Gentlemen Prefer Villains is book two in the Villainous Things series by C. Rochelle, and I didn’t think it was possible, but I loved it even more than the first one (check out my review for Not All Himbos Wear Capes). This book is so well done, I just had to go back and read them both again, and now I can’t wait for book three.
Note: There are mild Not All Himbos spoilers below, so I’d recommend reading that book first before this review.
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Gentlemen Prefer Villains by C. Rochelle
🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Dual POV, first person, past tense
Genre: Superhero Science Fiction, MM Romance
Tropes/Themes: Secret Identities, Fated Mates, Forced Proximity (but they can’t touch ☠️), Psychos in Love, Hurt/Comfort, Mafia Romance, (this one is a little darker than the previous one—though still filled with humour—so be sure to check out the author’s tws)
Synopsis:
When ‘normie’ Simon accepts a temp position working for the mysterious Mr. S, it’s a means to an end—a way to escape Big City. Getting close to the ‘hired muscle’ is an added perk.
Wolfgang—aka The Hand of Death—has never been touched, never been kissed. After dispatching with his villainous parents, he seeks to secure his position as head of the Suarez clan. He’s got the world on his shoulders, so if he hires an irresistible piece of man candy as his assistant, well, what’s the harm? Except, he desperately wants to touch Simon…
Amid globe-trotting adventure in search of Wolfy’s loose-canon sister, they embark on a dangerous game of chicken with their mutual attraction. The results could be deadly…
It was my turn to gape as my gaze landed on the living, breathing embodiment of tall, dark, and handsome. Make that tall, morally gray, and fuckable.”
~ Simon
My Review:
Wow! The first part of this story is pure, delicious torture as Wolfy does his very best to resist (and not accidentally murder) his new assistant. And lemme tell you, resisting Simon is no easy feat. When Simon wants something, he goes for it—and I mean really goes for it. Absolute A+ for combustible sexual tension.
Characters
Just like with Himbos, this story is filled with interesting characters, both the main and secondary characters.
I loved the way Wolfy was characterized. Through Butch and Xander’s eyes, Wolfy is creepy and tough. But in getting to know him in this book, underneath it all, he’s the biggest, softest teddy bear complete with vulnerabilities and insecurities. His backstory was heartbreaking, learning all the ways he had been shaped into a mindless killing machine, and yet he still values human life (mainly his siblings and love interest). Oh, and the nicknames he has programmed for his siblings into his group chat are hilarious!
Simon is over-the-top ridiculous, and I couldn’t love him more. He’s got a larger-than-life personality packed into a pint-sized Juicy velour-covered package, and his confidence is astounding. He isn’t afraid to put Wolfy in his place—I can’t imagine a more perfect match. Size difference isn’t usually my thing, but I loved it here with Simon as the ‘tiny tyrant.’ <Chef’s kiss>
Getting to know some of the other Suarez brothers was intriguing (some introductions for future books), and I loved seeing Butch and Xander through Simon and Wolfy’s eyes.
That Wolfy smelled of my favorite things on earth—lavender, Earl Grey tea, and bondage—seemed terribly unfair.”
~ Simon
World-Building
The world-building for the Villainous Things-verse is fascinating, and I’m glad we get to find out more about the supe origins, and more about the Inventus bond (I loved that part in Not All Himbos so much). It’s like peeling back an onion, and with each book, new layers are revealed. I can’t wait to find out more in the coming books.
Gentlemen Prefer Villains by C. Rochelle (Book 2: Villainous Things)
Because he was the perfect man for me, Simon rallied to add a mild threat of his own.
“Likewise. Mark my words, Wolfgang. If you ever try to escape me, I will hunt you down.”
Final Thoughts:
This was a fantastic read (that ending!) and I’m so overjoyed that I found this series. The third book, Baltasar’s book (aka Blunt Force, Baby Hulk, The Dumb One) Putting Out for Hero releases mid-July 2023 and I can’t wait. I hit that pre-order button so fast!
~~~Update: It’s here. Read my review for Putting Out for a Hero.~~~
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
C. Rochelle is the author of MM, MFF, and Why Choose? paranormal romance (she’s got several series with witchy, monster, or superhero themes).
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