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Flowershop Assassins #1
Bye Baby
Donnie King.
Ruthless, sexy and assassin extraordinaire.
Or at least he used to be.
Now, Donnie’s washed up, drinking himself into unconsciousness night after night. He needs one more hit, one more chance to prove himself, to reclaim some dignity.
Enter Elliot Austin, the blue-eyed, blond.
An easy kill, or he should’ve been.
Donnie botches the hit and wakes up tied to a chair with a knife pressed to his jugular. He waits for Elliot to finish him off, but his young mark does something unexpected.
He kisses Donnie, then speaks over his shoulder as he leaves.
“Bye Baby.”
Humiliated, Donnie vows to end Elliot, but killing him is anything but easy.
He’s gifted at getting away, and is always one step ahead.
He teases, and humiliates, and drives Donnie crazy.
It’s an addicting game of cat and mouse that forces Donnie to climb out of the gutter, and get himself into shape.
Donnie wants Elliot dead, but he might just want him alive that little bit more...
Ruthless, sexy and assassin extraordinaire.
Or at least he used to be.
Now, Donnie’s washed up, drinking himself into unconsciousness night after night. He needs one more hit, one more chance to prove himself, to reclaim some dignity.
Enter Elliot Austin, the blue-eyed, blond.
An easy kill, or he should’ve been.
Donnie botches the hit and wakes up tied to a chair with a knife pressed to his jugular. He waits for Elliot to finish him off, but his young mark does something unexpected.
He kisses Donnie, then speaks over his shoulder as he leaves.
“Bye Baby.”
Humiliated, Donnie vows to end Elliot, but killing him is anything but easy.
He’s gifted at getting away, and is always one step ahead.
He teases, and humiliates, and drives Donnie crazy.
It’s an addicting game of cat and mouse that forces Donnie to climb out of the gutter, and get himself into shape.
Donnie wants Elliot dead, but he might just want him alive that little bit more...
180 pages, ebook
First published June 29, 2020
231 people are currently reading
1062 people want to read
About the author
Louise Collins
45 books640 followersWriter of mm romance and erotica.
I write the stories I'd love to read, I hope you enjoy them too.
Lover of Romance but not without angst along the way.
Seduced by the dancing of a neanderthal and now a mother of two monsters.
Drinks tea with a passion, adores dogs, and their sea dwelling cousins.
Failed two chocolate eating challenges but will return for round three.
https://mailchi.mp/ad6955eed18f/louis...
♥
Facebook
I write the stories I'd love to read, I hope you enjoy them too.
Lover of Romance but not without angst along the way.
Seduced by the dancing of a neanderthal and now a mother of two monsters.
Drinks tea with a passion, adores dogs, and their sea dwelling cousins.
Failed two chocolate eating challenges but will return for round three.
https://mailchi.mp/ad6955eed18f/louis...
♥
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
December 16, 2021
I swear to the universe that when I finished this book, my mind kept throwing at me the: "bye baby" phrase in the oddest times. 🤣🤣
The book? Brilliant, I loved how it started, with a bunch of paid killers trying to help their guy, almost like a make over really, so he could catch/kill this other guy.
Said guy ended up being the reason he got back on his feet and the reason his heart started feeling again. So did he killed him? Or did he saved him?
Read to find out.
*mic drop* 🤣
The book? Brilliant, I loved how it started, with a bunch of paid killers trying to help their guy, almost like a make over really, so he could catch/kill this other guy.
Said guy ended up being the reason he got back on his feet and the reason his heart started feeling again. So did he killed him? Or did he saved him?
Read to find out.
*mic drop* 🤣
February 24, 2022
Fast paced and a lot of fun but best not to take too seriously. A great start to the series!!!
March 3, 2022
This is so fucking good!!??! I had so much fun. I laughed hard in several parts.
“You better be ready to run.”
Elliot bit his lip, then nodded. “And you better be ready to kill.”
The book follows Donnie, an assassin who has lost his reputation, and Elliot, who is Donnie's target. It's sort of a cat and mouse game. Donnie needs to kill Elliot and prove himself but Elliot doesn't make this task easy.
“I’m the hit, you’re the man. It’s a relationship, like it or not.”
Elliot was sooo funny omg I laughed so much. and Donnie was just his other half, the better half with with a little more responsibility I would say. Even with few pages, the author managed to give a back story to the two characters, which makes you connect even more with them.
And i loved how in few pages the author managed to put action and romance in a good balance.
“Course I would. I’d fight the world for him and win every time because he’s goddamn worth it.”
“You better be ready to run.”
Elliot bit his lip, then nodded. “And you better be ready to kill.”
The book follows Donnie, an assassin who has lost his reputation, and Elliot, who is Donnie's target. It's sort of a cat and mouse game. Donnie needs to kill Elliot and prove himself but Elliot doesn't make this task easy.
“I’m the hit, you’re the man. It’s a relationship, like it or not.”
Elliot was sooo funny omg I laughed so much. and Donnie was just his other half, the better half with with a little more responsibility I would say. Even with few pages, the author managed to give a back story to the two characters, which makes you connect even more with them.
And i loved how in few pages the author managed to put action and romance in a good balance.
“Course I would. I’d fight the world for him and win every time because he’s goddamn worth it.”
September 10, 2021
**Re-read 9/8/21-9/9/21. I had to read it again when Starla read it because I remembered how fun it was. Still enjoyed just as much.**
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Stars. Rounding up because this was pure fun!
I have enjoyed every Louise Collins book that I’ve read so far. Some I have liked more than others but all of them are just so readable and entertaining. This newest one was no different and I think it’s my favorite one yet. Although I sure did like her Adrenaline Jake books.
I’m just going to say it, her books aren’t realistic. So if that’s what you are wanting, she might not be for you. They are over the top, crazy and ridiculous. I mean all of this as a compliment. Because they are fun. So much fun.
She writes these wacky guys who suck you in and make you laugh. They are flawed men and dark men. Men you wouldn’t want to run into alone on the street at night. Or maybe you would. 😂🤷🏻♀️
All I know is I had a total blast reading this tale of a washed up assassin, given one more chance to prove he’s still in the game and failing by reluctantly falling for his mark.
The cat and mouse game between Donnie and Elliot started with sizzle and didn’t let up. It was action packed and I couldn’t stop reading. If you’ve read her work, I’d say the heat level falls somewhere between, The Freshman and the, Adrenaline Jake series. Like some of her other books, there was some insta-lust and fast love. Which is not often my thing. In fact, I hardly ever like it. But I never seem to mind with her books and I didn’t mind this time either. Don’t call me a hypocrite, I don’t make the rules! Well, I guess I do make them but I can’t explain my logic. 🤣 The writing was solid as usual and did I mention how much fun this book was yet? Delightful.
While it ended with a good happily for now, verging on happily ever after, I do hope she’s not done with this world yet. I think that Ranger and Yates are asking for their own books. 😉
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Stars. Rounding up because this was pure fun!
I have enjoyed every Louise Collins book that I’ve read so far. Some I have liked more than others but all of them are just so readable and entertaining. This newest one was no different and I think it’s my favorite one yet. Although I sure did like her Adrenaline Jake books.
I’m just going to say it, her books aren’t realistic. So if that’s what you are wanting, she might not be for you. They are over the top, crazy and ridiculous. I mean all of this as a compliment. Because they are fun. So much fun.
She writes these wacky guys who suck you in and make you laugh. They are flawed men and dark men. Men you wouldn’t want to run into alone on the street at night. Or maybe you would. 😂🤷🏻♀️
All I know is I had a total blast reading this tale of a washed up assassin, given one more chance to prove he’s still in the game and failing by reluctantly falling for his mark.
The cat and mouse game between Donnie and Elliot started with sizzle and didn’t let up. It was action packed and I couldn’t stop reading. If you’ve read her work, I’d say the heat level falls somewhere between, The Freshman and the, Adrenaline Jake series. Like some of her other books, there was some insta-lust and fast love. Which is not often my thing. In fact, I hardly ever like it. But I never seem to mind with her books and I didn’t mind this time either. Don’t call me a hypocrite, I don’t make the rules! Well, I guess I do make them but I can’t explain my logic. 🤣 The writing was solid as usual and did I mention how much fun this book was yet? Delightful.
While it ended with a good happily for now, verging on happily ever after, I do hope she’s not done with this world yet. I think that Ranger and Yates are asking for their own books. 😉
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2022
“You want me—”
“I want. To kill you.”
“Small detail—”
“No, it’s a massive one.”
“Okay, fine, but we both know you want to fuck me too.”
[4.3] i knew a cat and mouse game between a hitman and his target would be entertaining but to this extent? i’m fully on board when it comes to this pleasantly unexpected outcome. i had the time of my life with this read in all of its nutty B-action movie glory (legit cackled at some scenes) and steamy bits—what i’d give to see the training montages as Donnie regains a sense of his former self 🏋️😂 Elliot’s taunts and teasing were adorably endearing, and i’m desperately looking forward to Ranger’s book.
so glad to have finally picked this up! hopefully the next few tasks of the team reading challenge will allow me to continue on with the series 🙏🏼
February 12, 2022
This book was unlike anything I have read before. And trust me, I am not kidding this time...
"Flowershop Assassins" is mm romance series which features a group of ruthless, sexy assassins who work in a flower shop and wear floral printed shirts. It is about how they find love in the most unlikely of situations. "Bye Baby" is Donnie's book. The (ex) best assassin falls in love with his kill in this book.
Action packed. Full with wonderful humor and presents a very sweet romance. This book made me laugh out loud at every turn. I didn't experience a single dull moment while I was with these characters. To be frank, "Bye Baby" supplied me everything I look for in a romance book. Had just the right mixture of fun and emotional stuffs.
One more thing you should know before starting this book - it is completely nonsensical. The plot doesn't make any sense. It would offer you no real life experience. But will surely warm your heart and give you a excellent time. "Bye Baby" is a short, sexy, hilarious and heart-warming book that I would like to recommend every mm reader out there. Happy reading!
"Flowershop Assassins" is mm romance series which features a group of ruthless, sexy assassins who work in a flower shop and wear floral printed shirts. It is about how they find love in the most unlikely of situations. "Bye Baby" is Donnie's book. The (ex) best assassin falls in love with his kill in this book.
Action packed. Full with wonderful humor and presents a very sweet romance. This book made me laugh out loud at every turn. I didn't experience a single dull moment while I was with these characters. To be frank, "Bye Baby" supplied me everything I look for in a romance book. Had just the right mixture of fun and emotional stuffs.
One more thing you should know before starting this book - it is completely nonsensical. The plot doesn't make any sense. It would offer you no real life experience. But will surely warm your heart and give you a excellent time. "Bye Baby" is a short, sexy, hilarious and heart-warming book that I would like to recommend every mm reader out there. Happy reading!
May 7, 2022
4**** killing stars
I’m pretty sure this was the weirdest love story I’ve ever read. Not really the hitman falling in love with the mark but falling in love while the hitman still intends to kill his mark. But maybe that was what made this story so good and unique.
✻ ✻ ✻
At first I was a bit troubled by Elliot humiliating Donnie whenever he got the chance and having a good time doing it. Or so it seemed. Because well, we only get Donnies POV so who knows and admittedly, Donnie really was in a rather poor state at the beginning for a former admired bad ass killer.
