These two characters embodied many principles that I disagree with and, as a result, it felt uncomfortable reading. I do realise that reading allows you to immerse yourself into an imaginary world, but this was too far-fetched for my liking. The naivety of the characters was incredible, particularly with the forever-absent police. Seeing where the plot would go was a further disappointment, although the final twist was satisfying and I really did not see it coming.

The protagonist, Jason, is the man living the life of crime. He is dodgy from the beginning and the tale follows as he gets involved in deeper crimes, no thanks to his inability to “keep it in his trousers”, have unfavourable friends and a terrible mother who has allowed Jason’s brothers and sister to fall into similar difficult situations. Wanting to give Jason a good slap and seeing to, it was no surprise when it is revealed that he intends to use Melissa as a means of providing a mother-figure to his daughter, Shay. Mel is in a similar situation – also a single mother – and feels Jason can fulfil the role missing from her son’s life. Plot development was predictable and obvious and, at times, a little cringe-worthy. The awkwardness of reading how Melissa’s wedding day occurred was awful and she also needed a good shake to make her realise how naive and stupid she was being. I really cannot get into the plot. I wouldn’t know where to begin. Be assured though that these books are addictive and enthralling. I loved them all. The story starts off with one very intriguing prologue told from Jason’s point of view introducing himself. I was left thinking OMG how different is this. We then follow his story of Life of Crime told from third person perspective.Where we meet some very different characters. Some that you will like and of course some that you wont like. It wouldn't be a Kimberly Chambers book if it didn't have some bad guys in it. No one, and I repeat, no one, in this novel appears to be straight. The whole cast are crooked, criminals, “chancers” if you life – all committing some form of deception and involved in a type of illegal activity. And if they don’t fall into this category, then they are off performing adultery: none of the characters appear to have a loyal bone in their body. Frustratingly, the females all fall under the male spell and are forever weak and in need of “saving” – sexually or physically. All in all, it felt so dated and cliched that this was one of the main reasons that the novel lost my interest. (This book was published last year, so I can only imagine that the retroactive attitudes are supposed to reflect Melissa’s traditional upbringing?) Michael and Vinny were not just ‘faces’ around the East End they were the East End as far as the locals were concerned, it was their manor. Nothing happened there without them knowing, nobody crossed them without being brought up before them, they ruled with a rod of steel and pure fear. Queenie and her sister Viv were the matriarchs of the family, loved by the family and also equally feared.

So we join the Butler family in the 1980s and when I say there is a lot going on, I really mean it. All of the loved and loathed characters make their reappearances and they all seem to be at different stages of their life. Out of all the characters that surprised me in this series the major one has been Little Vinny. It seems Little Vinny has done his utmost to turn his life around following the arrival of his little boy. He is determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps, and even knowing what had gone on in the past I couldn't help rooting for him. Vinny is his usual bolshie and arrogant self and frankly I’m surprised he is still breathing after everything that has happened.

Tainted Love is a fantastic book and I made me smile when I saw where the title came from, but that would spoil the plot. Anyone who has had a run in with Her Majesty’s finest and been near the type of circles the Butlers move in will recognise the characterisation of many they have come across in the Butlers. This might be set in the East End, but could easily be Salford, Moss Side in Greater Manchester or Northfield in Birmingham, St Paul’s Bristol, amongst many. As with the other books in this series I wanted to sit and read this in one sitting, but I paced myself to make the book last, all the way through I wanted to carry on, just keep reading that little bit more and find out what was happening and as usual you get near to the End and you just don't want it to finish.. Is my daddy famous, Nan?’ Ava enquired innocently. Queenie couldn’t help but smile. ‘Yes, darlin’. Your daddy is a legend.’" As the years pass we are able to see the very complicated relationship of brothers and cousins develop in interesting and competing ways. Dan the growing presence of the family while Little Vinny is the businessman of the next generation, and how the women of the family can see through all the men and get to the heart of the matter. If one was looking for marriage or relationship advice the last people you would be the Butler family.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

