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The Wild Bunch #1

Crooks & Kings

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In a game of crooks and kings, only the cunning survive …

She was a girl with secrets.

He was a man with demons.

For her, it was supposed to be a way out from beneath the hands of a man who wanted her dead.

For him, it was supposed to be a job to make amends for a past wrong.

They were never meant to fall in love.

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2017

76 people are currently reading
642 people want to read

About the author

London Miller

46 books1,411 followers
With a degree in Creative Writing, London Miller has turned pen to paper, creating riveting fictional worlds where the bad guys are sometimes the good guys. Her debut novel, In the Beginning, is the first in the Volkov Bratva Series.

She currently resides in southern Georgia where she drinks far too much coffee, and spends her nights writing.

To learn more about London Miller and her novels, please visit her through her social media:

http://facebook.com/londonmillerauthor
http://twitter.com/AuthorLMiller

Also, you can email her at: london.millerauthor@gmail.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥.
884 reviews3,433 followers
March 21, 2017
3.75 stars

** Please forgive me if this is overly simplified. My contact scratched my eye, and I am writing this review while squinting out of one of them praying that I am hitting the right keys.**

Mariya and Christophe, a. k. a. Fang, are both running away from their pasts for different reasons. Mariya is a bratva princess who fled from her home after being forced to marry one of her grandfather’s highest ranking men. Christophe is drowning in grief after watching helplessly as the love of his life died before his eyes. Neither of them are trying to form any new connections, but they wind up making one with each other. Both of them are holding back information about who they really are. When Mariya’s husband comes for her, she finds out that Christophe is more than just the hot guy from next door. He is going to help her solve her problem once and for all. When all of their secrets come to light, will it change the way they feel for one another? Will Mariya always feel like she is living in another woman’s shadow? Will Christophe risk a war with the Russian mafia for a girl he has only known for a couple of months?

Never having read anything by London Miller before, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. Thankfully, now that I've read it, I can tell you that there will be more of her books in my future. Crooks and Kings is an enjoyable read with great characters and an intriguing storyline. There are numerous flashbacks that tell the story of Mariya and Christophe’s past while we also get to experience their present. The way they come together and begin to fall for one another felt natural and believable given their circumstances. Though the story has a couple of steamy scenes, they are not the focus of the story. Now that I think about it, I would have actually liked more of them if only because I think it would’ve added to their connection. So much of the book focuses on telling their stories and figuring out what to do about Mariya’s husband that the romance sometimes seems to play second fiddle. Despite that, the story was good enough that it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment too much.

What really made the story for me was Christophe and “his brothers.” Christophe is a sexy, dangerous, possessive, alpha male that will do anything he can to protect those he loves. On top of the fact that he had to watch his girlfriend die, he also had a horrific childhood full of abuse and heartache. After his whole family died a tragic death, he went to live in a Romanian orphanage where he endured things no child should have to. There he met a group of men he considers to be his brothers. They call themselves the Wild Bunch, and I fell in love with them. I want to know more about all of them, and I hope I get to in future books. (Please let Tacut be next!)

The main issue I had with this book was the pacing. The story felt like it was moving so slowly at times that it made me want to put it down more than once. With this type of book, I prefer a faster pace, so it just comes down to personal preference. Despite that, I powered through, and in the end, I’m glad I did.

Overall, Crooks and Kings is a well written story with intriguing characters that I think many will enjoy. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next. If you love mafia romance, and don’t mind slower paced stories, I recommend this one to you!

ARC generously provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,060 reviews2,868 followers
March 11, 2017
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descriptionThis cover is OK. I am not crazy about the guy on the cover. It's not how "I" pictured the hero but it isn't a bad representation. The composition is pretty good. The typography is eye-catching and stands out. The blue makes it POP.description

descriptionSo how I have I went this long without reading anything by this author?!

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I LOVED this one. It was well-written, and I was pulled in from page one. It was nicely paced, and I never felt the need to skim. We bounce back and forth in time a bit, and that gives us just the right amount of insight into both Christophe and Mariya's past without it having the effect of disrupting the flow of the present story. It had a good amount of action. It had some good sex scenes. It had two likable and well developed main characters. It had interesting side characters. I am especially excited to read more about Christophe's brothers. They sound like an interesting bunch of guys. As does Nix from the DEN OF MERCENERIES series, which I'll be adding to my TO READ list tout suite!

It basically checked all my boxes and then some. Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.description

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Profile Image for Selene.
933 reviews266 followers
April 3, 2017
This book melted my heart like warm butter! Romanian native Christophe Lupei was the perfect blend of a harsh but smooth anti-hero. Paired with the Russian mafia princess Mariya Kuznetsov, the two made for an even match! There was some romance, suspense, and a bit of action in this story, but best of all, this was the perfect story to kick off this series with! Christophe's brethren will also get their own story in the upcoming books and I'm highly interested in getting the rest of Tacut's narrative. Yasssss!

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I felt like the author lightly scraped the surface with these characters' story and I would've enjoyed lingering in their thoughts for a bit longer, as both lead characters were very likable, but I enjoyed this book. Happy dancing while waiting patiently for Tacut and Winter's story...

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*ARC kindly provided by London Miller in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁.
575 reviews342 followers
June 16, 2017
***** 3.75 Stars *****

Can be read as a standalone.

Crooks and Kings is a spin-off of London Miller's Den of Mercenaries series, but it can be read as a standalone.

The story is about Fang and Mariya. Two souls running away from their past.

Fang is trying to numb himself from losing a loved one, and Mariya is running away from her life in the mafia. The two have a lot of issues, but they complete each other. Their chemistry and attraction inevitable.

When Mariya's past finds her, Fang promises to protect her with his life.

I enjoyed the chemistry and storyline, but I think I'm more interested to read about the other members in the Wild Bunch. The story moved a bit too slow for me and I didn't really get attached to the characters.

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Profile Image for Bethany-Kris.
Author 107 books4,260 followers
February 25, 2018
I didn't even bother to come on and write my review for Calavera before I actually just moved onto Crooks & Kings. Read it today because I was so invested in getting Fang's HEA after everything that happened. What I wanted most was for Fang to be happy again, to be loved and to love in return again.

And if that ain't a goddamn testament to these books, I don't know what to tell you. And he does love, and be loved in return. I am not concerned how he did it, or how long he took, or what someone else thinks is appropriate for the grieving process because what mattered to me was him being happy. End. Of.

And now I am onto Tacut.

My poor, silent Tacut.
Profile Image for Melanie (mells_view).
1,929 reviews395 followers
January 19, 2018
Mafia princess and a sort of retired mercenary?

Pretty good. Runaway reluctant mafia princess and a mercenary turned bank robber who is also running from something. Enjoyable read. Not sure quite yet if I’ll continue with the series, but curious about the possibility for a mfm later down the road.
Profile Image for Maria11.
2,001 reviews44 followers
April 14, 2017
Great Read!

I am glad we are getting books on the Wild Bunch! They seem way more interesting then the Den!! And they were!

It was good to find out how Fang was doing since Calavera's book. I was worried about him. Dang I like him, but Winter is right he was acting like a jerk! Mariya was really in deep. I hate what her family did to her... and that husband of hers. She was strong and that is one thing you can rely on with a London Miller book: one heck of a strong female lead!!

Lots of action and lots of backstory on the Wild Bunch!! I am looking forward to hearing Tacut's story, I really find him interesting. Thanatos and Invictus should be one hot story too.

