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Mounts Bay Saga #1
The Butcher of the Bay: Part I
My life was simple: I kill for money and I’m the best in the Bay at my job.
That was enough for me until I met the woman of my dreams, only to deliver her to hell itself for a pretty penny.
Nothing will stop me from getting her back and when I do… there isn’t a man in the Bay that’s safe from my vengeance.
They’ll pay in blood for their crimes.
That was enough for me until I met the woman of my dreams, only to deliver her to hell itself for a pretty penny.
Nothing will stop me from getting her back and when I do… there isn’t a man in the Bay that’s safe from my vengeance.
They’ll pay in blood for their crimes.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2020
1786 people are currently reading
6075 people want to read
About the author
J. Bree
29 books11.9k followersJ Bree is a dreamer, writer, mother, and cat-wrangler.
The order of priorities changes daily.
She lives on the coast of Western Australia in a city where it rains too much. She spends her days dreaming about all of her book boyfriends, listening to her partner moan about how the lawns are looking, and being a snack bitch to her three kids.
Visit her website at http://www.jbreeauthor.com to sign up for the newsletter or find her on social media.
The order of priorities changes daily.
She lives on the coast of Western Australia in a city where it rains too much. She spends her days dreaming about all of her book boyfriends, listening to her partner moan about how the lawns are looking, and being a snack bitch to her three kids.
Visit her website at http://www.jbreeauthor.com to sign up for the newsletter or find her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
February 10, 2023
*4.5* Mon monstre.
This book is hard-core, but it's also not. It's very dark yet has a lightness about it that makes it very easy to read.
✔️Torture
✔️Sex trafficking
✔️Rape (off page but described)
✔️Graphic dismemberment
✔️Murders
✔️Cage fighting to the death
Yes, it sounds brutal, BUT it also has one of the most perfectly imperfect, head over heels, super alpha male protector heroes ever. Once he spots her, he's done for. She's it! He'll wait forever for her to be ready for him. I swooned for Illi.
He threads his fingers thread through mine and he brings my hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss there. “I’ll be your monster, baby girl.”
It is rare that I like both the H and the h in a story, but I did! Oldie has a quiet strength about her that I couldn't help but admire. What she survived...I won't describe, but it's beyond horrific.
With Illi's help, she slowly recovers. I loved their growing intimacy and the lack of sex didn't bother me because their budding trust meant so much.
Ends on a cliffhanger!!!
This book is hard-core, but it's also not. It's very dark yet has a lightness about it that makes it very easy to read.
✔️Torture
✔️Sex trafficking
✔️Rape (off page but described)
✔️Graphic dismemberment
✔️Murders
✔️Cage fighting to the death
Yes, it sounds brutal, BUT it also has one of the most perfectly imperfect, head over heels, super alpha male protector heroes ever. Once he spots her, he's done for. She's it! He'll wait forever for her to be ready for him. I swooned for Illi.
He threads his fingers thread through mine and he brings my hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss there. “I’ll be your monster, baby girl.”
It is rare that I like both the H and the h in a story, but I did! Oldie has a quiet strength about her that I couldn't help but admire. What she survived...I won't describe, but it's beyond horrific.
With Illi's help, she slowly recovers. I loved their growing intimacy and the lack of sex didn't bother me because their budding trust meant so much.
Ends on a cliffhanger!!!
June 2, 2020
This book definitely has triggers but it doesn’t have cheating so I can cope. I have to admit I did skip certain scenes as I found it too awful.
I really wanted to read Lip’s story as she sounded truly wonderful but then I found out her story is RH so I truly deflated as RH really is not my type of preferred romance. Oh well at least this book was great and I can’t wait for next part!
I really wanted to read Lip’s story as she sounded truly wonderful but then I found out her story is RH so I truly deflated as RH really is not my type of preferred romance. Oh well at least this book was great and I can’t wait for next part!
January 14, 2023
YIKES
3 ⭐
2/5 spice
Did I liked this? Sort of
Would I continue? The last chp made me continue. (and I wanted more of them😭 that was not enough for me)
Changed my review cz I was half a sleep when I wrote it sorry-in advance
The girl Oddette, whose father is a very bad man, is sold to a man in exchange for an unpaid debt, which makes this book overall a good start. They "check if she's a virgin or not" when she gets there (she isn't).
The man become furious and cast her into hell (trafficking). Our main boy Illi is given the task of picking her up after someone purchases her. He had assumed it was for some sort of business, but he ended up literally sending her to a shithole.☺
He notices that she is upset, but he is unaware of why. When he figures it out... he searches the entire city for her.😏😏🔥
The hero (Illi) only wants her because she is attractive....that’s it.😭.
And the amount of time he calls her baby girl💀 it's too much for my liking too much
And I need to read Lips story too...she sounds too interesting 😂♥
Don't get how he was so 'in love with her' just by looking at her.or maybe it was lust? ??😭 god I don't get the obsession for her literally it doesn't make any sense!!
But pls check tw's there are alottt it deals with heavy trafficking. So read on your own. And there's lots of blood...c'mon he cuts people in to pieces for money CZ he is the butcher of the MOTHERFUCKING bay
But the last chp was👀 onto the next book.
3 ⭐
2/5 spice
Did I liked this? Sort of
Would I continue? The last chp made me continue. (and I wanted more of them😭 that was not enough for me)
Changed my review cz I was half a sleep when I wrote it sorry-in advance
The girl Oddette, whose father is a very bad man, is sold to a man in exchange for an unpaid debt, which makes this book overall a good start. They "check if she's a virgin or not" when she gets there (she isn't).
The man become furious and cast her into hell (trafficking). Our main boy Illi is given the task of picking her up after someone purchases her. He had assumed it was for some sort of business, but he ended up literally sending her to a shithole.☺
He notices that she is upset, but he is unaware of why. When he figures it out... he searches the entire city for her.😏😏🔥
The hero (Illi) only wants her because she is attractive....that’s it.😭.
