I’m Beatrice Kennedy, but everyone calls me Beat. I live a low-key life, fresh out of college and drifting from town to town until I find my home. I love music, and how it stirs even the deepest and untouched parts of your soul. Depending on what you choose to listen to, would depend on what it touches. It’s the drug we all damper in, only different strains. My strain is Jazz. The smooth … instrumental strums that take over me. The sound of cigar smoke, bourbon and an old dusty fedora hat. My strain wasn’t rap, and it sure wasn’t laced with some A-class shit like murky blue eyes casted down from the Lord and the Devil’s handcrafted smile. I knew who he was—the whole world did. One fateful night set off a chain of events, events that no one was coming back from. You can’t save people who don’t want to be saved. You can’t pull them up from the ocean when they’ve latched themselves to an anchor. Love was my anchor, destruction was the water that was drowning me, and the rope that was so tightly clamped around my ankles, was woven with the lyrics of Aeron Romanov-Reed, also known as, ‘Manik. He steals hearts from all around the world, but one night, he stole something that wasn’t his to steal.
Me.
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I knew when I picked up this book to read that it was going to drive me crazy. That’s the expectation I have for any story coming from Amo Jones. She has this way of evoking such strong emotions from me and I thought I was prepared.
While reading ‘Manik I found myself grinning and laughing, staring at the words in utter disbelief, wanting to throw my kindle (I didn’t… that ish cost me good money), getting turned on, getting turned off, and scratching my head in confusion. Blow-my-mind, spank-my-cooch, and rant-to-people-who-have-no-idea-what-I’m-mad-about confusion!
So Beat was a lost girl. All of her family was gone and she was alone in this cold, cruel world. Bouncing from city to city, she’s made a little home for herself in New Orleans. She’s found an amazing roommate and friend in Kyle, she’s tending bar at the city’s hot spot, and she’s lonely. And then Aeron ‘Manik’ Romanov-Reed walks through the door.
There were so many things about this dude that made him incredibly hot to me. It was the way he found pleasure in torturing Beat while his heart called for her. It was how he had different names to match the different parts that made him who he was. His was a character that spoke to me. He was a talented rapper, a soldier for the Bratva, a loyal son, and the man who would finally learn what love is.
The flow of the story was disjointed and I found myself getting lost sometimes. The dialogue itself could be a bit weird and there was a time or five that I wasn’t really sure what was going on. It felt like there were several plots happening at the same time. However, somewhere in the middle, things started to make sense and I was glad that I wasn’t able to put this book down. All of a sudden, this love story turned even darker and went down a road or two I wasn’t expecting.
Honestly, the fact Beat and Manik could be together at all defies logic. I wish there were more words describing how they got through it all. They basically met, she witnessed something she wasn’t supposed to, she was taken captive, he enjoyed tormenting her, she went free, he didn’t let her go far, they become a couple. Then the truth of who she is starts to come out, tensions arise in the Bratva, she’s stuck in a cage, bad things happen, he takes her and treats her like crap, she goes free again, and then even more truths come out. I wanted the couple to have more couple moments. Because I just couldn’t see how these two could be together.
Then again, this is fiction and Jones did an amazing job of taking me out of reality and thrusting me into the warped illusion that swam with unrealistic events, insane levels of intensity, and had Beat and Manik living in a world of happy endings. This story was perfectly imperfect and I’m hoping there will be more books set in this world of Manik’s creation.
Amo Jones does not disappoint with Manik. It’s deliciously dark and twisted, yet somehow, she weaves a romance into the story. One of my faves from her!
I gave a big rounds of applause to Amo Jones.. Manik was my first read and this book was epic and my I cant stopped my jaw from dropping.
Beatrice Kennedy aka ‘Beat’ is a young orphan who have lived a simple life and loved to dance.. I love her free spirit, love for movement.. a happy girl despite having no family..
Aeron Romanov-Reed aka big stinky Manik , sigh.. a cold heartless bastard.. A young man with rage, a man with no freaking mess atitude.. complicated.. Long list of why you shouldnt go near within 100 ft.. a man who are related with Bratva..
He intrigued me the most.. What made him tick? Nothing has ever satisfied him until he met Beat..
The story wasnt of a prince of charming had came by to rescue you from the witch.. Hell No, Amo will put you to work.. her Manik was a DARK heavy duty romance.. The one who will spike your brain and squeezed your heart.. Gaah..crazy rollercoaster.. Manik will bring your guard down.. and the reality of love – has to be earned..
I love Amo’s writing style because she didnt make it easy.. I was engaged from the first page and Manik had captured my curiosity. A complicated man who build a hard thick armor to surround his feelings.. in the end, Beat got him.. so does he.. her innocent spirit had prove me wrong..
I am hunger for more.. this book is recommended for sure 🙂
Five Aeron f*cking Romanov-Reed stars !!!
What Amo Jones served us in Manik is the story of Romeo and Juliet on crack! Welcome to the rapper world, where music is intertwined with mafia scores and the power of feelings is able to overcome everything!
Amo Jones. I love you, woman. Once again you created an anti-hero who despite the rough exterior is able to melt my heart. You gave us another tough heroine who doesn’t bend under pressure. You’ve created a story that’s beautiful in a gritty, dark and gruesome world. And the scenes between the heroes … ufff, it was hot! I admire the unexplored resources of the author’s imagination. I bow to you, Amo!
I classify Manik as MUST-READ. Definitely!
Holy F@cking Sh!t!!!!!!!!!
I love that I spent the entire book twisted up. Pulled from one side to the other every time I swiped a page. Amo Jones is one twisted sister! This story is incredibly complex. The entire time you read it , you only see the fuzzy, unfocused version of it. When the clarity comes, your jaw will be in the floor.
Manik is more. More than anything you think you know. More than your naughtiest dreams and most depraved nightmares. More.
I fell for a brooding, fallen angel. I fell for the devil wearing the most beautiful skin. I fell for the darkness shrouded in more darkness and I have a feeling you will too.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
“I’m drawn to his shadows so I can see who they reflect.”
Amo Jones never fails to blow my mind. I love her twisted mind and the characters that she gives a voice. Never a dull moment and never a minute of sleep until I turn the last page. She’s always good for a book hangover.
Manik is one of her best alpha assholes. I know that you will love/hate him as much as I do. “She’s awoken the beast.”
Beatrice (aka Beats) is a gifted dancer but is currently working as a bartender. She’s stayed at her current job longer than most because Kyle, her coworker, and roommate, is the closest to a family that she’s felt in a while. All was right in her world until the night that Manik walked into the club where she worked. Even I felt the chemistry between them. That would be a night that would change her life forever…
Manik is used to getting what he wants. If it’s not given freely, he takes it. He took her.
He’s so jaded and rude and arrogant and hot and sexy without trying. If she ever gets free she needs to go to the doctor and be checked for Stockholm Syndrome, that’s a real thing, right? Her head wants to go home, but her body responds to him without asking permission.
It just gets gooder and gooder from there. It’s dark and dirty and full of secrets and lies. It’s sexy and scandalous and full of bitterness and betrayal. It’s all that and more. I didn’t want it to end and I didn’t stop reading until it did, the following day. I’m ready for more of Amo Jones, wherever she wants to take me. The line forms here…
This was my first ever book by Amo Jones and it was thrilling, crazy, emotional, and intense.
I was disappointed with the book for about the first half. It was very slow, not much happened, and boring. Only exciting thing is Manik took Beat, let her go, and Kat, which is Manik’s sister stayed with her.
Then we get to 58% of the book, and it takes off, and I mean really takes off. Manik and Beat need one another. But.. Manik finds out things and now Beat needs and went on the run with the help of Kat. Manik gets her through…
So much raw emotion in this book, and I loved it. I’m sooo happy he finally said I Love You! That pulled at my heartstrings, because if you know Manik…. yeah, that’s all that needs to be said…
Also, love that Midnight Mayhem made an appearance in this book and Beat got to experience so of that… very quickly though…
Their love is poisonous and only those two can be the antidote for one another.
“Aeron Romanov-Reed is undeniably the best thing I never had.”
Okay. Aeron made this book for me 100%. This book was angsty, twisted, dark and emotional and I was here for it. Manik is all over the place from the beginning and it instantly drew me into the story.
I felt like the story was a little disjointed or choppy even at times which left me a little confused. It didn’t feel as smooth as some of Amo Jones other work. Overall I enjoyed the book and the characters.
Another Amo Jones book that sucks you in with the first chapter and spits you our on the other side not knowing what just happened. No other author manages to evoke such a multitude of emotions with just one book!
Manik. Such a fucking head trip. Literally. This book can be read as a standalone (fucking finally lol) and I have long awaited the day I got my hands on it. An action-packed romance about rap, the mafia and filled with so much darkness, black was all my soul was bathed in whilst reading. I’ve been a loyal and obsessive fan of this author (I watch her from her windows). She’s a fucking phenomenal writer and that is something that cannot be questioned. However, there was just so much hype surrounding this book that I was disappointed. And I hate that I feel this way because I wanted so desperately to love it. I also feel it would be unfair of myself as a blogger and as a human being not to give a completely honest opinion.
Don’t get me wrong, the plot and the writing were amazing. The execution was perfect and I couldn’t help but let the story consume me. Amo Jones did it again with another mindfuck storyline, with twists and turns that will leave you reeling. But I think my main problem was the pace and flow of the story. Oh my gosh, they were all over the place, I couldn’t keep up. I felt like everything was rushed. There were moments were time would freeze and the emotions would overwhelm me but before I could even comprehend what it was I was feeling, shit got fast-forwarded real quick. The plot was for me messy. The solution to the conflict was lackluster after all the buildup and fear that was brought on from their circumstances. It made me dizzy and kinda affected my reading experience.
But despite those minor stumbling blocks for me, I can’t fault how much I loved the storyline. I can’t say much without spoiling it but how fated is it. I can’t tell you how much I love Manik and Beat as individuals and as a couple. Watching them struggle through their demons, risking everything for their love was hauntingly beautiful. There were so many obstacles, so many dark forces at bay, that for a second I thought it wouldn’t end well.
Manik AKA Aeron fucking Romanov-Reed; such a dominant and lethal personality. So many sides to the one person, it gave me whiplash trying to keep up. He is the epitome of fucked up goodness, a savage beast inside of him that’s waiting for the smallest sense of freedom. Watching this alpha-hole fight his cravings for Beat is mind-numbing. Beatrice is a girl we all crave to be. Curvy, sassy, athletic & so strong. She has so much strength for the bad hand that’s been dealt to her. My heart hurt for her, it howled at her pain and stood proudly at her strength and unwavering courage. I wanna be her when I grow up.
Overall, it’s a brilliant read. The storyline is well worth it, there is just a lot more that could’ve been changed to improve it, in my opinion. But otherwise, a thrilling read, that managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, despite my reservations. I can’t wait to see what see what Amo Jones has in store for us next.
Manik is twisted. Manik is gut wrenching. Manik is soul wrecking. Manik is about music and dance and the power of art. Manik is raw hard emotions. Amo Jones hit me hard with all the dark feels and as always, she made me a mess! In the best possible way. Beat and Manik are made for each other but it was a rollercoaster ride to their own kind of happily ever after. Manik’s monster calls to Beat’s own. Manik is unhinged, deranged, a bit psychopathic and yet I am under his spell. Because he hates and loves with same intensity and dedication. Beat is complex and messed up. But she is beautifully broken. She is fire and destruction but she is peace for Manik’s beast. They have a traumatic past and they have to fight through the deceptions and deadly obstacles.Bloody. Chaotic. Passionate to the point of ultimately deviant and filthy. Manik is true Amo Jones creation. It carries her signature no-holds-barred and zero-fucks-given writing. You will scream. You will curse. And you will want more of this dark delicacy.
