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The Button Man
A visit from Button Man means only one someone wants you dead. Duke is born into the world a hired killer. It’s his birthright—all he knows, all he thinks he’ll ever be. Then one fateful night, the unthinkable occurs and in the most tragic of moments, a promise is made. That promise is kept for almost fifteen years, until he comes face-to-face with a target he never expects and a future he never sees coming. Kelly spends his days in a classroom, while his nights couldn’t be more different. Unbeknownst to those around him, their friendly neighborhood teacher is the handler for a hit man. For over a decade he has watched Button Man’s back from behind a computer screen. He is content living his double life, believing he will never cross paths with the dangerous assassin, but fate has a different plan. When the past collides with the present, Duke and Kelly must prevent it from destroying the future. It’s not just their lives they need to think about—the entire world of a fourteen-year-old girl is about to spin on its axis. Dodging bullets and uncovering truths bring the two closer than they could have imagined. But lust takes a back seat to survival when enemies threaten to drown them both in blood. Can they navigate these twists and turns when death is lingering at every corner, or will they die trying?
278 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2022
About the author
Davidson King
59 books757 followersDavidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.
She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.
If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.
She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.
If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 24, 2022
DNF at 60%
I picked this up because of the title - Button Man. What a dumb name for an assassin. I need to know why! Button Man sounds like the neighbor of the Muffin Man.
To my absolute disappointment, I never learned why it was Button Man. Why is this a family thing, all “button men”?? I word searched when I DNFd. The only explanation (“explanation”) we ever get is early on:
Why a button!! Why is it a family button! If its a critical button, tell me more about this murder button! What kind!!! argh i need more information on this dumb as fuck name!!
Imagine hearing “the button man is coming for you” ok what’s he gonna do, fix my shirts? lol loser
{a post review side-note: in talking (complaining) about this with someone, they pointed out that "button man" is actually a historical, real life term for a hired killer. It's specifically related to the garment industry, which is discussed in this interview with the author of the book Button Man, Andrew Gross, who is writing about his actual family history. Which actually sounds very cool (and real life historical!) and I will totally be checking out. The term button man also makes sense as it's the connection between the Jewish mob and the garment industry.
However, the history of this term is so absent in this book that it may as well not be connected. In fact, if it was supposed to be connected, it does the term a grave disservice. I maintain my position that for this book, the name 'button men' is unthreatening and stupid because there is zero connection to the garment industry or Jewish mob to justify it. it's just some dumbass family with buttons.
thus concludes my addendum that didn't change my opinion of the book or word as it applies here at all, but did find me a whole new book to read}
I had a lot of other issues with this book, such as:
• there were two plots, the mafia thing and then random kid shit, neither of which actually meshed
• scenes were short and choppy, which was made worse by the dual choppy plot problem
• kelly was a gary stu, solving all sorts of problems and doing everything except murder
• duke was a complete dipshit, i don’t know how he walks and breathes at the same time
• kelly’s much vaunted problem solving skills with people were to talk over them, illegally threaten them, and then strut around like a dipshit
• there is zero chemistry between the leads
• conversation was very stilted and awkward, especially when it was being heavy handed expositional dialogue
• lots of random boring information that mattered absolutely not at all
• by the time i quit, they’d made like zero progress on anything
Overall, I had a bad time.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
I picked this up because of the title - Button Man. What a dumb name for an assassin. I need to know why! Button Man sounds like the neighbor of the Muffin Man.
To my absolute disappointment, I never learned why it was Button Man. Why is this a family thing, all “button men”?? I word searched when I DNFd. The only explanation (“explanation”) we ever get is early on:
I was eighteen when I made my first kill and when I returned home, covered in blood, and feeling like a piece of my soul had died with my victim, my grandfather handed me a little black box. Inside was a pin. It was made of gold, and it was a button. He and my father stood side by side that day, their eyes shining with pride, and informed me that I was now a button man.
Why a button!! Why is it a family button! If its a critical button, tell me more about this murder button! What kind!!! argh i need more information on this dumb as fuck name!!
Imagine hearing “the button man is coming for you” ok what’s he gonna do, fix my shirts? lol loser
{a post review side-note: in talking (complaining) about this with someone, they pointed out that "button man" is actually a historical, real life term for a hired killer. It's specifically related to the garment industry, which is discussed in this interview with the author of the book Button Man, Andrew Gross, who is writing about his actual family history. Which actually sounds very cool (and real life historical!) and I will totally be checking out. The term button man also makes sense as it's the connection between the Jewish mob and the garment industry.
However, the history of this term is so absent in this book that it may as well not be connected. In fact, if it was supposed to be connected, it does the term a grave disservice. I maintain my position that for this book, the name 'button men' is unthreatening and stupid because there is zero connection to the garment industry or Jewish mob to justify it. it's just some dumbass family with buttons.
thus concludes my addendum that didn't change my opinion of the book or word as it applies here at all, but did find me a whole new book to read}
I had a lot of other issues with this book, such as:
• there were two plots, the mafia thing and then random kid shit, neither of which actually meshed
• scenes were short and choppy, which was made worse by the dual choppy plot problem
• kelly was a gary stu, solving all sorts of problems and doing everything except murder
• duke was a complete dipshit, i don’t know how he walks and breathes at the same time
• kelly’s much vaunted problem solving skills with people were to talk over them, illegally threaten them, and then strut around like a dipshit
• there is zero chemistry between the leads
• conversation was very stilted and awkward, especially when it was being heavy handed expositional dialogue
• lots of random boring information that mattered absolutely not at all
• by the time i quit, they’d made like zero progress on anything
Overall, I had a bad time.
Read more reviews on my blog:
https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
August 28, 2022
It's a really good one. Exciting, addictive, and with the signature charm of Davidson King. If you haven't read any book by this author and starting with a series seems like a lot, this would be a good start. It's everything Davidson does well, in a single book format
December 16, 2023
3.5⭐️ rounded up. Not my fav, not bad. Hit man / hacker romance, single dad, revenge plot. Predictable (which is not a complaint) but a bit lacking in the chemistry for me. Still, Davidson King is a go for me so recommend.
