AMERICAN SAVAGES – RUTHLESS PEOPLE #3 by J J McAVOY

“We bend, but we do not break, and when we snap back, someone always suffers. Tomorrow, we will make sure that the message is clear: we can never be broken.”

Well it was with excited anticipation mixed with a heavy heart going into American Savages. Excited to see just how this whole crazy, suspenseful, frenzied, sexy and addictive series was going to end yet sad that we had to say goodbye to a mad bunch of character’s whose every fucked up word we’ve been hanging on to since meeting them last year.

“You’re going to be a mother****ing Callahan. You’re going to be ruthless. Do you understand me?”

Mel and Liam are back and once again wreaking havoc on those who stand in their way, dealing out their own brand of justice to those who seek to betray them, seeking revenge on those who have hurt the family and in the process adjusting to the changes in their family life…not to mention some very, VERY HOT and sexy times thrown in.

“When I’m done, you’ll need it every day for the rest of your life. I’m going to make sure you are only addicted to me in both pleasure and pain. Any questions?”

We have to admit this wasn’t our favourite book of the series, but that in no way means we didn’t enjoy it. In past books our adrenaline spiked to crazy levels, our hearts pounded and stomachs knotted as Mel and Liam created havoc and mayhem wherever they went. All in the name of family of course! We barely had time to come up for air in the first two books before JJ McAvoy threw something else at us, leaving us breathless.

“Don’t cross the mob and you get to live. How many more mafia movies does Robert De Niro have to be in before people get that?”

American Savages sure did have those tangled storylines we love and there were definitely some heart palpating moments and a shock or two, but there was also a lot of superfluous text and repetition that slowed the flow and dare we say…there were a couple of times through the middle of the story we found ourselves wanting to…..*gasp*…..skim read.  But then she would bring us back into her world allowing us to become consumed and addicted, but when the story dragged, it dragged us down with it sadly. It was very unexpected!

Liam has grown so much throughout this series. Apart from the family business responsibilities, he’s made his marriage and family his priority, and his love for Mel was without question. We felt his love deep, deep in our hearts and we’ve experienced such a change in him. We’re in Liam love! He never failed to prove his love both verbally and through his actions.

“She drives me insane, she’s the only woman I want to scream at and make love to at the same time. She can make me smile with a single glance or glare. She sings in the shower and it’s God-awful. And when she comes out, she pretends as if it didn’t even happen. She kicks me in her sleep because she doesn’t understand where her side of the bed ends and where mine begins. She is bossy, brilliant and she’s beautiful….and I’m hopelessly in love with her.”

With Mel, we felt the shift in book two but through American Savages, we would swing between believing and feeling her love and in the next breath questioning it. She’s a hard nut to crack and she definitely kept us on our toes. We felt slightly disappointed that she never showed us a true vulnerable side with Liam.

“It was selfish of me. I know. But I wanted…I needed her to need me as much as I needed her.”

There is a lot to take in in this story and we had to have our wits about us. JJ McAvoy is a brilliant storyteller and never shies away from delivering the passion, the violence and the cruelty of Mel and Liam’s world and for that we thank her because these two felt unique and refreshing. There’s certainly only one Mel and Liam, they don’t do things by halves and we bloody LOVE them for it!

“That really is the secret to making it; having someone at your side who is willing to fight for you, die for you, kill for you………”

The epilogue was fantastic, even if there was a little eye roll on the last page….yeah, we’re not buying that one haha! To see these two arrive at the point in that epilogue was a touching, amusing and brilliant end to what is undoubtedly one of our favourite fucked up series! Oh and the rules…LOVED the rules! Hmmm did Liam really make them up as he went along? We’re still not sure.

‘Clothes covered in red, Eyelids sore and blue, Never forget the ruthless, Because they won’t ever forget you.’ J.J. McAvoy

Oh don’t you worry JJ McAvoy…we won’t ever forget Liam, Mel, the Callahans, the Giovanni’s and this whole fabulous series!

**Reviewed off an ARC copy – we have to mention there were a large number editing errors issues in the copy we received.  We assume these will be edited and corrected before publishing.**