She’s the enemy.
But I still want to see what’s under her clothes.
Sasha is innocent, but determined.
She wants to ruin my family’s business.
But she’s also incredibly delicious.
Those wide eyes and sweet lips,
Her fiery wit,
She brings me to my knees.
But I have to focus.
Get her and her labor union ideas out of the casino.
And I’ll do anything to stop her.
Even tie her to my bed.
My family … can’t know I’m attracted to her.
They’ll think I’m turning my back on the family.
I’d never do that.
But for Sasha?
Maybe they’re right to be worried.
Rake is book one in a hot new dark mafia series – The Carneys – written by bestselling author Sophie Austin. Get an inside look at what brings the son of Boston’s richest crime family to his knees. He’ll do anything to protect his family fortune, and he’s not afraid to get dark and dirty along the way. This enemies-to-lovers and class differences romance will keep you turning the page with just the right amount of high drama, angst, danger, and a redemption that leads straight to a Happily Ever After you won’t forget. Fall in love with Finn and get to know the Carneys.
If you loved The Doyles, but wanted them even darker, the Carneys are for you.
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Rake is the first book in the Carneys Family story. This story will take you on the emotional and harrowing journey of Finn and Sasha. As you step into the underworld of the Carneys, things are never what they seem. Deals are make, money is passed, lie and cover ups are a normal day.
Sasha and Finn may have come from different worlds but their pain is the same, struggling to become more than what their father’s think of them. With some trust, faith, belief and love they find a way out of the hole they find themselves in.
From the first line of the book you will get pulled in to the suspense, fear, twist and turns of the story that with each turn of the page makes it harder to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Welcome to the Carney family
Rake is the first book in The Carneys series and sets the stage for what looks to be a very promising series of the Carney crime family in Boston. The Carney clan owns and runs the Carney Casino which is having an issue with some of their employees wanting to unionize and one young woman trying to help them. Sasha may only be twenty-six but she is good at what she does and she is dedicated to it. Finn is the pretty boy in the Carney family who is a playboy but also has a lot of emotional scars from his father.
This story is nicely written with a story-line that has it all – intrigue, violence, suspense, romance, family and chemistry. But it also has somethings that I did not work for me including Finn as the Hero. To me he was weak and did not rise to the occasions when they presented themselves. Then the fact that Sasha was almost beaten to death and no action is taken to deal with the perpetrators. In the end I am sitting in the middle on this book. I am still going to read the next book in the series when it comes out as I do like this author and have loved a number of her previous books.
I received a copy of this book for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
Finn is one son of a mafia man and is a quit man until his father crosses a line, sasha works as a union rep and is trying to get a union for the employees of the casino finns father runs but is attack because of it. Can finn protect her or will he hurt her also?
An amazing book one in the Carneys series! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat with the riveting fast pace story line this is full of action, drama, suspense, twists and turns, secrets, danger, and more. It is well written, well developed, emotionally deep, and flows smoothly. Likeable characters with amazing chemistry between them! Definitely recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rake by Sophie Austin is a dark Boston Mafia Romance and the first book in The Carneys series featuring Sasha, who is attempting to unionize her fellow workers at the casino she works, and Finn Carney, the son of the richest mafia family in Boston whose family owns the Trinity Casino. Finn has always supported his family, but is opposed to the way his father deals with problems. When Sasha is beaten due to the order of his father, Finn becomes torn between family loyalty and supporting Sasha. This is a good beginning to this new mafia series with its interesting characters and intriguing plot with mafia violence, action, family dysfunction, and steamy chemistry. I look forward to the next installment in this dark mafia series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I had a great time and was highly entertaining with each turn of the pages. The characters are well developed and engaging and the storyline flowed smoothly from beginning to the end. I had a great time with this mafia storyline..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a well-written story with a fast-paced storyline.
There is some danger and intrigue that kept the story entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ms. Sophie Austin has crafted an intriguing and dramatic Mafia romance for us. These characters; Sasha & Finn are beyond realistic and the dangerous situation that they find them in is all engrossing.
Finn Carney is the Son of a Mafioso tyrant and has a plan to get out from under his Father’s thumb. The one person throwing a ‘monkey wrench’ into his plans is the beautiful Sasha. A woman ‘for the people’, trying to make a difference. Being tasked to ‘deal’ with her, by his horrid Father, was not what Finn planned for. Sasha is in the process of trying to unionize one of the Carney’s casino organizations, however, what she gets is more than she asked for and absolutely nothing that she deserved. This brave & beautiful woman, with a heart of gold, has set out to do something no other person has yet done; stand up to Mr. Carney himself. Dealing with Finn, was not in her plans. But together, they follow an incredible Journey.
I am one of those people who do not like to give away any part of the plot, so that I do not ruin it for other readers. That being said, the way Ms. Austin grabs your attention & keeps you riveted, throughout, is truly a gift. As an abuse victim myself, I cannot believe the realism of parts of this storyline. I don’t know if it’s her research, or just her overwhelming talent, but Ms. S. Austin has nailed it. This is an amazing start to this Series & I can not wait to see what is next for the Carney family.
I was beyond fortunate to have requested an advanced reader’s copy of Rake in exchange for my honest and voluntarily given opinion.
An Incredible Start To A New Series.
I received a free copy of this book via BOOKSPROUT and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sophie brings us the formidable Carneys, the Doyles arch enemies of Boston. This story is about Finn and Sasha. It’s well written, flawed characters drama galore, dark, gritty and a captivating storyline. I found it right up my alley and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more about the rest of the Carneys. Let’s see who’s next? Would I recommend it: Yes
A wonderful well written mafia enemies to lovers romance. This engaging storyline is a great start to an enjoyable series with drama, danger, angst, redemption and love. The characters are interesting and well developed with undeniable chemistry to a unforgettable HEA. I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC.
