Great Googly Moogly,

Oh, thank you Nick for the laugh. I haven’t heard that phrase in more years than I care to admit. The characters are so great, and I love the way they play off each other. I wanted to laugh so much!

The Reluctant Retiree

Private eye, Adrian Elias, knows what trouble looks like, and ruthless mobster and lion shifter, Sage Tamir, was just that with a capital. T. On top of smelling like heaven, the man has a face of an angel and a body made for unbridled sin. A combination that Adrian is hard to resist.

Unfortunately, someone is trying to kill Sage and they are using magic to do it. Sage usually takes these types of matters into his own hands. but this time he is out of his league. He believes the only person who can help him is the down-on-his-luck detective… Problem is, Adrian doesn’t want the case, because he feels it may be too dangerous. Never mind the volcanic-level attraction they seem to feel for each other raising the stakes.

The Reviews

R Keebler
4.0 out of 5 stars Love the concept of this book
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2022
Verified Purchase
Adrian is a P.I. He also a rogue mage, not very powerful but a mage nonetheless. His world is populated by crazy ass humans, “Vampires, shifters, ghouls better known as griezels, ghosts, and demonic spirits”. Sage, mob boss, drug dealer, “filthy stinking rich” and above all a Lion King shifter. They each have a small bit of magic but they discover that together their powers are multiplied, breathtakingly so. It seems as though they have been fated to be together for hundreds of years.

I have followed this author for a while and like how he infuses his writing with such great characters that it’s impossible not to like them. Even secondary characters whether they are good or bad invoke strong feelings. Xavier is Adrian’s partner and Shi Is Sage’s number one and his enforcer/bodyguard. Very strong personalities the really complimented their relationships with Adrian and Sage.

I liked that Adrian’s light brought some humanity to Sage and Sage’s dark gave Adrian the access to use his magic for helping others.

A little mystery, some bloodletting, hot fated love, revenge, and magic. What more does a reader need.

Raven reads
5.0 out of 5 stars Darkness and light
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was a very intriguing book. This is my first book by this author but it sure isn't going to be my last. I am going to have to look into their back catalog, as well as keep up with this new series. Sage is a mafia boss and lion king shifter as well as a mage. Adrian is a PI and a mage. These two represent both sides of a very balanced coin: darkness and light, Yin and Yan. They can't exist without each other. Adrian is as squeaky clean as is possible for a private investigator and the idea of actually killing someone is abhorrent. Sage has no problem with a justified death. He may be a mob boss, but he is also loyal, fair, and true in all of his dealings. He wants Adrian to figure out who is trying to kill him. Along the way, Adrian realizes there are very few things that are truly black and white. With some cooperation and a serious destiny, these two are going to have a fight for their lives on their hands. I look forward to the next book. I am also interested to see how the vampire is ultimately going to play out in this one. Color me very impressed with this book. I liked it much more than I expected too!

Veronica U
5.0 out of 5 stars Mages, Mayhem & Awesomeness!
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
At this point, it is not surprising to read another great book from Nicholas Bella. He has long proven to be one of the great masters in the M/M genre. Nicholas Bella's characters, whether vampires, wolves, gods, slaves or in this book, mobsters or mages are always strong and unapologetic.
In That Mafioso Magic, NB did not disappoint, he gave us two well rounded protagonists in their own unique ways.
Sage Tamir is a mob boss; he doesn’t make excuses or try to justify who he is. He is confident, arrogant, and self-assured “I couldn’t help but feel a little arrogant at the fact I looked so damn hot in a suit” Translation? I know who I am, nothing else need to be said!
Adrian is not a weak link in this story, he could definitely hold his own. He is both fierce and funny: “I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my month. I fact, it was more like a spork, and a plastic one at that. Struggle was my middle name.”
In That Mafioso Magic, these main characters are not just a good old private eye or an evil boss. These two are clocked in delicious shades of gray. Their opposing personalities are both simple and complex which makes for an explosive encounter.
One of the things I love about Nicholas Bella’s characters is that you don’t have to like them or even sympathize with them. However, at the end of the day, you will understand why they are who they are.
I can’t wait for the next chapter.