What I feel for this book…. well I feel all kinds of things.. I wanted to scream, hurt someone, cry, laugh, love, hate.. so many emotions. This is a dark read with some dark contents but it’s an Amo book so you should know how this will go. Beat was one character that you wanted everything good to happen to, she had been through so much. Manik/Aeron was something else… at first I wasn’t a fan but then he kinda grew on me once I knew everything. He was loyal and loved hard. He was alpha!! Once again I fell in love with the characters Amo wrote about. I love getting into her head!!!
4.5 ! Of course I loved this book because Amo wrote it and that girl is a freaking genius! I love how she is able to get super dark with her books but also keep it from crossing a line.
Let me just say, Manik is fucking delicious. He’s a badass, ripped, psychotic rapper who oozes sex appeal. It’s really not hard to understand why girls fall for him, including Beat.
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I also love Beat’s character. Although sometimes I wish she put up more of a fight against Manik, I understand it was hard to resist his allure. I did love her personality and how she captivated everyone around her. She was the girl you want to hangout with mixed with a few dashes of the girl you don’t want to mess with.
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And good God do these two have some HOT chemistry together. They are raw and passionate wile also being dark and twisted together. No one else could bring out what they bring out in each other, they are perfectly fucked up together.
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To be completely honest though… while I loved this book, the plot, the characters, the nitty gritty of it all, there was one thing that bothered me in the end. There is one scene from a side character’s point of view and at the end of the book I felt like that scene didn’t make sense with what ended up happening. Maybe if there had been additional scenes explaining that person’s thought process it would have so I instead just try to disregard that scene.
But overall I know this is a book I will read over and over again!
MANIK, you are so sexy, Beat you are so strong! Amo you do it every time! This is such a god standalone book, it pulls at all my dark romance heart strings!!!!
I always know when I start and Amo Jones it’s goong to knock me flat on my butt and Manik was no exception. I loved everything about this book; the characters, the plot, the never ending twists and turns, and all the kindle melting heat! Manik was the best kind of bad boy. I loved him. I hurt for Beat as she wound her way through all the secrets and pain. I hate that it took me so long to read this book. I will definitely be shouting about it to everyone!
I LOVED this story. This was my first Amo read and I went back and bought some others right after finishing this one. Manik is my kind of psycho! The story was written and every detail was thought out and explained. All of the seemingly random small things ended up being hints at bigger meanings, which I love. Aeron father was your typical ruthless mafia man. I mean, of course he was ruthless, but he actually had a level on compassion for his children that is most times lacking in mafia romances that was refreshing. While the book circled around the crime world and those involved in it, the story developed around that world instead of being solely about it. I also am thankful for the small mentions on Midnight Mayhem, which I can’t wait to be released.
A dark and crazy good story.
The writing is phenomenal, amo captivated me from the 1st page.
Twists and turns, Sexual tension and amazing character’s.
I would love for the secondary character’s to have their own books.
“How can someone so achingly beautiful hold a soul so dark. Or maybe that’s how it works, maybe the most beautiful faces hide the darkest souls.”
‘Manik was my first book by Amo Jones. And it definitely won’t be my last. This book is simply incredible. Incredibly dark, incredibly well written, incredibly thrilling, incredibly everything.
“Looking into his eyes is like looking into the center of a storm, one that will suck you in an spit you out”
‘Manik has it all: dark souls that capture you right away, souls that light up the dark even though the dark tries to tarnish the light. It combines angsty and thrilling parts, with scenes that will get your windows steamy. A perfect combination of strong and troubled characters, falling in love in the world of the Bratva.
