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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
De Marco Empire - Drama On Every Page, November 6, 2008
De Marco Empire
By J. Lou McCartney
Pegasus Publishers
ISBN: 9781843864394
345 Pages
Do you enjoy following the lives of the rich and famous? Are you a fan of soap opera dramas with the many characters sharing slices of their everyday life? Then De Marco Empire by J. Lou McCartney is presented for your reading enjoyment!
Katie Saunders, together with best friend, Lucy, were heading out to celebrate Lucy's birthday. When they couldn't get into the new and prestigious Club La Pregheira, Lucy pulls Katie through the long line, explaining that they were there to work. Once inside, they were caught in her lie and decided to go ahead and ask about employment. Both were beautiful women and were hired, but they were given that first evening to enjoy the place and get to know how things were done.
It was that night that Katie and Antonio De Marco briefly met. But it was to be a perfect match--though their relationship was to be riddled with the melodrama typifying the life of a successful businessman with a gangster background and drug and criminal connections.
Soon both Katie and Lucy were working and happy in their new positions as waitresses. Both were personable and were bringing in good tips. Katie was involved with Matt, Lucy's brother, but as is often the case, Katie was not as committed as Matt, so that when Antonio started his seduction, it didn't take much to persuade her! Of course, she was unaware that Matt had been threatened a number of times to "stay away."
Worried about Katie, he had no choice but to do as he was told--he feared for their lives!
Of course, his decision was good, even though he knew nothing about the reality that routinely occurred when somebody crossed the De Marco brothers. For instance, there was the manager of one of their nightclubs that had been caught involved with drugs and local drug lords--he was now dead, and the woman who had "snitched" was now supervising the waitresses at La Pregheira, much to the chagrin of everybody else who worked there!
Even Veronica who managed La Pregheira could not understand why Gianni, Anthony's brother and partner, had insisted she be placed in this important position. But Veronica had her own secrets--she was allowing the waitresses to develop a little "side action" for which they were all being well compensated. Veronica was well on her way to saving a nice nest egg until Gianni found out--even though he didn't shut her down, rather he just took part of her share!
Gianni was into just about anything that came along, including as many women as he could seduce--at least until he was officially married. He truly loved his fiancée and had every intention of being faithful. He was happy to see that Antonio and Katie were also becoming more involved and they often joined as a foursome at the club...
Until his fiancée was murdered... And more and more deaths follow!
Until years later, Anthony and Katie have finally decided to proceed with their wedding, only to be stopped once again, by murder!
As can be expected, there are many suspects, many individuals who could have been responsible, not to mention all the others who meet the same fate during the day-to-day events surrounding the De Marco brothers!
Readers will follow the trail of each vignette of the many characters within the Empire, trying to work out exactly what has happened! Afterwards, why not take your copy of McCartney's De Marco Empire as your pass, and stop by at La Pregheira--everybody's dying to get to know you!
Enjoy!
G. A. Bixler
For IP Book Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
De Marco Empire, November 4, 2008
In her novel, De Marco Empire, author J. Lou McCartney taps into various elements of a Shakespearean tragedy to deliver a modern tragic love story embroiled in the seedy mafia underworld of murder, revenge, obsession, and malicious jealousy.
The story takes place in London, England where Katie and Lucy, two recent College graduates, become employed at the lavish and luxurious Club La Pregheira. The Club is owned and managed by two brothers by the name of Antonio and Gianni de Marco. Katie is an innocent and naïve young woman who finds herself captivated by the handsome and mysterious Antonio de Marco. Lucy becomes involved with Stevo, Antonio's employee and close friend. The de Marco brothers' world of crime and murder become entwined with the girls' romantic relationships resulting in dangerous and deadly events that threaten to tear their lives apart.
As a romance, the narrative can be described as a tragic love story. Antonio and Katie's relationship is one of obsession and control. Katie, drawn into Antonio's charming and self assured manner, is blinded to his dark and sinister life which becomes her undoing. Themes of obsession, jealousy, and revenge are revealed through a host of deadly and vicious characters. The story is rooted in a clash of two worlds where Antonio believes he can keep his relationship with Katie separate from his dangerous and deadly criminal life.
In terms of character development, some of the criminal characters introduced had somewhat of a limited role. More development could have been devoted to the central characters. As well, one the main scenes central to the plot was a bit brief. It could have been expanded to deliver a more dramatic climax.
As a tragic love story, the author successfully adapts the elements of a Shakespearean tragedy to a modern plot. The story is full of surprising twists and turns making it a very entertaining read. De Marco Empire is highly recommended to readers who enjoy plights of "star-crossed lovers" unable to stop external elements bent on heartless destruction.
Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review, January 25, 2009
It was July 1985 in London, England.
Lucy Carmichael and her friend, Katie Saunders has just scored jobs as waitresses for the ultra, new, exclusive Club La Pregheira. The club is owned and run by brothers, Antonio and Gianni de Marco. Antonio and Gianni wanted to escape form their old life in Italy. Now they are the richest and most powerful men in London.
From the first moment Antonio laid eyes on Katie, he was done. Antonio is engaged to Sasha Breschnevsky but that does not matter. He plans to make Katie his wife. Before you know it Antonio has dropped Sasha like a bad apple. Katie does not know it but her current boyfriend and Lucy's brother, Matt has been instructed to forget about Katie. To everyone around Antonio and Katie it seems that they are the perfect couple. Katie realizes too late, just what type of world Antonio comes from. Now she is caught in the middle of a war between the De Marco's and their arch rivals.
Right away from the first moment I picked up this book and started reading it, I was intrigued. I just wanted to keep reading. I couldn't stop. The characters in this story did use curse words, which I did not take offensive to as I thought this made the story more authentic and believable. The De Marco brothers have the touch but not the good kind. Everyone they come in contact with ends up dead. De Marco Empire is one of the best new books to end up in my lap. I only have one thing to say and that is...write faster Mrs. McCartney. I can't wait to check out the next book by this author.
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