And the amount of time he calls her baby girl💀 it's too much for my liking too much
And I need to read Lips story too...she sounds too interesting 😂♥
Don't get how he was so 'in love with her' just by looking at her.or maybe it was lust? ??😭 god I don't get the obsession for her literally it doesn't make any sense!!
But pls check tw's there are alottt it deals with heavy trafficking. So read on your own. And there's lots of blood...c'mon he cuts people in to pieces for money CZ he is the butcher of the MOTHERFUCKING bay
But the last chp was👀 onto the next book.
June 2, 2020
Buddy Read with the cakeeaters @ RHR
A really good 3 stars maybe even close to 4
We read Hannaford Prep together so this was a no brainier. Illi was always one of the most interesting additions to that series and I’m glad he got his own story, dark as it may be.
With a name like Butcher of the Bay this was hardly going to be a light fluffy read.... but maybe I didn’t quite expect it to be just as dark as it was.
Do’s and Don’t of this book
Do
- Expect bloodshed & gang themes
- Expect explicit content of sexual abuse and rape.
- Read past 50% if you were thinking of dropping it
- Prepare yourself for the mother of all cliffhangers. That cut deeper than the meat cleaver!
Don’t
- read this is you are under 18... or 21 maybe 21 is safer
- Read it unless you like it dark
- Read it unless you’ve read Hannaford prep first. (That’s my personal opinion it is standalone)
None of the abuse comes at the hand of the butcher so there is that. It’s a sweet romance believe it or not, just surrounded by a lot of torture and rape....
Trust me
The 50% mark is pretty important... no one is actually going to enjoy the first half. And if you do maybe you should go see someone about that . It’s worth it though to get to the part after, the healing slow build romance.
I liked the dual POV and really got a feel for each characters voice, Illi the gangster and Odie who really had a classy french personality. She had elegance even after everything that happened to her. I found myself reading her parts in a fence accent!
The relationship was handled well all things considered and that was one of the main reasons I coped with the darkness and will continue the series.
A really good 3 stars maybe even close to 4
We read Hannaford Prep together so this was a no brainier. Illi was always one of the most interesting additions to that series and I’m glad he got his own story, dark as it may be.
With a name like Butcher of the Bay this was hardly going to be a light fluffy read.... but maybe I didn’t quite expect it to be just as dark as it was.
Do’s and Don’t of this book
Do
- Expect bloodshed & gang themes
- Expect explicit content of sexual abuse and rape.
- Read past 50% if you were thinking of dropping it
- Prepare yourself for the mother of all cliffhangers. That cut deeper than the meat cleaver!
Don’t
- read this is you are under 18... or 21 maybe 21 is safer
- Read it unless you like it dark
- Read it unless you’ve read Hannaford prep first. (That’s my personal opinion it is standalone)
None of the abuse comes at the hand of the butcher so there is that. It’s a sweet romance believe it or not, just surrounded by a lot of torture and rape....
Trust me
The 50% mark is pretty important... no one is actually going to enjoy the first half. And if you do maybe you should go see someone about that . It’s worth it though to get to the part after, the healing slow build romance.
I liked the dual POV and really got a feel for each characters voice, Illi the gangster and Odie who really had a classy french personality. She had elegance even after everything that happened to her. I found myself reading her parts in a fence accent!
The relationship was handled well all things considered and that was one of the main reasons I coped with the darkness and will continue the series.
August 11, 2024
This is definitely one of J. Bree's darkest books.
This is a prequel to the Hannaford prep series and while I'd recommend reading it before diving into that series, it's not necessary to do so.
The Butcher was an interesting side character in Hannaford Prep and I was intrigued to find out more about him and his wife Odette. Odette's story is heartbreaking and I adored her chapters so much. Her healing was so well-written and I loved the relationship development between the two. The Butcher's chapters were a little repetitive at times but I did enjoy his scenes with Lip, and the other members of the Twelve.
Excited for part II.
This is a prequel to the Hannaford prep series and while I'd recommend reading it before diving into that series, it's not necessary to do so.
The Butcher was an interesting side character in Hannaford Prep and I was intrigued to find out more about him and his wife Odette. Odette's story is heartbreaking and I adored her chapters so much. Her healing was so well-written and I loved the relationship development between the two. The Butcher's chapters were a little repetitive at times but I did enjoy his scenes with Lip, and the other members of the Twelve.
Excited for part II.
July 15, 2023
Pages: unknown
My rating: 3
Read other books by this author in the future: yes
MC’s: Odette (Odie), the butcher (Johnny Illium, Illi)
This is a very dark book and it need a trigger warning: there is several types of abuse, rape and bloody killing in this book.
This was a buddy read with the RHR girls. And this is not a RH.
After the first 8% a RHR buddy wrote a br comment hinting on abuse and killing. I really thought that I will not finish this book. But it sucked me in.
We get to know Odie, who grew up in France. Her Father was a drug dealer and user and because of his financial problems he sold his daughter to a criminal to be his child bearing machine, thinking she is a virgin. And we get to know the Butcher.
Odie is actually a good girl but the Butcher is a psychopath. This world is so far form my reality that it is sometimes really hard to relate to this. But I read it all the way and I will read Part II two.
My rating: 3
Read other books by this author in the future: yes
MC’s: Odette (Odie), the butcher (Johnny Illium, Illi)
This is a very dark book and it need a trigger warning: there is several types of abuse, rape and bloody killing in this book.
This was a buddy read with the RHR girls. And this is not a RH.
After the first 8% a RHR buddy wrote a br comment hinting on abuse and killing. I really thought that I will not finish this book. But it sucked me in.
We get to know Odie, who grew up in France. Her Father was a drug dealer and user and because of his financial problems he sold his daughter to a criminal to be his child bearing machine, thinking she is a virgin. And we get to know the Butcher.
Odie is actually a good girl but the Butcher is a psychopath. This world is so far form my reality that it is sometimes really hard to relate to this. But I read it all the way and I will read Part II two.
January 6, 2022
The butcher of the fucking bay ....he is so soft 😭😭. I was reading hannhford prep where i was introduced to Illi’s character and i kept hannahford prep aside to read his book ... 😭😭 i do not regret it. This story is about Odie who was sold by her dad and Illi was assigned to pick her up and deliver her but when he sees her he falls in fucking love.. I mean it was love at first fucking site. He thought that she was pro and didnt think she was being trafficked which is why he does his job and delivers her but when he gets to know that she was sold, he does everything to save her and then decides to kill her rapists. This book has so much action and i loved it. I love illi so much, he is the butcher of the fucking bay, everyone is so scared of him but he is so soft towards Odie. He is so respectful and protective, i- . 😭 Odie suffered a lot but she is so strong, i loved her character as well. The relationship between Illi and Lips was fantastic, he was like a big brother to her and Lips on the other hand did everything to protect Odie. Tbh i should have read this book before Hannahford prep because then i would have known more about Lips life before Hannhprep, its so intresting how she is in this book which makes it more intriguing to read her book.
June 1, 2020
BR with the RH house.....
DNF 24%
Rape
Assault
More rape
Make anti hero only wants her because she is attractive ... that’s it. “Big tits tiny waist big ass and long blond hair and she speaks another language”
Anti hero is actually a psychopath. Enjoys killing doesn’t seem smart just broken ... he has zero actually zero moral conscious if it doesn’t suit him.
Not for me.i don’t need this imagery in my head. Maybe it’s somebodies jam but not mine.
DNF 24%
Rape
Assault
More rape
Make anti hero only wants her because she is attractive ... that’s it. “Big tits tiny waist big ass and long blond hair and she speaks another language”
Anti hero is actually a psychopath. Enjoys killing doesn’t seem smart just broken ... he has zero actually zero moral conscious if it doesn’t suit him.
Not for me.i don’t need this imagery in my head. Maybe it’s somebodies jam but not mine.
June 3, 2020
Dark MF romance
The Butcher! Illi is such a bad@ss. I love seeing him put Jackal in his place. Even when they are "friends," Illi allows no disrespect.
I just wanna say this though... yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, BUT we already know what happens right? So let's all be calm and have faith in Illi and J Bree lol.
That being said, so ready for the part 2.
The Butcher! Illi is such a bad@ss. I love seeing him put Jackal in his place. Even when they are "friends," Illi allows no disrespect.
I just wanna say this though... yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, BUT we already know what happens right? So let's all be calm and have faith in Illi and J Bree lol.
That being said, so ready for the part 2.
August 16, 2021
I'm just not in the mood. I do want to give this a proper try again...dnf without prejudice.
...
Update: DNF with prejudice. I tried this again and just couldn't get into it. I'm giving it two "it was okay" stars. Please don't let this rating deter you from trying this series. I also dnf this author's Hannaford Prep series, and thought I'd give the author one more try by reading this book since I do like dark books and I'm in an organized crime mood currently. Something about this author's writing style does not resonate with me at all. Objectively I see how others could be into though. My one legitimate criticism was that there was too much fucking cursing. I counted 8 fucks on 2 pages at one point. I never, ever thought I'd make this complaint of a book, because I curse like a sailor. I've never been bothered by cursing in books before, but this was overkill.
...
Update: DNF with prejudice. I tried this again and just couldn't get into it. I'm giving it two "it was okay" stars. Please don't let this rating deter you from trying this series. I also dnf this author's Hannaford Prep series, and thought I'd give the author one more try by reading this book since I do like dark books and I'm in an organized crime mood currently. Something about this author's writing style does not resonate with me at all. Objectively I see how others could be into though. My one legitimate criticism was that there was too much fucking cursing. I counted 8 fucks on 2 pages at one point. I never, ever thought I'd make this complaint of a book, because I curse like a sailor. I've never been bothered by cursing in books before, but this was overkill.
July 24, 2021
Mounts Bay Saga Duet :
#1 The Butcher of the Bay: Part I - 2.5
#2 The Butcher of the Bay: Part II - 2
Things you should know before you dive into this book -
- The word "fuck" and "fucking" have been used a total of 966 times. See I don't mind curse words, mainly because I use them like a sailor myself, but hearing it after every single word makes me doubt Hero's vocabulary and thus making me doubt author's.
- Illi calls Odie "baby girl" *gag* This one is very controversial 'cuz I know many love it. Different strokes for different folks?
- TOOOOOOOO many grammatical errors. There were so many grammatical errors that it made it very difficult for me to stay focused on the story.
Before I begin my rant, here's a snippet of Illie's thought process 😶😂😂😂
I didn't really care much for Illi (H) or Odie (h), though. Both seemed like weak characters to me and the fact that Illi thought with his dick and made a decision that led to Odie being brutally raped and tortured for weeks on end by endless men made itkinda very difficult for me to like him.
Following spoilers contain spoilers for 2nd book too. You've been warned!
He thought she was a French whore when he was tasked to pick her up and deliver it to his friend. He thought he'd try her when she was done with the men who "bought her for her services". Mind you, he was already thinking of a relationship with her, was already possessive of her and was deeply infatuated, so him even thinking that he'll let her do her job (which he thought was having sex with other men) then have her all for himself didn't sit well with me.
You see, that were his thoughts when he first met her so the fact that he let her go to do her "job"
I did love his fierce protectiveness for Odie though. Maybe even the ONLY thing I loved in this duet🤷🏻♀️
- quote from book 2 but you see what made me give it more than 1 star?
The fact that he went on a revenge streak against all the people who wronged Odie made this duet marginally bearable for me.
Also, I liked Lips in 1st part but for some reason she got really annoying in the 2nd. I know she's got her own series and tbh I fucking hate when authors give EVERY side character their story.
There are series I've loved and even awaited the books of side characters but that's because they actually seemed intriguing and you could see the authors had actually put efforts in them. For instance - Made Series by Danielle Lori or Hades Hangmen by Tillie Cole.