As Tainted Love is the fourth book in this series, I had reservations KC would not be able to match the high caliber of her previous books, but bloody hell I was wrong, not only has she wrote another blinding book, but she has surpassed herself. This is a book stuffed with tension, violence,and treachery, which moves along like an express train, leaving you no time to catch your breath! Believe me when I say “you are in for a hell of a ride”. As the book reaches its climax I was left breathless, so much happens in Tainted Love I really felt I was on the worlds biggest roller coaster, my emotions were all over the place, as secrets are revealed that will change the Butlers life’s for ever. Kimberley has a natural gift for creating very colourful characters, that are larger than life, by the time you get to Tainted Love you feel like you know them all personally, foibles and all (and believe me they all have plenty of them!) they will make you laugh, cry, love and hate them, all in the space of a few minutes! The dialogue between the characters had me choking on my coffee at times, some of Kimberley’s one liners are original in their content to say the least, but if you don’t like swearing then you should give Tainted Love a wide berth, as there is plenty of it! For me I feel the swearing was in context with the plot and the characters, at times it’s very colourful, but also very funny. So this is a different kind of story from Chambers, still skulduggery, crime, relationship woes and some very steamy/graphic sexual scenes. However, she doesn't fall into the formulaic pattern some writers do when they write a fair amount of books of the same genre. The characters are fresh, the story lines hook you from the get go and provoke emotions and responses from the reader, well it did for me. Fury at how Melissa is treated by a few of her so called loved ones and friends. The story is original, fresh, keeps you on the edge of your seat to find out what skulduggery is coming next. I loved every bit of this book, and I don't think my words will get across just how freaking good this series of books has been. If you are looking for a bit of evil in your reading world then this series is a must. I guarantee that Vinny Butler is one character you won’t soon forget.

Little Vinny is battling not to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sweet Sammi-Lou has just vowed ‘til death do us part, but it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out about the murder he committed. I won't give anything away at all because this compelling novel deserves to be read and judged on its own merits, without any spoilers, but seriously it was just awesome! At the core of this novel is the relationship between Jason and Melissa. To some degree they need each other, and we get to know both of them equally well, but it’s Jason who remains the primary interest for the reader, and I now feel as if I'm leaving behind people that I’ve come to know really well, such is the author’s talent in literally giving them life. From 1986 to 2001 we are taken on a high speed tour of the family and how it could grow apart and then once again come together. We see both Vinny and Michael’s children also take their rightful place in the East End society. Dan and Lee were Michael’s boys, with Little Vinny and Ava, Vinny’s children. We see them get older and develop their own character; Ava cared for by Queenie with Fred her dog, who has a thing for Viv’s leg.This fourth novel from Kimberly Chambers introduces readers to the criminal world of two mob families; the Mitchells and the O’Haras. These two families compete against each other for turf and businesses. Caught between the greed and pride of two dangerous families are two children whose lives will never be the same. The Traitor Chambers The Butler boys ruled the East End or wherever they landed. They were all despicable in their own rite but it was Vinny who was the most evil and vindictive. He was vile. Dark secrets are spiralling out of control and have the power to destroy them all for good. Is this the final nail in the Butler family coffin?

And as I said with the last bookThe Wronged, I didn't believe Kimberley could match it, By god how this woman likes to prove you wrong. she's freakin smashed it with this book. And this book just show's why Kimberley Chambers is the favourite author of many, many people. She is certainly one of my all time favourite authors. It was then that she received a phone-call from her friend Hazel, who asked if she wanted to take a hair dressing course. It was then that Chambers decided to try her hand at writing a novel. A few days later, she began writing her premiere novel Billie Jo. When she told her family about her new aspirations, they believed that it was a fad and that she would grow tired of this new venture as well. Jason is part narrator of the story and we see his viewpoint on his mother, his wife, children and family. This is a story about relationships, secrets, lies, women (lots of), a painting, planning and standing by your man.After a stretch inside Jason wants to pull off just one last job, the biggest of all, it could solve all of their problems. But this is a game that could cost them everything . .