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But Not For Me
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.
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.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2013
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172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
dnf
March 21, 2013The blushing daisy/teddy bear romance was at odds with the dark theme.
Gang wars, flying bullets, murder and betrayal, dialogue in nineteen-thirties New York gangsta-slang, great sense of time and place - could have been great but the overly sweet, slow burning romance absulutely didn`t fit.
Nino as a carbon copy of Al Capone called his thirty year old lover Stanley "kid" - I lost interest halfway through - not for me.
Gang wars, flying bullets, murder and betrayal, dialogue in nineteen-thirties New York gangsta-slang, great sense of time and place - could have been great but the overly sweet, slow burning romance absulutely didn`t fit.
Nino as a carbon copy of Al Capone called his thirty year old lover Stanley "kid" - I lost interest halfway through - not for me.
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August 12, 2016"But Not For Me" with @jsopercook is free in today's #tweetaway for one hour! Don't miss it! http://tinyurl.com/k7s6w7m
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December 28, 2019
Still love.
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I loved it. Twirls. 4.5 stars. Review to follow.
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I loved it. Twirls. 4.5 stars. Review to follow.
January 28, 2015
4 star review by Amber
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.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
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.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
May 1, 2019
I'm glad I read this title, it was surely something different for me. Not so easy to read, but it's my fault. I liked the characters, there were quite some, all well done and loyal to Nino and Stanley. I think the author did a great job with the setting and every little detail was right. I'm always a little scared of historicals, especially the ones set in the early 1900, this novel was instead a success.
Want to read
November 16, 2014Dreamspinner Tweetaway 15.11.14
October 25, 2017
Very charming in the tough-guys-are-really-softies mold. Didn't believe it but enjoyed pretending. Done with a light touch.
March 20, 2013
This story was set in the early 1930s and revolves around gangsters in New York. Nino is the head of a crime organization. He’s fought his way to get there and he’s good at being the boss. He’s smart and has no problem getting his hands dirty. While attending a party one night he sees a young man to whom he feels an instant attraction. Problem is he’s with Big Frank, a nasty fellow crime boss. He punches the beautiful young man in front of everyone and Nino feels the need to protect him. He basically takes the kid away from Nino under the threat of death but he just can’t leave him in the hands of that maniac.
Stanley is terrified of what will happen when he goes with Nino because surely Big Frank is going to make him pay. He’s also terrified of Nino. He knows the man has a reputation and thinks he’s being taken as a screw you to Big Frank. When Nino explains that he just “don’t like to see nobody treated that way” Stanley wants to believe him but he’s been terrorized and trapped for five years and trust isn’t something that comes easy to him. He thinks maybe Nino will expect the same sexual favors he’s been forced to give to Big Frank but Nino is adamant about just wanting to help him out.
Stanley starts to believe in miracles when Nino gives him a new wardrobe, a place to stay, job with his own office and secretary. Nino knows right away he wants Stanley but neither knows the other likes men. Plus, he learns of the things Big Frank did to Stanley and seduction seems so wrong. The two slowly start falling for each other but being a mob boss and Big Frank wanting his “property” back, creates lots of problems for a budding romance. Makes the fact that they are gay in a time when it is considered taboo seem like a small thing to work around. Not that there isn’t prejudice because there is.
I liked this book. The jargon was fun and really gave you a feel for the setting of the story. I liked tough Nino and sweet delicate Nino. I found his character to be complex. He just wanted Stanley. Something about his innocence and beauty just spoke to Nino and the big bad mobster turned to a big teddy bear for him. I’m sure his family history had something to do with his need to protect. He was a pretty decent guy for a mobster.
I ached for Stanley for the first half of the book. The things he went through were truly terrible and once he was in with Big Frank, there was no getting out. His progression with Nino was realistic and lovely. The last third of the book I was angry with Stanley. He all of sudden having problems after Nino rescued him, admitted his love and started a war with Big Frank over not handing him over seemed really betraying to me. I don’t feel like there was anything from Stanley’s POV that made me think anything he was doing was okay. I never understood why. It didn’t fit with what I knew of his character. I guess it upset me so I was invested, right?
The last third of the book was kind of slow and bordered on dramatic for me but I enjoyed the book for the most part. There was a bit too much crying for me. I love bad guy books and this was that but with a good dose of the sweet. There was blood and death but mostly it was just about realizing what you want and making that happen in the mafia.
