She wasn't mine to take, but I've never been the type of man to ever give a damn. If someone's expecting me to ask for permission, well, they're shit out of luck.
I run the streets of New Orleans and if I have my way with it, I always will.
That is, until a new dog comes into town. He's slick, cocky and arrogant as hell. Everything that leads me to believe I'll crush him at our meeting this evening. He isn't the first who's tried to take what belongs to my family, and he certainly won't be the last.
But unlike the rest of them, he brought a bargaining chip with him.
A woman by the name of Madelaine Rosseau.
Her name isn't important to most, but to me she's worth nearly a million dollars.
Her father's been avoiding me for almost a year. He owes my family quite the debt. A debt that grew out of control, but gambling debts will do that to you, especially when the odds are against you.
He hasn't paid us back and I doubt he will.
I'd assumed the only way we were going to get payment would be through blood, but now we have it in flesh.
Madelaine Rosseau no longer belongs to her father--she belongs to me.
Style: Dark Crime Boss/Family Romance Story: 3/5 Enjoyment: 3.8/5 Dark Level: 2/5 Sexual: GOOD Triggers: Yes Male: Sexy, Boss & Alpha Series: Book 1 Pages: 123 Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY: I like this story. I think I am also split with certain scenes and how they were executed. With this being the first book in the series, there are seven siblings with Felix being the oldest of the family. I like the concept of how Madelaine came into Felix’s possession. It’s a concept/theme as old as time. A dad trading his daughter in for his debt owed. The story was dark, but I feel it was light dark. I will say that Madeline develops with her character as she fits in as Felix’s Queen after one particular scene. I love the foundation that was built for this crime family with the upcoming books in the series.
ENJOYMENT / CHEMISTRY: I liked Felix’s and Madelaine’s chemistry. Felix was not the type of character that was ruthless towards Madelaine. He was nice and possessive, he was just ruthless to others around him. **MAY BE A SPOILER** there was a particular scene that left me unsatisfied and this is a preference thing or could just be my inner slut thing. The first intimacy scene Madeline says “I don’t want you to defile me, I want you to degrade me” and I am preparing myself for the sex marathon of a lifetime. However, the authors close the scene there, which is ok. When this goes into the next chapter, it’s starts with them waking up from a night full of sex. I felt as though I missed out on that particular experience as it was their first time and would have loved to experience it with Felix and Madelaine.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS With seven siblings and Felix being the oldest, we got to see a lot of Olivia and Remy. My interest has definitely peaked with Olivia and her upcoming situation.
Overall, likable read, felt cheated with a scene or two but still has my interest to want more from this crime family.
***I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read and hope this review was helpful.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A crazy little story of a woman paying for her father's sins and a Dominant man having instant attraction to a woman on sight. This story had promise and I was excited to read it but I found it very dry and lacking a great flow of story.
I will say this, Madelaine is a strong girl, she is hard and she is not afraid to fight. So if you want a short book that shows a feisty FMC then I say give it a shot. It's not very dark, but it's steamy enough.
One thing that rubbed me the wrong way, with the word ghetto for various reasons.
Blah…. The usual trope of woman sold to cover Fathers debt. Felix is the King of Louisiana underworld.Madeleine posts porn videos and pics of herself to make money. Her father sells her to H to cover his gambling debts. H falls in Instalove. He holds her prisoner to protect her— she thinks she’s really a prisoner. It’s Only 126 pages but it’s blah blah blah.
The DeLancy family is making changes. Felix is the head of the family now and he doesn't intend to carry on business the way that his father did. When a man who owes him money tries to give him his daughter as payment, Felix has no intention of selling her off. He is intrigued by Madelaine and intends to make her his.
Madelaine is a pretty strong woman and confident of herself, but I do have a hard time understanding why she would let her dad continue to use her considering all you learn about what she goes through because of him.
