The lights of Las Vegas flicker when self-indulgent Mafia playboy Nick Rusano collides with Alaina McGovern, a naive small-town nurse with no understanding of Mob life. Helplessly ensnared by her grip on his soul, the young Mafia boss struggles to shield her from his true identity, triggering unimaginable catastrophic consequences and sending them both spiraling into a vortex of deceit and heartache.
Set against the glamorous backdrops of both Atlantic City and Las Vegas,
The Other Side of Tenderness
is an epic love story spanning decades and brimming with steamy sex and violence. This suspense filled romance immerses us into the exciting and sometimes tawdry world of casino gambling as it follows the turbulent life of Nick Rusano, a powerful casino owner who lives by the Mafia's strict Omertà code. With an unquenchable thirst for violence, he has earned the reputation as the toughest boss on the Las Vegas Strip, ruling his domain through fear and intimidation while demanding unquestionable loyalty from all who surround him. His iron control is soon tested, however, when a paid assassin threatens the lives of his family, and a serial killer stalks the halls of his casino taunting him with clues and leaving behind a trail of broken bodies. Adding to his turmoil is the innocent private duty nurse sent to care for his ailing father. He soon finds himself trapped in the mystical web of her alluring beauty, unable to escape her addictive grip on his soul. She has discovered his weakness, and he must kill her. But, despite the danger, he can't bear to rip her from his mind. Is she a witch casting a venomous spell, a demon luring him deeper into the dark side, or a heavenly angel sent to guide him toward the light? Note:
Some chapters highlight the author's real-life memories of her Italian American neighborhood once populated by multiple infamous organized crime figures.
Contains sexual scenes, profanity and violence