Headcase by Onley James (Necessary Evils #4)

Title: ⟫ Headcase

Author: ⟫ Onley James

Blurb: ⟫ Asa Mulvaney is half of a psychopathic whole. He and his twin brother live together, party together…kill together. In the Mulvaney family, murder is the family business and business is good. So, when an experiment separates Asa and his brother, Asa is forced to navigate the world on his own for the first time in his life.

Zane Scott is a small-time crime blogger, but he dreams of a byline in a major paper and his suspicions surrounding Thomas Mulvaney are about to make that dream a reality. When an invitation to a boring fundraiser lands him not beside Thomas, as he had hoped, but Asa Mulvaney, they share an intensely passionate encounter that leaves Zane trapped in a cage of his own making.

At a nearby college, a cluster of suicides isn’t what it seems. When Asa’s father asks him to look into it, he sees the perfect opportunity to exploit his little crime reporter and make him fall in line. And Asa needs him to fall in line. Zane is suspicious of Asa’s motives and half-convinced he’s dead either way, but he won’t say no to a chance to peek behind the Mulvaney family curtains.

As the two unravel a sinister plot, Asa’s obsession with Zane grows and Zane finds being Asa’s sole focus outweighs almost anything, maybe even his career—which is good for Asa because loving a Mulvaney is a full-time job. Can he convince Zane that he’s worth navigating a family of psychopaths and tolerating an almost too close for comfort twin? Or will Zane learn the hard way that the Mulvaney boys always get what they want? Always.

Headcase is a high heat, intense, lovers-to-frenemies, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an obsessive, calculating psychopath and a wannabe reporter who will stop at nothing to earn himself a major byline. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, enough killers to fill an auditorium, and enough heat to melt your kindle. This is book four in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.

Review: ⟫ Holy sh1t, Onley turned up the heat with this one!

I’ll admit that I have had a bit of a thing for the twins ever since they were first introduced and finding out that their books were next up made me clap my hands with glee.

This is Asa’s book and it should come with a warning to have a large glass of ice water and a cold shower to hand because OMFG the heat rating is off the charts! The sex between Zane and Asa is dark, dirty and sometimes painful but in the best possible way. Their relationship starts at ten and just roars along faster than a speeding bullet!

As usual, the other Mulvaneys are part of the story, we have more insight into the happily ever after of previous brothers, as well as more on Calliope, how Cricket is doing – let’s be honest, just checking in on everyone could be a whole book on it’s own! (Onley, if you’re reading this, I would be MORE than happy to read how the brothers celebrate Valentine’s Day with their chosen person)

The background story is painful to read, and scary because I know that it happens in RL. The delicate subject matter is handled deftly, with plenty of warning given to anyone who might find it triggering.

I don’t understand how each book just gets better and better; how each couple becomes my new favourite; how the sex just keeps getting hotter! I am literally chomping at the bit for Avi’s story because the idea that he thinks that he’s got a leash on Felix is laughable and I cannot wait to see how he handles the truth.

One of my favourite lines – which isn’t a spoiler – is ‘Our Lord and Saviour John Wick’ which had me giggling for far too long, although that might be because I stayed up all night reading the book. Also Avi’s joy at Zane giving permission for him to tick something off his bucket list was absolutely hysterical! This series is a bona fide favourite of mine and I am really happy that they continue to be five star worthy!

I received an ARC from the author.

Lunatic by Onley James (Necessary Evils #6)

Title: ⟫ Lunatic (Necessary Evils #6) 

Author: ⟫ Onley James 

Rating: ⟫ 5/5 

Blurb: ⟫ Every psychopath in the Mulvaney family has a role to play. 

Archer Mulvaney is the gambler, a drunken reprobate making his living as a high-stakes poker player. Very few people know the real Archer, not even his brothers. But there is one man who knows far too much. 

Mackenzie Shepherd spends his days photographing endangered wildlife. He’s also the brother of a sociopath and son to the woman who literally wrote the book on raising one. When his mother asks him to head a secret government project, it seems like the perfect excuse to run away from his life. 

But running from his past has Mac colliding straight into Archer. And that’s a problem. For this project to be successful, Mac and Archer have to agree on every decision, and the two see eye-to-eye on nothing. 

