Reaper

Bonetti Brothers #2

by Chelle Rose

I’m a violent man. A killer. Life means little to me. She wasn’t my first, and she certainly wouldn’t be my last. And then she got away and knocked me off kilter. No one has ever escaped before her. I’ll watch her until she thinks she’s safe. And then I’ll give her the choice. Be mine or die.



Following a near death experience, I vow to live life to the fullest. Escaping from a serial killer gives you a new lease on life. I’m not willing to live in fear. Then he finds me and this time I know there will be no escape.

Will Arabella drag a homicidal maniac into the light, or will he pull her into the dark?

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Forced Proximity, Abuse

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2025

About the author

I hate talking about myself. I'm awkward AF and write super spicy books with twisty plots. Most of my books are dark romance so always check the content warnings!

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶.5

🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
☠️ Mutual Un-Aliving
🖤 Virgin MMC
☠️ Forced Proximity
🖤 He Falls First, Hard & Fast
☠️ Mafia Romance

⚠️ Please Check Your Trigger/Content Warnings ⚠️

✨️ ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️

🎙Narrated by: Marie Hawkins & Bryant Walker 🎙

Let me just start by saying Bryant Walker came into this book with his WHOLE BODY! What I mean is this man couldn't have been more perfect for Reaper as a person. His voice couldn't have been more perfect. He knew exactly how to give the cadence and tone for everything that was to be Reaper. I couldn't have loved this man's performance more!! He was just so perfect!

Marie gave Bella the most vulnerable yet strong voice I can still hear in my head when I think of her. I honestly couldn't imagine a better voice for Bella.

📖 Review Time!

This book is TWISTED ☠️ and that is the easiest way to put it plainly. It is a book that you can't just jump into feet first. Cause it will definitely rock you!

⚠️ Please READ YOUR TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS ⚠️


I enjoyed Bones but Reaper was the one that I wanted to know more about. He is such a man of mystery and I know there are so many more depths to him. This book could have easily been another 4 hours and I would have still been on the edge of my seat listening. I'm even more excited about the next book!

Bella was living a life that she wasn't truly happy. What she didn't expect was for a literal Reaper to take her and tell her how beautiful her eyes 👁 are and he wants to keep them. It only gets crazier from there! Bella gives him as good as she gets when it comes to Reaper. She has to almost reason with him why she is upset after their first time together. Reaper has no concept of consent. So when she explains what really happened he struggles to understand even if she finished.

When Bella really talks to him he really feels something unlike before where he felt nothing. She is able to speak to him like no other, because he truly listens and truly feels. He has a hard exterior ans has operated so well on not feeling for so long. He has un-alived as he has pleased for so long. But when it comes to Bella, he feels and truly understands.

What I wasn't expecting was for Bella to flip the script and join him in his shenanigans!! I wasn't prepared for it but it definitely became enjoyable. As much as reading a fictional happening can be!

Not going to lie, this book is TWISTED but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the ride as it came along. This book was definitely my favorite of the first two books.



🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵:
🌶️🌶️🌶.5 /5


🥵 Breath Play
🔥 Praise & Degradation
☠️ Hand Necklaces
🔥🔪 Play
🕷 SPIDER FUN FOR ONE
🔥 SOMNO
☠️ VIRGIN MMC
🥵 DUBCON
🔥 NON CON



Thank you so much to Chelle Rose & Blue Nose Audio for the free ALC copy 🫶🏻. All opinions✨️ are my own, honest and voluntary✨️.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re insane.”
“I know I am, baby. That’s why we’re perfect for each other. If one of us were normal, this wouldn’t work.”
“What’s normal?”
“Boring. Going to work every day, dealing with people’s stupid sh*t. Not craving bringing people to their death, I suppose.”
“Weird.”

Most definitely check your TW because this is NOT a light read. Actually, if the other brothers are anything like Reaper, check those as well.

The ride isn't even bumpy. It's out of control!

EDIT: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS - WARNING SIGNS EVERYWHERE!
I went ahead and read the other two books in this series...
First off the bat, I have no IDEA or can FATHOM how Bella got kidnapped, held hostage, and r*ped by the Abruzzos. Bella and Nico/Reaper are glued to the hip! He never lets her out of his sight! But somehow their enemies got to her. From that first chapter, I was already shaking my head. It's like a missing plot hole or something. I don't know. And to top it off on a sh*ttier level, they lose their baby. I don't know. I was already disppointed, sad, and pssed off this happened. The rest of the story was tainted for me.
That along with Kage's insta love for Raina. It took a literal 24 hours to "fall in love" with her. And then Reaper goes and saves her!
NO. Just nope. Nah.
And then there is Psycho and his tantrum when his told him she was pregnant and he was going to be a dad......
I can't......