But here it seems like the author couldn't come up with more characters so she decided to write a book on every single side character there was in this book (many other authors do this and I get so frustrated! Like leave them alone!!!!).
I'm almost a 100% sure I won't be reading more books by this author. I did complete this duet though and I think my friend hyped this up too much to me for what it was actually worth. Now that I think about it, making me read this might've been her revenge against me.
Okay, I'm spooked😶
#1 The Butcher of the Bay: Part I - 2.5
#2 The Butcher of the Bay: Part II - 2
Things you should know before you dive into this book -
- The word "fuck" and "fucking" have been used a total of 966 times. See I don't mind curse words, mainly because I use them like a sailor myself, but hearing it after every single word makes me doubt Hero's vocabulary and thus making me doubt author's.
- Illi calls Odie "baby girl" *gag* This one is very controversial 'cuz I know many love it. Different strokes for different folks?
- TOOOOOOOO many grammatical errors. There were so many grammatical errors that it made it very difficult for me to stay focused on the story.
Before I begin my rant, here's a snippet of Illie's thought process 😶😂😂😂
I get to work hacking the dead guy to pieces. Nice, easily digestible pieces to ship off to a contact who enjoys using them as bait in his arctic fishing expeditions. Weird guy but he pays good green and the cops aren’t exactly trolling the arctic nets for missing perps.
It’s basically recycling.
I’m a fucking humanitarian, an eco fucking warrior.
I didn't really care much for Illi (H) or Odie (h), though. Both seemed like weak characters to me and the fact that Illi thought with his dick and made a decision that led to Odie being brutally raped and tortured for weeks on end by endless men made it
Following spoilers contain spoilers for 2nd book too. You've been warned!
He thought she was a French whore when he was tasked to pick her up and deliver it to his friend. He thought he'd try her when she was done with the men who "bought her for her services". Mind you, he was already thinking of a relationship with her, was already possessive of her and was deeply infatuated, so him even thinking that he'll let her do her job (which he thought was having sex with other men) then have her all for himself didn't sit well with me.
One look into that siren’s eyes and she sucked my fucking soul out and made it her own.
I need her like I need air, and now that she’s gone, I’m drowning. How the fuck did I think my life was complete before her? How had I not known that something so vital to me was missing?
You see, that were his thoughts when he first met her so the fact that he let her go to do her "job"
“Baby girl, you need to stop crying because I’m about to go bleed out half the Bay for you. I’ll find that biker piece of shit and carve him up.”
I did love his fierce protectiveness for Odie though. Maybe even the ONLY thing I loved in this duet🤷🏻♀️
I can feel their eyes on me keenly so I bury my face even further into mon Monstre’s shoulder and pretend to sob silently, my body trembling delicately. I can’t go too far overboard with it because, even knowing it’s a farce Illi will lose his cool. Flip my shit, he’d warned me earlier.
- quote from book 2 but you see what made me give it more than 1 star?
The fact that he went on a revenge streak against all the people who wronged Odie made this duet marginally bearable for me.
Also, I liked Lips in 1st part but for some reason she got really annoying in the 2nd. I know she's got her own series and tbh I fucking hate when authors give EVERY side character their story.
There are series I've loved and even awaited the books of side characters but that's because they actually seemed intriguing and you could see the authors had actually put efforts in them. For instance - Made Series by Danielle Lori or Hades Hangmen by Tillie Cole.
But here it seems like the author couldn't come up with more characters so she decided to write a book on every single side character there was in this book (many other authors do this and I get so frustrated! Like leave them alone!!!!).
I'm almost a 100% sure I won't be reading more books by this author. I did complete this duet though and I think my friend hyped this up too much to me for what it was actually worth. Now that I think about it, making me read this might've been her revenge against me.
Okay, I'm spooked😶
December 6, 2021
DNF at 55%
There is nothing happening and it’s also boring . Basically h just gets raped and sold .
I’m currently on a reading slump . What I need is a reverse harem in the moment .
There is nothing happening and it’s also boring . Basically h just gets raped and sold .
I’m currently on a reading slump . What I need is a reverse harem in the moment .
September 4, 2020
Oh my bloody goodness- why have I been holding out on J Bree?! Truth be told- I have had the Hannaford Prep series on my kindle for more than a minute waiting to dig into, but this is my first J Bree reading experience- I love a good bloody cover. But, after digging into this duet- I’m definitely going to head back into her prior books to get all the stories about some of these beloved characters that I’m only getting to know here. That said, this can be read as a standalone- so I had no issue reading it and enjoying it without knowing the full history.
Johnny Illium, the Butcher of the Bay, Illi is the ultimate dark anti-hero. He’s intensely and mercilessly protective over those he cares about- especially Odie (Odette). I just ate him up- he’s alpha, foul mouthed, and deliciously funny. He’s a brutal- yet he has this big giant heart. A heart that beats for our poor tortured heroine- man, has she been through some stuff. But she’s fierce, she’s a survivor- she’s smart, resilient, and has such fortitude. Both of them just spoke to my soul- and I loved how their relationship, which is tender and sweet and restorative to both of them is juxtaposed to the dark brutality of the world around them. That contrasts makes their story even more special, more emotional, and makes it feel even more epic and intimate.
What impressed me most is the world building here- J Bree wields words to create a dynamic experience in the way an artist wields paint and brush. And this is a dark and captivating world she’s weaving. The characters that inhabit it are dynamic, flawed, and moral ambiguous in places- just so interesting, super intriguing, and damn original.
I love a book that incites emotional range- and I’m excited to see if J Bree’s other work does the same for me. I laughed, I hurt, and I swooned, sometimes all in the same page. The ending has me hung over in the worst way- so muchs I immediately one clicked the next book and am already neck deep back into this Bay world. Excited to fall deeper into the very addictive world that is J Bree and her Bay/Hannaford crew!
PS- LOADS Of triggers
Johnny Illium, the Butcher of the Bay, Illi is the ultimate dark anti-hero. He’s intensely and mercilessly protective over those he cares about- especially Odie (Odette). I just ate him up- he’s alpha, foul mouthed, and deliciously funny. He’s a brutal- yet he has this big giant heart. A heart that beats for our poor tortured heroine- man, has she been through some stuff. But she’s fierce, she’s a survivor- she’s smart, resilient, and has such fortitude. Both of them just spoke to my soul- and I loved how their relationship, which is tender and sweet and restorative to both of them is juxtaposed to the dark brutality of the world around them. That contrasts makes their story even more special, more emotional, and makes it feel even more epic and intimate.
What impressed me most is the world building here- J Bree wields words to create a dynamic experience in the way an artist wields paint and brush. And this is a dark and captivating world she’s weaving. The characters that inhabit it are dynamic, flawed, and moral ambiguous in places- just so interesting, super intriguing, and damn original.
I love a book that incites emotional range- and I’m excited to see if J Bree’s other work does the same for me. I laughed, I hurt, and I swooned, sometimes all in the same page. The ending has me hung over in the worst way- so muchs I immediately one clicked the next book and am already neck deep back into this Bay world. Excited to fall deeper into the very addictive world that is J Bree and her Bay/Hannaford crew!
PS- LOADS Of triggers
February 7, 2021
Spoilers ahead
Odette is sold by her drug dealing/using father to pay his debts, unbeknownst to him she isn't a virgin so her buyer then puts her up for auction. She meets the Butcher as she's transported from one owner to another, she lives in hell for weeks until she's rescued by the monster himself. Over time the Butcher proves that not all men are despicable and Odie finally feels safe again....until a betrayal sees her taken again.
Illi has earned his name as Butcher of the Bay, he's a brutal hired killer who enjoys his job. His life is pretty comfortable though bloody until he's hired to drop off what he assumes is a high end prostitute to her client. When Lips informs him that the woman is actually a victim of sexual slavery Illi is beyond outraged. He wanted the gorgeous woman for his own but by the time he receives this information she's disappeared. He goes on a rampage looking for her but it takes time until she's rescued at yet another auction. This time Illi is determined to hold on to Odie. He is patient and kind as he earns her trust, just as things finally change between them a betrayal from his once closest friend means Odie has been kidnapped again.
********
This book is hella brutal, lots of killing from Illi but it's what Odie goes through that breaks me. Reading about her horrific ordeal broke my heart and I was grateful that she was able to experience some happiness with Illi.
With a name such as Butcher of the Bay one doesn't expect hearts and roses from our mmc, he's a killer..... An antihero who did illegal and immoral things for money. He also turns a blind eye to the evil things his friend does....until Odette brings a change to him. He's a brutal killer but he's a sweetheart to her. Patient and loving as he gives her a safe place to heal from her ordeal.
Ends on a cliffhanger
I can't wait to read Lips story
**it pisses me off that there isn't a trigger warning in the blurb! I hate that shit!
The h is raped and beaten repeatedly by at least six men
No cheating
H is a hired killer
Odette is sold by her drug dealing/using father to pay his debts, unbeknownst to him she isn't a virgin so her buyer then puts her up for auction. She meets the Butcher as she's transported from one owner to another, she lives in hell for weeks until she's rescued by the monster himself. Over time the Butcher proves that not all men are despicable and Odie finally feels safe again....until a betrayal sees her taken again.
Illi has earned his name as Butcher of the Bay, he's a brutal hired killer who enjoys his job. His life is pretty comfortable though bloody until he's hired to drop off what he assumes is a high end prostitute to her client. When Lips informs him that the woman is actually a victim of sexual slavery Illi is beyond outraged. He wanted the gorgeous woman for his own but by the time he receives this information she's disappeared. He goes on a rampage looking for her but it takes time until she's rescued at yet another auction. This time Illi is determined to hold on to Odie. He is patient and kind as he earns her trust, just as things finally change between them a betrayal from his once closest friend means Odie has been kidnapped again.
********
This book is hella brutal, lots of killing from Illi but it's what Odie goes through that breaks me. Reading about her horrific ordeal broke my heart and I was grateful that she was able to experience some happiness with Illi.
With a name such as Butcher of the Bay one doesn't expect hearts and roses from our mmc, he's a killer..... An antihero who did illegal and immoral things for money. He also turns a blind eye to the evil things his friend does....until Odette brings a change to him. He's a brutal killer but he's a sweetheart to her. Patient and loving as he gives her a safe place to heal from her ordeal.
Ends on a cliffhanger
I can't wait to read Lips story
**it pisses me off that there isn't a trigger warning in the blurb! I hate that shit!
The h is raped and beaten repeatedly by at least six men
No cheating
H is a hired killer
September 9, 2020
while this is a prequel the hannaford prep series, I highly recommend that you read hannaford first.
January 22, 2023
Dark, dark, DARK, but what else were you expecting?
tw: rape, assault, human trafficking, torture, murder -- explicitly detailed at times.
I will say this one took awhile for me to get into. If I wasn't so gosh darn curious about Illi and Odette and had I not loved Hannaford Prep I probably would have dnf'd this one. 50% through I found myself hooked and so glad I continued on.
This is an insta-love, buuuuttt I kind of expected it of Illi. He's a romantic... well, okay, he is romantic for someone whose nickname is The Butcher, you know what I mean?
Huge cliffhanger though so I'm dying to get my hands on part 2... even knowing how dark that one is going to be too.
tw: rape, assault, human trafficking, torture, murder -- explicitly detailed at times.
I will say this one took awhile for me to get into. If I wasn't so gosh darn curious about Illi and Odette and had I not loved Hannaford Prep I probably would have dnf'd this one. 50% through I found myself hooked and so glad I continued on.
This is an insta-love, buuuuttt I kind of expected it of Illi. He's a romantic... well, okay, he is romantic for someone whose nickname is The Butcher, you know what I mean?
Huge cliffhanger though so I'm dying to get my hands on part 2... even knowing how dark that one is going to be too.
June 11, 2020
Brutal, dark and also sweet and swoon worthy.
There's a lot of trigger in this book, till the 50% mark its hard to read.