I love London Miller books!!! Can't wait for more
Profile Image for Elizarey.
345 reviews61 followers
March 21, 2017
3.5 stars

In the beginning I was so in love with this story! Two broken souls finding eachother at their worst moments, I was in love with the idea. Christope and Maryia was meant to be some epic love story but I just could not feel any chemistry. The writing was good but I just didnt feel the romance. At the 60% mark I started to get a little bored of the story. I found myself skimming the pages instead of being actually focused.
I still believe it was a good story just didnt engross me like I had liked it to!
Profile Image for Paganalexandria .
1,464 reviews
January 20, 2018
Mariya Kuznetsov is a Russian girl distinctly out of place in a rough Irish neighborhood. Christophe 'Fang' Lupei is her perpetually messed up neighbor with obvious issues of his own. He is surly and rude but she keeps finding herself in his company. Fang is still in mourning, so the last thing he expects is an unwanted attraction to a lost girl.


The Good:
1. London Miller has doubled down on her world building chops by introducing a new spinoff, of her other spinoff Den of Mercenaries. The Wild Bunch doesn't come onto the scene until Nix. (Den of Mercenaries, #3) by London Miller Calavera. (Den of Mercenaries, #4) by London Miller . This book is a reintroduction to their shadow world, but mainly focuses on Fangs journey. You do not have to read the other books to dive into this confidently.

2. It was tricky for a reader that loved Fang from the other series, to accept this new love interest. It was handled beautifully while still respecting what came before. I'm a sucker for anything Russian Mafia, so the heroine coming from that world helped with that.

3. Mariya was an easy heroine to like, sweet without being a pushover.

4. The Wild Bunch in action kind of kicks the Den's butt. That is saying a lot, since I love that series.

The Bad:
1. Fang has some childhood trauma that might be triggering to readers.

2. Maybe would have expected this story later in the series.

Final Thoughts:
This is how you start a new series! I loved this, and can't wait to read the next installment.
Profile Image for Lisa (Two Bookish Brits).
907 reviews166 followers
November 27, 2017
Oh my god, this book, this book was something else. I went into this book not knowing what to expect (except violence, lots of it because Russian Bratva, I wouldn’t of expected anything else) especially not the storyline and how much it would clog me up with emotions, I didn’t expect any of it. I had a thought at the beginning of what I thought might of happened in this book but let me tell you this, what happened in Crooks and Kings was a whole lot better than I could ever even imagine, that’s for sure.

~

So we start of with Thang aka Christophe and his incredibly sad loss. My heart absolutely aches for him and then the downward spiral happened and I couldn’t help but feel even more for this poor guy.

Then we’re shown Mariya and a little of what she’s gone through being from the Russian Bratva and were let in on the fact that she’s running, running from something evil and it’s due to this running that Christophe and Mariya end up meeting, their meeting isn’t like any other and I enjoyed it so much.

Watching the two spend a little more time together and becoming friends was definitely fun. He makes her smile, she makes him smile and it’s beautiful. I won’t go into much more as I’m not going to spoil it for other newbie readers.

When were shown Christophe’s brothers I smiled. There’s not stronger bond than a bond of brothers that have gone through as much shit as they have. They’re different in so many ways but also very alike. They stand together, always and that was so lovely to see.

~

Everything about this book was spot on. I didn’t want to stop reading as soon as I started. Each character intrigued me and yes, I absolutely need to read all of their stories too. This author is a new author to me and I’ll definitely be picking up more of her books in the future especially if they make me feel the way Crooks and Kings did.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
1,443 reviews24 followers
January 29, 2023
4.5 Stars
Crooks & Kings began with a melancholic tone, but hope soon emerged with the promise of a fresh start that glimmered on the horizon. I was in a happy space, immersed in a great story with fascinating characters who lead a life beyond my scope of imagination! The Wild Bunch have intrigued me from the time we met them in the Den of Mercenaries series. If you haven’t read the Den of Mercenaries series, I would recommend you start there first so you can enjoy both the element of suspense in both series equally.