September 26, 2024
This was a random pick as an audiobook as it just sounded like something I was in the mood for and it really worked for me. It was suspenseful, spicy in parts, bit of a mystery and very sweet in parts. A very nice mix.
October 7, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.5 stars
This story is a fairly benign hitman romance with lots of violence, a growling alpha hero, and a hacker of very dubious morality. However, there’s an element of this book that soured me on the whole thing. Duke’s teenage daughter, Everleigh, has a friend, Felix, who has a crush on her. When Felix asks Ever out on a date, she tells him she doesn’t really see him that way. To which the men of her family — her father, her grandfather, and most notably, Kelly — obviously, blatantly, and loudly let her know how cruel she’s being to friendzone Felix. That she should be considerate of his feelings; that she’s probably broken his heart. And this absolutely didn’t work for me.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2.5 stars
This story is a fairly benign hitman romance with lots of violence, a growling alpha hero, and a hacker of very dubious morality. However, there’s an element of this book that soured me on the whole thing. Duke’s teenage daughter, Everleigh, has a friend, Felix, who has a crush on her. When Felix asks Ever out on a date, she tells him she doesn’t really see him that way. To which the men of her family — her father, her grandfather, and most notably, Kelly — obviously, blatantly, and loudly let her know how cruel she’s being to friendzone Felix. That she should be considerate of his feelings; that she’s probably broken his heart. And this absolutely didn’t work for me.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
August 25, 2022
What a ride this was. From the prologue to the epilogue and every page in between.
Duke is 50, a hired killer and runs a construction company with his father. Kelly is in his thirties, a school teacher by day and by night he is the handler for Duke. Naturally they don’t know each other and have never met, until Duke is asked by a third party to take care of a target. A target that happens to be Kelly.
So begins a very enjoyable and intriguing plot that had me reading the book in one sitting. There’s multiple twists and turns along the way to keep things interesting and a great cast of side characters that either help or hinder Duke and Kelly as they unravel the truth. With all this action and danger swirling around them they also manage to explore the connection between them. After negotiating all of this they do find their way to a peaceful HEA which left me smiling.
Duke is 50, a hired killer and runs a construction company with his father. Kelly is in his thirties, a school teacher by day and by night he is the handler for Duke. Naturally they don’t know each other and have never met, until Duke is asked by a third party to take care of a target. A target that happens to be Kelly.
So begins a very enjoyable and intriguing plot that had me reading the book in one sitting. There’s multiple twists and turns along the way to keep things interesting and a great cast of side characters that either help or hinder Duke and Kelly as they unravel the truth. With all this action and danger swirling around them they also manage to explore the connection between them. After negotiating all of this they do find their way to a peaceful HEA which left me smiling.
September 10, 2022
This was a pairing I haven’t read before, with a hired killer and his handler. The setup had me thinking “uh-oh!”, and the subsequent race to determine exactly what is going on definitely held my attention through the rest of the story.
The matchup of Duke and Kelly didn’t feel obvious; it actually took me a long while before it felt like they were meshing together on the emotional side of things. I actually never felt a full connection between them, it was closer to convenience than the big “L”. They did work well together though in figuring out what was going on and how to get out of the situation in which they found themselves.
There are some interesting secondary characters—to be expected considering the mafia aspect—but my favorites were Duke’s father and daughter, who were characters with good depth that contributed to the story. The resolution at the end felt like it went too quickly after all the buildup prior. It did lead to a satisfactory conclusion, I just would have preferred a less rushed ending.
Overall this book is falling somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars for me, so we’ll split the difference to 3.75. The Button Man is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content (most of which was limited to short scenes), and violence.
The matchup of Duke and Kelly didn’t feel obvious; it actually took me a long while before it felt like they were meshing together on the emotional side of things. I actually never felt a full connection between them, it was closer to convenience than the big “L”. They did work well together though in figuring out what was going on and how to get out of the situation in which they found themselves.
There are some interesting secondary characters—to be expected considering the mafia aspect—but my favorites were Duke’s father and daughter, who were characters with good depth that contributed to the story. The resolution at the end felt like it went too quickly after all the buildup prior. It did lead to a satisfactory conclusion, I just would have preferred a less rushed ending.
Overall this book is falling somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars for me, so we’ll split the difference to 3.75. The Button Man is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content (most of which was limited to short scenes), and violence.
August 26, 2022
Okay, OMG!!!!
So, that out of the way. This book was a ride and a half. A hired 'murderer' and a hacker handler it was incredibly written. Mystery to solve, family, rediscovery of feeling not had in a long time, found family, and deadly protective of said family. I just couldn't put this book down for anything once I started cause it just captivates you from the start and doesn't let go. The feeling these two have are slow but steady and all in. I can't think of more words cause I was kinda speechless when finished. I wanted more and for it to not end. Hope you enjoy this like I did.
So, that out of the way. This book was a ride and a half. A hired 'murderer' and a hacker handler it was incredibly written. Mystery to solve, family, rediscovery of feeling not had in a long time, found family, and deadly protective of said family. I just couldn't put this book down for anything once I started cause it just captivates you from the start and doesn't let go. The feeling these two have are slow but steady and all in. I can't think of more words cause I was kinda speechless when finished. I wanted more and for it to not end. Hope you enjoy this like I did.
May 26, 2025
4.3 stars???? I liked this much much better than I expected!! Although, I wish it had either been longer and or had more, I guess depth...it also felt like it ended too quickly. And I would have liked a little bit more of their relationship
August 28, 2022
Blurb:
A visit from Button Man means only one thing: someone wants you dead.
Duke is born into the world a hired killer. It’s his birthright—all he knows, all he thinks he’ll ever be. Then one fateful night, the unthinkable occurs and in the most tragic of moments, a promise is made. That promise is kept for almost fifteen years, until he comes face-to-face with a target he never expects and a future he never sees coming.
Kelly spends his days in a classroom, while his nights couldn’t be more different. Unbeknownst to those around him, their friendly neighborhood teacher is the handler for a hit man. For over a decade he has watched Button Man’s back from behind a computer screen. He is content living his double life, believing he will never cross paths with the dangerous assassin, but fate has a different plan.