Major cliffhanger!
Was going to read Lips story but I'm not an fan of HR so I'll pass...
There's a lot of trigger in this book, till the 50% mark its hard to read.
Major cliffhanger!
Was going to read Lips story but I'm not an fan of HR so I'll pass...
December 18, 2023
4.25✨ i loved them in hannaford and i loved them more in this.
i love how badly illi needs to find odie and get her back. instalove ish but it moved quickly and was so entertaining that i don’t really care. he just feels like shit for what he’s done and needs to fix it. he’s the butcher and literally cleaves people apart like it’s nothing but keeps his eyes on the road night cause there’s a lot of wildlife in the area… i love him. he takes such good care of her. loves her and protects her and would literally (and plans to) raze the city to the ground to keep her safe and happily chop up anyone who so much as looks at her wrong. the happiness he feels when she gives him her smiles and happy sounds… it’s just so sweet. i can’t wait to watch her tear ship up in part two.
odie is such a fierce woman. she keeps her head held high through it all. she thinks it’s because she was raised to be a “good girl” and obey but you can tell it’s just pure strength. she thinks she’s broken but i’d say she’s just cracked. man i felt for her. but nothing can break that girl. especially with illi as her strength and her comfort and her protector. it was so beautiful so watch her grow comfortable and feel safe with him. she calls him her monster 😭❤️🔥
loving all the bits of lips and loved seeing their relationship form. i love how much he cares about lips’ opinion of him and her respect for him. i love how this relationship is evolving and becoming something genuinely important to him. you can tell the whole time that she really means something to him and he cares about her and her safety.
the writing was kinda meh in this but i loved the plot. jbree never fails me. i’ll literally read anything she writes.
”Now I know for sure she’s taken my soul and made it her own.”
“Now I fucking care. I grew a fucking heart and if anything, it’s made me even more fucking dangerous.”
“I don’t care if you’re a monster. Maybe… maybe you are my monster.”
• strangers to lovers
• he falls first
• touch her & you die
• he takes care of her
• slow burn
• gangs, cartels, mc’s
• trafficking & rape tw
i love how badly illi needs to find odie and get her back. instalove ish but it moved quickly and was so entertaining that i don’t really care. he just feels like shit for what he’s done and needs to fix it. he’s the butcher and literally cleaves people apart like it’s nothing but keeps his eyes on the road night cause there’s a lot of wildlife in the area… i love him. he takes such good care of her. loves her and protects her and would literally (and plans to) raze the city to the ground to keep her safe and happily chop up anyone who so much as looks at her wrong. the happiness he feels when she gives him her smiles and happy sounds… it’s just so sweet. i can’t wait to watch her tear ship up in part two.
odie is such a fierce woman. she keeps her head held high through it all. she thinks it’s because she was raised to be a “good girl” and obey but you can tell it’s just pure strength. she thinks she’s broken but i’d say she’s just cracked. man i felt for her. but nothing can break that girl. especially with illi as her strength and her comfort and her protector. it was so beautiful so watch her grow comfortable and feel safe with him. she calls him her monster 😭❤️🔥
loving all the bits of lips and loved seeing their relationship form. i love how much he cares about lips’ opinion of him and her respect for him. i love how this relationship is evolving and becoming something genuinely important to him. you can tell the whole time that she really means something to him and he cares about her and her safety.
the writing was kinda meh in this but i loved the plot. jbree never fails me. i’ll literally read anything she writes.
”Now I know for sure she’s taken my soul and made it her own.”
“Now I fucking care. I grew a fucking heart and if anything, it’s made me even more fucking dangerous.”
“I don’t care if you’re a monster. Maybe… maybe you are my monster.”
• strangers to lovers
• he falls first
• touch her & you die
• he takes care of her
• slow burn
• gangs, cartels, mc’s
• trafficking & rape tw
December 12, 2021
”Let’s be real here, baby, it ain’t the sweet curve of your ass or your lush tits that makes me want you so fucking bad, I’d kill any man that gets in my way. It’s the fire in your eyes and the curl of your lip when someone disgusts you. It’s how fucking angry you are. You’re every bit as damaged as I am and I fucking love it. I’ll keep you here with me until you’re ready to show that fire to everyone else again. We’ll ride this out together, nowhere else I’d rather be, baby girl.”
I don’t know what my expectations were when it came to this book but I do know that I fell deep in love with Illi and Odie and this author’s storytelling and writing. It was a painful and beautiful all at the same time. This first book mainly focuses on the trauma that Odie is put through and consequently the healing she has to do while at the side of The Butcher aka Illi. Illi is mouthwateringly dangerous. He kills for a living but he is so soft for Odie. He literally can go from torturing to cinnamon roll mode in the blink of an eye and there’s just something about that “she’s my one and I’ll burn the world down for her and kill whoever has hurt her or dares to hurt her in the future” vibe that just melts me. They have such amazing chemistry and I know they are going to be one hell of a passionate power couple.
TW: sex slavery/trafficking, on page sexual assault and rape, graphic scenes of violence and murder, PTSD, talk of drugs
Overall rating 4 star (with a 5 star prediction on book 2)
Steaminess 1.5 (there was some kissing but that is really it (again this book is about Odie and her journey and Illi is very patient with her and isn’t about to force her to move into a physical relationship faster than the speed she chooses to go but I definitely think book 2 will pack enough heat to make up for the lack of it here in book 1.)
I don’t know what my expectations were when it came to this book but I do know that I fell deep in love with Illi and Odie and this author’s storytelling and writing. It was a painful and beautiful all at the same time. This first book mainly focuses on the trauma that Odie is put through and consequently the healing she has to do while at the side of The Butcher aka Illi. Illi is mouthwateringly dangerous. He kills for a living but he is so soft for Odie. He literally can go from torturing to cinnamon roll mode in the blink of an eye and there’s just something about that “she’s my one and I’ll burn the world down for her and kill whoever has hurt her or dares to hurt her in the future” vibe that just melts me. They have such amazing chemistry and I know they are going to be one hell of a passionate power couple.
