Title: Hired Muscle
Author: Hank Edwards
Genre: Historical (1941)
Length: Novella (81pgs)
Publisher: Silver Publishing (7th July 2012)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Barry waits tables at DuMochelle’s, where he meets mob boss Giovanni Lombardi’s bodyguard, Vinnie. Passion sparks between Barry and Vinnie. However, it isn’t long before Vinnie’s dangerous lifestyle threatens not only their chances for happiness, but also their very lives.
In October 1941, the violence of Baltimore’s warring mob families is escalating. The danger has decimated many of the businesses around DuMochelle’s restaurant where Barry waits tables.
When a mob family begins to frequent the restaurant, a romantic relationship develops between Barry and Vinnie, a guard for the family. Vinnie resists, fearing for Barry’s safety and concerned that Barry will want nothing to do with him if he finds out the details of Vinnie’s role in the family.
But their passion cannot be denied, and Vinnie is trapped between the love he wants and the only life he’s known. As the rival mob family moves in for the kill, Vinnie and Barry find themselves caught in the crossfire.
Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/897
Review: Barry becomes infatuated by Don Lombardi’s bodyguard Vinnie. Over the course of a couple of months, he falls deeper under the spell. Then, he gets his chance with Vinnie and he finds out Vinnie’s true role. Vinnie would like nothing better than a chance with Barry, but his job is dangerous and he can’t lead that trouble to Barry. But, he can’t resist Barry’s charm.
This is a really sweet story that really did surprise me, because the characters were so much stronger than you’d expect and it wasn’t so much like the typical mob stories out there. Vinnie is a really cute, vulnerable and shy mobster bodyguard and Barry is a hardworking, compassionate and more outgoing waiter. It isn’t a typical lets jump in bed story. They have to be very careful not only because of the timeframe, but because of whom Vinnie’s boss is. They are a really sweet couple though, which was surprising as with Vinnie being who he is and enormous, you expect him to be a little more rough and ready. Whereas, Barry shocks you with his bravery, not only in following Vinnie where he shouldn’t, but for his actions later in the story as well.
I have to say that I fell in love with the characters personalities and truly enjoyed their romance. The progression of the story was well paced and the action and danger was good and well written. Oh, did I mention I loved the characters? Oh I did, right. Well I can’t help it they are just so sweet.
I am going to recommend this to those who love mob stories, hot loving, sweet men, action, danger, shootouts and a happy ever after.