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Wages of Sin #3
Head Games
“You’re a vigilante in an argyle sweater.”
Straight-laced psychologist Tobias is an expert in the deviant behavior of others but a novice when it comes to his latest endeavor: serial killer.
After years of high-profile kills and mentoring numerous other assassins, laid-back Soren lives his life in a state of semi-permanent vacation. He comes out of an early retirement to help out a friend, only to set off sparks with the renowned psychologist when they discover they’re hunting the same man.
One shaky truce and a whole lot of blood later, Soren has a new mentee in Tobias.
Soren finds Tobias and his dark impulses fascinating. Tobias finds Soren’s relaxed attitude infuriating. They have nothing in common except their ability to kill and chemistry neither can deny. But a kill list, a rage room, the Irish mob and the ghosts of their past all stand in the way of their happily ever after.
Head Games is a steamy, thrill ride of a romance with a HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an uptight, sweater-loving psychologist with a taste for blood and a soft spot for his murderous yorkie, the most zen contract killer to ever mosey the earth, plenty of dark humor, and true love. Because even bad dudes deserve their soulmates. This is book 3 in the Wages of Sin series. Each book follows a different couple.
Straight-laced psychologist Tobias is an expert in the deviant behavior of others but a novice when it comes to his latest endeavor: serial killer.
After years of high-profile kills and mentoring numerous other assassins, laid-back Soren lives his life in a state of semi-permanent vacation. He comes out of an early retirement to help out a friend, only to set off sparks with the renowned psychologist when they discover they’re hunting the same man.
One shaky truce and a whole lot of blood later, Soren has a new mentee in Tobias.
Soren finds Tobias and his dark impulses fascinating. Tobias finds Soren’s relaxed attitude infuriating. They have nothing in common except their ability to kill and chemistry neither can deny. But a kill list, a rage room, the Irish mob and the ghosts of their past all stand in the way of their happily ever after.
Head Games is a steamy, thrill ride of a romance with a HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an uptight, sweater-loving psychologist with a taste for blood and a soft spot for his murderous yorkie, the most zen contract killer to ever mosey the earth, plenty of dark humor, and true love. Because even bad dudes deserve their soulmates. This is book 3 in the Wages of Sin series. Each book follows a different couple.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2021
About the author
Onley James
31 books3,180 followersOnley James lives in North Carolina with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
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June 5, 2022DNF... at 50%
It hurt my heart to do this to a Neve book.. but I just can't get into this book. I tried picking it multiple times, but no dice.
And given that I skimmed through these 50%... it wasn't a good sign.
Reasons:
1. There was a certain shallowness to the book: from the characters to the plot and the connection between the MCs.
2.Tobais... I didn't like him AT ALL.
Tobias who has been working with criminals and dissect their psyche..decided to turn into one practically over night. Not only that, but we didn't actually get into his own Psyche of how and why he wants to kill his clients. For someone with this job, I was expecting someone more logical, rational and smart. I didn't get that here. He was a surface deep character, who was plain annoying for me.
3. The connection...
I didn't buy it. What made them attracted to each other?
4. The sex... the sex scenes read weird for me. I also skimmed them. Me!
I wanted to love this book so bad. Book 2 was one of my faves, Az and Madigan were amazing but these characters, and their book, fell flat for me. High expectations suck.
Sorry!
It hurt my heart to do this to a Neve book.. but I just can't get into this book. I tried picking it multiple times, but no dice.
And given that I skimmed through these 50%... it wasn't a good sign.
Reasons:
1. There was a certain shallowness to the book: from the characters to the plot and the connection between the MCs.
2.Tobais... I didn't like him AT ALL.
Tobias who has been working with criminals and dissect their psyche..decided to turn into one practically over night. Not only that, but we didn't actually get into his own Psyche of how and why he wants to kill his clients. For someone with this job, I was expecting someone more logical, rational and smart. I didn't get that here. He was a surface deep character, who was plain annoying for me.
3. The connection...
I didn't buy it. What made them attracted to each other?
4. The sex... the sex scenes read weird for me. I also skimmed them. Me!
I wanted to love this book so bad. Book 2 was one of my faves, Az and Madigan were amazing but these characters, and their book, fell flat for me. High expectations suck.
Sorry!
January 13, 2022
"Being attractive made him memorable. Being memorable was never good. Especially now that he was embarking on a new career. Murderer."
This was sooo good! 💙💜
Head Games by Onley James and Neve Wilder is book three in their Wages of Sin m/m assassin series. Each book is a standalone, but the previous couples from the earlier books (Bad Habits and Play Dirty) also make an appearance. All three books are divine.
Head Games is Soren and Tobias' story, both of whom we met in previous books. Tobias is a psychologist to serial killers, and is hiding some deviant tendencies himself. Soren is a skilled assassin, semi-retired, who crosses paths with Toby and is completely intrigued. Their chemistry is immediate and steam levels are 🔥🔥🔥.
If you like opposites attracting, snarky couples, killers with a moral compass and first times, then this is definitely the book for you.
Highly recommended.
4.5 ✨✨✨✨✨
This was sooo good! 💙💜
Head Games by Onley James and Neve Wilder is book three in their Wages of Sin m/m assassin series. Each book is a standalone, but the previous couples from the earlier books (Bad Habits and Play Dirty) also make an appearance. All three books are divine.
Head Games is Soren and Tobias' story, both of whom we met in previous books. Tobias is a psychologist to serial killers, and is hiding some deviant tendencies himself. Soren is a skilled assassin, semi-retired, who crosses paths with Toby and is completely intrigued. Their chemistry is immediate and steam levels are 🔥🔥🔥.
If you like opposites attracting, snarky couples, killers with a moral compass and first times, then this is definitely the book for you.
Highly recommended.
