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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“The clock may tick, but I’m the handle, numbers, and the sound it makes.”
Amo Jones always pulls me deeply in the darkest pits with her powerfully charged and thrilling stories. Ever since I picked The Silver Swan, I have been a fan of her books to point that I crave them every single day. I am totally a goner every time I sink into her luscious words. Book after book, she totally surprises me a lot offering interesting and different stories you cannot help but fall in love with. With her books, I will definitely resort to shouting to the world because her books absolutely captivate me. Whether it is an MC book or a step brother book or a dark New Adult book, I am totally mesmerized.
MANIK is a deeply satisfying rich story full of chilling suspense and breathtaking moments. My jaw dropped. My mind discombobulated. My emotions strung up. MANIK absolutely made me a mess. The up and down storyline. The messed up characters. MANIK is a jaw dropping and twisted dark phenomena. A deadly and intoxicating masterpiece with a shocking and fast paced plot. MANIK tells a fantastic story full of twist and turns, danger, grit and passion. The story will capture you. The writing will cut you deeply. Amo Jones just spins a tale you will never forget.
Amo Jones truly gifts us with amazing characters to fall in love with. I totally fell in love with Manik and Beatrice. Characters you feel are strange but they absolutely click. Let me tell you, Manik and Beatrice are one of the strangest couples I ever but with mind blowing and electrifying chemistry. Manik and Beatrice prove they are a force and can create flames that totally sizzled my kindle.
Once you read an Amo Jones, you will be going down a rabbit hole so deep, it will be hard to truly get out. Her amazing writing, her brilliant storyline and her striking characters, MANIK truly made me one excited and satisfied reader. A must love if you love your boundaries pushed to the absolute limit. You are definitely in for an unforgettable ride.
***5 ‘Make Sure You Feed The Right One’ Stars***
Duuuuddeee.
Can we say Mindfuck??
Just a little bit?
Okay. Maybe more than a little…
Because that was some twisty, turny, angsty, dark shit going on and I loved every second of it. I mean I expected the angst and the dark, because let’s be real ~ this IS Amo Jones we are talking about ~ but some of those twists had me going “Whoa. Wait. Back up. Let’s rewind here because I don’t think I read that correctly” But I did and it was a mindfuck. Now that could have totally done me in (well not really since I do love the dark) but all the batshit crazy was tempered, just a little bit, by some sweet, swoon worthy moments (I know. I know, but there were some), funny ones and a group of characters I fell in love with and want more of!
What can I say about Manik and Beat without spoiling anything?
They drove me batshit crazy throughout most of the book and yet, I loved them. They drew me into their worlds and I didn’t want to leave. Both have had…interesting lives and their pasts have molded them into the beings they are, some good, some bad and some ugly, but they own it and all the complexity that comes with it. Their journey is all kinds of twisted, dark, angsty, smexy and, dare it say it, sweet. It is all kinds of twisted, but the one thing that is clear from their first collision is that they were always meant to be apart of each others worlds ~ if only they can survive the truths that are thrown their way.
This book is an experience. The plot twists are many and though I did figure out one thing before it was revealed, everything else was a surprise and despite how crazy they were, they also made sense in the big scheme of things ~ though there is one that I’m still not sure how I feel about, but such is life. And then there are the secondary cast of characters. All of them were unique and very well written. They gave depth to the dark and crazy world and helped to bring out all the complex facets that make up Manik and Beat. My favs are Kat, Kyle and Lenny ~ they were kind of everything ~ and Bo and X definitely peaked my interest and wouldn’t mind if any, or all, of them got their books one day in the future.
~ Copy provided via Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
I was thrilled about Amo’s new book called MANIK. This book crowned my year 2018; Amo you’re the queen.
Exciting, sensual and crazy, I’m completely under the influence of it. It’s a real masterpiece.
I recommend to everybody who loves brutal, frank, dark and wild stories. If you’re not like this, just try it out. But do not forget, I warned you.
The story itself was written in changing perspectives, which can be traceable throughout. This makes it easy to read. You are captivated by the events and the next thing you know, you’re reading the last page. The only reaction, which is expected: I want more! It seems that there’s an invisible weight on your chest, it’s like you’re actually there and you would experience it all over. This is Amo’s style, which let you fly to a totally different world and don’t let you go until you’re completely yourself. The titles of each chapter are songs that I recommend listening to, because it makes easier for you relax your mind, and you get really into the story. What is more, the graphics at the beginning of the chapters are wonderful, congratulations to the designer. She did an incredible work.