✻ ✻ ✻
This was a fast paced and entertaining game of cat & mouse - even if I’m not sure who really was the cat and who the mouse. They were sweet and totally hot together. I also liked the vulnerable parts of both. Their quiet confessions. They really had chemistry.
✻ ✻ ✻
I’m glad I picked it up. I had a pretty good time with the Flowershop Assassins.
I’m pretty sure this was the weirdest love story I’ve ever read. Not really the hitman falling in love with the mark but falling in love while the hitman still intends to kill his mark. But maybe that was what made this story so good and unique.
✻ ✻ ✻
At first I was a bit troubled by Elliot humiliating Donnie whenever he got the chance and having a good time doing it. Or so it seemed. Because well, we only get Donnies POV so who knows and admittedly, Donnie really was in a rather poor state at the beginning for a former admired bad ass killer.
“You were hired to kill me?”
“Yeah.”
“I gotta say, I was hoping for more. No offense.”
“I am slightly offended.”
✻
“Like I’d tell you. And what about you? Why does Marco Russo want you dead so bad?”
Elliot flared his nostrils. “He can’t want me dead that badly. He hired you…”
✻ ✻ ✻
This was a fast paced and entertaining game of cat & mouse - even if I’m not sure who really was the cat and who the mouse. They were sweet and totally hot together. I also liked the vulnerable parts of both. Their quiet confessions. They really had chemistry.
“You want me—”
“I want. To kill you.”
“Small detail—”
✻ ✻ ✻
I’m glad I picked it up. I had a pretty good time with the Flowershop Assassins.
“Bye, baby.”
September 8, 2021
3.7 stars rounded up to 4.
“Elliot didn’t trust anyone but had somehow formed an attachment to Donnie of all people, a man sent to kill him. Elliot said he trusted him, and Donnie didn’t know why, but that trust was a nice feeling no matter how misplaced.”
I don’t quite know how to characterize Bye Baby because this is like nothing I’ve ever read before. It’s a weird amalgamation of m/m romance, thriller, OTT humor, with a side of emotional depth and steamy goodness thrown in. Suffice it to say that it wasn't at all what I expected. Although well-written with great characters, it wasn't really what I was in the mood for at the time.
The Plot
Donnie King is a washed-up assassin extraordinaire who's lost his edge. Before his fall, he was known as the sexiest, most ruthless assassin who always got his man. Now an alcoholic, he’s a shell of the man he used to be. Donnie's been given one last chance to redeem himself with a contract to kill Elliot Austin. Just to add to the zaniness, the main setting for a lot of the action is a flower shop owned by Yates (another assassin).
Donnie King: Donnie is still an endearing character even though he's hit rock bottom. He’s able to laugh at himself despite his sorry circumstances. A botched hit triggered this downward spiral and he hasn’t been the same since then. He’s drowning in whisky, has lost his physical edge, looks like a homeless person and has nightmares that keep him up each night.
Elliot Austin: Elliot is twenty-three-years old, blond, blue-eyed and beautiful. A parkour enthusiast, he’s cocky and leads Donnie on a merry chase as he tries to kill him. He taunts Donnie, teases him, evades him at every turn and basically drives him up the wall. The contract to kill him was put out by Marco Russo, a crime boss, who he stole drug money from. Marco also happens to be Elliot's father, a father who has never wanted him and has kept him a secret his whole life.
Highlights
Although I expected a romantic thriller, this ended up being more of a comedic thriller and light on the romance. The dialogue is fast and funny.
”Wait,” Elliot said, wagging a finger. “Are you Donnie King?”
“The one and—”
“No, you can’t be.”
“Why not?”
“I heard Donnie King was the best, no man he can’t kill. And he’s supposed to be seriously hot—like get an inappropriate hard-on before he kills you kinda hot.”
Donnie looked away. “Now you’re just being mean.”
Yet it isn’t all laughs. There is also a surprising amount of emotional depth. Both Elliott and Donnie have deep emotional scars. Elliott seeks acceptance from his father, while Donnie seeks absolution for the death of the little girl.
“Marco wants you dead. He’s always wanted you dead.”
“Want is want in whatever capacity. I’m on his radar again, on his mind, tormenting his thoughts like he’s done to me my whole life. He wants me dead, and you want to kill me for his cash. That’s two men that want me, and even in this messed-up way, it’s nice to be wanted. I want to feel wanted.”
There are hot sexy times featuring a little bit of everything—dirty talk, edging, and regular-shmegular smut.
“Tell me how you want me to finish?” Elliot said.
Donnie squeezed his cock again and shook his head as if in pain. He didn’t want to fall into Elliot’s trap, but he was already halfway down, seduced by the sounds of him over the phone.
“You’ll be finished when there’s a gun to your head.”
“No,” Elliot panted. "I want it in my mouth. I want to suck on it so bad until it explodes, until it’s all I can taste, all I’ll ever taste. I want your gun’s release smeared on my lips, in my hair. I want you to get me filthy.”
Secondary characters, Yates and Ranger, are eccentric, oddball assassins who add to the richness of the plot.
So, although this wasn’t what I was looking for, it’s still a fun, entertaining read. Expect plenty of laughs, interesting characters, poignant moments and a healthy dose of smut.
“Elliot didn’t trust anyone but had somehow formed an attachment to Donnie of all people, a man sent to kill him. Elliot said he trusted him, and Donnie didn’t know why, but that trust was a nice feeling no matter how misplaced.”
I don’t quite know how to characterize Bye Baby because this is like nothing I’ve ever read before. It’s a weird amalgamation of m/m romance, thriller, OTT humor, with a side of emotional depth and steamy goodness thrown in. Suffice it to say that it wasn't at all what I expected. Although well-written with great characters, it wasn't really what I was in the mood for at the time.