4.5 ✨✨✨✨✨
February 6, 2023
[3.2] i love me some domestic killers and knew fully well that the story was going to be all kinds of insta, OTT, you name it, but the resolution was nothing short of anti-climactic and the pacing was as jumbled and all over the place as the clothes blanketing the floor of my room (i'm doing some early spring cleaning lol). i did enjoy it a smidge more than book 1, but once again, i can only manage these books if i consume them in audio form 😆🎧
July 2, 2021
My feelings on this book were a bit up and down while I was reading. At the start it took me a while to get a feeling for Tobias’s character, and it felt too much like insta-lust between Soren and Tobias since we were repeating told how much their dicks starting twitching when they looked at each other 😂 but then I started to get a better understanding for Tobias’s character, and once Soren and Tobias were getting together they were actually really cute and I like how much their different personality’s really worked together. I’m sad tho cause I feel like I was only really getting into it towards the last 40% and then it felt like it ended too soon 😔 I wanted more of Soren and Tobias but I guess that’s the sign of some characters.
June 26, 2021
i loved both soren & tobias, pretty fascinating characters. would have liked a little more backstory of both of them and a deeper plot overall, but it was still a fun & super sexy read!
also… i want a rage room!!! why don’t i have a rage room?? that’s a brilliant idea!
also… i want a rage room!!! why don’t i have a rage room?? that’s a brilliant idea!
April 13, 2024
2.5 maaaaybe 3 stars.
Thoughts from the middle:
I'll read anything Onley James writes so Imma finish this buuuuut.... I'm just not connecting with the main couple. The writing is good I guess but it's just.... I dunno...somethings off about it.
Thoughts at the end:
The story wasn't bad...it just wasn't up to the standard I came to expect. It did pull itself up to a three star review by the end. There's a lot of good lines in there but something about their relationship just didn't reach the level I expect from Onley James. I may just need an Onley James reading break to reset my brain. Dunno. The series hasn’t had a new book in a while so I wonder if they too felt the way the book was off compared to the magic they created in the first two. And again, by the end the relationship ash’s story had improved but the middle just… didn’t work quite right. 🤷🏻♀️ I could find an online mention by James that the series wasn’t officially over. They just couldn’t get their schedules to sync up the way they needed.
Thoughts from the middle:
I'll read anything Onley James writes so Imma finish this buuuuut.... I'm just not connecting with the main couple. The writing is good I guess but it's just.... I dunno...somethings off about it.
Thoughts at the end:
The story wasn't bad...it just wasn't up to the standard I came to expect. It did pull itself up to a three star review by the end. There's a lot of good lines in there but something about their relationship just didn't reach the level I expect from Onley James. I may just need an Onley James reading break to reset my brain. Dunno. The series hasn’t had a new book in a while so I wonder if they too felt the way the book was off compared to the magic they created in the first two. And again, by the end the relationship ash’s story had improved but the middle just… didn’t work quite right. 🤷🏻♀️ I could find an online mention by James that the series wasn’t officially over. They just couldn’t get their schedules to sync up the way they needed.
July 30, 2021
DNF at 60%
I liked the first book and I LOVED the second one, but this book was really not for me. Both characters were unlikeable and I just stopped caring at some point.
I liked the first book and I LOVED the second one, but this book was really not for me. Both characters were unlikeable and I just stopped caring at some point.
September 19, 2021
DNF 48%. This psycho theme is getting old.
February 15, 2024
When murders fall in love…
When Tobias was introduced in the series, I was intrigued right away. Who was this guy? Besides a doggy father to Mantis his mini-menace of a dog. Lol.
Enter Soren. He really shakes up the doctor’s life in ways you would never suspect. I don’t want to give too much away but this was quite the adventure for both of them. Vigilante justice at its best.
We get peaks of previous characters in the series and that was fun. I really enjoyed this installment. It was a good different. The unexpected. Soren and Tobias clicked in a way that was surprising but also not. They were ying and yang and it really worked. Love where you least expect it. Chemistry that smoldered into high heat. Yes. Highly recommend.
When Tobias was introduced in the series, I was intrigued right away. Who was this guy? Besides a doggy father to Mantis his mini-menace of a dog. Lol.
Enter Soren. He really shakes up the doctor’s life in ways you would never suspect. I don’t want to give too much away but this was quite the adventure for both of them. Vigilante justice at its best.
We get peaks of previous characters in the series and that was fun. I really enjoyed this installment. It was a good different. The unexpected. Soren and Tobias clicked in a way that was surprising but also not. They were ying and yang and it really worked. Love where you least expect it. Chemistry that smoldered into high heat. Yes. Highly recommend.
July 16, 2021
I think...that this was my least favorite installment of the series so far.
That's not to say I didn't like it. I actually quite enjoyed it most of the time. I thought Tobias and Soren's chemistry was pretty good and I liked their connection, for the most part.
But I just didn't quite feel it as much as I felt it between the first two couples. Maybe it was because of Tobias was written - he was interesting, but I don't think the "psychopath or sociopath" angle quite worked in this one, or just wasn't written quite write. It's interesting because with Onley James in another of her books, there was a sociopath character and the romance, the character, it worked really well in that installment.
In this one...not quite as much. It was hard for me to connect with Tobias for awhile because of how unfeeling he was. He just didn't quite...feel human, I think? And if I'm reading romance, there had to be some human connection, ya know?
Eventually we get that, we get Tobias feelings all the feelings for Soren and not knowing what to do with it, but still, at first, before he start to feel those things, it was hard to connect with him as a character.
I also wish we had gotten more on Soren. He still felt like a little bit of a mystery, even by the end of this. I really liked and enjoyed his character, but still, I wanted to know more about him. Was Soren his real name? How old was he? How long had he been an assassin, how long had be been retired? What was his childhood like that made him become a killer?
I just wish we had gotten to know him more, so I left feeling like I didn't quite 100% know his character, when I wanted to.
I felt like this story was very Tobias oriented. Which is fine, because I actually really grew to like Tobias as a character, and to see him fall in love with someone for the first time in his life, to let his walls down. But I wish it had been more even, that we could have gotten more of a balance between the focus between the two.
It felt like, at first, that Soren was there for Tobias more than he was there with Tobias, if that makes any sense?
That changed as these two become more of a unit, but that doesn't change how at first it felt like Tobias was the MC and Soren was almost secondary. I wanted him, for a good portion of this, to feel like an equal player. He did, eventually, but not at first.
Also I dunno what it is, but for some reason I'm cool reading with assassin characters most of the time, but characters who actually want to kill, desire to do it, is harder for me to deal with. Don't get me wrong, Tobias was certainly Dexter-esque, and only ever killed or wanted to kill very bad people. But he still had a certain bloodlust that made me uncomfy sometimes. Assassins are usually just assassins for money, it's very quick, impersonal, 'doing what I have to' type feel, that I guess in fiction I can disassociate that. But when someone *wants* to kill badly, it's just...yeah, uncomfortable.
But, Tobias being Dexter-esque really saved his character for me. He was capable of love. He was capable of lust, attraction, fear. He could feel things, even if it's just for one person, and he never wanted to kill innocent people. He wasn't a psychopath. Maybbeee a sociopath, idk. Either way, once we got more into his character and he become more than just an unfeeling guy who thought he himself was a psychopath, he became a more interesting character, and one I liked.
The plot didn't feel like a whole lot other than Soren teaching Tobias to kill properly, but these two, once they came into their own as characters and got together, really sold this book for me.
So overall, not my favorite of the series, but still pretty solid overall with a fun main couple who had great chemistry.
Still good enough that I recommend it, but for sure a weaker installment in this series, in my opinion.
Still give it two thumbs up, though!
That's not to say I didn't like it. I actually quite enjoyed it most of the time. I thought Tobias and Soren's chemistry was pretty good and I liked their connection, for the most part.
But I just didn't quite feel it as much as I felt it between the first two couples. Maybe it was because of Tobias was written - he was interesting, but I don't think the "psychopath or sociopath" angle quite worked in this one, or just wasn't written quite write. It's interesting because with Onley James in another of her books, there was a sociopath character and the romance, the character, it worked really well in that installment.
In this one...not quite as much. It was hard for me to connect with Tobias for awhile because of how unfeeling he was. He just didn't quite...feel human, I think? And if I'm reading romance, there had to be some human connection, ya know?
Eventually we get that, we get Tobias feelings all the feelings for Soren and not knowing what to do with it, but still, at first, before he start to feel those things, it was hard to connect with him as a character.
I also wish we had gotten more on Soren. He still felt like a little bit of a mystery, even by the end of this. I really liked and enjoyed his character, but still, I wanted to know more about him. Was Soren his real name? How old was he? How long had he been an assassin, how long had be been retired? What was his childhood like that made him become a killer?
I just wish we had gotten to know him more, so I left feeling like I didn't quite 100% know his character, when I wanted to.
I felt like this story was very Tobias oriented. Which is fine, because I actually really grew to like Tobias as a character, and to see him fall in love with someone for the first time in his life, to let his walls down. But I wish it had been more even, that we could have gotten more of a balance between the focus between the two.
It felt like, at first, that Soren was there for Tobias more than he was there with Tobias, if that makes any sense?
That changed as these two become more of a unit, but that doesn't change how at first it felt like Tobias was the MC and Soren was almost secondary. I wanted him, for a good portion of this, to feel like an equal player. He did, eventually, but not at first.
Also I dunno what it is, but for some reason I'm cool reading with assassin characters most of the time, but characters who actually want to kill, desire to do it, is harder for me to deal with. Don't get me wrong, Tobias was certainly Dexter-esque, and only ever killed or wanted to kill very bad people. But he still had a certain bloodlust that made me uncomfy sometimes. Assassins are usually just assassins for money, it's very quick, impersonal, 'doing what I have to' type feel, that I guess in fiction I can disassociate that. But when someone *wants* to kill badly, it's just...yeah, uncomfortable.
But, Tobias being Dexter-esque really saved his character for me. He was capable of love. He was capable of lust, attraction, fear. He could feel things, even if it's just for one person, and he never wanted to kill innocent people. He wasn't a psychopath. Maybbeee a sociopath, idk. Either way, once we got more into his character and he become more than just an unfeeling guy who thought he himself was a psychopath, he became a more interesting character, and one I liked.
The plot didn't feel like a whole lot other than Soren teaching Tobias to kill properly, but these two, once they came into their own as characters and got together, really sold this book for me.
So overall, not my favorite of the series, but still pretty solid overall with a fun main couple who had great chemistry.
Still good enough that I recommend it, but for sure a weaker installment in this series, in my opinion.
Still give it two thumbs up, though!
October 24, 2021
*The audio highlighted niggles that I didn't notice first time round. I also didn't love Soren's drawl. I have enjoyed this series but book 2 was my favourite*
Morally grey
I knew I needed Toby's book when he appeared in book 2. He's one of those instantly fascinating characters. He seems to not feel anything but clearly loves his dog and in his own way comes to love Soren.
Soren is a contract killer but kind of more "normal" whatever that means and the two have instant chemistry
Morally grey
I knew I needed Toby's book when he appeared in book 2. He's one of those instantly fascinating characters. He seems to not feel anything but clearly loves his dog and in his own way comes to love Soren.
Soren is a contract killer but kind of more "normal" whatever that means and the two have instant chemistry
July 6, 2021
4.5 Stars
Head Games is easily my favourite book of the Wages of Sin series. Tobias is deliciously twisted and Mantis the dog is absolutely brilliant! Hopefully there's more to come from this series!
Head Games is easily my favourite book of the Wages of Sin series. Tobias is deliciously twisted and Mantis the dog is absolutely brilliant! Hopefully there's more to come from this series!
January 30, 2022
DNF at 80%
What happened with this book?? How am I DNFing a Neve Wilder book?! I loved the first two in the series, but this…
---- review ----
1. Soren …who?
Soren was a non-entity for me. He might as well have been a cardboard cut out, he had no discernible personality or motivations. His alpha man “gonna give you a dumb nickname regardless of what you think” routine (Toby, Glasses, the doc…) is about as much personality as he gets, and that is b l a n d.
2. Tobias lost personality halfway, please call if found
Tobias was done dirty. Such potential! Serial killer father, icy appearance-obsessed mother, knows he’s always been different, always wanted to kill. He’s kept himself very regimented to keep his drive to kill in check. He’s a psychologist for criminals, until he realizes he could kill people Dexter-style to satisfy his morals. How could he not be fascinating?
Well, he’s not.
He falls apart as a character almost immediately. His internal monologue gets stranger and stranger - further from his original characterization - as the book goes on, until he’s unrecognizable. He’s supposed to be thawing, or losing his restrictive ways around Soren, but it feels like he’s less thawing and more melting down the drain into insignificance.
3. Plot - what plot?
So, there’s a plot. I think. Soren teaching Tobias how to kill is one part, but it’s pretty minor. There’s a menacing snow globe and some office destruction, but I stopped at 80% and it’s still only those two instances, so there’s no tension. No drama. I don’t know what this plot is and I was never given a reason to care.
4. Romance …lol asif.gif
There’s instant attraction between Soren and Tobias, but nothing else comes to support it. There’s many instances of the “what’s this tight feeling in my chest??” from both MCs, because they don’t know what feelings are. It abruptly kicks up at around 75%, where they’re being all homey, and this results in repetitive internal monologues about how weird they are and how murdery and special look at them being domestic killers aww stfu.
5. Writing and the sex scenes :|
I found the writing very weak, and it was most noticeable surrounding the sex scenes. Talk about purple prose! Everything about every sex scene read so awkwardly.
Trying to be too fancy with words drained all of the raw tension and appeal that I usually associate with Wilder books. For example, this attempt to be artsy:
The problem I have here is that the focus is now on the bed, not the MCs. I want to read what they’re doing to bang the headboard on the wall, not that the wall is getting banged. The priorities are wrong. This kind of distancing happens a lot.
On the flip side, so much of the sex/intimate scenes are just straight up glossed over, it’s almost fade to black in its egregiousness. I’d much rather have one decent scene and then focus on their emotional connection, rather than constant asides that they’re totally banging like rabbits, but you don’t get to see it.
There was way too much telling going on - so Tobias likes being told what to do in the bedroom, okay cool, don’t have Soren tell me Tobias likes it, show me during a scene!
The Skype sex scene could have been great for showing them developing emotional intimacy, talking about their days while apart (and also sex), but instead we get to see it in a yada yada’d retrospective montage disaster.
Overall…I mean really, what happened?! This is nothing like the first two books! Flat characters, absent plot, lacking chemistry and weak sex scenes (?!?), emotional connection as strong as a wet noodle… If I hadn’t loved the first two books, I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did. 0/5 stars for this soggy cardboard of a story.
What happened with this book?? How am I DNFing a Neve Wilder book?! I loved the first two in the series, but this…
---- review ----
1. Soren …who?
Soren was a non-entity for me. He might as well have been a cardboard cut out, he had no discernible personality or motivations. His alpha man “gonna give you a dumb nickname regardless of what you think” routine (Toby, Glasses, the doc…) is about as much personality as he gets, and that is b l a n d.
2. Tobias lost personality halfway, please call if found
Tobias was done dirty. Such potential! Serial killer father, icy appearance-obsessed mother, knows he’s always been different, always wanted to kill. He’s kept himself very regimented to keep his drive to kill in check. He’s a psychologist for criminals, until he realizes he could kill people Dexter-style to satisfy his morals. How could he not be fascinating?
Well, he’s not.
He falls apart as a character almost immediately. His internal monologue gets stranger and stranger - further from his original characterization - as the book goes on, until he’s unrecognizable. He’s supposed to be thawing, or losing his restrictive ways around Soren, but it feels like he’s less thawing and more melting down the drain into insignificance.
3. Plot - what plot?
So, there’s a plot. I think. Soren teaching Tobias how to kill is one part, but it’s pretty minor. There’s a menacing snow globe and some office destruction, but I stopped at 80% and it’s still only those two instances, so there’s no tension. No drama. I don’t know what this plot is and I was never given a reason to care.
4. Romance …lol asif.gif
There’s instant attraction between Soren and Tobias, but nothing else comes to support it. There’s many instances of the “what’s this tight feeling in my chest??” from both MCs, because they don’t know what feelings are. It abruptly kicks up at around 75%, where they’re being all homey, and this results in repetitive internal monologues about how weird they are and how murdery and special look at them being domestic killers aww stfu.
5. Writing and the sex scenes :|
I found the writing very weak, and it was most noticeable surrounding the sex scenes. Talk about purple prose! Everything about every sex scene read so awkwardly.
Trying to be too fancy with words drained all of the raw tension and appeal that I usually associate with Wilder books. For example, this attempt to be artsy:
The sounds of the motel room became the score to their encounter. Sharp breaths became steady pants and gasping moans that drove out the hum of the air conditioner. The cheap motel bed frame creaked, then thumped, then beat hard against the wall with a steady metronome-like cadence that seemed in direct opposition with the pleasure sparking behind Tobias’s eyelids with every driving thrust.
The problem I have here is that the focus is now on the bed, not the MCs. I want to read what they’re doing to bang the headboard on the wall, not that the wall is getting banged. The priorities are wrong. This kind of distancing happens a lot.
On the flip side, so much of the sex/intimate scenes are just straight up glossed over, it’s almost fade to black in its egregiousness. I’d much rather have one decent scene and then focus on their emotional connection, rather than constant asides that they’re totally banging like rabbits, but you don’t get to see it.
There was way too much telling going on - so Tobias likes being told what to do in the bedroom, okay cool, don’t have Soren tell me Tobias likes it, show me during a scene!
The Skype sex scene could have been great for showing them developing emotional intimacy, talking about their days while apart (and also sex), but instead we get to see it in a yada yada’d retrospective montage disaster.
Overall…I mean really, what happened?! This is nothing like the first two books! Flat characters, absent plot, lacking chemistry and weak sex scenes (?!?), emotional connection as strong as a wet noodle… If I hadn’t loved the first two books, I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did. 0/5 stars for this soggy cardboard of a story.
Read
July 21, 2021Just can't get back into this one, such a shocker as it's Neve Wilder BUT sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles. 😕
January 13, 2022
"Being attractive made him memorable. Being memorable was never good. Especially now that he was embarking on a new career. Murderer."
This was sooo good! 💙💜
Head Games by Onley James and Neve Wilder is book three in their Wages of Sin m/m assassin series. Each book is a standalone, but the previous couples from the earlier books (Bad Habits and Play Dirty) also make an appearance. All three books are divine.
Head Games is Soren and Tobias' story, both of whom we met in previous books. Tobias is a psychologist to serial killers, and is hiding some deviant tendencies himself. Soren is a skilled assassin, semi-retired, who crosses paths with Toby and is completely intrigued. Their chemistry is immediate and steam levels are 🔥🔥🔥.
If you like opposites attracting, snarky couples, killers with a moral compass and first times, then this is definitely the book for you.
Highly recommended.
4.5 ✨✨✨✨✨
This was sooo good! 💙💜
Head Games by Onley James and Neve Wilder is book three in their Wages of Sin m/m assassin series. Each book is a standalone, but the previous couples from the earlier books (Bad Habits and Play Dirty) also make an appearance. All three books are divine.
Head Games is Soren and Tobias' story, both of whom we met in previous books. Tobias is a psychologist to serial killers, and is hiding some deviant tendencies himself. Soren is a skilled assassin, semi-retired, who crosses paths with Toby and is completely intrigued. Their chemistry is immediate and steam levels are 🔥🔥🔥.
If you like opposites attracting, snarky couples, killers with a moral compass and first times, then this is definitely the book for you.
Highly recommended.
4.5 ✨✨✨✨✨
September 28, 2021
What’s better than one anti-hero? Two anti-heroes. Tobias and Soren are deeply flawed but so very lovable. I really love this writing duo and this series. I have mad respect for the balance they achieved between action, emotion, and sexy times. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with next.
July 20, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Head Games is the third book in Onley James and Neve Wilder’s Wages of Sin series and I am completely loving these books. Make no mistake, the characters here are remorseless killers, and while we generally see them taking out bad guys, we are still talking about assassins. But somehow rather than the books having a darker edge, the authors make them fun, playful, and sexy. I find myself totally falling for these characters, despite their less than upstanding profession.
This book is particularly engaging as Tobias is a totally fascinating character. He is a man who is well aware of his own dark impulses — he is a psychologist after all. He has known all his life he has a drive to kill, but has kept it reined in through intense control over every facet of his life.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Head Games is the third book in Onley James and Neve Wilder’s Wages of Sin series and I am completely loving these books. Make no mistake, the characters here are remorseless killers, and while we generally see them taking out bad guys, we are still talking about assassins. But somehow rather than the books having a darker edge, the authors make them fun, playful, and sexy. I find myself totally falling for these characters, despite their less than upstanding profession.
This book is particularly engaging as Tobias is a totally fascinating character. He is a man who is well aware of his own dark impulses — he is a psychologist after all. He has known all his life he has a drive to kill, but has kept it reined in through intense control over every facet of his life.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
July 21, 2024
3 stars
This was a book. A book that I read.
Intriguing premise and characters: Tobias is a psychopath/sociopath psychologist interested in studying murderers to better understand his urges. Soren is an assassin for hire, and teaches Tobias the ways of the world of killing.
But for some reason this completely failed to capture my interest for more than 20 consecutive minutes. Perhaps I should have read this with my eyes first, but as the sequel to the very fun and captivating Play Dirty, this was a massive let-down.
Narration-wise, I was really not sure about Soren’s voice and absolutely hated the voices used for Az & Madigan, which is strange because Liam DiCosimo also narrated that but the voices did not match my recollection of them.
This was a book. A book that I read.
Intriguing premise and characters: Tobias is a psychopath/sociopath psychologist interested in studying murderers to better understand his urges. Soren is an assassin for hire, and teaches Tobias the ways of the world of killing.
But for some reason this completely failed to capture my interest for more than 20 consecutive minutes. Perhaps I should have read this with my eyes first, but as the sequel to the very fun and captivating Play Dirty, this was a massive let-down.
Narration-wise, I was really not sure about Soren’s voice and absolutely hated the voices used for Az & Madigan, which is strange because Liam DiCosimo also narrated that but the voices did not match my recollection of them.
June 23, 2021
2.5 rounded up
This was an enjoyable read for what it was. Obviously requires a healthy suspension of belief, but I thought the characters here were interesting. Well, one of them anyway. Soren did absolutely nothing for me and felt very ~generic male MM lead but with murder~ though I thought Tobias was really interesting. I actually think this book would have been FAR more interesting and much stronger told entirely from his POV--Soren wasn't interesting enough to need his own POV and they didn't really add much to the story TBH. The smut didn't do much for me, which might have been because I found Soren to be very bland and the whole macho thing of his was a snooze.
This was an enjoyable read for what it was. Obviously requires a healthy suspension of belief, but I thought the characters here were interesting. Well, one of them anyway. Soren did absolutely nothing for me and felt very ~generic male MM lead but with murder~ though I thought Tobias was really interesting. I actually think this book would have been FAR more interesting and much stronger told entirely from his POV--Soren wasn't interesting enough to need his own POV and they didn't really add much to the story TBH. The smut didn't do much for me, which might have been because I found Soren to be very bland and the whole macho thing of his was a snooze.
June 12, 2021
I never imagined I would love a romance about hitmen and killers so much, but Tobias and Soren defied my expectations. Tobias hid his cold, calculating, and unfeeling nature in his day to day life, but around Soren he came alive in unexpectedly alluring ways. Even when all he felt was frustration about Soren messing up his perfectly planned kill, the fact that Soren was able to get to him at all left me so intrigued. It was fascinating to watch them fall into a mentor/mentee relationship and even more satisfying to see Soren continue to get under Tobias's skin. It seemed inevitable that the only man to make Tobias feel would be the one to show him the pleasures of sex, and my god was it hot to experience their intimate moments. Because Tobias was still so new to enjoying the contact of another, every touch and taste felt like an explosion of passion. Don't even get me started on how heady it was to see Tobias eagerly follow Soren's instructions in bed--I was not expecting their dynamic to have a bit of power exchange but I ate it up! If their passionate sex was the catalyst for forming a deeper connection, then what sealed the deal was all the time they spent together planning the best way to take out Tobias's targets. It was strangely sweet to see Soren cheer Tobias on, and it was unexpectedly arousing to see how heated up they got after a kill. When Tobias's past came back to haunt him and Soren pulled out all the stops to get him returned safely, I knew it was love. No, their romance certainly didn't follow the conventions I'm used to, but I can't deny that their connection was just as strong as any other couple I've read about.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 14, 2021
Glasses
“It’s not every day you find a man willing to kill with you or for you.” This outstanding book left me buzzing from adrenaline and craving more. I absolutely adore Mantis and I love, love, love Tobias. He’s a fascinating mix of contradictions and one might even call him an anomaly. I loved his mind, his intelligence, and watching him find his true self was amazing. Then there’s Soren who made me smile, made me laugh and made me yearn to have him take me under his wing. They had my pulse racing with their sizzling intensity and I need more. A non-stop thrill ride with an incredible cast that will lethally capture your heart.
“It’s not every day you find a man willing to kill with you or for you.” This outstanding book left me buzzing from adrenaline and craving more. I absolutely adore Mantis and I love, love, love Tobias. He’s a fascinating mix of contradictions and one might even call him an anomaly. I loved his mind, his intelligence, and watching him find his true self was amazing. Then there’s Soren who made me smile, made me laugh and made me yearn to have him take me under his wing. They had my pulse racing with their sizzling intensity and I need more. A non-stop thrill ride with an incredible cast that will lethally capture your heart.
September 24, 2021
3.5 stars
June 18, 2021
Gay Dexter meets Gay Jason Bourne and it's really, really HOT!*
“Is aftercare for murder a thing?” —Soren, sexy assassin and love sick alpha
*sigh* I loved this story, a one of a kind, hot hot “HOLY HELL did that really just happen” action-packed romance. These sexy killers are my new deadly addiction! Block out time because Head Games is scorching intense, with richter scale chemistry, rage rooms and kill lists, and don’t forget the teacup-sized velociraptor with fur. Also, behind closed doors, there are heavy bags dancing to Norwegian Death Metal music (I had to google).
And the humor… Only Wilder and James could write a riveting romance thriller full of murder and bloodlust where the foreplay consists of fluffy omelets and build-a-bears.
Honestly though, all these fun descriptions are fine and this romance truly is totally worth the multiple re-reads you know you’re down for… but Head Games, with its eponymous plot, is a moving internal romance about a broken genius coming to terms with himself, his gruesome past, and finding love in the most unique and earth-shattering way ever.
*Truthfully, the plot is not the point here. Head Games is about the internal acceptance of love and devotion, wrapped in a dizzingly, crazy chaotic world of justifiable homicide and just desserts. Tobias and Soren are broken men looking for a lighthouse in a storm, even if they don’t know it and hate metaphors. Lol In many ways, this is a subtle story wrapped in wolf’s clothing. There is a special cadence to the romance between reticent Tobias and sure-footed Soren, set against the clever backdrop of a physician with a kill list. The point is to bring all these wickedly well-written characters from the series together for more intrigue and thrilling love, and the truly dysfunctional family squabbles are a bonus. God, I hope there are more books in the series. It was a pleasure to read.
Yes, this will be your new favorite MM, and besides all the tropey goodness, the suspense, the achingly romantic naughty bits between killers, not to mention the banter and rollercoaster romancing, this series has fantastically developed characters. I knew when Madigan showed up, things would shift to kill or be killed. Just as I knew when Sadie put in an appearance, we would get a real Domme with a massive dose of cynicism. Caspian *unnnffff* is always a delight, and that’s the fun, that’s why we read. These are really great characters. How lucky are we that Onley and Neve found each other and created these memorable lovers for us?
If I haven’t convinced you that I loved this book, I will add you to Tobias’ list lol
KC Caron leaving perhaps the most honest review ever, and I am MM Romance Most Wanted xo
“Is aftercare for murder a thing?” —Soren, sexy assassin and love sick alpha
*sigh* I loved this story, a one of a kind, hot hot “HOLY HELL did that really just happen” action-packed romance. These sexy killers are my new deadly addiction! Block out time because Head Games is scorching intense, with richter scale chemistry, rage rooms and kill lists, and don’t forget the teacup-sized velociraptor with fur. Also, behind closed doors, there are heavy bags dancing to Norwegian Death Metal music (I had to google).
And the humor… Only Wilder and James could write a riveting romance thriller full of murder and bloodlust where the foreplay consists of fluffy omelets and build-a-bears.
Honestly though, all these fun descriptions are fine and this romance truly is totally worth the multiple re-reads you know you’re down for… but Head Games, with its eponymous plot, is a moving internal romance about a broken genius coming to terms with himself, his gruesome past, and finding love in the most unique and earth-shattering way ever.
*Truthfully, the plot is not the point here. Head Games is about the internal acceptance of love and devotion, wrapped in a dizzingly, crazy chaotic world of justifiable homicide and just desserts. Tobias and Soren are broken men looking for a lighthouse in a storm, even if they don’t know it and hate metaphors. Lol In many ways, this is a subtle story wrapped in wolf’s clothing. There is a special cadence to the romance between reticent Tobias and sure-footed Soren, set against the clever backdrop of a physician with a kill list. The point is to bring all these wickedly well-written characters from the series together for more intrigue and thrilling love, and the truly dysfunctional family squabbles are a bonus. God, I hope there are more books in the series. It was a pleasure to read.
Yes, this will be your new favorite MM, and besides all the tropey goodness, the suspense, the achingly romantic naughty bits between killers, not to mention the banter and rollercoaster romancing, this series has fantastically developed characters. I knew when Madigan showed up, things would shift to kill or be killed. Just as I knew when Sadie put in an appearance, we would get a real Domme with a massive dose of cynicism. Caspian *unnnffff* is always a delight, and that’s the fun, that’s why we read. These are really great characters. How lucky are we that Onley and Neve found each other and created these memorable lovers for us?
If I haven’t convinced you that I loved this book, I will add you to Tobias’ list lol
KC Caron leaving perhaps the most honest review ever, and I am MM Romance Most Wanted xo
June 18, 2021
Fast-paced, extremely steamy and completely different!
I am absolutely in awe of where Onley James and Neve Wilder are going with this series, each new book is more addictive than the other!
Here we have Tobias, the psychologist that “not-so-willingly” helped out Madi and Az in the previous book. We know him as this straight-laced, super-controlled, serious character… what we did not know is that under that tight-knit façade, he has a rage room where he lets lose amongst a cascade of red lights and Norwegian Death Metal, and that he recently wrote his kill list…
Soren has popped up in the previous books as a part of the hitmen circles, but removed. He should technically be retired, but he’s bored to death and meeting the Doc has him spark up and get out of retirement faster than lightning!
Both men are certainly not the kind and nurturing types: Tobias is convinced he’s not able to develop feelings and Soren thinks he’s to jaded for them.
But in this partnership of sorts, where Soren accepts to train Tobias in the ways of killing, they develop a bond that belies their objections!
I am absolutely in awe of where Onley James and Neve Wilder are going with this series, each new book is more addictive than the other!
Here we have Tobias, the psychologist that “not-so-willingly” helped out Madi and Az in the previous book. We know him as this straight-laced, super-controlled, serious character… what we did not know is that under that tight-knit façade, he has a rage room where he lets lose amongst a cascade of red lights and Norwegian Death Metal, and that he recently wrote his kill list…
Soren has popped up in the previous books as a part of the hitmen circles, but removed. He should technically be retired, but he’s bored to death and meeting the Doc has him spark up and get out of retirement faster than lightning!
Both men are certainly not the kind and nurturing types: Tobias is convinced he’s not able to develop feelings and Soren thinks he’s to jaded for them.
But in this partnership of sorts, where Soren accepts to train Tobias in the ways of killing, they develop a bond that belies their objections!
June 20, 2021
I love this series about a group of assassins, who are friends who enjoy talking smack about each other. It was exhilarating, fun and entertaining.
I know of Dr. Tobias Eastman from previous book, he is the therapist for the deviant, like serial killers and such. In the previous book, scene where AZ and Madigan pretend to have a marriage counseling with Tobias was the funniest part of the book. Who knew this button up doctor is like a wolf in sheep skin. His true persona should scare me, but I'm truly fascinated with his mind.
Soren is a retired assassin who is itching to come out of retirement. I didn't expect him to appear like a super chill surfer dude persona, but that's who he is. Whereas Tobias is all meticulous control, physically and emotionally, Soren is the total opposite. Soren keep annoying the hell out of Tobias and slowly chipping off his shell, making Tobias feel for the first time.
Their relationship is so unconventionally morbid. Planning murder seems like foreplay. Despite the HFN, I wish this book is longer. I feel that we have just barely skimming the surface of their relationship and getting to know who Tobias really is underneath his preppy suit. What about Soren? I feel like I still didn't know much about him at all. I know he is very carefree and he is bored with retirement life. I know he likes to unravel Tobias and called him all sort of endearing nicknames. But I wish there is more backstory to him, the mentor of Madigan should be someone interesting, right?
I'm not ready to leave this group of assassins yet, AZ and Madigan's appearance always put a smile on my face. I hope there is more to come, either a story for Ronin or revisiting AZ/Madigan or another book for Soren/Tobias, I'm game.
I know of Dr. Tobias Eastman from previous book, he is the therapist for the deviant, like serial killers and such. In the previous book, scene where AZ and Madigan pretend to have a marriage counseling with Tobias was the funniest part of the book. Who knew this button up doctor is like a wolf in sheep skin. His true persona should scare me, but I'm truly fascinated with his mind.
Soren is a retired assassin who is itching to come out of retirement. I didn't expect him to appear like a super chill surfer dude persona, but that's who he is. Whereas Tobias is all meticulous control, physically and emotionally, Soren is the total opposite. Soren keep annoying the hell out of Tobias and slowly chipping off his shell, making Tobias feel for the first time.
Their relationship is so unconventionally morbid. Planning murder seems like foreplay. Despite the HFN, I wish this book is longer. I feel that we have just barely skimming the surface of their relationship and getting to know who Tobias really is underneath his preppy suit. What about Soren? I feel like I still didn't know much about him at all. I know he is very carefree and he is bored with retirement life. I know he likes to unravel Tobias and called him all sort of endearing nicknames. But I wish there is more backstory to him, the mentor of Madigan should be someone interesting, right?
I'm not ready to leave this group of assassins yet, AZ and Madigan's appearance always put a smile on my face. I hope there is more to come, either a story for Ronin or revisiting AZ/Madigan or another book for Soren/Tobias, I'm game.