Read more: https://gcksbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/manik-by-amo-jones.html
Strange and Crazy all ways wins…
This book is a crazy rollercoaster ride, of ups and downs. The chemistry between Manik and Beat is good. The darkness and lies in this story is so crazy of epic proportions. The back story of these characters are what makes this a really good book.
All bow down to the Queen of Mind F$@&ery, because she’s done it yet again. When you think she can’t improve on brilliance, she smacks us in the face with yet again more awesomeness. Manik has more twists and turns than a roller coaster on crack. Aeron is dark and multi faceted, Beat is well Beat. No words can describe her adequately, you need to read the book to understand her and what makes her who she is. Once you enter page 1 you won’t be able to put it down til the very end, in a way all I can say is Enter at your own risk.
This was a fast paced dark and steamy read. I love how Amo paints pictures with her words and drags me all the way through the worlds she creates.
“We all have good and bad in us, make sure you feed the right one.”
I have been watching Amo Jones’ books and desperately wanting to read them for some time. I have a thing for dark and twisty romances and Amo’s work seems to fall into these categories. I was given the opportunity to read an Advanced Review Copy for my blog of Manic and O.M.G! WOW!!! Manic by Amo Jones was such a fantastic book! I totally loved it. I can see why some of my friends in the book world have told me that Amo’s books are addictive because no joke, as soon as I finished this book, I one-clicked Flip Trick and The Silver Swan from her backstock—when I will get to read them with my incredibly busy schedule is anyone’s guess, but I am determined to find the time!
“You’re lethal for me, Beatrice. You’re not just a switch to my humanity, you’re a goddamn trigger for my rage too.”
I am not an author so my attempts to spin a version of the synopsis for you will be woefully inadequate. I am lucky as a blogger to get to discover new-to-me authors regularly and that’s where Amo Jones fell. I really am kicking myself for not reading her work sooner because I loved Manik, straight up loved it! It’s dark, delicious, twisty and unique. I’ve read a lot of Mafia romances and I loved that Manik felt like a completely fresh storyline. The plot was very unpredictable. I thought I had it all figured out and then Amo Jones would deliver a knockout twist that left me reeling. I liked that everything happened at a fairly quick pace—even when Amo skipped ahead in the storyline to allow for the time progression over the course of about a year—because it keep me on completely riveted to the story. I was invested in the characters – Aeron ‘Manik’ Romanov-Reed and Beatrice Kennedy—are very compelling individuals who have come from extremely tragic pasts. Manik especially fascinated me with his various personalities. (That comment is purposely ambiguous, you’ll have to read the book to ascertain the meaning behind it.) Beat and Manik were awesome together and written in a way that they balanced each other out perfectly. Beats a dancer, adrift after the loss of her grandfather. Now, with no family left, Beat’s become resilient by necessity. Manik is Russian Bratva and ‘the greatest rapper to live who rivaled even the greatest who had passed.’ Their chemistry was fantastic. Although there was less sex in the story than I anticipated—don’t mistake that for me saying the book wasn’t sexy because it absolutely was! Amo Jones successfully delivered a plot that fit the characters and kept me glued to my seat. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next from this author… the poor thing is going to start seeing me everywhere when I commence with operation ‘Amo Jones social media stalking.’ In the meantime, I urge you to buy this Manik and get to reading because this book was seriously awesome!
“With each song, you’re allowing the music and the lyrics to possess you, and Beatrice, you may not have darkness inside of you, but you don’t run from the darkness around you, and that makes all the difference.”
I was equally fascinated and horrified by this book. There were a couple moments where I thought if I should continue reading due to the violent promise in the plot. But this author’s writing style flows so good and the reading felt light-hearted even with the dark content that my gut told me to continue and boy, am I glad I did!