Fang (Christophe) has taken off in an attempt to get his head straight after being consumed by the dark cloud that has stayed with him since the last successful assignment the Wild Bunch completed. It cost him dearly. He was on a mission to dull his memory of that tragic event through the bottom of a vodka bottle. Of course, that never ends well but it is not until a waitress begins to look more enticing than his bottle does he consider easing back on the drink. It was Mari’s persistent caring nature that he found impossible to ignore. As much as he wanted to shun humanity, her charm slowly awakened his senses, luring him back to want to feel again.

I adored Fang. As a member of the Wild Bunch, their collective history of how and why they came together is gut-wrenching. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and these guys are exactly that for having survived the atrocities of their youth. The men that they have become has morphed them into pseudo super anti-heroes. As a team, they are another level of bad-ass altogether and make other organised crime factions appear meek.

Mariya (Mari) Kroznetsov is on the run from her husband and the horror he represented. While it’s nowhere near as traumatic as what Fang had lived through, it was none the less unthinkable. When she shares her reasons for running from her estranged husband with Fang, his blood begins to boil. Without knowing it, Mari was courting a knight in shining armour…well an assassin, but either way, he’s her man! Determined to remain free, she is determined to keep a low profile refusing to drag anybody else into the mess of a life she had left behind. Fang has an inner laugh as he realises she has no idea what he does for a living. He hasn’t found a reason to be amused for months, which meant his desire to having his head in a clear enough space to work with the Wild Bunch was returning.

What I love about the Wild Bunch is how they work together as a team. Fang’s description of his brothers cracked me up. Their interactions are brilliant. The love, humour and astuteness animate them, bringing Crooks & Kings to life. We got a glimpse of their camaraderie in the Den of Mercenaries series, but with them now in the spotlight, showing the impressiveness of their team work.

Crooks & Kings heralds another great series from London Miller. A little more laid back than her other books, yet it still embodied suspense that I crave. The chemistry between Fang and Mari was palpable and it had a fantastic bunch of secondary characters. I can’t wait to read more about the Wild Bunch and I’m keeping my fingers crossed the next book will feature Tacut!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author
Profile Image for Expresso.
876 reviews138 followers
March 14, 2017
I LOVE LOVE LOVE a good mafia story! You know the kind that read like a movie and the only thing missing is the popcorn and candy??!!!!

Fang grabbed my lil ole heart and he's holding it ransom! This alpha dude is grieving in the worst way. He loves hard and completely. That prologue.....whew! Miller does a phenomenal job with the different stages of Fang's grief. Each stage is very well written and realistic. As a reader, you definitely feel his pain. Sometime at the end of stage two of grieving, Mariya enters the picture. She has serious secrets. I absolutely love how she protects herself and anyone else who may come in contact with her. She knows what is at stake. Their journey is an energetic and dramatic ride. The mafia angle is very well covered and quite a show stopper at times!

I absolutely loved this story and I'm ready for more! Greedy much???!!! Uh yeah!

Five stars!
Profile Image for Donna ~ The Romance Cover.
2,907 reviews323 followers
March 21, 2017
Crooks & Kings by London Miller
4 stars!!!

“If they want to play a game of crooks and kings, I’ll happily show them how it’s done.”


I do love a Mafia romance and while our hero in this book is not Mafia, the heroine definitely is. London Miller creates a world where black meets black, while our hero is not Mafia he and his brothers are considerably worse, a Robin Hood of sorts who are hired to give retribution where it is warranted. No innocents are harmed, this was the bad getting their just desserts.

Mariya has run from her past and is now in hiding, if found she will be killed…by her husband. An arranged marriage that she never wanted, ordered by her grandfather who was the head of the Russian Bratva in Chicago. A vile husband who would do anything to get ahead, even if that meant hurting his wife, both physically and emotionally, a man with no scruples whatsoever, you get in his way, you die, even if you are family. Mariya saw her escape and took it, along with vital information for insurance, would this be an insurance she needed to cash in?

“…is that supposed to matter to me? Husbands die every day.”


