Take Her

The Moth and the Monster, Book 1

By: Cassie Alexander

Narrated by: Matthew Holland, Bunny Warren

Power, Love, Money: Pick One

I’m her father’s best friend. She’s twenty years younger than me. He’ll kill me if I touch her—but I’ll die if I don’t.

The last time I saw Lia Ferreo I was helping her with a skinned knee—and now she wants to run her father’s company. She has no idea the dark lengths her father and I went through to build the mafia-financed hotel empire we currently run, or where any of the bodies are buried, but I know better.

So much better.

Lia’s gentle, I’m cruel.

She’s innocent, I’m a murderer.

She deserves to be free—all I want to do is control her.

And I don’t think I can hold back my beast around her much longer....

Take Her: A Dark Wall Street Mafia Age Gap Romance is like if the movie Secretary met the TV show Succession, with a Beauty and the Beast themed twist. It is the first book in Cassie Alexander's The Moth and the Monster series, and marks her stunning contemporary debut.

©2024 Cassie Alexander (P)2024 Cassie Alexander

Great start to this series!

Take Her (The Moth and the Monster book #1)

Story - 4/5 ♥️
Narration - 5/5⭐️
Spice - 4/5🌶

This story gives us age-gap, forbidden romance, mafia, kink/sex club all rolled up into a spicy package. It does end on a cliffhanger, so we now anxiously await to see what happens. The character development is fantastic. Rhaim has a dark past, Lia has a dark past. He is trying to keep his distance, she is having none of it. Take Her is a great start to this new Moth and Monster series!

The narration was wonderful. Matthew Holland has narrated for this author before, so hearing him as a made man was a little shocking. Bunny Warren gave us the perfect naive Lia who is slowly becoming the strong woman she is made to be. After all, she knows where the bodies are buried! 5 stars for this duo!

So In Love With This Book

Take Her is a dark mafia, age gap romance.

OH MAMA. Take Her is a very good book/audio, I'm so obsessed with the characters. It kinda reminds me of another series by Cassie Alexander called The Transformation Trilogy, I was obsessed with that series too. Cassie Alexander made me realize I love the "man taking control" books.
The characters in this book, Lia and Rhaim, are so intriguing. Their story is one that just grabs you and takes you on a hot and steamy ride. I l ike the mean asshole that Rhaim is and the sweet damaged girl which is Lia, I was rooting for them the whole book.
So I was listening to this book and I'm all into it and then BAH. Now I don't know how long it's gonna take for the next book, but I'll be waiting here impatiently. I need more, more Rhaim ... I have found my new book boyfriend.
Bunny Warren and Matthew Holland are new narrators to me but I think they did a wonderful job giving these characters a voice. i look forward to hear them again.

Oh that voice!

The male audio reader is fantastic. I love his voice. The female was acceptable. She didn’t ruin it for me but I didn’t feel much emotional connection to her…not everyone can be Stina Neilson.

I liked the storyline more than I thought I would. Knowing that this is a modern take on her characters from her “Bend Her” book series I wasn’t surprised by the male character’s disposition and inclinations toward control.

There was one thing though the intro to the female leads chapters was annoying to me. I don’t feel like the quotes from the female leads fav book were poignant enough to merit existing. If those had not been in the book I’d have given the story a 5.

Complicated, Gritty and Steamy!!

Lia is seemingly pampered, yet well educated and has anxiety from events in her past. Her father owns the mafia-financed empire. He has asked Rhaim, his CEO to train Lia, but in reality is just getting ready to marry her off.

Intricate relationships. Lia has grit and backbone which earns Rhaims respect and attraction. Who is the watched, and who is the watcher. Never underestimate your opponent.

I listened to the audio, which was a most excellent dual narration. This will keep you spellbound, and ready for more of their story.

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

Great dark mafia, age gap romantic suspense!

Take Her is the first book in The Moth and the Monster series, a contemporary dark, mafia, billionaire retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and sets the stage for a very complicated relationship between Lia and Raim. Lia is the daughter of Neo, a ruthless leader and CEO of the family business. She has returned from schooling abroad to take her place in the family business, or so she thinks. She has endured unspeakable trauma at the hand of someone she should have been able to trust. She is finding her strength and is on a mission to claim Raim for herself. Raim is the CFO and her father’s best friend. There is a very forbidden age gap, father’s best friend aspect to this story that could have deadly consequences. Neo is moving pieces on the board in an effort to protect Lia and his legacy. Unfortunately, he isn’t interested in what Lia wants. The dangerous suspense and angst pushes the story into dark territory and we can only hope Lia and Raim will be able to find their way through alive and unscathed. I am all in and can’t wait for the next book!!

Matthew Holland has a wonderful voice and delivers a great performance in this book! Bunny Warren’s performance brings all of the complexity of a traumatized woman who is finding her strength necessary to make this high-risk romantic suspense believable so you are really invested in the characters. They complement each other very well!