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.

Cheeseballs and cornflakes galore

Please explain to me how you love someone so deeply when you don't know them at all but he's hot as hell and misterious and because he is the love of your life you are destined to "fix" him. K, thanks.
Once upon a time I liked such tropes but they are getting old...and unhealthy...and annoying.

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!!)🔥

Just OK...(spoilers)

I immediately was worried that I wasted a credit from the start. The female character was so cringy I was internally screaming "NO!" on more than a few occassions. A shy, young thing lays out her feelings to an older, intimidating man who pays her zero attention (yeah right). Then when they get together due to a completely unrealistic arrangement, the girl is even more cringy by texting this sexy, smart, layered, complicated and busy man pictures of freaking clouds (I know it was supposed to be "cute" and "charming"), but her "sweet and innocent" just came across as childish and dumb. I wish the female character was written with a more layered, interesting personality, but her ex and that back story was the only thing interesting about her. Thank goodness for the male character who carried the whole story. Not my fave, it felt like the story formula was created and the character development was just phoned in on the cringy female lead. Great narration though, which is usually what ruins it for me, ha!

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!

Unnecessary lengthy

I like LJ Shen books but this story seem to drag. There was no angst to keep me interested, just Killian being a douche! It was chapter after chapter of the same behavior and hours of this could have been cut out because the story did not progress any!!

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!

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.

Loved it

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

entertaing

peaky blinders meets 50 shades , written Mills and boon style!
if you can suspend disbelief, then this is an entertaining listen.
mildly irritating are the silly names , and the plot is also a bit ridiculous.
that said , I was entertained .i stuck with it , and the last few chapters had me hooked , waiting to find out what happens .
very well narrated.

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.

BRILLIANT!

Loved how the two main characters love journey was not AT ALL straightforward. Great story!

My favourite of the series

Having listened to all the Boston Belle series this one is my favourite. The narration by Jacob Morgan (one of my favourites) and Ava Erickson is wonderful and adds to the story (over the kindle which I have also read). They both capture the meaning in the words well with their portrayal. Dodgy British accent for Dev (touch of the Dick Van Dyk from Jacob there, but at least he didn’t just go for the cut glass British accent which is often the case). Love Ava’s portrayal of BDSM Barbie though.

The story is intriguing, full of humour, frustrating and heartbreaking. No doubt Cillian is cruel, but his lack of social filter means he says many of the things we would probably be thinking but not dare say. Persi is also funny, she has sass and doesn’t put up with his BS. The whole story arc is intriguing, as we find out the reason behind Cillian’s lack of feeling and behaviour. Hunter who pops into this book is his usual irreverent self and the banter between the men is entertaining, although I find the female friendships a bit irritating, perhaps because I’m not a fan of Emmabelle.

Of course the story works through in the end and they get their happy ever after. A bit of angst along the way, but not as harrowing as some Shen novels. Well worth a listen.

Brilliant story

Really Enjoyed the narration of this book it really brought the characters to life , fab