3.5⭐
Genre ~ Multicultural & Interracial Romance, Crime Fiction
Setting ~ New York, Mississippi, Michigan
Publication date ~ February 19, 2023
Page Count ~ 266 (41 chapters p+e)
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ debut, timeline is mostly in the 70’s, but a r@pe in the 60’s takes place, racism, revenge, killing, vigilante, some steamage
My review:
Desiree/Desi was r@ped when she was just 12 years old. She never told her father, but he saw a change in her so he had her learn self defense with a man named, Zeke. They form a life long friendship, and eventually a business partnership.
I liked how determined she was. All she wanted was revenge on the 3 men that r@ped her and she gets it. But that wasn’t enough for her, she’s out to protect all women of the r@pists and serial killers of NYC. One night she’s out on the town and an attack is attempted on her, but a nice man jumps in and helps. Except she’s non too pleased he did that. In steps, Tony, her future love interest.
Being that Desi is black and Tony is white their relationship is not an easy one. They encounter plenty of racists. Desi is very inexperienced, since this is her first relationship, and she flies off the handle at the drop of a dime. She’s jealous and stubborn, boy or boy, but eventually she gets that in check. I really liked how he tricked her at the end, too.
Overall, this wasn’t a book I probably would have picked up on my own, but I thought it was a great debut. I only lived for 362 days in the 70’s, but I felt it was written realistically for what it was probably like for, not only black women, but interracial relationships back then.
Side note #1 ~ I love when places are referenced that I am familiar with ~ Peg Leg Bates was a real resort that operated until the late 80’s in the Catskills in NY that I actually lived near.
Side note #2 ~ (view spoiler) ~ this didn’t sit right with me.
*Thanks to the author for sending me a copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Add to your never ending TBR ~ goodreads
Purchase on thriftbooks
I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.
Book blurb:
A riveting tale of revenge, survival and redemption, wrapped around an unlikely love story and set against an urban backdrop corrupted by bigotry and misogyny.
Following a racially motivated rape by three Ku Klux Klansmen, 12-year-old Desiree Devine vows revenge. After eight years of training, now a strikingly beautiful assassin, she accomplishes her mission.
Her campaign continues with solitary walks through dark city streets, hoping to be assaulted by men with bad intentions. Those entrapped by her spider’s web pay dearly for their efforts.
Surrounded by three white men one night, she’s rescued by Tony Marino, an Italian-American passerby. A stormy, up-and-down relationship ensues. Ultimately, as her rage matures into purposeful action, and as he begins to see the world through her eyes, they become a team.
Along the way, they encounter serial killers, wife-beaters, actual and would-be rapists, gangsters, crooked cops, a kidnapper and a pedophile priest, as well as numerous women in desperate need of their help. Beneath all the action, though, is the blossoming of a most unusual love story.
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