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Book 3 in the Undeniable series. This series consists of relatively short stories, filled with action and steam, and promises a HEA for the couple. However, the challenges the mafia families are facing end in a (hopefully) HFN - a happy for now - and continue in the next book.

The time has come to claim who’s mine.

Charlie:

I feel like I’m drowning.
After my parents were executed, my life crumbled at my feet, and I can’t lose the only family member I have left. Even if it means accepting a seat within the inner circle of the Business, the crime organization I want nothing to do with. Even if it means going on a dangerous mission to earn my seat in their ranks. But when that assignment leads me to a trip down memory lane and I come face-to-face with the guy who used to be my best friend, I know that I’m being challenged to change my life, and regain my strength. I must trust the one man who seems to want to help me. The man who’s claiming my very existence.

Samuel:

I’m a man with a simple dream: become a martial arts instructor and claim the man I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. The mysterious boy I worshipped from afar when we were just teenagers, the shy guy who stumbled back into my life when he joined the Business, the broken man I’m now sworn to protect. Charlie’s haunted by nightmares and horrors from his past, terrified of letting anyone in. But he won’t be able to escape me. He was always mine from the beginning.

Warning! This book contains non-consensual sex acts, violence, depression/anxiety, and substance abuse.

FIERCE is book 3 in the Undeniable series. While it follows a new couple, it is STRONGLY suggested that you read Shameless, book 2 first to have a full understanding of the story.

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2023

50 people are currently reading
228 people want to read

About the author

Lola Malone

21 books304 followers
My name is Lola Malone and I'm a European-based author who has endeavored into the world of writing dark, morally gray characters who occupy fictive colleges.

When I'm not reading, writing, or fantasizing about other worlds and stories, I'm probably at the gym or away, visiting historic sites with my husband and three sons.

Follow me on my socials!

IG: @lolamalonebooks
TT: @lolamalonebooks

Patreon: @lolamalonebooks



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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
Profile Image for Amina .
1,325 reviews34 followers
May 15, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰

“I’ll fight those demons for you.

It’s a terrifying thought, one I’ve never had before. Yet with Charlie, it feels so goddamn natural. Because we were meant to be.”


anigif

I liked reading Fierce a lot more than I thought I would, despite it being another case where I don't read the previous books, but jump right into the series. (I am working on this issue of mine - I am!) At the start of the story, I didn't like the open advances Samuel made on Charlie - those scenes in the car made me squirm in a really uncomfortable way, more so than what Charlie was feeling.

But, once Samuel was informed of Charlie's traumatic past - as he saw how much of a psychical burden and ache he was shouldering, you could see how much effort he was putting in to change - to find a way to help him and care for him, without making a move on him, well till his possessive side kicked in again. Still, I really admired him for that - and his constraint, albeit a short-willed one. 😏

“From now on, you give me all your thoughts,” he mumbles. “All the ugly ones, all the pretty ones. Everything.”

Charlie is such a damaged, broken soul. He's hurting so much, suffered so much, and yet, he still has such a strong resilient presence to him - not backing down from a fight, going to extreme lengths to prove his worth not only with his new allies, but the life and friends that he left behind. My heart ached for him for all the pain he had to endure, but then when he rose to the challenge, my heart leaped in happiness for him.

“Do you know what it feels like to want someone so badly only to see them suffer? To want to
take them, claim them, own them, only you can’t?”

“W-why can’t you?”

“Oh, I can now.” His hand scratches my skull with long, firm strokes, making my body relax again. I let out an involuntary yawn. “But you had to be the first one, Charlie. You had to claim yourself first. Control your own body and soul. Only to allow me to take over, to own you with strength and love.”


And when he finally allowed himself to be vulnerable around Samuel, to accept the comfort he was so eager to give, to have those moments of reprieve and care, he embraced it with open arms and finally had the chance to breathe - to be one with himself, mentally and emotionally. And even the romance felt like an insta-love, the chemistry that they had was so spicy, but with such an intimate hint of care to it - that Samuel could still be respectful to him, to allow him space to breath, and to use his words to tell him, what he needed - to be alright. 🥺🥺

“Crime, violence, injustice, it’s all part of it. It’s a life where you won’t survive if you haven’t determined who’s gonna be on your side, and once you know who they are? You trust them with everything you got.”

And though, the plot was very fast-paced, the interactions between the characters were solid and fluid. The story was flowing and I never felt that there was an imbalance between the romantic angsty scenes or the Mafia moments. The found family aspect was also shown with such love and commitment, all the characters had for each other. 💕💕

It's such a strange outlook - to see a group of people - so volatile, aggressive, and caught up in such fiercely violent and dangerous crimes, but to see those same people exhibit such kindness and care, and protectiveness that is so full of real soft tenderness - you can't help but admire the bond they share with each other. And also, to see that while everyone knew about Samuel's fierce interest in Charlie, they still warned him to be gentle in his approach and not hurt Charlie in the process.

“His guard is up again, making my heart weep before I promise that I’ll just keep crumbling down his walls. Until I’ve breached the gate and got my grabby hands on that pot of gold that is Charlie’s inner core.”

Because, really it was essentially, it was how Samuel was able to bring Charlie out of his shell - to give him the support that he so desperately needed. For whether it was with his dirty filthy talk, or his sweet and heartbreaking words of comfort, it was clear to see that what Samuel felt for Charlie was fierce and undeniably true in every way. 🥰🥰
Profile Image for Dani.
1,659 reviews313 followers
December 13, 2023
At some point this series has to start making sense right...??