This story is dark, twisted, sexy and violent. And yet, it was fascinating and riveting. I hated all the perils and trials Beatrice went through and yet, she got her HEA. Manik is rough, dangerous and violent. He’s the son of Vlad Romanov, the leader of the Bratva in New Orleans, so he’s done his share of murder and mayhem. He was rough with Beatrice, and yet I noticed that he was never actively violent with her, he just kept her captive with the promise of violence. And he protected her from the violence of others, but eventually she won his cronies over and they had a soft spot for her.
Beatrice is alone in the world. Her parents died in a fire, and she was taken in by her grandparents. Once her Pops dies, on her college graduation day, she was left alone in the world so she went nomad and travelled around. For some reason, New Orleans appealed to her and she stayed put there, made friends with Kyle and had a good job in an upscale bar.
It was incomprehensible to me the instant attraction Beat felt for Manik. He’s a well known rap artist in addition to assistant to his dad un Bratva business. His music was a dark as his origins. As she said:
“There’s a darkness inside of him that is hidden behind the secrets he preserves and the cries of his victims. It’s not a place I want to visit, but there’s an appeal to him.”
Stockholm syndrome was mentioned in the story, yet they both feel like their riotous lives got calmer in the presence of the other. Beatrice was equal parts scared and sassy, and very strangely brave in the face of the Bratva world. Manik was more conflicted than Beat, because his father expects him to be unfeeling and cold to anyone, he’s supposed to be a murder machine. And yet Beat entranced him from the first and inspired a whole album of rap.
As we read the book, we slowly learn that Beat’s life is not what it seems, and as the secrets unfold we understand Vlad’s interest in her and the reasons why Manik is at times hostile with her. I didn’t like all the suffering Beat went through but understood it’s the author’s tool to make Manik wake up from his coldness and aggressive state. The plot is complicated and the truth is revealed slowly and in parts. It keeps you intrigued and reading until the final revelation, which turns your world 180. Very interesting and intriguing reading, with a few doses of cringe-worthy violence, and a sweet and normal HEA, as if the story hadn’t had a body count during the event LOL.
I’ve only just discovered Amo Jones’ dark romances, so I haven’t quite delved into all of her demented and distorted goodness, but with that being said, I’m quite well-versed in ‘mindfuck’ reads, and I can unequivocally say that Manik is such a story, and while it’s confusing, at times, due to the manic-like pace to the plot line and the twists and turns that leave readers’ heads spinning, that’s exactly what makes Manik and Beat’s story all that it is because their lives don’t follow a normal pattern…don’t indicate that they have all of their ‘things’ in order. Their lives are chaotic – a maelstrom of danger and darkness, mayhem and misery – which means that until the very end of their tale, nothing and no one will be what they seem and it’s good to keep that idea in mind as readers struggle to understand the events that occur and struggle to piece together any kind of outcome that won’t result in pain and suffering in every conceivable way.
It was a good call on Jones’ part to include Manik’s perspective in the story; it’s very much needed in order to understand all that is this complicated alpha hole – a man who takes whatever and whoever he wants, never asking permission or approval because it’s not in his genetic or social make up. There’s a definite edge to this man from the very start of the story and that personality trait only exacerbates itself as everything unfolds, and while Manik is more than overwhelming, it’s his presence that allows him to say and do anything and everything.
Beatrice aka ‘Beat’ is Manik’s match, not because she’s as ‘in your face’ or mesmerizing as Manik is, but because she can hold her own with him and stands up for herself, even when she might not want to or feel capable of doing so. She may appear small, but she’s definitely mighty, and it’s her strength that speaks to Manik…that makes him want to dirty her up…to bring her to the depths of his hell on earth and never let her go despite the knowledge that they shouldn’t want each other…that their pairing could cause more harm than good…that Beat’s sass, intelligence, and stubbornness may not help her in Manik’s dark and dangerous world, but hell if either of them can keep fighting what’s between them.
It’s more than obvious, due to the chaotic and jumbled string of events that occur throughout the story, that Amo Jones’ characters set the pace of the plot…force her hand in telling their story as authentically and as raw as possible; they’re the puppet masters and Jones is the puppet – not in a bad way, but in a way that allows Manik and Beat to be their own mouthpieces not the other way around, and it’s the characters’ hands-on approach that leads readers down one complicated, jagged, and messed up road, but while it was a torturous journey, the one idea that remains clear is that these two have what it takes to make it, in whatever way they choose, which speaks volumes about not only who they are at their core but also what they bring out of each other and what they give in return.
