I will admit, I had a tear or two in my eye's towards the end. And I certainly had a few OH MY GOD, NO! WHAT? I just loved the way this book went and the way it opened up new twists, and an awful lot you just don't expect. I could have happily read another 2 or 3 books in this series right after finishing it, as there was some things I wanted to know more about. But we'll just have to wait to re visit them hopefully one day. The great thing about Tainted Love that it is hard to write a review and not reveal the plot, hence why I am unwilling to even give a guide to what happens between 1986 and 2001. One thing I will say that it is completely gripping, realistic and believable, especially when dealing with Whitechapel and the changes that came to the East End in the 80s and 90s. Those changes are also part of the problem for the Butler’s. Where do I start, fans of Kimberley Chambers will love this and I firmly believe this could be her best book yet. You do need to read the first 3 in this series in my opinion to fully experience this story.. Wedding's, Death, funerals, Births, Sex, Drugs.......... this book has it all, and mixed together makes a whole bit pot of Butler madness.

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. Chambers was an extremely smart and gifted student in primary and secondary school. Her best subject was English. For reasons unknown, Chambers grades began to plummet. When she was eleven, she states that “things began to deteriorate.” After a few years, her academic life became so stark that she decided to leave her secondary school. Tainted Love was perfect. Well in my humble opinion anyways. My thoughts could be clouded from the haze my mind has been in since submerging myself in these books just about a month ago but quite frankly Kimberley Chambers incredible imagination has provided for many surprising and rather unnerving twists and turns that I found myself completely fixated with lives of the Butlers.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? I'm worried about going into the storyline to much as I fear I will end up giving to much away, but I want to scream and shout about this book, I want you to read it and enjoy it as much as I have, so I'm not saying any more about it other than, Go and treat yourself. Buy the bloody book.

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?) 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. 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. Vinnie senior hasn't changed much despite his years, Vinnie junior is seemingly a changed man but somethings you just can't leave behind & Michael is about to be tested to the limit. The family is full of drama and very much live by the sword, die by the sword, the time has come for debts to be settled but who will pay? 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.

Publication Order of The Bonds Books

The Butlers are crazy, I mean crazy and as I've said previously they really have no redeeming qualities but I love the way the author tells their story. This must be made into a tv series one day. 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. 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. This series covers a span of just about 30 years. Throughout each book the lives of the Butlers were tainted with dark secrets and hatred coming from those who have felt the wrath of this family. Revenge and betrayal is known by all. Be it the wives, the children, the boys or the men in the business. There was no escaping it. I searched for that silver lining but just couldn’t find it. It was the nature of the beast I guess. Vinny and Michael have always protected each other and provided for the family. Together they were formidable but business always stopped at the front door. Now someone has changed the rules – women and children are fair game and one of the Butlers is going to end up six feet under.