
"Panties in a twist" has already been used.
Not everything is homophobia. It's getting old. It's like Micah is just constantly sniffing out for signs of homophobia, also trying very hard not to offend anyone.
- a white VW Jetta, "Hopefully, the rest of the Banna are too busy doing real work to notice me driving around town in a girly- ass car."
*stares in european* 🙄
Either the author wrote this book with a little help, I have no idea but the majority of the book was substantially better than the Possum series.
This installment was a bit anticlimactic near the end though, I did expect a banger ending and epilogue - you're not getting it. Actually not much is resolved. So I'm looking forward to the series nevertheless and hopefully we'll also get Tobias' brother involved.
I would like for the author to be more specific on how the main characters handle their life after the conflict is resolved - and we needed a harsher conflict here, let's be honest - where do they live? What do they do? Something!
January 22, 2026
"I’d burn the world down for him on a random Tuesday as it is, but it doesn’t help that right now he’s flicking every kink switch I have about getting a big, strong man looking vulnerable and submissive on his knees for me."
Oh I loved this one! Savage is the first book in Erin Russell's Sins of the Banna series which is set in the same universe as her Possum Hollow series. Whilst you don't need to read those first, they do give you a flavour for this one and we get to meet some old friends in Savage too.
Savage is Tadhg and Micha's story. Check out the author's notes on themes if you have any worries, there are some dark ones in here.
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤Step-brothers
🖤Mafia prince
🖤Dark themes
🖤Small town
🖤Hurt/comfort
🖤Forced proximity
🖤"Mine"
🖤HEA
Loved it!
4.5 stars
Oh I loved this one! Savage is the first book in Erin Russell's Sins of the Banna series which is set in the same universe as her Possum Hollow series. Whilst you don't need to read those first, they do give you a flavour for this one and we get to meet some old friends in Savage too.
Savage is Tadhg and Micha's story. Check out the author's notes on themes if you have any worries, there are some dark ones in here.
What To Expect:
🖤MM romance
🖤Step-brothers
🖤Mafia prince
🖤Dark themes
🖤Small town
🖤Hurt/comfort
🖤Forced proximity
🖤"Mine"
🖤HEA
Loved it!
4.5 stars
dnf
January 18, 2026DNF @ 15%
This is supposed to be a dark romance, but I keep reading the title as Sins of the Banana and I cannot, for the life of me, take this book seriously.
Doesn't help that the MC is the mafia prince of Oklahoma. LMAOOAOOOOOO. I love my fellow Oklahomans but be fr hahhahahaha
Dark romance my ass.
This is supposed to be a dark romance, but I keep reading the title as Sins of the Banana and I cannot, for the life of me, take this book seriously.
Doesn't help that the MC is the mafia prince of Oklahoma. LMAOOAOOOOOO. I love my fellow Oklahomans but be fr hahhahahaha
Dark romance my ass.
February 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Truthfully the tropes alone on this book absolutely hooked me into signing up to read my first ever Erin Russell book, and I think it might have been the best decision I’ve ever made. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m immediately running back to read her entire backlist because Savage was AMAZING! I was completely hooked from the first page, to the last.
Savage is in the mafia.. kind of. But after a life of emotional damage he’s ready to escape. He wants out. And he just has to convince his dad to let him go. That sounds simple enough right? Yeah, didn’t think so. When he gets injured and ends up in his (estranged) step brothers care, he realizes that maybe just coasting and recovering a bit might help him slowly escape the life he’s been born and bred into.
Micah. My sweet sweet dominant boy. He truly was an absolute joy to read. He was witty, hilarious, and both these characters had ME ROLLING with their one liners and internal monologue.
Micah is a nurse. He deals with injuries every day, and by night? He’s a filthy talking, downright dirty “twink” (he said it, not me) with a HUGE.. personality 😉 the delicious feminization that came out of his mouth was well.. DELICIOUS. I think I highlighted everything he said while he was in his dominant zone, and man.. was it HOT.
This story touches heavily on PTSD, as Savage has been through a lot, and has yet to go through a lot. He was raised never to show weakness, and to be a manly man. But Micah is here to show him that he’s perfect just the way he is.. for him.
I’ll never forget these two. This book was a wild ride, and their HEA might not be quite HAPPY yet, but shoot.. were they sweet. I can’t wait for the books that will follow this one. Erin has me hooked. I’m obsessed.
To note: I have not read any of the previous books by this author (YET!) and I had no problem understanding what was going on in this book. I understand I would have met a few characters earlier, but it did not affect my reading experience at all. Feel free to start with Savage.. if you dare 😈
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Truthfully the tropes alone on this book absolutely hooked me into signing up to read my first ever Erin Russell book, and I think it might have been the best decision I’ve ever made. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I’m immediately running back to read her entire backlist because Savage was AMAZING! I was completely hooked from the first page, to the last.
Savage is in the mafia.. kind of. But after a life of emotional damage he’s ready to escape. He wants out. And he just has to convince his dad to let him go. That sounds simple enough right? Yeah, didn’t think so. When he gets injured and ends up in his (estranged) step brothers care, he realizes that maybe just coasting and recovering a bit might help him slowly escape the life he’s been born and bred into.
Micah. My sweet sweet dominant boy. He truly was an absolute joy to read. He was witty, hilarious, and both these characters had ME ROLLING with their one liners and internal monologue.
Micah is a nurse. He deals with injuries every day, and by night? He’s a filthy talking, downright dirty “twink” (he said it, not me) with a HUGE.. personality 😉 the delicious feminization that came out of his mouth was well.. DELICIOUS. I think I highlighted everything he said while he was in his dominant zone, and man.. was it HOT.
This story touches heavily on PTSD, as Savage has been through a lot, and has yet to go through a lot. He was raised never to show weakness, and to be a manly man. But Micah is here to show him that he’s perfect just the way he is.. for him.
I’ll never forget these two. This book was a wild ride, and their HEA might not be quite HAPPY yet, but shoot.. were they sweet. I can’t wait for the books that will follow this one. Erin has me hooked. I’m obsessed.
To note: I have not read any of the previous books by this author (YET!) and I had no problem understanding what was going on in this book. I understand I would have met a few characters earlier, but it did not affect my reading experience at all. Feel free to start with Savage.. if you dare 😈
February 26, 2025
How is it possible that every book Erin gives me is better than the last?! Also was I expecting to be an emotional wreck for most of this book? No. Did I welcome the emotional damage? Yes. Because Sav is truly the best broken boy Erin has ever written & he deserves the world. (FRTC)
:: “𝙄’𝙢 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙚’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙄’𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠.”
I know y’all are as desperate for Michael & Sav’s story as I was after reading Running Feral & it’s finally here! Erin stays giving us broken boys & we meet their most broken one yet with Sav. Nowhere in my mind did I expect this story about a backwoods mafia prince to be as emotional as it was; I was on the verge of tears for half the book! While this is a stepbrothers romance, it’s not an enemies to lovers story like most tend to be. Sav & Micah spent a few years as siblings where they built a bond & need to protect one another that is just as strong after years of not seeing each other. We get all of the hurt/comfort that Erin is known for with the silly banter & next level spice…also the Possum Hollow cameos are everything!
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨, 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚.”
🖤 MM
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Stepbrothers
🖤 Redneck Mafia
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Codependency
🖤 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Feminization
:: “𝙄’𝙢 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙚’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙄’𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠.”
I know y’all are as desperate for Michael & Sav’s story as I was after reading Running Feral & it’s finally here! Erin stays giving us broken boys & we meet their most broken one yet with Sav. Nowhere in my mind did I expect this story about a backwoods mafia prince to be as emotional as it was; I was on the verge of tears for half the book! While this is a stepbrothers romance, it’s not an enemies to lovers story like most tend to be. Sav & Micah spent a few years as siblings where they built a bond & need to protect one another that is just as strong after years of not seeing each other. We get all of the hurt/comfort that Erin is known for with the silly banter & next level spice…also the Possum Hollow cameos are everything!
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙨, 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚.”
🖤 MM
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Stepbrothers
🖤 Redneck Mafia
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Codependency
🖤 Hurt/Comfort
🖤 Feminization
March 2, 2025
these characters had no chemistry i’m sorry how did we even get to the point of them kissing in the first place and don’t even get me started on the scenes I had to read about them fucking other people
Want to read
January 30, 2025There's a mafia prince of OKLAHOMA?! Have you been there? I must read this to see WTF is going on in OK...! "...where the wind comes sweeping down the plain...!"
February 21, 2025
Savage is book one in the Sins Of The Banna series. This MM stepbrothers dark romance story is about Sav and Micah.
I was looking forward to Sav and Micah’s story ever since we got snippets of them in Running Feral, book three in the Possum Hollow series. I have to admit that Sav was not what I expected and I just wanted to hug the heck out of him.
Sav is the mafia prince of Oklahoma and Micah is an ER nurse. They became stepbrothers when they were young, while Sav’s father was with Micah’s mother. It has been twelve years since Micah left Sav behind and escaped with his mother from Sav’s father, a criminal and domestic abuser. After getting severely injured, Sav finds himself reunited with his stepbrother. Micah takes him in so that he can nurse him back to health.
Sav and Micah come to realize how much they still care for one another. Sav always protected Micah when they were younger, and now it is Micah’s turn to protect Sav. It was difficult to see the struggles Sav faced, but I loved how Micah was always there to help him and give him exactly what he needed. And when things turned intimate between them, I was totally surprised by their dynamic. I wasn’t expecting Micah to be a dirty talking dominant top and for Sav to be his needy pillow princess. These two were definitely hot together.
Sav and Micah’s journey certainly was not an easy one. Sav wants out of the Banna mafia, but he has to be able to convince his father to let him go. My heart broke for Sav and everything he went through in his life, and I was so thankful he now had Micah to care for him and show him the love he deserved.
Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read the Possum Hollow series first. There are some crossover characters, and their stories are incredible as well. Savage is an amazing book in this new series, and I can’t wait to get more from this world!
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
I was looking forward to Sav and Micah’s story ever since we got snippets of them in Running Feral, book three in the Possum Hollow series. I have to admit that Sav was not what I expected and I just wanted to hug the heck out of him.
Sav is the mafia prince of Oklahoma and Micah is an ER nurse. They became stepbrothers when they were young, while Sav’s father was with Micah’s mother. It has been twelve years since Micah left Sav behind and escaped with his mother from Sav’s father, a criminal and domestic abuser. After getting severely injured, Sav finds himself reunited with his stepbrother. Micah takes him in so that he can nurse him back to health.
Sav and Micah come to realize how much they still care for one another. Sav always protected Micah when they were younger, and now it is Micah’s turn to protect Sav. It was difficult to see the struggles Sav faced, but I loved how Micah was always there to help him and give him exactly what he needed. And when things turned intimate between them, I was totally surprised by their dynamic. I wasn’t expecting Micah to be a dirty talking dominant top and for Sav to be his needy pillow princess. These two were definitely hot together.
