Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE:  Giorgio

SERIES:  Vigilance Book 1

AUTHOR:  Silvia Violet

NARRATOR:  Michael Dean

PUBLISHER:  Self

LENGTH:  6 hrs and 42 mins

RELEASE DATE:  Sept 24, 2020

BLURB:

I’m a sniper. A trained operator. A bodyguard. A member of the elite private security force known as Vigilance. 

When my boss’s son acquires a stalker, of course I’m the one he calls to keep the guy safe. Mr. X’s one rule? Keep my hands to myself. 

Not a problem. 

At least, not until I meet Lane Porter. 

He’s gorgeous. Flamboyant. Fascinating. He makes me want things I can’t have. He stretches my self-control to the limit…and then breaks it. 

As the threat to Lane intensifies, we’re forced to hide out in a remote, one-bedroom cabin with danger stalking us from all sides, but suddenly keeping the boss’s son safe isn’t enough. 

My new mission is to make Lane mine.

REVIEW:

Giorgio is the first book in the Vigilance series, a spinoff of the popular The Marchesi Family trilogy (Lucien, Angelo and Devil).  If you have read The Marchesi Family books, a word (ok words … 😉) of caution: While you don’t need that series to follow along with Giorgio, you may encounter spoilers if you read Giorgio first.  Characters from the prior books, specifically Devil Marchesi, appear in Giorgio and events from the prior books are mentioned.  In retrospect, my preference would have been to read The Marchesi Family trilogy before embarking on Giorgio.  I have read them since and they are terrific, so you may want to put Giorgio on the top of your TBR, go read those three books and then start on the Vigilance series immediately after. 

Vigilance is a private security force owned by the mysterious X. Giorgio is a former sniper/assassin who works for Vigilance as one of its top operatives.  X’s son, Lane, has been targeted by a stalker and Giorgio is ordered to take the assignment as Lane’s bodyguard. Giorgio’s plot is pretty formulaic. Not a whole lot happens for most of the book other than Giorgio and Lane crackling with their insane chemistry.  The pages are filled with scenes of Giorgio and Lane trying to resist their desire and need to be with each other.  They are resisting because of the, again trite, ultimatum of X to Giorgio to keep his hands off Lane.

Giorgio and Lane are intriguing characters who don’t (always) act the way you’d expect.  They are vividly created with complex layers to their personalities.  However, something about Giorgio and Lane didn’t click for me as a romantic couple.  Notwithstanding, it’s indisputable that their scenes together are smoking hot.  There’s a dom/sub element, although nothing too extreme, but the pervasive thread through the whole book is control.  Control over external events (Lane’s stalker). Control over personal decisions (can Giorgio be with Lane; can he disobey his boss and friend). Control over life choices (Lane’s determination to be an artist). Control over emotions (falling in love with each other). Control over each other in their physical relationship (Giorgio’s control over Lane).

Michael’s Dean’s narration is the perfect counterpoint to this constant tension between Giorgio and Lane.  His audio performance in Giorgio displays his intuitiveness concerning the characters he is bringing to life.  His tone, intonation and delivery for Lane captures Lane’s energy, flamboyance and defiance.  Similarly, he uses a gravelly, deep tone and strong delivery for Giorgio which encapsulates his trauma, his scars, his secrets and his exertion of control.  Michael Dean packs emotional content into every word and yet he is still vocally nimble enough to deliver humor laced dialogue – and there is subtle humor throughout – without missing a beat. Maybe it goes without saying that with such intuitiveness and skill, the pacing and tempo of the audiobook are spot on.  

In my view, the audiobook featuring Michael Dean’s stellar narration are essential to fully experience Giorgio.  It’s an engaging story with an excellent audiobook to match and I recommend you give it a listen.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Audible

Amazon