I’m so ready for more powerful prose and multifaceted, complex characters from the marvelously messed up mind of Amo Jones. It’s so easy to see just how much of her heart and soul she puts in her writing because it’s painstakingly illustrated in her setting and in the complicated chaos that make up her stories.
4.5 Poison Apples
This book was dark. Sinful. Dirty. Manik is more than an Alpha sexy male. The stuff he does should make you cringe, but Amo makes him alluring as all get out. The peaks of this book keep you wanting more and waiting on the edge of your seat to see what she will throw you next. With each new revelation, I fell more in love! Defiantly book hangover worthy!!
OMG can Amo Jones’ work get any better?! I devour anything written by her immediately and am never disappointed!! This is a darker work unlike her last, Flip Trick. Dramatic and intense….Aeron and Beatrice’s story, wow. Lots of twists and man, Manik (Aeron) is one rough, alpha dude!! Can’t wait for more from Amo!
Wow! this was one intense and gritty read from Amo. After all the teasers that have been dropped this was one read that has been eagerly anticipated and it lived up to all of my expectations.
Manik consumes you as you read this book. He’s the sexy, dominating, intense and broody type that you should stay away from but draws you in, even when he’s being a downright asshole of the highest calibre and seriously cruel.
Amo has delivered some seriously clever and gripping twists and turns, they left me speechless and both loving/hating Amo at the same time.
This book was Amo at her dark, gritty and raw best!!
What can I say… Amo has done it again and I for one am grateful that her level of crazy has been tied up in one book! This book starts off on a high… Whoa type moment. You know the one’s that this author is famous for and that trend continues throughout the book. Amo’s writing is once again on point. She captured it all… Darkness, twisted, witty comebacks. I loved all the secondary characters just as much.. Katiya was just it for me… brilliant! All characters were.
Told from a dual POV it’s clear from the start that not everything is as it seems. That there is more to Beat… As the story unfolds the plot gets more an more complex, but again, that’s what this author is renown for. Don’t try and read this story tired either because nothing will make sense as I found out and had to re-read a couple of chapters. Lesson learned! I love books that are centered around organised crime, this one is set in the world of the Bratva and god MANIK was a hot bad boy. Nothing is more attractive than a dominant bad boy. Drawn to him instantly and his continued fascination with Beat. This story will draw in and keep you hooked until the very last page is read!
When I read the snippets and saw the teasers I thought I had an idea what this book was gonna about…and oh boy I couldn’t be more wrong!
Amo Jones takes us to some really dark places in this one.
I was hooked from page one and it didn’t take me long to fall for Aeron Romanov-Reed. I know he isn’t exactly Prince Charming but you’ll get what I’m saying once you read it.
He’s a complex character,with burdens and demons but in the end it’s impossible not to love.
I love how she writes the female characters. She gave us a fierce,kickass heroine.
Beat challenged Manik every chance she got and gave him a run for his money. She was the absolute best.
I can’t say much without giving the plot away. You’re gonna have to see it and experience for yourself.
This book was angsty,steamy,full of twists and turns that left me with my mouth hung open at some points.
So,fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the rollercoaster.
And be prepared. This book is not for the weak of heart.
If you’re into a twisted,dark,Alpha AF male character and a badass heroine…then this book is for you.
Amazing deliver by Ms. Jones as usual
I knew this book was going to be crazy.
Seriously, what else can you expect from Amo Jones?
If you’ve been following the progress of ‘MANIK, you’d know that this was going to be out there. And, the author certainly delivered.
There was so much going on here. Twists and turns where I didn’t know what to believe myself.
I know that with every Amo book I read, I have to pay extra attention to the littlest details because they end up coming back in the book and exploding into big problems later on.
And, no matter how much attention I pay, I still get surprised by things I had absolutely no idea were coming.
I really enjoyed this book. Beat and Manik’s relationship had me in many “oh, shit” moments. You just know from the beginning that these two together will result in a very toxic and volatile relationship, but these two crazies made it work.
There are so many lies and deceit, and throughout the entire story, I was 100% TeamBeat.
I do wish we got to explore more of Beat’s dancing background. The little bits I got of her in her scene made me crave more.
