Epeolatry Book Review: Brutal Vows by J.T. Geissinger

Everything is just perfect when you meet your special someone at the altar. But what would you do if someone other than your intended was waiting for you at that altar? Would you say “I do” if it meant saving a life? What about three?

Brutal Vows is the fourth book in the Queens and Monsters series by J.T Geissinger. Following the events of Savage Hearts, Homer ‘Spider’ Quinn, second in command of the Irish Mob, is finished with love. When an opportunity to increase the Mob’s influence via an arranged marriage is offered, Spider volunteers himself as groom. The bride is the eighteen year old daughter of an Italian Mafia family. When push comes to shove, it won’t be the intended bride that Spider is longing for but her aunt Reyna. Content warning: while this series has been full of trigger warnings before, this is the first time it deals heavily with domestic abuse.

Reyna Caruso is a powerhouse character. I will argue that she is the only main character who is both the Queen and Monster in this aptly named series. Having grown up in the male dominated La Cosa Nostra, Reyna has steeled herself against the abuse of her father, her late husband, and current lead of her family, her brother. She has learned to shadow play everything to her advantage from blackmail to politics. Her strong convictions put her at odds with most of the men she deals with, and she doesn’t hold her tongue about any of it.

Spider has been around since Carnal Urges, book two in this series. As a secondary character, he’s been a welcomed addition of hotheadedness and heroic actions. As the lead male, he is brooding, short tempered, and impulsive. Still haunted by his failure to protect Riley, he reveals a moment in his past that defined his need to protect those closest to him. Perhaps the reader got to know Spider too well, leading up to his lead role and the dramatic change to his story felt forced. 

Reyna and Spider are presented as two broken people trying to navigate the arranged marriage. What translates is that neither are in it for love, and they spend a good portion of the novel trading insults and barbed comments. Reyna constantly reminds Spider that she’s going to kill him. Spider continuously baits Reyna, when he’s talking to her at all. Much of the humor that made the first three books so much fun is lost. 

It needs to be acknowledged that Geissinger does an amazing job of addressing domestic violence in Brutal Vows and portrays wonderful partner support in response. 

Tying up all the loose ends does give a satisfying end to this series. There is a discussion of an even larger criminal underworld acknowledging other national criminal organizations. It’s easy to imagine that just because this is the end of the Queens and Monsters Series, this isn’t the last we’ll see of these characters.

Brutal Vows by J.T. Geissinger is the final novel in the Queens and Monsters Mafia Romance series. Featuring a wonderfully written and power lead woman, readers of the series are likely to find Reyna one of the best. Fans will be thrilled to see their series favorites again as the series comes to a satisfying conclusion. 

/5

Available from Amazon and Bookshop.