This review can also be found at http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
Stanley is terrified of what will happen when he goes with Nino because surely Big Frank is going to make him pay. He’s also terrified of Nino. He knows the man has a reputation and thinks he’s being taken as a screw you to Big Frank. When Nino explains that he just “don’t like to see nobody treated that way” Stanley wants to believe him but he’s been terrorized and trapped for five years and trust isn’t something that comes easy to him. He thinks maybe Nino will expect the same sexual favors he’s been forced to give to Big Frank but Nino is adamant about just wanting to help him out.
Stanley starts to believe in miracles when Nino gives him a new wardrobe, a place to stay, job with his own office and secretary. Nino knows right away he wants Stanley but neither knows the other likes men. Plus, he learns of the things Big Frank did to Stanley and seduction seems so wrong. The two slowly start falling for each other but being a mob boss and Big Frank wanting his “property” back, creates lots of problems for a budding romance. Makes the fact that they are gay in a time when it is considered taboo seem like a small thing to work around. Not that there isn’t prejudice because there is.
I liked this book. The jargon was fun and really gave you a feel for the setting of the story. I liked tough Nino and sweet delicate Nino. I found his character to be complex. He just wanted Stanley. Something about his innocence and beauty just spoke to Nino and the big bad mobster turned to a big teddy bear for him. I’m sure his family history had something to do with his need to protect. He was a pretty decent guy for a mobster.
I ached for Stanley for the first half of the book. The things he went through were truly terrible and once he was in with Big Frank, there was no getting out. His progression with Nino was realistic and lovely. The last third of the book I was angry with Stanley. He all of sudden having problems after Nino rescued him, admitted his love and started a war with Big Frank over not handing him over seemed really betraying to me. I don’t feel like there was anything from Stanley’s POV that made me think anything he was doing was okay. I never understood why. It didn’t fit with what I knew of his character. I guess it upset me so I was invested, right?
The last third of the book was kind of slow and bordered on dramatic for me but I enjoyed the book for the most part. There was a bit too much crying for me. I love bad guy books and this was that but with a good dose of the sweet. There was blood and death but mostly it was just about realizing what you want and making that happen in the mafia.
This review can also be found at http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
March 23, 2013
There are several things I really liked about this book.
The setting; from the beginning I loved the setting. It's early 1930's, it's gangsters and the early days of organized crimes and you can feel it and see it while reading. This was one of the main reasons I bought the book to begin with. And in my opinion I mostly got what I expected.
The language and the dialogue; the dialogue is fun and fitting the setting and the topic of the story. It's reminiscent of what I remember hearing from The Godfather (and this book makes me want to re-watched all those three movies as soon as I can, beginning after finishing this review).Hard-boiled is a fitting word that comes to mind.
The characters; the main characters are Nino Moretti, the gangster boss, and Stanley Zadwadzki, the boy from Kansas who comes to the big city and ends up as the gunsel of one of the organized crime mobs' boss against his will. Early on in the story Nino, instantly struck by Stan's great looks, saves Stanley from the claws of Big Frank. Both main characters are severely wounded from things that's happened to them in their past. For Stanley it isn't just years of sexual abuse/rape from big Frank, but also scaring from witnessing a bloody accident as a child, along with other personal losses that affects him and the relationship that slowly forms with Nino.
But this story has other important, and interesting characters as well. Almost so much I would like to say it has multiple main/important characters instead of just the common two. There's Nino's right hand Danny, the man responsible for shipping - Eli, who has his own scarring to deal with, Nino's brother Tony, Stan's cousin Wallace, who quickly adapts to the big city gangster life, and Richard, the man who supervises The Two Aces. They are all equally interesting. A common theme through all this is that the writer has equipped them all with a past and an explanation as to why they've ended up with the lives they have in the mob.
There were times when I felt Nino became a little too soft for a mob boss, or that Stanley was too soft (although understandable considering his past) despite all his years in the business - I want my gangsters mean, with as few soft spots as possible. Sometimes they had a little too many of those, and I was afraid it would end with them running off and settle down in Kansas (in fact I'm not quite sure after reading the last chapter that they won't end up doing that after all).
But all in all it was a nice story, or maybe I should say hard-boiled. Anyway, it was enjoyable.