Felix might do some shady and illegal stuff, but under it all, he has a heart and he doesn't want Madelaine to continue being hurt.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow!! I have to say that I'm already on board with this new series because it was fast paced that drew me in from page one. NOLA's DeLancy family is notorious and rules with an iron fist which includes making sure everyone pays their debts owed to them. Charles has a gambling addiction and when he was pressured to pay up he gave his daughter, Madelaine, to them. Felix accepted her but not as a payment. He was disgusted her father would use her to pay his debts and didn't want her to fall into the hands of others that are owed money.
This began the push and pull between the two with Felix trying to get her to see that he was really there to protect her from others who are out to get her in order to make her father pay for his debts. I'm looking forward to the upcoming books in this new mafia series.
So this is a spin off from the Inferno’s Clutch MC series. The DeLancy family is cousins to a member of the MC. You can read this without having read the MC series. This was a really short book. When I finished it up I was looking for more? Great story don’t get me wrong. It was just boom over? I realize they will be writing more books for the remaining siblings of the family. This is Madelaine and Felix’s story. Madelaine’s father owes money to loan sharks, lots of money. He decides to sell his daughter to the DeLancy’s to pay off his debt. Little does he know Felix doesn’t operate that way. Felix also doesn’t want anyone else to have her either. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe from her father’s debtors.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'Degrade' is the first book in Elizabeth Knox & E. C Land's new series, the "DeLancy Crime Family" and it's a powerful read. The idea of a father selling off a daughter to pay his gambling debts is as old as time, and yet these authors have melded that idea into a storyline, along with bringing in characters from other books, that kept me glued to my seat and turning pages as quickly as my eyes and brain could manage. I can't wait to see what 'Deprave', the next book in the series, brings!
When Felix is given Madelaine you wouldn’t expect them to find happiness. After Everything bad Madelaine had gone through in her life you wouldn’t think she wouldn’t want to be with Felix but sometimes we find happiness in the most unlikely places. This tale is a bit twisted but it is absolutely perfect. It is a not to be missed start to what looks to be an amazing series.
This was such a great book! There were so many great characters that I look forward to seeing in future books. I would definitely recommend this book as I would recommend all books by these two amazing authors.
Degrade is the perfect quick read and even though i was furious with all that Madelaine has had to live through, it still left me completely satisfied that her future with Felix will be all that she could ever want. Felix and Madelaine's story is absolutely delicious! Madelaine's beginning was far from good but her journey with Felix is so, so great. They find a love they never thought they'd have and a life that Madelaine's so deserving of. What an incredible read.
Really fast paced and intense story, full of suspense! I literally couldn't put it down. The characters were great, and had an intense chemistry with each other, even the side characters made an impact! I loved Remy and Olivia and cant wait for their stories! Will definitely be reading more!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
wow what a emotional ride this book was! he takes whatever he wants. so when a man decides to pay in flesh he takes it. only she isnt so willing to go with him. read to find out what happens.
A sinfully seductive, fast paced and intriguing journey to go with Felix and Madeline. I was on the edge of me seat the entire time. I cannot wait for more of the DeLancy family. Great story!
Felix DeLancy runs his street with an iron fist but when another tries to muscle in he is quick to want to shut them down. Only when he goes to the meeting does he find something worth his time. Madeline's had a tough past but her father's gabling debts are going to bring it to a whole new level. when Felix finds out who daughter she is he doesn't ask he takes. but is his kingdom still plain sailing? this is a Great crossover new start to the DeLancy Crime family series. Land and Knox are queens of Mafia and MC romances and the DeLancy have appeared in many other boos by the authors now they have their own and they are starting with a bang! the story line keeps you engaged and the characters draw you in with their stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Felix is the top dog alpha male taking over for his family once he sees to the demise of his father and his tyrant ways. When Felix is given Madeline as payment for a dept by her father there's no way he was letting her go not only did he feel attracted to her but he knew if he didn't look out for her she would fall victim to someone else wanting payment out of her dad. These two are smoking hot and the web of connections these books are having is amazing yet it's like who hasn't slept with who can't wait for the next one as I think this one ended alittle too quickly for me lol.
Félix DeLancy became head of the family after killing his psychotic father. He's worked hard to eliminate the evil his father fostered.
