Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Family is all that matters. Loyalty is everything. Obsession could destroy it all.

As of November 12, 2022, In Silence has finally been edited professionally and cleaned up.

Cat spent her entire life cowering in submission against the monsters in her life. People she was supposed to trust. After a surprise pregnancy, she fled to the big city of Boston for a safe place to raise her child away from her abusive husband. But fate had other plans. After one of her blackouts, she woke up with a gun in her blood-stained hand and a dead body at her feet, taking the fall for a murder she didn’t commit. But a dark and dangerous man she briefly met on that fateful night saved her, or so she thought.

Ronan became the new leader of the Irish mob with the death of his father, a role he was groomed for since childhood. Seeking revenge for his father’s murder, a beautiful witness turned his world upside down. He shouldn’t have cared that she took the fall for him. Against his better judgment, he staged her escape to protect her from his enemies. But when she walked into his world, she became so much more than that.


Courtney W. Dixon's debut novel.


CW: Abuse, explicit language, violence, sex.

A dark Irish mafia erotic romance with HEA. No cliffhangers.

Please be careful of spoilers, thank you.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2021

61 people are currently reading
326 people want to read

About the author

Courtney W. Dixon

39 books1,078 followers
Courtney W. Dixon loves to write steamy hurt/comfort romance, giving her characters challenges, struggles, and sometimes trauma... Fine, a LOT of trauma. Her team teases her about charging her for their therapy bills after reading one of her books.

She loves to add variety and multiple tropes in her stories along with different types of dynamics/relationships. And she writes her characters as having flaws, imperfections, and who don't always do the right thing. Humans are sometimes frustrating, never perfect, and make a lot of mistakes in their lives. Courtney enjoys pushing her characters, making their HEAs so much more worth it when they get there. Mental health is a big feature in her books.

She loves her coffee ice cream and popcorn a little too much. And her cat, Olly, is her co-writer, where he sleeps on an ottoman under her desk as her muse. Actually, he's rather useless, but he's adorable.

Follow Me

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
48 (25%)
4 stars
57 (30%)
3 stars
39 (20%)
2 stars
28 (14%)
1 star
16 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Profile Image for Cali Mafiaa.
401 reviews23 followers
November 22, 2021
Oh my gosh this book is amazing!! I love it so much.. I can’t wait to read more of Courtney’s writing..

This book was full of suspense.. had me drawn in & wanting to know what happens next..

Cat is this beautiful, sweet, strong woman who has been through so much crap in her life.. she dealt with monster after monster.. The people she was supposed to be able to trust ended up the ones who hurt her the most..

Ronan is this sexy, dangerous, Irish mafia leader who is looking for revenge for his fathers murderer.. He shouldn’t care about the girl who took the fall for him.. for a murder she didn’t commit..

Will Cat be able stay hidden from those who want her dead or will all hell break loose??

This book is a must read!! I loved it & just couldn’t put it down ..

“This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review."
Profile Image for Annagram.
93 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2021
ARC Review. 4/5 stars for this debut. This book was a tough one for me because I was never into the pregnancy trope from the beginning, and after suffering a miscarriage 9 months ago, pregnancy is still a tough topic for me to read about (as you’ll see in another ARC I’m about to review). But I knew what I was getting into from the blurb and agreeing to read this book. And I enjoyed this read. I almost found it a part of my healing process. The prologue had me hooked from the start. The detail and action in this book is so well written that I felt every emotion our FMC was feeling throughout. If you like mafia romance, this is a good one!
Profile Image for Colleen (boo_boos_books) Hewitt.
307 reviews7 followers
November 30, 2021
Wow….. I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Ronan and cat were made for each other. With Ronan being the new head of the Irish mafia and cat finding her feet in a new life away from her human we get to see both of them grow and become each others world. I really enjoyed the side characters and the possible pairings that could develop in future books. I already want Brady’s book so bad
For a debut novel I think the writing and storytelling were great and will definitely read more by this author