The Plot
Donnie King is a washed-up assassin extraordinaire who's lost his edge. Before his fall, he was known as the sexiest, most ruthless assassin who always got his man. Now an alcoholic, he’s a shell of the man he used to be. Donnie's been given one last chance to redeem himself with a contract to kill Elliot Austin. Just to add to the zaniness, the main setting for a lot of the action is a flower shop owned by Yates (another assassin).
Donnie King: Donnie is still an endearing character even though he's hit rock bottom. He’s able to laugh at himself despite his sorry circumstances. A botched hit triggered this downward spiral and he hasn’t been the same since then. He’s drowning in whisky, has lost his physical edge, looks like a homeless person and has nightmares that keep him up each night.
Elliot Austin: Elliot is twenty-three-years old, blond, blue-eyed and beautiful. A parkour enthusiast, he’s cocky and leads Donnie on a merry chase as he tries to kill him. He taunts Donnie, teases him, evades him at every turn and basically drives him up the wall. The contract to kill him was put out by Marco Russo, a crime boss, who he stole drug money from. Marco also happens to be Elliot's father, a father who has never wanted him and has kept him a secret his whole life.
Highlights
Although I expected a romantic thriller, this ended up being more of a comedic thriller and light on the romance. The dialogue is fast and funny.
”Wait,” Elliot said, wagging a finger. “Are you Donnie King?”
“The one and—”
“No, you can’t be.”
“Why not?”
“I heard Donnie King was the best, no man he can’t kill. And he’s supposed to be seriously hot—like get an inappropriate hard-on before he kills you kinda hot.”
Donnie looked away. “Now you’re just being mean.”
Yet it isn’t all laughs. There is also a surprising amount of emotional depth. Both Elliott and Donnie have deep emotional scars. Elliott seeks acceptance from his father, while Donnie seeks absolution for the death of the little girl.
“Marco wants you dead. He’s always wanted you dead.”
“Want is want in whatever capacity. I’m on his radar again, on his mind, tormenting his thoughts like he’s done to me my whole life. He wants me dead, and you want to kill me for his cash. That’s two men that want me, and even in this messed-up way, it’s nice to be wanted. I want to feel wanted.”
There are hot sexy times featuring a little bit of everything—dirty talk, edging, and regular-shmegular smut.
“Tell me how you want me to finish?” Elliot said.
Donnie squeezed his cock again and shook his head as if in pain. He didn’t want to fall into Elliot’s trap, but he was already halfway down, seduced by the sounds of him over the phone.
“You’ll be finished when there’s a gun to your head.”
“No,” Elliot panted. "I want it in my mouth. I want to suck on it so bad until it explodes, until it’s all I can taste, all I’ll ever taste. I want your gun’s release smeared on my lips, in my hair. I want you to get me filthy.”
Secondary characters, Yates and Ranger, are eccentric, oddball assassins who add to the richness of the plot.
So, although this wasn’t what I was looking for, it’s still a fun, entertaining read. Expect plenty of laughs, interesting characters, poignant moments and a healthy dose of smut.
June 29, 2020
ALL the 5 stars
Donny isn’t the assassin King anymore after reaching the next bottom of bottle number to many.
His boss wants to give him his last, absolutely last chance to prove himself, eliminate Elliot Austin.
One way or the other he can’t get it done, his condition is bad. Even worse, he finds himself secured to a chair with ropes. He expects to be slashed by his own knife, but instead, the young Elliott takes a seat on his lap and start kissing him, hot. After that, he leaves with “Bye Baby”
Donny is furious and wants to kill him badly. His body isn’t what it was, he has to do better. After another missing chance, he is more and more determined to kill and destroy!
Elliot loves to play dirty games with Donny.
What follows is a delightful cat and mouse game. Elliot is one sexy motherfucker trying to get Donny on his knees.
Besides Donny and Elliot, there are Yates and Ranger. Their interactions are soooo funny.
My cheeks hurt from smiling. What a delicious story, madly hilarious at times. There were even some moments where my heart cracked for these two adorable lovable guys. A story with wonderful twists and turns!
I laughed and grinned many times, it was AWESOME!
If you’re looking for a funny, sexy, fast-paced, and more than delightful entertaining story STOP because you found it, it’s right here, you can escape rl for some hours and step into the book world of Bye Baby !!
Donny isn’t the assassin King anymore after reaching the next bottom of bottle number to many.
His boss wants to give him his last, absolutely last chance to prove himself, eliminate Elliot Austin.
One way or the other he can’t get it done, his condition is bad. Even worse, he finds himself secured to a chair with ropes. He expects to be slashed by his own knife, but instead, the young Elliott takes a seat on his lap and start kissing him, hot. After that, he leaves with “Bye Baby”
Donny is furious and wants to kill him badly. His body isn’t what it was, he has to do better. After another missing chance, he is more and more determined to kill and destroy!
Elliot loves to play dirty games with Donny.
What follows is a delightful cat and mouse game. Elliot is one sexy motherfucker trying to get Donny on his knees.
Besides Donny and Elliot, there are Yates and Ranger. Their interactions are soooo funny.
My cheeks hurt from smiling. What a delicious story, madly hilarious at times. There were even some moments where my heart cracked for these two adorable lovable guys. A story with wonderful twists and turns!
I laughed and grinned many times, it was AWESOME!
If you’re looking for a funny, sexy, fast-paced, and more than delightful entertaining story STOP because you found it, it’s right here, you can escape rl for some hours and step into the book world of Bye Baby !!
March 25, 2023
No way, sorry.
The plot is appealing, the idea fantastic. A killer who falls in love with his contract. The victim who knows how to fight back and taunts his killer, irritating him senseless.
Elliot is an amusing character that I fell in love with immediately.
Donnie, the so-called famous killer is just a joke. He's traumatized and broken, that's okay, but the characterization as a drunken idiot who can't get a shot off.... I hated that and it didn't help that he snaps out of it and becomes the perfect killer again.
The only thing that made it up to me a bit is the exceedingly hot sex scene that happens when Donnie finally gets his hands on Elliot.
Well, and the other two assassins ... the jokes between the three of them are flat. I can't get anything out of either of the other characters.
The plot is appealing, the idea fantastic. A killer who falls in love with his contract. The victim who knows how to fight back and taunts his killer, irritating him senseless.
Elliot is an amusing character that I fell in love with immediately.
Donnie, the so-called famous killer is just a joke. He's traumatized and broken, that's okay, but the characterization as a drunken idiot who can't get a shot off.... I hated that and it didn't help that he snaps out of it and becomes the perfect killer again.
The only thing that made it up to me a bit is the exceedingly hot sex scene that happens when Donnie finally gets his hands on Elliot.
Well, and the other two assassins ... the jokes between the three of them are flat. I can't get anything out of either of the other characters.
February 11, 2022
❝You’re assassins too?❞ Elliot asked.
❝Yeah.❞
❝You’re all shit at your job.❞
Ranger burst out laughing, punching his seat. ❝I like this kid.❞
This book had me dying of laughter. The way Elliot came for Donnie's life, I- ✋🤣
And the cherry on top was definitely the way Elliot would end all their interactions by saying, Bye Baby. Their dynamic was so good. If anything I wish their relationship had been fleshed out more.
Overall though, a great first book! I'm especially excited to read Yates and Ranger's books.
𝟯.𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝟯.𝟳𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
❝Yeah.❞
❝You’re all shit at your job.❞
Ranger burst out laughing, punching his seat. ❝I like this kid.❞
This book had me dying of laughter. The way Elliot came for Donnie's life, I- ✋🤣
And the cherry on top was definitely the way Elliot would end all their interactions by saying, Bye Baby. Their dynamic was so good. If anything I wish their relationship had been fleshed out more.
Overall though, a great first book! I'm especially excited to read Yates and Ranger's books.
𝟯.𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝟯.𝟳𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
September 16, 2023
Loved the humour in this.
I laughed so hard at the escalator scene that I cried 😂
Even though there were loose ends and everything was so far fetched, this was so entertaining to read.
I'm intrigued for Yates's book, but Ranger just isn't a character I like at all...
I laughed so hard at the escalator scene that I cried 😂
Even though there were loose ends and everything was so far fetched, this was so entertaining to read.
I'm intrigued for Yates's book, but Ranger just isn't a character I like at all...
September 8, 2021
Fun, sexy, violent novella about an assassin who falls in love.
This was a quick and super fun read. I laughed, I giggled, and I smiled my way through it. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but it was worth it. There’s a lot of dubious morality here and there’s definitely murder. It’s very obvious that it’s all meant to be in good fun.
TW: murder, violence
This was a quick and super fun read. I laughed, I giggled, and I smiled my way through it. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but it was worth it. There’s a lot of dubious morality here and there’s definitely murder. It’s very obvious that it’s all meant to be in good fun.
TW: murder, violence
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December 6, 2022
MM Romance
Hitman Hijinks
3.5 Stars ⭐️
A To Z Book Title Challenge: B While this starts with a B, it also is on my TBR and has been in & out of my ku library too many times to count.
This book was absolutely ridiculous and yet I couldn’t put it down. Donnie is this washed up drunk and disorderly hitman who desperately needs his old crew to give him a break despite botching his last 2 hits. With his death imminent if he fucks this up again, he takes on Elliot, a 23 year old guy who is supposed to be an easy hit. But Donnie is a mess and when he shows up drunk to take Elliot out, things don’t go as planned and Elliot escapes. This infuriates Donnie but there’s little he can do to catch fit, snarky and smart Elliot in his current washed up state and he vows to clean himself up and get revenge.
This book was exciting from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down and it made me laugh out loud at Donnie and Elliot’s ridiculous cat and mouse game. The fact they both fell in love while one was trying to kill the other was hilarious. The whole book was just ridiculous and yet I loved the idea of a florist being a facade for nefarious activities and I can’t wait to read Yates and Ranger’s books too.
Hitman Hijinks
3.5 Stars ⭐️
A To Z Book Title Challenge: B While this starts with a B, it also is on my TBR and has been in & out of my ku library too many times to count.
This book was absolutely ridiculous and yet I couldn’t put it down. Donnie is this washed up drunk and disorderly hitman who desperately needs his old crew to give him a break despite botching his last 2 hits. With his death imminent if he fucks this up again, he takes on Elliot, a 23 year old guy who is supposed to be an easy hit. But Donnie is a mess and when he shows up drunk to take Elliot out, things don’t go as planned and Elliot escapes. This infuriates Donnie but there’s little he can do to catch fit, snarky and smart Elliot in his current washed up state and he vows to clean himself up and get revenge.
This book was exciting from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down and it made me laugh out loud at Donnie and Elliot’s ridiculous cat and mouse game. The fact they both fell in love while one was trying to kill the other was hilarious. The whole book was just ridiculous and yet I loved the idea of a florist being a facade for nefarious activities and I can’t wait to read Yates and Ranger’s books too.
May 12, 2022
Reviewed on June 26, 2020
4.5 Stars. Guns. Gangsters. Fun. Dramedy. Hot AF.
With it's snappy dialogue, dark comedy, deranged quirky OTT characters , high voltage sexy times and grittiness makes Bye Baby a hilarious , laughing out loud, ridiculous and just plain fun entertaining story.
Set in the London criminal underworld, the book contains two intertwined plots: one dealing with an attempt to fulfill a contract killing and the other with personal changes.
The casting consists on an unscrupulous kinky assassin turned flower shop owner; a violent highly skilled hitman turned into an incompetent drunk , out of shape criminal; a smart, flirty , sassy, über athlete target , a gentle hearted cutthroat, a wealthy gangster and his squad of goons.
The story has a typical Ms. Collins feel and proves that she is the queen of gangster misfits and funny redeemable sociopaths.
Re-read: Yes
Recommend: Yes
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 Stars. Guns. Gangsters. Fun. Dramedy. Hot AF.
With it's snappy dialogue, dark comedy, deranged quirky OTT characters , high voltage sexy times and grittiness makes Bye Baby a hilarious , laughing out loud, ridiculous and just plain fun entertaining story.
Set in the London criminal underworld, the book contains two intertwined plots: one dealing with an attempt to fulfill a contract killing and the other with personal changes.
The casting consists on an unscrupulous kinky assassin turned flower shop owner; a violent highly skilled hitman turned into an incompetent drunk , out of shape criminal; a smart, flirty , sassy, über athlete target , a gentle hearted cutthroat, a wealthy gangster and his squad of goons.
The story has a typical Ms. Collins feel and proves that she is the queen of gangster misfits and funny redeemable sociopaths.
Re-read: Yes
Recommend: Yes
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2022
I have to be honest, when I started this book I wasn’t sure I would continue. The writing wasn’t the greatest and seemed a bit choppy but the story was exciting and fun and I just really got into it. Is it perfect? No. The book is not going to be the most realistic assassin book ever, in fact I’d say these guys are pretty bad assassins! But the chemistry between Donnie and Elliot is so good and the book is just so entertaining that I had to keep reading! Looking forward to Yates and Ranger’s books too!!!
October 8, 2023
This was mostly A Book to me. It's light and silly but the humor didn't hit right for me, so it ended up falling flat overall. I think if the humor works for you, it'd be a fun read, but as is I just kind of found myself wishing for a little more something.
May 12, 2022
This book was so much fun!! 😂
The plot was okay, nothing too elaborated and the characters were interesting enough. I really like this author's writing and this story in particular was easy to read, took me a few hours only.
This is not the best book by this author but probably the funniest I've read in a long time. I'm not even sure why I liked it so much, everything was ridiculously exaggerated and kinda random, like a cartoon movie 😂 Anyway, I enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for a quick and funny read this is your book!
The plot was okay, nothing too elaborated and the characters were interesting enough. I really like this author's writing and this story in particular was easy to read, took me a few hours only.
This is not the best book by this author but probably the funniest I've read in a long time. I'm not even sure why I liked it so much, everything was ridiculously exaggerated and kinda random, like a cartoon movie 😂 Anyway, I enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for a quick and funny read this is your book!
March 7, 2023
Re-read, still funny and a good story. The only thing is... Donnie... Really? Donnie? If a guy told me he was an assassin and that his name was Donnie I would die laughing!
December 27, 2020
This was such a fun read. An action-packed book that was surisingly funny and sexy. I have enjoyed every single book from this author that I've read so far, there's just something about her writing style that draws you in and keeps you wanting for more.
This was very entertaining especially the elevator scene, it was very funny and embarassing I actually felt second-hand embarrassment while reading. But there were also some moments where my heart ached for Elliot and Donnie. Even the secondary charaters were well-drafted and I will definitely read Ranger and Yates book if the author decided to make one!
This was very entertaining especially the elevator scene, it was very funny and embarassing I actually felt second-hand embarrassment while reading. But there were also some moments where my heart ached for Elliot and Donnie. Even the secondary charaters were well-drafted and I will definitely read Ranger and Yates book if the author decided to make one!
June 28, 2023
This one hit the spot! A washed up assassin is given one more chance at redemption. Unfortunately his target , Elliot, isn't as easy as he hoped. He has to completely get his shit together and along the way the two have a cat and mouse situation. Elliot is flirty, starved for attention and slightly unstable in the way he falls in love the with Donnie. I just loved the banter and steam between them 🔥 I do wish it was dual POV, I think it could have pushed this to a 5 star for me.
.
Favorite Quotes:
Him, Donnie King, assassin extraordinaire, hot, sexy, ruthless, efficient, or at least he used to be. Now he shoved his head in trash cans, begged like a dog, and kissed shoes.
.
“Why is baggage bad? I’d love baggage. Someone to pick up and take home, to unzip, to unpack all the bad and stuff in all the good. Someone that could be mine, exclusively mine. Who wouldn’t want baggage?”
.
“That was hot,” Elliot said.
Donnie sunk back down, dropping his cock. “I can’t wait to kill you.”
“You gotta catch me first,” Elliot smirked, then whispered. “Bye, baby.” The line went dead.
.
“How the hell am I good for you? I’m trying to kill you.”
“It’s messed up but…”
“But what?”
“It kind of makes me feel wanted.”
.
Elliot snorted. “That’s what couples do in long-distance relationships, right?”
“We’re not in a relationship.”
“I’m the hit, you’re the man. It’s a relationship, like it or not.”
.
“The one that got away repeatedly, maybe. The one that humiliated me, infuriated me, sure. The one I couldn’t kill, the one I won’t kill, and I’ll die protecting, completely.”
.
Favorite Quotes:
Him, Donnie King, assassin extraordinaire, hot, sexy, ruthless, efficient, or at least he used to be. Now he shoved his head in trash cans, begged like a dog, and kissed shoes.
.
“Why is baggage bad? I’d love baggage. Someone to pick up and take home, to unzip, to unpack all the bad and stuff in all the good. Someone that could be mine, exclusively mine. Who wouldn’t want baggage?”
.
“That was hot,” Elliot said.
Donnie sunk back down, dropping his cock. “I can’t wait to kill you.”
“You gotta catch me first,” Elliot smirked, then whispered. “Bye, baby.” The line went dead.
.
“How the hell am I good for you? I’m trying to kill you.”
“It’s messed up but…”
“But what?”
“It kind of makes me feel wanted.”
.
Elliot snorted. “That’s what couples do in long-distance relationships, right?”
“We’re not in a relationship.”
“I’m the hit, you’re the man. It’s a relationship, like it or not.”
.
“The one that got away repeatedly, maybe. The one that humiliated me, infuriated me, sure. The one I couldn’t kill, the one I won’t kill, and I’ll die protecting, completely.”
April 13, 2023
2.9 - 3⭐
This was funny and lightweight, but by the second half I expected the plot to get a bit more serious and the developing relationship between the MCs to get a bit deeper, but the OTT factor was still very prominent and it felt unnecessary by that point.
The story begins with Donnie, a former assassin who had a hit job and accidentally killed a child besides his original target, so he spiralled, got lost in alcohol and gained weight.
One year later he wants another job and we have the honor of following him on this very funny journey of him, now overweight and with very slow reflexes, trying to kill his target Elliot, a parkour enthusiast and a decade younger surfer boy hottie, who's taunting Donnie and constantly running away from him.
Donnie and Elliot both feel attracted to one another and they have funny dialogues, the story is OTT with really good spice, but fails on the more serious development of the plot and the MCs' love relationship .
I personally liked their first kiss 🔥 and the shopping mall scene 😄, their first sex and pretty much everything they were up to, they had really good chemistry.
The story absolutely had more potential, it could be just a hunch but I bet the other two books in the series will leave me unsatisfied aswell, Elliot and Donnie are probably the best of the bunch.
This was funny and lightweight, but by the second half I expected the plot to get a bit more serious and the developing relationship between the MCs to get a bit deeper, but the OTT factor was still very prominent and it felt unnecessary by that point.
The story begins with Donnie, a former assassin who had a hit job and accidentally killed a child besides his original target, so he spiralled, got lost in alcohol and gained weight.
One year later he wants another job and we have the honor of following him on this very funny journey of him, now overweight and with very slow reflexes, trying to kill his target Elliot, a parkour enthusiast and a decade younger surfer boy hottie, who's taunting Donnie and constantly running away from him.
Donnie and Elliot both feel attracted to one another and they have funny dialogues, the story is OTT with really good spice, but fails on the more serious development of the plot and the MCs' love relationship .
I personally liked their first kiss 🔥 and the shopping mall scene 😄, their first sex and pretty much everything they were up to, they had really good chemistry.
The story absolutely had more potential, it could be just a hunch but I bet the other two books in the series will leave me unsatisfied aswell, Elliot and Donnie are probably the best of the bunch.
August 7, 2022
You see my rating? Nobody is more shocked than me that I loved this as much as I did. I don't like rom-coms. I don't like characters being OTT or OTT situations. I don't like incompetent professionals. But there were certain choices the author made here that made all of these things not just work for me, but made the story a very enjoyable experience.
Unlike with most rom-coms where I hate the characters, I loved all of them. Not just Donnie and Elliot, but Ranger and Yates were amazing too. I also loved the humor. Unlike in most rom-coms where the humor comes from the characters being cruel or selfish or from OTT situations that could only exist in kid's cartoons, the humor in this story was exactly my style. Sure, there were OTT situations but the author found the perfect balance between ridiculous and realistic so that we were left with funny situations that didn't feel outlandish.
The character's humor also came from them bantering with each other in sarcastic but affectionate ways or the characters laughing at themselves or ending up in embarrassing situations that didn't get pushed into the realm of being mean-spirited. Multiple times, Donnie decides to do certain things that he thinks will make him look cool, only the situation backfires due to his physical abilities not measuring up to his arrogance or his lack of foresight. For example, .
What really helped was having the author clarify in a note at the start that the story isn't meant to be taken too seriously. Donnie and his buddies are pretty incompetent assassins whose physical skills and intellect often don't match their overblown egos. But as a reader, knowing that this is exactly what the author wants me to think made all the difference. This isn't a case of an author not doing enough research or not having the skills to pull off the type of characters they want to write about. That's why this group of dumb-dumbs being incompetent and ridiculous really worked for me.
I also adored the dynamic between Donnie and Elliot. At the start, Donnie is a depressed drunk who has given up on life due to a badly botched hit months ago that resulted in him accidentally killing a child. His reputation as a tough, skilled, sexy assassin is in tatters and being given Elliot as a target is his last chance to prove himself. The hit goes as badly as it should, with Elliot easily outsmarting him. Then the author introduces the best aspect of the story: Elliot takes it as a personal offence that the great Donnie King has been hired to kill him but Donnie is a weak, pathetic drunk, wearing smelly and stained clothes, who reeks like booze, has dirty, tangled hair and he can't even lockpick Elliot's apartment door. Elliot wants Donnie to get back into shape and be the sexy, badass his reputation promises, which is the motivating kick Donnie needs to turn his life around. The fact that Donnie is still set on killing Elliot is just a side note, which as hilarious.
Elliot's confidence and his ability to stay one step ahead of Donnie was both funny and also helped keep them on a level playing field, which was perfectly represented by Elliot calling Donnie 'baby' throughout the story. It emphasizes that Elliot is in control of their interactions and Donnie starts out hating the endearment because it represents Elliot making fun of him, but the term slowly morphs into a sign of affection that Donnie enjoys. It was also wonderful that once Donnie is back to his old self, he's finally in control of their interactions, which results in Elliot feeling slightly less sure of himself and it's up to Donnie to keep their dynamic moving in a positive direction. Everything about their developing relationship was done really well, not to mention that the UST was really hot. Elliot is a perfect example of a bossy, pushy bottom who wants Donnie to be a tough dom who takes what he wants without asking first.
As Donnie and Elliot got to know each other and Donnie took more control of the situation, it was also nice to learn about Elliot's background and how lonely he is. His interactions with Donnie don't just help Donnie find a new purpose in life, but they help Elliot too, which was a very nice way to keep their relationship even.
The side characters were also great with Yates and Ranger being interesting characters who enhanced the story and made me interested in reading their own stories, which rarely happens in a series for me.
Overall, I was blown away by the great balance between zany, funny antics and serious, emotional moments that the author achieved with this. The writing wasn't the best with some missing words and badly formatted dialog that sounded a bit clunky but this was such a fun read that these things didn't bother me.
Unlike with most rom-coms where I hate the characters, I loved all of them. Not just Donnie and Elliot, but Ranger and Yates were amazing too. I also loved the humor. Unlike in most rom-coms where the humor comes from the characters being cruel or selfish or from OTT situations that could only exist in kid's cartoons, the humor in this story was exactly my style. Sure, there were OTT situations but the author found the perfect balance between ridiculous and realistic so that we were left with funny situations that didn't feel outlandish.
The character's humor also came from them bantering with each other in sarcastic but affectionate ways or the characters laughing at themselves or ending up in embarrassing situations that didn't get pushed into the realm of being mean-spirited. Multiple times, Donnie decides to do certain things that he thinks will make him look cool, only the situation backfires due to his physical abilities not measuring up to his arrogance or his lack of foresight. For example, .
What really helped was having the author clarify in a note at the start that the story isn't meant to be taken too seriously. Donnie and his buddies are pretty incompetent assassins whose physical skills and intellect often don't match their overblown egos. But as a reader, knowing that this is exactly what the author wants me to think made all the difference. This isn't a case of an author not doing enough research or not having the skills to pull off the type of characters they want to write about. That's why this group of dumb-dumbs being incompetent and ridiculous really worked for me.
I also adored the dynamic between Donnie and Elliot. At the start, Donnie is a depressed drunk who has given up on life due to a badly botched hit months ago that resulted in him accidentally killing a child. His reputation as a tough, skilled, sexy assassin is in tatters and being given Elliot as a target is his last chance to prove himself. The hit goes as badly as it should, with Elliot easily outsmarting him. Then the author introduces the best aspect of the story: Elliot takes it as a personal offence that the great Donnie King has been hired to kill him but Donnie is a weak, pathetic drunk, wearing smelly and stained clothes, who reeks like booze, has dirty, tangled hair and he can't even lockpick Elliot's apartment door. Elliot wants Donnie to get back into shape and be the sexy, badass his reputation promises, which is the motivating kick Donnie needs to turn his life around. The fact that Donnie is still set on killing Elliot is just a side note, which as hilarious.
Elliot's confidence and his ability to stay one step ahead of Donnie was both funny and also helped keep them on a level playing field, which was perfectly represented by Elliot calling Donnie 'baby' throughout the story. It emphasizes that Elliot is in control of their interactions and Donnie starts out hating the endearment because it represents Elliot making fun of him, but the term slowly morphs into a sign of affection that Donnie enjoys. It was also wonderful that once Donnie is back to his old self, he's finally in control of their interactions, which results in Elliot feeling slightly less sure of himself and it's up to Donnie to keep their dynamic moving in a positive direction. Everything about their developing relationship was done really well, not to mention that the UST was really hot. Elliot is a perfect example of a bossy, pushy bottom who wants Donnie to be a tough dom who takes what he wants without asking first.
As Donnie and Elliot got to know each other and Donnie took more control of the situation, it was also nice to learn about Elliot's background and how lonely he is. His interactions with Donnie don't just help Donnie find a new purpose in life, but they help Elliot too, which was a very nice way to keep their relationship even.
The side characters were also great with Yates and Ranger being interesting characters who enhanced the story and made me interested in reading their own stories, which rarely happens in a series for me.
Overall, I was blown away by the great balance between zany, funny antics and serious, emotional moments that the author achieved with this. The writing wasn't the best with some missing words and badly formatted dialog that sounded a bit clunky but this was such a fun read that these things didn't bother me.
August 10, 2022
Super crazy, loved it. If this had been a slow burn, It would've been perfect!
February 10, 2022
so much fun!
January 30, 2023
This one made my day - so glad I stumbled on it cruising GR. First book I´ve read from this author but will be checking out more.
September 17, 2023
Simply not for me - I ended up skimming a lot
January 17, 2024
3⭐️ This was… strange. The British, Mr. Bean-esque comedy was very entertaining but there just wasn’t enough romance for me.
March 28, 2023
I took a friend’s advice and didn’t take this too seriously. It’s fun and light in many ways and just an enjoyable read.
At times I wasn’t sure who was talking and I felt a bit lost along the way. I wasn’t truly engrossed but it did make me smile so 3.5 stars from me.
A cute ending like this one makes the world go round. X☺️
At times I wasn’t sure who was talking and I felt a bit lost along the way. I wasn’t truly engrossed but it did make me smile so 3.5 stars from me.
A cute ending like this one makes the world go round. X☺️
January 7, 2023
This was funny af. Like the amount of times I laughed at /with these assassins was a lot. Gimme all the shenanigans. So good.
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