When I stumbled into a mafia-run club seeking a job, I was looking for protection. Little did I know I’d need protection from him. Conor O’ Callahan was exactly the kind of danger I was trying to avoid. He was gorgeous as sin with an accent hotter than Hades, but that’s where the charm ended. He was also cynical, cold, and downright cranky. So, you could imagine my surprise when he gave me a … imagine my surprise when he gave me a proposition. Marry him or lose my life.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I’ve learned to do what’s necessary to survive in this world, and that includes marrying a mobster. Regardless of what he might say, it’s only temporary.
It’s not like I’m going to fall for him.
Because that would be stupid, right?
The Boston Underworld Series consists of six full-length standalones that can be read in any order.
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Conor and Ivy’s story was the final in the Boston Underworld series. I loved seeing the other characters in previous books making their appearances. Conor didn’t have that total badass vibe that I’m used to seeing, but he was still hot and sweet, and so perfect for our troubled Ivy. I’ve loved this series since the beginning, and I feel like I know everyone, all the couples who have become so near and dear to my heart!
Conor has dedicated his life to the syndicate and he’s willing to do anything to prove his loyalty, even sacrifice his own life. But when his boss orders him to keep an eye on a possible witness of an enemy’s execution, and do what is necessary to solve the problem, he finds the task impossible! Ivy is relieved to have escaped the hell she was trapped in and her only desire is to survive and get her life back. When Conor makes her a proposition to marry him or lose her life, she’s so desperate that she accepts, even if it means putting her heart in danger! Will Conor and Ivy take the risk of falling in love? An amazing mafia story! Conor is an irresistible alpha man, who will do anything to protect his wife! Ivy is vulnerable but she can’t help falling in love with Conor and appreciates all that he does for her! I loved reading about their love!
Whilst this is much shorter than the other Boston Underworld books, it is too long (IMO) to class as a novella. Even with it’s shorter length it still had lots of depth and two very engaging main characters. I felt a real connection to both Ivy and to Conor, both good people caught up in bad situations, mostly beyond their control. Whilst the story was a little insta-love for me, I did still believe in their relationship. It moved a touch quickly for my preference, but it was still really well written.
There were several plot strands that twisted and wove together really well. The pace and quality of writing held my attention throughout, in fact I read this in one ‘sitting’. We got some glimpses of much loved characters from previous books, my personal favourite being Ronan. I love how the author overlaps her stories so that sprinkled throughout this were events from another perspective.
This is a definite must read for any A Zavarelli fan. Whilst it can be read as a stand alone, I do think you need to have read Crow, Reaper and Saint to totally appreciate this book, it’s shorter length means some of the mafia background detail is only briefly touched on. For those less familiar with this author’s work, it does contain bad language and scenes of violence, as one would expect in a gritty mafia read.
When Ivy goes to Sláinte seeking a job (and refuge from the Locos), Crow (Crow) gives the job of keeping an eye on her to Conor, the youngest recruit in their branch of the Irish syndicate. Conor is less than impressed by gaunt looking Ivy, not realizing (or caring when he does find out) that she looks that way by virtue of practically starving, rather than by being an addict. But then, then he finds out something about her that changes everything. He can’t take out someone in her circumstances. So he gives her a proposition with two options. One option leads to her being a part of the Irish mafia that she wants no part of. The other? Well…you can imagine what the other option is.
But what happens when Conor’s proposition leads to feelings? Feelings neither expected or wanted.
I so love the Boston Underworld series. It’s one of my all time favorite series for its gritty, dark portrayal of the Irish mob and their Russian allies. I’ve fallen for each couple whose story plays out among the pages of this series and will sorely miss them, but I’ve gotta say that Conor and Ivy are the perfect couple to end this amazing series. Conor with his hardened heart falling for the deceptively strong Ivy and not knowing how to deal with his feelings, and becoming a full blown alpha raging the streets of Boston looking for his woman. Whew! Conor may be the youngest in the clan, but he’s no baby, especially when his love is threatened.
I will miss all my couples – Crow & Mack (Crow), Ronan & Sasha (Reaper), Alexei & Talia (Ghost), Rory & Scarlett (Saint), and Niko & Tanaka (Thief). But if the series had to end, I’d say Conor was the perfect story to go out with. It’s just as dark and brutal as its predecessors, just as well-written, and has just an amazing a couple as Conor’s brothers and their wives. Kudos to A. Zavarelli for giving The Boston Underworld a very fitting conclusion.
Fast paced, Mafia style
Conor has been with the Mafia ever since a tragedy with his younger brother and is constantly trying to prove to Crow he’s loyal and their for the brotherhood. When Crow gives him a job with regards a young female, it goes pear shaped quickly. Ivy has been hassling Crow for a job for a while now and finally he’s allowing her to dance. Ivy’s trying to keep a low profile as one of the gangs is after her but they won’t dare come into the Irish strip club, if they value their lives. When it appears there is no other way to protect Ivy, Conor proposes a marriage
Fantastic story, great to revisit with old favourites and a fast paced, Mafia style story that will keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation
My heart nearly melted with Conor. Without giving the plot away, there are certain scenes where the gruff mobster fades and you see the lovely tender-hearted man beneath. It’s so apparent how Conor and Ivy belong together, but whew–the things they have to overcome to fall for each other. This book checked all my reading boxes – dark, gritty, plenty of steam, and some sweet, unexpected moments.
