Fangsters by Ryan Field

 Title: Fangsters

 Series: Clan of the Jersey Boys 01

 Author: Ryan Field

 Genre: Paranormal, BDSM

 Length: Novel (60,000 word count)

 Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books (3^rd April 2013)

 Heat Level: Explicit

 Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts

 Reviewer: Pixie

 Blurb: Twilight meets The Sopranos in this vampire M/M gangster tale.

Anton Pagano, at a glance looks and sounds just like any other twenty-something. He lives in northern New Jersey with his mom and dad, and he’s never had to worry about anything other than his wardrobe, his latest new car, and the secret love affair he’s been having for years. However, Anton has more than just the love affair to hide: he belongs to a Sicilian vampire mobster clan that migrated to New Jersey in the late 1800s.

When Anton’s dad, the head of their clan, decides it’s time for Anton and his vampire cousin Digger to get into the “family business,” Anton’s not all that excited about it. Until he meets a sweet, young human named Leo on his first night at work. They wind up spending the rest of the night together, but things get even more complicated when they bring Anton’s secret vampire lover into the picture a few weeks later.

After a bloody battle with werewolves, and the beginning of what Anton predicts will be an all-out war between two vampire mob clans in New Jersey, Anton and his secret vampire lover decide it’s time to consider turning Leo into a vampire so all three of them can be together for eternity. But thanks to fate, nothing is as simple as it looks, and they wind up doing the one thing they ever wanted to do to Leo as a last resort.

Warning: This book contains consensual sexual violence.  

Purchase Link: http://riverdaleavebooks.com/books/35/fangsters-clan-of-the-jersey-boys http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302348

Review: Anton lives with his mom and dad and younger brother (who he has a hate/hate relationship with). He is having a secret love affair, that if discovered could get him sent to Sicily, and he is about to be inducted into the ‘family business’ New Jersey mob. Oh, and he’s a vampire. Working in a mob owned nightclub brings Leo into his sights and getting to know the sweet human is the first thing he wants to do. Becoming involved with Leo could be tricky, but Anton can’t resist. Having his forbidden lover come into the relationship is exciting and brings out a side of Leo, Anton hasn’t seen before. Now after an ambush by werewolves who were acting on the orders of a rival mob boss, Anton knows that an all-out war is heading their way. Just as Anton and his secret love decide to tell the truth about their nature to Leo, they are placed in a position of doing something they never wanted to do.

This story combines Italian mobsters with vampires, creating an interesting read. Anton belongs to a vampire clan who are also Sicilian mobsters. They control part of New Jersey and Anton’s dad, Angelo, decides it is time for Anton and his cousin Digger to come into the ‘family business’. Anton also embarks on a new relationship, which his secret lover becomes jealous of, until he gets to know Leo. Problems arise from a rival mob and Anton has to make a choice for Leo, which Leo might not like. I loved the mobster vampires and loved how they came to life. They infused the book with color with their expressive mannerisms and language.  

The characters in this story bring to mind larger than life Italian mobsters. Angelo is a slight enigma with his fascination of deer. Anton’s brother is a stuck up homophobe. Digger acts like a spoiled brat and has many temper tantrums and Anton is slightly more sophisticated and calm headed than the rest. Leo is a very sweet gentle soul, who has a strong moral code. Together they make a good story, and I was really enjoying the story until I got just over half way through and then it went downhill as far as I was concerned. I enjoy BDSM and erotica as much as the next reader, but what I don’t like is consensual abuse and there was no warning at all in any of the sites that I visited concerning this book.  

I will be honest in my dislike of Digger. He is the type of man who if you met him once, then you would go out of your way to avoid him. He was spoiled, self-centered and prone to violence at the slightest thing. Anton is a very likeable man and Leo really was very sweet, but he changed as well, later in the book and he didn’t much resemble the Leo I first met. Some people will really enjoy this story, but for me the lack of warning ruined my enjoyment. I wasn’t prepared for the level of violence during the sex. Consensual violence isn’t for everyone. Whips and floggers are far apart from punches and kicks and while I love whips and floggers, punches and kicks make me feel ill.

I will recommend this to those who love paranormal, mobsters, backstabbing rivals, colorful characters, consensual violence and a happy for now ending.