Madelaine Rosseau has a dead beat, gambling addicted father that has used and abused her to cover his debts. She may make good money as a cam girl but he's draining her dry. This is a book I wanted to like but didn't. I liked the characters, I liked some of the ideas but the implementation was a fail for me.
Some of the nigglies, spoilers warning:
Unless the book changed after I received my copy the blurb only loosely describes the book.
Madelaine's father owes many people money, with his debt to the DeLancy family close to a million dollars. From all descriptions in the book he's a dead beat, gambling addict with little to no resources, why would anyone extend him that kind of loan?
He attempts to trade his daughter for his debt and Félix decides to keep her, with or without her consent. He puts her in a tower room at his home and seems to be keeping her whether she likes it or not but then has his sister take her on a shopping trip. Later they say she was always free to leave making me as a reader completely confused.
While she still believes she is being held against her will she gets a cell phone she considers her life line to getting free but she leaves it on the dresser in her room to be found? Really???? TSTL
This sister is suppose to have a guard with her at all times but when they go shopping there's no indication of the guard, in fact she waits in her car in a shady neighborhood alone. Given her past history it felt really out of place and odd to see her say 'I don't want you to defile me Félix. I want you to degrade me.'
When Land and Knox collabe it's usually a great read, this one missed the mark for me, it didn't flow, nor was it cohesive and it felt like there was a lot of missing pieces to the story."
I received a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Elizabeth Knox and EC Land loosely hook a couple of their other series to this new Mafia series about the Deluca family in Louisiana. I liked the characters although I didn't see any reason for Madeline to have to have the halfway through the book twist in her past that she did. I felt as if it was for shock value vs. necessary for her character. I did like the two of them together and especially how Madeline held her own against the women in Felix's past. Overall, good start and I want to read more DeLucas.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow!!! Degrade (DeLancy Crime Family #1 by E.C. Land and Elizabeth Knox is a great start to a new dark, thrilling romance series about the DeLancy Crime Family. Well done ladies!!!! You will fall in love with Felix who is this sexy, tattooed, pierced larger than life head of the DeLancy family set in New Orleans who runs his empire with a firm and deadly dangerous hand. Felix takes no prisoners in business or with his family that he loves and protects if they are under attack, now that he has taken over the reigns from his vicious father. Madelaine is a curvy, sexy woman who works for OneEye under the umbrella of Crave, LLC run by Gia Lopez. Madelaine is trying to make enough money to start over and get away from her father who only uses her to pay off his debts. With all of the horrors she had to endure growing up with her father, his latest stunt will place her in danger when he drugs her and is taken to Felix to be sold off to pay his debt. One look at this spirited young woman has Felix drawn to this tattooed beauty as he decides that she will be his and that he will never give her up. Felix knowing that Madelaine is still in danger as others are still after her as well as learning what her father did to her at a young age, is outraged and vows to end them all to keep her safe.
Now these two will begin a stormy relationship as Madelaine will witness Felix's alpha side but fights him all the way as she wants her freedom. Felix doesn't tell her the danger she is in only that her father gave her to him to pay off his debt and she now belongs to him. When Felix goes online and sees her videos and pictures, he informs her she will no longer be showing her body to anyone but him. Madelaine's temper gets the best of her when she is told she can no longer work for OneEye, but the more she is with him she is beginning to desire this stubborn man but she still wants to escape. This story is filled with passion, misunderstandings, revenge and danger. Will Madelaine take matters into her own hands placing her once again in danger when she escapes? Will Felix finally admit to himself that this feisty woman means more to him than he thought and will he ever be able to tame her and keep this woman safe when he learns she is gone? He even has to contend with Gia's temper once she arrives on the scene as he learns her connection to Madelaine. With all of the suspense surrounding this couple, the chemistry between them is hard, fast and explosive as their lives will change forever once they are reunited with the help from his brother. So many twists and turns in this story as Felix and Madelaine's love grows, relationships are formed with his sister and brother and threats are exposed. Finally Madelaine learns more about Felix's character as this tough dangerous man will go to great lengths to protect the ones he loves. Madelaine with the love she now has for Felix, has finally embraced his role as leader of the biggest crime family in New Orleans and tells him to do what needs to be done but come back to her without getting blood on him. Now Felix will make sure that Madelaine will be safe once and for all as he gets his revenge on all of the men who would cause her harm even her father. Felix and Madelaine will begin a life full of love and devotion that will bind them forever. Felix finds this feisty woman that he calls bombe will be his queen in every way as they look towards a future together working side by side. But this is just the beginning of the DeLancy Crime Family as other family members will have their own story that will take center stage as well as an offer made to help Chains of the Inferno's Clutch with a serious problem. Now we have to wait for Depraved Book 2 for more drama and danger to see how all of this will play out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Good start to new series.....and you get to visit New Orleans
Degrade is the first book in the new DeLancy Crime Family series by Elizabeth Knox and E.C. Land. If you love you some hot and sexy Mafia bad boys with a heart that is still there then you are going to love Felix DeLancy. He is the head of the New Orleans DeLancy Mafia family and the oldest of several siblings. He is also more than able to be cut throat, heck he even "helped" his really bad father die, but there are also some lines that he will not cross. The big on is that anyone hurting or trafficking in women or children is not going to be around for very long. So when he first sees an unconscious and beautiful Madelaine you better be sure that he is going to take care of her and also the man who has presented her to him this way, her own father. Yep he is a peach that one as he wanted to use her to pay off a debt he owed to the family. Madelaine wakes up in a strange bed, in a strange room and to a strange situation after what turns out to be drugged by her own father. She is smart, strong and more than a little feisty. She believes that Felix is trying to keep her locked up as a prisoner but really he is trying to keep her safe, as her father also owes others who will gladly take her as settlement if they can get a hold of her. These two have a real spark right from the start. Felix is really not a bad man and he is trying to make changes to the family to pull them out of the really dark stuff his father had them involved in. Madelaine is a young woman who has been making a fresh start for herself away from her father but she finds herself in a situation she never would have even thought possible. She is still determined to make her own way even when she and Felix come together and that he is okay with that and takes a step back, while still making sure she is protected and safe. I found the story-line to be interesting and had moments of nail-biting suspense and also white hot passion, with a few laughs in there too. I am looking forward to reading the next in this series.
I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. This is my own opinion and was not influenced by anyone.
The DeLancy crime family has a new head, the oldest son Felix. He and his brothers are trying to reform the businesses his grandfather and father started. Although Felix tries to be fair in business, he will allow no one to disrespect or cross the family. He is violent, abrasive and makes with no apologies.
Madeline is trying to make the best life she can for herself. Her father has an uncontrollable gambling habit and has no remorse that he uses his daughter to pay his debts. He makes the mistake of owing Félix over a million dollars and his method of repayments has has Félix seeing red.
Félix shows he can be ruthless to his enemies but the way he cares for Madeline shows a whole new side of him. He treats her with the utmost respect and love as she makes him feel again.
We learn about Felix's brothers and sisters as well as some of his close alliances. His family has ties with the MC Inferno's Clutch, another series by one of the authors, E.C. Land. Degrade is book 1 in the DeLancy Crime Family series by Elizabeth Knox and E.C. Land. This book held my attention with no problem. It has action, some suspense and romance. The men and women are strong characters that stand up for what they want. It is a fast paced captivating introduction to this new world.
What a great start to a new series. This is the story of the DeLancy Mafia family. Felix is the eldest of the 7 DeLancy siblings and between he and his brothers they decided they did not like the way their father had done things (he was a very evil man) and quietly helped their father to his untimely demise. While the DeLancy family is to be feared, they have a higher code they live by and their loyalty to family is like no other.
This is the story of Felix and Madelaine. Felix is owed money by Madelaine’s father (he is a deadbeat and has always used his daughter to bail him out) to the tune of 1 million dollars. He also owes other family’s money as well. Her father offers Madelaine to Felix to repay his debt. This does not go over very well with Felix, but he accepts her anyway and tells her father he stills owes his debt, but he is keeping his daughter. Felix is taken in by Madelaine from the start. Madelaine on the other hand is pissed that she is being used once again by her father and that she has no freedom. She is mouthy, feisty and won’t give up until she is free. Only, does she really want to be free from Felix?
This story is full of drama, action, danger, passion, loyalty, compassion, suspense, twist and turns and lots of emotional turmoil. Great story with great characters. I am looking forward to getting to know more of the DeLancy family and cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. This is my own opinion and was not influenced by anyone.
The DeLancy crime family has a new head, the oldest son Felix. He and his brothers are trying to reform the businesses his grandfather and father started. Although Felix tries to be fair in business, he will allow no one to disrespect or cross the family. He is violent, abrasive and makes with no apologies.
Madeline is trying to make the best life she can for herself. Her father has an uncontrollable gambling habit and has no remorse that he uses his daughter to pay his debts. He makes the mistake of owing Félix over a million dollars and his method of repayments has has Félix seeing red.
Félix shows he can be ruthless to his enemies but the way he cares for Madeline shows a whole new side of him. He treats her with the utmost respect and love as she makes him feel again.
We learn about Felix's brothers and sisters as well as some of his close alliances. His family has ties with the MC Inferno's Clutch, another series by one of the authors, E.C. Land. Degrade is book 1 in the DeLancy Crime Family series by Elizabeth Knox and E.C. Land. This book held my attention with no problem. It has action, some suspense and romance. The men and women are strong characters that stand up for what they want. It is a fast paced captivating introduction to this new world.
🔥🔥ONE FLAMMABLE ADVENTURE🔥🔥 Hatching hellions homer! This thrillingly insightful sensational duo unleashes one helluva decadent rollercoaster, serving up some mind-blowing kickassery with this heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping bombshell, launching this jewel to staggering heights. Misfortune and escapades descend in a jolt of gut-clenching clarity of mastered maneuvers and brilliant strategy, frayed lines and shattered perimeters solidify as limitations are wrought and tested, gripping drama, turbulent intrigue, escalating danger, torturous suspense and intense encounters converge, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. The attraction and chemistry collides with such intensity and ardor, exploding with boundless emotions and infinite affections, binding them together beautifully. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity, adding enough spice for an extra punch. Throw in 100% on point realism, painting graphic scenarios so colorfully descriptive with vivid detail its like you're living it with them instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Remarkable job guys, thanks for sharing this awesome little gem with us.
Elizabeth and EC Land are go to authors for me and with this latest series they have hit the road running It takes off from almost the first page and never really slow down. I love how they incorporate characters from their individual series as you read along and they do it in a masterful way that doesn't detract and just appear as advertising.
This is the story of the DeLancey family who rule New Orleans Felix is the new head and he does things much different to his father who he helped to remove There is no way he will ever sell women or children and his brothers are in agreement So when a gambler whose marker they hold for more than a million tries to hand over his daughter for his debt he is disgusted Yes Felix takes Madelaine but as he informs her father it is for her protection and he still owes the DeLancey that money. Madelaine wakes in a room she doesn't know after been drugged and almost sold by her own father. She believes that Felix is holding her prisoner but little dies she understand that her father owes more than him and others would take her and sell her for the debt Can she see that he means her no harm and what will happen when they spend more time together You will have to read to see
This is the first book in a new series by this author and what an explosive story it was. The Delancy crime family has run New Orleans since their grandfather's time. After the death of their father, the four brothers take control of the organization. Madelaine was the daughter of a habitual gambler, she had given up counting the times she had been forced to pay her father's debts, but being drugged and delivered to Felix was a new low even for him. Upon investigating Madelaine, Felix becomes obsessed with claiming her as his own. He is forced to keep her safe from her father's creditors while their relationship heats up. Felix had never met a woman like Madelaine before, feisty, explosive, and confident in her own sexuality, she was made for him, and all he had to do was convince her of the fact. It was the interaction between Felix and Madeleine that I liked most about this story. Madelaine was a survivor who lived life her way and made no excuses for what she did. Felix had never met a woman so open and confident, she needed no man and he so much wanted to be her man! Just loved this book!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.