Buttons and Lace: A Dark Mafia Romance (Barsetti Crime Family Book 1)

I loved this story so much I read it in a day. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

I have seen this book out for a long time and it never caught my attention. When I saw it was one of the top books I decided to read it. The first part of the book is horrible. I feel bad for any woman who has to go through that in life. I loved Crow from the moment they met. I guess I have read a lot of books that nothing surprises me anymore and I don’t get offended by much.

Well, I've just ordered book 2, but some additions to this one make would have greatly improved it.1. We need some back story for Pearl. At some point we learn that she was a foster child. At the very end of the book, she mentions that her mother and father were alcohol/drug addicts. We are introduced to Pearl as a white-bread engineer, so it's a mystery as to how she learned to fight and where her determination came from. A back story could have been written in 2 pages, and would have made the book hang together better.You know--suffering as a child, but learning to protect herself. How did she figure out that engineering was what she wanted to do? How did she put herself through school to do it. Isn't there anyone else in her life at all to anchor her as a person? You know, an old aunt, a teacher who believed in her, a close friend? No problem to have them die before the story begins, but at least we'd have a better idea of who she is.2. Her relationship with boyfriend Jacob isn't portrayed as anything that would make her feel guilty for enjoying Crow or imagine him worrying about her kidnap. The only thing we know is that they live together but have hardly any sex, he has no job and sits around drinking beer and watching t.v. all day, and that he owes some nasty creep a lot of money. It doesn't sound like any true love to feel guilty about betraying. It doesn't match the Pearl described in the book.

Some spoilers in this review so be warned:The story was very interesting and heart breaking and kept my attention the whole time I was reading, but I had to nope out of there once the playroom was introduced. I did read to the end of the book to be clear, but I won't be reading on because I am never a fan of BDSM books. Dark romance doesn't always have that element and it's hard to tell from the plot synopsis sometimes if it does or doesn't so I'll often start something only to realize it goes all Fifty Shades and I have to leave the series. If you like dark romance but not the playroom types, check out Keri Lake. She does an amazing job with the dark stories and without that overused element. Thankfully there isn't much of it in this book so I managed to get through it and enjoy it. I'm sure the next books are filled with it though since it was set up in this one.About the story though, my god. Pearl is a survivor and her story is enough to break your heart in a million pieces. I'm going to finish this series in my own head since I won't be reading more, and that girl is getting her HEA!!! After she carries out a long and bloody revenge on Jacob, she deserves to hang out on tropical islands in the sun with a margarita at the ready 24/7. As for Crow, he's kinda a psycho and kinda not. I have some level of ambivalence towards him for his decisions to keep her as he is doing. Is he a good guy? Nah, but better than bad? Sure. I'm hoping at the end she chooses to stay single so she doesn't have to deal with any man's BS for the rest of her days!To break it all down, this was a worthwhile read but pretty dark and depressing, especially her time with Bones. There isn't a plot twist really because you see what happened coming from a mile away and I knew that's what happened when it happened. Crow, the love interest, is someone that I had conflicting feelings about and I don't love him. On the one hand, I was glad she got away from Bones, and on the other, Crow could have been a better man than he was. Especially since he's not actually a criminal and isn't like Bones at all when you really think about it. I'm not sure why he's playing at being a gangster when he's really not one at all from what I can discern. The book is worth reading just for Pearl though. She's very real, fierce, and manages not to break despite everything that happens to her. Truly one to admire. And unlike many others in these situations, she thinks about others and always keeps her humanity. She's a fantastic character all around. The events of the book are mostly believable and well thought out so I give that part 5 stars as well.

This book brings about reality when it comes to human trafficking as well as what could possibly go right, in a wrong situation, to know that the human was betrayed for A debt. Good book and it comes in a series, hopefully you keep reading to find out will, Pearl get her "live forever after" story completely.

When the story got to the first sex acts I was stunned. I had been raped once at age 12, and again at age 32!I feel a warning should be in the beginning of the book about the dark, graphic, and large amount of descriptive sex acts!I read some of the acts to my husband he asked if I was reading porn.

Pearl is a great character, just awesome! She is raw, real, and full of fire!! And Crow… be still, my beating heart.

