Reviewed by: Sue Eaton
TITLE: Corrupted Desire
SERIES: Villains of Vanguard #1
AUTHOR: Ryder O’Malley
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 234 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2023
BLURB:
The world is going to burn, and I’m the one holding the match.
Prison hardens a man. Even worse, my ex dumps me during the trial for a crime I didn’t commit. Okay, that’s a lie, but he deserved it. Two years into my sentence and the inmates of Cold Iron fear me. It’s lonely, but it’s the price of survival. This isn’t the place to think about friends, let alone a relationship.
When Vanguard needs a criminal with my fiery skills, my time in the slammer is cut short. To keep my freedom, I only have to put down a serial killer. It’d be easy if the local do-gooder stopped interfering. Gallant won’t be the reason I get locked up again. If he wasn’t smoking hot, I’d crush him. On second thought, maybe he needs a pounding.
The heroes are playing with fire, but I’m not the one about to get burned.
REVIEW:
I enjoyed the Heroes of Vanguard series and was intrigued to find out how the Villains of Vanguard would be portrayed. I wasn’t disappointed, the Heroes patrol and help the citizens in the nicer parts of Vanguard, the Villains protect Southlands, the area where the poor and desperate live; where gangs run drugs and the bank gets robbed 3 times a week; it’s poor, neglected, and dangerous.
LaToya got some superpowered villains out of prison and now they work for her, they must meet with a therapist and get given jobs as and when she decides, with the threat of being returned to prison, if they fail. The therapy sessions are great, exactly what you’d imagine from hard bitten criminals who don’t care about anything or anyone.
Diesel is the epitome of a bad boy, he spent his years in prison, keeping everyone away and intends to continue in that vein on the outside, it’s a lonely life but it keeps his heart safe. If you don’t care about anyone, then they can’t hurt and disappoint you. His passion is cooking, and he got a job as a line cook in a greasy diner in Southlands. Falling for a cop was never part of the plan.
Calum is a Cop who believes in justice and following the letter of the law, he is aware that Diesel is an ex-con, but there is a spark between them and despite being total opposites, he takes Diesel out on a date.
I loved the dynamic between Calum and Diesel and their first date was epic and interesting. I enjoyed the conflict that Diesel feels about dating a cop, his misgivings over where this relationship could go and what the others in the therapy group will say if they ever find out. The duality of Diesel superhero persona and his real-life persona, which aren’t really different. Diesel has a very pragmatic view of life, not so much black and white but more shades of grey, he doesn’t have blinkers on about the lengths he will go to keep those he cares about safe and not surprisingly how protective he feels about all of Southlands residents. He thinks his lack of morality about doing what needs to be done, is the thing that will break his and Calum fledgling relationship. Is this a line that Calum can’t cross? Can an Ex-Con and Cop really have a future together? Can Superheroes and Supervillains work together? This book has it all.
RATING: 
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