I don't want to rate the other two books because it's not fair to the author or future readers. Just because they weren't for me, doesn't mean that others won't enjoy them.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re in the mafia?”

“Not exactly. Apparently, I’m too unhinged for the mafia.”

Dark mafia romance with a seriously mentally unstable mmc with an fmc who is just as crazy and disturbed. A hell of a journey for these characters, we love them and hate them. They have banter and are both bad shit crazy.
Heavy set of TW's and lots of spice.

Book 2 in the Bonetti Brothers series.
I loved Bones (Book 1) and couldn't wait to read about his brother Reaper and his living dead girl.

I'm so happy to have been an arc reader again for the awesome Chelle Rose. Patiently waiting to read Kage the next Bonetti Brother in the series.

[Tals' Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Chefs kiss. 4 stars because I wanted Reaper to cut out eyeballs and didn’t get it.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reaper
Bonetti Brothers 2
By Chelle Rose
Narrated by Marie Hawkins, Bryant Walker

Talk about dark and twisted, this is a book that I couldn't put down. Why you ask? It's one of those stories that you just have to see what is going to happen. Bella was going to be Reaper's next kill. Toying with her was just part of the fun, but she did something no other victim did. She got under his skin. There is something about her that feeds his inner soul. But can he keep her? Bella gives as good as she gets. A sharp tongue, and a fast thinker she has Reaper on his toes. But will she be able to convince him to let her go? This is a wild ride. Getting to know Reaper and all the demons he possesses did nothing not to make me love him. His Living Dead Girl, Bella is his perfect match and each phase she goes through is another twist to this crazy romance. I loved the listen and will look forward to more of the brothers!

Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker are the story tellers and they bring the darkness alive! Hawkins gives her a spunkiness and each nuance shows the true Bella. Walker knows how to create the best kind of psychopathic personality. As Reaper, he had my sympathy, but he kept that darkness. This narration is amazing, and it only makes me want more.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Alc Review🎧~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

~Reaper~Bonetti Brothers #2~Chelle Rose~

~Duet Narration~Bryant Walker & Marie Hawkins~

"Sweet, living de@d girl. Tonight you will come face to face with the man that has become your greatest fear. You’ll make a choice. Be mine or d!e."

♡Reaper was everything I hoped for & more! This dark, spicy, twisted read was utter perfection! I devoured every second of this listen in a few hours & now I want to re-listen! Excuse me while I go to the cemetery to find myself a Reaper!

Bryant & Marie did such an amazing job at bringing our two MCs to life! The emotion they both put behind this performance was impeccable. It made me feel every emotion right along with the characters!

Reaper & Bella are two broken souls running from the past. Neither expected to find themselves in the others' reflection. There's something romantic about finding someone who is just as messed up as you are while making the jagged puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.

If you like dark mafia romance & a couple who slays together (literally) look no further you found it!♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

[Randi (randi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the Bonetti Brothers series. I haven’t read the first book, but this was easily readable as a standalone. It makes me want to go back and read Bones and Athena’s story, though.

This story is dark and unhinged. The MMC unalives people…because he can. He has Arabella in his sights and he becomes obsessed with her. At first, their “relationship” is not mutual/consensual, but after a traumatic incident it changes.

Even though this is dark and extremely spicy, I found myself entertained to listen to this audiobook in one sitting. The characters grew on me-especially Reaper/Nico.

This is narrated in duet by Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker. They are both new to me narrators and I loved their narration. So good. I need to listen to more by them.

Thank you to Blue Nose Audio and the author for an advanced listeners copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Are you ready to depopulate the Earth? Let’s start at Walmart. I feel like there’s way too many people there.”

We’ve got kidnapping, betrayal, brutal pasts, and a romance born out of pure chaos. Call it Stockholm Syndrome if you want—I’m obsessed.

I devoured this second Bonetti Brothers book. It’s not every day you get a virgin MMC.