I didn’t have expectations about this book, I’m happy to be wrong. The characters are compelling, the story is good and never boring. I like that the author didn’t spent much time repeting herself, the story has a nice flow and a good amount of inner dialogue (I hate when the characters spent more time in their heads then doing other things).
The insta-love bothered me a bit, but not enough to distracted me from the story. For what Ivy been through, I expect for mistrust and less insta-trust, but that’s ok.
I love this narrator! She is new to me and even though I rather make doing the Male POV, she has such a good irish accent that I didn’t mind! mind you she has a sing-song way of saying things and that might be a bit distracting, but even so I really like her work
Conor by A. Zavarelli is a romantic suspense that I listened to on audio narrated by Tracy Marks.
This is the sixth book in the Boston Underworld series and each book can be read as a standalone.
I absolutely love A. Zavarelli books! I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the relationship between Ivy and Conor.
This is the second book in the series that I have read and I definitely need to go back and read the rest of the series.
Tracy did an amazing job on the narration. She really knows how to bring a story to life.
I would recommend this book if you like romantic suspense.
Audiobook Obsession Reviewer
A phenomenal, and exhilarating journey to go on with Conor and Ivy. I have loved and adored this entire series, but Conor has to be my favorite with his protective and possessive demeanor and the way he tries to fight how he truly feels. I was rooting for a happy ending throughout this entire book, it pulled me in from page one and kept me on my toes till the end. I enjoyed everything about this book. It was simply perfect!
So it took me a little bit to read this book not because I wasn’t excited about the book or the series but because I couldn’t remember who Conor was. So of course I had to figure it out, and fell in love all over again with the characters of the Boston Underworld. Conor and Ivy’s story now included in my love for how the author spins around the couple’s lives as they come together.
Loyalty is as strong as gets with Conors character. Put that with being Irish and in Crow’s crew makes him swoon worthy. Tasked to keep an eye on Ivy, the new stripper, what he finds out only want a to protect her.
A true warrior shines through and through in Ivy. Doing whatever if takes to survive to get out of the world she has found herself in, including marrying into another one that is just as dangerous.
If you love this series as much I do then it’s definitely a must read even if you haven’t read any other books then it can be read as a standalone.
I love this entire series and it was so good to see the characters from the other books in this one. Once again you get heartache, suspense, love and loyalty. I would love to be in the good side of these guys, Conor was such a sweet sometimes clueless protector. I loved how all he wanted was to take care of them. Amazing job once again !!!
I’m loving this Boston Underworld series, and Conor might just be my favourite mobster of all. When Ivy catches Conor’s eye dancing at Club Slainté, he has no clue how much his life is going to change. Charged with looking out for her, he spends his days tracking her every move, and he gets way more than he bargained for. Ivy is homeless, trying to save money, and hoping to stay under the radar of the Loco gang. Being taken under the wing of Conor O’Callahan is more than Ivy can take, she trusts no one, least if all this beast of a man who has turned her world upside down. Neither one of these two strong characters is willing to show their true feelings, hiding them from each other, which only causes more tension. Lots of action, lots of violence, fantastic characters and another great story. All narrated brilliantly by Tracy Marks. A full five star audio read.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer
Conor is beautifully written–there’s alpha a-hole goodness along with tender romance and high-paced action. Everything that makes a Zavarelli book so captivating. Well done!!
Audiobook: Narrator – Tracy Marks
Ms. Marks is definitely the voice of this series and I can’t imagine listening to it with any other narrator. She does such a superb job of bringing these characters to life, showcasing a depth of emotion that is unparalleled to other audios I’ve listened to. I never struggle with her male/female voices and she has their accents down perfectly, at least for the Texan who, honestly, wouldn’t know a true Boston/Irish accent if it bit her on the nose. But nevertheless, I’m accepting it as 100% legit and you can’t change my mind.
I hate that this is the last of the series, or at least it appears to be. I’ve loved every book and this one rocketed my love for it into the stratosphere.
I love a story where the heroine is the underdog, sweet and in trouble with no help in sight. And that’s exactly what I got with Ivy. She’s in desperate need of a job, and in her attempts to get one she has put herself on the Irish Mob’s radar. Enter Connor.
Connor was pulled into the Irish mafia when he went in search for revenge against his brother’s killer. Since that time he’s continued to prove himself to them, although it’s really only in his own mind. When he’s tasked with finding out what Ivy’s story is he resents not only the job, but her. His misconceptions about her lead to a fiery meeting as well as additional moments which has him treating her pretty shabbily. But as in the very best of stories, once he realizes her true circumstances, he allows his alpha light to shine.
I loved that Connor was so protective and possessive of Ivy. Even when he was fighting his own feelings towards her, he couldn’t stop himself from protecting her. Ivy was sweet and caring, and she grabbed Connor’s heart from pretty much the beginning. This couple have a lot to overcome, both in their relationship as well as from outside sources. But through it all there was never a doubt that they were meant for each other and their chemistry was electric.
This is a fast read/listen and I gobbled it down as quickly as possible. The steam is scorching and the characters were well developed with backgrounds that captured my heart and had me rooting for them as not only individuals but as a couple. Secondary characters help to move the story along and there is some pretty graphic violence that resulted in more graphic violence. I was completely cheering on the latter violence.
Loved, loved, loved this one. Perfect if you like the sweet helpless heroine and jealous possessive alpha hero.
Love this series! Each one is a different character with a very different story, and they are all favorites of mine.
I am so glad that A. Zavarelli made one more book after Thief, Conor was the perfect one to end the Boston Underworld series with! I absolutely love this series (with a slight exception of Thief) and this book completely fit the Boston Underworld mold that A. Zavarelli made with all the other books. Conor doesn’t want to go against Crows orders but once he finds out Ivy has an innocent son, he vows to protect them from the Locos and his own brothers. Ivy was great, life really threw her some curve balls and beat her down but she was doing what she had to so she could save up some money and disappear with her son. This books was stuffed with romance, drama and of course violence (it’s the Irish mafia after all) and I wish it could have gone on longer! I would have loved to know more about Ivy before she stumbled into club. Even though Ivy was a new character in this book, I enjoyed getting glimpses of all the previous leading males and how they molded Conor into who he was!
Although I have not read all the other Boston Underworld books, this book is my favorite of the ones I have. These two are put in an impossible situation and yet they are able to find love and perfection with it. There is plenty of angst and times that you will be on your toes trying to figure out what happens. The characters are absolutely amazing and with the narration you feel like you are right there with them. Great book!
Who knew that the way to keep yourself alive and safe from the mob and a street gang would be to marry into the mob? That was Conor’s half baked plan. Marrying Ivy ensures that his mob brothers won’t hurt her and the gang won’t dare to go against the Irish mafia. Reluctantly they both enter into this rogue arrangement. They are now chained to each other for life even tho they hate each other – at least on the outside. Neither will admit that they’re not that unhappy with the situation. I just want to slap them!! Get it together! Both have tough exteriors but hearts of gold. Some of the hottest relationships stem from hatred. Again, get it together!
Wow, I loved this story! I think it’s one of my faves in this series!
ConorIvy! Great Story, Great Audible Listen
Conor
Boston Underworld, Book 6
By: A. Zavarelli
Narrated by: Tracy Marks
I love the story A. Zavarelli created, as well as the world and it’s characters. The storylines are interesting and well written. They engrossed me from start to end. The characters are complex and well developed. Neither Conor or Ivy had an easy life. A younger Conor was ready to die to avenge his brothers death but wound up being recruited into the Irish Mafia. Now a member of the brotherhood, his boss Crowe asks him to watch a girl who has been hanging around their club and looking for work. Ivy, is homeless and despondent and on the run from a rival gang, the “Locos” and she feels they would not look for her in rival territory. The chemistry between Conor and Ivy was smoking right from he start. I loved that Ivy was no weakling and not looking for a handout. I also loved how she softened Conor’s hardened heart, whether he realized it at first or not. Conor was amazing with Archer. This was my first “Boston Underworld” book and enjoyed it as a stand-alone. I will definitely be going back to read the rest of the series. I am looking forward to some more action-packed drama with twists, suspense and romance. A. Zavarelli thanks for the great story!
I listened to the Audible edition, narrated by the talented Tracy Marks. She performs the voices of all the characters, brings them to life and gives them heart and personality. She gives each character their own distinct voice making it easy to follow them. She does an amazing job with the accents, her Boston and Irish accents are so well done and spot on. Thanks for another great & entertaining listen
Conor
Boston Underworld, Book 6
By: A. Zavarelli
Narrated by: Tracy Marks
The Boston Underworld series is one of my all time favorites,and this one just reminds me why! A Zavarelli has the ideal mixture of romance and suspense in each one and Conor brings the series to the perfect ending! Ivy may have information she shouldn’t have, so Conor is entrusted to retrieve it. What is not expected is Ivy’s son Archer. To protect them both, Conor does what he has to, and these two become the unsuspecting couple. In true Zavarelli style, she gives us Conor, the loyal til the end, brave and protective alpha male. I loved him, especially his interaction with Archer. Ivy proves to be a worthy opponent, wiling to do anything to protect her son and finds herself having to protect her heart. Just the right amount of suspense, some cameos from our previous heroes(Reaper…what a visit he makes!) and a romance to melt your heart, it is a wonderful ending to this incredible series.
Now, the narration….Tracy Marks is one of my all time favorite narrators, and she nails this series. From Crow to Conor, her impeccable Irish accent, used for so many characters is what makes listening so entertaining. Add in the Boston sound for Ivy in this one and it made the story come to life. A better pick for a narrator could not have been found!
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