When the past collides with the present, Duke and Kelly must prevent it from destroying the future. It’s not just their lives they need to think about—the entire world of a fourteen-year-old girl is about to spin on its axis. Dodging bullets and uncovering truths bring the two closer than they could have imagined. But lust takes a back seat to survival when enemies threaten to drown them both in blood. Can they navigate these twists and turns when death is lingering at every corner, or will they die trying?
Review:
I had never considered "mafia romance" as a genre. Then I read Davidson King. Now it is my favorite genre. The Button Man is yet another wonderful mafia romance. I loved it.
Duke and Kelly are a wonderfully complicated couple. Their relationship is new and old and full of secrets. They are in the same room for the first time when Duke is sent to kill Kelly. This is not a meet-cute story.
The action is quick and sustained. The mystery/thriller aspects are very good. I literally did not see it coming. The romance is wonderful. Davidson King writes flawed characters who together overcome almost all things. Even the things that do not overcome cannot keep them apart.
I am looking forward to more books in this universe. I am also looking forward to the audiobook which I hope is sooner rather than later.
I received an advance review copy from the author. I wrote an honest review.
A visit from Button Man means only one thing: someone wants you dead.
Duke is born into the world a hired killer. It’s his birthright—all he knows, all he thinks he’ll ever be. Then one fateful night, the unthinkable occurs and in the most tragic of moments, a promise is made. That promise is kept for almost fifteen years, until he comes face-to-face with a target he never expects and a future he never sees coming.
Kelly spends his days in a classroom, while his nights couldn’t be more different. Unbeknownst to those around him, their friendly neighborhood teacher is the handler for a hit man. For over a decade he has watched Button Man’s back from behind a computer screen. He is content living his double life, believing he will never cross paths with the dangerous assassin, but fate has a different plan.
When the past collides with the present, Duke and Kelly must prevent it from destroying the future. It’s not just their lives they need to think about—the entire world of a fourteen-year-old girl is about to spin on its axis. Dodging bullets and uncovering truths bring the two closer than they could have imagined. But lust takes a back seat to survival when enemies threaten to drown them both in blood. Can they navigate these twists and turns when death is lingering at every corner, or will they die trying?
Review:
I had never considered "mafia romance" as a genre. Then I read Davidson King. Now it is my favorite genre. The Button Man is yet another wonderful mafia romance. I loved it.
Duke and Kelly are a wonderfully complicated couple. Their relationship is new and old and full of secrets. They are in the same room for the first time when Duke is sent to kill Kelly. This is not a meet-cute story.
The action is quick and sustained. The mystery/thriller aspects are very good. I literally did not see it coming. The romance is wonderful. Davidson King writes flawed characters who together overcome almost all things. Even the things that do not overcome cannot keep them apart.
I am looking forward to more books in this universe. I am also looking forward to the audiobook which I hope is sooner rather than later.
I received an advance review copy from the author. I wrote an honest review.
January 12, 2024
I don't know why, of all the names, the top-notch assassin is named »The Button Man«. It is probably the least badass, the least frightful, and the least intimidating name ever. And he is a top-tier assassin? Embarrassing… Like, in what world are these people so unbelievably scared of him? He always introduced himself after magically popping up behind his victims and every single one of them just started pissing themselves. Hello? I, for one, would start softly bullying him because wtf is that name? Could you imagine being on the news and it said »Killed by the Button Man«? Beyond humiliating.
The characters are fine overall, I wasn't living, laughing, or loving them but they were fine. The end wrapped up very abruptly and needed a little more explanation. The sex scenes were… trash. Absolutely disgraceful, I can't believe Mr. King wrote them so mediocre.
Lastly, the cover is hideous. His eyes look so fake and for what?
Rating: 2.75/5
The characters are fine overall, I wasn't living, laughing, or loving them but they were fine. The end wrapped up very abruptly and needed a little more explanation. The sex scenes were… trash. Absolutely disgraceful, I can't believe Mr. King wrote them so mediocre.
Lastly, the cover is hideous. His eyes look so fake and for what?
Rating: 2.75/5
September 4, 2022
This was an enjoyable read. The idea of an assassin/handler story was a nice touch.
Duke was such a joy. The whole DILF thing he had worked. He was a caring father who tried to do right by his daughter, being a hitman was just an added bonus. Him not totally leaving his legacy behind was understandable but I was glad he was able to shift into a different career.
Kelly was a surprise. I never would have thought a teacher would have such a dangerous side hustle. He was a breath of fresh air that the Button Man needed.
The plot of interesting and I couldn't figure out the end game or the main villain, so that's a plus. I had a few questions that didn't get answered but all in all I recommend this.
Duke was such a joy. The whole DILF thing he had worked. He was a caring father who tried to do right by his daughter, being a hitman was just an added bonus. Him not totally leaving his legacy behind was understandable but I was glad he was able to shift into a different career.
Kelly was a surprise. I never would have thought a teacher would have such a dangerous side hustle. He was a breath of fresh air that the Button Man needed.
The plot of interesting and I couldn't figure out the end game or the main villain, so that's a plus. I had a few questions that didn't get answered but all in all I recommend this.
August 30, 2022
This was outstanding. Duke and Kelly together were just fun to read. The journey they both went down trying to balance both ends of their lives was eye opening and sometimes hard.
I did receive an ARC for a review.
I did receive an ARC for a review.
October 13, 2022
This was a nice read that I found in KU. Sometimes my recommendations on my Kindle are a little out there but I really enjoyed this one. I loved how the two acknowledged their attraction but didn’t let it interfere with who/what they were fighting against. The quote at the beginning of the book almost made me tear up when you find it’s significance. This is a great assassin/mafia adjacent book.
September 14, 2022
This is my first book from Davidson King and it was exciting, dark, and romantic all in one. Duke was born into his profession and Kelly is smart and is good at what he does. I don't want to give too much away, but there's a depth to this book that I wasn't expecting. The secondary characters are great and the way their relationship develops seems natural, even though nothing is typical about Duke and Kelly. A great read!
August 26, 2022
OMG this was so good. The story is well written. The characters are strong and fit well together.
September 10, 2022
It was good but
Not like her other books. I wasn't crazy about his handle " the Button Man", its sounds like he would be a tailor and not a killer. The characters were ok but still nothing special. The story was ok but again, nothing special.
Not like her other books. I wasn't crazy about his handle " the Button Man", its sounds like he would be a tailor and not a killer. The characters were ok but still nothing special. The story was ok but again, nothing special.
November 15, 2022
terrific storyline,entertaining
Rating: 4 .25🌈
Assassin and kid stories have turned into a favored theme of mine, whether it’s a movie or a book. There’s something about a unrepentant killer who, for whatever reason or circumstances, turns into a father/mother/parent figure to a young child.
The dynamics that develop between the pair are usually so fascinating depending upon the age and personalities that , other storylines excluded, it makes the novel on its own.
Duke Barton comes from a line of assassins known as The Button Men. He was never given a choice by either his grandfather or father, his future was always set to follow their ways.
Barton’s history is not given a huge amount of page time. Instead, the emotional components are pulled out from his past timeline when necessary and then it’s left to our imagination to fill in the rest.
For the subject matter The Button Man covers in its storylines, it’s surprisingly entertaining and low angst within the deadly plot and killer’s romance.
I sort of enjoyed it that way. Neither Barton, his father Cal, or Barton’s handler, Sparrow, are seen as sociopaths or psychopaths. But rather as people who were forced or fell into professions that involve killing people.
King is clearly having a wonderful time with dialogue, scenes that include dangerous situations and mobsters, as well as the usual high end technology.
People (not MCs) are tortured, lots of killing and bodies. But also a wonderful dynamic between an unusual father and his unsuspecting daughter.
While I could point out holes in the behavior of some of the professionals (as it seems to me) like loose security physically and electronically, the characters and storylines kept me connected and involved right to the end.
There’s no indication that King intends to carry this book further into a series but honestly? I could see it . I loved the characters and would love a revisit in the future.
Contemporary romance your thing with a element of humor, action, murder and family? The Button Man by Davidson King might just be the read you’re looking for.
I’m definitely recommending it.
Rating: 4 .25🌈
Assassin and kid stories have turned into a favored theme of mine, whether it’s a movie or a book. There’s something about a unrepentant killer who, for whatever reason or circumstances, turns into a father/mother/parent figure to a young child.
The dynamics that develop between the pair are usually so fascinating depending upon the age and personalities that , other storylines excluded, it makes the novel on its own.
Duke Barton comes from a line of assassins known as The Button Men. He was never given a choice by either his grandfather or father, his future was always set to follow their ways.
Barton’s history is not given a huge amount of page time. Instead, the emotional components are pulled out from his past timeline when necessary and then it’s left to our imagination to fill in the rest.
For the subject matter The Button Man covers in its storylines, it’s surprisingly entertaining and low angst within the deadly plot and killer’s romance.
I sort of enjoyed it that way. Neither Barton, his father Cal, or Barton’s handler, Sparrow, are seen as sociopaths or psychopaths. But rather as people who were forced or fell into professions that involve killing people.
King is clearly having a wonderful time with dialogue, scenes that include dangerous situations and mobsters, as well as the usual high end technology.
People (not MCs) are tortured, lots of killing and bodies. But also a wonderful dynamic between an unusual father and his unsuspecting daughter.
While I could point out holes in the behavior of some of the professionals (as it seems to me) like loose security physically and electronically, the characters and storylines kept me connected and involved right to the end.
There’s no indication that King intends to carry this book further into a series but honestly? I could see it . I loved the characters and would love a revisit in the future.
Contemporary romance your thing with a element of humor, action, murder and family? The Button Man by Davidson King might just be the read you’re looking for.
I’m definitely recommending it.
May 26, 2025
This is a suspense dark romance, featuring Duke and Kelly, and is a standalone book.
Duke is a hitman who’s spent his life killing, until a promise from his past brings him face-to-face with someone unexpected. Kelly, a teacher living a secret double life as Duke’s handler, is pulled into the danger as they fight to protect a young girl and survive the threats closing in.
This story was a little dark and intriguing, it focuses on the workings of the various mafia families, with a side of romance - which I loved. The story completely drew me in.
Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
MM dark romance
Check CW
Suspense
Hitman x Handler
Hurt / Comfort
Living with grief
Single dad
Age gap (50/35)
Secret identities
Calls him little bird
Bit of spice
Drama!
HEA
Duke is a hitman who’s spent his life killing, until a promise from his past brings him face-to-face with someone unexpected. Kelly, a teacher living a secret double life as Duke’s handler, is pulled into the danger as they fight to protect a young girl and survive the threats closing in.
This story was a little dark and intriguing, it focuses on the workings of the various mafia families, with a side of romance - which I loved. The story completely drew me in.
Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
MM dark romance
Check CW
Suspense
Hitman x Handler
Hurt / Comfort
Living with grief
Single dad
Age gap (50/35)
Secret identities
Calls him little bird
Bit of spice
Drama!
HEA
October 23, 2024
тιтℓє: The Button Man
αυтнσя(ѕ): Davidson King
ηαяяαтσя(ѕ): Iggy Toma + Tor Thom
ℓєηgтн: 5h 20m
яαтιηg: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✧ ✧ ✧
му тнσυgнтѕ:
Duke was a killer born into the life of darkness.
He’s the current Button Man.
When his best friend and lover is killed, he promises to take care of his secret daughter as his heart breaks. 😭
Fifteen-ish years later, Duke is hired to take out a FBI mole only to find out he knows the target!
Kelly is a normal guy.
He lives alone in a nice apartment building and he teaches at the local high school.
He’s also been the secret handler of the Button Man for the past decade.
When none other than his assassin shows up at his apartment to complete a job, the two must work together to figure out who’s framing who.
There seems to be a 10-20 year age gap (the daughter mentions Duke is in his 50s and Kelly looks to be in his 30s).
And this is slooooow burn with some intense vibes and chemistry leading up.
I really enjoyed the plot and the interactions between all the character.
For such a short listen, I can’t complain one bit!
ηαяяαтιση:
I stg, these two are PHENOMENAL together.
Their voices complement each other and fit the character personalities perfectly.
Great production and flawless execution of the lines!
