My retribution may be over, but my future remains controlled by my past.Stripped of everything, I paid penance for a crime that wasn’t mine.But in our world, the son always pays for the father’s sins.My need for revenge blinded me.Faced with the truth, I was forced to make a choice that went against what I’d fought so hard for.With my atonement complete, I’m asked what would make me happy.The … would make me happy.
The problem is, I had happiness once and the very person who gave it to me is the same one who robbed me of it by leaving.
The girl I loved with all my heart and now hate with all I am.
How can I look forward when I’m tortured by memories of her?
Now she’s back.
Sometimes love isn’t good for you.
Sometimes, you have to love yourself enough to see the destruction ahead and simply move out of the way.
I once loved a boy who was determined to continually hurt himself.
For a chance to prove himself worthy.
His choices opened my eyes to see the years of pain and hurt the future held.
Leaving, I took a risk for a better future, but my return unravels a spiral of betrayal.
Leaving me at their mercy.
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WOW! Ive just finished this second book in the Youngblood series and am speechless and shocked and oh my goodness it was so unbelievable good
This mafia romance takes it to a very new level of excitement.
This book is just perfect!!!
I loved Shane from other books by Monique, but his own story just killed it. This book ends with a cliffhanger, so his story is not finished yet, but wow…
I swear, every new book that Monique writes get just better and better. This book was so damn exciting that I could not stop reading. This story was unbelievable gripping and
the emotions, feelings and heartbreak were really relentless from the beginning to the end. You are bombarded on all sides by disasters and dramas without any hope of mercy or salvation. It’s twisted and unpredictable, but has also a damn ridiculous hard and sad backstory.
I’m so ridiculous emotionally involved in this book, that I don’t know how to describe it property. This book has all I love in a book but unfortunately not a HEA
I hope it will happen in the next part Monique!!!
I can’t give you much more without spoiling this story for you.
So for all mafia romances lovers, this amazing book is definitely a must read for you.
I would recommend to read it after the Stern Family Saga for better understanding the family dynamics (trust me the series is really good) and of course you have to read the first book in Youngblood series before.
Amazing doesn’t seem accurate enough for this book. I have always liked Shane and couldn’t wait for this story to come out. Monique didn’t disappoint. Holy heck what a ride. The twists and turns Monique weaves into this story is nothing short of unbelievable. Just when you think you have it all figured out she drops another bomb on you and you are wondering where the heck that came from. I love all her books but this by far is the best one yet. I truly hope she releases the next on really soon because I can’t wait for what happens next. Monique you blew it out of the water.
Omg!! What a brilliantly written book! I absolutely floved it! Shane was hardhearted ass! Jo was just trying to keep her secret. So much heartache! I can’t wait to read the next book! My heart is still racing. Bravo!
Wow! Can Ms. Orgeron tell a story or can she tell a story! This is next level right here. She is weaving us a tale of a group of people who aren’t always the good type you always root for. Shane and Jolie are intense, complicated, and their romance isn’t a slam dunk. You will spend half this book not sure if they deserve each other or a happy ending. They both do bad things, and their motives aren’t always pure, but to me that makes this gritty story all the more real. Personal growth seems to be a big theme in all Ms. Orgeron’s books. Lets face it, all of us have made choices we regret, with the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. We’ve all made some decision that we look back on with regret. Do we forgive ourselves and accept it as an essential part of our growth as a human, or do we continually torture ourselves with it? Its a question for the ages for sure and its prevalent in this book. These two have a long and bumpy road ahead of them if they are destined for each other and I for one can’t wait to see them cross that finish line!
Another incredible book by the author. I was so hooked on this one. Tensions are high, secrets are being revealed and hearts are destroyed. There’s a lot of healing that needs to be done in this book. I swear around every corner is another haunting secret that’s being held by someone. Shane, Teddy, Jolie and Ashlynn have their work in store for them here. Shane and Jolie had a connection from years ago. They were so much in love and then it happened. A lot of years of hurt, secrets and fear have torn them apart. Anger is super high with these characters.This book will keep you captivated and hooked until the last page!!
This was a great emotional beginning to Shane and Jolie’s story. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t stop reading this angsty, thrilling intriguing story. This series keeps getting better with each additional book. As soon as you think you know something, the story takes a wild turn. I need the next story asap. Loved this story and I can’t wait to read more by Monique Orgeron.
I had to pause for a bit when I finished this.. there is more to come – but Shane’s story was a tough one for me.
Be prepared to feel everything – the taste of Shane’s anger – the pulse of his need
The vibrant and intense bond of family ~ which is not always blood
Shane’s character on the surface seems dark almost void of any emotion besides anger and vengeance. But as we go back, as we live the moments through his eyes -Can you blame him?