Sav and Micah’s journey certainly was not an easy one. Sav wants out of the Banna mafia, but he has to be able to convince his father to let him go. My heart broke for Sav and everything he went through in his life, and I was so thankful he now had Micah to care for him and show him the love he deserved.
Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read the Possum Hollow series first. There are some crossover characters, and their stories are incredible as well. Savage is an amazing book in this new series, and I can’t wait to get more from this world!
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
May 19, 2025
4 Ken Doll Stars
⭐
ARC Read: 30/01/2025
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Erin Russell for this gift. 🥰
What to expect from this book? 🤔🙃
🫶 Dark MM Adult Irish Mafia Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
🔥 Slow Burn
👉 Long Lost Step-Brothers
🌲 Off-Grid Hiding
👉 Forced Proximity
🤌 Only One Bed
👉 ER Nurse × Mobster Prince
🤲 Codependency
🥵🔥 Touch Him & Die
🤌 Size Difference
👉💣🎆 Touch Starved Meets Serial Hugger
⬇️Major Dirty Talk⬇️
😳↪️Needy/Obedient/Perfect Lil Slut
😳↪️Good Girl/Babygirl/Doll
🍆Twink Dom Top x Big Needy Bottom🍑
🥵 Feminization Kink
🔥 Pillow Princess
🥵 Degradation & Praise Kink
🔥 Breeding Kink
🥵 Edging
🔥 Rimming & Facefucking
🥵 Felching
🔥 Hands-Free Orgasm
🥵Spitting & Cum Swapping
🔥D/S dynamic
❤️🩹Rough Sex with Aftercare
💥Impact Play
😈Primal Play
🔥Light Bondage
💞 Caregiving
🔥Shower Sex
😭Lots Of Cuddles & PB&J Sandwiches
🦌 Adorable Petnames
👉 Bossy W/ Sexy Nerd Glasses x Blushing Tattooed Idiot
❤️🩹 Mental Illness
❤️🩹 Childhood Trauma
❤️🩹 Hurt/Comfort
👉 High-Angst
🖤 Murder & Mafia Typical Violence
Series: Sins Of The Banna #1
Cover: 5/5
Format: Ebook ARC
Story: 4/5
What a book!
This slow burn was so good.
Erin had me on edge for a good portion of the book with all that hot chemistry between Micah and Sav!
ARC Read: 30/01/2025
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Erin Russell for this gift. 🥰
What to expect from this book? 🤔🙃
🫶 Dark MM Adult Irish Mafia Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
🔥 Slow Burn
👉 Long Lost Step-Brothers
🌲 Off-Grid Hiding
👉 Forced Proximity
🤌 Only One Bed
👉 ER Nurse × Mobster Prince
🤲 Codependency
🥵🔥 Touch Him & Die
🤌 Size Difference
👉💣🎆 Touch Starved Meets Serial Hugger
⬇️Major Dirty Talk⬇️
😳↪️Needy/Obedient/Perfect Lil Slut
😳↪️Good Girl/Babygirl/Doll
🍆Twink Dom Top x Big Needy Bottom🍑
🥵 Feminization Kink
🔥 Pillow Princess
🥵 Degradation & Praise Kink
🔥 Breeding Kink
🥵 Edging
🔥 Rimming & Facefucking
🥵 Felching
🔥 Hands-Free Orgasm
🥵Spitting & Cum Swapping
🔥D/S dynamic
❤️🩹Rough Sex with Aftercare
💥Impact Play
😈Primal Play
🔥Light Bondage
💞 Caregiving
🔥Shower Sex
😭Lots Of Cuddles & PB&J Sandwiches
🦌 Adorable Petnames
👉 Bossy W/ Sexy Nerd Glasses x Blushing Tattooed Idiot
❤️🩹 Mental Illness
❤️🩹 Childhood Trauma
❤️🩹 Hurt/Comfort
👉 High-Angst
🖤 Murder & Mafia Typical Violence
Series: Sins Of The Banna #1
Cover: 5/5
Format: Ebook ARC
Story: 4/5
What a book!
This slow burn was so good.
Erin had me on edge for a good portion of the book with all that hot chemistry between Micah and Sav!
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹Q🖤u☠️o❤️🩹t🖤e☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
"Micah: He grinds up into me again. Not hard, just instinctive. Needy. Desperate, almost.
It lights a fire in me.
I’d burn the world down for him on a random Tuesday as it is, but it doesn’t help that right now he’s flicking every kink switch I have about getting a big, strong man looking vulnerable and submissive on his knees for me.
The part of my brain that had Tadhg categorized as “brother” is officially offline. The rest of me—who eats guys like him for breakfast—takes one look at him and sees a needy slut.
There has to be a middle ground. As long as I don’t let him get in his head.
“You’re my good boy, Tadhg.” Another shudder. “Does my good boy need to come?”
His breath stutters. He hesitates, like he’s not sure if this is a trick.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, you can come. You can have anything you want. You have me. I’m not going anywhere.”
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Genre/Trope:Adult/MM Romance/Dark Romance/Hurt-Comfort/Step Siblings/Let's Play Doctor/Mafia Problem/Very Tempting Roommate/Size Difference/Dirty Talker/Forbidden Encounter/Fighters Fight/High Angst/Forced Proximity/Breeding Kink/Feminization Kink/Hot Conjuring Horror/LGTBQIA Plus/Love MM/Off Grid Attraction/Possessive Caveperson/Very Possessive Alpha/New Authors/Erin Russell/ARC
Trigger Warnings:
Plot: 5/5
POV: 3
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹Q🖤u☠️o❤️🩹t🖤e☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
"Sav: But he doesn’t give me the chance, because he seems to come to some decision before leaning in and kissing me again. Just like before, his kiss is firm and demanding, making me open up to him immediately in a way that makes my stomach bottom out like an elevator in freefall.
