The Butcher

Fifth Republic Series, Book 1

By: Penelope Sky

Narrated by: Ramona Master, Michael Ferraiuolo

I found out my husband of three years had cheated on me and his mistress is the one who told me—because he didn’t have the balls to do it himself.

I move out and get a new apartment, a job as a bartender, and try to move on with a broken heart. I wonder where it all went wrong, if I hadn’t been enough for him, if I’d been stupid for marrying him in the first place.

I’m at work one night when he walks inside—the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He sits at the bar and a forest fire burns between us. I was depressed the moment before he entered, but the second I look at his blue eyes, I forget the dumpster fire that my life has become. I invite him back to my place and it’s the most passionate night of my life. I expect to never see him again.

I just want him as an anti-depressant—but he wants me all to himself. I just got my heart ripped out of my chest so I want something easy and no-strings-attached, but he wants all the strings because he’s hooked.

I don’t get much of a say in the matter, and that’s not surprising when I learn why—because he’s the Butcher. The crime lord of all crime lords, the boss that overshadows all of Paris, that makes everyone abide by his rules—or pay.

And now I’m his.

©2025 Penelope Sky (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

freaking amazing!!!

I wasnt a fan of the narrators at the beginning, but eventually fell in love with them. So good!!!

narration

I was not a fan of the male narrator...I just do not feel it seemed to match the character.

Great read!

This author never fails to entertain. Dreamy, dangerous men! Perfect! Everything a book boyfriend should be.

Oh my gosh! Hot hot hot is all I can say!

I haven’t read a book this good in months! Everything about this book had me on edge and couldn’t wait to see what was next!Thank you Penelope!

lady you could’ve just stayed in your home and this book wouldn’t have happened.

Okay so the writing was pretty good and the spice immaculate, but the plot kind of sucked. I know the story is going to continue on the next one (I didn’t knew that when I started reading I thought it was a interconnected standalone) but this book was her crying about the husband and wanting to be with him again oh and going to eat at every restaurant in Paris and having s ex with Bastien. Honestly I finished it out of spite hahaha I really like him, he’s head over heels for her since the moment they met. I just wished the story centered more on him and maybe their relationship and not her and her husband,

Narrator Doesn’t Match Character

This is the only time I’ve ever been disappointed in having a dual narration. The female narrator is spot on for the male part. However, the male narrator makes the MMC sound pretentious, I struggled with his chapters because of that.

The female character just repeats over and over that she wants a divorce in the beginning and then repeats over and over that she loves the MMC at the end of the story… She started off as a strong willed woman, but by the end of the book the main male character turned into a jerk and she just goes along with it… Could have skipped reading this book and won’t be continuing the series.

I hate a cliffhanger

Ugh! It was a good story, great spice but ends with a cliffhanger. And only 15 chapters…they definitely need more

Pretty Good

Okay so I have conflicting feelings about this book. I liked the story. I liked the characters. I think my disconnect comes with the narrators. Their voices didn’t match the vibes and words of the story. It’s hard to explain. I did enjoy it and I think I would recommend it to folks who want something quick and dirty. I just wish they had different narrators.

Yesss😍

This book was my introduction to Penelope Sky and I am not disappointed!! I am definitely about to
Go right into the next book in the series! I loved Bastien and Flueur in this the chemistry was off the charts! Can't wait to see what else this series brings! I loved the narrators for this one too! Couldn't have picked a better duo!

Narration was questionable

I love the story. Slight twist on a typical mafia style romance. The narration wasn’t hitting the spot for me. Having the MMC narrate the FMC in their chapters just kinda took away from the element and definitely killed some of the spice.