Gangster's Daughter is attention grabbing
922417
I couldn't put the book down. I had to know what happened next. I recommend this book to all who enjoy action & suspense novel...
1383300
A brilliant young runaway takes on the FBI and Mafia and comes out on top. She also comes out damaged, but laughing. I suggest doing a little research to confirm its true. The confirmation makes it twice as mind boggling.
538366
This is a very personal and interesting life story of a good earner in the Mafia for years.  He ended up changing his criminal ways  after a stint in the federal lock up.  It's a page turner.
2350160
Love the characters and love the tie that binds them. Great Gangster Story.  Some surprises and somethings I would never have guessed.  Couldn't put it down.  Great read
576277
Interesting story and some rough scenes where sadism and masochism occurs. Suspense and action. Matteo is the illegitimate son of the Abbott mafia and not publicly recognized as a son of Abbott. Matteo got abandoned, pumped full of drugs and trained into a killing machine where he became the Blood Hound, deadliest assassin of the Abbott family. Hired to kidnap the De Costa family princess, Bianca, Matteo sees this beauty to his beast.
Lust is rampant and Matteo rekidnaps Bianca from his father to stake his claim only she gets kidnapped by an insane psycho and Matteo must find her. Calling a truce between the two mafia families, Abbot and De Costa set aside their grudge to find De Costa's daughter. Only the insane psycho turns out to be one of the Hounds own killing crew. De Costa dies from bad kidneys and leaves Bianca as heiress but she must pay the price to keep her man. Insane Psycho returns and gets his comeuppance. Other twists and turns that keep the plot interesting.

Personally I get that dominance and submissive was a huge factor in this story but it was only while reading in Bianca's mind that kept me slightly empathetic. However her actions and thoughts made me want to slap the stupid and weak out of her. I almost yelled at her to get a freaking backbone. Only toward the end did I see her stand up for herself. Matteo went from over dominant- all alpha to alpha with a temper. I enjoyed his control over some of the sexual play they started with but he went soft with the feelings. That was odd since it didn't fit his original role. I don't know. I like this story but I found the heroine too wimpy most of the time. I would think being in the mafia the women would be more fearsome than the men but what do I know?
229562
An interesting read to be sure.  Lots of violence, chase scenes and some very sinister agents. A sicko father and a lover with some jail experience to overcome.  A daughter with daddy issues and well some druggie friends.
2163963
Urban fiction at its best is how I would characterize A Gangster's Girl.  First time Chunichi has captured the life of a gangster's girl with stunning accuracy.  There is enough neck rolling, gum popping, latest fashion wearing, and name-dropping to keep the surface reader entertained while devising a nicely written novel for the more in-depth reader.  I imagined the balance was difficult to maintain, but Chunichi has pulled it off.
Vegas is an eighteen-year-old street hustler on the cusp of running things in the hood Ceazia (pronounced C-Asia) is into the life of fancy cars, fine clothes, expensive wining and dining and thugs that can afford her the lifestyle to which she feels she is entitled.  The two meet and she is immediately captivated by his raw but alluring demeanor. She decides to see what he's about.  After spending the night in a hotel with Vegas, discovering a pocket full of money and an ID revealing his true age, Ceazia still decides to pursue a relationship with him.  She is living the life of her dreams, which sadly is dictated by money and the ghetto power it brings.  Her friends even begin to exhibit jealous behavior toward her because she's come up while they remain hustlers who try to out hustle the game before getting hustled. One friend in particular Meikell, is a worrisome thorn that provides interesting dynamics in the story.
Life couldn't be going any better for Vegas and Ceazia until the tables turn.  Living by the code of the streets means always keeping watch on the back door and not becoming complacent with being on top of the heap.  While Vegas made sure that his girl wanted for nothing and she likewise hooked him up, comfort bred laziness to the rules of the game. While the relationship remained strong for years, the unfretted arm of the law worked its hand in and snatched Vegas away.  This was the beginning of the end.  It's interesting to see just how quickly one can ascend and fall.
A Gangster's Girl was too short for my reading taste, however the story was complete with no stone unturned.  Although not my usual genre, I thought the writing was well done, and the story wonderfully told.  Great job Urban Books. I think this book truly characterizes your focus on the drama and grit of inner city life while featuring edgy and exciting new voices-writers who tell it like it is. I look forward to reading more from Chunichi.
2097335
"The Mini-Skirt Mob" is no classic, but it delivers enough action to make it worthwhile. Diane McBain stars as the leader of a female motorcycle gang (hence the title) who is determined to punish the guy who jilted her. With the aid of her companions, including biker film veteran Jeremy Slate and future cult actor Harry Dean Stanton, she proceeds to harass both her ex-boyfriend (Ross Hagen) and his mousy new bride (Sherry Jackson). Along for the ride, and good in a sympathetic role, is ex-child star Patty McCormack, as McBain's little sister. The photography is excellent as is the color, and the movie doesn't take forever to make it's point. McBain is terrific as "Shayne". Very watchable. [phillindholm]
2056017
I found this book to be a very interesting read.  As a previous reviewer mentioned the reader may question how much of it is true.  It could very well be.  There is no question that Sam Giancana, like other mobsters, was a thug capable of looking out after his own interests and pleasures.  Women were something that existed for his pleasure and then to be cast aside.  His son Chuck, one of the authors, depended on his older brother to provide him with jobs to provide for his family.  I got the impression older brother Sam relished the role of keeping brother Chuck subservient to him.