I received an arc of this book in return for my honest review
Profile Image for JL.
316 reviews6 followers
December 10, 2021
I'm so excited to have found a new author to stalk!!! Lol I absolutely LOVED Cat and Ronan's story. This was such a well written story where I not only loved the main characters, but the side characters as well. I can't wait for more!
11 reviews
December 27, 2021
“She has tragedy written in those black eyes”

“Jason killed me inside. Ronan resuscitated me back to life”

“She turned my cold heart into a chaotic disaster”

This book is book 1 in a dark Irish mafia romance series with loads of suspense and drama. The character and world building in this book make it seem longer than perhaps needs be but I don’t think it takes away from the story line. It’s a slowish burn but once they’re in they’re on! I loved how despite Ronan being a mob boss alpha male he was not afraid of show emotional vulnerability and express his feelings. Cat is a strong and admirable woman overcoming so much abuse and tragedy.
Overall a great intro to the series and I’m looking forward to the other characters stories. Amazing debut novel from Courtney!

Things to know:
-Dual POV
-Irish Mafia
-Alpha male who is only soft for his woman
-surprise pregnancy (not the Hero’s baby)
-kidnapping
-domestic abuse
-mentions of drug and alcohol abuse
Profile Image for Noruszemily.
93 reviews
November 30, 2021
This book is amazing! This connection between Cat and Ronan is everything! If you were lucky to have it in your life you know what I mean! Cat is a really strong FMC it was so good to read her story. And Ronan was not perfect but he is ready to protect who he loves!
I received an ARC for my honest review and I’m so glad for it! You don’t want to miss this story!
Profile Image for Tammy .
1,023 reviews119 followers
December 12, 2021
3.5 Stars

I thought this was a good first debut for Ms. Dixon. Loved and adored Ronan, Cat, Daniel, Luke, Callum, Cian, Brady and Charlie.

At times, In Silence felt kinda long, but I'll attribute that to Dixon building the world from scratch and the many characters within it. Due to that, there were areas that had too much description, repetitive description, or not enough description, which in turn could throw off the pacing.

I liked that Dixon didn't hold back from exploring the graphic parts of being a mob boss, or part of the mafia in general. So forewarned, Ronan and his brothers can get kinda messy. And yes, there are some implausible things that you'll have to suspend belief for, but I found those moments didn't bother me or take me out of the story.

I also really loved the connection between the characters. I even didn't mind the instalove that comes with this series.

If you are looking for a fun read that will allow you a moment of escapism than I think you'll like this new series and this new author.

description
Profile Image for Book Life With Jen.
1,253 reviews21 followers
February 7, 2022
If you’re a fan of dark Irish mafia romance stories with lots of chemistry and a nice medium burn then Courtney W. Dixon’s debut novel In Silence: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance is a definite must read for you!!! With a masterfully crafted plot that leaves you guessing, well developed characters that make you feel and a dark Mafia storyline that’s beyond outstanding it’s hard to believe that this was Dixon’s debut novel—I was absolutely brown away!

On the run from an abusive husband, our fierce FMC Cat heads to Boston to find a new start for herself….and the baby she’s carrying. With a new job, new friends and a place to call her own it finally looks like Cat is at last coming into her own. That is until Ronan, the ruthless leader of the Irish mob, makes an entrance into her life…and everything changes in the blink of an eye.

Can Cat trust what Ronan is offering, or is she just putting herself in danger once again by becoming entangled with the Irish mob? Can she allow her baby to grow in a world of dark violence? Or is Ronan, and the possibility of love, worth the risk? As feelings depend, and Ronan becomes even more enamored by Cat and her charm, new dangers and threats emerge to once again possibly threaten their happiness. But luckily for Cat, Ronan will do anything to protect Cat and her unborn child.

“My world was violent, dangerous and cold, but Cat brought life back into me and made all the pain worth it and worth fighting for."

The dynamics between Cat and Ronan was utterly phenomenal! I loved how their relationship evolved throughout the pages, constantly leaving you screaming as their story unfolded and begging for more. Ronan’s family was just as amazing and I hope to see more of his brothers for sure!!! Overall, if you’re a fan of dark mafia stories with well developed characters, suspenseful twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, hot Irish alphas with a tendency for violence and a fierce women to bring him to his knees….then this book is the perfect addition to your kindle library so grab it for yourself today!!! The second book can’t come soon enough!
Profile Image for evelynn kate.
510 reviews
September 6, 2022
Plot ⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️
Dual 1st person POV - Cat & Ronan

I think you can tell a lot of passion went into this story as it was a debut novel for this author, however, there were a lot of issues I had with it. The pacing was inconsistent and I found the writing to be kind of juvenile. Almost like how a teen would think people/men in the mafia would act/talk.
Especially at the end when Cat's ex caught up to her, the dialogue was overdramatized and overused exclamation points which made it feel very adolescent. There were also several typos in punctuation throughout the book which took me out of the story. And where was the chemistry between Cat & Ronan?? Each sexual interaction felt forced. Ronan was a POS guy and I did not like him as a MMC. He was arrogant, egotistical, selfish, and all around frustrating. I think the author was trying to write an OTT male who takes no shit but eventually folds for his woman, but he just fell flat. There was no charm or wit to counteract his negative qualities.

"I’m fucking sick of you self-proclaimed alpha males, insisting you need to control my life!" 🙄

The blatant fatphobia and TSTL FMC was the cherry on top. "He was heavyset, and it pissed me off that the waste of life got the drop on my father."

"The walrus has been taken care of with food and drinks.”

"His body had to squeeze into the chair."

--

“Wait. I’m… still married.”

"That I cheated on my husband should have had me running, but I didn’t care."
MISS MA'AM, YOU FLED YOUR EXTREMELY ABUSIVE HUSBAND AND HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF SEEING HIM AGAIN, WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT CHEATING ON HIM??

Since 4 additional books have come out in this interconnected series between Nov 2021 and July 2022, I find it hard to believe this author is doing anything besides churning out stories in hopes of getting her books read. I can't imagine a debut author is producing quality stories that soon after the initial publication so I won't be reading anything else. Maybe that's harsh but I just can't imagine publishing that many books in that short of time without using each release as a learning experience and making adjustments and using feedback to strengthen the storylines. If you're curious, check out my highlights... I'm cringing just thinking about it.

“Thank you, Ronan. You’ve… made my broken life whole and happy. I want to say, happy again, but it never was until I met you.”
“Ditto, kitten. Ditto.”

I mean wtf is that writing?? Ditto???

Ugh, read this if you want but don't say I didn't tell you so.
Profile Image for JenMcJ.
2,608 reviews325 followers
December 11, 2021
This was an OK debut book but I felt like it has a very basic and undeveloped writing style. I got bogged down in the conversations that just didn't seem organic or real. Many times Cat seemed very juvenile.

Additionally, this book has a duplicate chapter, I think it was chapter 6. The actual chapter is Cat's chapter, the duplicate is labeled "Ronan". I was very confused before I realized what happened.

I struggled early on with ridiculous pivotal plot points that the book hinged on, like the heroine having walking "black outs" and going through a sensationalized trial without anyone finding out who she is and her husband never hearing about it. Apparently news in Boston of a Jane Doe, Black Out murderer doesn't make it to small town Texas.

The plot of this book as intended might have been somewhat sophisticated in the hands of a more experienced writer with a strong team to help iron out the weaker pivotal plot points. As this one went, it wasn't really a very satisfying read for me.
58 reviews
December 5, 2021
I have had the good fortune to read the arcs of several first-time authors. Courtney W. Dixon's debut novel In Silence reads as it came from a seasoned pro. Congratulations to you, and I can't wait to read all the greatness to come.

About the book:
In Silence is book one in the Kings of Boston series. It's 379 pages of dark Irish mafia goodness. It contains lots of references to physical and mental abuse. Those sections may be hard to read for some. However, the Irish mob in Boston was a fun twist on the traditional, contemporary romance. In Retribution will be book two and should be out in early 2022.

Summary:
Cathryn has lived a tragic, abusive life. Cat's parents cared more for their drugs than they did their daughter. They did not hesitate to lock her in the closet for any minor offense. So, when Jason Gray came along and promised her love and protection, she thought she had found her way out. Shortly after "I do," Jason became far more abusive, landing her in the hospital several times. When Cathryn learns she's pregnant, she gathers all her courage and takes a chance at a better life.
Ronan O'Callaghan is having a bad day. His father is dead, now making Ronan the head of Boston's Irish Mafia. Of course, Ronan and his brothers don't care that their dad's reign is over since he'd been an abusive dick all their lives. But the hit had been an inside job complicating the transition of power.
One night a chance encounter in a tiny diner brings Ronan and Cathryn together in a way that will change both their lives forever. This story is a tale of murder, abuse, love, lies, sex, and forever. The characters are well written. The O'Callaghan brothers each have their specialty within the organization, and their love lives are full of complications. It will be so much fun to watch each of their stories play out. The dialogue is serious and gritty with moments of humor, and this story is so well-paced.

My thoughts:
I loved this book! It's so lovely to read a debut novel so well written with a straightforward story, relevant details, believable characters, and dialogue that makes sense. First-time books are sometimes terribly flawed but In Silence is a fantastic story that gives you a ton of drama, complications, and a happily ever after. I cannot recommend it enough. So grab this book, a fuzzy blanket, a beverage of choice, and dive into the adventures of the O'Callaghan brothers. Five Stars!!!

Profile Image for britts.bookish.bliss.
300 reviews10 followers
November 29, 2021
4/5 ⭐ OVERALL
3.5/5 🌶 STEAM
3.5/5 🖤 DARK

"My world was violent, dangerous and cold, but Cat brought life back into me and made all the pain worth it and worth fighting for."

Cat is on the run from her abusive husband, but lands herself in another sticky situation. In comes Ronan, he ultimately saves her, but omits the information as to why she's in this situation. Ronan's main focus is protecting Cat, even if she hates him. Cat's main focus is to escape Ronan's protection, even if she's falling for him. Twist and turns happen, the big lie is revealed, and Ronan's world comes crashing down. (Ok I'm being slightly dramatic). I'm not into spoilers, so if this interests you check it out!

'In Silence' is a debut novel for Courtney W Dixon. I really enjoyed this read! The Author did a fabulous job with the plot, it kept me interested and satisfied. I adored the main characters, Ronan and Cat. They were equally strong and were developed well. This book is classified as a Dark Irish Mafia Romance. With that said, there are a few trigger warnings such as murder, domestic abuse, and kidnapping.

Some cons.. the book was rather longer than it should've been, but kind of expected with a debut novel. I, also, would've loved more interaction between Cat and Brenna, Ronan's mother. I felt like that should've been an important relationship to elaborate on. That part fell flat for me.

Other than those two small things, it was a good first novel for the Author and I can't wait to read Charles and Brady's book.
Profile Image for S Bain.
141 reviews8 followers
December 1, 2021
In Silence (Kings of Boston: Book 1) by Courtney Dixon

Cat courageously escapes an abusive marriage after discovering she is pregnant. She boards a bus, sheds her identity and starts over to keep her baby safe.

Ronan is heir to the Irish mafia. When his father is murdered he is forced to step into his role as leader. On the night he was to confront his fathers killer he encountered Cat at the diner she was working at. There was an instant, unexplainable connection.

The events that transpire after that chance encounter forever link Cat and Ronan. Only she doesn’t know he’s responsible for how the life she fought so hard to gain control of, is spiralling once again.

4⭐️ 3 🌶

Cat and Ronan’s characters compliment each other so well. He helps build up her confidence and find her independence. She helps him be vulnerable.

All of the characters in this book are interesting. Courtney sets the scene well for future books in this series.

Great debut book.
Profile Image for Rachel Reads Romance.
383 reviews11 followers
December 2, 2021
SO GLAD I DISCOVERED THIS AUTHOR

I highly recommend this series! Ronan is a swoon worthy mafia boss that will take what he wants, and that includes the woman he wants. What I loved most about the story though, is once he has her, Ronan isn't afraid to work for her affection. He's the type that will burn down the world for his woman, but in the end he treats her like a Queen.
And that's just what Cat deserves! On the run from an abusive ex, she just wants to give her unborn child a better life than the one she is leaving. In the beginning of the book, Cat realizes she deserves more out of life, and I was fist pumping every time she held on to that feeling throughout the book.
I was also pleasantly surprised how steamy this book is! Cat is a domestic abuse survivor, and I would have expected and been satisfied this book to be slower burn, but it's not! Ronan and Cat burn up the pages together.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MDKLV2Q
Profile Image for mdsbookreviews .
124 reviews7 followers
December 1, 2021
This is Dixon’s first book and let me tell you it does not disappoint👏🏻

If you’re into mafia reads- then this Irish Mob romance you’ll definitely want to check out. The story flows from the very first page and it keeps you flipping those pages to see what the heck is happening next. ( I could not put this book down )
Ronan is a total heartthrob- hes dark,handsome, he fights hard but loves even harder.

⚠️ Cat’s character really does goes through some trauma. But she’s seriously up there on the top “kick ass female” list. (I don’t want to give too much away because I want you to read this book)

Andddd then of course- y’all know how I feel about Brothers🔥🔥 well this book delivers well on that part- three of them in fact- and holy hot damn😮‍💨.

There’s violence,mystery,sex,hot Irish alpha males,fierce leading lady and one hell of a story!
Profile Image for Meloriginally_reads.
68 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2021
Suspense, Violence and lots of Spice!

I’m a sucker for a good mafia book and this one did not disappoint! I loved the dynamics of this Boston based Irish Mafia family! They are an inclusive family that takes care of each other above all else. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!


Our two main characters have their meet cute under tense circumstances. She’s on the run from her abusive husband and finds a job at a diner, and he’s lying in wait to kill the man who killed his father. When Ronan enters the diner to find his target he meets Cat his waitress who is serving up more than homemade cherry pie! Even after some stupid decisions you can’t help but want Ronan to win.
Profile Image for Booked and Blissed .
37 reviews3 followers
December 1, 2021
“Kitten? I kind of like that. Can I keep calling you Cherry Pie Man, then?”

Yes please, I loved everything about Cat and Ronan relationship ❤️

When you feel like you lived someone's life through a book you know it was a great book. Everything about Cat felt real and deep. Her emotions felt like my own, her pain, her love and her fight jumped from each page.

Ronan and his brothers🥵🥵 so much dang hotness 😍 I can't wait to read more about each and everyone of them!!!

5 out of 5 💯


@cwdixonauthor
#cwdixonauthor #darkromance #irishmafiaromance #mafiaromancenovels #Cat #Ronan #bookseries #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #babyromance #jailbreak #brothers #hotalphamale #bookyoushouldread #hotguys #hotreads #cherrypieman #Kitten #booksyoumustread #read #newreview #newauthor #kidnapped
Profile Image for Chanel Johnson.
365 reviews20 followers
December 20, 2021
Cat and Ronan’s story is not the traditional mafia romance novel. I really enjoyed this fresh take on enemies to lovers mafia romance.

Ronan is the newly inherited head of the Irish mafia. One night he steps into the diner that Cat works at. After a quick exchange, Cat hopes to never see him again. While walking home that night, she witnesses something she shouldn’t have.

From there, she blacks out and can’t remember what happened and is wrongfully accused of the crime she can’t remember.

I really enjoyed Courtney’s writing style. Smooth and descriptive. The story never lulled. It was constantly exciting! I look forward to reading In Retribution!!

**PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
🌶🌶🌶.5/ 5

Profile Image for The Open Bookish Mom.
180 reviews17 followers
November 30, 2021
5⭐️
5🌶

“He will kill you first. You have no idea who he is.”

Talk about a whirlwind of suspense. Poor Cat is constantly in trouble but not from her own actions. Between Ronan’s unintentional actions and just sheer bad luck she can’t catch a break.

The chemistry between Ronan and Cat is superb! I’d give this book a medium 🔥. While they do move fast it’s not instant and not really a fast burn either. While there is enough fight against the pull there is still enough give in to not call it slow either.

This book definitely deserves to be added to your TBR!!
Profile Image for Erin - Books&nails&puppydogtales.
615 reviews29 followers
December 9, 2021
What a debut!!! If you are into Mafia romance even a little you need this book! This will be going in my top 1 for the year....... possibly the top 5. I was pulled in by these characters from the first page. Courtney really shows in Cathryn what it means to be strong and resilient, and what it sometimes takes for a person to be themselves. I don't want to give too much away but I can tell you it is cliffhanger free! Don't forget to check the triggers.
Profile Image for Michelene Torrey.
27 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2021
What a debut!

This book literally kept me on the edge of my seat for chapter after chapter. I loved loved loved Cat and Ronan, the build up in the beginning and then the slow burn through out, does he love her? Does he just want to protect her? I couldn’t get enough. Congrats Courtney W. Dixon, you nailed it! Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
Profile Image for TANYA FIGUEROA.
59 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2021
Oh my what a great book!

I enjoyed Cat and Ronans books so much! Love how Courtney made Cat such a strong willed woman that has been through so much in life. Ronan is a the big Irish mob leader.. but he’s such a softy I love it and I’m there for it. Raw emotions and full of angst. So worth the read!
Profile Image for A.N. Stauber.
Author 15 books172 followers
December 3, 2021
Cat and Ronan were made for each other.

Cat was depicted so well, and I loved her story. She’d been through so much, and the growth in her part was amazing. The plot was so strong and kept me turning the pages, wanting to find out what would happen next.
438 reviews1 follower
December 18, 2021
Persistance

I loved this book and was fascinated by the unusual plot twists. Interesting romantic situations between same sex individuals and heterosexuals. Wonderful strong characters.
Profile Image for Sarah.
237 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2024
He’s in the mafia, she’s pregnant escaping her abusive husband, it’s instalove. I get that romance is an escape from the bounds of reality but goodness me were the plot, dialogue, and character actions nonsensical.
454 reviews
December 4, 2021
After a long book slump, this book cured my soul. Such a good plot, storyline, strong heroine (definitely not a doormat ) , etc. … loved it !
Profile Image for Lindsay.
54 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2022
☆☆☆☆

~ Enormous amounts of gratitude to the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review! ~

I’ve been trying to put into words how I feel about Courtney W. Dixon’s debut novel, In Silence, and it has been quite a challenge! This book was a deliciously quick and satisfying read, filled with suave, scary alpha males and a bold, stronger-than-she-knew female lead. I loved the story, and I’m definitely itching for more from Dixon’s Kings of Boston series. (Book II, In Retribution, coming January 31, 2022!) But, the main female lead, Cat, really knew when to tug on the reader’s strings—the heartstrings and the frustration strings!

In Silence is an Irish Mafia dark romance about Cat, a woman who flees her abusive husband after finding out she’s pregnant with his child. Before she has a chance to fully enjoy her newfound independence and settle in the life she starts trying to build for herself, she’s roused from a stress-induced blackout to find a body at her feet and a gun in her hand. Without warning, Cat is thrust into the world of crime, murder, the Irish mob, and the man in charge of it all: Ronan O’Callaghan.

Groomed to replace his father as head of a notorious crime syndicate, Ronan was prepared for everything—except Cat. After allowing her to take the fall for the murder of his enemy, he finds he can’t escape her. Haunting his mind and his heart, Ronan acts against all advice and his better judgment to free Cat from her prisons, and not just the one he sent her to. What follows will be a series of tribulations neither of them ever anticipated.

Dixon’s story takes the far-from-simple task of building a world around crime and murder and manages to make it understandable, appealing even! Ronan is a fierce, brutal alpha who isn’t afraid to use a weapon to remove his enemies from the equation. Even when he’s behaving in a manner that makes you want to scream with frustration, he manages to remain charming and sinfully scintillating at the same time.

His relationship with his family, especially his younger brothers, is possibly my favorite part of the story. Perhaps it has to do with my appreciation for family loyalty, be it the family you’re born into or the one that you build, but there is something to be said about an author who can create a family dynamic built on complete trust that doesn’t waffle. And Dixon manages to create a dynamic that doesn’t just shine through from the main character’s point of view (or in this case, one of the MC’s points of view), but through the rest of his family too. Ronan’s brothers are as loyal to him as he is to them, and the reader is consistently reminded throughout the story:

“Cian put down his fork and eyed me with that cold gaze of his. ‘I love my brothers and will protect them until my dying breath.’”

Ronan and his family, minus his mother, are powerful, dark men who, despite the goodness that shines in each of them, are crime lords who don’t shy away from bloodshed to achieve their ends. Dixon’s prose doesn’t let readers forget that, but the motives for each drop of blood spilled are all written in such a way that you can’t help but agree with what they’ve done. Their enemies deserved what they got, even if it wasn’t legal. Murder isn’t a good thing, but in the world of In Silence, you’re almost willing to forget that for a little while.

Our main female protagonist, Cat, learns this lesson herself, though she takes a lot longer to overcome it than I did. (Probably says a lot about the health of my psyche, huh?) Cat is a victim who tries desperately not to be anymore. Even when she’s forced from prison to prison, desperate to keep herself and her pregnancy safe, circumstances consistently work against her…that is until they don’t anymore. Although she needs help to overcome those circumstances, Cat is a woman who just wants her independence, to overcome the pain of her past, and prove that she can do things on her own without a man pulling the strings behind her.

“I rolled my eyes. ‘Whatever. My point is I need to live on my own for a while…away from controlling men. I need to find my own way.’”

I love an independent woman freeing herself from the bonds of an abusive situation as much as the next 21st-century feminist. However, there are times when I really just wanted to throw a bag of marshmallows, one at a time, at Cat’s head. There’s wanting to be free of a controlling situation…and then, there’s just being manipulative. There were times it genuinely felt like Cat was being unfair to the people around her, especially Ronan. However, as frustrating as it was, it never felt dishonest or out of character. Dixon wrote all of her characters to be flawed, to learn as they go, and to have no clue what they wanted until they do. As much as Cat may have bugged me, I appreciated it because it made sense for her character’s motivations at the time. And, let’s be honest, it’s no fun when the main female character just immediately falls for something or someone without using her brain and considering the consequences until it’s already, unrealistically, too late. (*cough* FIFTY SHADES *cough*)

Another element to this book I loved was that just-right amount of spicey scenes. I’m not a big fan of pure erotica, but I definitely prefer adding a little bit of spice over a completely clean read. Dixon does a great job of giving all the spice here and there without overdoing it. Her descriptions are steamy as hell and just few-and-far-between enough to leave you wanting more. The confidence and sexual chemistry between the main characters also flow organically, getting stronger with each interaction. It never feels unnatural or contrived, and by the end, you’re rooting for the sexual progress both characters have made. I do think some of their lines during sex felt the tiniest bit cheesy, but then again, I’m a sucker for the occasional cheesy line, so I didn’t mind it in the least. I was too busy fanning myself to be bothered!

Overall, I was beyond pleased with Dixon’s debut novel, barring a few small grievances. There were a few elements I didn’t love so much, such as the character’s occasional, frustration-inducing attitudes. Cat’s courtroom scenes and much of her interactions with the legal system also felt a tad harried in the prose and could’ve used a bit more research and fleshing out. It’s not unrealistic enough to remove you from the story, but anyone who may be more familiar with the legal system in the US might feel there are some inaccuracies with those moments. And, while grim, though I also enjoyed each of the interactions between Ronan, his brothers, and their victims, at times, I did feel like the text might’ve glossed over the aftermath a bit. I’m always the person after I see a movie or read a book, that says, “But wait, how are they going to get out of this? Can they even get out of this?!” (I’m looking at you, Malignant!) I’m both great at playing out a fantasy, but also a huge realist who can’t help but think of the consequences. But, that’s the beauty of fiction, I don’t have to worry about how they get out of it! I just need to enjoy being along for the ride.

If you’re looking for a steamy, viciously fierce read, with plenty of strong, brilliant, albeit illegal-acting men and the women who don’t take their bull, I highly recommend Courtney W. Dixon’s In Silence. Her debut novel is out now on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions. And bonus, it’s free now with a Kindle Unlimited subscription! If you haven’t tried Kindle Unlimited yet, click here to get your first month free!

💛

Trigger Warnings: Scenes and mentions of domestic violence, pregnancy, physical violence, weapons violence, explicit language, and sexual content

Steam level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Deb Richmond.
700 reviews4 followers
April 25, 2022
In Silence
By @CWDixonAuthor

#InSilence is Courtney W. Dixon’s debut novel and the exciting first book in her Kings of Boston series.

The minute she finds out she’s pregnant, Cat is on the run from her abusive husband Jason. She heads to Boston to start a new Life, and everything is great - she’s a got a new job, a group of supportive friends, and a safe place to live. Everything changes, though, when she wakes from a blackout with a gun in her hand and a dead body at her feet. Things could not be worse - until she meets Ronan, leader of the Irish mob.

As Cat begins to fall for Ronan, she wonders if she can trust him. She left an abusive husband to escape violence. The mob is violence! She’s willing to sacrifice anything for her unborn child, but does that include her B own happiness? Is Ronan worthy of her love?

Ronan becomes more and more enamored of Cat, but they both face some threats from outsiders who want to take over the mob. Ronan must protect Cat and prove to her that he can protect her and her unborn child.

Courtney Dixon has written an exciting first book. She has done an amazing job of creating the world of Ronan’s family and their mob life. The characters are strong and well-drawn. I’m looking forward to reading more about Ronan’s brothers, Brady, Callum, Cuban, Ronan’s assistant Charles, and Cat’s roommate Addy.

I only have a few quibbles about this book - it’s a bit too long, and it takes too long (imo) for Cat and Ronan to get together. There are some grammar and syntax issues which are a little distracting but don’t necessarily ruin the enjoyment of reading. Overall, though, I’m impressed with the plot and strong, well-developed characters, and look forward to reading more in this series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

******************
#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookstagram #DarkRomance#bookstagrammer #darkromancereader #BooksToRead #bookshelf #romancereader #romancenovel #CourtneyWDixon #InSilence #KingsOfBoston #currentlyreading  #ContemporaryRomance #Mafia #mob #Alphahero #AntiHero #BandOfBrothers #OntheRun
Profile Image for Tutu.
426 reviews22 followers
June 17, 2022
"At least I give them the three C's. Cum, coffee, and a cab. I always made them come, offered coffee, and sent them away in a taxi. "
I can put my feminist aside while reading romance but this book gives me too much grief

DNF @ 42% at 2.5 stars

If life gives you lemons, makes lemonade right?
Someone provides a safe haven for you and your unborn child but you act like a spoiled brat and plotting for some stupid escape. Where could you go? Nowhere! Did you give your savior gratitude? No!
The FMC in this book is too stupid to love and the MMC is one of the most incompetent mob leaders I've ever read. Their personality development was all over the place.

This is a new author for me so I don't want to be so mean. They tried their best, but this book was a total miss for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.