I picked up 'Colombiano' expecting a typical action-packed revenge story, but it’s way more than that. Pedro’s transformation from a scared kid to a hardened soldier is heartbreaking because you see how the system chews him up. The paramilitary world he enters is brutal, and the book doesn’t shy away from showing the moral compromises he has to make. What’s wild is how Young makes you empathize with Pedro even when he does terrible things—you understand his pain, even if you don’t agree with his choices. The pacing is relentless, but there are these quiet moments where Pedro reflects on his past, and those hit the hardest. It’s not just about Colombia’s conflict; it’s about how violence breeds more violence, and how easy it is to get trapped in that cycle. The ending? No spoilers, but it’s not neatly tied up with a bow—it’s messy, just like real life.
Colombiano by Rusty Young is one of those books that sticks with you long after you turn the last page. It follows Pedro Gutiérrez, a teenager whose life is shattered when his father is murdered by guerrillas in Colombia. Fueled by grief and rage, Pedro joins a paramilitary group to seek revenge, but his journey spirals into a brutal cycle of violence that makes him question everything. The story doesn’t just focus on action—it digs deep into the psychological toll of war, the blurred lines between justice and vengeance, and the cost of losing your humanity bit by bit.
What really got me was how Rusty Young doesn’t glamorize Pedro’s choices. The book forces you to confront uncomfortable questions: How far would you go for revenge? Can you ever come back from that darkness? It’s raw, unflinching, and based on real-life experiences Young gathered while living in Colombia. The setting feels so vivid, from the chaotic streets to the dense jungles, that it almost becomes a character itself. By the end, you’re left with this heavy, thought-provoking weight—the kind that makes you stare at the ceiling for a while.
'Colombiano' is a punch to the gut in the best way. Pedro’s story starts with a simple desire for justice but quickly spirals into something darker. The book’s strength is its realism—Young doesn’t sugarcoat the brutality of Colombia’s conflict or the psychological scars it leaves. Pedro isn’t a hero or a villain; he’s a kid who’s lost too much, and that complexity makes the story gripping. The action scenes are visceral, but the quieter moments—like Pedro remembering his father—are what linger. It’s a tough read, but worth it for the raw honesty.
If you’re into gritty, emotionally charged stories, 'Colombiano' is a must-read. Pedro’s journey is a rollercoaster—one minute you’re rooting for him, the next you’re horrified by what he’s capable of. The book does an amazing job of showing how desperation and trauma can twist someone’s morals. The paramilitary stuff is intense, but what got me was the relationships: Pedro’s bond with his family, his conflicted loyalty to his comrades, and the fleeting moments of kindness in a world that’s mostly cruel. Rusty Young’s background as a journalist really shines through; the details feel authentic, from the slang to the politics. It’s not a light read, but it’s the kind of story that makes you think about bigger issues—like how societies rebuild after war, or whether revenge ever really brings closure. Fair warning: some scenes are graphic, but they serve a purpose—they show the cost of war in a way that’s impossible to ignore.
2025-12-25 18:00:12
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Elliot Carter never loses.
Not to his father.
Not to anyone.
And definitely not to the infuriating 'golden' boy who suddenly moves into his house.
When Elliot’s father marries Asher Brooks’ mother, his already broken world cracks even more. Asher is everything he despises—calm, disciplined, admired by everyone at university. The kind of guy who smiles like he has nothing to prove.
From the moment they meet, it’s war.
Elliot thrives on pushing buttons. Asher refuses to be provoked. Their fights are sharp, personal, and relentless, until one night, anger turns physical… and something far more dangerous ignites between them.
A line is crossed that neither of them can uncross.
Asher refuses to feel guilty.
Elliot refuses to admit he wanted it.
Now they’re trapped under the same roof, and the more they try to hate each other, the more dangerous the attraction becomes.
Because this isn’t just rivalry.
It’s obsession.
And when control becomes the weapon of choice, someone is bound to break.
The only question is... Who will break first?
CAMILLA WALTERS thought she had come to the end of the road when fate caught up with her. No where left to run or hide, on the verge of becoming fish food at the hands of drug runners she owed a lot of money to.
That was until fate brought her ALEXI, head of the family CARRERO - The unexpected hero who saved her ass and changed her life in one easy manouvre.
Who knew she would have to sign her soul over to the devil in a bid to stay alive and in doing so, lose her heart and mind in the process.
This is not your typical hearts and roses story - Let the games begin and the war commence.
This is book 7 in The Carrero Series, although you can read this without prior books. There are back story hints from previous books worked in, so this new trio can be read alone.
For a fuller understanding then start with The Carrero Effect .
"Devils don't love, baby. They ruin." He rasps beside my ear, trailing his long fingers between my bare cleavage.
Something like fire flickered in his emerald green eyes but it disappeared as it came.
"Luckily, we're on the same page, Volkov. I'll ruin you and vanish your empire from this universe." I challenge, tangling his fingers with mine and dropping them from the forbidden area.
His cold eyes darkened but his soft pink lips twisted with a small smirk.
"I would love to see you try."
❥❥❥❥
The disappearance of Lilah Daniels' brother Robert Daniels was nothing but a mystery to everyone. She was a fifteen-year-old girl when it all happened. The only thing she knew, her brother was involved in some kind of illegal business.
Robert was the only person who was there for her when their addict parents used to come back home drunk and beat the shit out of her. Even they forced Robert to be involved in such kind of bad business, only for money.
Lilah promised herself to find out her beloved brother as she started collecting information. It took five years for her to reach the person only who knew where her brother was.
But he was no ordinary gang leader or don.
He was hundreds of boss' boss, the greatest Russian mafia king Ivan Volkov, known as the devil to the underworld. Nobody has seen him except for a few mafia bosses. He was a pure evil soul with a creativity of manipulating and killing his enemies in one blink.
But she didn't care. She did her best to reach the devil and finally succeeded.
But what happened when two dangerous souls met? How would they avoid the dark forbidden desires ignited inside them?
(THIS IS A DARK ROMANCE BOOK! )
Luciano
Everyone thought my wife was dead, but I never stopped searching for her. When I finally found her, the timid young woman I forced to marry me was all gone. In her place was a fiercely independent woman who hated my guts.
I might have deserved it.
But did it stop me from dragging her, her secret child and her best friend back to New York City with me?
Absolutely not.
My wife belonged with me and it was time I proved it to her.
Grace
Life on the run had some benefits. Your mobster husband could no longer use you. Nor could your rotten family who wanted you dead.
Instead, I was living my best life ever in a tiny Sicilian village with my son and best friend.
Until we were found.
My husband dragged us all back, but this time I was determined to fight him. I wouldn’t fall for his charms and hot kisses again because I had so much more to lose this time around.
If only my heart would get on board with my plans.
“Louder,” he said while watching me like a predator ready to strike,
“I-I belong to you,” I stuttered while swallowing the lump formed in my throat.
“To?” he gritted his teeth,
“Nikolai Vasiliev,”
***
Nikolai Vasiliev, the most feared and respected don of the Russian mafia. He was known as the ruthless king of the mafia whose world revolves around blood and lust. Love is forbidden to him as he promised himself not to love again.
Juliana Mitchell, a brave, stubborn, hardworking and beautiful woman leaving her normal life, dreaming to find her happily ever after. All her life she was constantly reminded that she’s useless and ugly compared to her younger sister which made her doubt herself all the time.
One encounter with the Russian don changed her life completely, pulling her into a web of lies, manipulation and pure torture. She’s ready to do anything to get away from his clutches but the question is, Will he let someone walk away from him the second time?
Dante Santoro is a ruthless Mafia lord, feared and revered in equal measure. His empire stretches far and wide, and his control is absolute. But behind his cold, commanding exterior lies a man who will stop at nothing to protect what is his.
Ethan John, an undercover agent and former doctor, has been assigned to infiltrate Dante's inner circle. Posing as Dante's personal physician, Ethan’s mission is simple: gather intel and bring down the Mafia kingpin before his criminal empire can expand further. But as the weeks pass, Ethan is torn between duty and desire. The cold, calculating mob boss he was sent to destroy begins to pull at his heart in ways he never anticipated.
As passion ignites between them, Ethan finds himself in a perilous game of lies, deception, and betrayal. With the government breathing down his neck and Dante's trust tightening like a noose, Ethan must decide where his true loyalties lie, before it’s too late.
Can love bloom in the most dangerous of places? Or will the Mafia lord’s grip be too strong to escape?