Review: Maniac by Onley James
SYNOPSIS:
Thomas Mulvaney was just a child when an error in judgment cost him everything. He vowed then that he would do anything to atone for his mistake. And he did. He never strayed from the right path. Until Aiden.
Aiden Mulvaney doesn’t exist. He’s a lie created by the father who disowned him and by Thomas Mulvaney, the only man Aiden had ever begged to love him. But that was years ago, when he’d still believed in fairytales. Before Thomas rejected him.
Thomas has spent years trying to have Aiden in his life while keeping him at arm’s length, but Aiden’s done with half-measures. He’s done with Thomas the martyr. He’s just done. So, he’s kept his distance. Trouble is, now, someone is threatening to expose a secret that affects them all
No, not that one. A secret so shameful, Thomas won’t even utter it out loud. Can he and Aiden revisit the past and keep the family name intact, or will they both be buried beneath the weight of their memories as their old feelings resurface?
REVIEW:
An epic finale to a captivating series. I have spent six books watching Thomas and Aiden dance around each other, avoid each other, and basically it has been six books of foreplay, sexual tension, and high emotions. But finally fate has thrown these two together, and by fate I mean Onley James has given the people what we want most.
I could not get enough of the push and pull between Thomas and Aiden, its clear from the start these two aren’t lacking in passion. The biggest hang ups seem to linger with Thomas who is about to face his past and his hang ups… whether he wants to or not. I love the whole storyline; honestly, I want to go back and re-read them from start to finish now. But I think it was rather poetic that in Thomas facing his past and his hang ups that it pushes him to where he was always supposed to be, in Aiden’s arms.
My heart ached for all the pain and worry that Thomas has been carrying around for decades. His concerns and fears are palpable and feel like a heavy blanket draped over your shoulders, weighing you down. Aiden is the pillar of support; feisty, spicy, and a little rough around the edges, I adored him. The intimacy might have felt rushed at times; but when they finally put things into words and actually mean them instead of following them up with apologies and regrets, everything settles into place for Thomas and Aiden.
When the whole team finally gets together, I was cackling with delight. Especially when everyone meets Calliope and Lola, the absolutely manic thrill I felt! The group spending time in the mansion while trying to put the pieces together of Thomas fractured past was the highlight of this book. It was masterfully balanced between fulfilling romance, lurking danger, and the chaos of having so many psychopaths and their significant others in one place.
The ending felt a little rushed, mostly because I wanted more details. But the epilogue left me with the cheesiest smile on my face. Everything comes full circle, we get closure for EVERYONE, and I get to see my favorite groups of psychos sail off into happiness. Now… can I get that Noah and Adam wedding scene? And one final note, bless the bookish gods for a Jericho boys spin-off!
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