“In the dark is where wilted flowers grow, they get watered with the blood of his enemies and the fluid from my broken heart.”
‘Manik isn’t a book you can write extensive long reviews about, because you really need to experience this book by yourself. If you are into dark romance, pick this one up, fasten your belts and get ready for an exciting ride, that will grip you from the very first page to the last.
However, a fair warning: You really need to be prepared to dive into really really dark places, you’ll read about situation that might be triggers and that will pull heavy on your soul.
“I am a survivor, not a victim. I am a fighter, not a coward. I’m a lover, not a hater. I’m his Cub, for now, and forever.”
If that cover doesn’t entice you to read this book, then the content will! I went into this book completely blind, didn’t read the blurb, didn’t look at teasers, nada…so I can say I was surprised it was a “mafia” type story. I am not typically a fan of mafia plots, but it was impossible NOT to be pulled into this chaotic and toxic world right from the beginning! I was YET AGAIN left blown away by her writing ability. At this point, I have only read her ELITE KINGS CLUB series and I didn’t know if she’d be able to stay at that level of “mind-f*ckery” and heart racing intensity, but she proved to me that she can and WILL. Amo truly has a gift in her ability to build a multi-faceted plot with SO many layers that pile on top of each other to create one huge picture. We get multiple angles with this story through dual POV’s, which was AMAZING, because even with TWO POV’s, the reader was STILL left guessing as to where this story is going. Sometimes when authors write with dual POV’s, one POV kinda gives away the direction of the story, but with this book, there was still the air of mystery as to motive and goal, which I LOVED. It truly kept me riveted to the pages. I NEEDED to know the motivations behind these characters.
My heart was racing and I was at the edge of my seat for most of this book! The small revelations that revealed themselves throughout the story were perfectly placed and left me thinking, “I did not see that coming”, several times. It all built to one epic story!
I have come to the realization that I need to “expect the unexpected” with Amo and that’s one big reason I will continue to come back to her stories time and time again! Her stories truly catch me off guard and I can’t get enough of them! I also have learned that I LOVE Amo’s heroine’s just as much as the heroes, they give as good as they get and Beatrice definitely a woman Aeron was NOT expecting. *smirk* “Not only does she not run from my beast, but she pets it, caresses it. and soothes it.” -Aeron “Manik”
***Be warned, this book is a DARK romance and is not filled with “fluff”. Aeron is ROUGH around the edges and I would say he “takes no prisoners”, but then I would be lying *wink*. There is kidnapping, murder, and some graphic scenes that might not sit well with some readers.
5 “I will be your cub” stars!
Have you ever discovered an author that made you rethink everything you love in a book? Amo Jones is that author for me. Before I found her I had never read anything you would consider dark. I read mostly contemporary romance books that always had HEA’s. I was looking for something different and one day a couple years ago I came across one of her teasers on Facebook. I bought the book right away and I have never looked back! I have read and loved EVERY BOOK she has ever released! Amo Jones snatched me out of the arms of those fictional Prince Charmings and threw me heart first into the arms of the Devil and I am loving every single second! MANIK is another in a long line of 5 Star reads full of heart pounding anticipation, angst and twist & turns that will leave your head spinning and begging for more! Amo has once again introduced us to a strong Heroine you will want to be your BFF and a sexy Alphahole you will want to marry and murder at the same time. Her writing will pull you in and make you feel every word. I was completely immersed in Beat & Aeron/Manik’s world and I swear there were times I could hear their voices, feel the anger and taste the fear. Their love and passion is deep and all consuming. The writing is beautifully poetic and simply one of a kind. Amo Jones gifts us with some of the hottest, sexiest, most intense love stories I have ever read. The highlight feature on my Kindle got quite a workout in this book and as tempted as I am to share some of those lines here I want readers to experience them for the first time within the story as I did. If you love dark romances this one will not disappoint and if you are looking to step outside your comfort zone I urge you try this author. 5 STARS!