I did not know what I was getting into when I started this book. All I can say is, damn. There's not really a twist. The reveal at the end was pretty obvious. It was written well, especially with expressing Pearls conflicted emotions. And Crow is super hot!Its obviously taking from Beauty and the Beast and that is A okay with me. We do love a dark, spicy retelling

I actually didn't have much hope for this I am in a complete book slump and have read 4 books in the last 8 days and don't see this one making my mood any better. However, I was an ad on social media and downloaded it, I was impressed with the main female character, Pearl was strong and interesting and I felt like she could deal with the villains who have captured her. I ended up really enjoying this

I love Pearl, she is a true heroine, not a victim.I always wanted to read about a woman who stood tall & victorious in a mountain of hell! As I know living in this world we all live in, not everyone goes through happy circumstance, but they fight every day to be happy at peace, to win over their own little hell, each day! Every book I have read so far, make women week, insipid. I have always wanted to read where a woman's journey is thwarted in purgatory; but she's still strong, agile, powerful in her femininity, courageous, firm, durable & capable to deal with anything that is heinous & she still can come out on top! That is who Pearl is. I love her story, her character, her tenacious spirit is. You, Penelope Sky are a brilliant writer! You have given women a true heroine, heroine who we women can believe in!This book is worth every penny.This is going to be one of my top favourite go to books that I know I will always go back & 're- read! This book is a 10 stars rating!!!

I’d actually forgotten how much I enjoyed the grittier, darker romance stories as I’ve recently been reading much, much more light-hearted stuff.This book hits hard from pretty much the get go. Those who struggle with difficult topics like kidnap, human trafficking, sexual abuse, rape etc. may want to reconsider reading this. It’s a classic case of Stockholm syndrome with a beauty and the beast vibe.Now, at first I wasn’t a fan of the writing style as it felt a little simple, however it improves quickly and I found myself really getting into it. In fact, I’ve read it in a single day. I’ve literally been unable to put it down.Pearl is such a strong and badass character that you immediately warm to her. What she endures would undoubtedly break most people, but she is determined to fight… fight for her dignity, fight for her freedom and fight for her life.When she first gets taken by the nasty piece of work, Bones, I honestly worried that if I was supposed to see any redeeming qualities in him, it wasn’t going to happen. He’s sadistic and cruel but the way Pearl plays him is brilliant. Her plan to make him fall for her to earn his trust is genius and certainly works to her advantage when she meets the mysteriously dark but beautiful Crow.But the man she initially believes to be her saviour might just be more of a monster than the man from which she has prayed to be saved from. The term ‘from the frying pan into the fire’ could very well be the scenario she finds herself in.Crow doesn’t consider himself a good man. And he most definitely has that ruthless streak about him… but Pearl refuses to believe that underneath all the ferocious looks, the harsh words and the brutality is a fair, loyal and honest man with a broken heart full of vengeance and hurt. Could she be the one to break down his walls? Could the help each other heal from the wounds inflicted by the evil Bones?I love the concept of the buttons. Ok, so it is a little like paying for sex to gain her freedom… but the innocence that the button represents makes it feel like a much more intimate exchange, especially when Pearl learns to use their new currency to her own advantage.The more I read about this very unusual coupling, the more I love them being together. She is bringing out his caring nature and he is helping her get back her ability to trust and face her fears.I can’t wait to read the next instalment to see where their arrangement leads them. Sadly, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Bones and I’m more than a little worried that Cane won’t take his brothers ‘no’ for an answer.

Just finished this book and my mind is still reeling! What a story! This is nothing like FSOG as this story is much more brutal. Pearl is abducted by traffickers and sold to a sadistic owner who takes great pleasure in brutally raping and beating her. Pearl is such a strong character, she has had a very tough upbringing and has learned how to survive and defend herself, by this only makes her punishment so much worse. The story changes about half way through when she is stolen away from her owner. I won't go into too much detail but needless to say, her new captor is no Prince Charming! I absolutely loved this story, it was so well written that you can actually identify with the characters. Have just pre-ordered the follow up and can't wait to read it, easy 5 stars 😊

5+* it was a heart pounding book however some chapters became vague as you will find out but I have already wish listed the following books to the story and hope that it just keeps getting better?