Christophe is a man drowning in grief and the bottom of a bottle. Our Romanian orphan is a man that you cannot help but fall in love with even if he is a man of few words, his actions more than make up for them. When not inebriated the real Christophe tries in vain to break through, but being in his line of work, he keeps his cards close to his chest. Two neighbours, a barwoman and patron, a confidante. Their two paths keep crossing and sometimes a shoulder is all you need, a friendship is born, a romance ignited, but at what cost?

“You don’t celebrate what you lost, you celebrate what they left behind.”


This book has something for everyone, tragic back stories that gave rise to two characters that you cannot help but get attached to. Strangers, to friends, to more, and while this was no hearts and flowers romance, this was the kind of romance I would expect from two people from their walks of life. The steam factor was fabulous and the action was where this book excelled. Brooding mercenaries, a band of brothers, where no man is ever left behind. A bond so strong it could never be broken.

“We met here Russian…he was a c**t.”


With some fantastic, intriguing side characters I am hoping that this is the first of many instalments for “The Wild Bunch.” I understand that Nix, their handler is in the “Den of Mercenaries” series, this has now been added to my TBR too. Bring it on London Miller.

“I don’t want you to only want me because you lost her…I want you to want me because it’s me.”


www.theromancecover.com
Profile Image for J. C.  Red.
109 reviews44 followers
Read
March 24, 2017
Profile Image for naz.
382 reviews356 followers
Want to read
March 25, 2017
I'm annoyed at this book and I have only just read a couple of pages. He lost his first love and you can feel the deep passion, pain and pure love he has over her. I knew from those pages that those feelings will not be challenged by the heroine that will be introduced. So no, I will not be finishing this book. I do not want a novel where the hero mourns and wallows over his first love. I have read some reviews where they say they don't feel the connection between the hero and heroine. Nope. Fuck off.
Profile Image for Bookgasms Book Blog.
2,863 reviews1,564 followers
December 29, 2019
Crooks & Kings was a delicious story that I was dying for. I could not wait to read Fang's story after that shocking ending in Calavera. My heart broke for him and I needed to see him heal. This story was sexy and so emotional. I was choked up at quite a few parts. I loved Mariya and her connection with Christophe but I loved how his past with Aidra and his future with Mariya was handled. This was such a beautiful story! Now I can't wait for Tacut! Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula 
Profile Image for Rithy .
291 reviews3 followers
March 19, 2017
Crooks & Kings

...I'm so in love with this book right now. Dare I say it...it might be better than Red, and Klaus is/was like IT for me. We totally had a thing. It's come to my attention that I may be a bit of a book whore. I have lots of book boyfriends. Fang is now on that list. That shit is growing like crazy, I'm afraid I may start calling my BF Christophe in my sleep and wouldn't that be awkward. Anywho ..wow sorry for the random spurt of info. Onwards!

You have to give props when prop is due. In this case props go to London Miller for the Fantastic romantic suspense that is Crooks & King.

Right off the bat were running alongside Christophe better known as “Fang” in a flashback. He’s in a rush against the clock to rescue Aidra, his than girlfriend. From the descriptions alone detailing him grabbing his gun, stepping back and kicking down the door in haste I can literally see it happening shot by shot like a goddamn high octane action film. That ladies and gentlemen takes skill.

One of the many things I love about this book is it's written so beautifully and with such attention to detail it's like your literally along for the ride. I felt sad and teary eyed in certain parts, laughed out loud a few times with the Wild Bunches antics and squeed out loud with the ridiculously sweet albeit not meant to be sweet actions of our Hero.

Mariya complimented fang in the sense that he's a protector and she needs protecting. But that by no means mean she's a pushover. She has a great personality. Smart, sexy and really down to earth. I was cautious, waiting to see how their relationship would start, play out..since the whole dead ex girlfriend route is a little scary. Would he still be here if Aidra is still alive? etc. It's not a pretty subject to touch upon and usually I try and steer clear. How that drama is played out is beyond brilliant! it's totally believable and it doesn't detract at all from our Main couples explosive chemistry.

