The Villain

Boston Belles, Book 2

By: L.J. Shen

Narrated by: Ava Erickson, Jacob Morgan

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Cruel. Coldblooded. Hades in a Brioni suit.

Cillian Fitzpatrick has been dubbed every wicked thing on planet earth.

To the media, he is The Villain.

To me, he is the man who (reluctantly) saved my life.

Now I need him to do me another small solid.

Bail me out of the mess my husband got me into.

What’s a hundred grand to one of the wealthiest men in America, anyway?

Only Cillian doesn’t hand out free favors.

The price for the money, it turns out, is my freedom.

Now I’m the eldest Fitzpatrick brother’s little toy. 

To play, to mold, to break.  

Too bad Cillian forgot one tiny detail.

Persephone wasn’t only the goddess of spring; she was also the queen of death.

He thinks I’ll buckle under the weight of his mind games.

He is about to find out the most lethal poison is also the sweetest. 

©2020 L.J. Shen (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

TEN STAR PERFECTION ALL THE WAY THROUGH

I’ve always loved your books Ms Shen.. but this book.. wow, this mesmerising addictive fantastic book, has got to absolutely be the BEST ONE yet. The push and pulls between Cillian and Persephone, the twists, the emotional mind games until check-mate, then devastating revelations, the passion and the seismic sizzling chemistry, the character shattering and regrowth, the verbal sparring and well honed daggers, the fervent hopes and wishes and sex and love.. oh someone stop me please coz I could go on and on. Well they all added up to a spectacular, riveting, compelling and unique rollercoaster ride with feels bursting from every single paragraph (note to self.. breathe) and your well-everythinged tangled love story lost me many many many hours of sleep.. and you know what - I don’t care. Because I was deliriously happy basking on the tempest tossed cloud of a wish being fulfilled. And the dual POV narrator pick was genius - the talented Ava Erickson and Jacob Morgan brought the magic that turned your awesome book into living breathing people with bleeding hearts, tarnished dreams and many bridges to cross before a girl’s wish would be spectacularly granted. WORTH A CREDIT? Yup, a credit well spent.. and now I want to listen to it all over again.. especially Jacob’s strong manly possessive demanding alpha parts 😉😜🥰🤭🤫 it’s just between us.

LJ Shen is a Goddess of my favorite Alphas.

First of all, I would like to thank the Audible Gods for choosing Jacob Morgan and Ava Erickson for narration. Jacob Morgan is Cillian. I struggle with women narrators, but Ava is one of my faves. But, can we talk about the writing? I was so anxious for the reveal into Cillian's weakness and I just didn't expect it. Persephone was a pleasant surprise. She was different. Traditional at times but eccentric and aggressive randomly. Which was satisfying. The book was brilliant for those of us that love alpha, hard-headed, almost unattainable jerks with ice cold hearts, hard-core loving skills that eventually become whipped saps for the women that refuses to take their nonsense. I am currently listening to it a 2nd time.

A great story by LJ Shen, as usual

This is book 2 in the Boston Belles, telling the story of Persephone and Cillian Fitzpatrick. It was long anticipated, the follow-up to Hunter and Sailor's story (Hunter's brother, Cillian).

Persephone meets Cillian at a ball that Sailor invites the Penrose sisters to attend, and immediate becomes smitten. She admits to him that she's in love at Sailor and Hunter's wedding, but he tells her that he is incapable of love and will never touch her, after he saves her life (she unknowingly does something prior to the wedding that poisons herself).

Fast-forward a few years, her husband puts her in a very bad position, debt, and then flees town. The debt collectors come calling, beat her up, threaten to pimp her to recoup the lost money, and she runs to Cillian in the hopes of getting loan so she doesn't have to go to her friends to beg for money. He comes up with a deal in order to give her the money and also get something he needs - a "perfect" bride in the eyes of the media and public who can give him heirs... little does he know that she will get under his skin, find out his secret, and turn his unfeeling heart around!

Very well written and a very good story, with undertones of Hades and Persephone of the underworld. I know there are a lot of others that have called this their very favourite book of the year or all-time, but I enjoyed The Hunter more, as well as Playing With Fire. The story was great and it was very well crafted, the others were just more in my heart. If I read this first, perhaps it would have taken the top spot for me too! It is very good, but not my number 1.

No Words...

I literally have no words to express what I’m feeling after finishing this epic love story. L. J. Shen is an absolute genius and her writing never disappoints. This story just became my favorite book to date but Shen has a way of doing that with each new masterpiece she creates. Cillian and Persy’s tale of love took me on a wild rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed, cried, wanted to scream out my frustration. By the end, my heart simultaneously melted and grew three sizes. Such a touching depiction of finding beauty in the broken and hope for the hopeless. Narration is also exceptional. Five stars all around. Don’t miss this one!

LJ Shen never disappoints

I loved this book! Cillian is a mean one at times but he makes up for it. There's so many things I could say about this book but I recommend you listen to it because Leigh Shen wrote a wonderful story and I can't wait for the next book. Narrators were great especially Jacob Morgan (Zachary Webber) That voice!!)🔥

Read this book!

Another great one by LJ Shen! Great characters, engaging plot, hot romance, and all the feels. Literally could not put it down, so be forewarned, this is likely to be a cover to cover read in one sitting and plan accordingly!

Another great story

The Narration is great, the story will leave you wanting more. LJ Shen is outstanding! She cant write the next book fast enough!

All the feels

An amazing listen full of humor, angst & love. A modern day Beauty and the Beast🖤

Exactly what I needed to listen to!

I could not have stopped listening to the audiobook since I first clicked play! it was everything i wanted it to be, LJ Shen never fails to deliver and I'm pretty sure I cried over 4 times, Cillian is not your conventional hero but his story is heartbreaking as well as beautiful. Loved it!

yes

narrators were amazing story was great and the characters were classic shen perfection. what a twist on disabilities and compassion, love love love this book!

So great

Fabulous story Cillian and Percy have such a chemistry between them and he is so formidable and she is so vulnerable and the path before them is filled with so many obstacles will they find their way to a happy ending x

My favourite L J Shen book so far...

I really enjoy Lillian character. I think Boston bells is my favourite L J Shen series so far, each book better than the last. My only issue is that I binge them far too quickly and now i have to wait months for the release of the next one :(.
Love the characters, love the story. Would recommend.

Well worth the credit!! 🖤🎧

I'm not too sure where to start with my feelings and thoughts of this book... It was an alluring mismatch... "Why?" I hear you ask... Persephone was a seemingly meek minded pre k teacher, recently split, living with her sister and trying to keep it all together.... Cillian is a blank mask... Hiding his thoughts, feelings, his past and his secrets.... It just shouldn't work! But my god, it did! Like a ballet they dance around revealing more and more, showing their own hidden depths, their strength and their weakness!
I think the best narrators were chosen for this performance and it truly shows!
Use that credit! You won't be disappointed! 🎧🖤

brilliant story

excellent storyline fantastic narrators . L J Shen delivers a difficult subject in a positive way. Dark in parts but stick with it.

Great follow up.

For some reason, all the women lost their Boston accents. Sometimes I wish narrators to listen previous work in order to make informed decisions on their characters but still keeping their own performance authentic. L.J. Shen is an incredible romance writer. Their stories are so different with unique narratives that don't feel like the repetitive Billionaire Romance novels. She also has a way of writing with care and dignity, on sensitive subjects like mental health, abuse and disability. I had at least 5 of their works.

Loved it

Loved it as I do all LJ Shens book's cant wait for the next one .

LJ Shen just wow

LJ Shen books are the only books I listen to on Audible.
I have all the stories. I love the depth of characters, the seem less way the series evolves. Today I listened to the entire story and got lost in it. If I had brought it as a book and read it, I could have finished it in 3 hours, but the way the book is read captures the imagination and I can get lost in LJ Shen world.
This author always delivers and the books are well worth the listen or the read. I just need the next one.
Thank you for taking me away.

Imperfect perfection

I loved this book. Their relationship was abusive at times and we can see where each of them was coming from. The writer tackled special needs in an interesting way.. I also love the main characters, Persephone is much stronger than we were led to believe in the beginning of the book.
Ava and Jacob performances were AMAZING, great voices that match the characters beautifully.

Best book I've ever heard

I thought Hunter was brilliant, but Villian is even better. Can't wait for book 3