December 16, 2021
The slow burn romance and lethal partnership between Tobias and Soren will captivate you
*****
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 flames
Genre: MM / Anti-hero / Virgin / Vigilante Justice / Dark / Slow burn
Triggers: Potentially but mostly off page (when talking about what the patients have done)
*****
Tobias, the buttoned-up therapist to the worst of the worst and dog parent to the fabulously ferocious Mantis, is about to meet his match in Soren!
Soren, a semi-retired hitman, comes out of retirement to help a buddy with a "project." During his attempt to "help," he finds he has a competitor for the "project," and that competitor is Tobias... Why is the gorgeous doctor with a sweater vest and spectacles hanging out with an Irish Mafia boss?
Tobias is going hrough an existential crisis and making changes in his life. He's had enough of the monsters he counsels; it's time he realizes his true purpose... to hold his patients accountable for the crimes they have committed.
Soren bulldozes his way into Tobias' life, and it's amusing how he just settles in and sneaks through Tobias' barriers. His understanding, empathy, and compassion for Tobias is endearing.
Head Games is another witty, well-written, page turner with wonderful characters and a plot that held me captive from start to end. Another fantastic book/series that I wholeheartedly recommend!
*****
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 flames
Genre: MM / Anti-hero / Virgin / Vigilante Justice / Dark / Slow burn
Triggers: Potentially but mostly off page (when talking about what the patients have done)
*****
Tobias, the buttoned-up therapist to the worst of the worst and dog parent to the fabulously ferocious Mantis, is about to meet his match in Soren!
Soren, a semi-retired hitman, comes out of retirement to help a buddy with a "project." During his attempt to "help," he finds he has a competitor for the "project," and that competitor is Tobias... Why is the gorgeous doctor with a sweater vest and spectacles hanging out with an Irish Mafia boss?
Tobias is going hrough an existential crisis and making changes in his life. He's had enough of the monsters he counsels; it's time he realizes his true purpose... to hold his patients accountable for the crimes they have committed.
Soren bulldozes his way into Tobias' life, and it's amusing how he just settles in and sneaks through Tobias' barriers. His understanding, empathy, and compassion for Tobias is endearing.
Head Games is another witty, well-written, page turner with wonderful characters and a plot that held me captive from start to end. Another fantastic book/series that I wholeheartedly recommend!
July 20, 2021
Coming off of Play Dirty, which I loved, I was hoping for more.
Tobias is actually a fascinating character but I feel like this whole story just scratched the surface of both characters. Soren was very one-dimensional. Nice guy who happens to be a killer. He was super sweet with Tobias and Mantis, but that was all. For all his structure and lack of experience with emotion, Tobias pretty easily rolled with the chaos that Soren supposedly brought into his life. I didn't feel anxious for them, nor did I feel any real chemistry. There was also more telling than showing and I'm not even sure how long the timeframe of the story and their relationship covered.
I enjoyed Soren teaching Tobias how to go about killing his targets, I enjoyed some of their banter, but once Az and Madigan made a guest appearance, it reminded me just how good their book was and what was lacking here. The whole thing was just meh for me.
Tobias is actually a fascinating character but I feel like this whole story just scratched the surface of both characters. Soren was very one-dimensional. Nice guy who happens to be a killer. He was super sweet with Tobias and Mantis, but that was all. For all his structure and lack of experience with emotion, Tobias pretty easily rolled with the chaos that Soren supposedly brought into his life. I didn't feel anxious for them, nor did I feel any real chemistry. There was also more telling than showing and I'm not even sure how long the timeframe of the story and their relationship covered.
I enjoyed Soren teaching Tobias how to go about killing his targets, I enjoyed some of their banter, but once Az and Madigan made a guest appearance, it reminded me just how good their book was and what was lacking here. The whole thing was just meh for me.
January 26, 2022
This cover does not do JUSTICE to Dr. Eastman. He reminds me of Tyler Oakley. ACK.
Anyway, I am shedding a tiny tear because this is my last Onley James book (besides 1 standalone that’s not available on KU). And it totally holds up!
We met Dr. Tobias Eastman in book 2 of this series - he’s the psychologist to psychopaths, but we learn there’s more than meets the eye to his bland, doctor persona. Something Soren, an assassin, picks up on immediately.
Again, this book felt very different from Onley’s usual books because there wasn’t insta-love or “you’re mine”. They were unwillingly attracted to one another.
And you know I love when there’s a pet side character. MANTIS!!
Anyway, I am shedding a tiny tear because this is my last Onley James book (besides 1 standalone that’s not available on KU). And it totally holds up!
We met Dr. Tobias Eastman in book 2 of this series - he’s the psychologist to psychopaths, but we learn there’s more than meets the eye to his bland, doctor persona. Something Soren, an assassin, picks up on immediately.
Again, this book felt very different from Onley’s usual books because there wasn’t insta-love or “you’re mine”. They were unwillingly attracted to one another.
And you know I love when there’s a pet side character. MANTIS!!
June 22, 2021
Brilliantly twisted bad guy romance
I loved going along for this ride with Doc and Soren, it was joyously dark and twisted.
Often I'm frustrated by the portrayal of those with mental illness as murderers, but Doc is anything but a stereotype. He may be a sociopath but he's not at the whim of his compulsions: it's his choice whether to kill or not, and much like Dexter, he's got his own moral code.
Soren is the perfect foil for uptight Doc, and their chemistry is hot.
I loved going along for this ride with Doc and Soren, it was joyously dark and twisted.
Often I'm frustrated by the portrayal of those with mental illness as murderers, but Doc is anything but a stereotype. He may be a sociopath but he's not at the whim of his compulsions: it's his choice whether to kill or not, and much like Dexter, he's got his own moral code.
Soren is the perfect foil for uptight Doc, and their chemistry is hot.
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