Of course we have the sexy times ( really hot and spicy ) the fun times with the boys plus I can't wait for more of Tacut and...HER! What is up with that?! Totally unexpected but wherever this goes I will happily follow. yep totally being vague on purpose I don't want tospoil too much. The action was on point!

In essence, this book was fucking Fantastic!

***Arc kindly provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for Joy Novel Thoughts.
573 reviews70 followers
March 20, 2017
"If they want to play a game of crooks and kings, I'll happily show them how it's done."

I loved every second of this story, I was hanging on every word and was so entranced that I couldn't stop thinking about these character even when I had to put the book down. Both our H and h had horrible pasts that made them who they are... both running away from the things that haunt them when they meet. There wasn't an insta-love moment, just an attraction or curiosity about the other that they couldn't resist as much as they tried.

"Nothing is impossible when someone you love is taken from you. It's in those moments you learn exactly what you are capable of."

Both Mariya and Fang learn exactly what they are capable of and more through the twists and turns of this story. And it was filled with kick-ass, swoon worthy, heart wrenching and revenge filled moments.

"Simple is boring. Complications make you feel alive."

And this story wasn't simple and complications were thrown their way at every turn and I was left feeling alive, yet... dying for more from the Wild Bunch!
Profile Image for Preet.
3,382 reviews233 followers
April 2, 2017
I'm not sure whether to rate this story 4 or 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it, like I have the other London Miller books I've read, but there was one aspect that literally befuddled me. And I'm going to talk about that first. Christophe has had an extremely traumatic experience. And among the many he's experienced this one is recent. So the fact that Mariya is able to pierce the cloud of avoidance and pain surrounding him relatively soon after that, bothers me a little. That being said, it's not ignored as Mariya definitely call him out on it, even if no one else does.

Okay, now that's off my chest, lets talk about how much I liked this book. I liked the camaraderie the Wild Bunch has. It's not just because in most organized crime families and stories, most people are solitary and trusting really of no one. My heart hurt to hear of how the Wild Bunch met, but honestly, they seem to have turned out all right for a bunch of bank robbers and assassins.

I really admired Mariya. She's got a lot of fight in her and she loves fiercely. She's a strong woman. And Christophe for all of his sins is a nice guy too. He too loves fiercely and deeply. He's also smart and talented. I look forward to seeing more of them in the next Wild Bunch book. I'm hoping Tacut and Winter will get their story next, but I don't mind reading about Invictus or Thanatos next either.
Profile Image for ⏃ : ✦ villainous_vixen ⏃ : ✦.
777 reviews115 followers
March 17, 2017
She was a girl with secrets.
He was a man with demons.

(Okay if that doesn't have you intrigued, I don't know what will.)

4.5 *The cunning will only survive* Stars

Mafia is always my to go reads.
Just recently I have read a few novels by London Miller that have been recommended by a few of my friends. After reading the blurb for Crooks and Kings, I was more than intrigued to read this story. I'm so glad I did, It was a fun, suspenseful, hot and heavy read. Cristophe and Mariya's story left me guessing on what would happen next. It took awhile for both of them to open up to their feelings for each-other, but when kissed for the first time........ I was in second heaven! Overall I really liked this story. Lots of suspense nail biting moments, and a romance between two people who are more alike then they originally thought.

Excited to see what London Miller comes up with next.

Profile Image for Nadia Debowska-Stephens (Obsessed by Books).
1,080 reviews28 followers
April 10, 2017
Guilt and grief two very strong emotions that cause a good man to lose his edge, drowning in alcohol to silence his demons. Hiding away from the world, suffering alone away from his brothers he feels the burden is his alone to carry. Afraid he will prove to be the weakest link, he isolates himself hoping to save them from his pain. Fang is part of an elite group of highly trained men, their skill set comes at a cost and they move within the shadows. Raised in an horrific Romanian orphanage he has suffered more than most in a lifetime yet his failure almost breaks him.

Running from an arranged marriage from a power hungry man who is too consumed by his greed to care who he hurts along the way she is hiding in plain sight. Property of the Bratva, a Russian Mafia Princess she is as good as dead if her husband finds her first. With an ace up her sleeve she just needs to wait to find the perfect opportunity to be forever rid of her nemesis. Yet the quiet neighbour that drowns his sadness in vodka intrigues her, a chance meeting and an expected loss draw them together...can they be the solution to each other's problems?

Crooks and Kings immerse the reader into the shadowy world of crime. It's a dark read where the norm is not the expected. Everything has a cost and there is always a price to pay. The characters are engaging and their pasts heart wrenching. The brothers are intriguing and I hope they each get an opportunity to tell their own stories. I loved the twists and turns, the heart break and the redemption. The plotline is not for the faint of heart and the chemistry between them is palatable. They are a kick ass couple that deserve to find their own version of happily ever after even if they have to go to war with the mafia to achieve it.

A five star read.

~*~ Reviewed on behalf of Obsessed by Books ~*~
Profile Image for Gonewiththebooksss.
124 reviews28 followers
September 21, 2018
It was GOOD! I don’t like dead girlfriends to shadow anything, it was my only complaint and that’s the reason I don’t enjoy it very much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for A Klue.
1,500 reviews326 followers
June 22, 2019
3.5 stars

Except for the unnecessary flashbacks/recounting of the hero’s sad childhood at a deranged orphanage, as usual, I really enjoyed this author’s mafioso telling writing style. It’s a personal preference, because I simply thought we could have just been told point blank a brief summary about it and how he met his current posse of friends/co-workers. It was a really bad place...enough said. We'd get the gist of it. Getting the nitty gritty of it didn’t particularly bond me more to him or their characters. In fact, I skimmed over it, because I just didn’t need to go there. I'm squeamish about any thoughts of children in that kind of scenario.

In this case, the mob aspect all originated from the heroine’s side. I loved how Fang, the hero, easily shifted into an unstoppable, unshakable, protective mode when it came to helping the heroine. His whole team was pretty awesome in that regard. They were like a well oiled good guy, mercenary machine.

Yeah, he is still in love with his dead girlfriend or was it wife? Hmm, I don’t remember which. Anyway, the heroine was bringing him back out of the depths of deep, dark depression and despair, so I just accepted that for what it was. It all happened five months earlier, so I gave the guy a break.

There are appearances and character development of some of the hero’s buddies who are going to be featured in future books. In fact, the next book, Shadows and Silence, stars the absolute silent partner, Tecut, (literally the guy does not speak) and Winter, the 13 year younger hacker, who has the hots for him and vice versa. He’s caveman protective of Winter, won’t let a single negative word or gesture be made regarding her. I just had a hard time picturing the lengthy conversations that seemed to be going on with him, because, again, he didn’t speak nor could write all those words down without it being awkward/time consuming. There wasn't mention of sign language, which would have been cool and definitely would have filled in that plot hole. I just had to roll with it, folks, and pretend I didn’t notice.

I hope Winter’s character has a more mature vibe next go around. She came across too young for Tecut, IMHO.

Book 3, Saints and Thieves, is a no go for me. It’s a MMF main couple theme so not a troupe I prefer in my romantic reads. I am very appreciative of it being clearly noted in the book description.

(These comments are based on Kindle Unlimited version. This is not a detailed ARC review.)

Profile Image for Bec.
1,354 reviews21 followers
January 27, 2021
Firstly is this book an independent one? It feels like I was missing parts. Trying to recollect the Wild Bunch after reading the Kingmaker, Den series I think I read two of and others. Maybe it would help having a reading order or some chart!

The heroine is on the run after revealing to her arranged husband that she knows he killed her father. They have an altercation resulting in wounds to him and her escaping. While she keeps a low profile she meets her messed up neighbour who is trying to drink himself to forget the love of his life.