Since mobsters have a very limited vocabulary this book is loaded with profanity.  How much is true regarding the assassinations of
President Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy along with the "murder" of Marilyn Monroe is open to conjecture.  This, also, is the first book I have read that includes Sam Giancana as being a member of those involved in the murder of Bugs Moran's cohorts in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.  San Giancana, himself, was murdered on June 19, 1975 with one bullet to the head, one inside the mouth, and five into the throat while boiling sausages in the basement of his Chicago home.  Such is the case with many mobsters who are either murdered to keep them silent or ending up with a prison sentence.  There is nothing cool about being a gangster.  I am including a photo of his final resting place in Mount Carmel Cemetery west of Chicago in the community of Hillside.
1270032
I certainly enjoyed reading GANGSTERLAND. Unlike novels about gangsters, the reader sees what is transpiring from the point of view of the gangster. It was creative and unique. For the somewhat feint of heart, it was also very descriptive and brutal.
3674217
How far will a mother go to protect her adult son from a murder charge? Sometimes, pretty far, as is revealed in the book Dangerous Attraction, by Robert Scott.

Twenty year old Katrina Montgomery was a lovely and warm young woman who was also a very beloved member of her family. None of her family is sure why she began to hang out with the lethal street gang in Ventura, CA. called the Skin Head Dogs. It appears that Katrina felt some sort of thrill involved with "taking a walk on the wild side."

Katrina befriended a member of the gang, the tattooed and drug abusing Justin Merriman, who himself was also twenty years of age and was doing time for the assault of a correction's officer. Katrina and Justin spent much time writing letters back and forth to each other until the day that Justin's time had been served and he was released.

Justin came out of prison with the impression that Katrina was his girlfriend, but that is not the way that she saw it. At a gang party on Thanksgiving of 1992, Katrina proceeded to get herself quite intoxicated and ended up at Justin's family home along with two other of the gang members. In Justin's bedroom, she was taken and raped by Justin right in front of his buddies. He then stabbed her in the neck with a knife, beat her over the head with a heavy wrench, then finally cut her throat. Her body was never found.

It was not until six years later, when he was stopped for a bike riding violation by police and ran, that he was caught.....and even that was after a wild chase and a harrowing seven hour standoff.

So, where does Justin's mother fit in?