(....)
He breaks the kiss eventually with a contented little hum, and I already want to find a way to get him to make that noise again. Something about it makes me vibrate with satisfaction."
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Main Characters:
5/5 - Micah Alexander, nickname: Bambi, 30s, cis-man, he/him, ER Nurse, very bossy, always right, caretaker
5/5 - Sav, name: Tadhg, nickname: Savage, petname: Doll 30s, cis-man, he/him, next to the throne in the Irish Mafia, going through a bad time, stubborn, in his head, natural submisive, will do anything to protect Micah
Normally, I'm not a big fan of slow burns, but this one... the wait was totally worth it! So, so hot! Micah can dirty talk!
He made Sav blush and be beautifully submissive. Swoon!
Micah was a wonderful surprise for me with all that bossiness. I love him and Sav so much!
Their story was incredibly intense.
The love they have for each other felt so real.
Their struggles, obstacles, and traumas... the message this story conveys is profound and beautiful (and kinky... phew, this book was on FIRE!).
Did you check out those tropes? WOW, I was literally blown away by how hot this book was. I was not prepared!!!
You keep being that perfect pillow princess Sav and let Micah treat you like the precious needy doll you are!
Sav and Micah's journey was hard but worth every page.
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹Q🖤u☠️o❤️🩹t🖤e☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Micah: “Who do you belong to?” I pause my ministrations to ask him.
“You.”
His voice is so soft I can barely hear him over the water falling around us. I push two fingers into his softened hole and then join them with my tongue for a minute, enjoying the way he clenches around me.
“I'm sorry what was that?”
“You, Bambi.” He's a little louder this time.
“Perfect, doll. That's it.”
(...)
My babygirl needs to get out of his head a lot of the time, and I can help him with that.
I let myself drift, losing track of time as I continue to fuck into him over and over while telling him what a perfect slut he is for me. How tight his little snatch is. How I wish I could have my hands on him all the time.
And he moans, and begs, and comes apart in my arms.
“Do you need my cum, doll?”
“Please, Bambi.” His voice is hoarse, now.
“Good girls deserve to be filled up,” I whisper in his ear, snapping my hips against his as I pick up the pace.
I reach around and feel that he’s more than half-hard now; his cock stiffer and pointing at the ground where he’s angled over at the waist.
“That’s it, doll. Are you going to get the floor wet for me? Spill yourself everywhere when I fill you up?”
Tadhg doesn’t answer, he just makes a raw, anguished sound as I gently shuttle my hand over his erection, pressing my fingers into all the little sensitive spots that I know make him shiver. The velvet heat of his skin is such an overwhelming sensation, it pushes me the last little bit I need until I can’t hold back my own orgasm anymore.
“Fuck, you’re perfect,” I say in a broken whisper as I jerk my hips forward a few more times and finally spill my seed deep inside of him. I don’t let my hand stop working him over, though. I’m grinding deep into him, putting as much pressure on his prostate as I can and enjoying the breathy ah-ah’s he’s making until he finally clenches around me and seems to come with his whole fucking body."
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Side Characters: 5/5
Tristan's Medical Glossary at the end was hilarious and very entertaining. I can’t wait to read his and Ford's book. But I think I’m going to go in reverse order in the series and read Gunnar and Tobias first (Running Feral), because I'm also desperate to know more about them!
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹Q🖤u☠️o❤️🩹t🖤e☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Sav: "Do you trust me? He’s the only person I trust. I don’t even trust myself, but I trust him.
(...)
Micah kisses me again, just as deeply as before. His hips are in between my legs, and for some reason the fact that he’s fully dressed while I’m completely bare-ass naked isn’t making me feel exposed and vulnerable. It feels right.
Like I’m spread out for him to take whatever he wants. Which sounds fucked up when I articulate it in my head. But the thought of him taking gives me a deep sense of peace that I’ve barely even glimpsed in my previous life."
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Humor: Low Focus
Angst: High Focus
Steam Level: 4/5
Romance: High Focus
Cheating?
The Ending: 5/5
HEA/HFN?
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹Q🖤u☠️o❤️🩹t🖤e☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Micah: “That’s it, doll. All you have to do is kneel. You’re already perfect for me, just as you are. You don’t need to do anything but let me take care of you like you deserve.”
Something about the honeyed voice he’s using seems to carry those words directly into my soul.
(...)
"Sav: His fingers drag over my slick crack first, spreading my cheeks, then both of his thumbs slip into my stretched and sloppy hole to tug it as wide as he can. I squirm, the sensation on the perfect knife-edge of that pleasure-pain that he gives me so well, and then I hear the sound of him spitting and feel wetness landing inside me.
Something about that feels like a more profound sense of ownership than anything that’s happened until this point. I shiver and go even more boneless in his hands than before.
“Perfect,” he whispers again, tugging one more time at my rim to see me gaping open for him."
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Favorite character?
Would I read more of this author? Yes
Would I recommend this series?Yes
Enjoyment: 5/5
This is my 1st book by Erin Russell
Total Books I've Read: 331
Reading Challenge 2025: 15/150?
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹Q🖤u☠️o❤️🩹t🖤e☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Micah: “Oh, my love,” I whisper, stroking soft fingers down his cheek and over his swollen lips. “Don’t ever think that again. Promise me. You weren’t weak because you didn’t have some giant confrontation. If you’d made it any worse, he would have killed you. I didn’t need you to tell your father anything. I don’t need anything from that man. Not one damn thing. The only thing I needed was for you to come home to me, which you did. Letting me save you was the strongest thing you could have done.”
🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹🖤☠️❤️🩹
Sins Of The Banna Series:
1. Savage - Micah & Savage's Story - 4 Stars
👇👇👇👇
Interconnected Series - Possum Hollow:
1. Stupid Dirty - Silas & Cade's Story
👉2. 68 Whiskey - Tristan & Ford's Story
👉3. Running Feral - Gunnar & Tobias's Story - 5 Stars
TBD
4. Hollow Point - Silas & Cade's Story
!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!
Hope this review was helpful.
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January 5, 2025
Tadhg and Micah were step brothers once upon a time. A long time ago, and what feels like several lifetimes ago. Now, Micah is a nurse and Tadhg goes by Savage and is the Mafia Prince of Oklahoma. Their lives are so vastly different now, but they end up crossing paths again after twelve years. A war breaks out between the Banna and the Aryan Brotherhood, and Tadhg is forced to hole up with Micah after he’s injured and can’t go to a hospital for obvious reasons. They’re reminded how much they care for each other after all these years, and Tadhg is reminded that maybe not all of him is bad. He’s slowly realizing with Micah’s help, he may be able to leave the Banna behind, which is really what he wants. The more time they spend together the more he realizes that his relationship with Micah has changed in a very different way and maybe, that’s what he deserves after everything he’s been through.
Oh my god. I was gagging for this book after reading all of the Possum Hollow series. This can be read as a standalone but I think it’s necessary to read the Possum Hollow series first, or at the very least Running Feral. I absolutely fell in love with Sav/Tadhg and Micah in that book and was so excited they were getting their own book. I had no idea what to expect in this book but I knew I was going to love it because I love everything that Erin touches. This book completely blew me away. Tadhg has been through so much and to see him bloom after Micah comes back into his life was so beautiful. The way Tadhg truly took everything that happened with him and Micah as a new experience that he loved was so beautiful and amazing to me. As with all of Erin’s other books, I’m speechless by the end in the best way. It was fantastic. The dynamics were so different because the last thing you expect is for the Mafia Prince to be a pillow princess but it’s PERFECT. It works so well. Everything about this book does.
I received an early ARC of this book, but this is complete and honest review.
Oh my god. I was gagging for this book after reading all of the Possum Hollow series. This can be read as a standalone but I think it’s necessary to read the Possum Hollow series first, or at the very least Running Feral. I absolutely fell in love with Sav/Tadhg and Micah in that book and was so excited they were getting their own book. I had no idea what to expect in this book but I knew I was going to love it because I love everything that Erin touches. This book completely blew me away. Tadhg has been through so much and to see him bloom after Micah comes back into his life was so beautiful. The way Tadhg truly took everything that happened with him and Micah as a new experience that he loved was so beautiful and amazing to me. As with all of Erin’s other books, I’m speechless by the end in the best way. It was fantastic. The dynamics were so different because the last thing you expect is for the Mafia Prince to be a pillow princess but it’s PERFECT. It works so well. Everything about this book does.
I received an early ARC of this book, but this is complete and honest review.
February 8, 2025
Savage is book on in the Sins of the Banna series.
This is your vibe if you like:
Mafia
Long Lost Stepbrothers
Twink Top/Masc Bottom
Feminization K1nk
Touch Him & Die
Forced Proximity
Size Difference
Mental Health Rep
Sins of the Banna is set in the Possum Hollow world. While you don't need to read Possum Hollow to enjoy or understand this series. Characters do cross over and I will never say don't read one of Erin's books.
Erin never fails to make me fall in love with their characters and Savage and Micah are no exception. This book will have you feeling a range of emotions and absolutely begging for more.
The character development and growth with this story is one of the biggest things. The journey will absolutely suck you and have you squinting at your kindle in the early hours of the morning just to finish it.
Savage and Micah are not your typical dynamic and this is why Erin's books will always be my favourite to devour and hound everyone to read. The relationships never stick with the heteronormative or societal expectation of how they should or shouldn't be.
I absolutely loved Savage and his journey both with himself and with Micah. I just want to squish them both!
If you're looking for a mafia romance that isn't your typical or looking to dive into a new series, this is a must add to your TBR.
This is your vibe if you like:
Mafia
Long Lost Stepbrothers
Twink Top/Masc Bottom
Feminization K1nk
Touch Him & Die
Forced Proximity
Size Difference
Mental Health Rep
Sins of the Banna is set in the Possum Hollow world. While you don't need to read Possum Hollow to enjoy or understand this series. Characters do cross over and I will never say don't read one of Erin's books.
Erin never fails to make me fall in love with their characters and Savage and Micah are no exception. This book will have you feeling a range of emotions and absolutely begging for more.
The character development and growth with this story is one of the biggest things. The journey will absolutely suck you and have you squinting at your kindle in the early hours of the morning just to finish it.
Savage and Micah are not your typical dynamic and this is why Erin's books will always be my favourite to devour and hound everyone to read. The relationships never stick with the heteronormative or societal expectation of how they should or shouldn't be.
I absolutely loved Savage and his journey both with himself and with Micah. I just want to squish them both!
If you're looking for a mafia romance that isn't your typical or looking to dive into a new series, this is a must add to your TBR.