It’s difficult to find the right words for this book because it wasn’t completely anger-inspiring, but it came awfully close. I realize that the reality of unions is a long history of treachery, murder and blackmail, as well as all of the good they have done for workers. With that in mind, this story fits right into the mold of twisted, mafia controlled businesses who dish out retribution to those who don’t do as they’re told. The Carney family’s promises of better working conditions at the casino are never met and the workers intend to submit an application for representation to the National Labor Relations Board. The heroine, Sasha Saunders, is a fiercely spirited young lady who serves as a union organizer for the workers at the Trinity Casino. When the Carneys get wind of her activity, she suffers the consequences and is beaten within an inch of her life. If that’s not bad enough, she’s given to Finn Carney with the sole purpose of breaking her even more, until she gives up her intent to organize. I don’t like Finn at all, especially when he plans to groom her to believe that they have something in common and then seduce her. If that doesn’t work, he’s going to send a thug after her brother to kill him! He has no redeeming qualities and I certainly can’t believe him when he says he’s in love with Sasha. I wish she came across as a stronger woman, instead of strong only when she’s dealing with the union. She’s ensnared by Finn and his looks, his kindness, but she feels a bit of insecurity around him, as in “I’m not good enough for him.” Finn does come through in the end, but redemption? Not yet. And Sasha? She still can’t believe that Finn could love her, but then Finn isn’t quite sure that Sasha is going to show up for their wedding! What a hot mess! I really like both of the epilogues and they did have me smiling by the end. Very well-written and the characters are vibrant!
The storyline was well written and the characters were so well defined that I was glued to my kindle throughout the entire book!
I received this ARC from Bad Boy Update. I loved the Doyle series and having the Carney’s stories is fabulous! This is deliciously dark! Finn and Sasha’s story is the right mix of dark crime family brutality, a rich son with a past that still haunts him, a proud union organizer whose first priority is keeping her brother from their abusive father and when they collide….watch out! Forget what you thought about Finn from the Doyle books. Once he meets Sasha, they will never be the same. I loved this and can’t wait for the next one!
This book was interesting.
Sasha is a young woman who works with a union to help workers unionize. She has chosen the new casino owned by the Carneys – the local mafia. The opening chapter has her being beaten to within inches of her life by the Carneys famiky goons. This doesn’t stop her from still helping the workers unionize.
Finn is the second oldest of the Carneys child and the least favorite. While he still works for his father nothing he does is correct. There is some eluding to that Finn and one of his brothers are going to ruin their father, it is not really clear what they are going to do.
Finn is charged by his father to stop Sasha since the beating didn’t. While he is supposedly appalled by Sasha’s beating, he still uses a thug to kidnap her and bring her to his apartment. He also threatens her brother if she doesn’t stop.
Finn is the main male character but he is no better than his father. He has very few redeeming qualities, and while he says he loves Sasha and she has changed him, he still threatens her and in a sense takes advantage iof her innicence. I truly didnt like him. He never showed me her truly cared about Sasha.
Hopefully the rest of the Carney family will have redeeming qualities.
Yes, this book was dark. But unlike other reviewers, I had faith in the author’s portrayal of the hero as someone who needed redeeming. And the suffering Sasha endured is part of what gives her the power to save Finn. I thought the plot was well thought out. As the story developed, we saw the reason for Finn behaving as he did. We also saw why Sasha was so devoted to her work as a union organizer that she would come back for more mistreatment as she bravely toiled to save others in their jobs. And Finn, unlike Sasha’s father, did act out as the hero, saving Benjamin and acknowledging his faults and changing his ways! All in all, a very well-told story worthy of five stars rather than the poor ratings others gave.
Finding love under difficult circumstances!
by sewsummore
Sasha was attacked and severely beaten because she tried to get union representation for the local Casino employees. Refusing to stand back and do nothing, after recuperating, she continues to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Finn is the son of the casino owner, and it was his job to convince Sasha to back off. Instead, he falls in love with the beautiful, determined young woman. Finn was nothing like his father, but circumstances forced him to play a role he never wanted. I found this book an exciting read with two characters that fall for each other despite who and what they are. The story ends happily for the two lovers but not before as a terrible price is paid by them both.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This is book one of The Carneys and it was great! Sasha was mistreated by her father, yet she is strong and determined. She has a job at the Carneys casino and is trying to get the workers to join the union. Finn is a member of the Carney family, and has always had to prove himself to his father. I loved Finn and Sasha together. There’s plenty of danger, drama, suspense, action, and steam. A great start to a new series and I can’t wait to read the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great beginning to The Carney Series but is read as a standalone. If you like mafia romances, you’ll love this book. It’s overflowing with lots of fast action,danger and suspense. A real page-turner. This is Finn and Sasha’s story and is an enemy to lovers theme. They’re from opposite worlds, his – the wealthy Carney crime family of Boston and she’s from the other side of the tracks. She’s seen as the enemy as she’s trying to organize/unionize their casino workers. Lots of drama and danger and definitely a dark romance. It does end with an HEA. I read an arc via Bad Boy Update and voluntarily chose to review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is a story of Sasha Saunders who works with service workers United organization for the employees of the trinity casino that is run by James Carney and when he goes after her .this women is very strong and this story tells of what she goes through . Awesome .
The great plot was well written and the characters were so well developed that as I turned each page the chemistry between the characters kept me totally hooked until the very last page!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.