Beverlee Sue Merriman had her own ways. She did everything within her powers to protect her son, no matter what the consequences were to her. She made sure to keep in close contact with Justin's other skinhead gang buddies, to ensure that no one would "talk." She ended up doing her son more harm than she would ever imagine.

This case had grown cold by the time the police had finally gathered enough evidence to bring Justin to trial, where the jury concluded that he was to die by lethal injection at San Quentin Prison in California.

This is a very well written true crime book. Robert Scott, also the author of Rope Burns and Like Father, Like Son, has done an excellent job of laying out this story which occurs over an eight year time span. Fans of true crime will find this story of murder, along with all of the terrorizing used to keep the gang members silent, to be a very interesting read.
4480350
What started as a loan from my daughter has turned out to be a real page turner.  A little unbelievable how Sasha seems to attract troublesome clients, but she handles them at least as well as her martial arts capabilities.
3978807
I read this last week while lollygagging on South Padre Island beach where they have the 3rd largest Spring Break every year.  This book is a definite page turner.  Andy grew up poor and abused and got the attention and money from men that she craved and never received as a child.  Unfortunately, she was abused as an adult as well and the money and power she acquired was not worth it in the end.  I hope she and her children are still alive and well in PA.  She is a tough cookie so I am sure she is doing fine.  If you like true stories about the mob you will want to read this one.
3920571
Olivia is a young single mom who is hoping to make her mark and is now running for governor in Florida. Her current bodyguard and security leave a lot to be desired though, and Josef "Joey" Clad from Iron-Clad Securities, has made it his job to see to Olivia's safety and make sure her daughter and herself have all the protection that Iron-Clad can give. Also Joey is strongly attracted to Olivia and he's sure he feels a chemistry between them, he hopes to investigate.
Olivia's situation gets more serious and her security has to be tightened up even more and the attraction explodes.

The story is very entertaining as Olivia and Joey get to know each other and amusing when her daughter Sophie joins in...she was a sweetheart, and the plot became very suspenseful at times, which caused some nail biting on my part I must confess.
I liked the characters, they were interesting and made a good couple.
A good, thrilling read with just the right amount of suspense and plenty of hot chemistry between the sheets.
3508741
Sabre Orin Brown, Sobs or Sabre, a dedicated lawyer working in the Juvenile Justice Courts, works hard for the benefit of the minors who comes under the purview of the Juvenile Division of the San Diego Supreme Court.  She carries the burden of not knowing anything about her brother Ron who went missing five years before.  Robert or Bob, another lawyer practicing in the same Division treats Sabre as a kid-sister and is protective of her.
Peggy Smith, the liv-in partner & girlfriend of Gaylord Murdock, Alexis, ten-year old daughter of Gaylord and Jamie, two-year old son of Peggy appear in a domestic violence case.  Peggy is pregnant and an injury is covered by a bandage on her forehead.  Sabre takes over representing Alexis and Jamie the minors who are handed over to the State pending resolution of the dispute and decision of the Court on the custody of the children.
Alexis turns out to be far too matured for her age and is a very impressive and interesting character throughout the entire story.  Sabre's interaction with Alexis leads to enquiries in to the antecedents and slowly the web of mystery is revealed in small parts, keeping the reader engrossed.
The dead investigator who was involved in the enquiry of the missing mother of Alexis provides clues to pursue a closed matter.
The pin-pricks, the harassments and ultimate kidnapping of Sabre leads to the climax.

Teresa Burrell has in fact used her talents to bring to life Alexis and Sabre and scenes involving these two pricks the reader's heart and conscience.  Domestic violence is in fact a live issue in the society and the extent it affects the little children is so vividly portrayed.  Drugs, gambling, alcoholism, infidelity, suspicion are some of the causes of domestic violence and this book covers some of these aspects.  The underbelly of the PD which helps the perpetrators of crimes against society is another aspect which the author has brought out.