TW: sex slavery/trafficking, on page sexual assault and rape, graphic scenes of violence and murder, PTSD, talk of drugs
Overall rating 4 star (with a 5 star prediction on book 2)
Steaminess 1.5 (there was some kissing but that is really it (again this book is about Odie and her journey and Illi is very patient with her and isn’t about to force her to move into a physical relationship faster than the speed she chooses to go but I definitely think book 2 will pack enough heat to make up for the lack of it here in book 1.)
June 1, 2020
Johnny freaking Illium, the Butcher of the Bay!! He seriously makes my dark heart so happy ♥️🖤 My admiration for his brand of crazy, ruthless protectiveness for those he loves started from the books of Hannaford Prep (which y’all seriously MUST read if you haven’t yet and also, why haven’t you read them yet?? What are you waiting for??), when he proved many times over, in the best ways possible (in his eyes 😉😈) that he would do absolutely anything to protect his own. And I’m so happy that we got to see where that kind of ruthlessness started. Illi and Odie’s story is truly EVERYTHING I hoped it would be and so much more! I legit consumed this book in just hours, it was so hard to put down!!
J. Bree is so amazingly talented in the way she paints a world so unique with a story of just words. This book will literally consume your thoughts for days. I finished this over a day ago and cannot stop thinking of it. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, YOU NEED TO DO IT NOW and you can totally start with this book as it is a prequel for her stories of Hannaford Prep. Each story always finds a way to put you through all the feels. They make you snort with laughter, they make you ugly cry, you’ll find yourself smiling like a damn psycho while rooting for amazing characters trying to find their place in this world, and you will legit throw your kindle (or phone) across the room once you get to the end, as I did with this amazing book. (My phone survived 😉)
I cannot wait for more of Odie and Illi’s story and I’m so glad this is just book 1 of 2. Now to find the patience to wait for my next amazing fix of Mounts Bay #mountygirlforlife
J. Bree is so amazingly talented in the way she paints a world so unique with a story of just words. This book will literally consume your thoughts for days. I finished this over a day ago and cannot stop thinking of it. If you haven’t read any of her books yet, YOU NEED TO DO IT NOW and you can totally start with this book as it is a prequel for her stories of Hannaford Prep. Each story always finds a way to put you through all the feels. They make you snort with laughter, they make you ugly cry, you’ll find yourself smiling like a damn psycho while rooting for amazing characters trying to find their place in this world, and you will legit throw your kindle (or phone) across the room once you get to the end, as I did with this amazing book. (My phone survived 😉)
I cannot wait for more of Odie and Illi’s story and I’m so glad this is just book 1 of 2. Now to find the patience to wait for my next amazing fix of Mounts Bay #mountygirlforlife
September 13, 2021
This book was amazing!! I loved getting the origin story not only for Illi and Odie, but also his Lips got to know them. The bond these three share is unmatched.
Odie has the saddest back story, but she still stays true to herself. She doesn’t let her last define who she is, and learns to accept herself flaws and all.
Illi is a to himself type of guy, who is just trying to survive in the Bay. He follows nobody’s rules but his own. He knew immediately Odie was the one for him and he would do anything for her.
🚨TW: Rape & Abuse
Odie has the saddest back story, but she still stays true to herself. She doesn’t let her last define who she is, and learns to accept herself flaws and all.
Illi is a to himself type of guy, who is just trying to survive in the Bay. He follows nobody’s rules but his own. He knew immediately Odie was the one for him and he would do anything for her.
🚨TW: Rape & Abuse
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2020
Holy smokes with a meat cleaver!!!!!
There are just some writers who when they plot a storyline hit every damn itch and then some and J Bree is that women!!!! She had me hooked on the stories of Mounts Bay from Just Drop Out and I love how The Butchers story developed, he is such an addictive character and I'm so glad we are getting his and Odies story, but that ending......what a shocker that I was not expecting!!!!! I think J Bree does this to us for literal shits and giggles! An amazing, engaging page turner leaving you wanting and needing more.
There are just some writers who when they plot a storyline hit every damn itch and then some and J Bree is that women!!!! She had me hooked on the stories of Mounts Bay from Just Drop Out and I love how The Butchers story developed, he is such an addictive character and I'm so glad we are getting his and Odies story, but that ending......what a shocker that I was not expecting!!!!! I think J Bree does this to us for literal shits and giggles! An amazing, engaging page turner leaving you wanting and needing more.
March 11, 2021
This book was music to my ears!it was dark and bloody filled with anger violence and revenge to come! This book takes us into the pits of the bay where the worst of the worst dwell and the Butcher is the worst of them all. Throw into the seedy mix he has found himself a woman who was sold to others and he fights to get her back! Great cliff hanger and I am off to salivate over what I know will be a brutal and revenge filled book 2!
June 1, 2020
I don’t even know where to begin with this beautiful, bloody book.
My love and respect for Illi has grown so much!! The amount of love, nurturing and respect he gives to Odie has me in legit tears😭
Odie is such a strong ass woman! She deserves the world on a silver platter, with all the bloody hearts of the men who have done her wrong!
I love the snippets we get of Lips before we get to Hannaford!
J Bree I just love your wonderfully sadistic mind. I’m so thankful that you have written such an amazing world to get sucked into. I’ve cried laughed and maybe even plotted some murder while getting lost in The Bay.
My love and respect for Illi has grown so much!! The amount of love, nurturing and respect he gives to Odie has me in legit tears😭
Odie is such a strong ass woman! She deserves the world on a silver platter, with all the bloody hearts of the men who have done her wrong!
I love the snippets we get of Lips before we get to Hannaford!
J Bree I just love your wonderfully sadistic mind. I’m so thankful that you have written such an amazing world to get sucked into. I’ve cried laughed and maybe even plotted some murder while getting lost in The Bay.
June 7, 2020
Loved it.
I knew I’d love this book before I started reading it. Already aware of who the Butcher and Odie were, I couldn’t wait to read their story.