August 14, 2025
This could’ve been a 5⭐ read, but all the feminization really, really bothered me. 🫣🫣🫣
I seriously loved Tadhg, tho. 😭💙
I seriously loved Tadhg, tho. 😭💙
February 19, 2025
Savage + Micah
-mm romance
-mafia/organized crime
-long lost stepbrother
-feminization kink
-hurt/comfort
-mental health rep
ugh omg i am so obsessed with the journey for these two!! the mental health representation for savage HIT ME HARD & is something i felt was done with so much care! & the way micah handled it too 😩🥺🤌🤌 ugh im just in awe with how beautifully these two fit together & loved each other & then were totally unexpected in the sheets!! 😏😏😏 it was everything!!!
-mm romance
-mafia/organized crime
-long lost stepbrother
-feminization kink
-hurt/comfort
-mental health rep
ugh omg i am so obsessed with the journey for these two!! the mental health representation for savage HIT ME HARD & is something i felt was done with so much care! & the way micah handled it too 😩🥺🤌🤌 ugh im just in awe with how beautifully these two fit together & loved each other & then were totally unexpected in the sheets!! 😏😏😏 it was everything!!!
July 2, 2025
This was a pretty good read. Tadhg and Micah were stepbrothers a long time ago. Now, Micah is a nurse, and Tadhg who goes by Savage and is the Mafia Prince of Oklahoma. Their lives are really different now. A war breaks out between the Banna and the Aryan Brotherhood, and Tadhg is forced to hole up with Micah after he’s injured and can’t go to a hospital. I liked this book and these two characters although I had to keep looking up who to pronouns Tadhg. The more time they spend together they are reminded how much they care for each other even after all these years, and Tadhg is reminded that he is not all bad. Tadhg is slowly realizing with Micah’s help, he may be able to leave the Banna behind. The more time they spend together the more he realizes that his relationship with Micah has changed in a very different way and maybe, that’s what he deserves after everything he’s been through. This was a good read that I liked this book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. This was my first time reading this author and I look forward to reading more of her work.
March 5, 2025
Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Tadhg (Savage aka Sav) and Micah
I am a diehard fan of Erin's books. I swear they just keep getting better and better.
These two were stepbrothers at one point. Now Micah is a nurse and Tadhg (who now goes by the name Savage) is part of the mafia. They come together when Sav gets injured and can't go to the hospital, so he ends up with Micah. As they spend time together, they start to realize there are feelings there and Sav is reminded that he has good in him, and he doesn't have to continue living his life the same way he has been. Micah was so sure of himself and determined to help Sav recover both physically and mentally and then out of the mafia. And Sav stole my heart. I despised his father and so badly wanted him to get his hea.
This book gripped me right from the start. I loved both of these guys so much and honestly didn't want it to end.
It can be read as a standalone, but I feel like it is a much richer experience if you read the possum hollow series first. Check your TW's, this is a dark romance.
I don't want to give too much away. If you enjoy MM Romance, then this is a must read. Honestly, all of Erin's books must reads. If you haven't started them yet, then you're doing yourself a disservice. I'm stalker levels obsessed with her.
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Tadhg (Savage aka Sav) and Micah
I am a diehard fan of Erin's books. I swear they just keep getting better and better.
These two were stepbrothers at one point. Now Micah is a nurse and Tadhg (who now goes by the name Savage) is part of the mafia. They come together when Sav gets injured and can't go to the hospital, so he ends up with Micah. As they spend time together, they start to realize there are feelings there and Sav is reminded that he has good in him, and he doesn't have to continue living his life the same way he has been. Micah was so sure of himself and determined to help Sav recover both physically and mentally and then out of the mafia. And Sav stole my heart. I despised his father and so badly wanted him to get his hea.
This book gripped me right from the start. I loved both of these guys so much and honestly didn't want it to end.
It can be read as a standalone, but I feel like it is a much richer experience if you read the possum hollow series first. Check your TW's, this is a dark romance.
I don't want to give too much away. If you enjoy MM Romance, then this is a must read. Honestly, all of Erin's books must reads. If you haven't started them yet, then you're doing yourself a disservice. I'm stalker levels obsessed with her.
January 7, 2026
I got to read some of Savage in 2024 and I just don’t think I was all that prepared for the way that Micah and Sav’s story would hit me.
Sav is in such a hard place. He’s faced a lifetime of abuse and manipulation only to end up injured and on the couch of his estranged stepbrother.
Micah is an ER nurse who never expected for the demons of his past to come back and literally bang on his door in the middle of the night carrying his half dead step brother.
They figure out healing and intimacy over the course of their journey and it is so beautiful.
There’s a twinky top and a burly bottom and it just works. Their spice is burning hot but their love will make you cry 🥹
I love them so much.
I received an complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary review!
Sav is in such a hard place. He’s faced a lifetime of abuse and manipulation only to end up injured and on the couch of his estranged stepbrother.
Micah is an ER nurse who never expected for the demons of his past to come back and literally bang on his door in the middle of the night carrying his half dead step brother.
They figure out healing and intimacy over the course of their journey and it is so beautiful.
There’s a twinky top and a burly bottom and it just works. Their spice is burning hot but their love will make you cry 🥹
I love them so much.
I received an complimentary copy of this book but this is my honest and voluntary review!
February 12, 2025
Savage goes in my priority list of precious babies who must be protected at all costs.
Tadhg “Savage” Moynihan is the mafia prince of Oklahoma, but to say he’s unhappy would be an understatement. After being severely wounded in an attack, he’s delivered to Micah, his former stepbrother who happens to be an ER nurse. Despite twelve years of separation, the intense connection Micah and Tadhg shared as children is about to take them in a direction they never expected, but Sav’s turmoil - inner and outer - is a hell of a mountain to climb.