Shane may hold the largest slice of my heart.
Catherine’s has something up her sleeve. But doesn’t she always?
Ashlyn and Teddy are on this journey with us. This is something I enjoy about Monique’s writing how she keeps the family connected through each story.
Jolie- I am a bit torn here. I don’t think I trust nor like her. It feels like she is hiding one too many skeletons. Could just be that she hurt Shane but…
I had the honor of reading this series when it first debuted and I can say with complete honesty that somehow Orgeron’s unique ability to ensnare and transport her readers into the stories has only improved over time.
I read a copy via kindle unlimited
5 Touptastic Stars.
I love the feeling I get after a book I’ve been anticipating was everything I could’ve hoped for. I absolutely love The Stern Family Saga but this Youngblood spin off series has the potential to top it for me, that’s not an easy feat believe me.
Shane Toups he’s a sexy, arrogant, charming a$$hole. I want to junk punch and bang the sh!t out of him in equal measure, but that’s what makes him so alluring.
He and Teddy are my dynamic duo the ultimate bad boys.
Shane seems to have it all, money, respect and any woman he desires but it’s not enough, Shane is missing something or someone. The one that got away and broke him, turning his love to hate.
Now she’s back and everything Shane thought he could rely on is tested. His friendship, loyalty and trust have been betrayed. His world has been thrown into a frenzy and with a Man like Shane that’s dangerous for everyone involved.
This story kept me engrossed from the beginning. The pace flowed well and the flashbacks kept me fascinated. I loved glimpsing into the past and getting a better understanding of who Shane really is.
I’m not to sure how I feel about Jolie, at times I liked her then I didn’t. I’m not writing her off just yet. Any woman who can envoke such a passionate reaction from a man definitely has something. I want to see more of the fire I know she has. So step it up girl.
There’s interaction from some well loved characters which was fantastic. I love when authors crossover their series and Monique has it spot on.
I’m excited for more from Shane and Jolie it’s gonna be explosive in every way.
Gunner has me more and more curious too, can’t wait for his book.
Shane grew up wanting revenge on Catherine Stern along with his best friend Teddy Strahan. Along the way Shane fell in love with Jolie but when she left him suddenly, Shane began to focus on his own life but he never got over his anger at Jolie.
Jolie has been hiding for a long time and became Tiffany Jones to hide herself and her son Sean from Teddy and Shane. But now she has come back hoping to hide from them both as she gets her own life together and focuses on her future.
When Teddy and Shane each realize that Jolie is back they must confront the past and secrets that have been buried for a long time come out and threaten to ruin everything they have all worked so hard to hide.
This is another incredible book in this series and I am so excited that there is more to come!!
It is hard to explain this book as so much happens and there are so many jaw dropping moments that leave you wondering what can possibly happen next or how many more secrets are going to come out!
I liked Shane but I was completely shocked at the amount of anger and violence that he had. I knew why he was mad but I was not expecting the extent of it all and how everything went down. He was quick to turn to violence instead of letting everyone explain the whole truth to him and he left me afraid for sure.
Jolie was interesting as I was shocked in a way that she came home, knowing what could happen. She wanted to live her own life but she risked a lot by coming back as the truth was slowly revealed on why she left and the different reasons that affected both Shane and Teddy. Jolie really wanted the best for her son, Sean, but she kept him in the dark for so long and never told him the truth about his own past.
Teddy also played a prominent role in this book and I hated that a lot of this was caused by his own jealousy of Jolie with Shane yet he tried to prepare things the best he could. He was definitely a punching bag in this book and I hated that he never fought back and he is super lucky that Ashlynn was able to save him from Shane.
The secrets revealed in this book were huge and kept changing the course of the book. I was definitely worried for both Jolie and Teddy in regards to Shane’s wrath.
The end with Gabriel and Shane was interesting in regards to Jolie and Sean and I am super curious to see what happened with that and where the next book is headed!! I am hoping that Shane is able to get over his anger and forgive both Teddy and Jolie!!
This book will have you on the edge of your seat right from the start. Sean and Jolie take you from roller coaster ride of distain, revenge, lov, devotion, to everything else you can think of. This book brings all the ones you know from the other books to new ones. Amazing read that will get you with every page and make you feel all they got thur and what they have been thur. I so can’t wait to read the next.
Love, Love, Love Shane! I think he’s kind of a butt, but for good reason and ohhh so sexy!! With Teddy and Ashlyn in the picture and the addition of Jolie, there is all kinds of feels in this book! So much depth to this book, you won’t be able to put it down!! Another exceptional read in this series!