This previous relationship is difficult to move on from for him and the reader. How can we feel his grief and then accept another lover relatively quickly. I mean one minute he is devastated the next he is opening up to the heroine. She deserves her own love. Maybe that’s just me.

The Wild Bunch are an interesting group. I’m sure we met them in a previous book. They were rescued in a different book when Nix and crew went looking for a missing comrade. I love the world but haven’t read one of these books for a while so my recollection is sketchy. Maybe I need a refresher?🙃
Profile Image for Tiffany Readz.
2,020 reviews52 followers
March 18, 2017
3.5 Stars-I Wanted More Romance

Wow, the action starts the minute you open the book! London Miller definitely didn't scrimp on that aspect of this storyline. We are thrown into the world of Christophe and don't get a chance to ever look back.

"His body told a story-one of beauty and pain-and she was afraid to read it."

In this story, we are given two characters with slightly similar pasts that eventually work out perfectly for each other. Christophe had overcome a horrific childhood to only be involved in something even more hazardous to his health, while Mariya was running from the childhood still trying to consume her. They are from different worlds, yet are the exact thing the other needs at the moment, however the worlds think otherwise and the action ensues.

I wasn't feeling a whole heck of a lot of chemistry between these two characters other than right place at the right time type of thing. He was broken from his past and she has a giant chip on her shoulder from hers. Romance wasn't a word I would use for them, convenient would be a better fit.

While Crooks and Kings reads well as a Russian Mafia story, I wanted a little more heat between our main characters and less information on the families. The book is well written from dual points of view and plays out like an action movie. It reads as a standalone with a nice epilogue to wrap things up.

Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
Profile Image for Nic Spears.
592 reviews41 followers
June 20, 2017
Such an amazing book. I loved Christophe and Mariya's story.

I'm looking forward to starting Tâcut and Winter's story now.
Profile Image for Tracy.
684 reviews20 followers
March 14, 2017
Sucked in from the very first page, Crooks and Kings is an addictive story you cannot put down. Our hero, Fang, hasn't had a happy life. He got a rough start and was kicked the whole time. The heroine is a Bratva princess. The last thing Mariya wants is love.

A slow burning romance, with suspense, quickly paced action, and heart stopping drama, Crooks and Kings was an unputdownable book for me. I was obsessed to see what would be happening next and what was going to happen with Fang and Mariya. Fangs past had me questioning what would happen, and the anticipation was delicious as I continued through the book. Highly reccomended! 4.5 heart stopping stars!

*Review Requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads*

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Profile Image for Louise H's Book Thoughts.
2,036 reviews317 followers
March 18, 2017
I would rate this 4.5 stars. It is a really well written, captivating, complex and unusual story with a little bit of mafia, a side order of bad boy and a lot of peril. There is a really good balance of romance and action/adventure in this book and I found it a real 'page turner'.

I really warmed to Mariya and Christophe (aka Fang), they are both very likeable and complex characters. The book is written from both their POV's, in a style that is easy to follow, allowing you to develop an empathy for them. The author did an amazing job of building a believable connection between the hero and heroine, as well as filling in their background stories. Both Mariya and especially Christophe have survived some very dark experiences in their lives and their methods of surviving/coping are what draw them together and make them such a suited couple.

I loved Christophe's 3 'brothers' and would love to see a story with Tacut and Winter, as these two really stood out as supporting characters in the book. The story was both a little different to the usual mafia/bad boy genre, and whilst Christophe's training and profession were a little unusual (a huge understatement!) it did make what happened in the plot a lot more believable.

I really enjoyed the epilogue where again, like the book, it was just that little bit different and had some 'unusual twists on the usual'.

I'd been going through a run of bad arc's and uninteresting free books and this was just what I needed to re-inspire my reading mojo. London Miller has now been added to my list of 'must read' authors.
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