Cassio

Belles & Mobsters

By: Eva Winners

Narrated by: Penelope Ann Rose, Karl Michaels

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Cassio King.

My savior.

My enemy.

The man lurked in the shadows of my dreams. He was supposed to marry my cousin.

Yet, here I was...taking her place.

I’ve hated the King family for as long as I could remember. Certain things were unforgivable. But there was more to Cassio than meets the eye.

Could I find my happily ever after and avenge the harm his family had done to me and my father?

Possible trigger warnings: This book contains some disturbing scenes related to abuse and human trafficking. If you are offended by such scenes, this book might not be for you.

©2022 Eva Winners (P)2023 Eva Winners

Cassio

I love this story yes it was missed how he did her Cousin. but I'm glad that they got together. this series just keeps getting better and better, I know it's missed up how he went about it but hey love is love. lol. Can't wait to read/listen to the next book.

Substantial and Dark

So far this is the best book, to include the stories of Alessio and Byron. Although the storyline follows horrific circumstances for Cassio and Áine, I loved the dynamic and history between the two. As one person commented the breaking up of the story with inner diaglogue is repetitive but it lends to building the characters and their plight. I skipped most of the intimate scenes as I've been binging this series and all sound the same, quite vanilla and boring.
I loved Penelope's narration, her voice wasn't overly sweet as some of the other female talent and Karl didn't do bad himself. Overall, Cassio and Áine found the healing and love they wanted and needed. This book also shines a light on Luka and Margaret which I am dying to get to.

Very good, but….

Three books into the series it becomes clear that Winners is going to inject lengthy, repetitive bouts of inner dialogue into every scene. Not only does she “bookend” each scene w/ the MC thoughts, but there’ll be a minute or more string of inner dialogue between each comment in a conversation and each step in an action scene.

The story itself is very good, but when what a character is thinking interrupts the flow to this degree - especially if it’s redundant dialogue - it can become frustrating.

Book 3 Belles & Mobsters

Every book in this series is phenomenal. I am loving the Belles & Mobsters.
This book did not disappoint.
Cassio saved Aine when she was young. Nine years later they cross paths again.
Cassio sets his goals on getting Aine. Aine sets her goals on taking down Marco King, yes the half brother of Cassio.
Although, Cassio and Aine have had “relations” in the past, she is forced to marry Cassio.
I know there is a lot to unpack with the storyline, but it is wonderful!
Penelope Ann Rise and Karl Michaels did an excellent job with the narration. Karl was a true mobster, and Penelope was a strong FMC.

I was given this audio for my honest review.

Cassio: Belles & Mobsters #3

🎧🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧

PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RATING: 4.5 Stars

I like this word that Eva has created, and I’ve enjoyed listening to it. I didn’t get an opportunity to read this series when it released last year (2022) so I can’t say for sure which format is best and whatnot, but I can say that both narrators, Penelope Ann Rose & Karl Michaels, did an exceptional job bringing this story to life for me. They are both new-to-me narrators and I’ll be looking for more of their work in the future!

STORY REVIEW & RATING: 4.5 Stars

Cassio is the third book of the Belles and Mobsters Series. The story focuses on Cassio King and Aine Callahan. The stories in this series can technically be read as standalones, but not really LOL I know, I know … I always say that but, in my defense, I’ve honestly never come across a series of this nature that doesn’t have interconnected characters and/or a story arc, which really makes them not standalone. To each their own and all that, so you do you :)

Eva Winners created two characters in Cassio and Aine that suited each other perfectly. She didn’t miss a beat with either one of them. She developed them perfectly and created them as if they were two sides of one coin. They lifted each other up and were exactly what each needed to get thru this thing called life *wink* feel me? I loved how Aine grew into herself out of the ashes of her past and forged thru head-on into her future. She was magnificent. AN obviously, Cassio wasn’t too bad himself LOL

The story was fast paced with twists, suspense, action, angst, revenge, and violence. Those are attributes you’d normally find in a mobster world, so no surprise there. It’s a dark, age-gap, mafia romance, and as such, readers should heed the trigger warnings. I found this story to be more trigger-y than the previous story and I rarely even notice such a thing so do with that little tidbit as you will.

Whew!!!! What a PHENOMENAL STORY!!!!!

Cassio, an Audiobook by Eva Winners, is the mind-numbing, gut-wrenching story of Cassio (Hunter) and Aine. She suffered a horrible situation at the tender age of 14 and was rescued. But, she remembers nothing. But, Cassio remembers EVERYTHING….and now, he wants to make her his.

Whew!!! So much intensity, drama, danger, and shocking situations I could hardly keep up!!! He is lovingly patient, kind, and loving….while keeping her secret and allowing her to heal. Gawd!!!!! I LOVED this story!!!

This Audiobook was exquisitely narrated by Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels, who just blew this story out of the water!!! I already loved the story after reading it, but their performances were phenomenal and so worth listening to!! The torture, angst, emotion, and heartbreak the characters endured, oozed through their incredible narrations! Love the story even more!!!

Phenomenal Performance

Cassio is Book 3 in the Belles & Mobsters Series by Eva Winners. And Winners is absolutely on fire with these books. Each one outdoing it’s predecessor. I have fallen for these characters.

Cassio King is a hard man. His very demeanor and nature is menacing. He’s protective as well. And after discovering his father’s background, it’s been his mission to overthrow it. As a favor to another mafia leader because Cassio wants all favors obligated to him, he and his brother agree to a rescue mission. It was that encounter that changed a part of Cassio. It was the first time he met Aine. She was only 14 but he knew she was significant. Something about this survivor remained with him.

Aine had overcome many dark moments in her life. She now has a successful career and she’s making the world a better place. But her past, something she can’t quite remember fully, always haunts her. A chance encounter with Cassio has her having moments of her past she can’t quite understand. But Cassio also provides a comfort she longs for. She also feels an attraction that can’t be denied. But their timing is once again off. But their next encounter has them both recognizing the chemistry.

Cassio knows that his time has come to claim his woman. He knows it won’t be easy. And she’s hiding something. He’ll stop at nothing to protect her.

But when Aine finally realizes who Cassio truly is, will she give in to him or go down fighting? They have the same enemies, the same goals, an indescribable yearning for each other, but can they make it work? Danger lurks everywhere. And eliminating the King stronghold is now their joint goal.

An ancient agreement is still the bond between these characters and stories. Winners has us in a world that is so believable we refuse to leave. Previous characters make for some anxious moments. The heroines are so strong in this Series. I love the grit they maintain.

Welcome to the Belles and Mobsters, a world beyond your expectations.

The narration duo of PA Rose and K Michaels was spot on. Rose portrayed the heroine's feelings of fear, anger, uncertainty, and lust flawlessly. Michaels gave our Hero that alpha dominance we expected. I loved how he transitioned all the male characters. Absolutely recommend this audible experience!

Very emotional

Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels were awesome portraying this characters and the emotions was awesome.
Cassio save Aina from trafficking after nine years later he see her again as a woman and he wanted her so he made a deal to make her mine especially because he was already arranged to her cousin so he lay out a trap for Margaret and now Aina is forced to marry Cassio and she accept because she has her own agenda to kill Marco king for her father murder and for what he did to woman he kidnapped them and torture them.

great book!!

I love this series!! Anne and cassino, ugh I love them!!! ❤️ 😍, especially how cassino is!

Cassio

This is the third book in the Belles & Mobsters series. Cassio is one of the illegitimate sons of Benito King. Áine was the daughter of the Prime Minister. Eleven years ago she was taken and tortured by Marco King. Cassio and Luca went on the mission to help rescue Áine. She captured Cassio’s heart even as a 14 girl with her bravery. I loved this book! I can’t wait for the next man. Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels did a great job narrating this book in duet style narration.

A fantastic listening experience

The latest book in the Belles and Mobsters series featuring hot, dominant mafia antiheroes who when they fall, they fall hard and obsessionally and the women who will push them to their very limits and Cassio and Aine embody that description perfectly. Rescued from traffickers when she was a teenager by Cassio, an event she only remembers in nightmares Aine didn’t make much of an impression on the older man other than he gained a favour from her Irish mobster father but when they met years later, and he sees the now grown up Aine it’s a whole new ballgame. He falls hard and he falls fast for the fiery woman she’s become but the last thing her family want is Aine involved with him while she is more interested in bringing down the traffickers and when she finds out who he is, she thinks he’s as bad as his father and brother not remembering his role in rescuing her.

Surprisingly given the storyline I felt this book was relatively angst free. As readers have come to expect from an Eva Winners hero, Cassio is dominant and protective, giving off definite “touch her and I’ll unalive you” vibes while the heroine Aine isn’t afraid to go toe to toe with him. The chemistry and tension between them sizzles and I love that he falls first and is prepared to wait. The plot continues the recurring theme that has ran through the series where women are a commodity to be used but for me the best thing about these books are the group dynamics and lifelong friendships between all the various characters.

I love that it is a different narrating duet for each book the Belles and Mobsters series, in this case Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels. For me Penelope got across every ounce of Aine’s strength, fears and uncertainties into her portrayal while Karl’s performance of Cassio had that requisite edge of menace and dominance that every mobster should have. Together they made this audiobook a fantastic listening experience.

Fiery Romance and Complex Intrigue

Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels bring this story to life. The Belles & Mobsters series takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions through Áine and Cassio's story. Penelope captures Áine's fiery spirit and vulnerability, making us feel her trauma and strength journey. On the other hand, Michaels embodies the enigmatic Cassio, his voice oozing danger and protectiveness. Áine's skepticism, though at times annoying, becomes a real emotion through Penelope's narration. The chemistry between the characters is palpable in Michaels' voice, drawing us deeper into their complex mafia world with a moral code. While the pace may falter compared to previous installments, the duo's narration keeps us hooked. Despite its flaws, this audiobook remains captivating, leaving us eager for the next chapter in the series.

What a storyline!

What a storyline! This book is amazing. With It’s well written characters and the brutal direction of this book it’s simply amazing. Fantastic performance from both narrators.
#pfp

So good!!

I loved this book so much more than the first two! Cassio stole my entire heart and did not give it back!

Watching Cassio do what needed to be done to get the girl of his dreams was spectacular! I loved watching the star crossed lovers find their way to each other. Aine was so strong and resilient, she took everything thrown at her and showed it who was boss.

I loved watching these two fall for each other even with all that stood in their ways. I loved the fact that Cassio had his mind made up and was going to use everything in his arsenal to get it, No matter the cost.

These two had such an amazing amount of push and pull and wrong place wrong time energy. I loved it. The whole thing. I can't wait to see what Eva has in store for Alexei!

Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels were great! They nailed the emotions and drama perfectly!

Mafia Romance

9 years ago Cassio was asked by Jack Callaghan the head of the Irish Mafia to rescue Aine and he would owe him a debt. Now he’s seen Aine and she doesn’t remember him but Cassio is now ready to cash in that debt however he needs to play it right or cause a war with the Irish.

Destiny

Cassio is such a charmer, I love how sweet and patient he is, but ruthless when necessary.
I loved their dynamic.

mobsters

I loved dual narration of Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels

Cassio and Aine meet when he rescued her from the human traffickers. Now eleven years later, she appeared in one of his clubs. In that second the beautiful red headed ,from his past, he decides she will be his wife. Aina has flashbacks and nightmares of her kidnapping.
What is he going to do to convince her to marry him!
Secrets, lies, action packed, mystery, steamy kept me wanting to listen

Great Story, Characters & Narration🎧 Enthralling!

Eva Winners continues to blow me away with another amazing novel set in her “Belle & Mobsters” series, a series quickly became one of my favorites. I listened to and loved the first book, “Luciano”, and this one is just as impressive as that, and the world building is phenomenal, as is the character building and development. This book starts with a thrilling rescue, grabbing my attention then and held it hostage the entire time. As a favor to Callahan, Cassio and his brother are on a rescue mission to get a girl who was abducted by human trafficker and bring her home. His own brother, who he despises, runs a trafficking ring. The mission is a success, and Cassio banks his favor to collect from Callahan in the future. The first chapter picks up nine years later and Cassio recognizes the girl he saved, who is now a woman, a beautiful woman with the same fiery red hair and the bluest of eyes. They had a special connection the day he rescued her, but the second time they meet she did not recognize him at all, but she did sense a familiarity and he made her feel at ease, something she never feels with a man. Cassio knew he wanted her the night she walked into his club, and needed to make it happen, even approached Callahan to cash in his favor, but Callahan would not have it, Áine has nothing to do with the mafia world and it is going to stay that way. Not giving up, he will make it happen another way. Áine is out to avenge the death of her father and continues his mission to take down the human traffickers and rescue those kidnapped. She does not know that Cassio is a King, the family she wants to take down, starting with his brother Nico, who is involved in the same nasty trafficking as their father Benito. She does not know where Cassio stands, neither one knows what the other is up to or that they are on the same side. Áine is no shrinking violet and Cassio met his match when he met her, her strength and courage is commendable, so is what she does. I absolutely loved how everything played out in this book, the story is cleverly plotted with the perfect balance of drama, angst, twists and turns, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Eva Winners, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧  And for the fabulous narration, Penelope Ann Rose and Karl Michaels are talented narrators and versatile voice artists. They had a complete of the characters they were portraying, giving each a voice that fit that character’s persona and were believable in every role they played. Rose’s Áine was spot on, grasping every side of her personality, her fierceness too, and Michaels did the same for Cassio. Both were great performing the roles of the secondary characters too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the character’s emotions and projected them into their performance. These versatile voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this fantastic listen.