This isn’t how fairy tales typically begin, but it’s where mine starts…No money, no phone, and abandoned on the streets of Chicago. With my baby in my arms, I wander into a bar in a shady neighborhood and ask to use their phone.When my father turns us away and completely disowns me, the bar owner, and total hottie, offers us a place to stay…no strings attached.I’m leery at first.Hot alpha … attached.
I’m leery at first.
Hot alpha guy.
Down on her luck single mother.
I mean, who wouldn’t be?
Lucio Gallo isn’t like most men, though. He’s fiercely protective, loyal, and did I mention he’s covered in nothing but muscle?
Above all else, he’s everything I need but never knew I wanted.
Men of Inked Southside Series:
Book 1 – Maneuver
Book 2 – Flow
Book 3 – Hook
Book 4 – Hustle
Book 5 – Love
more
Lucio and Delilah meet when she walks into his bar with her baby in the middle of the night wanting to use the phone. She’s stranded, with no phone or money and he definitely steps up. He becomes her fierce protector and tender baby daddy. There are classic Chelle elements with alpha guys but independent women. Action, emotions and the funny matriarch of the family Betty who just wants everyone to get married and give her grandbabies! This is a story of Instalove which I can tell you actually does happen. Happened to me and hubby and 14 years later we are still together and in love! This is a great start to the Chicago contingents’ series. Narrated by Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield we feel the feels and laugh at the funnies. As always they both deliver. A great audiobook all round.
Quick read
Cute but not overly detailed. Not much in the way of plot. Not much in the way of hot sex which is disappointing. Though the dance and piercing had promise.
Feel good book,I liked the ending
This book about Delilah and Lucio was a quick read and very entertaining. Delilah, having come from money, was the total opposite of a snob and very thankful of everything she receives. Her father is the worst and I was happy with the way she handled her last encounter with him. Lucio’s family was a loving, caring family that pitched in when they found Delilah was down on her luck. The characters were well written and enjoyable. I really liked how Delilah grew a pair and put her father and the father of her baby in their place. The only thing I found lacking was the sex scenes which weren’t as steamy as the other Gallo books were. Overall, this was a really good book.
Hot sexy man with heart and love for family. What more can we ask! Love the quick wit, humor and repoire amidst life challenges. Fun read!
Enjoyable enough but nothing much happens. Our couple don’t have many obstacles to overcome apart from the fact that they’ve only known each other for ten minutes. Fun premise, but I’d have liked to see more internal, if not external, conflict.
Easy to read, predictable ending, lacklustre
Enjoyed reading!
This author is hit or miss for me. I was actually really enjoying this story. But it lost me when Lucio took advantage of a very drunk Delilah, which is a total turn off for me. Plus, there wasn’t any conflict between our main characters. I didn’t mind the story being sweet or an insta-love, but I wish we could have seen them work through something together and come out stronger.
Loved it!
I love this author and I’m crazy about her characters. I always drown deeply into their stories because they are that addictive.
And apparently I’m a sucker for the Gallo family no matter where they live.
It was impossible not to love Lucio and Delilah. They gravitated towards each other so beautifully, they connected effortlessly and their chemistry was enthralling.
Lulu was definitely the cherry on top of it all. She brought lightness to the story and the way everyone cared for her was so heartwarming.
And let’s face it, who could deny a hot, built, hunk of a man with a sweetie on his big arms?
The book had little drama, but that didn’t stop me from enoying the heck out of it.
I think it was just what I needed.
Maneuver – Chelle Bliss – Her dad picks her and her baby up from the airport drunk, so she gets out of the car in the middle of the night with her daughter on the other side of town. Delilah walks into a bar, and the family who owns the bar adopts her on the spot. (Is this slightly farfetched? Maybe, but they are Italian.) Lucio is pretty much in love with baby Lulu from the moment he lays eyes on her, and falling for Delilah is a heartbeat behind. I kept cracking up as his family members systematically meet Delilah once, and immediately tell him to propose. Lol! Can’t wait for more family antics from the Gallos! Happy Reading!
Delilah Miles is a single mother who has stood by her fathers side but when he kicks her out in the middle of nowhere, she is worried about what to do she is utterly penniless. When she walks into a bar with her baby in tow, she meets Lucio Gallo.
Lucio is stunned by the beautiful woman with the baby that walks into the bar. When he tries to help out he finds that she has no one to rely on. His mother decides she is just what Lucio needs and enlists his family to help. Lucio finds himself falling for Delilah, could she end up feeling the same way?
This was fun. I liked the Gallo family, had some humorous moments. Really liked the mother in this story, she is one determined woman. Look forward to reading more in this series.
The perfect guy. He’s loving, protective, yet let’s her be her. He backs off and lets her handle things all the while having her back. Fabulous story.
Gives you hope of good people in the world. The Gallo family although having the reputation due to his father of organized crime are bursting with love and family. They welcome Delilah In a time of need after her drunk alcoholic father kicks her out of the car with her baby without any money or phone. Lucio steps in to help her and get her a place to stay. And they have an instant connection. Although she is attracted to him Delilah is skeptical of Those who offer help without an altering motive or want something I. Return and slowly drops her guard to let the family in and trust them. Love their relationship and how they seem to just mesh with each other. And how Lucio Embraces Lulu as his.
Great story. Takes you away from all your troubles.
Amazing! I’ve volunteered to review this book for United Indie Book Blog. I love reading Chelle Bliss books. This is the first book in a new series called Men of Inked: Southside. I’m so glad your men of inked are back with a new series!! Lucio Gallo is the man every woman fantasies about, sweet, sexy protective, and caring. I’m so in love with Delilah and Lucio. I have so missed the Gallo family and can not wait for Flow. This new series doesn’t disappoint. You’ll fall in love all over again! You will not be disappointed with this one. You HAVE to get this one!!! Keep up the amazing work Chelle!
I absolutely love Chell Bliss, her characters just jump from the page. You are immediately sucked into each an every story.
Maneuver will have you begging for more of the Gallo Family, Lucio an Delilahs story is so heartwarming an will.melt you heart
oh my love of this story. The audio was out of the park.
“They’re a reminder of a life experience. They mean something. They’re not scars. They’re life.”
YouTube review ~https://youtu.be/CtFvME1V_kM
So it’s been awhile since I’ve read about the Gallos and the Southside Gallos are HOT! I really enjoyed the initial meeting of Lucio and Delilah and to watch throughout the story their individual growth as well as the growth of their relationship. Wonderful characters and overall enjoyable read!
h: Delilah
H: Lucio
(Dual POVs)
Maneuver starts out with Delilah getting kicked out of the car by her drunk father. As soon as Delilah grabs her baby Lulu out of the car, her father speeds off leaving her with absolutely nothing. She turns to the first place of business she sees, Hook & Hustle, and walks inside to ask them to use their phone. Here, she meets Lucio, who is more than happy to help a beautiful woman in distress. After being cut off by her father, Delilah accept’s Lucio’s offer to live as a tenant above him.
This was my first read by this author and it was lovely. A very easy, light read. Insta-love. Very little drama. No big conflict or hurdles. You HAVE to love Lucio! He’s charming, sweet, protective, a gentleman and is so gentle with Lulu. I loved watching Delilah bloom into a strong, protective mother. Lucio’s Ma was awesome
Favorite quotes:
”Then claim her,” he tells me, like it is the most natural thing in the world.
“Dude, she’s not a prize.”
“The way you’re looking at her, I’d say she is.”
-Angelo to Lucio pg 112
“No one’s taking you,” I tell Lulu, and she smiles, pulling at my cheeks. “Your momma and you were meant to be with me.” -Lucio pg 206