I fell in love.
The ending killed me and now I’m going to wait patiently (not) for the next book.
I knew I’d love this book before I started reading it. Already aware of who the Butcher and Odie were, I couldn’t wait to read their story.
I fell in love.
The ending killed me and now I’m going to wait patiently (not) for the next book.
October 14, 2020
Well, I wasn't sure what I was expecting. This book has been floating around my groups for a while. I knew it was connected to a school/academy book ... and those books just aren't my thing.
But this cover though. This cover. It's the expression on the guy, I think. Like he's got a lot of internal struggles going on. I had to find out who this guy is.
Our boy's name is Illi aka, The Butcher of the Bay. He's made a name for himself in his town. Infamous, just the way he likes it. People part like the Red Sea because of the fear he invokes. He only has a handful of people he likes. A couple of bikers and another little killer named The Wolf.
Enter our heroine Odie, a French girl who just happened to be born into the wrong family. Her daddy got some debts and he can't pay up. She becomes his currency and is sold off to some foo in America. Except, he doesn't like the merch you see. It's not what he paid for. She she gets sold off again.
Our two main characters had a slow meeting. Like 2 streams meeting up before ending in a waterfall.
If you love j/p killer boyfriends, then you'll love this story. The more we find out about Illi, the more our hearts are stolen. Definitely a swoon worthy male specimen.
Book 1/part 1 does end in a cliffhanger.
But this cover though. This cover. It's the expression on the guy, I think. Like he's got a lot of internal struggles going on. I had to find out who this guy is.
Our boy's name is Illi aka, The Butcher of the Bay. He's made a name for himself in his town. Infamous, just the way he likes it. People part like the Red Sea because of the fear he invokes. He only has a handful of people he likes. A couple of bikers and another little killer named The Wolf.
Enter our heroine Odie, a French girl who just happened to be born into the wrong family. Her daddy got some debts and he can't pay up. She becomes his currency and is sold off to some foo in America. Except, he doesn't like the merch you see. It's not what he paid for. She she gets sold off again.
Our two main characters had a slow meeting. Like 2 streams meeting up before ending in a waterfall.
If you love j/p killer boyfriends, then you'll love this story. The more we find out about Illi, the more our hearts are stolen. Definitely a swoon worthy male specimen.
Book 1/part 1 does end in a cliffhanger.
January 23, 2023
The Butcher.
I really enjoyed getting to know the Butcher and Isis better. This is quite a bit darker than Hannaford Prep, but I like that you get inside Illi's head. I also love seeing his relationship with the Wolf grow into what it is later in Hannaford. It is awful reading what happened to Isis, but I love watching her come back stronger for it.
I really enjoyed getting to know the Butcher and Isis better. This is quite a bit darker than Hannaford Prep, but I like that you get inside Illi's head. I also love seeing his relationship with the Wolf grow into what it is later in Hannaford. It is awful reading what happened to Isis, but I love watching her come back stronger for it.
January 4, 2021
I just finished the first part and i can say my heart❤️❤️❤️illi&odie. I can’t wait to read the second part. When he says ”baby girl” ahhhhhhh no more. Its a must read definately
May 27, 2021
Johnny Illium is EVERYTHING! I have loved the guy from the first time I met him in the Hannaford Prep series. I have no idea why I put off reading this book but if I am honest, it was probably Odie.
I met her protected and pampered but boy does the girl hold her own!
These two are PERFECTION. In every sense of the word.
Everything was done just right. I was never bored. Always entertained or engrossed in the interrogations and relationships. I was glad to see the twelve as a functioning unit and not the hodgepodge of gangsters that it has become.
Somehow the Butcher made this a depraved but out with the guys kind of novel. I loved seeing the Jackal through his eyes. I am still advocating for even a novella from D'Ardo!
We also got to see Lips and Aodhan as young Mounties and I will admit I too quivered in my boots at the possibility of Nate's existence and proclivities. I think it's all just a different time when everything was more depraved and everyone was turning a blind eye.
Now, for those who can be triggered by rape, there is rape. And a lot of it. This book isn't trying to pretty anything up. It is giving you Mounts Bay in its truest form.
If I had one complaint, it was the Spanish. While Odie's French was mostly given to us in English, I found myself very close with Google translate as I tried to read what was basically rape fantasies.
Don't expect the romantic or hedonistic sex you are used to from the other books. This is a slow burn but intimate, raw and real. It also reminds me that Colt is a puzzle piece I want more on. But it seems the bikers remain on break for now. Or maybe I missed some books. Idk.
J Bree writes to satisfy me. I can't claim the same for others but even when I am not feeling it (Queen Crow series) she still keeps me present.
I met her protected and pampered but boy does the girl hold her own!
These two are PERFECTION. In every sense of the word.
Everything was done just right. I was never bored. Always entertained or engrossed in the interrogations and relationships. I was glad to see the twelve as a functioning unit and not the hodgepodge of gangsters that it has become.
Somehow the Butcher made this a depraved but out with the guys kind of novel. I loved seeing the Jackal through his eyes. I am still advocating for even a novella from D'Ardo!
We also got to see Lips and Aodhan as young Mounties and I will admit I too quivered in my boots at the possibility of Nate's existence and proclivities. I think it's all just a different time when everything was more depraved and everyone was turning a blind eye.
Now, for those who can be triggered by rape, there is rape. And a lot of it. This book isn't trying to pretty anything up. It is giving you Mounts Bay in its truest form.
If I had one complaint, it was the Spanish. While Odie's French was mostly given to us in English, I found myself very close with Google translate as I tried to read what was basically rape fantasies.
Don't expect the romantic or hedonistic sex you are used to from the other books. This is a slow burn but intimate, raw and real. It also reminds me that Colt is a puzzle piece I want more on. But it seems the bikers remain on break for now. Or maybe I missed some books. Idk.
J Bree writes to satisfy me. I can't claim the same for others but even when I am not feeling it (Queen Crow series) she still keeps me present.
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