Review: I DID NOT WANT THIS TO END!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2012
You know, sometimes you find the best things by accident. This saying is sooo true. Recently I had the good fortune of reading a book written by a favorite author of mine, Amy Lane. She had paired up with another author, Aleksandr Voinov, to write a wonderful story called Country Mouse.Knowing the feel of Amy's work, I could feel her voice and knew where her words were in the story. I  also found the other voice of Aleksandr. His words were a little darker, a little different; and I wanted to read his words alone. So I asked my friend Tom Webb, who did the Dual Review with me for Country Mouse, what he would recommend of Aleksandr's work ...here we are.So this Five Book Series has taken this 70 yr. old Grammy out of her comfort zone. Aleksandr Voinov has pushed my limits of what I 'thought' I could not enjoy in a book, and for that I am most grateful to him - for expanding my horizons.Dark Souls - Book 1Stefano Marino, happily married Mafia boss living the life on the West Coast, is at the home of a family patriarch who is dying. He is paying his last respects. The mob bosses have traveled out east looking for whatever they can garner from the death of a leader. It is here Stefano sees Silvio Spadaro, nicknamed the Barracuda.Sylvio has traveled from Italy at the request of Gianbattista Falchi, retired Mafioso cosigilere, of whom Silvio is heir and protetto. Stefano watches the others shy away from Silvio, but he can't take his eyes off him. Stefano does not understand why he feels such an attraction. Silvio has set his sites on Stefano. Stefano thinks back about stories he has heard, about what the Mafia would do if they thought you were gay. Torture and death would not be out of the question. And there have been many horrible stories...Stefano retires to his rooms; Silvio breaks in and attacks Stefano's #2 man. The scene here is so real, so graphic, that it was like I was watching a movie, not reading a book. I stopped breathing, I felt faint, but I could not stop. Stefano has Silvio at his mercy, and sexually takes advantage of him, and Silvio is exactly where he wants to be... The publisher's note for this book cautions ***This book contains dubious consent***.Stefano has found the Russian Mafia horning into his territory and businesses. He  traves to Italy to enlist the help of  Gianbattista Falachi to give him outside help. Gianbattista brings Stefano and Silvio together again, and Battista  breaks Silvio's heart and sends him away to America to help Stefano.Dark Souls - Book 2: Dark Whisper and Dark NightThe second book, Dark Souls 2, has Silvio still out of his element and hurt over Battista his mentor and his lovers banishment.  He lives on the Marino Estate.The scene Dark Whisper is Battista still showing Silvio that he is still his sexual master 4000 miles away... Phone sex much...In the second part of the book, Dark Night, the Russians do not play games and attack Stefano's car, killing some of his men, injuring his #2 and capturing Stefano, beating, torturing and almost killing him...Dark Souls - Book 3: Dark Lady 1 & ll,  Dark BrotherHow can I describe this third book to you? The first two sections Dark Lady l and ll are almost unreal. I cannot tell you the unique writing ability of this author, to guide you further in utter fascination.Silvio has decided how to take out the Four Man Russian Hit Squad that had almost killed his boss. You as the reader might start get an inkling to what is going on, but you have to read this to see how the scene is set and how Silvio completes his plan.When Silvio returns home and informs the still healing Stefano that the Squad is dead and relates how he did it, Stefano is speechless, and can see Silvio doing this, which causes him to know that Silvio is very dangerous to him; Silvio can use a man's weakness against him.Dark Brother brings Silvio's brother Franco to the estate. Franco was just released from the French Legion as a sniper by trade, and stays on to help his brother and Stefano fight... Things really start to amp up in the fight with the Russians and in the bedroom. Isn't it better with two Spaderos?Dark Souls - Book 4: Dark Rival l & ll, Dark TemptationIn book four we start to see the closeness between Stefano and Silvio, and the trouble that can be caused in Stefano and Donata's marriage. Silvio thought he was only in it for the sex, but Stefano cannot separate sex from feelings, and his feelings are making Silvio feel. This is where our author peels away the layers of these men. Outstanding!Silvio returns from his mission with his brother, and the fallout of the escapade brings the war out into the open with the press and witch hunters. Stefano realizes his Crime family is mutinous. He knows Silvio is the only one he can trust. He comes to understand his feelings for Silvio. But to what extent???Dark Souls - Book 5: Dark Hunter l & ll, and Dark FrostThe final book has Stefano meeting US Attorney Sebastiano Beccaria. A traitor in his own organization makes his move and hires Silvio to kill Stefano. The writing is on the wall. What can Stefano do to save the people he cares for?This last book is not where you mind was heading, again a credit to the author. The ending is astounding, carried out by a master. I was so disappointed that this series would be over, that I would be pulled away from this world. As the last book progressed to the end I kept watching the page numbers reading slower. Isn't this the sign of something special? Isn't this the sign of a good writer?Yes, Aleksandr, I applaud your skill, your daring to push my limits. I am humbled by your abilities.So as I said originally, I never would have found you, but just by accident you changed my world.  Thank you and Bravo!Review by Gloria LakritzSr Reviewer and Review Chair of the Paranormal Romance Guild