That Mafioso Magic

Magic, violence, suspense and erotica all rolled in one, count me in! I am a fan of Chained
in Darkness and love the deliciously filthy undertones of Bella's writing. There is a grain of raw eroticism in almost everything I have read from his books so far. Add to that original and in depth world building, carefully crafted details of all paranormal societies and the picture is more than intriguing. What really surprised me because I didn't find it , was the usual grittiness, the bloody violent streaks that color his books. Being a first one in a series, means the world building will probably expand and will bring even more thrilling elements. This book in particular is the story of the lion shifter Sage and the mage Adrian. Sage is a mobster, that rules his dark empire ruthlessly, using without hesitation all the instruments and resources at his disposal to achieve every goal he sets his eyes on. But beneath the impeccable, insanely expensive suits is hiding a heart with a core of gooey marshmallow. For the people loyal to him, his lion's heart is beyond protective and generous. Adrian is supposed to be his total opposite. He is trying to always stay on the bright side of the law in his investigations as a private eye and works pro bono when the people are in need of help but can't afford his services. The problem is that he barely scrapes the bottom of survival and is always broke. Sage and Adrian's lifestyles are a cosmos away from each other when something happens/no spoiler what/ and their paths collide. Here is actually the weak point that left me in need of more depth, resistance and darker hues. Adrian easily accepted the sudden turn in his life and even bent a little his moral standards to meet Sage halfway while they started to build a life together. Despite his so proclaimed and shiny moral compass, Adrian quite comfortably settled in his new life, enjoying the luxuries provided by Sage's money. Of course, the logical question is, would he have been so susceptible and willing to compromise if Sage's limitless connections and money weren't in the picture!?! The story shows in a quite interesting way that white isn't so white, black isn't always pitch tar black, everything has a price and the only question left is what and how much are they willing to pay!?! Definitely going to read the next books and see the development.
I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.