It's like the author knows exactly what's happening and in great detail, but is in such a rush to share that they forget to make their explanation coherent.

I know the original book one no longer exists for whatever reason, but it feels like all of the introductory information must have been in that book because things keep being referred to that I definitely haven't read! Or my original thought is actually true and the author just doesn't know how to make everything fit together.

The plots just don't make any sense and seem completely pointless and highly unrealistic. The characters fall in love when they don't even know each other and suddenly start spouting poetic descriptions of their feelings when previously they've barely even grunted out a few words. Logan's voice apparently only booms at all times...

Also there is such limited, repetitive vocabulary that if you turned reading these books into a drinking game you'd die of alcohol poisoning before you even got through one!
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
463 reviews180 followers
January 6, 2023
"Give me all your thoughts, all the ugly ones, all the pretty ones. Everything"

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
POV: Dual
HEA: HFN
Spice Rating: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Overall Opinion
Lola is back and better than ever! Shameless was perfect, but Fierce? Well, that was completely out of this world amazing! It was much darker and suspenseful than Shameless (which does need to be read first, this is not a standalone) and I cannot put into words just how much of a hold this book has on me! Charlie and Samuel could not be more different and yet be completely perfect for each other. Charlie is so troubled by his past, yet is a very strong character, and Samuel is obsessed with protecting him at all costs, putting him before anything else. This book has to have the most possessive character I have ever read, and it was HOT! From start to finish, I was lost in the twisting world that is this story, and whilst being left with more questions than answers, I couldn't help but feel super satisfied with this one, and am simply chomping at the bit for the next book!

Read if you like:
❣️ M/M Romance
❣️ Forced Proximity
❣️ Martial Arts
❣️ Hurt/Comfort
❣️ Mafia
❣️ Bodyguard
Profile Image for magic_of_darkness_and_books.
177 reviews78 followers
March 25, 2023
All the hurt-comfort, the possessiveness, the healing, the flow of the plot, the suspense about what will happen gaaaah I can't

“You’re all mine, Charlie.” He flicks his tongue and I watch how he connects the metal with the tip of my leaking c**k, lapping at the slit, giving me a grin when I moan something unintelligible. “From now on, you give me all your thoughts,” he mumbles. “All the ugly ones, all the pretty ones. Everything.”

I devoured this book like my favorite ice cream 🤤🤤🤤

I love, love, love when one of the MCs is hurting and the other MC is there for him, supporting him, not giving up, but also giving him space to heal knowing when to be there and when it's necessary the other person do things on his own. And this book delivers exactly that. I lost count of how many times my eyes watered at the beautiful, heartbreaking words.

Charlie is someone who's hurting so much. His pain, his struggles, and his desperation could be felt on every page. And then the utter devastating weight of watching him live his life stuck in a nightmare on repeat. It will break your heart, I guarantee. And yes, you will need tissues. Then we have Samuel who was freaking perfect. While my heart was breaking for Charlie, Samuel just right up walked around, doing things, being there for Charlie, and uttering words that soothed my heart, piecing it back together.

His guard is up again, making my heart weep before I promise that I’ll just keep crumbling down his walls. Until I’ve breached the gate and got my grabby hands on that pot of gold that is Charlie’s inner core.

These two were so perfect together.

The book is heavy on the hurt-comfort theme so be aware of that. You will need to read the previous book (it follows another couple), but without it, you will be just lost in this one (who is who, what is happening, and so on). Also, I adore the found family trope here. Found family always warms my heart like no other. I want to mention the smut was sooo hot, Samuel has a filthy, filthy mouth. 🥵🤤😈

Oh, I almost forgot (how tf did I almost forget) the name Fierce was soooooo BEAUTIFULLY intertwined in this book!!! 😭😭😭🫶🫶🫶💙💙💙 I'm a sucker for books that intertwine their name in the story bringing even bigger meaning to it
Profile Image for Julia (bookish.jka).
935 reviews284 followers
January 20, 2023
"But then there’s just something about the way his onyx eyes caress my frame. As if they heat my skin with want, smolder my defense until I’m left a sputtering, mindless puddle. The words he uses are filthy, yet my body craves them."

I am loving Lola Malone's Undeniable mafia series, with book 1 (Unshakable) being MF and then book 2 (Shameless) and this one, book 3 (Fierce) involving MM relationships.

Fierce is Charlie and Sam's story. It's an angsty, dark romance between the shy and broken Charlie, who has no choice but to find his place within the inner circle of the Business, and mafia bodyguard and general bad ass Samuel, who forces him to confront his past and learn to become the best version of himself, with all its flaws. The book is set in a seedy, violent mafia world and the overarching story continues on from book 2.

Featuring some divine tropes, but do check out the author's warnings before reading. Whilst the relationship has its own HEA in Fierce, this is not a standalone and you should read the previous books in the series first for context and setting.

Fierce includes:

❣️forced proximity
❣️hurt/comfort
❣️bodyguard
❣️second chance
❣️high steam

4 dark and steamy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for ⋆。°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°。⋆.
1,177 reviews231 followers
October 19, 2023
2.5⭐, but rounding it down.

I was really struggling with this story. I did go back and re-read the first installment, but even so, the story itself is just so scattered all over the place with so many characters and bits of information that are randomly inserted, that I think I gained absolutely nothing by reading this book .

This is Samuel and Charlie's story. And you'd think with the amount of times these two were mentioned in the previous book, that you'll know who you're dealing with, but you don't.

We actually don't know either one and they had pretty important personal stories to tell, yet we find out bit by bit throughout the book who's who and what's been going on in the background.

Their foundation could've been properly layed out in the prologue with us finding out how they've crossed paths already and build a bit of a decent pining from there, but no, we come into the story somewhere in the middle, where Samuel can't control his crush anymore and he's grabbing Charlie's crotch all the time , while Charlie's traumatized with his parents bring killed, he's got anxiety, he's dealing with a lot and what does he get? A guy grabbing his dick with absolutely no consent, both being in a work environment where it looked like Charlie can't really get rid of Samuel or turn him down.



So, a terrible start there.

When the plot thickened, the storytelling really came to light and it wasn't good .
The dialogues were weird, to say the least and the love story between the MMCs did nothing to impress me .

"Go, Charlie, please, soon you’ll understand. That it was all for you. I don’t want you to get into their games, please.”

"Damn, dude takes his sweet time accepting his fate."

"Sure, I could just go in and get him, throw him on the bed and claim him like the motherfucker I am. He might only be about two inches smaller than I am, but I definitely have more bulk. Part of my job description is to be physically fit, and I’ve been combining judo with MMA for years now. Oh yeah, I could take him."


Nope, wasn't good. What a weird story. That's all I kept thinking.

Samuel was supposed to be this hot hunk with a killer body and a killer crush, yet he turned out a complete asshole with a control problem.

Yeah, don't even get me started about him constantly letting Charlie know he wants to own him and making Charlie repeat sentences after him, fuck no, it wasn't sexy.

"He claims me with a single spark, a nasty moan and a firm grip on my cock, showing me who’s in charge."

"He unravels me entirely, leaving me a moaning mess, but the only thing that matters is him and his touch that begins a delicious buildup of pressure, that tingling sizzle in my balls."


Oh god no, please, stop! Please.

Just a weird situation with weird dialogues, I mean, this could've been sooo different.

All the side characters that are getting their books - we know absolutely nothing about them and when they get their story, it starts in the middle.

Next up is Initiator and Mason's book - I know nothing of Mason except he's taking care of his parent - and he's been in 2 books already!
These characters are so poorly developed that I'd expect going into detail when reading their own books, but it didn't happen here.

Maybe it'll finally happen with the Initiator's story, I honestly hope it's not botched, I've been really looking forward to it.

*I am, however, very much interested in Kai and the little guy's story, so my prediction is that'll be my most liked out of this series.
Profile Image for E.L. Ough.
Author 10 books106 followers
January 4, 2023
Content warning read authors note.

God this book! Another great one from Lola! Just when you think your settled in this book she twists it and sends you somewhere else!!
This is the 3rd book in the series and you must read Shameless first it’s not a standalone book.

Charlie Is a very troubled man with so much going on inside his pretty head, he’s struggled with being part of the business and the void, he just wants to keep his sister and his friend safe, but his mind is a confusing place to be. The only one that seems to settle him is someone he’s not sure he wants.

Samuel is a bodyguard for the mafia underbelly and the two sides have come together to try and get rid of the the Lost brothers and keep their territory safe, but the one man he’s been longing for needs his protection whether he likes it or not. But he will keep him safe. His beautiful boy.

I can feel a 4th book ☺️ this has so much suspense and it was intense at times I had to step away to give my mind a break!! But it’s such a good read, so complex and when you think it’s going one way it totally goes the other way, Lola is a plot twister and I’m here for it! So many emotions I went through reading these two men, I feel so much for Charlie you just want to wrap him up in cotton wool and protect him from himself. Samuel was perfect for him, very possessive and commanding but gentle at the same time. Ahh so much to unpack!

This book again has soooo much going on at any one time! I’ve listed below the things I’ve picked up.

Bodyguard
Hurt/comfort
Mafia
Forced proximity
Suspense
Sex cult
Martial arts
Trauma
Dub con
Possessive mc
Praise
Addiction
Plot twist

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Varya.
768 reviews100 followers
July 29, 2023
"Mine. My troubled boy, my fucking hot mess."

These books of Lola's are more romance than mafia and it's fun. They focus on the couple more. That means more sweetness and more romantic gestures. 💜🤓

One of which was Samuel always groping Charlie's dick. 😂That was a golden moment for me every damn time cuz.... Imagine a big, bulky, scary looking bodyguard dude... Who always keeps his hand on his guy's crotch whenever they are sitting together, especially in a car. Forcefully! Cuz Charlie gets fucking embarrased and tries to wrestle his hand away.... But like I said, Samuel is big and strong. 😂😂It was amusing as fuck.

What's even more fun was that, with his antics, Samuel conditioned Charlie such that till the end of the book, Charlie felt calm whenever the big guy's hand is on his dick.

I know I used my whole review to describe this particular thing about this book....but it was adorable with a capital A.😆 I was grinning the whole way through this book lol.

Rest was amazing. Charlie was a bit underwhelming than expected but his being a hot mess the whole time somewhat made up for it. I enjoyed it a lot! 🥰
Profile Image for A.E. Jensen.
Author 16 books193 followers
January 20, 2023
💚🖤 ARC of Fierce by Lola Malone 🖤💚

Plot: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Steam: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

One of the rewarding things about reading books, is to watch an author mature and truly find their own voice and mission. With her 3rd book, Lola Malone is underlining that she is a valid and unique voice within the MM mafia romance genre.

