Crow: Boston Underworld, Book 1

My very first A. Zavarelli book! And what a way to start! I devoured this book in one night - and my hubby told me I shouldn't have stayed up late reading it. But at 2 AM - I was very sated and the pages weren't going to stop turning until I knew what happened!First - it's about the Irish Mob! Who doesn't love the Irish?! And she even adds in some of the Irish dialect that actually makes the story even more interesting. Most of the words are easy to assess the meaning behind within the context, while a few are more hardcore Irish but it never distracts from the story!Second - The heroine is a woman named Mackenzie Wilder who is Irish-American. And she's the daughter of an underground MMA fighter who he taught to street fight before he was murdered. Then, she was left in the foster care system where she quickly learned to fight for herself because she couldn't rely on anyone else to. Growing up on the streets of Southie has left her with nerves of steel and a cocky attitude that would rival anyone. She is a tough heroine with a mouth on her and enough confidence and sass that she'd dare kick any man's arse.Third - The hero is Lachlan Crow, the third in line of the MacKenna syndicate. He has a reputation that proceeds him and all of his men respect him. He's very broody and merciless. Mack knows his name right away and believes that he'll kill someone with a smile on his face and never think twice about it. He's very good at keeping his emotions intact and making it hard for anyone to read him. He doesn't trust women and thinks women only bring about trouble so he avoids them. But he has a reaction to Mack at the very first meeting. Lachlan wants to hate her, but his body has other ideas.Storyline: Mack grew up with Talia in the foster system and Talia has been missing for almost a year. The police are doing nothing about the issue so Mack decides that she has to take the matter into her own hands. She decides to infiltrate one of Boston's biggest criminal organizations - the MacKenna syndicate - and poke her head around where it doesn't belong. Mack is set on seeking revenge for her friend, but she doesn't expect to be drawn towards Lachlan.Lachlan knows that there are things going down within the family. A deal with the Russians is coming and he knows that if he's chosen to be the next in line, he'll have to marry on of Viktor's daughters. And he never even wanted a wife. A little wrench is thrown into his world when Mackenzie comes floating into his life. The Russians take an interest in her and want her to be under the Irish protection until the alliance has been made. Mackenzie is to be used as a pawn. But what Lachlan doesn't expect if for Mackenzie to be a wild card. A wild card that he can't get out of his mind and soon he finds that he's laid claim to her and put her under his own protection.My thoughts: This book is amazing! I will admit that since she's a new author to me, it took me a little bit to get into her writing. But by the first few chapters, I couldn't stop turning the pages. The author does an amazing job pulling you into the story and keeping you on your toes with a jam packed storyline. I loved the tough side of Mackenzie and how she kept her emotions intact as well. She was dead set on following her plan and getting the information she needed without getting involved or caught. But she never expected to find love within the mob. Lachlan is a true alpha male who already has a family - the syndicate - and he's loyal to the bone for it. Mackenzie was a wrinkle in his plan but soon became more than that. He wanted to hate her or kill her or just hand her over, but she sneaks under his skin just like the wild card she is and he becomes mad for her. I love that their relationship grows over time and it's not instalove. Granted, there is attraction from the very beginning, but both characters fight the attraction or try to use it to their advantage.Secondary characters: I love getting a glimpse inside the inner-workings of the Irish mob. Ronan is a broody character who doesn't share his opinion and is often quiet. But it speaks volumes that he's the only man that Lachlan completely trusts. I am secretly cheering him on and rooting for him to find a woman to turn his life upside down while still being total alpha male! Rory and Conor give comedic relief at certain points. Alexei is an interesting Russian mobster known as the ghost that I have a hard time getting a read on - at some points I get the feeling that he's around Lachlan's age, other times I feel like he's older. I think the author is keeping us guessing on purpose! Sasha becomes a good friend to Mackenzie and helps her find her footing within the club. I hope that she finds some happiness. And Scarlett is a little bit of Mack's past mixed with the present and a little sassy too!Overall - do NOT miss this book!!! I can't wait for more!My favorite quote of the whole book:"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" I sob. "It wasn't a fecking act! I'm in love with you Lachlan!"Just wait til you get there because all the emotions will be coursing through your body when you get to this point! It's so raw and beautiful!