Except, maybe the sex. 

The sex is off the charts. 

When Mac’s old life comes back to haunt him, Archer insists on putting their differences aside to help keep him safe. But Mac, like Archer, is used to solving things on his own. Can they finally stop fighting each other to find the truth, or is their relationship the next thing on the endangered species list?

Lunatic is a filthy hot, enemies to lovers, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a sexy, roguish degenerate and a hunky bleeding heart ginger who love how much they hate each other. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than a slaughterhouse, and enough heat to melt your metaphorical undies. 

This is book six in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple. 

Review: ⟫ As a member of Onley’s Patreon, I got to read this book as it was written. However, I tend to force myself to stop reading before the end simply so that when the book comes out, I can binge the whole thing, complete with the utter rush of excitement and action that is always present. 

Lunatic was an exception in that I really struggled to stop myself from checking Onley’s page. I needed to know what was going to happen next with Archer and Mac, more so than almost any other couple in the Necessary Evils’ series. 

There was just something about Archer, about how vulnerable he allowed himself to be, about the complicated man that Mac turned out to be when he was initially presented as very much what you see if what you get – I really wanted to see how their HEA played out. 

There were moments during this book when I really needed Noah to share his Squishmallow – either with myself or Archer, or preferably both of us; there were also moments when I was laughing so hard I had to explain myself to my daughters! 

One of those was in the strip club – when you read it, you’ll know! 

My favourite characters this time: Grover the tapeworm; Molly fangirling and Archer. Archer captured my whole damned heart from the prologue where he was trying to be tough in the face of horrors, to his confessions to Mac, to their well-deserved HEA. 

Some of this book was hard to read – the human trafficking, the language used for the people who were suffering – it was sickening. As usual, the warnings should be heeded. 

This book was hot, like burning up the pages hot. The chemistry between Mac and Archer was scorching, made even more so by the fact that Mac understood Archer in a way that no one else ever had. And when he didn’t get it, or was unsure, he was prepared to ask for help to make sure he was giving Archer what he needed. 

We got to spend time with all of the Mulvaneys (and their additions like Calliope and Cricket), and the relationship between Archer and Noah was so special to see, it really touched my heart. When they shared a moment of mutual understanding that only people who had suffered as they had could appreciate, I really and truly welled up in tears. 

Every time I read one of the Necessary Evils books, I decide that this couple is my favourite and nothing will change that. And every time, the next book surpasses that. Mac and Archer are on my permanent re-read list because there are so many nuances that in this first reading of their full story, I picked up things that I had missed. 

I loved the hints regarding Aiden and Thomas; Felix is an absolute demon and his game of tic-tac-toe with Mac may be one of my favourite moments; Archer and Noah bonding was absolutely amazing; the storyline was very well handled; Avi and Asa getting to play with new ways to murder people was excellent – I loved every single page! 

It’s so difficult not to spoil things by revealing too much, so all I will say is that anyone looking forward to reading about the pirate Mulvaney will definitely not be disappointed. 

 A solid 5/5 from me and I look forward to the last in the series when it comes out. 

I received an early-release ARC from the author.

Moonstruck by Onley James (Necessary Evils #3)

Title: ⟫ Moonstruck – Necessary Evils 3 

Author: ⟫ Onley James 

Blurb: ⟫ Atticus Mulvaney is the eldest son of eccentric billionaire, Thomas Mulvaney—a role he takes very seriously. Atticus takes everything seriously. Like his brothers, Atticus is a psychopath, raised to right the wrongs of a broken justice system. Unlike his brothers, he’s not very good at it. 

Jericho Navarro is no psychopath, but he is a vicious killer. Like Atticus, he also has a secret life. To most, he’s just a mechanic. But to a ragtag group of social misfits, he’s Peter Pan, teaching them to eliminate those who prey on the weak with extreme prejudice. 

 When Atticus and Jericho come face to face over a shared enemy, their accidental meeting ends in an explosively hot hookup neither can forget. But they have nothing in common. Atticus is a buttoned-up closeted scientist and Jericho is a man on a mission, determined to find and punish those responsible for the death of his sister. Still, Jericho can’t stay away. And, truthfully, Atticus doesn’t want him to. 

 As Jericho’s mission begins to bleed into Atticus’s life, two separate but equally brutal families will need to learn how to fight together to take out a common enemy. But no amount of brute force can show Jericho how to scale the walls of a psychopath’s heart. Can Jericho convince Atticus that, sometimes, the couple who kills together stays together? 

Review: ⟫ Oh my goodness, where do I begin? I guess I should begin with how I will forever imagine Netflix and Chill as Jericho and Atticus together on the sofa, with Jericho stroking through that red hair and Atticus doing whatever makes him feel comfortable! 

 Then I’d have to get into what a rollicking ride this story was! It has its serious sides – the storyline touches on drugs, trafficking, organ theft and much more – but the main plot-line is around Jericho and Atticus, as well as the Mulvaneys and the hot new family they meet! The chemistry between our two leads is off the charts, with Jericho somehow tuning in to Atticus being touch-starved and making sure his ‘Freckles’ never has to feel like that again. 

It’s also easy to see how they fell in love with each other – it’s sudden, frenetic and occasionally causes whiplash with just how fast everything goes, but it makes sense. In their world, everything can be taken away so quickly so you need to grab onto happiness when it turns up in the middle of a murder. And the sex scenes are frequent, graphic and incredibly HOT! 

 It was fantastic seeing the rest of the Mulvaneys again, as well as two of our favourite couples. Noah is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine, although Calliope may hold that place forever – especially for her riding the petty copter and refusing to speak to anyone other than Jericho during a particular scene! Obviously, you need to be a strong person to hold your own against the Mulvaneys and Calliope is that and more! 

 There is more build up regarding Thomas, who seems to be unravelling slightly; we get more of the murder twins (squeee!!!) and all in all, this is just a fantastic read! An easy 5/5 for me, and I am champing at the bit waiting for the next instalment!

Psycho by Onley James (Necessary Evils Book 2)

Title: ⟫ Psycho - Necessary Evils Book 

Author: ⟫ Onley James 

Blurb: ⟫ August Mulvaney has always been exceptional. As the genius son of an eccentric billionaire, his off-putting behavior is often blamed on his high IQ. They say there’s a thin line between genius and madness. August is both—a brilliant professor loved by his students and a ruthless, obsessive killer tasked with righting the wrongs of a failing justice system. And he’s just found his latest obsession: Lucas Blackwell. 

Lucas Blackwell was once the golden child of the FBI, using his secret talent as a clairvoyant to help put away society’s worst. Until, with a touch, he discovers his co-worker is a killer and his life falls apart. Now, the world thinks he’s crazy and that co-worker wants him dead. He seeks refuge at a small college, hoping to rebuild his life and his reputation. But then he runs into August Mulvaney. Literally. 

 August is immediately intrigued with Lucas and his backstory. He doesn’t believe in psychics, but there’s no missing the terror in his eyes when they collide in the hallway. Now, August has a problem. Lucas knows his secret, and August knows he wants Lucas. And August always gets what he wants. 

 Can he convince Lucas that not all killers are created equal and that having a psychopath in his corner—and in his life—might be just what he needs? 

 Psycho is a fast-paced, thrill ride of a romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a psychopath hell-bent on romance and a disgraced FBI agent attempting to redeem himself. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, and scenes so hot it will melt your kindle. This is book two in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple. 

Review: ⟫ Dorky, adorable and clueless - and that's the psychopath!  

Well, holy hell!! 

 This came out on my daughter's birthday and I have never struggled so hard to spend time with her!!! A psychic and a psycho sounds like it could be an absolute nightmare for at least the psychic - being able to see exactly what sick, twisted stuff your lover is into seems like a recipe for trauma! But August isn't your average psycho - in fact, he's an incredibly intelligent, dorky lovemuffin! And Lucas is no pushover despite what he's been through. 

 It's to Onley's credit that she has managed to make these characters so different and yet you fall in love with them just the same! It was hot, fast paced, with appearances from the other brothers that will make you grin so hard! Noah and Adam are still my favourites but only by a smidge! 

 Cannot wait for the third one and it looks like thanks to Patreon I won't have to! 

 I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.