Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: But Not For Me
AUTHOR: J.S. Cook
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 310 pages
BLURB:
Gangster Nino Moretti’s world is a series of contrasts between extreme wealth and abject poverty, an unstable existence punctuated by booze and bullets. For Nino, the gangster lifestyle is even more dangerous because he is a finnochio—a gay man—in a position of absolute power at the head of his own criminal organization.
When Nino rescues beautiful mob accountant Stanley Zadwadzki from a violent assault at the hands of sadistic rival gangster Big Frank O’Hara, both Nino and Stanley become hunted men. Stanley places himself under Nino’s protection as Nino’s accountant and unofficial companion. As a warning, Frank murders Nino’s office boy. In a quest for revenge, Nino tracks Frank to Little Italy, where the resulting confrontation forces him to shoot a bystander to protect Stanley. With a gang war looming, Nino must set aside his feelings and concentrate on asserting his superiority over Big Frank—or lose everything he holds most dear.
REVIEW:
Probably my least favorite m/m genre are historicals. I don’t really know why that is but I’ve never really gravitated towards them. If I would have known this story was set in the 1930’s more than likely I wouldn’t have picked it. Which is unfortunate because then I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to read this unforgettable story. It had amazing writing, holy crap what this author must have went through with all the research she did. I have never read a story more thought out and in depth as this one. I was thrown at first with the lingo and the way they talked but then I started having fun with it. Looking up the words, the outfits, even going as far as listening to the songs they were playing on the radio just to get myself more into the story. That is not to say the story didn’t have its faults, because dammit it did but we’ll get to the cons in a minute.
Nino Moretti is a mob boss in New York City during the 1930s. He’s come from nothing and has done what he’s had to do to survive, including murder. He takes care of his own and is fiercely loyal. During and evening out at a party he intercepts another mob boss beating a defenseless man.
Stanley Zadwadszki has been down this road before. Having been under his cruel ex-bosses thumb, Big Frank for over 5 years he knows where this sort of relationship leads; pain, humiliation, and ultimately death. He doesn’t understand why Nino stepped in when Big Frank was beating on him. He doesn’t understand why Nino’s being so nice to him and taking care of him. What he does know is that it can’t last.
Nino’s attraction to Stanley is instantaneous. You get the immediate feeling that what’s going on with him is love at first site. For Stanley there is an attraction but the deeper feelings come much later when he realizes the things Nino does for him really do not have strings attached.
Their passion and love for each other was truly beautiful to watch unfold. Due to the fact that it was the 30s, they couldn’t show their love out in the open but alone together it was magical.
Now for the bad, I think the whole situation at the end with Stanley and the indiscretion was not needed. I don’t even know where that came from. It just took away from the love I felt they felt for each other. I didn’t get it. Also, why was Stanley so wishy-washy? He was with Big Frank for over 5 years. He knew the lifestyle. Why did his feelings get so muddled at the end? It kind of made the story veer of course which is unfortunate.
Overall, I enjoyed this. It was a bit long but I was never bored. I would definitely recommend it especially for people looking for something a little different.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: