It All Falls Apart

The Misfit Series #1

by Darian Stacy

The Thief
After the murder of my parents, I gave up. Stopped caring about what the world expected of me and started collecting the odd men out with special skills, my Misfits. A perfect group of vigilantes who steal from the rich and give to themselves.
After millions of dollars stolen and more than a decade of going undetected, I wasn’t expecting my luck to finally wear out at the hands of a cocky mafia boss with a vendetta.
The Boss
No one touches my women, especially a member of the Filippo’s.
My sister was attacked and the only way I could get the information I needed was by catching the notorious unreachable thief. The trap was set, every second planned down to the smallest detail. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was the vigilante to be a woman with eyes that could kill and a temper to match my own.
This is a dark romance with references to murder, SA, graphic sex scenes, and childhood trauma.

Genres: Dark Romance

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2022

Reviews

[evelynn kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Dual 1st person POV - Lex & Jesse

This book took me on a ride. At first, I wasn't quite connecting with the characters. Then, realizing they're so young (and I'm nearing 30), as the book progressed it felt like that gap was getting harder to bridge. Jesse is 22 and has been the head of the Barone family for 3 years already. I wasn't the biggest fan of him in the beginning because he was very much a possessive, egotistical, misogynistic asshole without much of the charm and clever banter to makeup for his shortcomings. That changes a little as he gets to know Lex and becomes a one-woman man. His obsession over her turns from wanting to own her talents and body to wanting to own her soul and heart.

Lex (23) is living her best life in a warehouse decked out with all of the toys and pleasures one could want. Think the apartment from Big with Tom Hanks. She's gathered other Misfits who have unique skills and also don't fit in to a typical society, working together as a group to steal acquire jewels, cars, money, information... basically whatever they want. As Lex is put in a precarious position and finds that Jesse's task can be mutually beneficial for her, she reluctantly agrees to his request.

The plot for this book was alright but some of the scenery changes felt abrupt and slightly unnecessary to the overall conflict. The pacing was also a little inconsistent as this book takes place over a month or 6 weeks and at one point, Lex thinks about the concrete path leading to Jesse's house as one she's walked a hundred times... There are a few typos and punctuation errors and some of the dialogue seemed too formal for these young adults (goddamn does that make me sound old??), but for the most part, the writing was sound and easy to follow along with. I will say this is the 2nd book the author has put out so I am a little more lenient with some of these things but enjoyed myself enough so I don't want to be too harsh.

There was plenty of heat and a surprising threesome with Jesse's consigliere, Frank. I'm not sure if the author is going to try and set Frank up with Violet (one of Lex's Misfits) since it's hinted at numerous times but I don't really like that Lex and Frank slept together and Violet is just okay with it (they spoke about it the next morning and V was nothing but excited to hear about her threesome). But, that can totally be just a personal preference.

“She’s the strongest woman I know, she can take both of us.” He nuzzles my neck and my breath catches. “Right? Will you do this for me, Lex? Will you be a good girl and take both of us?”

This book was only going to get 3.5⭐️ from me but that ending?!?! I am absolutely LOVING how it came out of nowhere and could a) be a setup for a sequel set in the books distant future or b) just the way life goes and book 2 is going to be about Frank/Violet or whoever is going to be setup next. I'm excited to find out and see!!! Lastly - love the title. When I tell you I am SICK of two worded cringey titles🙄 *cough-cough Nicole Fox*

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is dark. If you're looking for a happily ever after, light read.. this isn't it. I enjoy dark so this was great, and the spice was even better. The chasing & the scene with Frank 🤌
I think the ending is what made me appreciate the book the most. I didn't expect the twist at the end and honestly tied it up in a way that I'm content 🙃

Also, I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Madyyyyy (madyslibrary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the Arc of this and I’m so glad I did!
Dark romances are being increasingly more difficult to write elegantly and this one definitely did! I love the characters, the chase, the plot, and the twists. The spice is fantastic and well written. This definitely deserves to be next on your TBR.

[Crystal Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It All Falls Apart

This book was so amazing I absolutely loved it!!!!! I laughed I cried and I even felt a part of the story!!!!! I am saddened by how it ended though I felt they both deserved more!!!!

[ashtonblackadder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have had the potential to an amazing series.. felt a bit rushed and the ending annoyed me because does it just end like that? Do we get answers in the next book? Dont really want to read the next one so I’ll just be left questioning what happened to them I guess.

[Micki_1989 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww

Nooooo, not the way I thought this would of ended it honestly surprised me really wasn't expecting that. I can't wait to see what comes next.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.