Chris Emmett has a talent for screwing up and landing on his feet. As a SEAL, he managed to evade bullets and court-martials alike. As an FBI agent, he dodged danger and disciplinary action-right up until he didn’t.With his career and freedom hanging in the balance, he’ll do whatever it takes to clean the slate¿ including an off-the-books deep cover solo mission.The objective: infiltrate the … Hive, a complex crime syndicate operating on the dark web, and find out who’s trying to kill Piker, the organization’s enigmatic and strangely alluring modern day Mob boss.The moment he’s pulled into the Hive, Chris enters a world where no one is what they seem, including the man he’s there to protect. Lines blur between moral and wrong, legal and criminal, ally and foe, and-as Piker’s seductive magnetism draws Chris in-straight and queer.Chris is running out of time to stop a killer. He has dangerous feelings for a dangerous man, and the deeper he moves into the realms of organized crime, the less he knows and the fewer people he can trust.And that’s before he learns the truth about Piker’s assassin.
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Who is she? WHAT is she? I ask myself (and writer L. A. Witt herself, believe it or not) these questions when she blows both my oars right out of the water with yet another incredible book. Blood & Bitcoin is the writer’s contribution to the fifteen-book Criminal Delights series and is one of only five that has made it to audio format. Splendidly narrated by the simply incredible Michael Ferraiuolo, this novel sent me to bed to continue my listening experience after about the fourth hour in. I just wanted to process the story with no other distractions besides my pillow.
In the novel, we meet Chris Emmett who is a bit of a maverick who manages to get in just enough trouble to get noticed but not enough to get washed out permanently. As an FBI agent, he is charged with infiltrating the Hive in a solo and unsanctioned covert operation in order to avoid federal prison. The Hive is operating on the dark web as it is willing to operate outside the law in an effort to do the right thing, right some wrongs, eliminate persons who cannot be legally touched. Chris is told his objective is to stop someone trying to kill Piker, the organization’s leader.
Chris finds himself attracted to Piker and becomes more and more drawn to him intimately. Piker takes advantage of Chris’s interest in him and keeps him close enough to become a personal bodyguard and not just another drone on the security team. Way before the story draws to a close, Chris is emotionally committed and invested in Piker’s safety. When he learns the truth about Piker’s would-be assassin, he is willing and able to prevent his murder at the risk of his own life. The book ends with the clearing of Chris’s, the prevention of Piker’s termination, and the exposure of rogue agents within the FBI.
This novel is way-over-my-head sophisticated but that in no way detracted from the gritty magnetism that exists between the two main characters. The dialog is clever and the sex exquisite! L. A. Witt is absolutely masterful in blending the danger with the intimacy–creating a palpable tension in the narrative that commandeers the reader’s full attention. With the excellent world-building, it’s could be easy for some to overlook the character development that exists with not just the protagonists, but several secondary players. Trust me, it’s there! In addition, the book has exceptional pacing (the rate at which the writer introduces key elements in the story) and meticulous balance (the distribution of varying types of elements in the narrative), giving the audience an incredible, memorable reading experience.
LA Witt has a wonderful way of dragging readers into a whole new world full of deeply interesting characters and intriguing stories. This story is fascinating, engaging and a delicious awakening for both MCs. Michael Ferraiuolo’s wonderful narration brings to life these characters in Audio and makes the hot scenes even more swoon-worthy!
*Audiobook Review*
Blood and Bitcoin hones in on what makes an audiobook special- taking an engaging, unique story filled with twists and suspense and making it even better with a terrific narrator. Though many of the books from the Criminal Delights series feature various authors delivering dark suspense stories, this title is more about suspense and the gray areas of the law enforcement and organized crime worlds and less sinister and twisted…making it right up my alley.
I loved the mystery of Piker, who kept me guessing with each new side of his personality or revelation about his past. His character steadily grew on me and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about him over the course of the story. I also really liked Emmett, particularly the way he developed throughout the book as he navigated unexpected feelings, alliances, and enemies. There’s a lot going on individually with each hero, which made for interesting stories on their own, let alone when you factored them together as a couple, but I loved the partnership and trust that steadily built between Emmett and Piker. Their chemistry was undeniable and although I hadn’t expected Blood and Bitcoin to contain a gay-for-you romance, it worked well within the parameters of the story. Then there’s the plot. There were a lot of details to work out in this novel, so the pace is a little slower at the start as all the pieces slot into place, particularly with the romance. However, the story was incredibly interesting and original, paying attention to all the little nuances that went into running a highly effective organized crime syndicate and creating something that captured and held my attention without fail.
And yet, as good as the cryptic characters, snappy dialogue, sexy romance, twists, and action scenes were, the narrator’s performance elevated them that much more and I found myself eager to slip away and listen to “just a little more”. If you are looking for a good romantic suspense and great audiobook that’s not too gory and dark, Blood and Bitcoin is exactly that.
Chris is an FBI agent who’s job it is to infiltrate a criminal organization known as the Hive. He is just the guy for the job, as he has a very dark mind. Only problem once he is accepted in is that he falls for his boss.
Piker is supposed to be a well known and heavily guarded secret. Right away with meeting Chris he has several problems. First, his cover is blown. Second, the attraction is almost too intense. What does he do now?
This was such a fast paced and incredible story. I could not put it down. The main characters are so sexy and their sparks are seriously flying all over! The story itself is intense and even though its dark, extremely compelling. I really enjoyed the heck out of these characters and hope we see them again in further installments of this new Criminal Delights series.
***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review.
Fantastic!
A year ago, if you’d asked me if I like reading mafia type stories I would have answered with an emphatic “no!” L.A. Witt and narrator Michael Ferraiuolo changed all of that when I listened to If the Seas Catch Fire last August. So, when L.A. offered a review copy of her latest book, Blood & Bitcoin, I couldn’t pass it up – especially when I found out that Michael will also be narrating the audiobook (coming soon).
I couldn’t put this book down once I started it but I made the mistake of starting to read it too late one night so the need for sleep forced me to put is aside for a few hours. The story grabbed me right from the start. While this is a mafia-type story, with lines between right and wrong a bit blurred, I felt that the main characters were much more good guys than bad.
The blurb is pretty long and tells you everything you need to know about the story line. What it can’t convey is how heart-pounding the action is. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book. My words in this review can’t possibly do justice to the story so I’m not even going to try. The many twists and turns kept me guessing and when something major was revealed I didn’t see it coming. The hot-as-fire sexy time in the book wasn’t bad either.
While I’m probably never going to be a big fan of mafia type stories, one thing is certain: if L.A. Witt writes it, I will read it. And I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook!
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***