I really enjoyed this story. I’m a sucker for a strong female character lead and Mack was exactly that! The love/hate relationship was cute and the twist at the end got me for sure but a great read!

I’ve made it all the way through the 4th book and I think this one is my fav. I really did feel the love and passion between the two. The Irish accents and cultural nuances were fantastic. I did think she was dumb early on the book, but she grew on me and continued to grow into the 4th book in her brief features.

Loved it!Mack & Lachlan were the perfect combination. Mack’s search for Talia gave her so much more than she was expecting. Mack thought she knew what she was getting into when she went to search for answers but she has no idea. There’s a perfect little twist towards the end that I was not expecting.Can’t wait to get into the next book. Highly recommend if you like strong ladies and the men who can see them as they are.

Wow! This book is just... I don't know what to say. Read it. It's got romance, sexual tension, mystery and action. There were so many twists and turns, I don't want to say much and give anything away. The FMC and MMC were hot as fire and their love story was full of tension and angst. Their devotion to each other was heartwarming to read. They both sacrificed for the other.

First story in a new mafia series, Boston Underworld, and I am a fan!Contains subject matter that may be a trigger or offensive to some including adult language, steamy adult intimate scenes with dominance, submission, restraints, sensory deprivation, spankings for punishment and pleasure, etc. and violence such as kidnapping, abduction, murder, torture, assault, rape, betrayal, drugs, human trafficking, illegal gambling, underground boxing, guns, etc., basically everything that a great story in the mafia genre should be and more.There are some grammatical issues throughout, but nothing difficult to interpret. Most of them were typos, misspellings, incorrect word choice, and extra inserted or missing words. I am trying to mention these for readers such as myself that visualize the story as it is read, because errors interrupt the flow.The world building is good, but the characters and plot are what makes this a story that I will read again and again, especially as new additions are added. I want to believe that there are organizations out there that look out for those less fortunate and lives by a code of honor.This story focuses on Mackenzie, aka Mack, who has tried repeatedly to find out what happened to one of her best friends. Despite staying in the cops’ faces, she is not getting anywhere, so she decides to take matters in her own hands and go undercover to find out what happened to Talia.One of the best ways she knows is to try and get one of them focused on her, so she talks her way into one of the underground fights. She is going to take on one of the Irish fighters, and when she beats him, that should get her noticed and an offer for more that she can turn into a job at their club.Lachlan Crow’s future was decided for him at birth, since his Da and grandpa were high up in the Irish mafia. When his Da died he left Ireland and moved to the US to live with his grandpa. Now his grandpa has been killed and they have a traitor in the family. They have time to formulate plans on that, so Lach with several of his men go to the underground MMA fights. He has one of his best fighters on the card tonight. Then they are all surprised when the opponent his fighter is going against is actual a very petite female … and she just took him down … to bad that he can’t see exactly what other moves she has …Despite having all kinds of things going on, Lach is having a hard time staying focused. He keeps thinking of the black haired, blue eyed sprite who has trouble written all over her, but he is determined to keep his word to his dying Grandpa.

Such a brilliant read. One I'll read over and over again for sure. I cannot wait to read all the rest in the series.

Great series starter book that has me wanting to find out more about the side characters without making me feel like the main characters mack and lach weren't complete by the time the book was complete.

Mackenzie está arrasada pois sua amiga Talia desapareceu, já procurou em todo lugar, levou todas as pistas que conseguiu na delegacia e infelizmente não encontraram ela ou não tentaram. Ela sabia que tinha alguma coisa estranha no sumiço de sua amiga…tudo que ela sabia é que Talia trabalhava no club que ela relacionou com um russo e depois sumiu.Tentou de todas as maneiras procurar sua amiga do jeito certo por meios legais sem se envolver com os Crows, aliás todos em Boston conhecem aquele club que pertence ao sindicato mackenna.Mackenzie resolveu se infiltrar no inimigo para descobrir oque houve com sua amiga, mas para isso ela teria que ter mais uma luta, mais não uma luta comum como ela fazia, ela teria que revelar quem era, pois no submundo todo mundo conhece seu pai, e é a única forma era se revelar.Lachlan, estava em um mal momento havia perdido o homem que ele amava o mais importante para ele, o cara que lhe ensinou tudo, não haveria outro jeito a não ser encontrar o traidor, pois os inimigos estavam próximos.Aquela mulher filha do Wilder derrotou o um dos seus homens no ringue e acabou se tornando uma carta na manga para o sindicato ele só precisava encontrá-la, Lachlan ficou surpreso quando ela apareceu no club.Será que Mackenzie conseguirá encontrar sua amiga?Caro leitor aqui nesse livro veremos oque alguém é capaz de fazer por que ama, mesmo que para isso seja preciso mexer num vespeiro. Nem tudo é preto no branco quando você está no mundo sombrio, Mackenzie não esperava encontrar o amor e em toda aquela situação, ela viu que há vários tipos de vilões e as vezes tem os “bonzinhos”.Uma história quente cheia de reviravoltas com muitas emoções e é claro tem bastante ação digno de um livro no mundo sombrio, eu adorei descobrir as coisas junto com ela e me apaixonei por Lachlan.

A Very Nice book It is the first at Boston Underworld and the beggining of a great series Nice book

After Mack’s best friend and honouree sister Talia disappears whilst working at a renowned mobster club Mack knows she may be her last lifeline. Getting a job as an exotic dancer to dig deeper she decides if the police won’t help she’ll find Talia herself. Instantly she catches the notice of Lachlan who is as suspicious as he is attracted. But despite Lachlan's firm plans that definitely don’t include Mack in his life he can’t seem to stay away. Talia is a complication one he hasn’t factored in add to that the Russians who also seem mighty interested and a traitor in the midst well naturally everyone’s on edge and suspiciousMack is my type of girl she is resilient and tough extremely street smart a life in foster care and taking care of herself has given her sass and hard edges. But even she realises she may be way out of her depth and when Lachlan discovers her deception it could well be game over for her even if she now has unintentionally caught feelings for the man in question who will more than likely end up being her final judge and jury.This was so good it’s been ages since I’ve read an organised crime romance that’s just satisfied me so completely this had it all danger, betrayal, intrigue some scorching passion this ticked all of my boxes. Combine this with a possessive hot male who will unalive anyone that dares to even look sideways at his woman and a kick-ass heroine who knows her own worth and I was in book heaven.Lachlan and Mack had such explosive chemistry together and this story kept me on the edge of my seat. I haven’t enjoyed a mafia romance this much in ages. I totally recommend this one it was well-written and felt authentic and I’m now looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Crow is absolutely positively bloody brilliant!I'll admit it took me a chapter or two to really get in to it but when I did - I had one very sleepless night because I had to finish it!!Lachlan & Mack, both with their Irish roots, however Lachlan ends up at head of the table of the Irish mob and Mack tries to infiltrate it to find out what happened to her missing friend. Well, Mack doesn't know what she's got herself into!!!It flows from there and oh my does it flow! This author has the ability to suck you into the story, her words have you mesmerised and the detail she goes to is perfect! Not a lot of authors get the details correct, they can write to little where you have to make up your ideas regarding the characters or to much detail which just spoils it... A Zavarelli has to down to a T!Excellent, would def recommend and can't wait to read more 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Omg why did i not this before??This book has been recommended to me by many friends and im so annoyed ive left it so long to read!!Irish alpha males.. strong female character and mafia connections what else could you ask for??This book has many twists and turns but it really keeps you hooked into the story as it doesnt go the way you think will from the beginning!Straight into reading the next in this series while i dream about hot Irish alpha males ;-)