αυтнσя(ѕ): Davidson King
ηαяяαтσя(ѕ): Iggy Toma + Tor Thom
ℓєηgтн: 5h 20m
яαтιηg: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✧ ✧ ✧
му тнσυgнтѕ:
Duke was a killer born into the life of darkness.
He’s the current Button Man.
When his best friend and lover is killed, he promises to take care of his secret daughter as his heart breaks. 😭
Fifteen-ish years later, Duke is hired to take out a FBI mole only to find out he knows the target!
Kelly is a normal guy.
He lives alone in a nice apartment building and he teaches at the local high school.
He’s also been the secret handler of the Button Man for the past decade.
When none other than his assassin shows up at his apartment to complete a job, the two must work together to figure out who’s framing who.
There seems to be a 10-20 year age gap (the daughter mentions Duke is in his 50s and Kelly looks to be in his 30s).
And this is slooooow burn with some intense vibes and chemistry leading up.
I really enjoyed the plot and the interactions between all the character.
For such a short listen, I can’t complain one bit!
ηαяяαтιση:
I stg, these two are PHENOMENAL together.
Their voices complement each other and fit the character personalities perfectly.
Great production and flawless execution of the lines!
August 28, 2022
The Button Man is one addictive read. I devoured this book in one sitting and was left with the best of book hangovers. I was so invested in this story I could not stop turning the pages.
Only Davidson King could have me falling in love with a hit man and his handler.
Duke and Kelly are a match made in mafia heaven. Alone they are forces to be reckoned with but together they are impossible to beat.
When old enemies start knocking on your door you know things are about to go sideways.
These two work perfectly together. Even though they have only just met in person they have a 10 year history of trust.
I loved the connection that is forged with these men.
Get ready to fall in love with this story of murder, revenge, love, heat and family!
Only Davidson King could have me falling in love with a hit man and his handler.
Duke and Kelly are a match made in mafia heaven. Alone they are forces to be reckoned with but together they are impossible to beat.
When old enemies start knocking on your door you know things are about to go sideways.
These two work perfectly together. Even though they have only just met in person they have a 10 year history of trust.
I loved the connection that is forged with these men.
Get ready to fall in love with this story of murder, revenge, love, heat and family!
September 20, 2022
This was an enjoyable read, though I had higher expectations for it. The plot, the age gap, and the idea of a killer and his handler, all made me jump into the book eagerly—a good book, just not exceptional, like some previous books by this author.
I loved how Duke cared for Ever and protected her from their past, and the life he built for them with his father's help.
Kelly was a nice surprise, you could never imagine a school teacher to be a handler, and I thought his cover was great.
But the whole plot was kinda meh, I didn't buy that Duke and his father couldn't figure out who had betrayed them in the past. The story has some twists, they just weren't that interesting. The relationship was the best part, I enjoyed seeing them come together in the middle of all the mess.
I loved how Duke cared for Ever and protected her from their past, and the life he built for them with his father's help.
Kelly was a nice surprise, you could never imagine a school teacher to be a handler, and I thought his cover was great.
But the whole plot was kinda meh, I didn't buy that Duke and his father couldn't figure out who had betrayed them in the past. The story has some twists, they just weren't that interesting. The relationship was the best part, I enjoyed seeing them come together in the middle of all the mess.
September 8, 2022
HOLY MOLEY SWEET PETUTIE! Davidson King has done it again! AGAIN I SAY! How is possible that so many dramatic danger-filled romantic suspense stories keep percolating in one author's brain? Must be all the coffee I know she refuses to start the day without.
Seriously though, The Button Man is brilliant in so many ways.
First: the name. The Button Man. Such a common daily item that most of us use at least once a day. Let's face it as a nickname you'd expect the moniker for someone who dresses dapper with high end suits or perhaps likes lots of bling on his body. But not King's anti-hero MC. I won't spoil the reason behind said nickname but I love it. Common, clever, unique, legacy . . . sometimes the simplicity of titles can make the biggest impact.
Second: the cast of characters. As for Duke and Kelly, they are a meshing of both sides of the scale. Duke is the hired killer with a legitimate business front and Kelly is the computer geeky teacher with a keeping the hired killer safe sideline. Polar opposites that occupy the same existence without knowing it. When their worlds collide, you can literally see them being totally gobsmacked, that's just how vivid Davidson King's creativity shines. As for the rest of the cast, also equally lovely and 150% needed, not a single character is just thrown in for page or scene filler, they all have a part to play.
Third: the mystery. I love a good who done it or who's behind it woven web. I won't go into too many details because I don't want to spoil this masterpiece for others. I'll just say that I had a few inklings early on that were partially right and there were a couple possibilities that floated in about 2/3 of the way through that ended up being nearly completely wrong. By the time revelations were shared, my brain was a mish mash of "I thought ??? would factor in" and "HOLY CRAP! ??? never even fluttered in".
Last but not least: the family man. I've made no secret of the fact that I have found men who care for kids sexy as hell and Duke's little Everleigh, or Ever as she's called, is a delight. Seeing Duke, and eventually Kelly as a bit of an outsider acquaintance, care for her, protecting her, loving her is just icing on the cake.
Davidson King's talent for storytelling is once again rich and flavorful, a well stirred pot of spicy and sweet with just the right pinch of salt to enhance the taste. I don't know if the author has plans for this setting beyond The Button Man(either way is okay with me, as a standalone it's great but there is definite potential for more which would be equally as great) but I do have to admit that in a seemingly throwaway line, a one sentence statement in passing, Duke mentioned a name to someone in the same line of business he reached out to on the phone. I couldn't help but notice the name is a prominent character name in one of the author's other series. Coincidence? Perhaps. Hints at a future crossover? Perhaps. Please, oh please let it be the latter because seeing Duke and Kelly mixing with that crowd? Talk about mayhem X10. *😉Hint Hint😉* BTW: I won't say the character name because I don't want to spoil anyone else's Easter Egg find if that really is what this was.
To sum up quickly yet another bit of a wordy review: The Button Man is a masterful blend of drama, action, friendship, family, mystery, heat, romance, humor, and of course my personal favorite: mayhem, loads and loads of mayhem. If you've never read Davidson King, this is an excellent pool to wet your feet in.
Seriously though, The Button Man is brilliant in so many ways.
First: the name. The Button Man. Such a common daily item that most of us use at least once a day. Let's face it as a nickname you'd expect the moniker for someone who dresses dapper with high end suits or perhaps likes lots of bling on his body. But not King's anti-hero MC. I won't spoil the reason behind said nickname but I love it. Common, clever, unique, legacy . . . sometimes the simplicity of titles can make the biggest impact.
Second: the cast of characters. As for Duke and Kelly, they are a meshing of both sides of the scale. Duke is the hired killer with a legitimate business front and Kelly is the computer geeky teacher with a keeping the hired killer safe sideline. Polar opposites that occupy the same existence without knowing it. When their worlds collide, you can literally see them being totally gobsmacked, that's just how vivid Davidson King's creativity shines. As for the rest of the cast, also equally lovely and 150% needed, not a single character is just thrown in for page or scene filler, they all have a part to play.
Third: the mystery. I love a good who done it or who's behind it woven web. I won't go into too many details because I don't want to spoil this masterpiece for others. I'll just say that I had a few inklings early on that were partially right and there were a couple possibilities that floated in about 2/3 of the way through that ended up being nearly completely wrong. By the time revelations were shared, my brain was a mish mash of "I thought ??? would factor in" and "HOLY CRAP! ??? never even fluttered in".
Last but not least: the family man. I've made no secret of the fact that I have found men who care for kids sexy as hell and Duke's little Everleigh, or Ever as she's called, is a delight. Seeing Duke, and eventually Kelly as a bit of an outsider acquaintance, care for her, protecting her, loving her is just icing on the cake.
Davidson King's talent for storytelling is once again rich and flavorful, a well stirred pot of spicy and sweet with just the right pinch of salt to enhance the taste. I don't know if the author has plans for this setting beyond The Button Man(either way is okay with me, as a standalone it's great but there is definite potential for more which would be equally as great) but I do have to admit that in a seemingly throwaway line, a one sentence statement in passing, Duke mentioned a name to someone in the same line of business he reached out to on the phone. I couldn't help but notice the name is a prominent character name in one of the author's other series. Coincidence? Perhaps. Hints at a future crossover? Perhaps. Please, oh please let it be the latter because seeing Duke and Kelly mixing with that crowd? Talk about mayhem X10. *😉Hint Hint😉* BTW: I won't say the character name because I don't want to spoil anyone else's Easter Egg find if that really is what this was.
To sum up quickly yet another bit of a wordy review: The Button Man is a masterful blend of drama, action, friendship, family, mystery, heat, romance, humor, and of course my personal favorite: mayhem, loads and loads of mayhem. If you've never read Davidson King, this is an excellent pool to wet your feet in.
January 30, 2026
I'm mostly enjoying it & I'm still less than halfway through, but it's not without its issues, which are a bit too glaring for such a short story!
I like most of the characters, but I think the author is trying a BIT too hard to make Everley savvy...
It's a guest staying over, she's not the owner of the house & she also has NO reason whatsoever to be suspicious about it. Had she known about her dad's side job or even that her dad & grandad had ties to the underworld, I'd get her hackles being raised, but like she herself said, Kelly mostly spends his days in his room & he clearly means her no harm... so WHY are her spidey senses tingling exactly?!? 😒
There's no real justification for her suspicions....AT ALL! Unless, she's a bit of an opportunistic sod & as far as she's concerned, he can F-off now that he's no longer of service to her & if that's the case, that hardly endears me to her character 😬
It's feeling a bit like plot dictates rather than for an actual, genuine reason that makes any sense. I may even understand her asking her dad when Kelly is leaving, but not her subtle like a wrecking ball Nancy Drew act...
Also, currently the grandad is being far too dumb for an ex-killer. They now have info that they didn't have before, the enemy KNOWS where they live & could attack at any time.... the villain showed up at their house out of the blue after 14 years absence, demands a hit on a VERY suspicious target that directly links to his own son & the dad really thinks that it's all a coinkidink?!?! GTFOH
I'd get him trying to do a runner as that would be the most logical thing if you don't want to fight, NOT bury his head in the sand, especially when said villain already murdered people who were his closest friends for power & money 🤦♀️
Damn....I read some comment & people would've actually prefer Iggy Toma to narrate BOTH parts. I like him, but he has a kinda squeaky voice which would NEVER be credible for an assassin. If an assassin came at me with his voice, I'd fall on the floor laughing.
He has a jovial voice, no real gravitas & Tor Thom is ideal as he has a DEEP 😍, gravelly voice that is just pure silk... granted, I prefer deep voices even in women & high pitched voices actually grate on my ears like nails on a chalkboard.
Not that Iggy Toma's voice is bad, but the only characters that suit his voice better are the Himbo, lovable MCs NOT an assassin 🥴
Well, I finished it now & TBPH, the only real problem that I DID have with it, was that there were INNUMEROUS times that he could've killed each individual villains.
The first villain when he returned to his house..
The other villain in the kitchen & as it was downstairs, he could've shot the dude & gotten out the kitchen door before the goons arrived. All that faffing about upstairs wasted more time than just finishing it off.
Both the villains at the house &/or in the van. Technically, Kelly also had the golden opportunity & surely they both should've been smarter about Kelly's safety 🙄
All in all it was ok, but not fully fleshed out when it came to do with the villains plot IMO. Nothing was really explained, it was all a bit too convenient, yet also unnecessarily convoluted, if that makes any sense. Too many dumb decisions from all the characters.
You know that possibly you're target, yet you're all really relaxed going about your normal day to day... it was just an odd decision for people who killed for a living & would know that every vulnerability will be exploited.....
I like most of the characters, but I think the author is trying a BIT too hard to make Everley savvy...
It's a guest staying over, she's not the owner of the house & she also has NO reason whatsoever to be suspicious about it. Had she known about her dad's side job or even that her dad & grandad had ties to the underworld, I'd get her hackles being raised, but like she herself said, Kelly mostly spends his days in his room & he clearly means her no harm... so WHY are her spidey senses tingling exactly?!? 😒
There's no real justification for her suspicions....AT ALL! Unless, she's a bit of an opportunistic sod & as far as she's concerned, he can F-off now that he's no longer of service to her & if that's the case, that hardly endears me to her character 😬
It's feeling a bit like plot dictates rather than for an actual, genuine reason that makes any sense. I may even understand her asking her dad when Kelly is leaving, but not her subtle like a wrecking ball Nancy Drew act...
Also, currently the grandad is being far too dumb for an ex-killer. They now have info that they didn't have before, the enemy KNOWS where they live & could attack at any time.... the villain showed up at their house out of the blue after 14 years absence, demands a hit on a VERY suspicious target that directly links to his own son & the dad really thinks that it's all a coinkidink?!?! GTFOH
I'd get him trying to do a runner as that would be the most logical thing if you don't want to fight, NOT bury his head in the sand, especially when said villain already murdered people who were his closest friends for power & money 🤦♀️
Damn....I read some comment & people would've actually prefer Iggy Toma to narrate BOTH parts. I like him, but he has a kinda squeaky voice which would NEVER be credible for an assassin. If an assassin came at me with his voice, I'd fall on the floor laughing.
He has a jovial voice, no real gravitas & Tor Thom is ideal as he has a DEEP 😍, gravelly voice that is just pure silk... granted, I prefer deep voices even in women & high pitched voices actually grate on my ears like nails on a chalkboard.
Not that Iggy Toma's voice is bad, but the only characters that suit his voice better are the Himbo, lovable MCs NOT an assassin 🥴
Well, I finished it now & TBPH, the only real problem that I DID have with it, was that there were INNUMEROUS times that he could've killed each individual villains.
The first villain when he returned to his house..
The other villain in the kitchen & as it was downstairs, he could've shot the dude & gotten out the kitchen door before the goons arrived. All that faffing about upstairs wasted more time than just finishing it off.
Both the villains at the house &/or in the van. Technically, Kelly also had the golden opportunity & surely they both should've been smarter about Kelly's safety 🙄
All in all it was ok, but not fully fleshed out when it came to do with the villains plot IMO. Nothing was really explained, it was all a bit too convenient, yet also unnecessarily convoluted, if that makes any sense. Too many dumb decisions from all the characters.
You know that possibly you're target, yet you're all really relaxed going about your normal day to day... it was just an odd decision for people who killed for a living & would know that every vulnerability will be exploited.....
April 21, 2026
The Button Man was, surprisingly, way more entertaining than I expected… which honestly feels a little rude to admit, but here we are.
Going in, I braced myself for the mediocre dark mafia romance formula: broody dangerous man, instant obsession, questionable life choices. And yes, that is absolutely present. But the Button Man himself actually has a strangely controlled, almost quiet intensity that makes him more interesting than your standard chaos gremlin crime lord. He is not just loud violence and dramatic threats. He is unsettling in a “he is probably already three steps ahead of everyone in the room” kind of way, which worked better than I thought it would.
The romance is… fine, but occasionally teeters on the edge of “why are you two like this” in a way that is both entertaining and mildly exhausting. There is chemistry, sure, and there are moments where you can see the appeal of the dynamic, but there are also moments where you are just watching them spiral and thinking this could have been an email.
The emotional depth is where things get a bit uneven. Some scenes hint at real complexity, then move on before they fully commit to it. It feels like the book is flirting with being deeper than it actually is, but keeps getting distracted by plot movement and dramatic vibes.
Still, I cannot lie, it kept my attention more than I expected. It is not a masterpiece, it is not life changing, but it is definitely not boring either.
Overall, The Button Man is a messy, moody, slightly chaotic surprise that lands somewhere between “actually kind of good” and “why am I still reading this at 2 a.m.” and honestly, that is a genre experience in itself.
Going in, I braced myself for the mediocre dark mafia romance formula: broody dangerous man, instant obsession, questionable life choices. And yes, that is absolutely present. But the Button Man himself actually has a strangely controlled, almost quiet intensity that makes him more interesting than your standard chaos gremlin crime lord. He is not just loud violence and dramatic threats. He is unsettling in a “he is probably already three steps ahead of everyone in the room” kind of way, which worked better than I thought it would.
The romance is… fine, but occasionally teeters on the edge of “why are you two like this” in a way that is both entertaining and mildly exhausting. There is chemistry, sure, and there are moments where you can see the appeal of the dynamic, but there are also moments where you are just watching them spiral and thinking this could have been an email.
The emotional depth is where things get a bit uneven. Some scenes hint at real complexity, then move on before they fully commit to it. It feels like the book is flirting with being deeper than it actually is, but keeps getting distracted by plot movement and dramatic vibes.
Still, I cannot lie, it kept my attention more than I expected. It is not a masterpiece, it is not life changing, but it is definitely not boring either.
Overall, The Button Man is a messy, moody, slightly chaotic surprise that lands somewhere between “actually kind of good” and “why am I still reading this at 2 a.m.” and honestly, that is a genre experience in itself.
April 28, 2026
This was such an interesting book. The premise wasn't anything new in terms of a hit man but Davdison King put their own unique spin on it and captivated me from the start. I loved the dynamic between Button Man & his handler and both Oggy Toma & Tor Thom did a fantastic job narrating this book.
Tor Thom is not a narrator that I usually gravitate towards unless it is books about convicts, motorcycle clubs or hitman/mafia types. His voice and cadence are, in my opinion, perfect for those types of books. He is just not a narrator that I prefer.
Iggy Toma can do all the genres, at least what I have heard him do so far, and is one of my favorite narrators. His voice is so unique and he does low and gravely pretty good which in terms of his normal voice doesn't seem like it would work.
Together these two narrated this book perfectly and I did not even mind the dual rather than duet narration. Both narrators conveyed the emotions throughout the book so well. I don't like their female voices at all though. Now enough about the narration of the book and onto the review of the storyline.
Like I stated earlier I believe this was written in such a way that it wasn't a story that I had heard over and over again. The lies, deceit, twists and turns throughout kept me on my toes. Davidson writes these types of books so well and keeps me guessing. There were definite surprises along the way although I did kinda figure out the ending a little bit. These two definitely worked hard towards getting their HEA. Definitely recommend reading this one.
Tor Thom is not a narrator that I usually gravitate towards unless it is books about convicts, motorcycle clubs or hitman/mafia types. His voice and cadence are, in my opinion, perfect for those types of books. He is just not a narrator that I prefer.
Iggy Toma can do all the genres, at least what I have heard him do so far, and is one of my favorite narrators. His voice is so unique and he does low and gravely pretty good which in terms of his normal voice doesn't seem like it would work.
Together these two narrated this book perfectly and I did not even mind the dual rather than duet narration. Both narrators conveyed the emotions throughout the book so well. I don't like their female voices at all though. Now enough about the narration of the book and onto the review of the storyline.
Like I stated earlier I believe this was written in such a way that it wasn't a story that I had heard over and over again. The lies, deceit, twists and turns throughout kept me on my toes. Davidson writes these types of books so well and keeps me guessing. There were definite surprises along the way although I did kinda figure out the ending a little bit. These two definitely worked hard towards getting their HEA. Definitely recommend reading this one.
September 23, 2022
4.75 Stars!
This story had me pretty much from the beginning. Duke and Kelly have never met in real life, but their meeting is monumental for both of them. I will do my best to avoid any spoilers since I think it's a great book with plenty of twists and turns, including a few that I didn't expect. I want other readers to get that thrill too.
The changes the Duke made in his life after he made a promise were hard enough, but coming back to deal with the unfinished business from that time had to be worse. I liked Duke and how he took care of the people around him. Duke is great at what he does, but seeing the man underneath the training and job description was wonderful. Kelly was so much more than I expected when we first met him; he's amazing at what he can do. I loved Kelly's proactive nature as well as his protective one. I loved the balance between action in the story and the slow building tension between Duke and Kelly. I appreciated Duke's father's reactions to all the changes and how both Duke and Kelly deal with all that is going on.
I highly recommend this book. It made me smile, kept me on edge, and made me cry a little too. Fantastic read.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement.*
This story had me pretty much from the beginning. Duke and Kelly have never met in real life, but their meeting is monumental for both of them. I will do my best to avoid any spoilers since I think it's a great book with plenty of twists and turns, including a few that I didn't expect. I want other readers to get that thrill too.
The changes the Duke made in his life after he made a promise were hard enough, but coming back to deal with the unfinished business from that time had to be worse. I liked Duke and how he took care of the people around him. Duke is great at what he does, but seeing the man underneath the training and job description was wonderful. Kelly was so much more than I expected when we first met him; he's amazing at what he can do. I loved Kelly's proactive nature as well as his protective one. I loved the balance between action in the story and the slow building tension between Duke and Kelly. I appreciated Duke's father's reactions to all the changes and how both Duke and Kelly deal with all that is going on.
I highly recommend this book. It made me smile, kept me on edge, and made me cry a little too. Fantastic read.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement.*
February 7, 2025
I love Davidson King's Haven Heart series (I discovered it in audio and listened to them) and am looking to snatch up everything else with that type of vibe. As soon as I read this premise, I knew I had to listen to it. Great would building and wonderful characters. I like the dynamic of a relationship between a hitman and his handler- even more so when Duke accepts a job to assassinate his handler (unknowingly). The story had so much mystery and suspense that it was easy to get hooked. I loved both Duke and Kelly, and liked that they both had things they were better at than the other. Kelly "facing off" against Everleigh's principal Pemberley was such an awesome moment I fist-pumped and it's one of my favorite scenes. I liked the way they grew closer, came to trust each other, and fell in love. The chemistry between them was sizzling. I loved the dangerous action scenes. Davidson King does it so well!
I love both Iggy Toma and Tor Thom, and thought they did a fantastic job bringing these guys to life. Tor's deeper, gruff voice was perfect for Duke and Iggy's really suited Kelly.
I really hope we get more books with this theme and in this series!
Overall: 5 stars
Performance: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
I love both Iggy Toma and Tor Thom, and thought they did a fantastic job bringing these guys to life. Tor's deeper, gruff voice was perfect for Duke and Iggy's really suited Kelly.
I really hope we get more books with this theme and in this series!
Overall: 5 stars
Performance: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
September 1, 2022
4.5/5 stars.
I really enjoyed this one.Davidson’s are never a miss for me.
I loved Kelly aka Sparrow. He’s the tech guy, nerdy, assertive and so smart. I loved his character and the way he created a relationship with Ever and just how easy going he was.
I also loved Duke aka The Button Man. He’s such a great dad and son to Cal and he’s also very good at what he does but he really wouldn’t so good if it wasn’t for Kelly’s expertise. I loved how they collided together and formed their relationship which stemmed from 10 years of working together unbeknownst to them.
I also loved Duke’s relationship with his daughter Everleigh aka Ever. She’s such a great teen and I very much appreciated it.
I loved the plot and everything else but I think the story just needed a bit more of Duke and Kelly’s relationship meaning I wanted to see how they were getting used to their life’s together and all the feels that come with that and I’m not devaluing the epilogues cause that was also needed but I wanted a bit more from them.
With that said I still very much enjoyed my time with it and read it in one sitting.
Can’t wait for the next book by Davidson !
I really enjoyed this one.Davidson’s are never a miss for me.
I loved Kelly aka Sparrow. He’s the tech guy, nerdy, assertive and so smart. I loved his character and the way he created a relationship with Ever and just how easy going he was.
I also loved Duke aka The Button Man. He’s such a great dad and son to Cal and he’s also very good at what he does but he really wouldn’t so good if it wasn’t for Kelly’s expertise. I loved how they collided together and formed their relationship which stemmed from 10 years of working together unbeknownst to them.
I also loved Duke’s relationship with his daughter Everleigh aka Ever. She’s such a great teen and I very much appreciated it.
I loved the plot and everything else but I think the story just needed a bit more of Duke and Kelly’s relationship meaning I wanted to see how they were getting used to their life’s together and all the feels that come with that and I’m not devaluing the epilogues cause that was also needed but I wanted a bit more from them.
With that said I still very much enjoyed my time with it and read it in one sitting.
Can’t wait for the next book by Davidson !
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