In the total analysis, I enjoyed the book for its touching and sensitive handling of a crime mystery.
4706043
Skip is awesome, she's a strong, funny, down to earth kinda gal. She's trying to make a name for herself in the NOPD, she came from a very prominent family, and is very aware of the antics her father has done to get there. She doesn't speak to him anymore and avoids her Mother as much as possible. She's a rookie cop thrown into an investigation bc of her social status in the community, that comes from her father. She's trying to help with this case without losing her mind, bc she's not sue she knows what she's doin. The author has done an excellent job of putting these characters and the suspense and showing us New Orleans along the way.
379834
The scoop: In Columbia, a family man is looking to get out of the drug business for reasons unclear. Of course, his boss says, "Sure, pal o' mine, just don't tell the drug police about me, ha ha!" Of course, anyone that's seen many crime movies -- including these characters -- knows that "the only way out is feet first, got that?" A hit squad is dispatched to eliminate the guy and his family.  The parents know the hit squad is en route--in fact, they spot them outside!--yet make NO effort to hide their 11-year-old daughter Cataleya as they approach. (Perhaps the real reason this couple was marked for death is because this drug kingpin realized this couple has crappy parenting skills.) Husband and wife are shot multiple times in front of the child.  Faster than you can say "Bruce Wayne," she vows then & there to avenge her parents' murder and escapes. But Bruce Wayne trained for years and years in almost every physical discipline imaginable before he became Batman, THIS little girl has the moves of Daredevil and Angelina Jolie's Ms. Salt at the age of eleven, jumping from rooftop to rooftop to street, evading a crew of what must be between four and eight fully grown, heavily armed, presumably professional hitmen. (Cripes, what did they feed this kid?!?) We even see this child move a MANHOLE COVER like it's a pizza! (Gad, those things are heavy, really!) Then, from an unlikely confluence of events, Cataleya -- who is so special she reads Xena comic books YEARS before the hit TV show makes the airwaves, according to the film's timeline -- makes her way from Columbia to Miami to Chicago (most bus companies will let a pre-teen girl buy a ticket sans adult supervision), where she hooks up with her gangster uncle.  Uncle Thug, like all concerned relatives, honors his niece's burning desire to be trained as an assassin, provided she attends school regularly and kills the Kardashian sisters after turning 21. (OK, I made-up that last bit.)

That was the prologue -- cut to the present, where the child has grown up to be Zoe Saldana. Ms. Saldana is indeed lovely, but let's be vaguely semi-real here. She looks like she weighs 94 pounds! She kicks an enormous amount of big-guy hiney and wields weapons that are almost as big as she is! Cagefighter-turned-actress Gina Carano, star of the recent Haywire, is a truly muscular lady -- you can believe that she can clean any guy's clock, punch his ticket, fix his wagon, and rotate his tires. Saldana looks like a stick figure...a very pretty stick figure I'll admit, but a stick figure nonetheless. Steve Buscemi could take her in a fight, and Buffy the V-Slayer could have her for breakfast. (I wouldn't bet the rent, but I think a MALE stunt-double was used in one fight scene).

But wait, it gets better. [spoiler] I know this is an action film, not a documentary, but Starsky & Hutch feels more "real" than this movie. Early on, Cataleya gets herself arrested intentionally by pretending to be drunk and plowing her car into a police car. After she's arrested, the police don't give her a breathalyzer test, don't take her mugshot, and (best of all) don't take the hairpin in her, uh, hair with which she uses to unlock her cell door with ease!  (Do the CIA and NSA know of the awesome power of the pin, for MacGyver's sake?) [insert Andy Rooney voice here] Ever notice that in action movies ladies (and occasionally men) can run BAREfoot into sewers and over an assortment of rubble without stepping on something injurious?

I like action movies as much as the next fellow, but I like some actual acting and characters (they're as generic as they come here) with my explosions and gunshots. Worst of all, there's NOTHING here that hasn't been done lots better before -- even the American La Femme Nikita remake Point of No Return is better than this. Stick to science fiction, Zoe.