The setting; from the beginning I loved the setting. It's early 1930's, it's gangsters and the early days of organized crimes and you can feel it and see it while reading. This was one of the main reasons I bought the book to begin with. And in my opinion I mostly got what I expected.
The language and the dialogue; the dialogue is fun and fitting the setting and the topic of the story. It's reminiscent of what I remember hearing from The Godfather (and this book makes me want to re-watched all those three movies as soon as I can, beginning after finishing this review).Hard-boiled is a fitting word that comes to mind.
The characters; the main characters are Nino Moretti, the gangster boss, and Stanley Zadwadzki, the boy from Kansas who comes to the big city and ends up as the gunsel of one of the organized crime mobs' boss against his will. Early on in the story Nino, instantly struck by Stan's great looks, saves Stanley from the claws of Big Frank. Both main characters are severely wounded from things that's happened to them in their past. For Stanley it isn't just years of sexual abuse/rape from big Frank, but also scaring from witnessing a bloody accident as a child, along with other personal losses that affects him and the relationship that slowly forms with Nino.
But this story has other important, and interesting characters as well. Almost so much I would like to say it has multiple main/important characters instead of just the common two. There's Nino's right hand Danny, the man responsible for shipping - Eli, who has his own scarring to deal with, Nino's brother Tony, Stan's cousin Wallace, who quickly adapts to the big city gangster life, and Richard, the man who supervises The Two Aces. They are all equally interesting. A common theme through all this is that the writer has equipped them all with a past and an explanation as to why they've ended up with the lives they have in the mob.
There were times when I felt Nino became a little too soft for a mob boss, or that Stanley was too soft (although understandable considering his past) despite all his years in the business - I want my gangsters mean, with as few soft spots as possible. Sometimes they had a little too many of those, and I was afraid it would end with them running off and settle down in Kansas (in fact I'm not quite sure after reading the last chapter that they won't end up doing that after all).
But all in all it was a nice story, or maybe I should say hard-boiled. Anyway, it was enjoyable.
April 17, 2013
4 Stars
This story was set in the early 1930s and revolves around gangsters in New York. Nino is the head of a crime organization. He’s fought his way to get there and he’s good at being the boss. He’s smart and has no problem getting his hands dirty. While attending a party one night he sees a young man to whom he feels an instant attraction. Problem is he’s with Big Frank, a nasty fellow crime boss. He punches the beautiful young man in front of everyone and Nino feels the need to protect him. He basically takes the kid away from Nino under the threat of death but he just can’t leave him in the hands of that maniac.
Stanley is terrified of what will happen when he goes with Nino because surely Big Frank is going to make him pay. He’s also terrified of Nino. He knows the man has a reputation and thinks he’s being taken as a screw you to Big Frank. When Nino explains that he just “don’t like to see nobody treated that way” Stanley wants to believe him but he’s been terrorized and trapped for five years and trust isn’t something that comes easy to him. He thinks maybe Nino will expect the same sexual favors he’s been forced to give to Big Frank but Nino is adamant about just wanting to help him out.
Stanley starts to believe in miracles when Nino gives him a new wardrobe, a place to stay, job with his own office and secretary. Nino knows right away he wants Stanley but neither knows the other likes men. Plus, he learns of the things Big Frank did to Stanley and seduction seems so wrong. The two slowly start falling for each other but being a mob boss and Big Frank wanting his “property” back, creates lots of problems for a budding romance. Makes the fact that they are gay in a time when it is considered taboo seem like a small thing to work around. Not that there isn’t prejudice because there is.
The rest of Whit's review can be found at
Live Your Life, Buy The Book
This story was set in the early 1930s and revolves around gangsters in New York. Nino is the head of a crime organization. He’s fought his way to get there and he’s good at being the boss. He’s smart and has no problem getting his hands dirty. While attending a party one night he sees a young man to whom he feels an instant attraction. Problem is he’s with Big Frank, a nasty fellow crime boss. He punches the beautiful young man in front of everyone and Nino feels the need to protect him. He basically takes the kid away from Nino under the threat of death but he just can’t leave him in the hands of that maniac.
Stanley is terrified of what will happen when he goes with Nino because surely Big Frank is going to make him pay. He’s also terrified of Nino. He knows the man has a reputation and thinks he’s being taken as a screw you to Big Frank. When Nino explains that he just “don’t like to see nobody treated that way” Stanley wants to believe him but he’s been terrorized and trapped for five years and trust isn’t something that comes easy to him. He thinks maybe Nino will expect the same sexual favors he’s been forced to give to Big Frank but Nino is adamant about just wanting to help him out.