Reaper and Bella’s story is unhinged, twisted, violent… and somehow still tender? Bella really steps into her dark side, and the way Reaper fakes his own death just to see if she actually cares? That level of toxic devotion? Chef’s kiss.

Every brother’s name promises another storm, and I cannot wait for what’s next.

ALC Review – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Reaper is a fantastic dark romance that's captivating and will keep you enthralled the entire time. Make sure to check triggers before reading. This can be read as a standalone. Chelle is a new to me author. I loved her writing style. Told in dual POV. The story jumps right into the main plot. We're introduced immediately to the main characters. Nico known as "Reaper" is very unhinged and has a penchant for killing. When he meets Bella, he's captivated by her eyes and will do everything to have her. I loved Bella. She was brave and resilient and tried to take back what was lost to her. Their dynamic gradually changes as the story progresses and I loved how the story was so different from anything I read before.

As for the audiobook narration, it's amazing! Performed in duet by Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker. These two were perfectly casted. Marie and Bryant brought their characters to life and elevated the story for me. They captured their characters emotions so well. With the duet narration it elevated even the darker, unhinged parts of the story. I loved listening to every minute of it! It's so good.

Audiobook out now!

Thank you to @bluenoseaudio for my ALC and for the opportunity to review and listen.

[lindseysbooklore · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you Blue Nose Audio for this ALC

Super dark. This book is for the very dark romance lovers. Not for the faint of heart. Check your triggers PLEASE!! This is the second book in a series. Dark romance, abduction. Narration was very good, very dramatic, excellent performances.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark & twisted just how I like it! I enjoyed reading the book but Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker brought the characters to life. The sass that Hawkins gave Bella was perfect and the craziness that Walker brought into Reaper was just perfect.

[Miasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reaper is absolutely so unhinged that it’s completely normal in the Bonetti’s household. Arabella is lost until Reaper. The way Reaper goes about making Arabella give into her nature and acknowledge her need for him was extreme, but effective. Arabella is a total badass and approve 🫡

[Mars Rads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

This is the second book in the Bonetti Brothers series and, honestly, I don’t know how the books in the future could be better. This is one of those books That sometimes makes me question myself because it is dark and messy and I loved it. There is a list of trigger warnings at the beginning and I strongly recommend that you look at it before you read this book. As Nico himself says, he’s “not a good man, but he’s an honest one.” He is a serial killer. He unalives people for no real reason other than the tickle in his neck. This is not the type of romance where the two MCs meet, and she saves him or the type of story where he becomes a better man because of her. This is dark and unhinged. The beginning may turn some people off but the chemistry between these two characters and the realizations that they each come to makes this such an enjoyable dark romance to read. It is perfect if morally grey is a little too light for you and you crave characters that belong together and to no one else.

This is not the type of book where we find that the dark MMC is a sweetheart deep inside and the FMC’s innocence says him. Nico AKA Reaper takes for no reason and feels no guilt as he watches his victim’s eyes dim. But as he tells Bella, he feels. He feels pain and sadness and hurt. He has absolutely no concept of consent but there were times I really felt for him because his biggest vulnerability is that he feels that everyone judges him. He knows he isn’t normal but he wants his uniqueness to be celebrated. Of course, none of this makes him a good man. He does some very morally reprehensible things. But for the first time he feels that he might be seen by his other half. Bella is a fighter. She has fought her whole life. Her fight has kept her alive, especially when it comes to Nico. She is tortured by Nico, but someone she actually comes alive because of him.

I was able to listen to the audiobook of this book, and I didn’t know if it could get better, but the audio was fantastic. The narrators did an excellent job of bringing these dark, twisted characters to life. Bryant Walker did such a great job of of of portraying the severely dark but also seriously damaged and emotional youngest Bonetti brother. Marie Hawkins was a perfect Bella, fragile at times but strong and stubborn. This was such a good audiobook, and I found myself getting caught up in listening to it. Hearing the voices becoming this dark pair was such a treat. The narrators did an amazing job of keeping up the flow of the story and I really enjoyed listening to them.

This story was so dark, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Read the TW. There are absolutely some things that could easily trigger. My wife will never forgive me for telling her about the spiders. There is absolutely spice, but warning that it isn’t all consensual. This was the kind of book that evokes emotion and makes my dark heart thrum. I can’t wait to read about the next of the brothers.

[Em Yardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured every second of this unhinged, twisted love story, and yes, I ate this shit up! Dark Romance? More like bordering Pitch-Black Romance with a side of pure chaos, say no more. Reaper is absolutely going to be your next obsession.

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭: 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. This is not your average romance it’s dark, intense, and dives deep into trauma, obsession, and morally gray (or pitch-black) characters. Proceed with caution, but trust me, it’s worth it if that’s your thing.

We first met Reaper in Bones (the previous book), and oh my god, I was so ready for his story. Reaper is the ultimate anti-hero detached, dangerous, and riddled with trauma that shapes his unrelenting darkness. None of his family (brothers) truly understands him, and he copes with his pain in the most, um, unconventional ways (hello, serial unaliver alert). Enter Bella: the girl who escaped him.

Bella is the one that got away literally. Blonde hair, big blue eyes, and an innocent air that hides a much darker side. When Reaper finds her again, he’s determined to keep her this time, no matter what. Bella fights back (thankfully!), and their cat-and-mouse dynamic is equal parts chilling and electrifying. She’s not afraid of him but of her own shadowy reflection in his eyes. Together, they’re chaos incarnate, and I loved every moment of their messed-up bond.

The chemistry? Off the charts. The banter? Had me cackling. The tender moments? So unexpectedly sweet, they broke me. And the tension? I was literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see how far these two would go to destroy or save each other.

Reaper and Bella are two halves of the same broken, bloodstained coin. They make crazy look romantic in the most unsettling way, proving that sometimes love isn’t about being perfect it’s about finding someone who’s just as damaged as you are.

If a couple that slays together stays together sounds like your kind of vibe, Reaper is the dark romance for you.

These can be read as standalone but there are some characters that cross over from previous books which I love seeing.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐈𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊!!!!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn:🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness:🖤🖤🖤🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
POV: Dual
Ending: HEA

[Pat Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Steamy/Spicy - 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Tropes….
🖤Touch her and die
🖤Mafia Romance sort of
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Tragic pasts for both MMC & MFC
🖤MMC & MFC like to kill
🖤Secrets
🖤MMC falls hard and first
🖤Virgin MMC

Reaper is the second book in the Bonetti Brothers Series by Chelle Rose. This book is a wild ride and you will need to hang on because it is “OFF THE CHAIN.” Reaper – MMC (i.e. Nico) is the baby brother in the Bonetti Family and he is a killer. Reaper spots Arabella – MFC (i.e. Bella) at grave site and decides he wants to kill her. However, she gets away and Reaper decides he needs to find her. Instead of killing her he decides to keep her and wants her. He is attracted to her, and she is attracted to him even though she does not admit it. Reaper understands her better than she understands herself. She fights all her feelings for Reaper and accidently stabs him.

When Bella is away from Reaper, she starts to understand her dark side that he was nurturing – the killer side. Reaper heals and starts following her. He sees her killing and falls deeper for her. During this time away from Reaper, Bella understands that she loves Reaper and that she does have the same dark side that he has.

Reaper and Bella have powerful chemistry. They are HOT for each other. 🔥🔥🔥🔥Eventually they reveal their deep secrets too each and it makes their relationship deeper. The supporting characters of the book add so much, and it was so good when his brothers recognized that Bella is good for Reaper. I really enjoyed this book and the series just keeps building from the first book Bones.

[Tori Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛓️💀𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖕𝖊𝖗 𝖇𝖞 𝕮𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖔𝖘𝖊💀⛓️

🖤𝖆𝖛𝖆𝖎𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝖓𝖔𝖜🖤
𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊🔗👉🏻 https://a.co/d/1kUi07T

🥀𝖆𝖗𝖈 𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🥀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️1/2

I absolutely loved this book I mean how could it get better? Reaper, aka Nico, is an unhinged serial unaliver with an obsession with eyeballs and only has eyes for Bella! I also LOVE Bella because she’s not a damsel in distress throughout the book because she ends up finding her strength and finally figuring out who she was always meant to be! Their chemistry is off the charts 📈 Ohhhh and the spice☺️…so freaking hot🥵

I honestly jumped into this book before reading Bones but after finishing it I already know I have to read it while waiting for Kage’s book…I’m also impatiently waiting for Psycho’s book because I have a feeling he might be even more unhinged than Reaper.

In this book we follow Bella who’s become Reaper’s newest victim because of her beautiful blue eyes. Reaper originally brought her to the cemetery to kill her but she ends up getting away. It’s because of all the fight she has in her that Reaper becomes obsessed and ultimately kidnaps her so he can make her become his. Things don’t always go according to plan so things get a little bit chaotic…

Overall I devoured this book in one sitting and was hooked, so I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loved dark romance mixed with mafia vibes! I’ve become obsessed with the Bonetti Brothers and cannot wait to see what’s in store for them in the future!

[Annabelle Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn’t just crawl under my skin—it burrowed in like it was paying rent, making me feel dirty, turned on, and vaguely unsettled all at once. Think Dexter meets Frankenstein, with Bella as our fiercely damaged heroine who might as well have “I need therapy, but first…” stamped on her forehead. And Reaper? Oh, he’s the monster you hate to love—and love to hate.

From page one, you know this isn’t some fluffy, hand-holding stroll through Romanceville. At 20% in, I was clutching my e-reader like, “What am I even reading right now?” But could I stop? Absolutely not. This book is the literary equivalent of doomscrolling—it’s wild, it’s messy, and I was obsessed.

Even though I was squirming in my seat, I couldn’t tear myself away. What started as “What fresh hell is this?” turned into one hot, messy, and completely addictive trainwreck of a relationship. These two were a match made in chaos—both broken, both delightfully messed up, and somehow, they just worked. The family dynamic? Absolute gold. Cheers to morally gray love stories that leave you simultaneously squirming and begging for more.

[Natiley Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

I absolutely devoured this unhinged love story! Every moment was captivating, blending just the right amount of romance with dark trauma. *Reaper* is everything a dark romance book girly could hope for. The MMC, Reaper, is not only hot but also oddly romantic in his own twisted way. His backstory is heartbreaking, having endured so much at such a young age, and his obsession with his "living dead girl" is both intense and compelling.

Belle, the FMC, is refreshingly relatable—smart and strong. It's a miracle she managed to survive everything thrown her way!

I found myself crying and laughing at various points throughout the story. This book is definitely going on my wishlist because I need a physical copy. Plus, I can't wait to read the first book in the series and the one that follows!

[Leigh.empresselly · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They say the eyes are the window to the soul”

Dive into the dark mind of Reaper Bonetti, in Book 2, of the Bonetti Brothers Series.
This dark mafia romance is full of twisted desires, vile secrets and hard-core obsession!

Reaper’s casual demeanor mixed with his vile thoughts and savage actions was very entertaining! Troubled Arabella proves to be quite a challenge for him. Yet she is savage enough on her own!

I thoroughly enjoyed the madness and twists that went into the plot! The banter had me laughing at times. I loved the sick and depraved secrets that were revealed and the way the brothers interact. I’m looking forward to meeting the next Bonetti Brother!

Reader discretion advised.
Thank you for the opportunity to ARC!

[Daki Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reaper is not for the faint of heart. If you thought Bones was intense, this one cranks everything up to 11. It’s chaotic, twisted, and downright dark, but there’s something oddly captivating about it—like a train wreck you can’t look away from. Nico, aka "Reaper," is a pure force of destruction, and this book definitely dives deep into his insanity. He’s not just a mafia boss or a dangerous man—he’s a deranged killer with no regard for anyone’s life, including his own. His fixation on Arabella and his twisted idea of love make him a truly unsettling character, but, in a strange way, you can’t help but be intrigued by him.

Reaper’s mind is a mess of violence and obsession, and it’s clear that he operates on an entirely different level than most people. What makes him so dangerous—and so compelling—is his total lack of understanding when it comes to human emotions and consent. The scene where he doesn’t get why Arabella is upset after their first encounter is jarring, to say the least. His lack of empathy is chilling, but there’s a certain rawness to his vulnerability when Arabella starts to break through his walls. There’s a strange pull between them, one that’s both toxic and electric.

Arabella is a great match for Reaper, not because she’s weak or submissive, but because she’s willing to reason with him. She’s been through her own trauma, and she’s not easily intimidated. Her ability to talk to him and make him realize what he’s done is a powerful moment in the book. I wasn’t expecting her to eventually join in his madness, but it added another layer to the story. Her transformation from someone trying to escape to someone who eventually embraces Reaper’s world is unsettling, but it’s also strangely satisfying. The balance of power shifts between them, and by the end, you’re not quite sure who has the upper hand anymore.

The pacing of the book is relentless. It’s twist after twist, and it never lets up. What I loved most about this book was how it kept me on edge. I was dying to know what was going to happen next, and the story just kept ramping up. I could’ve honestly gone for a few more hours of this chaos and still felt hooked. The combination of Nico’s deranged love for Arabella and her ability to handle him in a way no one else could kept me glued to the page. Their interactions were fascinating to witness, as Nico started to feel emotions he’d buried for years and Arabella got drawn deeper into his web.

That said, this book is definitely twisted. There’s a lot of morally gray territory here, and if you’re not comfortable with themes of non-consent and violence, this one is definitely not for you. But if you’re a fan of dark, psychological thrillers with a heavy dose of obsession and possessiveness, Reaper delivers on all fronts.

Overall, this book was my favorite of the first two in the Bonetti Brothers series. It was raw, intense, and absolutely insane, but in the best way. Nico is one of those characters you love to hate, and Arabella’s ability to stand up to him and, eventually, embrace his world made for a thrilling read. This is a ride you definitely don’t want to miss if you enjoy dark and twisted romance.

[Jenny Talbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

There is something to be said when two voice actors are so addictive….that you finish this audio in one day. This was that kind of book for me! Be warned: this story isn’t easy. Listen to the trigger warnings and proceed with caution. I went into this story with eyes wide open, and even I was aghast at some of the darkness that exists within the 6.5 hrs of audio.

Reaper is book two in Chelle Rose’s Bonetti Brothers Series. It could be listened to as a standalone, but I highly recommend listening to book one (Bones) for world building and to set the mood. These books are dark and depraved; Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker got the memo for this one.

Arabella is a beauty who becomes tangled in Reaper’s clutches. Marie captures her emotional turmoil with precision; her bargaining for humanity was chilling. Arabella experiences a transformation during this story, and without spoiling I will tell you this — Marie made me believe that Bella desired this shift in her psyche. Her acting in Bella’s POV chapters was mesmerizing and I fell under her spell, convinced that this story between her and Reaper could actually exist.

Meanwhile, Reaper had me searching deep inside my soul to find redeeming traits. And Bryant served him up on a platter of darkness. He gives a chilling performance of a man who has no moral code, and prefers to exhaust his demons through death. Until Bella. As the story progresses, Bryant does one of my favorite things: he changed my mind about Reaper. I enjoyed the darker side of Reaper in the later half of the book, because after he gives in to his newfound emotional connection with Bella, he truly blossoms.

I would listen to these two narrators together time and time again: they both give performances that serve the characters and the story without over-dramatizing the darkness. This Bonetti series scratches the itch that satisfies my “how do the folks on the darkest sides find a happily ever after?” It’s the indescribable connection found between two destined, trauma surviving, twisted souls like Arabella and Reaper.

Performances ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, deranged perfection

This story took a turn I never saw coming.
Reaper by Chelle Rose absolutely blew. Me. Away. Dark, deranged, obsessive, and SO deeply twisted.

Reaper, aka Nico, is unlike any character I’ve ever encountered. There’s a volatility in him, a darkness that twists intimacy into something dangerous. His fixation on Bella runs deep, becoming obsessed with preserving her expressions, her reactions and her fear. He’s completely unhinged, and yet completely compelling.

Chelle Rose doesn’t shy away from the darkest corners of his obsession and trauma. One particular moment between Reaper and Bella is so raw and so unsettling, it's burned itself in my mind, not just because of what happened, but because of how masterfully it was written. I found myself sympathizing with a man who is clearly broken, dangerous, and deranged. A true testament to the brilliance of Chelle's writing.

Bella herself isn’t just a victim. She's been unwanted her whole life. Unloved by her mother, without friends growing up, and suddenly this man is obsessed with her. She's terrified of him, forced to get physical to avoid his threats and her fears. Her body betrays her. And yet, something grows between them.

There’s this inner conflict in Bella. The desperate desire to escape and the curiosity to understand her k|dn@pper. When Bella lashes out in a moment of desperation, Reaper doesn’t stop her. Instead, he lets her go, choosing her freedom over his own need to keep her. It was a twisted, tragic moment and showed just how deeply broken, yet protective, he really was. He begs her to leave, and she does.

But Bella doesn’t walk away unchanged. She hears Reaper's voice: "Let the darkness in."
She unalives a man in a graveyard. She starts hallucinating. And she realizes to see Reaper again, she must unalive again.

Reaper, the second book of the Bonetti Brothers series pushes every limit of dark and deranged. If Bones was dark, Reaper is the descent into the abyss. I cannot wait to see where Chelle takes this series next.

[Alyx Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, Chelle is one of my favorite dark romance authors. She just KNOWS my shopping list of red flags. So, check your triggers before diving in, because Reaper is a walking red hot flag.

This is the second Bonetti Brothers book, we bet Reaper in Bones. Honestly I don’t know who I was more excited for, Reaper or Psycho, and I got a taste of Psycho in this book, so it’s still up for debate. But I will say, Reaper is EVERYTHING you want in a morally reprehensible book boyfriend. 

Arabella is the one who got away, (that scene is HYSTERICAL), much to Bones dismay and Reapers chagrin. But somehow Reaper decides it means something. So now he watches his living dead girl, waiting for the right moment, when she feels safe, and then, she’ll be his again.

The emotional and physical connection between this two is intense, the dialogue is hilarious, witty, snarky, Bella gives it to Reaper without stopping. He just doesn’t know what to do with her, well he does, but it confuses him. When the worst happens, the Bella’s world falls apart, and she has to face just how much darkness she really has inside of her. Chelle is amazing at making me laugh and have to fan myself. But the heartbreaking, mind-bending trauma that Bella faces almost killed me. I’m not sure how she’ll top, just that I know somehow she will.

This book was so good I had to read it straight through. I couldn’t stop, I HAD to know what was going to happen with Reaper and Bella, because honestly, for a while there, I was not certain. The ending is twisted and will have you wanting to scream at the author and throw your kindle, but don’t stop reading until the last page, it’ll be worth it.

[Cole Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Sequel!!!

Chelle Rose!!!!! you completely outdid yourself with Reaper because I have now completely decided that I prefer reaper and Bella story more than I did Bones and Athena’s story. The Bonetti Brother series has now become my newest favorite dark mafia series. I cannot get enough of these books. Reaper is booked two in the series and follows the youngest brother of the Bonetti crime family. Reaper is out MMC and Bella is our FMC. I do recommend that you read the first book called Bones, because it does give a more feedback into the beginning of Reaper and Bella story. Click overview reaper has become obsessed with Bella and you get the backstory in Reaper and you get it in Bones. But reaper is a serial unaliver and Bella just happens to be the one that got away so now he is completely utterly obsessed with her. I had such a blast being able to listen to this! Marie Hawkins, is one of my favorite female narrators and she absolutely an amazing job it in every single book I have ever listened to her to narrate! Marie is one of those narrators that if I see she is narrating the book I don’t care what the book is about, I want to listen to it! This is the first book I have listened to with Bryant Walker, and he does just as of amazing job as Reaper in this book. He brings Reaper to life so well in this book that I don’t think anybody else could’ve narrated him! This is a dark mafia romance, so please check your trigger warning if you are going to read, but on the spicy scale it’s a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of five! I can’t wait to see where the other two brothers books go and as always, happy reading!!

[Jammie Bebout · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your very dark mafia romance with a side of serial killer vibes and brotherly banter, then this is definitely the audiobook for you! I seriously loved this story! Chelle Rose delivered big time with this one! Check the trigger warnings because there are many, but for me, this story was everything I love about this genre. That old adage about there being someone for everyone has never been more true than in this story. Both the MMC (Nico aka Reaper) and the FMC (Bella) are completely unhinged and completely unapologetic about it. But there’s also so much more to these characters as they both feel things deeply and have their own trauma they’re dealing with. Neither are perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they are absolutely perfect for each other. I must admit I have not read Bones, the first book in this series. But that did not hamper my enjoyment of this book in the least. Although, it did put the Bones audiobook at the top of my TBL list.

The duet narration was performed by Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker, who were both phenomenal in their main roles as well as the supporting characters. Both brought so much passion and emotion to their performances that you couldn’t help but hang on every word. Together, they brought this very dark story to life in technicolor fabulousness!

[Precious Book Gal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reaper, book two in the Bonetti Brothers series, did not disappoint. Chelle Rose is a new-to-me author, and I absolutely loved book one, Bones. This book follows brother number two—Nico, aka Reaper.

Reaper is voiced by Bryant Walker, and I’ll be honest—I hadn’t heard him in many books before, and since I already knew this character from book one, I was skeptical. I mean... a serial killer obsessed with a girl he tried to kill—how do you make that believable, or better yet, endearing?

But Bryant? He delivered, and made it all work.

Marie Hawkins voices Arabella—or as Reaper calls her, Living Dead Girl—and she was the perfect match. I’ve always loved Marie’s voice and the strength she brings to female characters, and this was no exception.

At some point, I realized: I might have read too many dark romances when I started rooting for the guy who tried to kill her. Either my brain is warped, or Chelle Rose knows exactly how to write a twisted love story with just the right blend of heart, humor, and spice to keep readers all in. Honestly? Probably both.

This was a definite five-star listen for me. And now? Bryant Walker is officially going on my list of favorite narrators. He held this wild ride together—and somehow made me like the serial killer.

Who knew?

[Lisa Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read on one sitting!!

Book: 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Audio: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 3.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I am very much doing to start with read the TW’s before diving into this book, they aren’t for the faint of heart.
But if TW’s are like a menu for you, please dive straight in!
Reaper / Nico and his “Living Dead Girl” / Bella Story had me sucked in from page one! I dived straight in and loved every minute of it. This book had me laughing out loud when maybe I shouldn’t have, but I loved it and read it in one sitting. I seriously refused to put it down!
It was dark, twisted, and delicious!
Although this book had very Dark Themes, it was amazingly written! Chelle Rose knocked it out of the park seriously. I really thought Bones was it for me, then came Reaper. These Bonetti Brothers are dark, dangerous, and will do anything for their women!
Tropes: Virgin MMC, Mafia, Serial Unaliver, Trauma, Violence and so much more!
Oh and The Narrators, Marie Hawkins and Bryant Walker were absolutely amazing!! They really brought these characters to life which made the story even more entertaining! Hands down recommend!! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series!!

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

These brothers are certifiably crazy, but how they love and protect their women is off the charts hot. I love how possessive and obsessive Reaper is of Bella. There’s no doubt he’s unhinged and crazy, but there’s a soft, vulnerable side to him that makes you fall in love with him. He may be a serial killer, but when it comes to his living dead girl there’s nothing he won’t do or give her to make her happy. And holy hell was is great to see Bella come undone and become just as unhinged and crazy as Reaper. These two are a match made in heaven (or hell maybe, lol) and couldn’t be more perfect. Reaper definitely found his true companion. He found someone who makes him feel wanted and makes him feel like he belongs. And what totally shocked me was him being a virgin. So how sweet it was that Bella was his first in more ways than one. I had to laugh too because Reaper was too unhinged and unpredictable - even to mafia standards! That’s saying something.
Next is Kage and then the brother I’ve been crazy excited for… Psycho! I was a little disappointed he wasn’t in this book much. I missed his humor.

[Tedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has its moments

3 stars because the writing is good as is the concept.
I love dark romance especially serial killer stalker & unhinged MMC that goes completely nuts over the FMC and becomes addicted to her & her pleasure

That being said I as a person have too much empathy to enjoy a book where the MC kills innocent people (male or female dont matter).
I can't stomach that nor how his siblings are only upset by his kills because of how inconvenient it is for them as a Mafia family having to clean up his mess & disposal of the bodies..
At one point the FMC does start to bait men to kill them but she did her research on the net & saw they were all douchy bags & wife beaters, fine ok
But that all stops & both h/h start binging on innocent victims together, mostly including women. Their only crimes (if any) is a waitress that accidentally "assumed" the FMC preferred wine over whiskey because she was a female, another girl that slept with only mafia men (a Mafia hoe).
At the end she's killing females with a knife & it's just a turn off. Sorry

[Lauryn Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are first introduced to Reaper in Bones, and I absolutely loved those little glimpses of his character. This book, however, missed the mark for me.

Reaper is an intriguing MMC, but I feel as though he was more enjoyable as a funny, unhinged side character. I did enjoy getting a glimpse into his past and what made him the way that he is. His childhood trauma definitely played into him becoming a serial unaliver.

Bella is a difficult character for me to like, and I feel as though she needs some more in-depth development. In the same way as Reaper, she has trauma that shapes her character; however, I feel as though her rapid transformation from good to unhinged wasn’t really explored enough.

As a whole, I felt as though the spice far outweighed the plot, and I personally wish that wasn’t the case. I would have loved more exploration of the characters.

Marie and Bryant both did a great job with the narration, and despite not having an abundance of character development, really brought these two to life in a great way.