Erin’s representation of characters struggling with trauma and/or mental illness is simply unmatched. There’s nuance, and a ton of care and compassion, but it’s still so real that it hits you right in the gut. Savage is a perfect example of that. I was floored by how raw his experience felt, and I just want to wrap him in a fuzzy blanket and keep him safe forever.
There’s no skimping on characterization for Micah, either, and I love the ways his personality and presence defy expectation. He is a perfect match for Sav, and listen - the spice is OFF THE CHARTS! The plot kept me hooked, and the crossovers from past books in Possum Hollow and setup for future Banna books are perfect.
Fans of Possum Hollow won’t need convincing, but for anyone else looking for dark romance, mafia, codependent stepbrothers, and top tier hurt/comfort, this should be at the top of your TBR!
*I received an advanced reader copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review*
Tadhg “Savage” Moynihan is the mafia prince of Oklahoma, but to say he’s unhappy would be an understatement. After being severely wounded in an attack, he’s delivered to Micah, his former stepbrother who happens to be an ER nurse. Despite twelve years of separation, the intense connection Micah and Tadhg shared as children is about to take them in a direction they never expected, but Sav’s turmoil - inner and outer - is a hell of a mountain to climb.
Erin’s representation of characters struggling with trauma and/or mental illness is simply unmatched. There’s nuance, and a ton of care and compassion, but it’s still so real that it hits you right in the gut. Savage is a perfect example of that. I was floored by how raw his experience felt, and I just want to wrap him in a fuzzy blanket and keep him safe forever.
There’s no skimping on characterization for Micah, either, and I love the ways his personality and presence defy expectation. He is a perfect match for Sav, and listen - the spice is OFF THE CHARTS! The plot kept me hooked, and the crossovers from past books in Possum Hollow and setup for future Banna books are perfect.
Fans of Possum Hollow won’t need convincing, but for anyone else looking for dark romance, mafia, codependent stepbrothers, and top tier hurt/comfort, this should be at the top of your TBR!
*I received an advanced reader copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review*
February 28, 2025
I received an advanced copy and this is my review.
So this is a spin off from the Possum Hollow series which I have yet to complete. So with that yes this book can be read as a stand alone.
Some of the tropes are mm romance, step brothers, mafia prince, dark themes and hurt/comfort.
Sav and Micah ‘s journey is a hard fought one. A bond that formed as children is reignited when they are brought together again but so much more.
I could not put this book down so guess this is my hint to go back to the Possum Hollow series.
So this is a spin off from the Possum Hollow series which I have yet to complete. So with that yes this book can be read as a stand alone.
Some of the tropes are mm romance, step brothers, mafia prince, dark themes and hurt/comfort.
Sav and Micah ‘s journey is a hard fought one. A bond that formed as children is reignited when they are brought together again but so much more.
I could not put this book down so guess this is my hint to go back to the Possum Hollow series.
March 21, 2025
So I saw this book a lot on Bookstagram and thought it sounded interesting. It was a good read, really liked it. A little bit slow in the beginning, but then it took of. Could probably be a little bit longer, but I enjoyed it for what is was.
March 1, 2025
3.5. No notes
February 28, 2025
this had some of the hottest fucking smut i think ive ever read. theres not a dynamic on this earth that i love more than a twink top just completely domming a huge submissive man. micah you will be famous forever. sav you are a baby and i love you.
February 26, 2025
I should’ve known this one would make me emotional.
My heart broke for Savage. Completely shattered. When we met him in Running Feral, I knew there was more to him. But I didn’t think he would have such an impact on me. He was such a beautifully crafted character that had multiple layers and was full of complexity.
I loved Micah so much. His tenacity, his ability to stand up for himself despite his fear and knowledge that they could and would hurt him, and his obvious love for Savage. Micah’s patience, and sometimes lack of patience, and his understanding of Savage was exactly what he needed.
This was a story of deep rooted trauma and trying to both escape and heal from it. Savage and Micah had it rough, but their relationship was beautiful and real. And the dynamic between them worked so well.
I’m excited to see where Sins of the Banna takes us next.
I received an advanced copy and this is my voluntary review
My heart broke for Savage. Completely shattered. When we met him in Running Feral, I knew there was more to him. But I didn’t think he would have such an impact on me. He was such a beautifully crafted character that had multiple layers and was full of complexity.
I loved Micah so much. His tenacity, his ability to stand up for himself despite his fear and knowledge that they could and would hurt him, and his obvious love for Savage. Micah’s patience, and sometimes lack of patience, and his understanding of Savage was exactly what he needed.
This was a story of deep rooted trauma and trying to both escape and heal from it. Savage and Micah had it rough, but their relationship was beautiful and real. And the dynamic between them worked so well.
I’m excited to see where Sins of the Banna takes us next.
I received an advanced copy and this is my voluntary review
February 16, 2025
This book definitely is on my top reads of this year so far. The story is thrilling, the MCs have high chemistry and you can feel tension between them trough the pages. It's a dark romance book so be aware of that. I loved it so much.
February 27, 2025
Sav & Micah were totally not what I was expecting…but they were perfectly imperfect 🥹 The push and pull between them was so engaging. I absolutely loved the hurt/comfort, mental health rep, and forced proximity. My heart broke for Sav over and over again but Micah’s caretaking, protectiveness, and unconditional love was so wholesome and endearing. The writing was amazing per usual with Erin Russell books; I always feel connected to the characters & their world!
February 23, 2025
Phenomenal read. I love Savage’s self aware sharp inner dialogue which is entirely observational, like looking in from the outside and is entirely understandable. This book also had a quirky dark humour I wasn’t expecting, I was expecting heartache, beautifully done hurt comfort and sensitive mental health rep which I do from all of Erin Russell’s writing and I got that in spades.
This isn’t a typical take on the mafia, it’s gritty and unromanticised and has a believable take on the metal suffering of those in it. Tadhg’s misery is deep and untold. From a horrific childhood to a violent present he just wants out… in any way he can make that happen. Life threatening wounds land him back in his estranged stepbrother, Micah’s life. Micah, who is the stepbrother he was protecting all those years ago, Micah who is a strong, out, capable ER nurse, the man who saves his life. There is a lot of love and affection between the two from the start, courtesy of the trauma bonding as children and both are able to let out their vulnerable sides with each other.
I loved how unwaveringly protective Micah is of Sav, how clear in his unrelenting feelings of unconditional love. My heart broke, like literally shattered for the raw ball of hurt that is Sav, he deserves Micah. There is no drama or confusion only some introspection and clarity as they transition into a more intimate relationship - so well done.
These two are strong together and very very HOT, like some kinks may have been unlocked. I loved the way they both went for their HEA all in. That ending was spectacular!
Expect:
* Irish mafia
* Stepbrothers
* Hurt comfort
* Bi awakening
* Dirty talk
* Twink top masc bottom
* Touch him and be eviscerated
* Mental health rep
* Forced proximity
* Only one bed
* Found family
* Protective MC
* Nicknames (secret)
* K1nk: dominance and control, feminisation, praise, restraints etc.
This isn’t a typical take on the mafia, it’s gritty and unromanticised and has a believable take on the metal suffering of those in it. Tadhg’s misery is deep and untold. From a horrific childhood to a violent present he just wants out… in any way he can make that happen. Life threatening wounds land him back in his estranged stepbrother, Micah’s life. Micah, who is the stepbrother he was protecting all those years ago, Micah who is a strong, out, capable ER nurse, the man who saves his life. There is a lot of love and affection between the two from the start, courtesy of the trauma bonding as children and both are able to let out their vulnerable sides with each other.
I loved how unwaveringly protective Micah is of Sav, how clear in his unrelenting feelings of unconditional love. My heart broke, like literally shattered for the raw ball of hurt that is Sav, he deserves Micah. There is no drama or confusion only some introspection and clarity as they transition into a more intimate relationship - so well done.
These two are strong together and very very HOT, like some kinks may have been unlocked. I loved the way they both went for their HEA all in. That ending was spectacular!
Expect:
* Irish mafia
* Stepbrothers
* Hurt comfort
* Bi awakening
* Dirty talk
* Twink top masc bottom
* Touch him and be eviscerated
* Mental health rep
* Forced proximity
* Only one bed
* Found family
* Protective MC
* Nicknames (secret)
* K1nk: dominance and control, feminisation, praise, restraints etc.
February 17, 2025
This is book one in the Sins of the Banna series, but can be read as a standalone.
After narrowly surviving a shooting, Oklahoma Mafia Prince Savage is shipped to Missouri to receive off-the-books medical treatment from his estranged stepbrother, Micah. Sav and Micah were close as kids, but it's been years since they've spoken or seen one another. While Sav was always the protector when they were kids, roles have reversed, and Micah is everything that Sav needs...in more ways than one...👀
I'm gonna go ahead and call it and say this will be a top 5 book of the year for me.🙌 This book has EVERYTHING I love, and Savage is one of the most broken men I've read, but also the most babygirl. The way that he and Micah just FIT together in every way is delicious perfection, and there's no way not to root for them as you read.😍 Poor Sav is so traumatized and damaged and doing his best to hold it together - Micah offers him the safety he needs to fall apart.🥹 While this book is a slower burn, the 🌶 is insaaaane y'all! Everything about the dynamic between these two is so perfect, but also so hot, with two of the best petnames ever.🫠 If you're not into mafia romance usually, don't let that deter you - I promise this isn't like any mafia book you've ever read.
If you're looking for a book with the goodest boy, a 🔥 feminization k!nk, and SO MUCH CARETAKING, this is for you.🩷
Read if you like:
• Stepbrothers
• Trailer Trash Mafia
• Hurt/Comfort
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💀SAVAGE is available February 26!💀
After narrowly surviving a shooting, Oklahoma Mafia Prince Savage is shipped to Missouri to receive off-the-books medical treatment from his estranged stepbrother, Micah. Sav and Micah were close as kids, but it's been years since they've spoken or seen one another. While Sav was always the protector when they were kids, roles have reversed, and Micah is everything that Sav needs...in more ways than one...👀
I'm gonna go ahead and call it and say this will be a top 5 book of the year for me.🙌 This book has EVERYTHING I love, and Savage is one of the most broken men I've read, but also the most babygirl. The way that he and Micah just FIT together in every way is delicious perfection, and there's no way not to root for them as you read.😍 Poor Sav is so traumatized and damaged and doing his best to hold it together - Micah offers him the safety he needs to fall apart.🥹 While this book is a slower burn, the 🌶 is insaaaane y'all! Everything about the dynamic between these two is so perfect, but also so hot, with two of the best petnames ever.🫠 If you're not into mafia romance usually, don't let that deter you - I promise this isn't like any mafia book you've ever read.
If you're looking for a book with the goodest boy, a 🔥 feminization k!nk, and SO MUCH CARETAKING, this is for you.🩷
Read if you like:
• Stepbrothers
• Trailer Trash Mafia
• Hurt/Comfort
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💀SAVAGE is available February 26!💀
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