Another stellar example of what hard work and dedication. Retribution captured the primal and raw emotion of love had, lost and found in a powerful suspense novel. With cast of our favorite Stern family member and introductions to new line up that will leave you blown away with how they are mixed in with Teddy and Shane.
How can an author make you hate just about every character in the books then make you fall hopelessly back in love with them by the end of the journey? Well, she did. That was how I felt after I read retribution.
The attitude of Shane and the past history of our beloved Teddy have come full circle to create a dramatic ending that will leave you on the edge of seat craving for more.
I read this one in 4 hours!! Can’t get enough!!!
Retribution is book 2 in the Youngblood series – a spin off from the Stern Family Saga. I am a huge fan of the Stern series. It was such an intense drama fuelled legacy story. This series is following the stories of the “Youngblood’s”. These are the men below the underbosses in the Mafia family tree, trying to make names for themselves and learn the inner workings of the family network. You will have been introduced to them in the Stern saga. You have been treated to Teddy’s story now let’s meet Shane. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of a ride as wee delve into Shanes past through flashbacks to find out how he became the man he is today. Deception and betrayal are the name of the game, you need to hold onto your hats coz it’s going to be a whirlwind.
Shane has worked very hard to become the man he is today. Running a highly successful Fantasy Club, and trying to work his way through the ranks to his rightful place at the top. He has not always so eager to get in line but somewhere along the way he decided that all the hate and anger that he directed towards the Sterns was going to do nothing but most likely get him killed in the end. After all the planning and underhanded things he and Teddy did behind the Stern’s back he has decided to let it go.
Unfortunately for Shane secrets are about to be revealed that are going to knock his world of kilter. Boy oh boy are they big, life changing secrets. Everything he thought he knew about his life has one manipulation after then other to keep him “in line” and on board with Teddy’s plans for revenge. This friendship is about to be tested in the hardest of ways and Shane’s entire life is about to change in the blink of an eye.
A gritty, intense story that will have you glued to the pages until the last. Highly addictive!
OH WOW!!! I’M COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY!!!! Shane!!! Jolie!!!
I can’t, I just can’t. I will not give any spoilers away in this review! What a magnificently written mafia book. Well, all of her books are magnificently written mafia books.
YOU SERIOUSLY NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! If I could give it more than five stars, I definitely would! BLOWN AWAY
OMG!!! This book is fantastic! Ms Orgeron tells great stories about made men and their families. You can feel all the drama, suspense, hate and love. Shane has been trying to earn his father’s territory back since it was ripped from his grasp. He fought the his way back and made it in his own way with a sex club, underground fighting and high stakes gambling. He now finds he’s missed out and wants a family. Only to find out his former neighbor/girlfriend left him 16 years ago pregnant with his child. Jolie has returned and is on the run. Teddy had a part in her leaving and that causes Shane to hate and want to kill both Jolie and Teddy. This book has lost of memories from all of them growing up. It does end in a big cliffhanger and I can’t wait for the next book.
Wow, where to start with this review! This is the 2nd book in this amazing series and is Shane and Jolie’s story. I always knew that Shane’s story would be a humdinger, but I never anticipated how much! Shane is tarnished by the crimes of his father, and thinks he has a lot to prove as an individual. This is a wonderful story which is heart-wrenching, gritty, raw, and is filled with angst and suspense, which leads to an emotional roller coaster journey throughout. Some questions are answered in this story and many are not, so I cannot wait for the next book in this intriguing and addictive series.
I’ve been waiting for Shane’s book forever!! Okay really it was only a few months but it seemed like forever to me. The wait was definitely worth it and everything else was put on hold til I finished. As always this series, along with the Stern Saga was fantastic! I will warn you though that Shane’s story isn’t over in this book but all the angst of waiting to read the rest will be worth it!
***This book has me so messed up.
I’m not sure who to cheer for, who to cry for, who to hate, who to love.
They all have good reason to be doing what they are doing, at least Shane and Jolie. Teddy yeah he’s still on my shit list.
But I know Shane still loves her. If he didn’t he wouldn’t still hate her so passionately. There is a fine line between love and hate.
Retribution by Monique Orgeron is book Two in the Youngblood Series. This starts the story of Shane and Jolie. I have read the past book (and Loved it!) but feel you would enjoy this one more if you read them together. This does end with cliffhanger to take us into the next book. This was a very moving book dealing with young love and how things went wrong. Jolie ending up leaving without telling Shane she was expecting their child. Shane was told via Teddy that he slept with Jolie (lie) to make sure that Shane didn’t look for her. Things are heated in the book so I can’t wait for the next installment to see what happens next. This was a great second chance at love with the brooding alpha male with a great strong heroine. I can’t wait for the next installment in their story. I am such a fan of Miss Orgeron writing…she is a must read author for me!