All in all, it was another good ready by Amo Jones.
Now, I gotta sit back and wait for my next fix.
Manik blew my mind in the absolute best of ways! Dark, gritty, intense and utterly captivating Manik took me on a rollercoaster ride there was no preparing for.
Beat and Manik both gripped my attention from the very beginning and kept me spellbound until the last page. These two were absolutely perfect for each other though from the very beginning it was pretty obvious everything wasn’t what it seemed. I loved the witty exchanges between them and how they were both drawn to the other like a moth to flame. Manik helped Beat learn to dance in the dark as she went toe-to-toe with his beast. I have to admit as their story progressed I thought I had worked out the plot but a twist I didn’t anticipate took their story in a whole new direction.
I’m always amazed at how authors can spin a tale that can sweep me away into another captivating world, drag my emotions through the wringer, keep me on the edge of my seat and loving every moment of it like Amo does. Then again she tends to blow my expectations away with each amazing new book. Manik is a fantastic read that reminds me of why exactly I love to read and one of my new top reads for this year!
Amo Jones does it again! This author breaks all the rules no matter what she writes. It’s these dark romances with sick plot twists and super evil Alpha men.
For starters the Prologue was very ominous. It was mind blown right from the beginning.
Beatrice intrigues the readers but she falls prey to Aeron aka Manik after witnessing a murder.
The lead male Aeron is so dark, it’s surprising he can behave around Beat. The chemistry from the start makes you hold your breath.
“maybe the most beautiful faces hide the darkest souls.”
It’s easy to be engrossed in this storyline. I devoured every page. It’s the twisted scenes thrown at you that makes writing a proper review impossible because so much can be given away. This is definitely a must read of 2018!
Amo Jones is one of my automatic one click authors, and is an expert at writing dark, gritty romances! This one is no different, in that it is definitely on the darker side, and there are some sensitive trigger topics broached in the story. At the same time, it has a slightly different feel to it than some of her other books. Maybe because it’s a stand alone and she had to fit everything into one book… and there was alot to this story!
Manik is definitely a dark, brooding character, very sexy and very intense. And Beat was a girl with a dark, mysterious past, kind of a loner. I loved Manik’s sister in this book, and the relationship that developed between her and Beat!
There were alot of twists and turns in the book and overall, it was a good read! Amo still retains her one click status for me!
Manik by Amo Jones is everything I have come to expect from this author. She gives us a kick ass cover that you are seriously intrigued over and just can’t stop looking at. The blurb of Manik makes you incredibly curious. Be curious. Be intrigued. Amo Jones is some of the best money you can spend on a book. Beat and Manik were as intense and real as they were amazing.
Manik is a roller coaster of craziness. Beat is the strong female character that Ms Jones loves to give us. Characters that are as real as they are flawed. This was an intense, crazy AF ride that takes you just where you wanted to go. I just can’t go into the story… it’s way too easy to find myself talking and giving shit away. You don’t want me to do that. Jones owned this story like nothing I have ever read. It was a masterpiece and I’m jealous of everyone who gets to read it for a first time! I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could! However, I can add it to my #Top2018Books! It deserves the rank!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
WOW!!! This book is phenomenal, absolutely epic, totally mind blowing!!!
Beat and Manik meet by chance when she stumbles across something she really shouldn’t have. Manik, being not only the hottest rapper around but also the son of Vlad, the Russian mob boss, has to act fast to ensure she doesn’t get away.
While things are unpleasant for her to begin with, they both fall into some unexpected form of a relationship, which does NOT go down well with Vlad! They soon realise it was no chance that they met, as their futures had already been written for them and death is now looming.
But when their past comes back to haunt them both, everything changes. With their family history tangled in a dark web of deception and violence, will Manik fulfil his fathers Wishes, or will Beat make it out alive?
This book is one of my top favourite Amo Jones books so far! This twisted, dark, angst ridden and sexy as hell story is full of lies, deceit and death, families at war and totally messed up traditions.
It’s a powerful rendition of an extremely warped love story, where the lines between love and hate are so blurred it’s impossible to predict where both Manik and Beat will end up.
Amo has yet again, graced us with a masterpiece, and it’s definitely her best work yet.
10 GINORMOUS stars from me!