Thief (Boston Underworld, #5)

by A Zavarelli

[stacey_is_sassy]

Hard to love a Thief...

I start every A. Zavarelli story rubbing my hands in glee. Then, within a few chapters, I'm questioning why I do this to myself. I always hate the hero or heroine for at least part of the book. More times than not I question how, what and why people are so bloody EVIL. I'm scared to think that anything Ms Zavarelli creates could be close to being real. There's this extreme level of depravity, degradation and wickedness that leaves you squirming uncomfortably. It's obvious that most of the blokes have very little respect for women and think of them as toys or pets used for their own pleasure. We're even supposed to forgive these guys for treating their love interest badly.

But, I can't help but be fascinated. I don't understand how a woman can be sexually turned on by a man who is holding her prisoner. If you are growing affection for a woman, why would you want to see and make them suffer? How, in this day and age, can we still have such double standards for men and women?

So, I spend the majority of the time reading feeling frustrated, angry and...a little turned on.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

I have no bloody idea, but Ms Zavarelli somehow exposes the passion between the characters that they can't deny. These strong blokes who seem to have no feeling besides loyalty to their brothers, show a vulnerability when the toy they're playing with starts to become more. Those little signs of affection start to give the heroine comfort and security, but, they know, in the next breath, it could all be taken away.

Like the heroine, I spend most of the book on tenterhooks. I expect bad things around every corner and never believe it's going to be alright until the last page has turned.

Thief is not an easy story to read. Besides the fact that we're dealing with mafia wars and evil men, we also get a glimpse into the life of a ballet dancer. Holy shamoly, there is NO WAY IN HELL I COULD DO IT!! It's more than just discipline, it's eating disorders, body dysmorphia and ignoring pain to a level that leaves you disfigured and disabled. For such a seemingly beautiful art there is a very ugly side to it. I was truly disturbed that there could be even a margin of truth to Tenaka's life as a ballerina.

These men in the Russian Mafiya, Irish Mafia and Italian Mafia have rules and beliefs that are abhorrent and disgusting. By the end of the story, I have "seen" things that I hope to never have to witness in real life. It's the stuff of nightmare...and I'll never look at a power-tool the same way again.

The funny thing is, I expect this from a mafia book. There is no way that I have sunshine and lollipops or hearts and flowers on my mind when I start. Somehow, after all the pain and suffering, I do get a little hearts and maybe even a sun poking through the clouds. But, for a man who lived every day like it could be his last, and a woman who was used as collateral, their story ended like all their dreams came true. Some dreams...are different.

While it may not seem it, I really did enjoy this story. It may not make my heart flutter or leave me on a giddy high, but it did make me feel.