Stanley starts to believe in miracles when Nino gives him a new wardrobe, a place to stay, job with his own office and secretary. Nino knows right away he wants Stanley but neither knows the other likes men. Plus, he learns of the things Big Frank did to Stanley and seduction seems so wrong. The two slowly start falling for each other but being a mob boss and Big Frank wanting his “property” back, creates lots of problems for a budding romance. Makes the fact that they are gay in a time when it is considered taboo seem like a small thing to work around. Not that there isn’t prejudice because there is.
The rest of Whit's review can be found at
Live Your Life, Buy The Book
May 30, 2013
Nino is a mobster. I guess you can say he is a good bad guy. He sees Stanley and is immediately smitten, but can also tell that he is being abused by the other mob leader Frank. When Frank humiliates and strikes Stanley in public Nino grabs him and takes him under his protection. Stanley is a bit confused and still a bit leery. He feels that Nino must want something from him for all the good things he is doing for him. Feelings grow in both men. Can Stanley love Nino? Does Nino love Stanley or just want him for a toy? Do gang wars break out over Nino stealing Frank’s boy-toy?
I liked this one a lot. I bounced back and forth on and off the fence between liking and loving on this one. By the time it ended I decided I loved it. I found the story was very interesting, with lots of action.
I liked the way Nino treated Stanley so lovingly, with respect and you could see how bad he wanted him but how important it was to him that Stanley came to him of his own desires not because Nino was his boss or doing things for him.
All the characters were very deep and interesting. There were times though I felt the story got a bit draggy, but then it would pick back up nicely.
Recommendation: If you like gangster stories, Bad Guy main characters, Prohibitions era stories, complicated relationships, losts of action and some sweet loving man-sex, give this one a try.
I liked this one a lot. I bounced back and forth on and off the fence between liking and loving on this one. By the time it ended I decided I loved it. I found the story was very interesting, with lots of action.
I liked the way Nino treated Stanley so lovingly, with respect and you could see how bad he wanted him but how important it was to him that Stanley came to him of his own desires not because Nino was his boss or doing things for him.
All the characters were very deep and interesting. There were times though I felt the story got a bit draggy, but then it would pick back up nicely.
Recommendation: If you like gangster stories, Bad Guy main characters, Prohibitions era stories, complicated relationships, losts of action and some sweet loving man-sex, give this one a try.
December 1, 2014
Okay when I downloaded this I didn't read the blurb property because it took me a while to grasp which era it was in (my fault entirely).
It was a pleasant surprise though. I loved the nicknames Stanley the Stub, The Prince etc and the attention to detail was great.
I wanted to kick Nino's arse through out all of it though and by the end I still wasn't so sure Stanley was 100% committed to their HEA because Nino put him through that much with his selfish ways.
Overall I enjoyed. I definitely would read more by this author.
It was a pleasant surprise though. I loved the nicknames Stanley the Stub, The Prince etc and the attention to detail was great.
I wanted to kick Nino's arse through out all of it though and by the end I still wasn't so sure Stanley was 100% committed to their HEA because Nino put him through that much with his selfish ways.
Overall I enjoyed. I definitely would read more by this author.
November 23, 2014
Started out too rough for me...I don't like non-con. I actually hate it. Was about to DNF it. But needed to make sure he would be ok. I'm so happy I stuck around to see what happened next.
It's aces...
I'm jake!
Don't know what that means?
Go hang out with Nino, Stanley and the gang.
It's aces...
I'm jake!
Don't know what that means?
Go hang out with Nino, Stanley and the gang.
September 28, 2015
This is a story I would read again. Love the era of old time gangsters. Nino and Stanley were made for each other. I could hear the sweet tone of Ella Fitzgerald singing "But Not For Me". J.S. Cook brings 1931 to life.
December 9, 2014
This was great for about 75 % and then it dragged.
I also had issues with the actions of the one MC in their role as mob boss.
I also had issues with the actions of the one MC in their role as mob boss.
March 15, 2020
Not Cook's best - the plot was a little clunky in parts and some of the MC motivations were a little puzzling/obscure. The writing style and dialogue were the best features overall.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews