Guns n’ Boys Series Blog Tour
Book #1 He Is Poison
Book #2 He Is Mine
Book #3 Homicidal Instinct
Book #4 Swamp Blood
Book #5 Chokehold
Book #6 Bloodbath
Book #7 Gilded Agony
There are many ways to create a sense of continuity within a long book series. One of them is the use of artifacts–keepsakes or souvenirs that have special significance to the characters. If the same items are featured throughout a multivolume story, they act a bit like musical motifs that are repeated throughout movie scores–threads to solidify many elements into a single work.
In Guns n’ Boys, the most important keepsake, often serving as the vehicle for emotions of longing and unity, is a handmade cookbook that Seth’s mother made for him when he was leaving home for university. It’s a symbol of family and the home that keeps calling out to the MCs throughout their turbulent life. Throughout the story, Seth often makes his mother’s recipes, but also adds his own to the cookbook, which underlines the important motif of the next generation continuing family traditions.
For Domenico, the most important personal item is a straight razor, which was given to him by his mentor. This handcrafted item is engraved with a sentence that discreetly points to Domenico’s life as an assassin and mafia associate. In the broader context of the story, ‘Life or death. Now in your hands.’ symbolizes this character’s inner struggle between the desire to be the top dog, and keeping the people he loves safe.
Domenico’s second keepsake is a golden cross pendant. It represents his complicated relationship with religion, but also the conflict between the faith he declared and his homosexuality, since it was a gift from Dom’s former partner. When he lets go of this gift from his ex and receives a similar one from Seth, the item represents him letting go of that past relationship.
Those are only a few of many other artifacts featured in the series. Their existence not only makes the characters more relatable, but also communicates important motifs present in the series.
Domenico Acerbi. The Villani Family’s best assassin. Ruthless. Vicious. With no patience for weakness.
Seth Villani. The Don’s son. Clueless. Stubborn. In dire need of someone to keep him in line.
Domenico Acerbi grew up ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.
The last thing he wants to deal with is training the Don’s son for his future role within the organization. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer, Seth Villani is no mafia material. But a man who could never become a threat might just be what Domenico needs.
Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when he’s pulled back into the fold. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, letting go becomes impossible.
If Seth is doomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, forced proximity
Genre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thriller
Length: ~110,000 words
WARNING: Adult content. Sizzling hot scenes. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.
K.A. Merikan are a team of writers who try not to suck at adulting, with some success. Always eager to explore the murky waters of the weird and wonderful, K.A. Merikan don’t follow fixed formulas and want each of their books to be a surprise for those who choose to hop on for the ride.
K.A. Merikan have a few sweeter M/M romances as well, but they specialize in the dark, dirty, and dangerous side of M/M, full of bikers, bad boys, mafiosi, and scorching hot romance.
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I clearly remember Seth’s cookbook and Dom’s raizor! They never left them behind and they knew the importance of these objects for each other 🙂
Angela, so happy to hear that! These objects are only physical yet they really ground the characters.
Definitely thought of the cookbook first! And the razor makes so much sense! I actually forgot about the cross there for a second! But the first two was such a big part in Guilded Agony! If it wasn’t for them Dom wouldn’t have had that proof that Seth had meant to run with them and took that second to think about what would be most important to them!
Honestly if it wasn’t for the sex I could see this being used to a high school lit course in the future…But alas, so much hot gay sex!! Mwhahaha
I could still remember how sad I was for that cookbook. 🙁 And how terrified I was about that razor when Dom had to use it to Seth (or was it the other way round? *taps chin*
I think I need to read this series!
thanks for the information 🙂
Congrats and thanks for the post. This series is great, but no surprise coming from y’all. – Purple Reader,
TheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
Oh, that cookbook. Every time they were in danger, I kept worrying that Seth wouldn’t be able to bring it with him. I know people say not to put stock in material possessions, but that cookbook was more than that, it was a legacy, a history that he was proud of, a memento from his mother… It was so much.
I always worry about Seth’s cookbook. He would be devastated if something happened to it.
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