Fierce is the story of Charlie & Samuel and takes place in the same dark universe as the other books in the Undeniable series. It is highly recommended to read Shameless first to get the full experience of Lola’s dark and complex universe.

On the surface, Charlie and Samuel are complete opposites. Whereas, Charlie is haunted by his past and a brutal loss, he needs to come to terms with, Samuel is confident, uncompromising and has had is eyes set on one price only since he was a teen: to own and possess Charlie.

“Who owns you, beautiful?”
“You,” I breathe.
“That’s right, gorgeous boy, that’s right. Everything from your skin and bones, to your mind and soul. I want it all.”

However, Charlie is not some fragile, weak creature, who needs Samuel to save him. At least not in a physical sense. And from the very beginning, Samuel recognises this strength in Charlie. If he needs to truly own Charlie, he must also accept that Charlie needs freedom to deal with his own ghosts.

Told from a dual POV, the reader is lead into this dark underworld of crime, sex and street fighting - and it is not boring! As with Shameless, you need to fasten your seatbelt and hold on for a thrilling ride with twists, turns and a nail-biting plot. And I couldn’t help falling hard for both the MCs (especially Samuel) on this angsty ride!

As a reader, you need to accept that everything is not resolved in this book - you are left with more questions than answers - but if you can embrace that this is part of Lola’s style, then this is an amazing book. And I am personally looking forward to the next in the series!

The only reason, I am not giving this book 5 stars is because of stilistic matters. Lola writes in a very descriptive language, whereas I prefer a more to-the-point style of writing 😉

*I rcvd an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for epicbookjoy.
68 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2023
Received ARC from @indieauthorcreative in exchange for my honest review

Gorgeous, shy and sweet Charlie has been falling down a steep and slippery slope ever since his life was irrevocably changed forever, right in front of his very own eyes.

Handsome, fiercely loyal and passionate Samuel has been in love with Charlie for many years, unbeknownst to Charlie himself. Sam has only ever wanted two things in his life, to become a martial arts instructor and to make Charlie his.

Samuel knows that Charlie has demons to fight and he’s not afraid to dig in right alongside him. He is charming and fiercely protective over Charlie. However, as tragic as Charlie is, he’s not broken. He’s able to fight for what he’s wants, strong in his own way.

Much like the last book, this one has left me satisfied with where the main characters are in their lives, but also up in the air with how all the different mafia and cult stories will pan out. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

You must read book 2 - Shameless - before reading Fierce.

This is a must read this if you enjoy:
-Mafia
-dubcon
-possessive alpha men
-tragic pasts
Profile Image for Mennat.
67 reviews
October 17, 2025
Well first of all don’t read this book if you didn’t read the previous one in this series, you have to or otherwise the plot won’t make any sense to you.
Okay…
I hated this like completely hated it and contrary to others reviews I didn’t hate it because of the way it was written or cause of the plot or any of that, I actually love Lola Malone style and I really loved the previous book in this series shameless, with that being said let’s get to why I hated this book, the main reason being I totally and completely hated every character in this book except for Charlie “the reason why I upped my rating to 2⭐️” and Mason, other than these two everyone seemed so selfish and self centered even if the author tried to paint it otherwise and made them seem like they’re being A*holes to Charlie because they care about him and wants him to get better, I didn’t buy it they were all A*holes to me.
Then we’ve got Samuel🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ the love interest supposedly, he was a selfish, manipulative and arrogant piece of shit, I didn’t like him at all and his ways of dealing with Charlie’s ptsd and anxiety, I mean I don’t think the way to deal with an anxious person is getting sexual with them, although the author made it work in this book imo it took away form Samuel likability and made the connection between the two characters non existent. I felt for Charlie the whole book dealing with his demons and dealing with all the selfishness and pushing from all the characters in the book it was somehow exhausting to me reading it.. But I’ll definitely be checking Mason’s book since I did like him and I do like Lola Malone even though this book didn’t hit it for me.
Profile Image for True Loveislovereview.
2,851 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2023
Charlie is tortured by memories of his parents being killed at their home, Charlie was the witness to the horror. He’s suffering and got medicating to keep his head above the surface.
He got nightmares and anxiety and he’s deeply scarred.

The family deals with real gray business, someone is trying to thwart them, and Charlie has to talk with the guy who was caught on camera. Because Charlie knows the guy.
Samuel will bodyguard him for the next few days.

“We protect our own.”

Samuel wants to claim Charlie, he has as long as he knows him. But first, he has to find a way in, because Charlie has high walls and stays behind them. Gosh, I loved how Samuel handled Charlie.
He’s protective, and patient and knows when to take over the reins.

The job Charlie has to fix isn’t an easy one.

Everything in this was seamlessly entwined, the plot was genius thought out.
I loved that it was not predictable, there were turns I absolutely didn’t expect.
Charlie and Samuel’s characters were satisfactorily developed.
Another strongly written story, very captivating, can’t wait to start Obsessed.
Profile Image for Lacey Devane.
336 reviews19 followers
February 18, 2023
Hurt/comfort

Ohhhh my love for Charlie and Samuel is strong! The hurt/comfort in this book is everything. My heart longs for poor Charlie. He struggles so much it's heart crushing, Samuel brings his walls down the best he can and has Charlie opening up to him for the comfort he desperately needs. Samuel has loved him since laying eyes on him, when he gets to finally claim his boy its beautiful! Ohhh and boy these two are hot!!!!! I really didn't want their story to end. I wanted more with these two. Such a good read! Obsessed is next and I can't wait!
Profile Image for Cindaren.
427 reviews
April 19, 2023
With everything being so disjointed it's hard to know what to pay attention to, and when. I mean maybe it's like All for the Game and it would make sense on the second read but idk. It's ok to be crazy and unrealistic but I still want to be able to follow the storyline and that was hard to do here. The sex scenes are hot though.
Profile Image for Lilly [Hiatus due to School] .
939 reviews441 followers
February 24, 2023
Fierce is the third book in the Undeniable series, and it was another great addition. I liked how we learned more in this story as the plot unravelled. It picks up from the last book, so it is essential to read Shameless before Fierce as it is not a standalone.

I loved the relationship between Charlie and Samuel. I always enjoy a good possessive lover who will do anything to protect their one - even if they are not ready to accept their fate. Charlie is dealing with a lot of trauma and grief, but Samuel is there not to support him but pull him out of the depths of despair. I loved that while Samuel kept pursuing and being there for Charlie, he also knew when to give him space so he would return.

The references to hands, piercings, and gripping were hot. It was spicy and tender as Samuel and Charlie came together. The praise kink was *Check kiss* I also loved all the pet names Samuel had for Charlie.

The story has a lot of twists, and it ends HFN as it continues but with HEA for Samuel and Charlie. It is not an easy road to their HEA, but it is well-earned. Fierce is my favourite of the series, and I’m excited for what will come next. I have not read a lot of mafia romances, but this series has captivated me, and I have enjoyed it.

While this story has dark moments, it is not dark dark, but please check trigger warnings before diving into this series!

Overall it was another great read by Lola Malone! If you enjoy Mafia/bodyguard romance, opposites attract, forced proximity, praise kink, and possessive MCs, this is it!
1,244 reviews52 followers
January 2, 2023
I felt the plot twists and turns really didn't work in Fierce as it did it the previous book in this Undeniable series. But I love the dynamics and the love journey of Charlie and Samuel. I was enamored by Samuel's obsession over Charlie. I could read about his obsession and possessiveness and protectiveness all day.
Profile Image for gena_bookish_reviews.
572 reviews33 followers
January 20, 2023
thank-You-14

𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧-𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠.

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐦

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅••❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅

ℍ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 :

✨ 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝
✨ 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭/𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
✨ 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚
✨ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲
✨ 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬
✨ 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚
✨ 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐜
✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞


Not me being stupefied by what I've read.. 🤯 For real.. that was a lot to take in. The plot is so fast and the characters are doing all these things while I'm trying to catch up. Like babes.. slow down 😂

Of-fucking-course this book had to have a vulnerable character that I wanted to cuddle and protect from the world.. 🥺 Samuel if you don't take care of Charlie I swear.. 😭 I'm coming after you man 🔪

I'll not spoiler much.. check the highlights and the plot and if this sounds like something you'd enjoy then go for it 🖤
Profile Image for Lyndsay TC.
2,237 reviews6 followers
February 26, 2023
**Spoilers**



Okay I'm going to be honest, I had to go back and re-read the prologue after I finished that book because I didn't know who the prologue was about. So starting off I was a bit confused with the story. I liked Charlie and Samuel's story overall but there were some pain points throughout the story that made me put it down and come back to it. While I understood that The Business wanted Charlie to come into himself and be the best he could be, the whole mission made me upset with Logan and how he was treating his "family." Dangling therapy in front of someone who desperately needs it just to complete a top secret mission doesn't sit right with me. Other than that, I enjoyed this book and I'm interested to see what comes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,248 reviews146 followers
March 13, 2023
I had to pick this up after Shameless and just immediately Samuel was so possessive of Charlie. Charlie was deep in grief and using pain relievers to self medicate. Samuel volunteers to keep watch over him 24/7. And his crew knows his attraction and obsession for Charlie. He takes care of him as much as he takes him 🥵
Their chemistry is so sweet since Charlie always seems taken off guard when Samuel comes onto him. And Samuel is very direct and knows what he wants and takes it.
The bad guys were back and still scary AF. (I just asked my husband if he's been hypnotized and he said he doesn't believe in it. I didn't know that was something you could do)
Charlie was going through so much but still was trying to help his friend and getting himself into danger.
Loved their journey and where they ended up in their hea. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Natalie Brown.
641 reviews37 followers
January 20, 2023
'You are fierce, Charlie. So very fierce'

This book was so good. The overarching story from book two continues in fierce, but i felt it takes a more dark turn.
Charlie is so troubled by things that have happened in the past and struggles to cope with the memories that haunt him on a daily basis. Charlie is such a typical mafia bad boy, but he is so sweet and caring and protective when it comes to Charlie, and i loved that side of him 💜 but boy does that man have a dirty mouth but i am definitely here for that!! This book has all the spice and the swoony moments but is packed full of twists and turns that will keep you hooked right to the very end.

'I love you, charlie, I swear. And I'll always bring you home'

Fierce has a HEA for Samuel and Charlie, but the overriding story continues throughout the series.
Profile Image for Zoe.
421 reviews5 followers
March 6, 2023
How dare Lola Malone write men I can't help but love!!! It's not fair how lovable these characters are. Samuel and Charlie are just beautiful and their love is everything!! I will protect them forever!! Although I'm pretty sure they'd both kick my ass!!

From the start you see Samuel, he is who he is and he doesn't pretend to be anyone else - Charlie though OMG, sweet, precious Charlie, he carried so much inside of him and the way Samuel treats the man he loves to help him is just perfect!!

This wasn't as hot and heavy as Shameless but it was just as good! The stakes just as high! I read this in one day and I couldn't put it down! I loved every moment & I loved watching Charlie become the fierce man he was always!! His character evolved beautifully, it wasn't rushed, it was well paced despite how little pages there were!!

I loved seeing Connor and Austin but was happy to just be in Sam and Charlies love which made me so happy!!
Profile Image for Sian .
221 reviews12 followers
May 3, 2023
Arc Review
Fierce by Lola Malone

Fierce is the story of Charlie & Samuel and takes place in the same dark universe as the 2 previous books in the Undeniable series.
This book is a little darker but pretty much picks up straight form Shameless book 2 (which needs to be read first as this is not a standalone).

Charlie is haunted by his past which affects his present making him somewhat fragile but at the same time he is still such a strong character in this story.
Samuel is the opposite he is a bodyguard for the mafia strong, possessive, very protective while also being utterly obsessed with Charlie. He isn’t subtle when it comes to Charlie and what he wants. The thing I loved about Samuel is that he cares about and protects Charlie no matter what, with his soothing words and actions.

“That’s because I love you Charlie, I swear. And ill always bring you home”

“But you help me find my way home. You’re UNDENIABLE”

The spice was great & quite detailed.
This story had a few twists and turns which I enjoyed; I got lost in the story and felt quite engaged just like did with Shameless.

Can’t wait to read more of Lola Malones books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rae, shutupandbookup.
379 reviews2 followers
April 9, 2023
First and foremost, this series goes in order! Even though the couples in each book end with HEAs there is an overarching plotline happening!

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*


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"F*ck, do I love a good chase, and Charlie Wilkinson has been the one I've wanted. . ." - Samuel

Something always drew Samuel toward Charlie since they were teenagers. The shy, standoffish kid enticed Samuel but then life happened, and they were separated. Samuel hasn't stopped thinking about Charlie and the minute he was reunited with him he became even more obsessed! Only Charlie had to deal with something no one should have he saw his parents get executed. . .

To ensure Charlie will be a good asset for the mafia family, the Business, Charlie has to complete a mission. Samuel greedily accepts the position of personal bodyguard and vows to protect Charlie at all costs! But as the two get closer Samuel can't seem to keep his eyes or hands off of Charlie, he wants him bad. Charlie has mental defenses surrounding him and Samuel wants to tear them all down. When will Charlie understand he isn't alone, and he can allow people in?

"Sometimes, when we're not well, we need to fight our battle alone before we can share it with the world." - Logan

Mia has chosen this life for herself and to be a respectable member of the Business, an inner circle member! Only Charlie wants nothing to do with this line of work. He wishes to remain shielded within his house and tending to his fairytale garden. But Logan's presenting something Charlie cannot refuse. Suffering with guilt, anxiety, and grief from losing his parents, Charlie struggles to live. This is a very dark book dealing with mental health, loss, and a need to drown it all out. Abusing prescription drugs.

My heart broke and went out to Charlie as we get to see things through his POV. Depression is a hard thing to beat and pull yourself out of, especially when you keep everything bottled up. Charlie doesn't want to be a burden to anyone and also doesn't want to relive the traumatic night. But Samuel keeps slowly seeping into every corner of Charlie's existence. And Charlie finds himself enjoying all of it, but he can't let Sam in on that.

Samuel's extremely caring of Charlie even if some things are done in secret. He wants what's best for Charlie and he also wants Charlie. Everyone of course telling him to be patient and take things slow. I really enjoyed that Charlie wasn't a push over and surprised Sam on multiple occasions with his skills. The two both being trained in forms of martial arts. I am loving the banter between the MCs within Lola's books!

Again, this book deals with mental health and trying to move on from a very traumatic event, but also wishing to completely drown it all out. . . We get a first person POV of taking one too many pills and the result of it. We get dual POVs, and it hits hard seeing through Sam's eyes and knowing the feeling of wanting to help someone who's in pain but not fully knowing how. Hurt and being comforted are two of the biggest things in this installment. We do get MM action and it's very spicy but also intimate with a couple of scenes.

We get more insight into The Lost Brothers and their cult. There's a scene with a public show of "fun", violence, and bloodshed. Language is prominent in the book and there's situations with mafia business and products they handle. This is a dark mafia romance series with dark themes and businesses. Fight scenes that were well written and some intense moments. Loved the twists and turns in this book!

Do enjoy the dark romance with a healing arc and an HEA for the couple. Don't forget to give the author some stars!

shutupandbookup.com
Profile Image for Natasha           diary_of_a_sarcastic_bookworm.
340 reviews14 followers
March 12, 2023
So this is the third book in the series and although they do follow different couples it's important so you don't get lost or confused to follow the order.

I am really liking this series, I love how well both gangs have been interconnected now. There is a found family about them all, will lay down their lives for each other and I am always there for that!

This plot does move very quickly, so don't blink and ill say it again make sure to read in order.

Some of what to expect;

-Bodyguard
-MM Romance
-Hurt/comfort
-Mafia
-Forced proximity
-Trauma
-Possessive mc
-Praise kïnk

One that I have to add but wanted to comment on, it may seem like it was *Insta-love* but for these characters, it wasn't, as we witness it was an obsession that got more intense over time. I love how they have been within each others life's for years but it's taken to this moment for them to get to this moment...

Our two leads are Charlie and Samuel they work side by side but it all started long before then for one of them at least... Jump in and find out when and who.

Charlie; my poor, broken innocent Charlie. I legit wanted to wrap him in my arms in a fluffy blanket and never let go (thankfully Samuel feels the same way). Charlie lost his parents in the worst way and he isn't able to get over it, he runs, he hides and he never let's anyone close enough to hurt him again. He has his sister Mia who he would do anything for and refuses to lose her. Even if that means being part of something he doesn't want
But what will happen when Samuel starts being more abrasive with his interest in him. Throw in a blast from the past and a secret Misson..
Will he ever let himself open up?
Will he run and hide or stay and fight?

Samuel; this man is so over the top in love with Charlie, he is legit obsessed and everyone knows it but Charlie. He is sure that Samuel is just playing with him but Samuel is ready to fight for him. He has watched him from afar, worked alongside him and unfortunately witnessed his struggles. He is blunt, hot-headed and a loyal member of the business having grown up in it. When the chance comes to have Charlie without him escaping he jumps at the chance to be near him 24/7. Samuel is a man who doesn't take no for an answer, he pushes Charlie out of his comfort zone but promises to be there to catch him.
Will he ever get the boy his heart beats for?
Can he keep him safe and stop him from running?

The ending, well beginning?! Mason beautiful, sweet Mason!!! I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Jenn ReadsBooks.
310 reviews16 followers
January 19, 2023
Samuel has wanted Charlie for a long time. He knows how traumatized Charlie is by the death of his parents and is waiting for the right time to swoop in and be his everything. Until then, he watches over him, flirts with him endlessly and engages in some dubious shmexy times with him.
Charlie has wanted to disappear for a long time. His parents’ murder has scarred him in ways that even he doesn’t understand. He spends his nights haunted by his memories, his days distrustful of the “family” he finds himself part of/working for and deals with it by sleeping in the freezing cold building that his family’s martial arts school was housed in.

Charlie is wary of Samuel’s attention, having a low opinion of himself and confusion Samuel’s motivation for wanting him. He doesn’t understand why he is so drawn to the man with the rings on every finger, onyx eyes and ability to make Charlie break every promise he’s made to himself about staying away from Samuel.

When his best friend is captured on camera at a job that’s gone bust for Charlie’s bosses, he’s sent to find the wayward Ezra and get the information Logan demands. What Charlie doesn’t expect is that Samuel will be his bodyguard – he doesn’t need a babysitter! – that Ezra will be mixed up in something far more dangerous than even Charlie’s new family expected and that Samuel will prove to be just as important to him as he’d promised him. Samuel becomes the light in Charlie’s seemingly endless darkness, the balm for his broken heart and the maestro of his body. But Charlie’s being forced into something to save Ezra in exchange for something that the Lost Brothers deem him to be responsible for.

Can Samuel get to Charlie in time to save him from himself? Can Charlie come out on top and save his best friend from the real bad guys? Can Samuel & Charlie overcome the grief that tries to drown Charlie a little more each day? If Charlie can give over control to Samuel, let him make the decisions that are in his best interest, Charlie can heal, but Charlie must let Samuel in for that to happen.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.
Fierce
Lola Malone
Profile Image for Trinity.
708 reviews253 followers
January 22, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

TW - violence, substance abuse, death of both parents (recounted), anxiety, grief, nightmares/terrors

Tropes - organised crime (this isn't mafia imo), forced proximity, MMC / Bodyguard, hurt / comfort, martial arts, obsessed, mental health, MM, Dark

Argh I just want to give Charlie the tightest hug ever 🥺. He has been through it and his struggle throughout this book and his journey from start to finish was such a good read for me. I love him and he deserves the world.

Samuel is Charlie's assigned bodyguard whilst he's on a mission and we find out how Samuel has been obsessed with him for years. They were cute, their passions were cute, they were very hot together - I like them as a couple.

This book isn't too long so we don't get an over complicated plot but we do get a plot that ties in with the journey Charlie is on in terms of his grief and dealing with his nightmares/terrors. One thing I will say is, Logan is a bitch for putting Charlie on that mission knowing how fragile he is and what he was dealing with and then being like, yh we'll get you the best therapy after you do this for me. Like what???? Have some compassion. This stance from Logan and Angelique really had me like 🥴🥴🥴. The revelation of who the killer was was also kinda underwhelming to me but at the same time fit the story?? I was kinda expecting their to be a traitor or something BUT, Mason is sus fr 🤷🏽‍♀️

One thing that would've elevated this book for me would have been getting into Sam's brain as much as we did Charlie's. I know this was mainly about Charlie and his journey after dealing with the death of his parent's but, I would've liked to have felt closer to Sam too.



Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek
Profile Image for Sharon.
873 reviews10 followers
January 14, 2023
description


First of all a big thank you to Lola for providing me with a ARC of her new upcoming release.


I absolutely loved book 2 in the Undeniable series. Austin and Connor set the bar for any future releases. Their story was so unique, I knew it would be hard to top that one.

Let me start by saying that Lola has such an unique way of writing. Her storylines are some I've never seen before and they creep me out. And that says something. I mean, you have cults and you have cults that are written by Lola. Creepy shit. But so freaking good.

I knew from the very start that this was going to be a good one. I believe we met Charlie in the previous book (but don't hold me to anything, I'm terrible with names) and Samuel wasn't unknown to us either.

I have a hard time telling you about this story without spoiling literally everything. It doesn't come as a surprise that we meet some familiar faces, some more welcome than others.

Let me tell you that, even though some of these men (come on, we all know who I'm talking about) scare the absolute shit out of me, I was pleasantly surprised with their appearances in this book.

I wouldn't call it character development, but perhaps a redemption trope waiting to happen? (This is a hint, Lola)

But back to Charlie and Samuel. Samuel is the big, bad bodyguard, who always had a thing for Charlie. Not that Charlie knew that. Samuel has been waiting, waiting until it's finally, finally time to claim what's his.


❝But you had to be the first one, Charlie. You had to claim yourself first. Control your own body and soul. Only to allow me to take over, to own you with strength and love.❞



Charlie on the other hand. Oh, our poor boy. He's been through absolute hell. Traumatized, lonely, plagued by the death of his parents and addicted to pills. He doesn't think he's worthy of anything. He just doesn't want to feel anything. He wants to be left alone. Alone with his plants, alone with his thoughts.

But alone? That word doesn't exist in Samuel's dictionary.

Lola creates an amazing story, filled with heartbreak and a hard fought happily ever after.
I'm obsessed with the world she has created, and I can't wait to see what's next.


---


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I'd love to hear from you, guys!



Profile Image for TaurReads.
201 reviews3 followers
January 18, 2023
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Engagement: 4.5/5
Steam: 5/5
Overall: 4.5

Fierce is currently my favorite in the series. You first meet Charlie, his sister Mia, and Sam in Shameless. So reading that first is a must.

This story bring Charlie and Samuel together. Charlie and Sam are part of the inner circle for The Business. Due to a very traumatic experience in his youth, Charlie is suffering from depression and severe anxiety.

Logan sets Charlie on a mission to work a deal with a rival gang. Which really pushes Charlie to overcome his crippling anxiety. Sam is assigned to protect Charlie. Unknowing to Charlie, Sam has been infactuated with him since their teens.

The characters were well written. Charlie suffered a lot, but I found myself wondering why no one stepped in sooner to try and help him. Yes, Charlie was very vocal about being content in his disparity, but for The Business to be hardcore on family they sort of let him fall deeper and deeper. Despite everything he'd gone through and finding his HEA, I wasn't fully invested in him.

Now Samuel. *fans self* phew! SAMUEL was the character that really held the story together. Samuel was posessive, obsessive, controlling, yet gentle and encouraging. The way he openly stated that he wanted to completely own Charlie in everyway. Mind, body, spirit, heart. Yet he knew when to push and when to step back and let Charlie come to him. It was clear that his need to claim Charlie in every way possible was because he loved Charlie. I love a "I'll burn the world down just to have you look at me" character.

Overall. It was a great story and my favorite out of the series.So far.

I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Tajie.
69 reviews15 followers
January 14, 2023
The rollercoaster ride I just went on… up and down; up and down; up and down baby. Yea baby… just like that. It was like that long awaited release after a tense and arduous edging session with the lover you live to hate. I was on my knees with back arched just able to see my kindle, tongue dangling, waiting for my turn. Hot does NOT cover it. The literal moment I read “So, be a good boy and let me drive you home” I abso-fucking-lutely knew I was going to struggle with my survival. I could not stop myself from living the destruction. Lola has just the right way to destroy you then lick those wounds with a flat tongue.
The demons that haunt Charlie are all consuming and threaten to take him. They are deep and have him by the throat. He is broken, lost, and destructive; needing something to pull him back to life. That something is a fierce man with ringed fingers grabbing him by the crotch. To MAKE him HIS.
The hands. They are so captivating throughout the entire book. They grab. They pull. They rub. They spread. They rip. They pump. These hands are epic. I remember thinking “how can I be so hung up on hands?” but I WAAAAAAS! Samuel is a force to be reckoned with and knows what his fate is. He goes after what he wants fiercely, while maintaining distance as to not spook his “good boy” too much. He WILL save him.
I absolutely loved the way these books wind through lives that have been through some shit. They give a vibe of the world we can’t even dream of, yet is real for these characters. The ups and downs lead you through claustrophobic crevices making you watch your back and keep you on your toes (for many reasons 🥵) the entire time.

I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for DeniReadsMostlyMM.
389 reviews42 followers
January 19, 2023
***ARC Review***

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book through the author, Passion Author Services, and Indie Author Creative.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! “Fierce” by Lola Malone is book three in The Undeniable series. (Note: this series should be read in order. This book is not a standalone). This book follows Samuel and Charlie. Samuel and Charlie are both into martial arts, which plays a significant role in this story. Samuel has been obsessed with Charlie since they were teenagers. He’s wanted to claim Charlie as his from the moment he saw him and realized that he liked boys. Samuel’s fixation on Charlie is intense. The way that he wants Charlie is visceral. It’s electric. It is obsessive and possessive to the max.

Charlie is a shy, anxious man who is trying to deal with the horrific reality of witnessing his parents execution. Charlie gets lost inside his head a lot. He suffers from nightmares and relies on Valium to numb his thoughts. Charlie is tasked with a mission by Logan, head of The Business. This brings Charlie face to face with someone from his past. It also provides a way for Samuel to stick close to him. (I love a good bodyguard trope).

You’ll see some familiar characters from The Business and The Void in this book. Lola provides plenty of suspense and intrigue. Expect some twists! I definitely feel like another book is on the horizon in this series! There is plenty of heat and action in this novel. The pacing is stellar. There are honest conversations about trust and healing. If you enjoy mafia romances, you should definitely check this book out!

That said, pay attention to the author’s trigger warnings at the beginning of the book: dubcon, violence, depression/anxiety, and substance abuse.
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