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Necessary Evils #6
Lunatic
Every psychopath in the Mulvaney family has a role to play. Archer Mulvaney is the gambler, a drunken reprobate making his living as a high-stakes poker player. Very few people know the real Archer, not even his brothers. But there is one man who knows far too much.
Mackenzie Shepherd spends his days photographing endangered wildlife. He’s also the brother of a psychopath and son to the woman who literally wrote the book on raising one. When his mother asks him to head a secret government project, it seems like the perfect excuse to run away from his life.
But running from his past has Mac colliding straight into Archer. And that’s a problem. For this project to be successful, Mac and Archer have to agree on every decision, and the two see eye-to-eye on nothing. Except, maybe the sex. The sex is off the charts.
When Mac’s old life comes back to haunt him, Archer insists on putting their differences aside to help keep him safe. But Mac, like Archer, is used to solving things on his own. Can they finally stop fighting each other to find the truth, or is their relationship the next thing on the endangered species list?
Lunatic is a filthy hot, enemies to lovers, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a sexy, roguish degenerate and a hunky bleeding heart ginger who love how much they hate each other. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than a slaughterhouse, and enough heat to melt your metaphorical undies. This is book six in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.
Mackenzie Shepherd spends his days photographing endangered wildlife. He’s also the brother of a psychopath and son to the woman who literally wrote the book on raising one. When his mother asks him to head a secret government project, it seems like the perfect excuse to run away from his life.
But running from his past has Mac colliding straight into Archer. And that’s a problem. For this project to be successful, Mac and Archer have to agree on every decision, and the two see eye-to-eye on nothing. Except, maybe the sex. The sex is off the charts.
When Mac’s old life comes back to haunt him, Archer insists on putting their differences aside to help keep him safe. But Mac, like Archer, is used to solving things on his own. Can they finally stop fighting each other to find the truth, or is their relationship the next thing on the endangered species list?
Lunatic is a filthy hot, enemies to lovers, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a sexy, roguish degenerate and a hunky bleeding heart ginger who love how much they hate each other. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than a slaughterhouse, and enough heat to melt your metaphorical undies. This is book six in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2022
409 people are currently reading
2983 people want to read
About the author
Onley James
40 books3,705 followersOnley James lives in North Carolina with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,021 reviews
September 30, 2022
2.5 “I love you, Katniss. I don’t care who knows it” stars
“Thank you,” […]
“For what?” […]
“For rescuing me. For saving my life. For loving me. For tying yourself to me forever.”
I don’t even know what to say about this series anymore. If you asked me last year, Onley James was my favourite writer and I had never rated any of her books under 4 stars. She was always a hit and had never missed once for me. This series was my most anticipated series of all time. I adored the first two books in the series and I thought that surely it would be a home run for me, but since then, most of this series just hasn’t really worked for me. I’m finding myself just not enjoying this series as much as I wish I did, which truly is a bummer for me because i’m not kidding when I say that these were my most anticipated books of all time. I was waiting with bathed breaths any news about this series and I have never been this hyped for books to release as I was for these.
The premise of this series is one that I absolutely adore and I keep getting super excited for these books. As an example, the next book in this series is still the book i’m most excited to read all year and maybe of all my life.
And I was super excited to read this one. If you ask my best friend, this book was mostly all I talked about for months, due to how excited I was to read it. The set up of this book was perfect to me and I enjoyed everything about it. Also, I was so excited to see Mac get a book, since he was previously one of my favourite side character in a Onley James book. But sadly, somewhere along the way, the execution of this book just didn’t work for me.
I will be honest, when I reached the chapter 11 mark of this book, I was so sure I had a winner in my hands. I was adoring everything about this book and I was ready to slap a lovely 5 stars on it. But then, the book started going down hill and it never recovered anything that I liked about it. It was like the second half of this book was just a completly different story than the first half and sadly, I just wasn’t as into it as I was the first one.
Brief Summary
Archer and Mac keep bumping into each other and they keep having hate sex every time that happens. They don’t want to like each other but they cannot help but be attracted to each other and want to be together. Somewhere along the way, they fall in love.
Since my feelings about this book are very different depending on if we are talking the first half of the book, or the second half of the book, I will be separating my review by the two halves of the book.
My thoughts on the the first half of this book
I pretty much adored every seconds of this part of the book. It was super well done and an absolute joy to read. This book of the book had such a fun plot and the set up was just so fun. The characters had wonderful interactions during this part and I just adored reading all of them.
The set up in this book was just so good. I always love a good rivals to lovers set up where they don’t want to be into each other but they cannot help but be attracted to each other. I just loved the push and pull in this part of the book. I just adored all of their interactions where they didn’t want to be attracted to each other but the attraction was too strong for them to resist. This set up was just so good and a blast to read. This set up made their relationship so much fun to read for me.
I absolutely adored Mac and Archer as characters. They had such well developed personas and they were an absolutely joy to read about. I loved how they complimented each other so well. They truly were a power couple in my book.
Also, I just adored the set up of their romance. I loved the way it started and how it developed into more. It was such a good set up that I had a lot of fun reading. I just wanted to keep reading the book to see what would happen next because I was so fascinated in seeing how their romance would develop into more.
The dynamic between Mac and Archer was just the best. They had a very subtle dom/sub thing going on, and they both didn’t really want to admit to being into the roles that fit them and that was just so much fun to read for me. It just made their push and pull so much more enjoyable to read. And it give a very lively dynamic to their romance.
My favourite part of this book was probably Mac’s nickname for Archer, Katniss. It was just so good and I loved it so fucking much.
My thoughts on the second half of this book
Now let me explain to you where this book went wrong for me. I was reading this romance book, for the romance. I was super excited to see how the couple would fall in love and I absolutely loved the dynamic at the start of the book. But after chapter 11 of this book, the main characters, Archer and Mac spent a grand total of 3 scenes alone. And they were all sex scenes. So in the 10 last chapters of this book, there was not one cute couple scene between the main couple of the book. Every other scene in this stretch was filled with cameos of every other character in this series. Most of them being scenes where everyone but the main characters of the book had agency and solved the main crime plot of the book. Meaning that Archer and Mac, the main characters in this book not only didn’t spend any alone time together for 10 chapters, they also stood around and did nothing while every other character in the series solved the entire crime plot for them. The thing is, I just prefer my main characters to be a little less useless or to actually spend some time together.
I just wished that this book stayed a romance book between Archer and Mac while they solved the crime plot together, instead of becoming a frat party of cameos who did everything for them.
I actually like most of the other characters in this series and I didn’t mind seeing them. But i’m not kidding when I say that the entire second half of this book is just the other characters in the series and we barely see or hear about Mac and Archer, the main characters of this book. Which became just too much for me. I was reading this book for Mac and Archer and their romance and yet, everyone and their mom had more on page time in the second part of this book than they did. It was really killed my immersion into the book. Reading this part of the book felt like someone invited me on a date, but instead of coming alone, they invited their entire family and they spoke to me way more than my date did, which is just a very uncomfortable situation to me.
Also, the second half of this book is heavily used to set up a new series of books in the same universe, which is all fine and well, but that also took away from any couple time between Archer and Mac, so I didn’t really enjoy it either.
Also, the romance in this book just felt so lacklustre to me. The second that Archer and Mac got together and confessed their feelings for each other, they were almost never alone together. So we barely got any romantic moments of them being a cute couple. Which was such a bummer to me. My favourite part of romance books is seeing the couple interact after they get together. I just love reading about them being romantic and about their couple dynamic. I enjoy reading about how a couple get together, but I much prefer all of the cute couple scenes that happen after that fact. So the fact that I got none of that in this book just didn’t work for me. Archer and Mac felt more like distant relatives who see each other once a year than partners and that’s just not the vibe I want in a romamce book.
Overall, i’m just so bummed about this one. Reading this book felt like someone offered me tickets to go see my favourite band in concert but then they told me that it was all a prank and then stumped all over my heart. I cannot tell you how sad I am that I stopped enjoying this book halfway through because the first half of this book was seriously perfect to me, I just absolutely adored it. I just wish that the second half of the book kept it with the first half.
Side note, Aiden and Thomas are already the best couple I have ever seen in a Onley James book and we haven’t gotten even gotten their book yet. I just love these two so much. And I absolutely cannot wait to read their book, if someone can get me out of my funk when it comes to this series it’s these two.
“Thank you,” […]
“For what?” […]
“For rescuing me. For saving my life. For loving me. For tying yourself to me forever.”
I don’t even know what to say about this series anymore. If you asked me last year, Onley James was my favourite writer and I had never rated any of her books under 4 stars. She was always a hit and had never missed once for me. This series was my most anticipated series of all time. I adored the first two books in the series and I thought that surely it would be a home run for me, but since then, most of this series just hasn’t really worked for me. I’m finding myself just not enjoying this series as much as I wish I did, which truly is a bummer for me because i’m not kidding when I say that these were my most anticipated books of all time. I was waiting with bathed breaths any news about this series and I have never been this hyped for books to release as I was for these.
The premise of this series is one that I absolutely adore and I keep getting super excited for these books. As an example, the next book in this series is still the book i’m most excited to read all year and maybe of all my life.
And I was super excited to read this one. If you ask my best friend, this book was mostly all I talked about for months, due to how excited I was to read it. The set up of this book was perfect to me and I enjoyed everything about it. Also, I was so excited to see Mac get a book, since he was previously one of my favourite side character in a Onley James book. But sadly, somewhere along the way, the execution of this book just didn’t work for me.
I will be honest, when I reached the chapter 11 mark of this book, I was so sure I had a winner in my hands. I was adoring everything about this book and I was ready to slap a lovely 5 stars on it. But then, the book started going down hill and it never recovered anything that I liked about it. It was like the second half of this book was just a completly different story than the first half and sadly, I just wasn’t as into it as I was the first one.
Brief Summary
Archer and Mac keep bumping into each other and they keep having hate sex every time that happens. They don’t want to like each other but they cannot help but be attracted to each other and want to be together. Somewhere along the way, they fall in love.
Since my feelings about this book are very different depending on if we are talking the first half of the book, or the second half of the book, I will be separating my review by the two halves of the book.
My thoughts on the the first half of this book
I pretty much adored every seconds of this part of the book. It was super well done and an absolute joy to read. This book of the book had such a fun plot and the set up was just so fun. The characters had wonderful interactions during this part and I just adored reading all of them.
The set up in this book was just so good. I always love a good rivals to lovers set up where they don’t want to be into each other but they cannot help but be attracted to each other. I just loved the push and pull in this part of the book. I just adored all of their interactions where they didn’t want to be attracted to each other but the attraction was too strong for them to resist. This set up was just so good and a blast to read. This set up made their relationship so much fun to read for me.
I absolutely adored Mac and Archer as characters. They had such well developed personas and they were an absolutely joy to read about. I loved how they complimented each other so well. They truly were a power couple in my book.
Also, I just adored the set up of their romance. I loved the way it started and how it developed into more. It was such a good set up that I had a lot of fun reading. I just wanted to keep reading the book to see what would happen next because I was so fascinated in seeing how their romance would develop into more.
The dynamic between Mac and Archer was just the best. They had a very subtle dom/sub thing going on, and they both didn’t really want to admit to being into the roles that fit them and that was just so much fun to read for me. It just made their push and pull so much more enjoyable to read. And it give a very lively dynamic to their romance.
My favourite part of this book was probably Mac’s nickname for Archer, Katniss. It was just so good and I loved it so fucking much.
My thoughts on the second half of this book
Now let me explain to you where this book went wrong for me. I was reading this romance book, for the romance. I was super excited to see how the couple would fall in love and I absolutely loved the dynamic at the start of the book. But after chapter 11 of this book, the main characters, Archer and Mac spent a grand total of 3 scenes alone. And they were all sex scenes. So in the 10 last chapters of this book, there was not one cute couple scene between the main couple of the book. Every other scene in this stretch was filled with cameos of every other character in this series. Most of them being scenes where everyone but the main characters of the book had agency and solved the main crime plot of the book. Meaning that Archer and Mac, the main characters in this book not only didn’t spend any alone time together for 10 chapters, they also stood around and did nothing while every other character in the series solved the entire crime plot for them. The thing is, I just prefer my main characters to be a little less useless or to actually spend some time together.
I just wished that this book stayed a romance book between Archer and Mac while they solved the crime plot together, instead of becoming a frat party of cameos who did everything for them.
I actually like most of the other characters in this series and I didn’t mind seeing them. But i’m not kidding when I say that the entire second half of this book is just the other characters in the series and we barely see or hear about Mac and Archer, the main characters of this book. Which became just too much for me. I was reading this book for Mac and Archer and their romance and yet, everyone and their mom had more on page time in the second part of this book than they did. It was really killed my immersion into the book. Reading this part of the book felt like someone invited me on a date, but instead of coming alone, they invited their entire family and they spoke to me way more than my date did, which is just a very uncomfortable situation to me.
Also, the second half of this book is heavily used to set up a new series of books in the same universe, which is all fine and well, but that also took away from any couple time between Archer and Mac, so I didn’t really enjoy it either.
Also, the romance in this book just felt so lacklustre to me. The second that Archer and Mac got together and confessed their feelings for each other, they were almost never alone together. So we barely got any romantic moments of them being a cute couple. Which was such a bummer to me. My favourite part of romance books is seeing the couple interact after they get together. I just love reading about them being romantic and about their couple dynamic. I enjoy reading about how a couple get together, but I much prefer all of the cute couple scenes that happen after that fact. So the fact that I got none of that in this book just didn’t work for me. Archer and Mac felt more like distant relatives who see each other once a year than partners and that’s just not the vibe I want in a romamce book.
Overall, i’m just so bummed about this one. Reading this book felt like someone offered me tickets to go see my favourite band in concert but then they told me that it was all a prank and then stumped all over my heart. I cannot tell you how sad I am that I stopped enjoying this book halfway through because the first half of this book was seriously perfect to me, I just absolutely adored it. I just wish that the second half of the book kept it with the first half.
Side note, Aiden and Thomas are already the best couple I have ever seen in a Onley James book and we haven’t gotten even gotten their book yet. I just love these two so much. And I absolutely cannot wait to read their book, if someone can get me out of my funk when it comes to this series it’s these two.
May 17, 2023
3.5*** stars
I am very torn how I feel about this book. I somehow loved it and hated it at the same time. I don’t know how else to describe it. The plot was a good one. Maybe even better than a few of the others. But I also couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment that I hadn’t gotten out of this story and it’s characters what I had expected and wanted.
What I loved:
➤ the prologue
➤ drunk in Vegas
➤ all the Mulvanyes in the war room
➤ drunk pirate Archer
➤ Adam & Noah ♡
➤ the twins, Felix and Zane joining the party
➤ the cliffhanger to "Maniac"
I loved practically everything that was typical for the "Necessary Evils" series and what I loved in the other books as well. Most of all the banter between the brothers.
What I didn’t like:
➤ the nickname Mac gave Archer
➤ their anonymous hookup off page
➤ the insta love after being frenimies
➤ missing the quirkiness/crazy the other characters/couples had
➤ the military-ish vibe of the first half and that secret project
Archer and Mac felt very different to the couples who came before them in the series and in the end (and I’m actually pretty sad to say that) I cared not nearly enough about them as I did about the others.
And wow this book ended with a loud bang! I think I am speaking for all of us, when I say NEXT JANUARY CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH!!! I truly can’t wait for Maniac to release!!
************
Necessary Evil Series:
Book #1 - Unhinged - 4.5 stars ♡
Book #2 - Psycho - 4.5 stars
Book #3 - Moonstruck - 4.5 stars
Book #3.5 - Damaged - 4.5 stars
Book #4 - Headcase - 4 stars
Book #5 - Mad Man - 4.5 stars
Book #6 - Lunatic - 3.5 stars
Book #7 - Maniac - no rating
I am very torn how I feel about this book. I somehow loved it and hated it at the same time. I don’t know how else to describe it. The plot was a good one. Maybe even better than a few of the others. But I also couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment that I hadn’t gotten out of this story and it’s characters what I had expected and wanted.
What I loved:
➤ the prologue
➤ drunk in Vegas
➤ all the Mulvanyes in the war room
➤ drunk pirate Archer
➤ Adam & Noah ♡
➤ the twins, Felix and Zane joining the party
➤ the cliffhanger to "Maniac"
I loved practically everything that was typical for the "Necessary Evils" series and what I loved in the other books as well. Most of all the banter between the brothers.
What I didn’t like:
➤ the nickname Mac gave Archer
➤ their anonymous hookup off page
➤ the insta love after being frenimies
➤ missing the quirkiness/crazy the other characters/couples had
➤ the military-ish vibe of the first half and that secret project
Archer and Mac felt very different to the couples who came before them in the series and in the end (and I’m actually pretty sad to say that) I cared not nearly enough about them as I did about the others.
And wow this book ended with a loud bang! I think I am speaking for all of us, when I say NEXT JANUARY CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH!!! I truly can’t wait for Maniac to release!!
************
Necessary Evil Series:
Book #1 - Unhinged - 4.5 stars ♡
Book #2 - Psycho - 4.5 stars
Book #3 - Moonstruck - 4.5 stars
Book #3.5 - Damaged - 4.5 stars
Book #4 - Headcase - 4 stars
Book #5 - Mad Man - 4.5 stars
Book #6 - Lunatic - 3.5 stars
Book #7 - Maniac - no rating
August 12, 2025
I see all these reviews that say this series gets worse and worse, and tbh, I went into this one with THE LOWEST OF EXPECTATIONS. Like i'm talking scraping bottom of the barrel expectations here, I was only powering through for the light at the end of the tunnel 😍 (the light being daddy Thomas & Aiden even though I also hear horrid shit about that book too hahahahah)
So going into book 6, I felt very.......
Pirate drunk brother?
Him getting a story in general?
Him getting a love interest?
BUT MY DUDES, I HAD SO MUCH FUN?
I needed a horny time, and then a murdery time, and that's EXACTLY what I got!
And the Mulvaney Family Reunion/Intervention/WORKING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY SEQUENCE????
I guess we needed all their back stories to love it this much, but FUCK I loved that they were all together loving on eachother and murdering togetherrrrrrrrrrrr.
And these two were SO HORNY FOR EACHOTHER,and Archer getting double stuffed like a Rotisserie chicken in the beginning was just SO GOOD.
(I mean he was filled twice, not two x peen, sorry to disappoint)
So going into book 6, I felt very.......
Pirate drunk brother?
Him getting a story in general?
Him getting a love interest?
BUT MY DUDES, I HAD SO MUCH FUN?
I needed a horny time, and then a murdery time, and that's EXACTLY what I got!
And the Mulvaney Family Reunion/Intervention/WORKING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY SEQUENCE????
I guess we needed all their back stories to love it this much, but FUCK I loved that they were all together loving on eachother and murdering togetherrrrrrrrrrrr.
And these two were SO HORNY FOR EACHOTHER,and Archer getting double stuffed like a Rotisserie chicken in the beginning was just SO GOOD.
(I mean he was filled twice, not two x peen, sorry to disappoint)
September 5, 2022
~3.5~
Another dose of Crazy with a capital C, with:
ARCHER, the brother who hides behind his drunken gambling fool persona
&
MAC, Shep's (Captivating, Elite Protection Services #2) non-sociopathic (against all genetic odds) twin brothers
Lunatic is an entertaining ride, but I expected more from our resident "alcoholic" (the ruse that Archer is a drunk has been up for a while now, so the revelation that he's running one of Thomas's pet projects wasn't a huge surprise).
Archer is kind of boring, truth be told, and Mac isn't much better.
I hate being thrown into the middle of a story, and that's what happened here.
In chapter one, Mac and Archer are picking recruits/students for a private, elite academy for psychopaths and their handlers. Wait, what?
Not only is this a whole new ballgame, but Mac and Archer have already been fucking for a while, with the beginning of their story taking place entirely off-page, like the author was too lazy to write the meet-cute.
The suspense portion of the book isn't particularly interesting either (I hate to call human trafficking and child abuse trite, but the author has recycled this theme so many times that I feel entirely detached from the horror).
The last chapter, supposedly the epilogue, is NOT an epilogue but a setup, with a cliffhanger, for the final book in this series (Thomas & Aiden) AND the author's new series set at psychopath university (which I admit sounds fun in a murdery way).
Extra half star for adorable, pouty Noah with his corgi Squishmallow who stole every scene he was in.
Another dose of Crazy with a capital C, with:
ARCHER, the brother who hides behind his drunken gambling fool persona
&
MAC, Shep's (Captivating, Elite Protection Services #2) non-sociopathic (against all genetic odds) twin brothers
Lunatic is an entertaining ride, but I expected more from our resident "alcoholic" (the ruse that Archer is a drunk has been up for a while now, so the revelation that he's running one of Thomas's pet projects wasn't a huge surprise).
Archer is kind of boring, truth be told, and Mac isn't much better.
I hate being thrown into the middle of a story, and that's what happened here.
In chapter one, Mac and Archer are picking recruits/students for a private, elite academy for psychopaths and their handlers. Wait, what?
Not only is this a whole new ballgame, but Mac and Archer have already been fucking for a while, with the beginning of their story taking place entirely off-page, like the author was too lazy to write the meet-cute.
The suspense portion of the book isn't particularly interesting either (I hate to call human trafficking and child abuse trite, but the author has recycled this theme so many times that I feel entirely detached from the horror).
The last chapter, supposedly the epilogue, is NOT an epilogue but a setup, with a cliffhanger, for the final book in this series (Thomas & Aiden) AND the author's new series set at psychopath university (which I admit sounds fun in a murdery way).
Extra half star for adorable, pouty Noah with his corgi Squishmallow who stole every scene he was in.
August 28, 2022
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.***
I was very interested in learning more about the most mysterious Mulvaney brother and Lunatic did not disappoint. Archer is full of surprises and emotional depth that I could not have anticipated.
Archer was always the one brother who seemed distant and removed from the rest and now after getting his own story I was finally able to understand why. I loved getting his story and seeing his relationships with the family from his perspective. Always a joy to be back with the Mulvaney's.
Lunatic starts with Archer's backstory, which is tragic, but you get to see his protective and determined instincts at such a young age. You also learn that due to his tragic upbringing he always kept those close to him at a distance, thus developing his persona. His entire life is thrown for a loop when is is forced to work on a secret government project with the one person that gets under his skin.
Mackenzie Shepard is a great counter to Archer's more frenetic energy. Mac and Archer's dynamic is one of balance and watching their relationship change so drastically was so much fun to see. Out of all of the relationships so far in this series I think this one moved the quickest, due to their shared history, which made for exciting personal developments that I was not expecting. I loved the expected surprise because it took the story in such an unexpected direction.
Overall another great entry in this great series. There is a great ending that gives you an idea of where the last story is heading, which I cannot wait!!!!
I was very interested in learning more about the most mysterious Mulvaney brother and Lunatic did not disappoint. Archer is full of surprises and emotional depth that I could not have anticipated.
Archer was always the one brother who seemed distant and removed from the rest and now after getting his own story I was finally able to understand why. I loved getting his story and seeing his relationships with the family from his perspective. Always a joy to be back with the Mulvaney's.
Lunatic starts with Archer's backstory, which is tragic, but you get to see his protective and determined instincts at such a young age. You also learn that due to his tragic upbringing he always kept those close to him at a distance, thus developing his persona. His entire life is thrown for a loop when is is forced to work on a secret government project with the one person that gets under his skin.
Mackenzie Shepard is a great counter to Archer's more frenetic energy. Mac and Archer's dynamic is one of balance and watching their relationship change so drastically was so much fun to see. Out of all of the relationships so far in this series I think this one moved the quickest, due to their shared history, which made for exciting personal developments that I was not expecting. I loved the expected surprise because it took the story in such an unexpected direction.
Overall another great entry in this great series. There is a great ending that gives you an idea of where the last story is heading, which I cannot wait!!!!
September 1, 2022
I love this Group of misfits.
Every add is a wonderful surprise.
But the last paragraph? Are we talking about this?
Every add is a wonderful surprise.
But the last paragraph? Are we talking about this?
September 3, 2022
Woof, I am a little...underwhelmed, honestly. I had this whole thing in my head about how this was going to play out but this was so very different from that. It's not a bad thing but it makes me sad how much I didn't LOVE love it😭
This was on the sweeter side and I loved Archer (obvie) and Mac but it felt like the focus of this book wasn't nearly as much about THEM as it was their objective. I think a lot of that has to do with Mac and Archer having already met etc. so I didn't get much of the excitement as with the other couples. Also, I feel like a few things were left out that I would have liked to seen be addressed instead of all the sex maybe👀
BUT, it was nice getting more of the family, even if Noah almost pissed me off😒. And Archer's candid little confessions made me very happy!!!
The students definitely have me intrigued but mostly FREAKING THOMAS AND AIDEN ARE UP NEXT!!! AHHHHH🤭
~ ~ ~
March 27th, 2022:
AHHHH THE COVER?!?!?! LOOK AT THE HAIR AND THE FACIAL HAIR???? WHERE IS THE GUYLINER THO??!!
Soon we'll be able to get more about our Pirate boi 🖤 but for now...Archer at every family meeting...or all the time so far:
Oh, Archer baby, I may be inhaling Avi's book but I'm really thinking about you (a lot...mostly...perhaps)
Also Me to Me @ this book:
This was on the sweeter side and I loved Archer (obvie) and Mac but it felt like the focus of this book wasn't nearly as much about THEM as it was their objective. I think a lot of that has to do with Mac and Archer having already met etc. so I didn't get much of the excitement as with the other couples. Also, I feel like a few things were left out that I would have liked to seen be addressed instead of all the sex maybe👀
BUT, it was nice getting more of the family, even if Noah almost pissed me off😒. And Archer's candid little confessions made me very happy!!!
The students definitely have me intrigued but mostly FREAKING THOMAS AND AIDEN ARE UP NEXT!!! AHHHHH🤭
~ ~ ~
March 27th, 2022:
AHHHH THE COVER?!?!?! LOOK AT THE HAIR AND THE FACIAL HAIR???? WHERE IS THE GUYLINER THO??!!
Soon we'll be able to get more about our Pirate boi 🖤 but for now...Archer at every family meeting...or all the time so far:
Oh, Archer baby, I may be inhaling Avi's book but I'm really thinking about you (a lot...mostly...perhaps)
Also Me to Me @ this book:
September 7, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Archer is such an enigma I shouldn’t be surprised how different his story is from all the others. It’s like being a fly on the wall getting to see him the way only Mac does.
I’m not sure how to write this review without giving it all away and I believe that Archer should remain a mystery until you get the chance to read this.
So, I’ll only say this … come in expecting the unexpected. Also I’m only a fan of degradation if done right and Ms. James did it perfectly!
Honestly, much like Atticus, I didn’t think I’d like Archer but of course Onley proved me wrong once again. Which was foolish on my part because I’m a big poker fan, I used to play the bar circuit when I was in my early 20’s and this reminds me of those days.
It’s a big statement and it kinda shocks the hell out of me but Archer is my favorite brother, closely followed by Asa. And Mac was the perfect match for him in every way.
It took me a hot minute to become absorbed by the conflict but of course when the twins got involved with the torture I was all in. I especially liked Felix’s new weapon made by Aiden, freaking classic.
Overall an enjoyable read filled with lots of surprises plus all the stuff we’ve come to know and love. Now if I hadn’t made it blatantly obvious before now, I’m so freaking excited for Thomas’s book!
Archer is such an enigma I shouldn’t be surprised how different his story is from all the others. It’s like being a fly on the wall getting to see him the way only Mac does.
I’m not sure how to write this review without giving it all away and I believe that Archer should remain a mystery until you get the chance to read this.
So, I’ll only say this … come in expecting the unexpected. Also I’m only a fan of degradation if done right and Ms. James did it perfectly!
Honestly, much like Atticus, I didn’t think I’d like Archer but of course Onley proved me wrong once again. Which was foolish on my part because I’m a big poker fan, I used to play the bar circuit when I was in my early 20’s and this reminds me of those days.
It’s a big statement and it kinda shocks the hell out of me but Archer is my favorite brother, closely followed by Asa. And Mac was the perfect match for him in every way.
It took me a hot minute to become absorbed by the conflict but of course when the twins got involved with the torture I was all in. I especially liked Felix’s new weapon made by Aiden, freaking classic.
Overall an enjoyable read filled with lots of surprises plus all the stuff we’ve come to know and love. Now if I hadn’t made it blatantly obvious before now, I’m so freaking excited for Thomas’s book!
August 30, 2022
I received an early copy of this book in exchange for a *honest* review. And honestly. I clawed my way onto this author's ARC Team. I pretty much elbowed some people out of the way and pled my case to this author on my knees. So, yes, I got an ARC but I demanded it.
This entire series has been the highlight of 2021 and 2022 for me. Seriously, I've never had such a good reading year as I have this fiscal year. Unhinged is still my favorite because *NOAH* but there really isn't a dud in the bunch. Every book has been spectacular.
I'll admit I was a smidge worried about bringing Mac into this. I know we didn't officially meet him in Elite Protection Services but I still associate him with Jayne and I didn't know how James would be able to combine the positive, upbeat neurotypical photographer with the surly, pirate-themed Archer. But there was no cause for concern. They fit together beautifully.
I loved learning more about Archer. I loved seeing him open up to Mac. I loved seeing Mac's patience and understanding for psychopaths come into play into loving his man.
Plus, honestly, I just adore getting to see bad guys get murdered for doing horrible, horrible things. Gives me such a justice boner.
This entire series has been the highlight of 2021 and 2022 for me. Seriously, I've never had such a good reading year as I have this fiscal year. Unhinged is still my favorite because *NOAH* but there really isn't a dud in the bunch. Every book has been spectacular.
I'll admit I was a smidge worried about bringing Mac into this. I know we didn't officially meet him in Elite Protection Services but I still associate him with Jayne and I didn't know how James would be able to combine the positive, upbeat neurotypical photographer with the surly, pirate-themed Archer. But there was no cause for concern. They fit together beautifully.
I loved learning more about Archer. I loved seeing him open up to Mac. I loved seeing Mac's patience and understanding for psychopaths come into play into loving his man.
Plus, honestly, I just adore getting to see bad guys get murdered for doing horrible, horrible things. Gives me such a justice boner.
September 2, 2022
Honestly, I just thought this one was a bit boring. We start the book when the main characters have already been fucking on and off for months, so we are basically thrust into the middle of the relationship, which just emotionally didn't really feel satisfying. The case didn't really grab me, and I'm honestly a bit concerned that the fact that Archer was more of the subby one in this book means that we're going to get a more aggressive Aiden with Thomas in the next, which is absolutely not the dynamic I'm personally interested in from that pairing, but so far this author has seemed determine to give me the opposite of what I want from this series. I'll obvi read the last one, but I'm pretty disappointed--the series had great promise, but I'm not a fan of the execution, and TBH, I think I'm just underwhelmed by this author's writing and plotting in general. I've been trying to make fetch happen, but after the end of the series it may be time to say goodbye.
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November 10, 2022
MM Romance
Hate To Want You
4.5 Stars ⭐️
I went into this book with ZERO expectations because I thought I’d hate it based on the crushing disappointment I felt reading the twins’ books and also because unlike most people reading this series, I gave absolutely no fucks about Archer. To me, Archer was just a gluttonous drunk and a waste of space and he added no enjoyment to me in any of the other books but I had to read this because I wanted to be ready for Thomas/Aiden’s book in January and I figured with all the shitty books I’ve read recently, what’s one more? But now I have to eat my words and all my comments on my friend’s reviews where I bitched and moaned about this author are going to make me look like a hypocrite because I have to admit how much I adored this book. No, I didn’t just like it, I fucking adored it because what all the reviews left out was how much my favorite couple was featured in this book and having so much of Noah/Adam from Unhinged mixed in with Archer’s adorable emotional word blurtage and Mac’s seriously hot dirty talk did something to my brain and I resent that because now I have to my eat my words and if anyone knew how much I actually talk, they’d know how impossible that would be for me. 😂 But I’m doing it, eating my words, because I adored the majority of this, amazingly.
I absolutely adored the first half of this book when we got Archer and Mac at the school and I liked their push and pull of not wanting to want the other but not being able to help themselves either. I would have preferred a bit more buildup before the sex scenes because I think this rivalry they had would have made them have amazing unresolved sexual tension and who doesn’t love UST but I know better than to expect this author to do a slow burn of any kind. Like I said, ZERO expectations. I also adore how Noah is always this relationship guru and helps the Mulvaney’s time and time again with recognizing their feelings towards their love interests. I loved what he said about Adam and his relationship because it summed up exactly why I am so obsessed with them as a couple and why I’ve read their book so many times I stopped keeping count and even bought it which I never do now that I have ku. Anyway. I loved how Archer didn’t waste any time telling Mac how he felt and their first date at the poker tournament was perfect especially what Mac tells the woman next to him while watching and then it actually happens. 😂😂 I think Archer is the least psychopathic of all of them but I wasn’t expecting anything so I didn’t give a fuck and took this at face value.
After these two get back home and meet with the family I admit it was a bit of a clusterfuck of people. I’m still so mad at this author for fucking up the twins’ books that whenever they or their partners were mentioned I felt like growling. Irrational but whatever. 😂😂 But I was back to happy when the boys are in Texas and the only couple available to help are Adam & Noah. Because I’ve read Unhinged so many times, I know that Archer always had a soft spot for Noah but I obviously didn’t know why and I think this is the first book in this series where one of the brother’s actually talked in detail about the trauma they endured. All the other brothers have mentioned things in passing but this was nitty, gritty and something Noah could relate to wholeheartedly and it made their scene together such a stand-out for me. Just the fact Archer would relive those awful memories to make Noah understand him better after what happened between them earlier in the book was special. Once again, Archer is definitely not a psychopath. From this point on, the things needed for the case had Noah/Adam and Mac/Archer spending lots of time together and I absolutely adored all of that too. I didn’t care that they were impeding in Mac & Archer’s relationship because it felt natural they were there but maybe that’s because I’m biased and absolutely adore them. Drunk Noah cracks me up 😂😂 Fucking Grover, the tape worm and Adam worried about his designer pants. Also, that scene with the dog and Adam raising his voice 🤣🤣 So funny.
I think it also helped that this case was a lot like the one from Unhinged so having Adam/Noah apart of this one too made this almost feel like a sequel of sorts. I do wish Mac and Archer had had some more time just the two of them but I found them so perfectly matched that I liked them just giving each other small smirks and holding each other’s hands while the rest of the family tried to solve this case. It also made sense to me that Archer would take a backseat because he played up on his image to get out of having to fully involve himself in his family’s crazy so him sitting back and letting others take the reins was more or less what he did in all the other books. I also could have lived without all the cultural references used as jokes because it was hard for me to believe any of them would know who Hannah Montana was or Elsa from Frozen unless it was August or Lucas since they have kids. It was just a bit much. I also thought Mac’s storyline felt kind of unfinished because there was so much talk of his issues with his family and his mom and then none of that was ever discussed with his mom. It just felt like a missed opportunity to deepen Mac’s character.
But overall, I liked this book much to my surprise and the epilogue did make me wonder what in the hell is going to happen in the next book. Here’s a secret from me to you though, I also have given absolutely no fucks about Aiden and Thomas. Aiden has been in so few of these books that I just couldn’t care less about him and my thoughts on Thomas go back and forth on whether I think he’s a good person so I can only hope my low expectations going into it will help me actually like it. Every book I’ve loved in this series, Unhinged, MoonStruck and this one, I either had no idea what to expect (Adam’s) or couldn’t have cared less about the main character (Atticus, Archer) yet the books I couldn’t stand (twins) or were indifferent about (August) were the ones I was most excited for and couldn’t wait to read. Go figure. 🙄🤦🏻♀️🤭
Hate To Want You
4.5 Stars ⭐️
I went into this book with ZERO expectations because I thought I’d hate it based on the crushing disappointment I felt reading the twins’ books and also because unlike most people reading this series, I gave absolutely no fucks about Archer. To me, Archer was just a gluttonous drunk and a waste of space and he added no enjoyment to me in any of the other books but I had to read this because I wanted to be ready for Thomas/Aiden’s book in January and I figured with all the shitty books I’ve read recently, what’s one more? But now I have to eat my words and all my comments on my friend’s reviews where I bitched and moaned about this author are going to make me look like a hypocrite because I have to admit how much I adored this book. No, I didn’t just like it, I fucking adored it because what all the reviews left out was how much my favorite couple was featured in this book and having so much of Noah/Adam from Unhinged mixed in with Archer’s adorable emotional word blurtage and Mac’s seriously hot dirty talk did something to my brain and I resent that because now I have to my eat my words and if anyone knew how much I actually talk, they’d know how impossible that would be for me. 😂 But I’m doing it, eating my words, because I adored the majority of this, amazingly.
I absolutely adored the first half of this book when we got Archer and Mac at the school and I liked their push and pull of not wanting to want the other but not being able to help themselves either. I would have preferred a bit more buildup before the sex scenes because I think this rivalry they had would have made them have amazing unresolved sexual tension and who doesn’t love UST but I know better than to expect this author to do a slow burn of any kind. Like I said, ZERO expectations. I also adore how Noah is always this relationship guru and helps the Mulvaney’s time and time again with recognizing their feelings towards their love interests. I loved what he said about Adam and his relationship because it summed up exactly why I am so obsessed with them as a couple and why I’ve read their book so many times I stopped keeping count and even bought it which I never do now that I have ku. Anyway. I loved how Archer didn’t waste any time telling Mac how he felt and their first date at the poker tournament was perfect especially what Mac tells the woman next to him while watching and then it actually happens. 😂😂 I think Archer is the least psychopathic of all of them but I wasn’t expecting anything so I didn’t give a fuck and took this at face value.
After these two get back home and meet with the family I admit it was a bit of a clusterfuck of people. I’m still so mad at this author for fucking up the twins’ books that whenever they or their partners were mentioned I felt like growling. Irrational but whatever. 😂😂 But I was back to happy when the boys are in Texas and the only couple available to help are Adam & Noah. Because I’ve read Unhinged so many times, I know that Archer always had a soft spot for Noah but I obviously didn’t know why and I think this is the first book in this series where one of the brother’s actually talked in detail about the trauma they endured. All the other brothers have mentioned things in passing but this was nitty, gritty and something Noah could relate to wholeheartedly and it made their scene together such a stand-out for me. Just the fact Archer would relive those awful memories to make Noah understand him better after what happened between them earlier in the book was special. Once again, Archer is definitely not a psychopath. From this point on, the things needed for the case had Noah/Adam and Mac/Archer spending lots of time together and I absolutely adored all of that too. I didn’t care that they were impeding in Mac & Archer’s relationship because it felt natural they were there but maybe that’s because I’m biased and absolutely adore them. Drunk Noah cracks me up 😂😂 Fucking Grover, the tape worm and Adam worried about his designer pants. Also, that scene with the dog and Adam raising his voice 🤣🤣 So funny.
I think it also helped that this case was a lot like the one from Unhinged so having Adam/Noah apart of this one too made this almost feel like a sequel of sorts. I do wish Mac and Archer had had some more time just the two of them but I found them so perfectly matched that I liked them just giving each other small smirks and holding each other’s hands while the rest of the family tried to solve this case. It also made sense to me that Archer would take a backseat because he played up on his image to get out of having to fully involve himself in his family’s crazy so him sitting back and letting others take the reins was more or less what he did in all the other books. I also could have lived without all the cultural references used as jokes because it was hard for me to believe any of them would know who Hannah Montana was or Elsa from Frozen unless it was August or Lucas since they have kids. It was just a bit much. I also thought Mac’s storyline felt kind of unfinished because there was so much talk of his issues with his family and his mom and then none of that was ever discussed with his mom. It just felt like a missed opportunity to deepen Mac’s character.
But overall, I liked this book much to my surprise and the epilogue did make me wonder what in the hell is going to happen in the next book. Here’s a secret from me to you though, I also have given absolutely no fucks about Aiden and Thomas. Aiden has been in so few of these books that I just couldn’t care less about him and my thoughts on Thomas go back and forth on whether I think he’s a good person so I can only hope my low expectations going into it will help me actually like it. Every book I’ve loved in this series, Unhinged, MoonStruck and this one, I either had no idea what to expect (Adam’s) or couldn’t have cared less about the main character (Atticus, Archer) yet the books I couldn’t stand (twins) or were indifferent about (August) were the ones I was most excited for and couldn’t wait to read. Go figure. 🙄🤦🏻♀️🤭
September 3, 2022
4,5 ⭐
Here we are with a new favorite in the series.
Seriously, it's getting harder and harder to decide which is my favorite couple in the series.
Lunatic was a BIG surprise for me. I wasn't very excited about Archer's book. Yet, from the beginning of the book, I fell in love with him. We have the usual suspense, case solving, the Mulvaney being the Mulvaney (you know what I mean). And I loved all of it! Of course, we have the usual dose of humor too. The plot felt the same as in the previous books, but I didn't get bored somehow. Lunatic, in a lot of sense, was the same as the previous books, yet it was also different.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Mac and Archer the most. The scenes between them, in the beginning, were HOT, and I couldn't get enough. Then we had Archer word vomiting, and I was YEP, LOVE THAT, GIVE ME MORE! Mac was another surprise for me. He is officially one of my favorites!!! (right there with Lucas and Felix). He saw the real side of Archer, he saw every part of him. And he was there for him!
Reasons for lowering my rating:
There were a few things I wish were developed more in the book. First, I missed the possessiveness here. I expected Archer to be possessive, yet there was very little of this. Also, in one scene, Archer said he hated himself. Why wasn't this elaborated on later in the book? It was mentioned once, and then it was gone. I needed to know more. This left a bitter taste of something unfinished in Archer's story. Like there was a glimpse of a part of him that we didn't get to see more of and understand.
Also, I didn't feel like Archer was a psychopath. I'm sorry, but the feelings he had for Mac and Noah... nope, I can't see him as a psychopath who doesn't know what feelings are. While I can see Asa, Adam, and Atticus (maybe Avi too) as psychopaths, Atticus and Archer, I can't.
Even though I had issues with this book, it is still one of my favorites. (Favorite books in the series: Psycho, Mad Man, Lunatic. Don't ask me to choose one, I can't.) I love this family and all of the brothers and their significant ones. It warmed my heart to see them together and how their family expanded.
Here we are with a new favorite in the series.
Seriously, it's getting harder and harder to decide which is my favorite couple in the series.
Lunatic was a BIG surprise for me. I wasn't very excited about Archer's book. Yet, from the beginning of the book, I fell in love with him. We have the usual suspense, case solving, the Mulvaney being the Mulvaney (you know what I mean). And I loved all of it! Of course, we have the usual dose of humor too. The plot felt the same as in the previous books, but I didn't get bored somehow. Lunatic, in a lot of sense, was the same as the previous books, yet it was also different.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Mac and Archer the most. The scenes between them, in the beginning, were HOT, and I couldn't get enough. Then we had Archer word vomiting, and I was YEP, LOVE THAT, GIVE ME MORE! Mac was another surprise for me. He is officially one of my favorites!!! (right there with Lucas and Felix). He saw the real side of Archer, he saw every part of him. And he was there for him!
Unguarded Archer was lethal, his words landing with maximum force on Mac's heart.
Reasons for lowering my rating:
There were a few things I wish were developed more in the book. First, I missed the possessiveness here. I expected Archer to be possessive, yet there was very little of this. Also, in one scene, Archer said he hated himself. Why wasn't this elaborated on later in the book? It was mentioned once, and then it was gone. I needed to know more. This left a bitter taste of something unfinished in Archer's story. Like there was a glimpse of a part of him that we didn't get to see more of and understand.
Also, I didn't feel like Archer was a psychopath. I'm sorry, but the feelings he had for Mac and Noah... nope, I can't see him as a psychopath who doesn't know what feelings are. While I can see Asa, Adam, and Atticus (maybe Avi too) as psychopaths, Atticus and Archer, I can't.
Even though I had issues with this book, it is still one of my favorites. (Favorite books in the series: Psycho, Mad Man, Lunatic. Don't ask me to choose one, I can't.) I love this family and all of the brothers and their significant ones. It warmed my heart to see them together and how their family expanded.
September 6, 2022
2.5 - 3 stars!
Lunatic took a direction I was not expecting and I’m really not sure how I feel about it. I will admit that this is my least favorite in the series so far.
Archer and Mac have an off-page “relationship” and then we are dropped into them having to work together. Now they’ve got a friends-with-benefits thing going on but Archer hates that he’s attracted to Mac and Mac loves getting under his skin. It’s a push/pull through a lot of the story which I enjoyed but the roles in which they played in that push/pull were awkward at times. Maybe if we’d had more of their beginning, I would have understood them better. This was categorized as enemies-to-lovers but I didn’t get that vibe at all.
Archer’s secret wasn’t tactifully revealed either. I feel like that could have been a bigger “ah ha” moment. It felt awkwardly thrown in.
Archer
1. Is he even a psychopath? I felt like it was alluded to that he wasn’t but isn’t that what these stories are about? His character had a lot of layers but they weren’t developed well. I expected more grit.
2. Why is he submissive? I wasn’t expecting that from him and it didn’t work for me. Why are most of these psychopaths submissive? Lol. And I say psychopath with some humor because all these guys are NOT truly psychopaths. Let’s be real.
3. He didn’t seem to fit into the Mulvaney dynamic to be honest.
Mac
1. I hated the nickname he used for Archer. Hated it.
2. He was dominant but faking it in a way so it made their chemistry off.
3. He seemed like more of a Mulvaney than Archer.
The story was good, arguably better than the other books and it had a good bit of suspense and intrigue. But the relationship wasn’t developed enough in the right way for me. This was steamy with a HEA but every time I think I know what to expect from these books, I get the opposite 😂. O well.
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THOMAS AND AIDEN! Don’t let me down.
Lunatic took a direction I was not expecting and I’m really not sure how I feel about it. I will admit that this is my least favorite in the series so far.
Archer and Mac have an off-page “relationship” and then we are dropped into them having to work together. Now they’ve got a friends-with-benefits thing going on but Archer hates that he’s attracted to Mac and Mac loves getting under his skin. It’s a push/pull through a lot of the story which I enjoyed but the roles in which they played in that push/pull were awkward at times. Maybe if we’d had more of their beginning, I would have understood them better. This was categorized as enemies-to-lovers but I didn’t get that vibe at all.
Archer’s secret wasn’t tactifully revealed either. I feel like that could have been a bigger “ah ha” moment. It felt awkwardly thrown in.
Archer
1. Is he even a psychopath? I felt like it was alluded to that he wasn’t but isn’t that what these stories are about? His character had a lot of layers but they weren’t developed well. I expected more grit.
2. Why is he submissive? I wasn’t expecting that from him and it didn’t work for me. Why are most of these psychopaths submissive? Lol. And I say psychopath with some humor because all these guys are NOT truly psychopaths. Let’s be real.
3. He didn’t seem to fit into the Mulvaney dynamic to be honest.
Mac
1. I hated the nickname he used for Archer. Hated it.
2. He was dominant but faking it in a way so it made their chemistry off.
3. He seemed like more of a Mulvaney than Archer.
The story was good, arguably better than the other books and it had a good bit of suspense and intrigue. But the relationship wasn’t developed enough in the right way for me. This was steamy with a HEA but every time I think I know what to expect from these books, I get the opposite 😂. O well.
I CAN’T WAIT FOR THOMAS AND AIDEN! Don’t let me down.
October 6, 2022
This would dispatch you directly to loony-bin….
I assure you this is gonna torture you more than any primitive torture devices of Aiden. Please save yourself and if you are still craving something from Onley James, hop on and let's reread 'Moonstruck'.
I assure you this is gonna torture you more than any primitive torture devices of Aiden. Please save yourself and if you are still craving something from Onley James, hop on and let's reread 'Moonstruck'.
July 9, 2023
«—Eres mío. ¿Me oyes? No voy a ir a ninguna jodida parte. Y tú tampoco. Estamos en esto de por vida. Si huyes, te encontraré. Necesito que lo sepas. No creo que pueda vivir sin ti en este punto.»
☆ No me esperaba para nada descubrir lo que sucede en este libro y es que he tenido una idea de quién es Archer durante los cinco libros anteriores y llego aquí y ¡bam! Es completamente diferente. La historia me ha entretenido bastante y me lo leí súper rápido porque es adictivo el querer saber que es lo siguiente que pasará… Y también porque ya quería llegar a la historia de Thomas y Aiden, no voy a mentir (jajaja). Así que comenzaré a poder mis impresiones y ya saben que tendrán hartos spoilers, están advertidos.
☆ Comenzaré diciendo que me encantó que la autora me volara la peluca revelando que, en realidad, Archer es como un agente encubierto que trabaja junto a Thomas en todo el proyecto The Watch, que busca entrenar a más chicos psicopatas para que también hagan la justicia por el mundo. Sí, es un psicopata, fue elegido por Thomas cuando era más joven, para ayudarlo en algunos casos con el gobierno y ha tenido que fingir ser el hermano alcohólico, despreocupado y sin ningún tipo de responsabilidad, cuando la verdad es que es todo lo contrario. En la operación de la academia para psicopatas, trabajará junto a Mackenzie, el único hombre que sabe como es el verdadero Archer.
☆ Ambos protagonistas sienten una conexión profunda desde el principio que los lleva eventualmente a confiar, encariñarse, enamorarse y amar al otro; Archer tiene algunos problemas con poder abrir sus sentimientos a Mac, pero está dispuesto a intentarlo todo para estar con él, Mac lo ayuda a desenvolverse y sentirse en un espacio seguro en el que sus emociones y su corazón serán adorados con la mayor delicadeza. Sentí muy bonito cuando Archer quería expresar todo lo que Mac significaba para él y con tal de hacerlo bien busca la ayuda de Noah; también cuando tienen una discusión y Mac busca consejo en su cuñado porque quiere arreglar las cosas y recuperar a su amorcito. En esta historia no podían faltar las buena escenas de folladas entre ambos y es que, desde el principio podemos ver como Mac siempre sabe como volver loco de deseo a Archer y a su vez a Archer le encanta ceder el control y dedicarse a sentir, obedecer y deleitarse con la sensación de Mac dominándolo.
☆ El misterio a resolver gira en torno a Mac, pues tras tomar unas fotografías a ciertas personas, ahora lo están buscando para matarlo. Nadie sabe quienes son aquellos hombres, lo que estaban haciendo y porque creen que asesinando a Mac todo quedará resuelto, toda la familia se une en la búsqueda de información que pueda aclarar el rompecabezas y lo que se revela es igual de trágico que en todos los libros anteriores. Hay tráfico de niños, estos son los hijos de las personas que son detenidas como inmigrantes y que no pueden hacer nada para poder recuperar a sus pequeños; los niños son vendidos en subastas a personas enfermas, y como siempre hay acciones violentas contra los responsables de estas barbaridades, tortura, sangre y diversión por parte de los Mulvaney.
☆ Para finalizar, mencionare cosas más aleatorias que me gustaron mucho del libro; todas las escenas en donde interactúan los demás hermanos con sus respectivas parejas, ya que podemos enterarnos de cómo han avanzado sus vidas y nos dan algunos momentos graciosos; hay partes, como cuando le revelan la verdad de Archer a todos, que son espectaculares y se puede sentir el sentimiento de traición en el ambiente. Noah sintiéndose traicionado y luego ver como Archer se disculpa con él, es de los mejores momentos y hasta me dieron ganitas de entrar al libro y darle un abrazo a Noah. Y ni que decir del epílogo en donde Thomas se ha fugado con nada más que con Aiden, yo no puedo soportar un día más sin saber que ocurrirá con ese par.
«—Te deseo tanto como para dejar de lado años de fingir ser alguien que no era por una noche de ser exactamente quien quería ser para ti. —Sus palabras aterrizaron con la máxima fuerza en el corazón de Mac—. Ahora, te tengo a ti. Tengo esto. Y soy tan adicto a nosotros...»
☆ No me esperaba para nada descubrir lo que sucede en este libro y es que he tenido una idea de quién es Archer durante los cinco libros anteriores y llego aquí y ¡bam! Es completamente diferente. La historia me ha entretenido bastante y me lo leí súper rápido porque es adictivo el querer saber que es lo siguiente que pasará… Y también porque ya quería llegar a la historia de Thomas y Aiden, no voy a mentir (jajaja). Así que comenzaré a poder mis impresiones y ya saben que tendrán hartos spoilers, están advertidos.
☆ Comenzaré diciendo que me encantó que la autora me volara la peluca revelando que, en realidad, Archer es como un agente encubierto que trabaja junto a Thomas en todo el proyecto The Watch, que busca entrenar a más chicos psicopatas para que también hagan la justicia por el mundo. Sí, es un psicopata, fue elegido por Thomas cuando era más joven, para ayudarlo en algunos casos con el gobierno y ha tenido que fingir ser el hermano alcohólico, despreocupado y sin ningún tipo de responsabilidad, cuando la verdad es que es todo lo contrario. En la operación de la academia para psicopatas, trabajará junto a Mackenzie, el único hombre que sabe como es el verdadero Archer.
☆ Ambos protagonistas sienten una conexión profunda desde el principio que los lleva eventualmente a confiar, encariñarse, enamorarse y amar al otro; Archer tiene algunos problemas con poder abrir sus sentimientos a Mac, pero está dispuesto a intentarlo todo para estar con él, Mac lo ayuda a desenvolverse y sentirse en un espacio seguro en el que sus emociones y su corazón serán adorados con la mayor delicadeza. Sentí muy bonito cuando Archer quería expresar todo lo que Mac significaba para él y con tal de hacerlo bien busca la ayuda de Noah; también cuando tienen una discusión y Mac busca consejo en su cuñado porque quiere arreglar las cosas y recuperar a su amorcito. En esta historia no podían faltar las buena escenas de folladas entre ambos y es que, desde el principio podemos ver como Mac siempre sabe como volver loco de deseo a Archer y a su vez a Archer le encanta ceder el control y dedicarse a sentir, obedecer y deleitarse con la sensación de Mac dominándolo.
☆ El misterio a resolver gira en torno a Mac, pues tras tomar unas fotografías a ciertas personas, ahora lo están buscando para matarlo. Nadie sabe quienes son aquellos hombres, lo que estaban haciendo y porque creen que asesinando a Mac todo quedará resuelto, toda la familia se une en la búsqueda de información que pueda aclarar el rompecabezas y lo que se revela es igual de trágico que en todos los libros anteriores. Hay tráfico de niños, estos son los hijos de las personas que son detenidas como inmigrantes y que no pueden hacer nada para poder recuperar a sus pequeños; los niños son vendidos en subastas a personas enfermas, y como siempre hay acciones violentas contra los responsables de estas barbaridades, tortura, sangre y diversión por parte de los Mulvaney.
☆ Para finalizar, mencionare cosas más aleatorias que me gustaron mucho del libro; todas las escenas en donde interactúan los demás hermanos con sus respectivas parejas, ya que podemos enterarnos de cómo han avanzado sus vidas y nos dan algunos momentos graciosos; hay partes, como cuando le revelan la verdad de Archer a todos, que son espectaculares y se puede sentir el sentimiento de traición en el ambiente. Noah sintiéndose traicionado y luego ver como Archer se disculpa con él, es de los mejores momentos y hasta me dieron ganitas de entrar al libro y darle un abrazo a Noah. Y ni que decir del epílogo en donde Thomas se ha fugado con nada más que con Aiden, yo no puedo soportar un día más sin saber que ocurrirá con ese par.
«—Te deseo tanto como para dejar de lado años de fingir ser alguien que no era por una noche de ser exactamente quien quería ser para ti. —Sus palabras aterrizaron con la máxima fuerza en el corazón de Mac—. Ahora, te tengo a ti. Tengo esto. Y soy tan adicto a nosotros...»
September 4, 2022
"Archer wouldn't allow himself a pleasure if it wasn't hard won. That was just who he was as a person."
Lunatic is the sixth book in the Necessary Evils series about the psychopathic Mulvaney brothers and their significant others, by the wonderful Onley James. This is Archer and Mac's story.
In the previous books, Archer has been 'typecast' as a drunk, a gambler and a playboy. It turns out that he's none of the above. Archer wants nothing more than to spend 'private alone time' with his controlling nemesis (Mac) on the ultra secret Project Watchtower that he's been working on for his father, Thomas. And Mac is only too happy to oblige. On the control front.😈
If you've read the other books in this series you'll know what to expect from Lunatic, because Onley maintains the same formula throughout for the Mulvaney boys - the books contain insta love, hot and steamy scenes, snark and banter, a perfect match of partner, some confronting storylines and a HEA.
Who could ask for more?!
4 steamy stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lunatic is the sixth book in the Necessary Evils series about the psychopathic Mulvaney brothers and their significant others, by the wonderful Onley James. This is Archer and Mac's story.
In the previous books, Archer has been 'typecast' as a drunk, a gambler and a playboy. It turns out that he's none of the above. Archer wants nothing more than to spend 'private alone time' with his controlling nemesis (Mac) on the ultra secret Project Watchtower that he's been working on for his father, Thomas. And Mac is only too happy to oblige. On the control front.😈
If you've read the other books in this series you'll know what to expect from Lunatic, because Onley maintains the same formula throughout for the Mulvaney boys - the books contain insta love, hot and steamy scenes, snark and banter, a perfect match of partner, some confronting storylines and a HEA.
Who could ask for more?!
4 steamy stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 2, 2022
i have been extremely patient with this series and i have been way more kind than i should’ve been with my ratings. (i really should lower those, but to do that i would have to reread them and i don’t hate myself that much). i reached my breaking point.
we are all aware, at this point, that there are no real psychopaths in this series, but AT LEAST in the previous books the author tried to make them morally grey, a whole lot of weird or even bloodthirsty.
with the twins we even reached a level of psychopathy acceptable for a book.
then she stopped trying.
there is not even one single teeny tiny thing that could label archer as a psychopath. he lies. that’s it. very scary.
add the same plot of sex trafficking shit that she used form book one and you get a nightmare.
what the hell did i read.
i will still read the next book just for daddy thomas but i am seriously scared about it.
we are all aware, at this point, that there are no real psychopaths in this series, but AT LEAST in the previous books the author tried to make them morally grey, a whole lot of weird or even bloodthirsty.
with the twins we even reached a level of psychopathy acceptable for a book.
then she stopped trying.
there is not even one single teeny tiny thing that could label archer as a psychopath. he lies. that’s it. very scary.
add the same plot of sex trafficking shit that she used form book one and you get a nightmare.
what the hell did i read.
i will still read the next book just for daddy thomas but i am seriously scared about it.
September 2, 2022
What a ride fr. Archer baby my little baby. Will be buying him eyeliner. This was the cutest (says little old me about a book series about murderers godbless) no because mac is such a great person too? I mean? Hello? also my child. I'll pay attention to him<3
I MISSED EVERYONE SO MUCH and i am so excited for aidan omg missing that hermit fr<33
Forgot to say that i am a whore for the married in vegas trope and this hit the spot <3
I MISSED EVERYONE SO MUCH and i am so excited for aidan omg missing that hermit fr<33
Forgot to say that i am a whore for the married in vegas trope and this hit the spot <3
February 17, 2023
2.5
al principio me costó un huevo empezarlo porque cojian cada dos segundos y era re molesto PAREN DE CHUPARSE LA PIJA YA ENTENDIMOOOOOOS
pero después se puso medio entretenido, me encantan todas las interacciones que tienen con la familia son un cago de risa, los quiero mucho
bueno ahora a lo importante: el libro que viene es de THOMAS LETS FUCKINH GO DESDE EL PRIMER LIBRO QUIERO ESTO
al principio me costó un huevo empezarlo porque cojian cada dos segundos y era re molesto PAREN DE CHUPARSE LA PIJA YA ENTENDIMOOOOOOS
pero después se puso medio entretenido, me encantan todas las interacciones que tienen con la familia son un cago de risa, los quiero mucho
bueno ahora a lo importante: el libro que viene es de THOMAS LETS FUCKINH GO DESDE EL PRIMER LIBRO QUIERO ESTO
March 15, 2023
December 12, 2022 Amazon purch
3.75 Stars
I liked it a lot.
But just like all the other books in this series, it depends too much on the sex scenes.
And those often happen at ODD times.
This one was better than the one before it.
I like the way this author writes.
I do wish she would write a series where all the MC's are older.
And I wish she would put in more actual suspense/mystery etc.
TPAM BR 2/19/23
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
3.75 Stars
I liked it a lot.
But just like all the other books in this series, it depends too much on the sex scenes.
And those often happen at ODD times.
This one was better than the one before it.
I like the way this author writes.
I do wish she would write a series where all the MC's are older.
And I wish she would put in more actual suspense/mystery etc.
TPAM BR 2/19/23
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
September 8, 2022
ok i honestly didn't get why Archer lied to his family about being an alcoholic (if there was an emoji that conveyed incredulity i would greatly appreciate it).
Mac and Archer were great but i kinda lost interest in them as soon as Noah and Adam appeared💀 which is pretty bad for a book centred around them.
totally enjoyed the Noah x Adam bits even if they weren't the main characters.
Mac and Archer were great but i kinda lost interest in them as soon as Noah and Adam appeared💀 which is pretty bad for a book centred around them.
totally enjoyed the Noah x Adam bits even if they weren't the main characters.
September 11, 2022
Archer was the one brother I didn't feel anyway about. I didn't love him; I didn't hate him I just didn't know anything about him. Having gotten to know Archer I feel like I was gifted his story. Seeing him in a way that only Mac did was kind of like seeing into the most intimate parts of him.
This book didn't follow the same formula as the previous books, and it makes sense. With Archer being so different and his story with Mac being vastly different as well it makes sense that it would be different.
Even though formulas work and if it ain't broke don't fix it this time it was worth the change. Archer was nothing like I was expecting and seeing him open up the way he did to Mac was far more than I could have hoped for. Mac is used to psychopaths, sort of. He can handle all that Archer is without batting an eye. The lack of empathy, the lack of feelings he can handle. What he couldn't handle was Archer shutting down on him. He literally opened Archer up like this butterfly and to say I was swoony would be an understatement.
If you have been reading the Necessary Evils, then you know what to expect with the Mulvaney's. They are killers sure, but that is just what they are not who. Every book has been like a backroad in Texas bumpy and unexpected. Aiden's book is last and the one most of us have been waiting for because not only is it the last book in the series we will also get to see a whole new side to Daddy Mulvaney. I am salivating just thinking about it.
This book didn't follow the same formula as the previous books, and it makes sense. With Archer being so different and his story with Mac being vastly different as well it makes sense that it would be different.
Even though formulas work and if it ain't broke don't fix it this time it was worth the change. Archer was nothing like I was expecting and seeing him open up the way he did to Mac was far more than I could have hoped for. Mac is used to psychopaths, sort of. He can handle all that Archer is without batting an eye. The lack of empathy, the lack of feelings he can handle. What he couldn't handle was Archer shutting down on him. He literally opened Archer up like this butterfly and to say I was swoony would be an understatement.
If you have been reading the Necessary Evils, then you know what to expect with the Mulvaney's. They are killers sure, but that is just what they are not who. Every book has been like a backroad in Texas bumpy and unexpected. Aiden's book is last and the one most of us have been waiting for because not only is it the last book in the series we will also get to see a whole new side to Daddy Mulvaney. I am salivating just thinking about it.
February 18, 2023
3.5 stars
Another enjoyable entry in the series, with plenty of cameos and new characters, but I think my expectations were a bit high for this one and it just didn't wow me. It also sets up a spin-off that looks like it could be quite fun. I didn't like that we were just thrown into the middle of what was an ongoing relationship, but the two MCs had plenty of chemistry. With all that said, I just feel like the romance kind of got lost in the shuffle here.
Another enjoyable entry in the series, with plenty of cameos and new characters, but I think my expectations were a bit high for this one and it just didn't wow me. It also sets up a spin-off that looks like it could be quite fun. I didn't like that we were just thrown into the middle of what was an ongoing relationship, but the two MCs had plenty of chemistry. With all that said, I just feel like the romance kind of got lost in the shuffle here.
April 4, 2023
Such a meh book, all I can say is : the mystery was bad, the characters too
May 17, 2023
Lunatic is the 6th installment in the "Necessary Evils" series and we are coming to a close with this series and my heart is full of bittersweet feels. I have just loved this journey that this author has taken us on, but at the same time I don't want to see this family go. There is so much endearing moments that I have loved and the way in which this author can entertain and make me laugh which is rare especially in a dark romance. I really adore the way in which this author has implemented certain aspects.
Lunatic is the story of Archer, who is the "drunk" of the family or at least thats what we think he is. There are so many secrets that are revealed in this one here. I really enjoyed the way in which this author implemented Archer's story because I feel like we learn so much about his character and wow some family drama gets revealed. We definitely see a side to Archer that has been hidden until now. Where we see the man he truly is and not the image that he presents to everyone including his family and only Thomas, his father, knows the truth. This has some enemies to lovers vibes though and I really enjoyed the way that this author handled this type of tension. And thankfully it doesn't last too long. I love it when there is angst but it gets resolved earlier on so that we can see good aspects of relationship building and we definitely see that in this one here.
Lunatic is a story that was full of laughs for this reader and honestly once the family gets involved in the mix I just adored seeing the differing bantering aspects that is delivered. The romance itself was so interesting. It has so much angst in the beginning and some hate fuc*ing and it was delicious. I loved the way that these two go at it with each other and its done in a way that is so entertaining. But my goodness we had so many fun elements with this one. And there is plenty of intrigue and suspense on this one in searching out murders and rapists of immigrants and that was a interesting plot line I wasn't expecting this author to touch base on. Thankfully the author walked a fine line not to get political on it, just ethical so it worked for me. And she left us with such a teaser on Thomas and Aiden and boy their book is going to be a wild ride and I can't wait for it.
Overall I had a blast with Lunatic and this author definitely delivers on badass MM romance!
Lunatic is the story of Archer, who is the "drunk" of the family or at least thats what we think he is. There are so many secrets that are revealed in this one here. I really enjoyed the way in which this author implemented Archer's story because I feel like we learn so much about his character and wow some family drama gets revealed. We definitely see a side to Archer that has been hidden until now. Where we see the man he truly is and not the image that he presents to everyone including his family and only Thomas, his father, knows the truth. This has some enemies to lovers vibes though and I really enjoyed the way that this author handled this type of tension. And thankfully it doesn't last too long. I love it when there is angst but it gets resolved earlier on so that we can see good aspects of relationship building and we definitely see that in this one here.
Lunatic is a story that was full of laughs for this reader and honestly once the family gets involved in the mix I just adored seeing the differing bantering aspects that is delivered. The romance itself was so interesting. It has so much angst in the beginning and some hate fuc*ing and it was delicious. I loved the way that these two go at it with each other and its done in a way that is so entertaining. But my goodness we had so many fun elements with this one. And there is plenty of intrigue and suspense on this one in searching out murders and rapists of immigrants and that was a interesting plot line I wasn't expecting this author to touch base on. Thankfully the author walked a fine line not to get political on it, just ethical so it worked for me. And she left us with such a teaser on Thomas and Aiden and boy their book is going to be a wild ride and I can't wait for it.
Overall I had a blast with Lunatic and this author definitely delivers on badass MM romance!
November 10, 2022
I get the feeling there was a book in another series related to the characters in this one, at least as far as Mac's brother is concerned. Because for a moment there it felt as if either I had skipped a book or I had started the book a third of the way in. It kind of gave me whiplash, I felt so lost.
I wish we had had more focus on Archer and Mac versus the criminal du jour, but otherwise I enjoyed it. Now I'm down for the impatient wait for the final book
I wish we had had more focus on Archer and Mac versus the criminal du jour, but otherwise I enjoyed it. Now I'm down for the impatient wait for the final book
September 8, 2022
the case? boring
it's the second book in a row that I've read that the couple has ZERO development.
normally I love the books on this series but this one was a big no
it's the second book in a row that I've read that the couple has ZERO development.
normally I love the books on this series but this one was a big no
September 1, 2022
I'll admit that Archer is the one Mulvaney brother that I always forget because it's either he's never there or always drunk. Honestly and I'm sorry to say, I was never interested in his story.
This disinterest however changed to acute curiosity at the end of the previous book when it became apparent that Archer's laid back, "always drunk", "always gambling" attitude was a gimmick. The question then became "Who really was Archer Mulvaney?"
The other MC, Mac, we meet in Onley's Elite Protection Series. I have not read that series so I was a little apprehensive about missing some nuances but it was easy to follow along since his connection was to his twin brother.
Their "relationship" if you could even call it that at the beginning was purely physical with lots of sexy times. However, and as is typical of the Mulvaney brothers, Archer got the realisation that Mac was his person, Mac finally admitted his feelings and the rest is history.
To be honest I thought Mac's feelings were a bit premature but I really can't complain since it was reciprocated by Archer in his own way.
I liked this book. It's not my favourite in the series but it was still solidly written and had a lot of things going for it.
The ending also set up the final book (and dare I say a spin-off series?) perfectly.
***eARC Provided in Exchange for An Honest and Unbiased Review ***
This disinterest however changed to acute curiosity at the end of the previous book when it became apparent that Archer's laid back, "always drunk", "always gambling" attitude was a gimmick. The question then became "Who really was Archer Mulvaney?"
The other MC, Mac, we meet in Onley's Elite Protection Series. I have not read that series so I was a little apprehensive about missing some nuances but it was easy to follow along since his connection was to his twin brother.
Their "relationship" if you could even call it that at the beginning was purely physical with lots of sexy times. However, and as is typical of the Mulvaney brothers, Archer got the realisation that Mac was his person, Mac finally admitted his feelings and the rest is history.
To be honest I thought Mac's feelings were a bit premature but I really can't complain since it was reciprocated by Archer in his own way.
I liked this book. It's not my favourite in the series but it was still solidly written and had a lot of things going for it.
The ending also set up the final book (and dare I say a spin-off series?) perfectly.
***eARC Provided in Exchange for An Honest and Unbiased Review ***
September 2, 2022
I don't need to read it in order to know that it will be everything I need and more. I'm in love with the writing and the plot of the whole series and I know this books won't disappoint.
I just read the first chapter and I love it. The character development is going to be one of the best, I just know it. And the crossover is everything I've needed in my life. This family is my comfort zone. Love it.
Updated
I read it and i loved it. I love the chemistry between the characters and I can't get enough of the family relationships and the way they interact with each other. I loved the appearance of the characters from other series and i just can't get enough!!
I just read the first chapter and I love it. The character development is going to be one of the best, I just know it. And the crossover is everything I've needed in my life. This family is my comfort zone. Love it.
Updated
I read it and i loved it. I love the chemistry between the characters and I can't get enough of the family relationships and the way they interact with each other. I loved the appearance of the characters from other series and i just can't get enough!!
August 31, 2022
This book wasn’t what I was expecting - I’m going to hide the whole thing for light spoilers. You find out things almost immediately but…
CWs: psychopath hero, torture/violence/murder, child abuse and molestation, trafficking, alcohol/alcoholism, gambling
CWs: psychopath hero, torture/violence/murder, child abuse and molestation, trafficking, alcohol/alcoholism, gambling
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