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The Marvelous Three Saga: Sons of the Elite #3
Man's Weakness
Gabrielle Johansson's childhood best friends, Chris and Charlie Richardson belong to the most infamous mobster family in the world. Known in their underworld as the 'Blue Kaiser' and the 'Blonde Lycan' for their brutal and ruthless history, their ledger runs red with blood. Her Irish ex-boss, Michael Beaumont, runs one of the most elite and dangerous mobster family businesses the world has ever seen. With clients from the national military all over the world, his weaponized drugs rival the nuclear bomb.And they're all in love with her...Did I mention that the Richardsons and the Beaumonts absolutely hate each other?After surviving several life-threatening moments, Gabrielle finally not only learns the truth about her friends and her boss but even darker secrets about her past. She'll either cope with them or take them head-on regardless of what the collateral damage is.***This is the THIRD book in the multi-genre, reverse-harem erotic thriller Marvelous 3 Saga. Gabrielle Johansson is Black Girl Magic personified in the Sons of the Elite Series. Take a ride with Smauggy on this roller-coaster journey and visit her website at SMAUGGY.COM for a full cinematic experience complete with casting and soundtrack.This saga can be read in any series order but the below is Sons of the Elite > NOLA Witches > Anarchists > Death Do Us PartIf you're reading The Marvelous 3 Saga in its entirety, the order is as Damaged > Stuck in the Middle > Man's Weakness > Family Ties > 4Play > Hackers with(out) Remorse > Rise of the Phoenix > Untamed > Rogue Gone Ravage > The Unsettling > The Reckoning
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 7, 2020
Honestly, it's so hard to find a good reverse-harem book that I love but these books just really hit different. It really just checks all the imaginary boxes in my head for both the female and male Mc’s. I 100% recommend any book by her and would say to proceed with caution lol😆
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April 9, 2021🎁 The complete Series is FREE on Amazon today (4/9/2021)! 🎁
May 9, 2023
Irrational
Everything about this book was irrational. I think my major grievance is that there is a huuuge lack of communication. No one every actual verbalizes why or how something is dangerous. So it’s left up to interpretation and is interpreted way wrong. No one verbalize why something is emotional or mentally difficult. And the entire setup for them going after Sophia is completely illogical. I hardly enjoy any of this book, but I couldn’t skip it because I want to understand the full progression of their relationship and not to miss anything that will matter later or in other books. I can also appreciate the condition and circumstances under which this book is written. Not judging an author’s older work based on their new stuff is really difficult. Gab is a 1000% annoying and probably won’t ever make my top FMCs list but I still love reading Smauggy’s work, if for nothing other than her black girl rants and pop culture references.
Everything about this book was irrational. I think my major grievance is that there is a huuuge lack of communication. No one every actual verbalizes why or how something is dangerous. So it’s left up to interpretation and is interpreted way wrong. No one verbalize why something is emotional or mentally difficult. And the entire setup for them going after Sophia is completely illogical. I hardly enjoy any of this book, but I couldn’t skip it because I want to understand the full progression of their relationship and not to miss anything that will matter later or in other books. I can also appreciate the condition and circumstances under which this book is written. Not judging an author’s older work based on their new stuff is really difficult. Gab is a 1000% annoying and probably won’t ever make my top FMCs list but I still love reading Smauggy’s work, if for nothing other than her black girl rants and pop culture references.
July 5, 2020
Great book,just too short
Mans weakness was a another great book. Just an little disappointed on how quick it ended.guess I'll have to wait book 4 ,hopes of gives !e all answers that have went unanswered
Mans weakness was a another great book. Just an little disappointed on how quick it ended.guess I'll have to wait book 4 ,hopes of gives !e all answers that have went unanswered
May 9, 2022
Okay, so I initially rated this book at 4 stars in my head but things took a really irritating turn for me somewhere towards the latter half of the midpoint. Hence why I rated it a 3.
As someone who enjoys being able to read Black female characters as damsels, as women who are allowed to tap into their womanhood and fully rest in it much like their white counterparts, there is a limit. It goes against all those mainstream tropes where Black women are never allowed to be saved and cherished enough to warrant that type of consideration. I loved that part, but again, there is a limit. Gabrielle jumped from damsel in distress to reckless idiot in no time at all. I liked her and I enjoyed her but she was the only one in this story to work every last nerve I had. The guys irritated me in the first 2 books but all of my irritation was dedicated to Gabrielle in this one. Holy cow! She had no sense of self-preservation.
Gabrielle made choices in this book that made me wonder how she managed to survive this long. Coupled with the trauma she experienced in the past and her age, you would think she would know better than to literally run off with the bad guys. Like, she became the innocent little kid willingly getting into the van with the stranger who promised her candy. That's what she did. She made a less than smart decision to track down a human trafficking victim and she truly believed that quite literally everyone could be trusted. Why? Honestly, I'm just glad this entire ordeal made her wake up and smell the coffee. Because I tend to stay away from stories that deal with plots like that. Not because of how heavy the subject matter is, but because I know how unrealistic it is for anyone to successfully save a victim of such a thing and it usually just agitates me to think about. Let alone read about.
She wanted to save the world but she got hit with reality and I was happy to see that. Because she was acting as if she had no streets smarts or common sense, which was a disappointment to me. I almost DNFed it. Luckily, she came to her senses because I spent the entire last half of this book cursing her name. Which is not how I felt going into this series. But this book was far more interesting than the first 2 because there seemed to be a lot more going on. I just could have done without the human trafficking plot. This book would have been almost perfect had that not been a part of this story.
As someone who enjoys being able to read Black female characters as damsels, as women who are allowed to tap into their womanhood and fully rest in it much like their white counterparts, there is a limit. It goes against all those mainstream tropes where Black women are never allowed to be saved and cherished enough to warrant that type of consideration. I loved that part, but again, there is a limit. Gabrielle jumped from damsel in distress to reckless idiot in no time at all. I liked her and I enjoyed her but she was the only one in this story to work every last nerve I had. The guys irritated me in the first 2 books but all of my irritation was dedicated to Gabrielle in this one. Holy cow! She had no sense of self-preservation.
Gabrielle made choices in this book that made me wonder how she managed to survive this long. Coupled with the trauma she experienced in the past and her age, you would think she would know better than to literally run off with the bad guys. Like, she became the innocent little kid willingly getting into the van with the stranger who promised her candy. That's what she did. She made a less than smart decision to track down a human trafficking victim and she truly believed that quite literally everyone could be trusted. Why? Honestly, I'm just glad this entire ordeal made her wake up and smell the coffee. Because I tend to stay away from stories that deal with plots like that. Not because of how heavy the subject matter is, but because I know how unrealistic it is for anyone to successfully save a victim of such a thing and it usually just agitates me to think about. Let alone read about.
She wanted to save the world but she got hit with reality and I was happy to see that. Because she was acting as if she had no streets smarts or common sense, which was a disappointment to me. I almost DNFed it. Luckily, she came to her senses because I spent the entire last half of this book cursing her name. Which is not how I felt going into this series. But this book was far more interesting than the first 2 because there seemed to be a lot more going on. I just could have done without the human trafficking plot. This book would have been almost perfect had that not been a part of this story.
January 28, 2022
*Deep Breathes*
Third book in Sons of the Elite, really tests your actual patience. This book focuses more on the pain and trauma of Gabrielle who actually becomes insufferable. Are we all to believe that this MC is a neurosurgeon? Because let me say this now she is anything but. I wanted to desperately keep loving Gabrielle in this series but I think this was my breaking point. I understood that Smauggy wanted to create a vulnerable Black woman, slightly naive—but the naivety— was just too much too bare. In the begging of the third book we see here dealing with her rage, which is completely understandable but this woman, who is COMPLETELY aware of the world she is entering due to being in love with these three men who are heads of the Mafia— becomes reckless. I was here for her grasping what she was going through and even going after the man who brought on this suffering but again, we are going to sit here and believe that she can just pop up and go when she just opened up a new clinic and is a Neurosurgeon? At first I was very into Gabrielle turning into a savage to learn her truth of her past but the woman whose Black, Beautiful, but dumb is not one I can get behind. Black women don’t need to be strong all the time, and yes we deserve to be reckless, but we are not delusional, and if you are going to write a character that is this vulnerable damsel in destress then please MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. Cause I lost all mine having to put up with what this character was bringing to the table. She went from being ruthless to being naive and not worth the attention. I cannot say more without giving everything away, but it really boggles my mind that men fall at the feet for this woman no matter how attractive she is. At this point, I was surprised I even kept reading.
Third book in Sons of the Elite, really tests your actual patience. This book focuses more on the pain and trauma of Gabrielle who actually becomes insufferable. Are we all to believe that this MC is a neurosurgeon? Because let me say this now she is anything but. I wanted to desperately keep loving Gabrielle in this series but I think this was my breaking point. I understood that Smauggy wanted to create a vulnerable Black woman, slightly naive—but the naivety— was just too much too bare. In the begging of the third book we see here dealing with her rage, which is completely understandable but this woman, who is COMPLETELY aware of the world she is entering due to being in love with these three men who are heads of the Mafia— becomes reckless. I was here for her grasping what she was going through and even going after the man who brought on this suffering but again, we are going to sit here and believe that she can just pop up and go when she just opened up a new clinic and is a Neurosurgeon? At first I was very into Gabrielle turning into a savage to learn her truth of her past but the woman whose Black, Beautiful, but dumb is not one I can get behind. Black women don’t need to be strong all the time, and yes we deserve to be reckless, but we are not delusional, and if you are going to write a character that is this vulnerable damsel in destress then please MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. Cause I lost all mine having to put up with what this character was bringing to the table. She went from being ruthless to being naive and not worth the attention. I cannot say more without giving everything away, but it really boggles my mind that men fall at the feet for this woman no matter how attractive she is. At this point, I was surprised I even kept reading.
January 2, 2024
Gabrielle comes to the terms with the secret her 3 men have been keeping from her, as well as trying to reconcile her past and seek vengeance against her abusers.
This book was packed with action and some steaminess, but I guess I was confused a little by Not that I didn’t find that part of the plot entertaining but I was hoping it would cause her to really reflect on if she’s REALLY wants to pursue a relationship with these 3. Trauma is written all over the 4 of them and I think her trauma around them could’ve been explored more deeply instead of
I’m bating my breath because the next and last book is 800 pages and I don’t even know if I have the energy to handle that behemoth but I’ll do it for the plot! Let’s see where Gabs, Chris, Charlie, and Michael end up
This book was packed with action and some steaminess, but I guess I was confused a little by Not that I didn’t find that part of the plot entertaining but I was hoping it would cause her to really reflect on if she’s REALLY wants to pursue a relationship with these 3. Trauma is written all over the 4 of them and I think her trauma around them could’ve been explored more deeply instead of
I’m bating my breath because the next and last book is 800 pages and I don’t even know if I have the energy to handle that behemoth but I’ll do it for the plot! Let’s see where Gabs, Chris, Charlie, and Michael end up
July 9, 2022
Can Gabrielle Just Be? Sheesh
*****Spoilers*****
Sighs. This book was the worst of them all. Gabrielle as a vigilante going after Damian was so dumb and the number of times she rushed into something she had no business being involved in was ridiculous just like her sudden change in character. Chris, Charlie, and Michael are still on the hook and Gabrielle at the end of this one tells them she loves them all and won't choose but they're all free to leave her if they want.
Chris and Charlie sank into their previous street persona and went berserk when all three of them were grabbed. The whole Gabrielle lasting all of that time with Elliott and Liam whose purposes were to rape her and she not get raped was nonsensical. Not that I'm upset that it didn't happen or even want it to, but like so much, it was just not believable.
*****Spoilers*****
Sighs. This book was the worst of them all. Gabrielle as a vigilante going after Damian was so dumb and the number of times she rushed into something she had no business being involved in was ridiculous just like her sudden change in character. Chris, Charlie, and Michael are still on the hook and Gabrielle at the end of this one tells them she loves them all and won't choose but they're all free to leave her if they want.
Chris and Charlie sank into their previous street persona and went berserk when all three of them were grabbed. The whole Gabrielle lasting all of that time with Elliott and Liam whose purposes were to rape her and she not get raped was nonsensical. Not that I'm upset that it didn't happen or even want it to, but like so much, it was just not believable.
February 16, 2022
enough to make me read the last book
I’m really not understanding Gabs sudden anxiousness and anger to get back at Damien. Like what’s the rush? She wasn’t this eager to get back at him when she first found out. I also don’t buy her ninja skills when she couldn’t even fight her abuser off a few months ago. How did Gabs really think Damien wouldn’t know who she was? Gabs made it so obvious that she wasn’t owned by the Richardsons. Asking around for the young girl was super suspicious. Gabrielle is so gullible. Technical, but telling Michael she loves him with all her heart doesn’t do it for me because she loves two other men. Glad she finally laid it all out there for all the guys.
I’m really not understanding Gabs sudden anxiousness and anger to get back at Damien. Like what’s the rush? She wasn’t this eager to get back at him when she first found out. I also don’t buy her ninja skills when she couldn’t even fight her abuser off a few months ago. How did Gabs really think Damien wouldn’t know who she was? Gabs made it so obvious that she wasn’t owned by the Richardsons. Asking around for the young girl was super suspicious. Gabrielle is so gullible. Technical, but telling Michael she loves him with all her heart doesn’t do it for me because she loves two other men. Glad she finally laid it all out there for all the guys.
October 16, 2022
Potential warning
This was without a doubt my favorite book of the series. Now be warned that there may be spoilers in this comment.
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Anyway, while her coping mechanism wasn't the healthiest seeing ger as a badass with straight up assassin type moves was the best. Her taking no bullshit and paralyzing these wack ass excuses of men. Dicing deeper into her exploration of her relationship with the Richardsons was great.
I will say that if you are sensitive to certain subjects such a sexual assault and racism, then be lenient with this book bc there are graphic details about it in the book. My only problem would be that she didn't really deal with it, I felt like she jumped back into intimacy rather quickly.
This was without a doubt my favorite book of the series. Now be warned that there may be spoilers in this comment.
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Anyway, while her coping mechanism wasn't the healthiest seeing ger as a badass with straight up assassin type moves was the best. Her taking no bullshit and paralyzing these wack ass excuses of men. Dicing deeper into her exploration of her relationship with the Richardsons was great.
I will say that if you are sensitive to certain subjects such a sexual assault and racism, then be lenient with this book bc there are graphic details about it in the book. My only problem would be that she didn't really deal with it, I felt like she jumped back into intimacy rather quickly.
October 10, 2021
I love the BGM happening throughout this series. It's what drew me here in the first place. I also love the connection and love line story between Gabs and all her men. This book in the series left me a little confused about the main character I thought I was reading and getting to know in the first few books. Gabs action speak, reckless and unaligned. Almost like a completely new person, which threw me off because it seemed to come out of nowhere. I tried to associate the change in personality with her trauma, but it still made it an overall hard read. Still going to keep seeing how the other books fold out though!
April 14, 2021
I👏🏽was👏🏽not👏🏽ready👏🏽
My heart is racing.. another amazing hit. In one day as I’m home sick, I’ve read 3 in this series and about to start the 4th.
I can’t put it down, I have to finish. This was one action packed bloody sexy mess and I loved it. Every piece of this is written so thoroughly and precise, I’m reading as if I was watching it play out live and in front of me.
Whew Chile.. I jumping in the next book as soon as I hydrate with some Gatorade.. I am going through some things.
My heart is racing.. another amazing hit. In one day as I’m home sick, I’ve read 3 in this series and about to start the 4th.
I can’t put it down, I have to finish. This was one action packed bloody sexy mess and I loved it. Every piece of this is written so thoroughly and precise, I’m reading as if I was watching it play out live and in front of me.
Whew Chile.. I jumping in the next book as soon as I hydrate with some Gatorade.. I am going through some things.
June 12, 2023
ugh
I’m really giving this a 2 because gabby realllllly made me mad in this book. You are not a super hero all of this could’ve been avoided if your listening hear never hear about that little girl and then Sebastian is in your room and you didn’t find that suspicious?! You could’ve kicked his ass then and been done with it. Omg really stressed me out. I’m not even done reading it. I’m actually on chapter 17 and i skipped to the end just to give a review. Now I’m going back to chapter 17 bye
I’m really giving this a 2 because gabby realllllly made me mad in this book. You are not a super hero all of this could’ve been avoided if your listening hear never hear about that little girl and then Sebastian is in your room and you didn’t find that suspicious?! You could’ve kicked his ass then and been done with it. Omg really stressed me out. I’m not even done reading it. I’m actually on chapter 17 and i skipped to the end just to give a review. Now I’m going back to chapter 17 bye
November 24, 2024
I loved this unconventional, love quartet
The violence,is a lot. The love is a lot. I love the Richardson's more than the Beaumont's but I can't choose for Gabrielle. This series is addictive, I can't stop reading about the love life of Gabrielle Johansson.
I'm desperate to find out how this will end. Who does she love the most? Who can't she love without? There's so much to unpack.
If you like violence, melee and complicated love situations, you will really like this series.
The violence,is a lot. The love is a lot. I love the Richardson's more than the Beaumont's but I can't choose for Gabrielle. This series is addictive, I can't stop reading about the love life of Gabrielle Johansson.
I'm desperate to find out how this will end. Who does she love the most? Who can't she love without? There's so much to unpack.
If you like violence, melee and complicated love situations, you will really like this series.
December 2, 2024
Sons of the Elite book 3
I’m still hanging in there with this series. This is book 3 of a four book arc within a 12 book series. This book was longer in length (comparable to book 1); further confirming my theory that the author broke these up based on “lulls” in the plot.
I can see you to struggle with some of the elements of the story that are just illogical and or unrealistic. But I’m intrigued to see what ends up happening with the characters. I will definitely read the fourth book in this arc and probably continue with the next arc in the series.
I’m still hanging in there with this series. This is book 3 of a four book arc within a 12 book series. This book was longer in length (comparable to book 1); further confirming my theory that the author broke these up based on “lulls” in the plot.
I can see you to struggle with some of the elements of the story that are just illogical and or unrealistic. But I’m intrigued to see what ends up happening with the characters. I will definitely read the fourth book in this arc and probably continue with the next arc in the series.
October 11, 2021
Man’s Weakness
Heart of gold to help those in need……
Recklessness to manipulate an unfamiliar environment…..
Selfishness can lead to uncomfortable situations……
Trust has to be earned not giving away freely…..
Coming together for rescue makes the heart grow…..
Now, will they put aside differences to co-exist…..
Heart of gold to help those in need……
Recklessness to manipulate an unfamiliar environment…..
Selfishness can lead to uncomfortable situations……
Trust has to be earned not giving away freely…..
Coming together for rescue makes the heart grow…..
Now, will they put aside differences to co-exist…..
June 18, 2023
Enjoying the series
I'll take 2 Charlie's and 3 Michaels. My goodness this was a good read. My one complaint is the gullibility of Gabrielle. Sometimes she seems way too gullible which annoys me.
I simply love the men in this book. Charlie and Michael are my favorite and then there's Chris. I can't wait to read the next book.
I'll take 2 Charlie's and 3 Michaels. My goodness this was a good read. My one complaint is the gullibility of Gabrielle. Sometimes she seems way too gullible which annoys me.
I simply love the men in this book. Charlie and Michael are my favorite and then there's Chris. I can't wait to read the next book.
July 8, 2020
Did I mention that I love this story?
This story just keeps getting better and better. I am in love with all of the characters. The writer gave them all their own personalities. I can't wait for what happens next. This writer just keeps improving with every thing She writes.
This story just keeps getting better and better. I am in love with all of the characters. The writer gave them all their own personalities. I can't wait for what happens next. This writer just keeps improving with every thing She writes.
August 10, 2020
WOW!
I loved everything about this book... the story was spectacular, the characters are crazy and loveable. Even the villains were crazy. Thank you for such a great 👍 💗 story ❤ 😘 💙 💖 ♥ 💕
I loved everything about this book... the story was spectacular, the characters are crazy and loveable. Even the villains were crazy. Thank you for such a great 👍 💗 story ❤ 😘 💙 💖 ♥ 💕
September 9, 2020
Review to come
April 22, 2021
Gabs
Gabs goes deeper down the rabbit hole. I love how she is finding more and more of herself. Book 4 here I come!
Gabs goes deeper down the rabbit hole. I love how she is finding more and more of herself. Book 4 here I come!
September 27, 2022
3.5 stars
September 27, 2024
Honestly this one is my favourite book in the series so far!! I know what path Gabrielle was going down and even know I knew it wasn’t the best path I LOVED this for her she NEEDED to let out the anger and confusion and stop depending on Chris, Charlie and Micheal. The action element for this book has really picked up!! Can’t wait to read the next book 💜
July 13, 2024
DNF @ 22%. I really couldn't stand the direction that Gabrielle's character went in this installment of the series. She was immature, obnoxious, a hypocrite, and irresponsible. I hate that there only seem to be 2 reactions to women processing trauma in romance books. It's either hysterical, repeated crying or rage -case that treats everyone like s**t and makes the dumbest, most endangering decisions.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews